Going Quiet Now

We're in Nairobi. Trevor flew out of here on Wednesday night :-(

Colin didn't get a place for 10th grade at RVA (boarding school here in Kenya) but we accompanied Tammy to drop off her son, Chase, for 11th. The Russells are family so it was like seeing someone who is closer than a cousin/pretty much a brother off. We said goodbye to him this morning. I cried a lot and my eyes stayed puffy all day.

We've been running a long marathon for what feels like ages. It's all good. Beautiful things have transpired. Beautiful people have been out to TZ and shared the journey with us in the last couple of months. God is beautiful in the midst of hectic times. And in other times, as well.

I finished the manuscript and sent it to my publisher in the U.K. last Tuesday. I wish I could say something a little more descriptive about it than that but I am so tired right now.

We're going to Loita tomorrow. We lived there for 10 years, you know. It always feel like going home. We'll camp. Byron will have to work but we'll stay long enough to make sure he rests and reads and does some nice hikes in the hills, as well. My work will be visiting in the homes of friends and cooking over the camp fire.

We can walk 30 minutes to our old house from where we'll camp and possibly go on line if we need to. But we won't do that much, I don't think.

So I'm going quiet now.

See you in a couple of weeks.

Arusha Calling...

Today marks 7 weeks since we left home in Arusha. It's 4 weeks and 2 days till we begin the journey back.

It's a long time to be away from home and normal routine. There is so much good in it and I'm really, truly, very deeply thankful. It's so important and so beautiful to get time with people we love and care for and who love and care for us.

But tonight I'm just kind of worn out.

Nothing else to say really.

I guess I'm just homesick for Africa.

No More Thinking Please

I'm so tired I'm numb all over. I want to get into bed. I don't want to have to THINK about anything... at least for a while.

I can't work out how to book six tickets to Kilimanjaro Airport. Several of us are traveling on different dates. Some return. Some return only as far as London and then need another ticket back to Tanzania. Should we go through Nairobi or Dar? Is the customs in Kenya worth the hassle in order to land there and shuttle down on the bus? Would be more efficient though longer to go through Dar?

Where is Trevor going for college? That depends on what is best for who he is. What IS best for who he is?

Can he get to Tanzania early, like he would like to? It would be so cool. But what about Colin back here? Colin kind of needs Trevor around. Brothers are important and he'll be gone soon enough without leaving any earlier than he has to. On the other hand, Colin will live if Trevor does travel early.

Is this container thing really going to work out? Is it better to air freight the motorcycles?

How many motorcycles have we shipped to Africa in the past, anyway? Why do the shipping companies sound like they know less than we do?

What can I expect? Am I behaving in an "entitled" way when I think it would be nice to be able to afford to bring my college-aged kids back to Africa a couple of times?

How do we get everything done we need to before flying?

Does the dog need more shots? I know WE need more shots. Where are our immunization records?

What else will Colin and Heather need for home school next year?

Do I have to do what people expect of me?

What if I start yelling?

Can I go to bed now?