Forever

It's been forever. I'm sorry I've been so silent. It's not for lack of things to talk about or thinking about updating this blog. It's for lack of time because I have so much going on. I'm not going to try to go into all the details but here are a couple of the important things:

Nimo (that's me…at least that's what most of my friends call me) has a BOYFRIEND. (Picture coming soon…or check out my facebook albums, his pictures is the album cover for the last album I created). His name is William something something Mwaura (there is another funny Kikuyu name there in the something somethings that I can never remember). No one calls him William…he goes by Billy, Bill, Willie, Mbiro, or Mwaura. Personally, I prefer Mbiro (Mm-be-row). He is 25 years old, an intern at Nairobi chapel (my church) working in the youth department, he is a sound engineer, loves kids and youth, most importantly loves God will his whole heart, likes experimenting with funny recipes (kind of like a certain brother of mine used to), loves dancing, music, and having fun. There is so much I could say about him, but those are the basics. Oh and this is a very officially approved relationship…my parents, his parents, our pastors, and our friends.

Moving on to a different topic (since I could talk about the other one for hours). I spent last week traveling around Kenya. I visited Eldoret, Kitale, and Kisumu. I hadn't been to Kitale in six years, so it was very nice being there again. I was traveling with K-Krew and World Vision helping (meaning taking photos and doing whatever else I could) with the Amani Milele Concert Tour. World Vision funded a small tour to promote peace in Kenya (Amani Milele means Peace forever). They brought in a musician from Rwanda who experienced the genocide there and a girl from Kosovo who went through the war there. It was a very enjoyable and beneficial time (except that I got sick in Kisumu).

Next week I'm going to Uganda…FINALLY! I get to add a new country to my list of countries visited! I'm going with a group of 20 youth from my church. We will be going to a camp then doing missions work. We'll be out of Kenya for a total of 10 days. (and yes, Mbiro is going too!). I'm excited and I'm very grateful because God provided the needed money (I'm very grateful to those who helped God provide!). Now I just have to figure out the visa situation but hopefully that won't be a problem.

What else? There are so many things that I think I will just stop with the big things and leave the others for later.

Home again

Haven't written much on this blog lately. I've been busy keeping my two other blogs (a journalist journey and Glimpses of Africa) updated.

I'm home in Kenya, just incase you were wondering. I've been back for a week and two days and it feels like I never left. I didn't have any time to be jet lagged but picked up with work last Tuesday and have been going ever since.

So here's what's been up.

After I left NYC I went Atlanta to hang out with a "old" friend. Audri and I have been friends since we were 16 and went to Malawi with Teen Missions International. We had only seen each other ONCE since then and that was FIVE years ago. So I hung out at her house for a couple of days (see the pictures in the last post).

After that I spend a couple of days with my bro and fam in North Carolina. Got another article in our hometown newspaper and got paid for both of the articles they have published. Also got a chance to talk to the Junior High youth group at my home church and catch up with a few friends.

Then it was done to Alabama to hang out with my other bro and fam. We had a family birthday party (my mom is so cool, she sent presents for everyone, balloons etc). I had a couple of deep theological conversations with my big brothers…wow they know so much more than I do. Lots of fun, shopping, enjoying the HOT weather etc.

Then David and Gracie took me to the Atlanta Airport on June 12 and I started my LONG trip back to Kenya. My flight from Atlanta to Chicago was delayed and I started worrying since I only had an hour and 15 minutes originally. I was all set to get new tickets and work through all that and guess what…my flight out of Chicago to London was delayed too and I made it. Got to London later than planned and then I only had about an hour to wait for my flight to Nairobi. Now that's the way to fly.

On my flight from Chicago I sat with some students headed to Ghana for a few months to do mission work. We got to chat quite a bit. The flight from London to Nairobi was all about sleeping and when I got into Nairobi at 9:30pm I didn't feel too bad.

The next day was my mom's birthday and we all had a wonderful day together. Then to church on Sunday and lots of hugs from my friends. Monday hung out and then Tuesday I went to my very first press conference then out to a primary school where I'm now teaching writing once a week. Wednesday was all for writing and Thursday I headed out to the primary school to teacher. Friday I came down with a nasty cold and hung out in bed and did the same on Saturday. Yesterday or jana as we say in Kiswahili, I went to Club Xpressions…the youth service at our church and was very touched by the message on living a life of faith. Then in the evening I headed to a sleepover to say bye to a close friend who is headed back to her home in Switzerland on Wednesday.

Now this week means more work, looking for a house, writing and reporting, teaching and who knows what else. In case you hadn't noticed: I love my life!

Monday at the old schoolhouse with Audri

The old schoolhouse is a museum/theater/restaurant. Its very fun.


Some of the decor

Audri (and I) inside

Audri and I outside in the garden

A Sunday at the Lake with Audrianne

I did a little photo shoot for Audri...got some decent shots (at least in my opinion)

The lake/river was really pretty and there was fog rising off of it (cold water, hot air)


Check out this cute little boy who was there with his dad (he never stopped running)

I was there too and here are the pictures to prove it.