The "African Fish" Eagle Has Landed: We have arrived... sort of

After much prayer, help and some minor delays, we have arrived safely in Nairobi Kenya. The past 2 weeks prior to our departure were filled with controlled chaos. Between Mark driving the car into the garage and then finding out the younger kids need more vaccinations; we were a sight to behold. I emotionally checked out at some point.

Leaving the house for the airport

We’d like to specify thank who literally wheeled us along:

• Dan and Lenore Breeden for driving us to the airport Saturday and taking care of the wretched car;

• Bruce and Kelley Bradley for everything you did these past 3 weeks;

• Jay Siekmann for unapologetically working on our home to make sure everything was painted and caulked;

• Charlotte for not asking questions and being the best friend Marcela could hope for.

• Our prayer team who prayed us though the traveling, customs; and baggage transfers. We arrived a day late but with all luggage and children. I actually left a 4” serrated blade I used hunting in my backpack that didn’t get caught until the 3^rd round of security in Paris.

• And finally, my work mates at Gray for throwing me a goodbye lunch Friday and successfully making me cry in front of them all.

  
  

There are many, many others, but these folks deserve “major awards”

Gray work mates, but Erik needs a new shirt

Trekking internationally with a family is a daunting task and was not without hiccups. We had tears, a missed/delayed flight, but the overall with minimal discomfort. I think back to others who came before us; Henry Stanley, Dr David Livingston or the many others who traveled to spread the gospel or provide better medical care to a continent in need. Their travel journeys included months of sea travel many times. Leaving family and friends behind not knowing if they would make it. They behind everything they knew. Decades later here I am traveling with my family and an iPhone.

This week will be filled with shopping, meetings, dropping the kids at RVA (Rift Valley Academy) where the 2 older kids (Greeley and Clara) will be attending school for the next year. Mark has meetings this week with AMH (African Mission Healthcare, a major donor for the surgical project) while the others will do some back-to-school shopping. RVA Classes start next Monday Sept 1, but first is new student orientation. We will likely not see them again until December after the first semester. After dropping the older kids off, the rest of us will head to Malawi to get settled into our new home.

Thank all for your interest and support of our family and the project.  My prayer for our time for serving is simple, let the work be done not for my merit but God’s, let people’s lives be impacted, and let our hearts be right so that we can be a blessing.

We cannot wait to share in the journey, the successes and failure that will inevitably happen. Buckle up cause here we go!