Our Kenyan Home Stretch

It's happened again.  Just like in other trips, the finish line has snuck up on us and we're looking at completing our experience almost as quickly as we began.


We wrapped up our work in Masii on Friday and said our good-byes. That was a tough one. One little street girl, Vicky, grabbed Josh's fingers and refused to let go.  I thought I heard his heart break in that moment.  And when other kids were waving and cheering as we pulled out, Vicky held her head in her hands and refused to look. We felt much the same.


After spending that night in Nairobi, we caught a flight to Maasai Mara in the southwest part of Kenya, for a couple of days of real safari. And I can tell you that this experience is unparalleled with anything I've ever done. We've gotten up close and personal with lions, cheetahs, hippos, elephants, giraffes, buffalo and zebra, to name a few. But you know, as overwhelming as this has been, processing and wrapping our hearts and minds around what we experienced in Nairobi and Masii is an even greater challenge for us.


We debriefed again last night about what we've been through and agreed that God provided so much in such a short period of time that we haven't been able to sort it all out yet.  But we did agree that Tumaini is doing a great job of not only providing AIDS orphan sponsorship, but of hope for the future as well.  That the Kenyan people need the love of God in a real way, and are very open to receiving it.  That Tumaini's use of holistic ministry is key to presenting the gospel to east Africa in a way that makes sense. And that we want to keep ridin' the Tumaini bus as it rolls on down this road.


Thanks to all of you who have given, prayed, encouraged and followed this team in any way the last few weeks.  You are part of this experience and we appreciate your place in our lives.  We still have some miles to go before we touch down at LAX Tuesday afternoon at 12:40, so keep praying for us. That we'll have the chance to share with one more person about God's love and hope for them.  That we'll learn just one more lesson.  That we'll hear God's voice one more time.


And that maybe we'll see just one more lion.