Nimefika

It’s kind of nice how waking up early due to jet lag gives me the opportunity to write more blog entries.

Yesterday was a beautiful reunion with my beloved Nairobi, blemished only by my extreme fatigue. As I waited in the long visa line at the airport in Nairobi, the guys in front of me struck up small talk. “Where are you from? What organization are you with?” Amazingly, we discovered we were all there visiting the Kenya Navigators. There had been hundreds of people on our flight, about 8 different visa lines, and out of all of them we ended up right next to each other. It turned out that their flight had been delayed and they weren’t sure they had anyone there to pick them up.

When we finally got out of the airport, Erastus (my ride) was not there. This would have really worried me if I had been by myself. But it worked out really nicely that I was able to borrow their phone to call him (turned out he was desperately searching for parking), and then Erastus was able to pick us up without parking and drive us all to where we needed to go. One of the guys, who was visiting Kenya for the first time, told me he was their “first God sighting.” I think they were mine too.

Traffic was unusually terrible on the way from the airport and it took us about two and a half hours to get to Erastus’ house. All the while we were crammed into his vehicle with a million bags, breathing noxious highway fumes. I had hardly slept in 40 some hours. I’m sure I smelled wonderful.

Steve, one of the guys we picked up, was actually in charge of Navigator “Africa partners” which is the branch of the Navigators I should be under now, technically, since I’m no longer on staff but I have a history with the Navs Africa. After hearing my story, he told me he was very grieved that I felt there was no place for my heart for the poor within the Navs Africa. He wished the Navs hadn’t lost me and encouraged me to think about whether there might be a way to integrate those things. But he acknowledged that he himself had seen the many struggles of other people trying to integrate discipleship and development and that there is no straightforward answer. It was a very interesting conversation. I’m so glad for the very Providential “coincidence” of running into them.

At Erastus’ house it was wonderful to see Susan and the girls (who have grown like crazy). I had breakfast with them and we all caught up. They had a lot to share about all that has happened for them in the last two years. I was amazed that I was functioning at all, after neglecting pretty much every need of my body for so long. I had to practice the discipline of sitting in uncomfortable positions in order to stay awake.

Then Erastus brought me to Jemima’s house, where I will be staying these two weeks. The drive down Ngong Road, my old stomping grounds, was so incredible. The flood of memories alone was so sweet, but then to see how much it has been built up in just two years was amazing. It has been really transformed. I rejoice because these are signs of economic progress in Kenya.

Then Jemima and I talked the whole entire day! It was so great hearing from her, sitting in our old house just like old times. I wish I’d been more alert, of course, but it was just a perfect day. We visited the neighborhood shopkeeper, who still remembered me. I faked my way through our Swahili conversation and she believed I had even improved. I forced myself to stay awake until about 7:30pm, and then crashed for the first time in 54 hours. Sweet, sweet sleep.

I’m reminded of the incredible hospitality here, the beautiful gift of TIME and rich relationship that people share with one another so generously. I’m reminded of the simplest provisions of God expressed in chance airport encounters. The unseen realities of my faith are seen here.

It really feels like coming home.