Kenya

Jambo! If you are a world traveler or perhaps a linguist, you may know that this greeting is common in East African countries where Swahili is spoken. No, we are not learning yet another language or moving to yet another place in Africa. Charlotte and I just returned from a trip to Kenya! (The other half of the Shinar family were unable to go due to the adoption.)

Our last “vacation” or “much needed time away” was almost a year ago after we evacuated. It has been a long, difficult, and stressful year. For most of the time that we have been in Yaounde, we have been saying things like, “We’re leaving soon” or “I’m not sure if we will be here for that event” and so on. The waiting and the not knowing have been exhausting. We thought about taking some time away at Christmas but, “We’re leaving soon!” Ha. So when other missionaries began making plan for our semi-annual African Missionary Fellowship, once again I was not sure where we would be as the time came. One thing I did know was that I was desperate for a break. I guess Charlotte was too because there were some visitors that came to do a VBS type program for the missionary kids here in Cameroon. When they asked for prayer requests, she asked that they pray for the adoption “because we are stuck here until it is done.” Stuck. I don’t think I have ever used that word around her, but I can resonate.

Usually our fellowship is in Cameroon, but this year it was in Kenya! Now, if you have never traveled to Africa you might think all the countries are the same. Oh man! Kenya is a whole other Africa than Cameroon- especially Nairobi. Josh and I were there 10 years ago, but I didn’t remember how modern and fancy it is. Maybe it has developed a lot in the last decade, or as I suspect is the case- the difference between Yaounde and Nairobi are just so drastic. The roads are paved and wide. All of the cars are new and clean. No taxis in sight because everyone Ubers! There are malls and American fast food chains. Now usually I am the type of traveler that is eager to try local cuisine, but their ball of corn mush is so similar to the ball of corn mush we eat in Cameroon that I felt I could be “that” American tourist and eat Domino’s pizza and Cold Stone ice cream! We went into a “Walmart” type store and I almost cried. There were so many things!

While Nairobi is modern with bits of American culture thrown in, it is also rich with history and beauty. Charlotte and I had a wonderful time visiting the Giraffe center and the David Sheldrick Elephant & Rhino Orphanage. We got to hand feed the giraffes and get “kisses” from the giraffes. We also got to see baby elephants drink from a bottle, play with a soccer ball, and eat right in front of us. We even got to touch them!

Speaking of animals, we were also gifted a two-day safari in the Masai Mara! On our last home assignment, people kept asking Charlotte what type of animals we see in Cameroon. Well, the answer is “goats, chickens, and cows!” Now if someone asks her, she can say that she has seen giraffes, zebras, elephants, antelopes of all kinds, wildebeests, wart hogs, ostriches, hippos, and so on. She was also super excited to stay in a “tent.” It was unlike any tent I had ever stayed in. It was a luxury tent- glamping (glam + camping). It was so lovely there. I wish we could have stayed longer.

After our time in Nairobi and the Masai Mara, we headed to the coast for our conference. We stayed at a lovely hotel in Watamu right on the Indian Ocean. It was so nice not to have to cook, clean, or hand wash a million dishes! And there was air conditioning. Oh man, that was awesome!

We joined other Covenant missionaries from Cameroon, Congo, Mozambique, and Kenya. We met some new missionaries and had a sweet reunion with others that we had not seen in a while. There were several staff members from the Covenant offices that came as well to lead devotions and a class on financial wellness.

 The break from our normal routine was much needed. We had a great time and were ready to come home to see Daddy and Sissy, but honestly, I cried before we left for Cameroon. It is hard (and maybe even harder than before) to be back and face the unknown and the waiting again- to be “trapped” again. But I am thankful to be able to approach this time feeling renewed and rested.