back in Nairobi. off to istanbul --> stockholm in just a few short hours!
i left behind the lakeside, but dusty, village of wagusu by night bus yesterday. it was a difficult (but in a few hours after treating myself to a real shower and a bar of chocolate, i'm sure i'll also say "rewarding") 19 days of surprises and challenges (including lack of water and cockroaches and latrines). i am sorry to leave behind a wonderful staff at HAVOCO - Home Adventures Volunteer Organization and Community Development Project- and the bright, toothy grins of all the children.
by day, at our little compound overlooking THE most glorious view of Lake Victoria and the surrounding mountains, i "taught colouring" to the 20ish kids at the centre- drawing boats and elephant butts and rocket ships each night by the light of my peppermint candle (thanks Mona & Michael!) for the kids to fill in with crayons the next morning. and by night, Wilfred (the agricultural development manager) and i would enjoy our dinner under the whole sprinkling of stars that the Kenyan sky has to offer.
there were many lonely and awkward moments, ergo my completion of a vast reading list from the cement stoop of my small room:
the alchemist- paulo coelho
the girl who kicked the hornet's nest- stieg larsson
She- Saul Williams (multiple times)
the new york trilogy- paul auster
the talking horse and the sad girl and the village under the sea- mark haddon
and approximately 30 short stories by Vladimir Nabokov
but despite the challenges, God provided many small reprieves, tender moments bursting with simply beauty- like Wilfred returning from the afternoon market on several occasions to set before me a bowl of fresh, juicy sweet mangoes as i lost myself in afternoons with my Russian literature.
i promise to write more, but for now i can't seem to quite step away far enough to properly mold the past 3 weeks into words...and in any case,
"sooner or later i will run out of words, you see.
everyone has just so many words inside him." (Paul Auster, city of glass)
A loss for words? I don't think so! A scramble to find the right words, now that is believable. Can't wait until next week to hear all about this awesome adventure. Continuing to pray that you will experience all of God's blessings through this entire journey. LOVE YA!
ReplyDeleteAlli Precious -- how sweet it was to "chat" with you in the wee morning hours! And then today to receive pictures and read an update on the blog. I love to read whatever you write, and can't wait to read my hand-written emails you wrote me!!! Seriously, can't wait. One more week 'til we meet in Boston!! It will be lovely. Daddy is already trying to figure out what to write across his chest for this joyous homecoming!! Enjoy your visit with Bea and stay warm -- pace yourself, be alert and sleep, read, drink coffee, eat chocolate, and have FUN!!! "Talk" to you soon, one way or another!!!
ReplyDeleteLove, Momma, Mommy, Mom, Ma, Lois!!
Oh to be a mouse in the corner at the airport....and again, Alli...another beautiful picture of your life that you have opened up to us. xoxoxox M&M
ReplyDeleteJust click your heels together and repeat these magical words... "there's no place like home, there's no place like home."
ReplyDelete