we're here!

Well we have arrived in Kosele safe and sound.                                                                                       

The journey was good but long and tiring – leaving home at 8.30 on Monday morning and arriving here at 4.30 on Tuesday afternoon. David and Yvonne dropped us at Glasgow airport. We had a long stopover in Amsterdam but took a train into the centre and enjoyed a few hours looking around the city in glorious sunshine. Overnight flight and as usual we didn’t catch any sleep. Transfer to local flight at Nairobi – and we didn’t have to pay any excess luggage despite having over 80Kg of bags to check in. Mary was there to meet us at Kisumu airport and it was great to see her again. Changed money in Kisumu, visited the immigration office, had lunch and did some shopping with Mary. Her main concern was to buy more maize flour to make the children’s porridge – the price has really shot up and supply is so low the shops are rationing it to 2 or 3 packets per person – so we each bought some! A further 2 hours drive to Kosele and a lovely welcome from the kids, some of whom had stayed behind after school to sing for us. Great to see everyone again and experience the warmth of their welcome!

  

After a 12 hour sleep we had a quiet day unpacking and trying to find places to put all the stuff we’ve brought, and greeting people that we didn’t see yesterday. There have been some improvements since we were last here, and things feel positive. However the situation in the community is not good with the maize crop poor and many people hungry.

We're diving in!

Well, we’ve booked our flights so we’re definitely getting set now for an eight month return to Kenya. We’re just waiting for visas to arrive from the Kenya High Commission in London – they should arrive at the beginning of next week. Meantime, there’s a list of things to do and people to see, so the next 2 weeks will be busy.

We fly Glasgow- Amsterdam on Monday 27 June and then overnight Amsterdam – Nairobi. Next is a short local flight to Kisumu in western Kenya. Maybe spending a night in Kisumu and then a 2-hour drive along by Lake Victoria and up the hill to Kosele on the 29^th. We’re looking forward to seeing our friends at Kosele but a bit nervous as this will be our first longer stay in Kenya - previous visits have just been for 3 or 4 weeks.

Once there we want to catch up with the staff and children at the home, and with the church leaders and members. Initially our focus will be on continuing to build relationships, learn more about Luo culture - and hopefully a bit of the Luo language – and exploring how we can work with the local managers and church leaders and encourage them.

So far, planning and preparing for this trip has gone really well. This just reinforces our conviction that this is all God’s doing and that he will be with us in this big adventure. Please remember us and pray for us as we take this step out of our comfort zones, that we would continue in good health and that we will see more of God’s Kingdom coming in Kosele.