Feels like coming home.

For most of us the overwhelming feeling has been one of returning home.  It's not a foreign place anymore and although there is still a sense of wonder and excitement generally we're all just ecstatic to be back.  Even Tim mentioned feeling like he was picking up family from the airport as opposed to a new team.  It's rare that he has teams where he knows so many of them by name right off the plane.  Of course the caveat to this whole paragraph would be Janice and Colleen…Janice is constantly giddy and Colleen has a perm-a-grin.  In fact when I asked Janice yesterday what her first impression was, she vibrated, literally.  

Even though it feels like home there were many things that surprised me again.  I forgot how many people walk.  They walk everywhere and for miles a day and generally any road you travel has masses of people walking somewhere.  In amongst all those walking people on the side of the roads is a plant called Sisal.  I love Sisal, I think it might be my favourite plant.  I know that's weird but really it's great stuff, very very very useful.

Not only were there old things that surprised me but lots of new things too.  They actually have new very drivable road most of the way to Athi River.  It was amazing to see it done and although I know it's not the norm for most of Kenya it was still amazing to see it and drive it.  Also on the sides of the road are plant nurseries where you can buy plants of every shape and size and while that's not new the plot gardens beside them are.  I found it ironic that something that's grown so much in Calgary in the last two years has also grown here.  Although I suspect it has been in Kenya for longer while at home it's just the 'Latest In Thing' that hopefully will stick around in the long run.

Our timeline yesterday was mostly about keeping us awake.  We got to Kenya before the sun rose and after a short trip to Lukenya and some much needed breakfast and showers we had some orientation time with Tim.  It was a good review and very interesting to hear all the changes that have gone on in the African Brotherhood Church.  It will be exciting to watch what I think is the start of a new very prosperous era for them in the coming years.  

After lunch we headed out for our first safari drive and although we did see a lot of water in places that either never had water or had so little it might as well have been dry it was still sad for those of us who've been here to realize how many animals died in the drought.  Colleen and Janice both thought they got to see plenty of animals but it was a drastic change from what we had seen before with entire species missing in our head count.  Although it's saddening and scary it's a good learning experience for the team as the next time we hear the words drought we will all have a much better understanding.

At lunch today we'll leave for Machakos and then later in the week to Mwingi.  We have no idea what our internet will be, if we have any, but we'll keep you updated as best we can and then post about it all when able.

Sending our love to you all!