Here At Last!

In the Greensboro airport:
A kind driver...
a kinder airline agent...
smiles abound in a near-empty
     airport...
and a smiling female pilot with
     red hair adds a touch of whimsey
     to our flight...
              Pippi Longstocking in the driver's seat-
              Ready to go...ready to fly!

After two lo----n----g days of travel, leaving home at 6:15a.m. on Sunday, July 3rd, we finally arrived here at the Wildebeest Tent Camp in Nairobi at 9:30p.m. last evening, July 4th (2:30EDT). In spite of its lengthiness, with 3 legs of flight from Greensboro to Atlanta, Atlanta to Amsterdam, and Amsterdam to Nairobi (about 18 air hours in all), the travel went surprisingly smoothly...though I must comfess that the double-decker KLM jet to Nairobi was more than a little intimidating. I mean, how does that thing get off the ground? But fly it did...and it was awesome to see the Mediterreanea Sea and the Sahara Desert from the air. Incredible, indeed.

Seeing Julius at the airport was a bit like coming home. His broad, welcoming smile and enfolding hug let me know that I was indeed back in Kenya. And upon arriving at the Wildebeest, I received another warm hug from Urbanus, a young man I had met here last summer. What a way to be received! Much to my amazement, he remembered my name and was truly delighted to see me again. (You must understand- hundreds of people pass through this place each month...it astounded me that he remembered one small, white-haired woman from the US for an entire year.)

Now it is morning...after a wonderful, full night's sleep in our lovely tent, our home-away-from-home for the next 2 weeks and a delicious breakfast (had not eaten since about 3p.m. yesterday). A slow day ahead...practical errands like changing some money to Kenyan shillings, purchasing bottled water at the Nakumat (a large supermarket), buying a Kenyan cell phone and some minutes, and- best of all- making a first visit to the Nyanya Project preschool to see the children- watoto, in Swahili. Yes, I AM in Kenya and ninafurahi (I am happy)! Tutaonana, rafiki yango. (See you later, my friends.)

Time is Flying...

And suddenly it is mid-June...with summer officially beginning on Tuesday, a full moon two evenings ago, and my own flight a mere sixteen days away. All of the pieces are falling into place...contacts continue to be made...appointments set up...and suddenly this year's journey is promising to be even more amazing than I had originally imagined, kind of like the moon through the trees in my back yard- the glimpse in the early morning hours making me gasp with awe and delight.

Of course, the rise in gasoline prices is having an effect on travel, too. Our drivers are having to charge more for their daily rate to make up for the increase, and the flight from Kenya to Rwanda will cost more than previously expected. So, peanut butter sandwiches will be the order of the day upon my return...with a bit of belt-tightening here and there...but I am totally convinced that this is my "call" right now- this journey to east Africa, to work with our grandmothers and grandchildren...to interface with other non-profits...to learn more about what services might be available for our grandmothers and their families.

And so I am preparing happily, with great excitement...doing those things here at home to prepare for being away for five weeks. This week, I'll head to my favorite retreat center for a couple of days to ready my heart and mind and spirit for the summer pilgrimage of service and connection, all the while looking skyward and preparing to fly!

Ever Nearer...

Spent hours last week on-line, making reservations in Kenya and Rwanda for Mae and me. And now, it seems, all is well. We have places to stay for the entire time in both countries, places which are both reasonably priced and safe. And i'm getting more and more eager for July 3rd to arrive. Yes, that's the departure date...July 3rd, with arrival in Nairobi just after 8pm. on July 4th.

Julius awaits us in Nairobi- driver, interpreter, and friend. I can't wait to see him again and to meet his wife and four children. Don't know how we'd manage in Nairobi without him.

And in Kigali, Rwanda, we are so fortunate to be with our translator and friend, Simon (left) and our driver, Boscoe. Again, we'd be lost without these wonderful men to get us where we need to go. Then add the many grandmothers in Kibera, Mount Kenya, and Kigali, and my cup runneth over! Oh, and we can't forget the grandchildren.

As i make all of the preparations, there is a very real sense of "going home" for me...of heading back to a place where part of my heart has been dwelling since last summer- or perhaps since my first African trip in 2000 to Ghana. Africa is in my blood now- and for those of you who don't understand how this could be so, i cannot explain. Just take my word for it...it is so. Perhaps you'll come with me- via this blog- as i journey this summer, as i share experiences and photos, as i try in some small way to convey the contrasts and conundrums and dichotomies that are Africa today. You're invited! Karibu! Welcome!