Arrival in Kenya

We had a fascinating flight from Amsterdam to Kenya. It was almost all during the day. Initially we could see the snow tipped Alps out our window on the left side of the plane. We then made our way down the boot of Italy seeing coastal towns. It then opened up to the bright blue Mediterranean Sea. One of the most amazing images was the sharp white, uninhabited sands of the Sahara against the deep blue ocean of the Mediterranean as we crossed over and onto the African continent. Then as we flew over the Darfur region of Sudan I thought of all the stories and sorrow occurring to the people 37,000 feet below me. Next we crossed into the central part of Africa out of the dessert. The sun was setting and the land became darker with so few of the lights that one normally sees flying at night over the continental US. We then safely landed in Nairobi.

Our driver, Patrick, took us and another short term medical missionary to the Mennonite Guest house where we spent the evening in comfortable quarters. Both Amy and I woke up way to early (time change). We had a wonderful family style breakfast with several other people, mostly lifetime missionaries, that were staying at the guest house during their periodic trip to Nairobi for supplies. Our new driver, Jared, picked us up and took us to the local market where we bought two weeks worth of food. We then drove one hour to Kijabe, our home for the next two weeks. During the trip there were many new images: people walking everywhere, very primitive and crowded living quarters, shepherds with sheep, a pig, many donkeys (some pulling carts).

At Kijabe we were taken to our living quarters...a very spacious 3 bedroom apartment with more than enough room for Amy and I; it could easily accommodate a family a five. We have met a few neighbors, I ran to the Hospital to get this Internet connection going, and we are going to dinner at a full time missionary physician's home.

We trust that our kids are doing well...we talk about them often.

Mitch