Back in Kisumu

Well, I have some good news and some bad news.
The good news is that I've made it to Kisumu, Kenya and I'm all in one piece and healthy as a horse.

The bad news is that my camera was left on the bus from Kampala. I was taking pictures with it of the road and scenery and I would then shove it back into my backpack that was in between my knees. The road was terribly bumpy and the camera bag must have slowly fallen out under my seat. I didn't realize it until last night when I went looking for it. The shock was quite a blow. Three things ran through my head:

First, I was angry at myself for having been so careless and not having checked under the seat before I left the bus.
Second, disappointment that I will not be able to give a slide show to my church and have pictures to show of all the places I went. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so I guess I'll just have to talk more in my presentation. But also my pride began to sneak in, and complain that it wouldn't get attention..."They won't get to see all the places and things you were doing! You won't get as much praise!" I tried to tell it to shut up.
Third, I was challenged by my sermon I gave last Sunday. It was about possessions. I preached that God gives and he takes away. Our job is to be faithful to him, no matter what we have. And I preached on stewardship...that what we have don't really belong to us, but has been given to us to use for His service. I guess it's time to practice what I preach!

There is a very small possibility that whoever finds it will be honest and have the bus company to hold the camera until I can claim it in Nairobi. (The bus I was on, continued to Nairobi). So if you think of it, pray that I get it back.

So my time in Kampala was short and tiring. After traveling 7 hours from Bukoba, TZ, Kelly and I arrived in Kampala only to shop and be in the city for another 8 hours, before going to Kelly's friend's house where I took a shower and promptly went to bed. I boarded the "luxury bus" at 7am and was served two greasy samosas and some other strange meat-fried breakfast item. Somewhat gross...but kept me from being hungry. Then I lost my camera... And arrived in Kisumu at around 1pm. I lived in Kisumu for 9 months last year, so coming back is like coming home. I know where all the speed bumps are in the city, where the people sell books on the street, where the buses leave from, when there will be delays, etc. I got some Kenyan money out of the bank and boarded a small mini-bus that took me 3/4 of the way to Nehemiah International. (NI is where I lived last year). And then Nickolas, the driver, came to pick me up at a roadside gas station.

NI is a big farm/compound/dairy/orphanage, with 60 people that live there, a fully functioning dairy that sells milk in between it and Kisumu, about a 40 minute drive away, and is supporting and sponsoring about 25 children. I lived on the farm for 9 months and did some teaching and about 100 other things while I was here. Among them, was directing 3 dramas. I was requested that when I come back, I direct another drama. So I've come prepared with a script from the Iliad...Odysseus' homecoming to kill off Penelope's suitors.

It was wonderful to see all the kids yesterday. When I arrived, they were in the church building listening to George, one of the farm "fathers" who take care of 4 of the boys, talk about Character, and I walked in the door and all the children's mouths dropped. They didn't know what to say. So I went around the group and shook all their hands and greeted them. I remembered most of their names and embarrassingly forgot a couple. I sat in on the rest of the class, but I think I was an unavoidable distraction from their lesson. They kept looking at me with shy smiles.

It is strangely surreal being back on the farm. Everything is pretty much the same. Most of the same people, the same buildings. The same pace of life. But a big difference is that the missionary family that lived here is now gone. They were a wonderful, energetic, lively family that was always a joy to be around. They are now back in Seattle, but I'm staying in their house now by myself. It's a bit strange having them gone. I have felt that there are echos through the house, but no one's there. Jeff should be in the kitchen making espresso, and Lexi should charge into the living room with some new exciting piece of news to share with me. It's like living with ghosts that only exist in my memory.

I must go now to spend time with the kids. They don't have regular school these next couple weeks, so I'll spend a lot of time with them. They have two hours of classes here on the compound, which I'll help out with, a break for lunch, and then I'll do the drama with them in the afternoon for an hour and a half. I'm looking forward to it!