It's 4 a.m. here in Nairobi, Kenya, and my body clock says it's not an appropriate time for sleeping. I flew in day before yesterday, and as soon as I got off the walkway I saw a lady holding a sign with my name on it. She was the sister of Mrs. Okumbe, who I had met in Chico just before leaving. I was so grateful. After nearly 30 hours of traveling with little sleep, I wasn’t in complete control of my faculties and it was wonderful to have someone lead me through immigration and customs without having to wait in any lines.
Outside the airport, under the Barcley’s bank sign was a crowd of people waiting and right in front was a man holding a sign that said, “Aden Torres”. The driver’s name, I learned, was Paul. We set out along the busy highway, driving on the left side of the street as they do in England. There were very few street lines and no stoplights or stop signs. The rule of the road is, the driver coming from the right side has the right of way in a crossing. I don’t think pedestrians have rights, although if one is hit, the driver will be mobbed and possibly killed!
Everywhere I saw people walking on trails and sidewalks beside the road. There is all manner of shrubbery and flowering plans, and what isn’t covered with dust from the road is green. I saw large storks flying by, some with ugly heads and some with curved beaks. This morning I even saw a pair of toucans!
I spent the night in a simple room at the SDA guest house, and early this morning, since the other ladies flight was delayed, I took a trip to the zoo. There were just a few of the usual zoo animals, but I was happy to pet a tiny Thompson’s gazelle. These animals are the smallest of the deer species, standing only about 2 feet tall, with tiny little legs and round beady eyes. The Thompson shared his pen with a tall proud ostrich who strutted back and forth and pecked at my camera lens when I tried to take his picture. In another place was an aviary with an African Gray parrot who wiggled himself along the wire until he sat in front of me and let me stroke his feet.
Later the driver pointed out to me a huge slum with rows of low, corrugated tin roofs. Most of these people work in factories, he explained. Everywhere on the busy streets were people selling things: peanuts, kitchen utensils, and newspapers. We passed shops with bins full of colorful produce and flowers. I stopped and bought some mangoes, which the seller convinced me were ready to eat, even though they were hard. I ate a huge one for lunch and it was certainly not half as ripe as I hoped.
Early in the afternoon the other three ladies arrived: Daryl Oft’s wife Mary Jo, his daughter Autumn, and a lady from their church named Shirly. Mary Jo is very sweet and pretty. Autumn is 22 and has just graduated from PUC with her nursing degree. Shirly is a middle-aged mother of 6 who is very active in her church and will be doing one of the evangelistic series in the village.
Everywhere I saw people walking on trails and sidewalks beside the road. There is all manner of shrubbery and flowering plans, and what isn’t covered with dust from the road is green. I saw large storks flying by, some with ugly heads and some with curved beaks. This morning I even saw a pair of toucans!
I spent the night in a simple room at the SDA guest house, and early this morning, since the other ladies flight was delayed, I took a trip to the zoo. There were just a few of the usual zoo animals, but I was happy to pet a tiny Thompson’s gazelle. These animals are the smallest of the deer species, standing only about 2 feet tall, with tiny little legs and round beady eyes. The Thompson shared his pen with a tall proud ostrich who strutted back and forth and pecked at my camera lens when I tried to take his picture. In another place was an aviary with an African Gray parrot who wiggled himself along the wire until he sat in front of me and let me stroke his feet.
Later the driver pointed out to me a huge slum with rows of low, corrugated tin roofs. Most of these people work in factories, he explained. Everywhere on the busy streets were people selling things: peanuts, kitchen utensils, and newspapers. We passed shops with bins full of colorful produce and flowers. I stopped and bought some mangoes, which the seller convinced me were ready to eat, even though they were hard. I ate a huge one for lunch and it was certainly not half as ripe as I hoped.
Early in the afternoon the other three ladies arrived: Daryl Oft’s wife Mary Jo, his daughter Autumn, and a lady from their church named Shirly. Mary Jo is very sweet and pretty. Autumn is 22 and has just graduated from PUC with her nursing degree. Shirly is a middle-aged mother of 6 who is very active in her church and will be doing one of the evangelistic series in the village.