Pam in the Sand: Away and With

Baboons dare us to pass through. We dared not.
(From a previous trip…)

I've just returned from 13 days in Kenya spending time with colleagues who share our same passion. I know. Some reading this might think, "Must be nice. 13 days in Kenya." And you'd be right. It IS nice in Kenya. The weather is practically perfect all the time (high 70s) and the foliage is just like you'd imagine. What's truly nice about this time is that it allows us a respite from some of the constant challenges we face in our sandy part of the world. It's "Autumn" here, but it's still ranges from 108º-112º every day. Couple that with ever-constant cultural education and the relentless push of Islam and well…Pam's zen balance may be a bit off.

John in our home on his first day of online degree school.

Mind you, we love the Nubians, the Sudanese and the Egyptians that we are able to live life with here. They are truly wonderful people who open their hearts and their homes to us on a daily basis. But as they share with us, we also experience some of their ongoing challenges, too, such as health issues. Remember all the weddings that we attend? Normally food is served at them. This food is prepared 24-48 hours in advance because of the sheer volume needed (The whole village is invited…). After it's prepared, there isn't proper refrigeration for all of it. It's covered and placed in a side room until it's time. Bacteria has time to grow, then we ingest it and…kaboom…another round of probiotics.

Some might say, "Just don't eat it." Ah, but there's the rub. You simply can't not eat. To turn down someone's hospitality here is nothing short of a slap in the face. If you reject their offer of food, attendance to special events, etc. you are rejecting them. To love them, means to be with them, to eat with them and to suffer gastrointestinally with them.

I'm not at all saying this for pity. It's just a fact. One that we readily accept, but understand that there are ensuing consequences. Time out of context allows us to recharge our batteries as it were, to regain our health and to recalibrate our hearts. It's not only a wonderful time, it's necessary for longevity.

Maasai Mara

So when in Kenya, we eat butter chicken and naan with abandon and walk in Village Market with a deep sense of appreciation for stores that have items with price stickers on them. We visit with good friends who understand our unusual lives and will laugh and cry with us. We discuss, learn, commiserate and plan. We also rest and listen to the steady rain as we sip on steaming cups of chai….sigh. Yes, time away is good, but time with is better.

We returned yesterday to our sandy sahara and were greeted by our friend, Mohammed*, at the airport. He immediately grabbed a cart and began helping us with our luggage. He and John exchanged greetings and visited while the customs guy inspected John's keyboard case.

Pork chops and corn on the cob
…a rare treat.
No comments on my corn-eating habits.

After all bags were located and cleared, Esam* waved to us from his taxi. Sadik* wasn't able to pick us up, so he sent his friend. Esam shook John's hand and loaded the luggage in and on the taxi.

As we drove through our village, the mahkwagee ("the man who irons clothes") waved vigorously. Sara* (who owns the village store) smiled broadly and welcomed us back with the traditional Arabic greetings.

Mira* came this morning with greetings and our house keys. She surprised us by cleaning the house, opening the shutters and turning on the swamp cooler so that it would be ready for our arrival.

Our Canadian friends welcomed us warmly and presented us with a freshly cooked dinner knowing we would be wiped out from the travel.

Ahmed*, our good friend, sent us a text welcoming us back and saying that he hoped to come by to visit soon.

What great love and kindness waiting on our return! Is this life sometimes hard? That would be a BIG 10-4. But our presence here makes a difference. No let me correct that. Jesus IN us and demonstrating His love THROUGH us, makes a difference. But we have to be here for it to be possible and sometimes there (Kenya or elsewhere) to keep us sane.

So, yes, our time in Kenya was fabulous…always refreshing, but our life, our work and our purpose are here and we dedicate ourselves to it. Now someone pass the Pepto.