How we almost stayed in Africa...

The last couple of days have not seen a lot of new mission work, but they have seen a lot of interesting experiences. The most productive parts of the days would be the mission debriefing times we had with Tom and our team. Overall, everything was very well received, and I have to say that I believe even more in this partnership than I did before. As has been documented, we saw people engage in extremely difficult ministry situations with a calm, bold faith that was inspiring. These are the greatest lessons and encouragement I bring back with me. Having people show up at church with HIV or reaching out to the desperate, outcast young street people are just a few of the non-theoretical love-of-God-in-action-through-His-people moments we witnessed...and took part in. Translating that to new levels at Celebration remains the challenge. What exactly does that look like for us in such a very different context? On a different note, we had quite a good time at the Masai Market on Tuesday, which gave us a grand total of about two days in this two and a half weeks that you might consider "touristy." Watching our hosts haggle our take home gift prices was fun for me. Gerald wants to blog in more detail when we are safely home, but in our last two days, we had two drivers "arrested." All kinds of fund-raising goes on in this world. While it was hard to say goodbye to our Kenyan friends, the stress of not having the driver we we supposed to was exacerbated by the next driver, who had promised to take us, deciding he didn't really want to. The clock ticked and we began to have visions of buying more credits for Ahngie's (yes, that's now how you say it) phone to call loved ones with the bad news. I could see Michelle causing an international incident... We finally got a matatu and Tom basically told the driver to step on it, and he did. I was in front, with one of the Kenyan team smooshed between the driver and me. Behind me there was a wall of suitcases and then the rest of our team and a few more of our Kenyan friends. Point being, I was the only one from our team to get the full effect of the insanity that ensued. You know those chase scenes in the movies where they go through ridiculously narrow places and people are scattering out of the way of the cars? Been there, done that, except our driver didn't get in any wrecks. But the roller coaster warning to keep your arms and hands inside the vehicle would have been more than appropriate. Ahngie's window was open and they all swear the mirror from another truck physically ducked in and out of it as we passed. Believe it. I expect to fully unpucker in a week or two... We got to the airport, and even though our flight didn't take off for some time, they said we were too late. Our hearts sunk. As Zach struck the genial role, Ahngie began to work a few tears and Gerald and I began to look vaguely dangerous. Not sure which one of these worked, but they relented and let us board. Praise the Lord!!! As we drove through the city this last time, I once again saw men picking through trash heaps in an effort to survive. One of our most common prayer requests was for work. I was struck by the fact that we live in this amazing country full of opportunity and people are trying desperately not to work. I'm ready to be home, but pray I will remember what God has taught me and trust that the mission was for God's glory. And that we have great work ahead of us at home.