News from Kenya

Well, our travel saga continues! We are still unsure about our ability to return to India and are left in a state of limbo. When we left India, the customs official gave us a normal old stamp and said nothing about when we could return. He didn't (as they did for Don and Kathy) proclaim to us that we couldn't return for 60 days. I even asked him if we could return anytime and he said that yes, we could come back to India at any time. I asked him twice to make sure. So that was encouraging. But, I found out from Don that they just got a regular old stamp also, so that part is meaningless. So, we shall see. We will find out for sure when we attempt to come back. The customs official at that time may make a big deal about the fact that we just recently left the country. Then again, he might not. We'll find out on the 17th. If we aren't allowed in, we have a ticket for later in the day to fly to Bangladesh, so no big deal. The only problem would be that we won't have any way of letting Asish Bowl in Bangladesh know that we'll be arriving 2 days ahead of schedule. I'm still working on how to let him know...

So far, Kenya has been great. We are staying at the Pan African Christian University where Wicklife Omendah is a student. His wife, Lilian, and kids, Samuel (6 years old) and Grace (almost 2) are also here for now. Lilian and Grace spend most of their time in Migori - 10+ hour bus ride away (I think...we'll be making the trip soon, then I'll know for sure how long it takes...) - while Samuel lives here with Wicklife and goes to a good Christian school nearby. We have really enjoyed getting to know them. We have also really enjoyed the food. It has been nice to not be eating rice, dahl, and mutton for every meal. And it has been really nice not to sweat through each meal. Wicklife says that he won't be eating peppers in his meals unless he is traveling and has to eat them to avoid offending a brother in Christ. =) The food here really has been great. We have had a variety of different items. Today for lunch we had what they called the "cheapest possible meal to make" and it was delicious! Beans, potatoes, carrots, and corn all cooked together. It was great.

The weather here has also been great. Not too humid, highs in the low 80s I would guess. There is a nice breeze most of the time. It has been quite pleasant. The campus here at PACU is really beautiful. Green grass, lush trees, an expansive blue sky, and no trash anywhere to be seen is a nice change. We are really enjoying it.

On Thursday, we will be traveling to Kisii with Wicklife and his family. That should be an adventure.

Friday we will be going to Migori and seeing Christ Care Ministries International and everything that Wicklife and Lilian have worked to develop over the last few years. That wasn't part of the original plan so we are excited to have this additional adventure while we are here in Kenya. It would have been sad to come all the way here and then not see first hand what is going on specifically in the ministry.

Then early Sunday morning we will be heading back to Nairobi with just Wicklife and Samuel. Lilian and Grace will stay in Migori and continue to watch over the ministry while Wicklife is at school. We are pleased that Wicklife wants to leave Sunday morning instead of Monday morning. Our flight doesn't leave until late Monday night so we could theoretically just take the bus on Monday, but he is planning ahead in case of bus trouble. We appreciate that about him.

All in all, the trip has been a great success so far just in our chance to build a relationship with the Omendahs. It has been wonderful. We are really excited about what the future holds in a long-term relationship between Wicklife and GF. We are able to see Wicklife's passion and vision in a way that is difficult to express over email. God is truly at work in the lives of this young couple. It is very exciting.

After our time here in Kenya is complete, I plan to do one blog entry solely on Wicklife so that you can get to know him better.

We appreciate your continued prayers as we follow the calling of the Lord in our lives.