This is Kenya

There are many things that I will miss when we go to America - and I will share some of those in the next few days - but there are many things that I will not miss about living in the country, this country that I do love. Still it can be a frustrating place to live at times. 


While in America, I will not miss.....

* Boiling water to wash dishes,

* Days when there is no water coming from the tap,

* Matatus,

* Faces of abandonment - everyday, 

* Government officials giving directions to write in false info in official documents,

* Using pad locks to lock my doors,

* Seeing absolute desperation every time I leave my house,

* Power outages,

* Nakuru dust covered floors every afternoon,

* Being swarmed & followed down the street by people begging for money,

* Waiting for cows,

* Waiting for goats,

* "Mzungu! Mzungu!"

* Seeing glue boys,

* Drought caused starvation,

* Poverty cause starvation,

* "Tax Collector" stops (aka: police road checks)

* Boiling water to take a bath,

* Death, 

* People nodding and saying "yes" when they really have no clue what you are saying,

* Pit latrines for public restrooms,

* Traffic jams - and, no, the ones in Houston do NOT even compare!

* Bad roads - and, no, west Texas country roads do NOT come close to comparing!

* Smells,

* Officials hinting for bribes,

* Milk in a box or bag,

* hard-to-crack eggs,

* Picking up the pieces & dealing with unrealistic expectations of Kenyans due to foreign visitors who think they are doing the right thing by giving money, giving things, putting Band-Aids on bigger problems.


Many real things. Many superficial things. That is life. That is a glimpse into my life. Though I love my life and love what I do, there are things I will not miss about it. There are reasons why I need to take a break, to go home, to refresh, regenerate, and regain perspective.

I hope you read this as a glimpse into the reality of my daily life, not as a complaining list of negatives in my life. 


Because at the same time, I still count my many blessings in the wonderful life.....

286. Chasing a sunset.

287. Sending Little Girl off on her first game drive without mama.

288. Jully & Julia and Lizzy & Elizabeth out on an adventure.

289. First box to America PACKED!!

290. Days in single digits!!

291. Elizabeth singing & playing guitar for the boys.

292. Fun new shawls made by CH ladies.

293. One of the CH lady’s small bonus, big impact.

294. A line of blue backed birds on a wire.

295. Fresh baked brownies for the boys.

296. Boys acting silly.