Go time! No sweat.

Wowie wow wow! (That's what one of my favorite kids' book characters, Junie B. Jones, would say!) Just about a week 'til we fly across the big ol' pond Africa bound! I'm excited, and thrilled to see the culmination of years' worth of preparation...finally the dream we've worked toward is on the horizon! What an incredible journey!!!
I'm not nervous, apprehensive or worried about any of it....not the flight/train connections, not entertaining the kids on the long transatlantic flight, the jet lag when we get there, whether all our luggage will arrive and in what state. Maybe it's because both Jerry and I have made numerous overseas trips, we just don't seem too concerned about those details, praise God!

Well, AIM takes a lot of those details out of our hands, and if it's hands- no need to worry! They submitted our visa applications, purchased our airline tickets, transport us to the airport, arrange for our pick up in Nairobi and delivery to the mission guest house, our first stop to rest and get over jet lag (which, by the way, sounded to Grace like something awful, "jet lag! That sounds as bad as getting your blood drawn!" She's a trip! Ne'er a dull moment in this family!!
My only concern really is that Olivia will share Jerry's and my excitement at finally arriving in Kenya and drinking in all the sites and sounds of that rich and vibrant place! I pray she will make good friends fast. As I mentioned, I'm sure, I believe for her that will be the key to releasing her anxiety and embracing our new life in Africa.

We won't be "at home", in the home we'll be living in Nairobi at first. First couple days are at the guest house to decompress, then three weeks in Africa Based Orienation AIM provides to give us all the info. we need about Kenyan/ African culture, language learning (Swahili), and everything else we need to know to survive our first few months in Africa. We'll even get a personal "guide" to show us how to ride local public transport (which makes me chuckle....after countless buses and taxis in Costa Rica, I think I could handle whatever Nairobi can throw out us, but I'm glad AIM's got ALL the bases covered. After orientation, we spend 4 weeks with a Kenyan family to experience in person all we've learned about the culture, and more I'm sure! Please pray Grace can keep her opinions on food to herself!! It's hard for me to make a meal she will eat without complaints, so brand new cuisine makes us worry she'll embarass or hurt the feelings of our Kenyan hosts....we have of course discussed it all with her, but she has trouble holding back her emotions :)
FYI, a typical Kenyan meal would probably consist of: meat (beef or goat) or beans, sukuma wiki (“Sukuma wiki” is Swahili for “push the week.” Sukuma wiki is kale, cooked with fat, tomatoes, onions, salt, and beef flavoring. This is also a main food of East Africans because it is inexpensive and easy to grow. The locals can eat this many days in a row on very little money and it gets them through the week.) and ugali (Ugali is a main food of East Africans. It is made with maize flour and water and is cooked until the mixture is hard. It is served in large brick-shaped pieces and is usually eaten with meat, chicken, fish, or vegetables.

I know I've been writing sparsely on this blog, there has been lots to keep us busy as we prepare to move overseas, as you can imagine. After the first three months in Kenya, when we're finally into our rental house, I DO plan to write more and share all the new and "fun" adventures we're sure to have living in Nairobi, encountering big bugs, new foods, new neighbors and a host of other new challenges we haven't yet considered. Will let you know once we've arrived in Kenya! PLEASE pray for us and thank you for your friendship and encouragement all along the path of this journey!!

Breanna