I arrived Friday afternoon in Nairobi, Kenya after a 39 hour trip, tired but awestruck by all of the sights and sounds of a country and continent I have never visited before.  Upon arrival in Ethiopia, my final stop before Kenya, I learned that my luggage didn’t come with me to Africa.  Instead, it decided to stay in Germany for a bit longer.  Here it is Sunday night, and I STILL don’t have my luggage.  Evidently, it did make the trek from Frankfurt to Kenya last night, but I have yet to receive them where I am.  Thank God I packed an extra outfit, but if you do the math, you’ll realize that the extra outfit is beginning to wear out its welcome.  Please pray that my luggage arrives soon.

On a brighter note, after a crazy taxi ride from a former Kenyan national soccer player with stories galore, I arrived at the residence of Dr. Barry Cockar (Shaila Shodean’s dad for those of you from Foothills).  He welcomed me to his beautiful home and treated me wonderfully for the two days I was with him.  He allowed me time and space to sleep, and took me to two great restaurants both nights for dinner.  He provided me a great place to rid myself of jet lag, and I am grateful.

Dr. Cockar drove me to the conference center 30 miles from his home this morning as today was the first day of the conference I’m here for.  The conference center is a beautiful high-elevation “island” of peace and serenity amidst the tea fields outside Nairobi.  The conference is being attended by workers from eight countries who are all focused on very important work being done in North Africa.  I am not at liberty to share much about the conference as was re-emphasized at the onset by all participants being instructed to sign a confidentiality/security agreement.  However, what I can say is that all 30 people in attendance are passionate about the work they are doing, and all are sacrificing much in order to play their part in the work.  Some who are here are workers who have been involved in the work for 30 years.  They are the trailblazers on whose shoulders a new wave of workers are now standing.  I’m honored to be sitting among such a special group of God’s people.

I look forward to the days ahead as I learn more about this work and how my church (and possibly others) can better support it.  I’m also enjoying the sweet time of fellowship and laughter with one of the North African workers from our church who flew here for the conference.  We have much to discuss, and I look forward to the week with him.

In the meantime, I will continue to await the arrival of my luggage, as will the other conferees the longer I go without…if you get my drift (pun intended)!