We are eager to share with each of you the impact of this trip--stories of God's goodness, and pictures of our experiences, but for now we thought we would tide you over with a top 10 list. So here are the Top 10 Things We've Learned About Kenya.
#10 - When with Kenyans in a rural area, if they do not eat the goat intestines...neither should you.
#9 - It never gets old seeing giraffe, zebra, antelope, and monkeys running around like we would see deer and raccoons. 
#8 - Everything is "sawa" (ask Jim).
#7 - Kenyans do not understand why we laugh when we pronounce "Karibu" (Kah-re-boo; Swahili for "Welcome") as "Caribou" or Machakos (city where Scott is located) as Muchachos (Spanish for Men).
#6 - There is no traffic right of way. Also no lane markers. If your car fits--go!
#5 - Cell reception in rural Kenya, where there is no access to electricity or plumbing, has a stronger signal than many of us have at our homes in the US.
#4 - The Internet (even Facebook) has made its way to Kenya. Many have seen its ability to suck away time. [Side note: Thank you for visiting our blog.]
#3 - There are no speed limits, but there are random speed bumps (official) and massive pot-holes (unofficial) as means of control on tarmac (highway).
#2 - Despite being prepared by Mark Rogers in a recent sermon from Judges on how to tear a lion to pieces ("as one tears a young goat..." in case you were wondering), when actually faced with one, it is better to just take pictures.
#1 - Hakuna Matata is more than a Disney song. There is an inspiring joy, humility, and contentedness in the face of great challenge among our brothers and sisters in Kenya. Kenyan Christians are actively praying for the United States, and it is easy to imagine a time in the near future where equipped missionaries will be sent out from Kenya to Europe and the US rather than vice-versa.
We are coming home! We have greatly enjoyed our time here in Kenya. We are stronger as individuals having done this work. We are stronger as a team, having completed this time together. We are confident that by God's grace, our families, our church...our lives all will be strengthened by this encouraging work and the relationships built during this brief time in Kenya.
Having wrapped things up here, we can say the following with confidence: For those that supported financially--that money was spent for the glory of God. For those that supported with prayer--your prayers were needed, and felt. For those that remained at home, and sacrificed in a very different way; this sacrifice was for God's glory. Thank you!
We'll be departing Scott soon to have lunch with the Vice Chancellor and Scott Board . We'll then head to the Mbandi's home in Nairobi (to avoid evening traffic) before flying out tonight. See you all very soon!
