A Room with a View

Karibu from Kijabe, Kenya!

Yesterday's post was about the adventure of making new friends in Nairobi. That was only the beginning!

At 3:00 I found my contact -one of the chaplains at RVA (see earlier blog if you don't know what that is) -on the giant bus full of students that would take us up the mountain to the school. It was truly one of those harrowing/exciting/eye-opening experiences one only has in developing countries. First it was the long, jerking diesel ride through Nairobi's bumpy roads and dense traffic and then out of the city where it opened up a bit more and we zoomed past walkers on the side of the road. Soon we passed a series of slums which I cannot describe. We drove by so quickly they hardly seemed real.

Along the road there were many roadside stands selling fruits and veggies and sheepskin products and meat. The meat places had names like "Blessed Butchery." I guess I am the only one to catch the irony.

Then we stared our ascent. Suddenly I looked out the window and I was looking down. I don't know when we began to climb but the trees opened up to breathtaking views of the great Rift Valley.

While we rode, I got to know some of the students. Many are American or Korean citizens, but I believe there are another 20 nationalities represented. Some of their families are new to the mission field but others are students who have lived their whole lives in an African nation. They live in places like Mozambique, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Kenya, and countries that cannot be named because it is dangerous for missionaries to be there.

The students are remoarkable -incredibly welcoming and inqusitive and open to discussion. In some ways they are just like adolescents in other places I have been, but in other ways are incredibly different. They are used to traveling alone, living in Africa, and boarding at school.

I keep thinking to myself that I can't believe I am here. The sunset tonight was breathtaking -of course I forgot a camera. I enjoyed it with the group of 5th and 6th grade boys and their dorm parents over pizza and brownie sundaes (I felt right at home!)

Tomorrow I speak for 2 chapel sessions and visit 2 9th grade Bible classes. Tomorrow Jeff begins his travels here. If you think to pray, pray him here -especially Friday night (noon at home). He will be driven up by a Kenyan driver, which is great, but I have been told the night drive is "risky."

Kris
PS: Not checking spelling and grammar -too slow on this connection. Apologies in advance.