Day 2: Friday, January 13, 2006

Friday, the 13th! What a day to start one’s travel in a foreign country. As we deplaned in London’s Heathrow airport, we were first driven quite a ways on a bus (so that one could have a good feel of just how large Heathrow really is) before we began the first “adventure” of the morning – getting in line and trying to remain calmly in line (a LONG line) as others tried to cut in – just to get through security. Two hours and forty minutes after landing, we were finally through security and sitting at our gate for departure.

In the process of moving to the gate (once we were through security), we encountered another group of Methodists from Ann Arbor, Michigan who were also traveling to Meru to work at the Methodist polytechnic high school. Traveling with them was the world-renowned Grace Imathiu, the Kenyan daughter of the previous Methodist Bishop of Kenya, Rev. Lawi Imathiu. Rev. Imathiu was born in Nairobi, received her higher education in Britain and the United States, and is currently senior pastor of Brown Deer United Methodist Church in Wisconsin. She speaks and preaches at venues all over the world and was the Pope Lecturer at Nichols Hills United methodist Church in 2002.

She spoke with our team leader for a few minutes, and we concluded that we may meet up with her again in Meru at some point in the journey. In addition to accompanying a VIM team to Meru, Kenya, Rev. Imathiu was coming home to Kenya for a special service honoring her father (which he did not yet know about) for his service in the World Council of Churches.

Due to the time that it took us to get through the security line, very little shopping was done at the airport’s “mall” other than a trip to Starbucks by some and a trip to the drugstore for Alfred who needed medicine for his persistent cold.

During the next flight, another 3 hours were lost but since we were technically flying during “daylight” hours, it did not seem so bad. Perhaps this could be attributed to:

· Being able to sleep / doze much better on this flight (there is indeed rest for the weary!)

· The lack of crying infants / children

· Our goal for resting had changed for only a “nap” instead of a “night’s sleep”.

We touched down in Nairobi around 9:20 p.m. Nairobi time after leaving London around 10:30 a.m. (8 hours of travel time with the loss of time factor). And for those trying to keep track of Oklahoma, Arkansas, or Texas time, in Kenya we were 9 hours ahead of “the game”. At home, people were grateful that it was their noon hour on a Friday afternoon of a long work week; here we were grateful for a safe (but long) journey and eager to reach our place of residence for the night – the Methodist Guest House.

It took us an hour and twenty minutes to leave the airport (obtain a minimal amount of money, get through customs, collect our baggage, and be met by Daniel Kibe and his host of drivers: Simon, Peter, and James. We then drove about 35 – 40 minutes to the Methodist Guest House only to find out upon arrival that there was no confirmation of our reservation for the night – but they did have the reservation for the Ann Arbor team.

By 11:45 p.m., we all had rooms. The front desk ultimately concluded that the Ann Arbor team was not coming and allowed us to have their rooms, and we very graciously took them. (We learned later the hotel actually contacts rev. Imathiu's group and arranged to reroute them to another hotel.)

At midnight, we settled in a conference room at the hotel for a brief time for evening devotion and team meeting (gives new meaning to “morning devotions”) as we began with a feeble attempt to sing “Sanctuary” and “Open the Eyes of My Heart, Lord”. Our vocal cords were as tired as the rest of our bodies.

Submitted by Kellye J