Since my last blog quite a bit has happened with me. I have officially left Gatundu and I am now living in Nairobi working as a youth director with the Nairobi International Lutheran Church. While I did love the school, students, teachers and town we all know the 11 hours of work a week was quite difficult for me to handle. So a long story short I am finally in a place that I love completely.
Nairobi International Lutheran Church is where I had been volunteering my time on my time off from school e.i. Christmas break and various weekends. This church has felt to me like home ever since I arrived. I don't mean home in the sense of the United States but more in the feeling of a place where I belong. I feel welcome and loved by all people there. I thoroughly enjoy working and programing for all the youth. I even planned and lead a youth retreat for over 50 people. It was fantastic.
For the first time since I have been in Kenya I am not looking forward to being back in the states. I look at my countdown and go . . . I only have that many more days left and I become a bit sad. I begin to wonder for the first time in my life if maybe the states isn't where I belong anymore. I will go back to the states come July but there is a part of me that wonders if that is were I will be for the rest of my life. I guess time will only tell.
On a different note, my dad and Audrey came to visit me last week. It was so very wonderful. I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was to have both of them here. I can say it was a nice break from my current reality. I was spoiled to say the least. We spent 4 nights at a wonderful hidden gem in Nairobi where we were fed well and drank well. We visited every thing I could think of and by the end of every day we were exhausted. But every night they had a campfire all the guest sat around and talked. It was so wonderful to meet people from all over and a few people even from the states. :) We then went to the Masai Mara to go and visit the animals. What a wonderful experience to have with my family. It was amazing. (Only downside was Carolyn not being there.) They both left on Thursday night and it was back to reality to me. It was veggies for dinner, not 4 course meals, and my nairobi water electric heater shower, which decided to not work, not a central heated well water shower. But I do have to say if these are my only complaints about coming back to reality life is pretty GREAT! Love y'all!
-Ellen
I bet Gatundu misses you, too! I'm glad you had a wonderful time with your family. Blessings as you work through these last few months as a YAV. A year can go by pretty fast, and slowly at the same time!
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