Getting the chance to come back to Kenya has been so special! At the end of everyday I can hardly believe that I have one less day here. And although time is passing rapidly, I'm taking many pictures to remember my time with later.
I finally arrived in Nairobi around 1:20am where I eagerly rushed through the airport to buy my visa and collect my luggage! There, Derek Raymond (My Kenyan dad) greeted me and drove me to campus in his wonderfully refurbished Landrover! At about 3am I arrived on the campus of Maxwell Adventist Academy. Returning back to my African home a year later has been just too cool. I would have never guessed I would have the opportunity to arrive one year later. Upon arriving on campus, I was greeted by my younger brother, Caleb Raymond, who was still awake! :) Soon after, I surprised Yani! (who was sleeping!!) She could barely believe her eyes and ears and was so shocked that I had come.
After getting a couple of hours of sleep, I work up to surprise the other staff and students of Maxwell. Walking into staff meeting was a big shock for all and my 8th graders from last year waited outside to see me when it was finished! It made me so happy to see everyone again and to catch up on the past year! I spent the rest of the day catching up with several of my old students, their parents, staff, and all that I could! Being able to meet up with my Kenyan friends once again has made me super happy.
Thursday was town day for Derek, Yani, Leroy (Reloy) and Debbie. We traveled through the familiar roads once again, past Junction, to have lunch at a fantastic Mexican Restaurant (ran by the Mexican embassy). I was treated to amazing Mexican food and fantastic company for the entire day. After lunch, we sat in traffic, lots, shopped at Nakumatt, ate hot and corny, and I even got to purchase some African material at Junction's Maasai Market (along with receiving two gifts, might I add). All in all it shaped up to be a great day!
Friday, since I'm giving a recap of every single day, I was able to finally catch up with Hadassah. It was so wonderful catching up on the happenings of my previous year in school and her last year at the elementary. Zivah and Zahra, her daughters, are growing to be to big and I am so impressed with how much Zivah remembers! After a delicious lunch provided from the cafe and visiting old placed on campus, I finally saw Karl! Seeing him again was crazy and felt like there was a small piece of my SM year still alive! I keep thinking I'm going to see Drew at church or Ashley with the girls, so it's weird not having all the other SM's back here with me-they are my family! After a beautiful vespers program and taking many, many pictures with everyone, I went to the Raymonds for a final celebration with the remaining SM's, Karl, and the couple of students that are staying over. We not only kicked the evening off with a soup party, but we were spoiled with homemade bread, chocolate cake with whipped coconut icing (vegan!) and pina coladas! Debbie has an amazing jucier, (which I am in love it) that allows you to put frozen pineapple and coconut cream through and mix into pina coladas. It literally comes out like ice cream!!!!! WOW. So after the intense feasting, we chatted and went to bed.
I could really get used to living here again. I want to in the worst way actually. I wish finances didn't have to hold me back and I wish that I was offered a position. Returning to Maxwell for another year would be unbelievable.
