Day 32: Adventures in Mt. Kenya and the Last Supper (in Weru, that is)

Our day started at 4:44 AM when Dylan and I woke up to get ready for our safari into Mt. Kenya. We would be journeying to the mountain with Pastor Mwiti and two church members, Betty and Edith. To start our day, we met our two guides and the driver of our jeep. Now, believe me when I say that the 1.5 hour drive to the park entrance in the absolute worst drive I have ever been in. It was the most bumpy, stop-and-go, nausea-inducing car, sitting-on-a-mental-bench, would-give-anything-for-paved-roads ride I have ever been in. Once we gained admittance into the national park, we hiked for a good 5-6 hours (at an altitude of about 2 miles over sea level). In terms of sightseeing, we saw these caves, a waterfall, and other stuff. To be honest, the most interesting thing that we saw was a leopard from really far away with Dylan's binoculars. While hiking, I did have a chance to really reflect on what God had shown me the past few weeks and I really resolved to trust in Him to continue to work in my life.

By the time we got back home (after another crappy 1.5 hour car ride back down the mountain), Dylan and I were absolutely beat. I just wanted to sit down and relax before some church members arrived for a dinner party to celebrate our last night in Weru. It was dark by the time the car pulled in front of our family's gates so imagine my surprise when I get out of the car to see the smiling faces of Mweti, Mercy, Kevin, Brian, and all the other kids of church members. When I entered through the house doors, Javan, Moredi, Lydia, Salame, and a bunch of other church members were already there cooking a feast. I was dead tired but I told myself that whatever strength I had left was going to give to these people and kids I had come to love. After dinner, all the church members present gave Dylan and me encouragement and blessings. Dylan and I each then said our words of goodbye and then we prayed for Weru and the community they have there.

Saying goodbye to all the people and kids there was one of the toughest things I have done. I really love the people of Weru and in my heart, I know that I may never see any of them ever again. I was blessed not only to be able to minister to them but to also have received so much ministering as well. I will never forget my time in Weru, a small rural area in Kenya, halfway across the world, for it was there that God revealed Himself to me like never before in my life.

Pastor Mwiti and I chilling at Mt. Kenya

Dylan with Kevin (the youngest grandchild of our host grandmother, left) and Naphtali (Pastor Mwiti's son, right) at our farewell party

Our host grandmother, Doris, preparing food for the party