Merry Christmas Kenya

I've been lying in bed for the last forty-five minutes reminiscing about Kenya. I don't think I can get away with that and not write a blog about it. I'm not even sure what made me think of it... Maybe I wondered how people celebrated Christmas there, or if they even do. (I'm pretty sure they do) I wondered about the weather, remembering that it is summer for them(and basically for us too! haha)
I laid here and thought about the tiny little details, the small instances that occurred that I don't tend to think about when I think of that wonderful trip. I know I have probably shared some of these with you guys, but I'm hoping that some are new to your ears.... or rather your eyes haha

The morning Annie and I and the boys hung out on the patio in the foggy morning watching the birds swoop out of the sky and eat their breakfast of those flying bugs that were everywhere!
The bumpy bumpy bus rides to and from everywhere, including that time when our driver was brave enough to take us down a very narrow street in the Kibera slum. I was so scared.
The night we arrived in Kenya...I remember looking out the window of our plane and seeing lights spotting the landscape but it was a different kind of light. Somehow I could tell that it was not a city, but rather a slum. After traveling through customs we were picked up by Terry and Beto in our bus. It was dark and rainy and so so beautiful.
The security guards standing around in many places with their huge guns strapped across their chests...
The BEST chocolate crossiant thing I've ever had from Java House.
A young girl who had been given a piece of candy, unwrapped it and bit it into three pieces for her and her friends to share it...
The best worship experience of my life(seriously) occurred in a modest room, standing along the wall with my team members as we sang along with the deep sounds of thirty or so men who were recovering addicts, alcoholics, thiefs, and abusers. All of us together worshipping our God.
Kara's parasite scare... haha
The time I was taking a shower and another girl(I won't mention her name lol) was sitting on the toilet and the power went out! Which also meant that the water stopped working... luckily I had finished rinsing out my hair. Then the four of us girls laid on one of the beds talking and giggling our heads off in the dark.
That night I laid on the grass with Ashley and tried to find constellations in the sky using the app on her phone. I loved that.
The night Josh and I had a heart to heart on the patio and I drew a picture in his sketch book.
Crashing(not really) a wedding when we went to Karen Blixen's old home turned museum.
Asking one tiny question about relationships in a circle of "youth" at church and the conversation exploding from there.
Seeing basically my only Kenyan sunset as we were coming back from Terry and Beto's house that one night. (We were always at the place we stayed by that time for safety and traffic issues)
Watching the Dog Whisperer with Annie and Cherise.
Going to a mini catholic church service(mass?) at the old people place and feeling very awkward and out of place.
The two old blind men who had betrothed themselves to Renee and I and asked us to come back to them after we finished our schooling.
The educated man playing checkers who Bobby(I think) and I chatted with about the United States and sports.
The respect that I had for hard working women after spending the day washing sheets by hand,(and attempting to wring them out, also by hand. I realized that day that I am completely lacking in arm muscle...) mopping, emptying toilets and the like.
Being asked if we had ever washed clothes by hand. When our answer was no, the ladies asked us if our parents did it or if we had maids to do it for us. Hesitantly we said no and said we had machines to do it. They looked at us surprised but knowing at the same time and continued back to their work.
Having to eat a huge plate/bowl full of rice and beans. Feeling sick afterwards.
Having to eat a huge plate full of all kinds of stuff. And drink a soda on top of it.
Ordering a bacon cheesburger among other things on one of our last days and wanting to slap myself for eating so much(I didn't even have to finish that food, but I tried to). I didn't even feel sick, I just wanted to lie on the floor and die because I was so full of food. Worst feeling ever.
Going inside a Maasai's home.
Worshipping our creator in the middle of his beautiful creation with Maasai women who were singing in Swahili.
The tiny boy at the Nest Home whom I fell in love with. I don't even remember what it was, but he was beautiful and so very special to me.
Darling Peninah... a girl who after helping me offer roses to everyone on Mother's Day, asked me to follow her around and take pictures of her.
The ringing of the bell for meal time.

I could go on and on. And I really want to, but this is long enough already. Although I do feel it is insufficient of the time I spent thinking of it all. I definitely left a lot out.
A beautiful, beautiful experience. Perhaps I shall write more blogs with other little remembrances.
O how I miss it so.
Merry Christmas Kenya.