Excitement and yet - Our departure day for Kenya is speedily approaching. Guess if we are excited! The feeling of excitement of what is laying ahead of us is of course mixed with sadness, having to leave, first of all our children and their families, neighbours, church, relatives and friends but also our beautiful country and the place where we live. During these last summer days we have truly enjoyed early morning swimming in the lake Leken where we live and the picking of blueberries, wild raspberries and yellow chanterelles.
New perspectives - From the middle of June to the middle of July we had the great privilege of seeing our country from a different perspective. A wonderful Kenyan couple, Nancy and Joseph Kamau, whom we know from 20 years back, came to visit.
A dream comes true - They live in Kawangware, a slum area in Nairobi. Having saved money for several years, the dream finally came true, and they could come to visit us for a whole month. For us it was a tremendous joy to be with them and see and experience things through their eyes. ” Wow, what nice roads, what nice bridge constructions, and look at all the lakes – there is one … and there … and there … and look at all the trees! You could give us half of them without noticing”, was one of many funny comments. ”And no high walls, no guards, no police checks”.
Sailing in drinking water - Some of the highlights were when we sailed with them in the clear, truly drinkable water of Vänern, our biggest lake, in my sister and brother-in-law’s sailingboat and went for a walk at midnight in the lightest day of the year. ”Here we are, walking in the middle of the night and it is still light … and we don’t have to be scared. It feels completely safe!” our friends commented.
No broom thieves - A photo of a broom outside a house was causing hilarity. ”This photo I will show my friends at home”, Nancy said with enthusiasm. ”It’s unbelievable; you can leave such a nice broom outside the house without anyone taking it!” Note, it seems as if we still can sing our good old national hymn: “Du gamla du fria” (“You Sweden old and free”) with pride.
Nancy and Joseph will pick us up at the airport when we arrive in Nairobi on Friday 28 August. We are lucky to have such friends.
And more joy - During summer we have also enjoyed other visits from relatives and friends, our children, their husbands and wives and our dear grandchildren.
Preparations - Lately we have spent quite a lot of time packing and preparing to leave, however, we are also trying to take time preparing ourselves spiritually in prayer and meditation for the task ahead of us. Working in developing countries, where many people live in poverty and great need, takes a lot of wisdom, insight and understanding. We know that we are fully depending on God to convey help, love and reconciliation in a right way.
Bitter-sweet - and painful farewells are part of missionary life but there is some relief knowing that we will come back home two weeks for Christmas.
If you want to, you can follow our adventure in Lokichoggio, Kenya through this home page. Here we will write regularly and tell about our work with MAF, the proceeding of the school project in the Turkana village Emuriakin and other things, big and small.
Bye for now! Stay in touch! / Birgitta
