My first day in Kenya!

It’s officially the end of my first day in Kenya! Words really can’t describe how I’m feeling but I will do my best.

Learner. There is so much change that it would have been helpful if I could wipe my brain clean and start over! Obviously one of the main things I get to learn while I’m here is the Kiswahili language and I was so proud of myself last night on my way home from the airport, my driver and SIM person were talking in Kiswahili and I understood one word, “jioni” which means night! J

One of the other main things that I get to learn while here is the culture. Such things as guards, small streets, and calling a taxi are all things I will get use to. As I was coming home tonight I heard this phrase about the roads in Kenya, “The streets in America are built to last about 20 years, in Britain 10 years, in Kenya…until it rains.” That conversation came up after we had just went through a pothole. Good times!

Adventurous. Over the next few days and weeks to come, there are many new things I will get to do and many new things I will get to experience. But I am so up for the challenge! I will be able to share more about those things as I experience them because all I really know right now is words on a paper. Stories are so much more fun… and therefore here’s one that portrays my day/afternoon today.

This morning I slept in as long as I could, organized my luggage, got settled in and realized I was pooped! I curled back up in my bed and slept for another 2 hours. As my alarm went off I got up, went downstairs to meet one of my roommates, and then went to orientation. I got a few my questions answered (more to come on this later), got a good overview of what is expected of me and just enjoyed good fellowship with my coordinator.

Soon after, a taxi came and picked me up, we stopped and got one other girl and then was dropped off at a missionary home where we played I don’t know how many games of volleyball. It was such great fun and I learned it is a weekly tradition! We played until we couldn’t see the ball any longer, went inside and enjoyed pizza (yes I know the nights not over yet…), salad, worshipped Jesus and shared prayer requests. There was probably close to 20 people there; such a great way to spend my first day!

Full of joy. As I look back on these last several months of praying, trying to picture what Kenya is like, seeing God show up in amazing ways, and then finally stepping off the plane and being here, nothing other than pure joy is in my heart at the moment. I know as I settle in, hard times will come, but how I want to remember my first day is Kenya to help me through those days is the joy I feel because of Jesus. There was no better way I could have asked to spend my first night than surrounded by other believers singing Bless the Lord oh my soul. The pace of life is different, and there are so many more things to get to enjoy, but tonight, I just want to enjoy the sweet presence of my Savior, the one who planned this day before I was even born and knew all the blessings we were going to see together. He is the reason I am here and I’m so thankful He is with me on this journey.

Jesus- Thank you for your presence, for your joy, and for your goodness as I lay my head on my pillow this evening. You are so incredibly good to me and I am blessed to be called a child of God. May you be glorified through me as you use me to complete your work. May I submit to your ways always, may I learn to trust you more, and may many come to know you through these days. In Your precious name I pray, Amen.