I have read, viewed pictures and heard stories of this place. Now it is a reality, so much more than a picture in a book. I have to keep pinching myself because it seems so surreal...

My journey began on November 19, I left Brian and Selah, trying to be strong but ended up tearfully getting into my car for my drive down to Atlanta. Thankfully, we still have a house in the ATL so that is where I stayed for the evening. The fact that I was leaving for Kenya in less than 24 hours had not fully sunk in. I arrived in Atlanta and had the opportunity to spend some time with my good friend and neighbor, Davina. The time I got to spend with her helped to ease my nerves and her prayers for my forthcoming journey comforted me! Thank God for her! I ended up having to take a sleeping pill to aid me in my quest for a decent nights rest. It didn't work too well, I was wide awake at 3:00 AM.

Fast forward and it is now afternoon on November 20. I had lunch with my friend Shelly at Steak n Shake!!! My last hurrah of greasy American goodness, as I knew I would not have such an indulgence in Kenya! Once again, being with a good friend helped to ease my nerves! After lunch Shelly drove me over to my church just down the road. There the team was assembling to head down to the airport. At that moment, I found the nerves fading and excitement starting to fill me...it was all becoming real!

Once at the airport the realization of our journey for the next 20 + hours became very real. The first flight would take us to Amsterdam, there we would wait a couple of hours then off to Nairobi. I have to give props to KLM because we had two very pleasant flights. Way too much food though, it seemed like we were being fed every two hours! Also, thank God for in flight entertainment. 16+ hours on a plane can be a bit boring. However, on these flights I watched a few movies, TV shows and even played Tetris! Great distractions to keep one's mind off of that fact that you are flying over 30,000 feet above the earth in a metal tube! :)

Around 8:30 PM we find ourselves in the Nairobi airport. Going through the Immigration line took FOREVER!!! Thankfully all of our luggage arrived safely and as we walked out of the airport we were greeted by all of our Kenyan friends! It was a lovely welcoming and I was so excited to be there! From the airport we traveled to our accommodations and I didn't have any trouble falling asleep. The next eleven days will be jam packed and I was full of much anticipation!!!