We have arrived!

January 20, 2023

We have arrived!

We made it safely to Kenya! After about 31 hours of traveling we made it to the home of our dear friend James. It was quite the trip! Always a matter of perspective, it is a trip that could be framed in a few different ways.

I could tell you about the chaos of bringing 8 kids through security, trying to shuffle them on and off of planes, a delayed flight in Salt Lake rushing our connection in Paris, in which we had to walk down stairs carrying all of our stuff and children, squeeze in to a shuttle, walk a long terminal, ride a subway and scurry just in time to make a connection on a crowded flight. I could mention how a child puked in her bag, screamed though our our flight, how a bottle of French Keifer was dumped all over Titus’s seat, blankets and pillows adding a distinctive yogurt scent to their entire row. I could mention that we arrived in Paris the same day of an airline workers strike and as a result sat in a crowded airplane for two hours before it moved, waiting 3 hours before they offered us even a sip of water. I could tell about how I made the kids give me the window seat to I could try to sleep with the baby, only to find out there was no pull down shade and so I got baked with afternoon sun as we flew over the Sahara desert; sweating instead of sleeping. I could tell you about the car ride where Titus put me and the five youngest children in a van, leaving one teenager to help, while he swiftly headed for another vehicle for a tranquil ride to our lodging. The supposedly helping teenager, who had managed to stay awake for three airline flights, promptly fell asleep. I meanwhile got to ride the bumpy roads with a screaming infant and four children (including a two year old going through a biting phase) who hadn’t been to bed in over 30 hours, squeezed into the back row. When it was said and done we only lost one piece of luggage in transit- mine.

Or, I could tell you of the wonders of our day. We experienced the miracle of intercontinental flight, and survive traveling to Africa with 8 children in one day! We arrived safely, even though their was a workers strike in Paris, our flight was not canceled. And even though our flight was delayed. God watched over us! I got to watch through the window as we flew over the alps, the green hills of Tuscany and the Mediterranean Sea. I witnessed the sun shimmering on the Aegean Sea as it glimmered silver in the descending sun. I got to witness the landmark that I had only discussed with my students this past week at we studied Ancient Greek history. We were greeted upon arriving with many friends, a welcome dance from the Masai, and multiple vehicles required to transport our crew. We were fed a feast when we got to James house even though it was one in the morning, we were received like Kings.