Saying Bye

Today I said bye to most of my "new" friends. I've gotten so close to so many wonderful people in Nairobi and thankfully many of them go to Nairobi Chapel so I go to say good bye to most at church today. There are a few I didn't really get to say good-bye to but I will be back in just 5 weeks so….

The sermon this morning seemed to be just for me. Pastor Gowi (wish he read this but I don't think he knows about my blog J) preached on Courage. It's part of a sermon series on Going the Distance in our Christian lives and is based on Daniel. One of the things he talked about is that courage is acknowledging and facing our fears. Umm…sounds like just what I needed to hear. After the service I went and talked to him and he prayed for me as he has before in difficult moments in the past few months (He was one of the pastors who stood beside me during my struggles on Msafara). What a blessing to have people like that to walk beside on the path called life.

The afternoon was spent writing and packing and talking with my parents. I finished one story for Nation newspaper (I still have another one I'd like to write but…time, time) and I started one for WORLD, now I just have to edit it. I also have one more to write for WORLD…maybe tomorrow? I finally feel like I'm getting the hang of using quotes in my articles, it's been one of the largest downfalls in my writing, and is such a must for journalist writing. I much prefer just using my own words J… how conceited of me.

The evening was a little rough. Mom, Dad and Jed came into my room to give me a couple of "going-away" gifts and Jed saw the suitcases almost packed and started crying. He cried off and on for about 30 minutes. Poor little guy. I've hardly ever been away from him for more than 2 week at a time (and those times have been rare). The last time I went to America by myself, he was only two…though actually he still remembers it a little bit. The kid has one amazing memory! I think this whole ordeal is made even harder by the fact that he knows I'll get to see our family on the other side of the global and he misses them too. A couple of days ago when I told him that I would get to see Victoria, Rebecca, Amanda and Alexandra (my nieces) he looked at me and pitifully and almost mournfully said, "Greet them for me." Then he turned, walked away and started crying. Tonight I heard him upstairs talking with dad about the calendar that they will mark off every day and he asked, "And check her blog everyday too?" Oh the technologically advances of this day and age. He's five and he's asking about checking blogs…I don't think I even knew what a blog was until last year! Well I guess that means I have to keep my blog very up-to-date and hopefully loaded with pictures…so check back often.

Well Jed only gets to sleep one more time before I leave…he still has trouble with the concept of days so we tell him how many times he has to sleep. Then poor thing, he will have to sleep about 38 times before I come back…I don't know if he can comprehend the concept of 38 but maybe.

Keep tuned in over the next 38 days for more about my adventure in "the Big World."