Kenya Christmas

Over Christmas, Wellspring had a two week break. Heather and I decided to take that time to visit Kenya. Since I first went there as a seventh grader, I've always loved the country. It's been a significant part of my life since then and I attribute my time in Kenya to instilling in me a love for Africa and it's people. I've often shared with Heather about my experiences in Kenya and the people and places that made it so special. With two free weeks in December, it only made sense that we fly there so she could finally see the place that means so much to me.

We began our trip with two nights in the Masai Mara - a beautiful national park filled with every type of animal imaginable. If you think of an African safari, more than likely you're picturing a place like the Mara. We saw lions, elephants, cheetahs, rhinos, and a host of other animals. It was incredible to see such amazing creatures in their natural environment. It has, however, probably ruined zoos for us for the foreseeable future!

                                 

Heather was trying to play it cool, but I think our proximity to Simba freaked her out a little!

 Heather and I overlooking the Mara river...with hippos sunbathing in the background.

Next, we spent a week at Rift Valley Academy (RVA) where I graduated from high school in 2004. It was great to see my old school again, along with the many modernizations and new buildings that have gone up in the ten years since I left. It was a blast to see old teachers and family friends and to introduce Heather to them. I even got to show her the house my parents lived in for the seven years they served there. We spent Christmas with several other missionary families and had a wonderful time of fellowship. We got to FaceTime our families also, which was a blessing! I played basketball a couple of times which, of course, was just as much of a highlight for me now as it was for me when I was attending!

The Christmas crew! What a blessing to be with friends over the holidays.

While we were at RVA I made sure to meet up with some of my family's close Kenyan friends. We also went to Little Lambs, the orphanage that is very near to my mom's heart. It was fun to see the kids after so many years. Many of them looked like adults and are truly making something of themselves - a testament to the hard work and dedication of the staff. The younger kids, as always, clung to us and just wanted to be held. The joy and love of the kids and staff is contagious. Little Lambs is one of those places that, no matter how bad of a day you're having, it's impossible to leave in a bad mood. 

Heather and I surrounded by some new friends at Little Lambs.

The last part of our trip was spent in Mombasa on Kenya's coast. We got to enjoy the beach and the beautiful Indian Ocean. We snorkeled, swam, and relaxed. A fitting end to our trip and a very rejuvenating time that prepared us well for returning to Chad.

Spending some time enjoying Mombasa's South Beach.

Traditional dhows that are still used for transportation and fishing by the locals.

While this vacation was mainly about relaxing and enjoying the sights, we also got to enjoy the company of many other missionaries serving with Africa Inland Mission. It is always an honor to be around such incredible people that have dedicated their lives to the service of others. It's humbling to see and it's a great reminder of why we're here on this planet in the first place.

One of the Kenyan churches we visited. It was a blessing to worship with them!

***If you want to see more pictures of our trip to Kenya, please check out Heather's Facebook!