And so it begins...

And so it begins…. another cross-Atlantic journey is underway!  It hardly seems a year since we were last in Kenya.  It is with a mixture of excitement and trepidation that we head out again…excitement at reconnecting with our friends, and the warm and gracious people of Kenya, and trepidation about the yet to be experienced, seemingly inevitable difficulties of getting there.  Hopefully, this year’s journey will not involve any unexpected stays in Istanbul (or any other unplanned connecting cities)!  Pray that our 300 pounds of luggage makes it along with us, and that the custom agents in Nairobi are generous and trusting.  The good news is that Marilyn and I have survived yet another marriage stress test…. packing!  We are getting to be experts at preparation now, but still struggle with achieving a balance between our needed personal items and donated items…. the donated items continue to win the battle!  Hopefully we have enough clothing to get us through.  It’s amazing however,  how little one really needs when “push comes to shove”.  Thankfully, we will have some eager Kenyan women looking for work, and happy to do some laundry and cleaning for us.  Among the donated supplies, we have an ample supply of chocolate chips, nuts, and pepperoni…we are looking forward to seeing what Livingston (our guesthouse cook) can create for us!  Many of these individuals associated with the guesthouse have begun to feel like extended family…. and will undoubtedly be waiting to greet us with big warm smiles, and hugs all around.  In addition to the local Kenyan staff, we will also be reconnecting with some long-term missionaries and their families….also “extended family”.  An added bonus this year will be the chance to connect with our dear friend and sister-in-Christ, Matilda Ongondi.  Many of you had the chance to meet her while she stayed with us for a few months last year, so you understand the reason for the fondness and love that we feel for her.  She was supposed to be gone this year when we arrived, but her plans to go to Australia to train in Hematology/Oncology have been stalled…as a result, we should be able to get together with her somewhere along our trek to Bomet and Tenwek Hospital!  I hope to get some great pictures, and will definitely send them along to everyone who knows her.  Keep us in your prayers…we would appreciate prayers for safety, for preparation of our hearts, and for the skills to help the patients that we will encounter over the next several weeks.  I will keep you posted on our travel progress.  With love, Randy