I can't contain the joy I feel when I recall the journey God has guided me through these last four months. People ask me if I'd do it again. In a heartbeat! They want to know all about the kids, the safari, the friendships and the trials of living in Tanzania. I tell them I'm available for presentations and would be glad to share my slide shows and testimony. Yet, I know I can never fully share the experience with anyone. God has blessed me with a treasure that can never be taken away. I will always cherish my time and friendships in Tanzania. Thank God He has a plan for my life. He's the ultimate travel agent!

Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Home at Last

Who knew Nairobi was the biggest city in Kenya? It reminded me of New York-always busy.

James zigzagged through traffic and eventually deposited us at the Safari Walk, the Masai Market, and clothing stores in turn. By evening, we were ready to eat and sleep once more.

On New Year's Eve Day, we visited the Orphan Zoo, ate, and I was delivered to the airport. I went through customs and then had to come back out to say good-bye, so our farewell was confusing and hassled. Content everything was in order, James left to take Anna, Marwa, and Hope to the bus stand. The customs inspector told me I was too early because the Swiss Air desk didn't open for three more hours. I assured him I could wait. Little did I know how long that wait would be!

I enjoyed watching people of various cultures and backgrounds as I babysat my luggage. Such a mixture of languages and styles!

Finally, it was time to get my boarding pass. After giving all my paperwork to the clerk, he calmly said, "The system is not accepting your information.". He left the desk and returned with the news that my flight had left shortly after midnight that morning. I couldn't believe after all of my checking and re checking, I had missed my flight.

Stunned, I was led to the problem customer corner of the airport. It was then I discovered my phone and email were not working. I was, however, able to text my delima to my daughter, Amy, asking her to contact my travel agent. Although he started working right away, Eldon was still battling the holiday travel schedules a when the Swiss Air desk closed at 10:00. Since my booking was through United, and there was no United desk in Nairobi, I had to reschedule through my Golden Rule Agent. Turns out, Eldon worked 8 hours overtime, assisted by two other agents, to assure my safe return. How does one thank someone for such dedication?

I spent the night in the airport, the only non-employee on the not-cleared-for-takeoff level. My two large suitcases filled with silent auction items for church became milestones for me. Every time I needed to use the choo, I had to beg an employee to babysit them for me. Then I had to unpack and re pack both of them to satisfy myself they were safe for my flight.

Finally, at 5:00 the next evening, I was able to check my bags and take my boarding passes to immigration. The clerk thought I was strange when I kissed the passes one-by-one. They had cost me $1500 extra, but I was going home!!!

Free of my bags, I explored the shops and was finally able to eat. By 11:30, I was on my plane awaiting my flight to London. Food, juice, and rest nurtured me during that flight. I was too grateful to pray any more than, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!"
Somehow, it was enough.

I arrived at Heathrow a little after 5:00 am, with a 6 hour lay over. I explored shops and ate. Wonder of wonders! My all systems were go on my Blackberry. I talked to Amy and saved my one bar for contacting her when I reached American soil.

Five hours later, I was permitted to proceed to my assigned gate, frisked, unpacked and re packed, and presented with a new business class boarding class! I felt like Queen for the Day. Lobster for lunch. a seat that reclined into a bed, and a continuous buffet kept me content and comfortable throughout my flight to Chicago.

When we landed at O'Hara, the captain welcomed us to the United States. A cheer echoed throughout the plane, but all I could pray was, "Thank you!"

I was able to navigate my way through the transit system after depositing my luggage on a transfer conveyor. I joined a group of Fort Leonard Wood soldiers and awaited my final flight. I don't remember take off, but I awoke to the news we'd soon be landing.

I called my friend and rescuer, Laurie, who took a picture of me kissing the ground before we retrieved my bags for the final time.

Home at last! Thank God Almighty! I was home at last!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Farewell to Tarime

I couldn't sleep my last night in Tarime. I'd become so accustomed to the quiet and darkness of Gamasara nights that the lights and noises of town were distracting. Besides, my heart and mind were full. I knew it was my time to leave Tanzania. I was ready to return to Missouri. Mom was dying, my kids and grandkids were missing me. I longed to trade the missionaries' cat for my dog, LaRussa. Yet I was torn. I remembered what I told Kennedy. Heaven is where there are no good-byes. Someday everyone I love will be together. But not yet. Now it was time for me to return to my other world.

We were supposed to meet at the mission house at 8:00, and I woke up around 6:00. The power was on, so I warmed two pans of water-one for tea and one to wash myself. The night before I had soaked my feet and given myself a pedicure, so I decided to continue the pampering with a warm bath. While the water heated, I washed everything I was leaving at the house-towel, bed clothes, my limp, stretched clothes. The heavens opened up, so I hung everything up in soaking rain.

When the tea was ready, ChaCha, the guard, and I shared some tea. The rain had slowed a bit by the time William and Meng'anyi arrived to take my luggage and me to the taxi. I gave the boys tea and bread and butter and went to the little duka across the street for some packages of snacks for the trip.

9:00. Still no Anna. Two young men and a goat arrived at the gate. ChaCha called me out to tell me the goat was from the mission house landlord, a gift for Angel House. She was so young and scared, I wanted to gather her in my arms and mother her. We moved her on the porch and tried to move away everything she might eat. Meanwhile, the neighborhood kids were making goat sounds and laughing at her replies.

I decided the time had come to call Anna and Marwa, using the goat's arrival as an excuse. Marwa was at the dispensary with amoeba and the baby! Hope, was also sick. They'd come to the house as soon as they could.

Finally, around 10:00, we loaded the truck and went to meet the taxi to Sarari. My hardest good-bye was to William. I still cry remembering our final embrace. His gentle smile at my tears still warms my heart. He is so much wiser than his seventeen years. Would I ever see him again?

I tried to memorize every detail of the landscape during the short taxi ride. We reached the border, dragged the suitcases into the immigration office, and filled out Tanzania paperwork. Then we walked to the Kenyan Immigration Office and bought a visa for that country.

We bought some sizzling hot chips and boarded the bus. During the 8 hour ride, we talked, ate, and slept. By the time w e arrived at the Nairobi bus stand after dark, we had called James, our taxi several times to arrange our meeting place. I was amazed how quickly he appeared in the chaos of Kenya's largest city. Suitcases safely stowed in the taxi, we headed for Hotel Kipepeo.

I was thankful the hotel restaurant was still open. Anna and I went down to eat while Marwa and 11 month old Hope rested in the room. We ordered food for them while we ate.

Fed and exhausted, we ended the day in the luxury of warm shower and clean linens. I slept like a baby!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Journey and the Angel Travel Agent

Hi everyone! It is 8:30pm and mom was expected to land around 6pm. Well.... she hasn't left Nairobi yet. I have very little information and it has been a hectic day. Here is what I do know...

Mom missed her flight out of Nairobi. We got an text this morning asking us to help her get out of Africa. We have been the middleman with the travel agent all day long. A few minutes ago he was finally able to secure a new itinerary for mom to come home. We now expect her home late on January 2nd. The travel agent was amazing and worked 8 hours past the time their office closed so that mom could come home. We are so grateful for his dedication.

Well, nobody can say mom's trip was dull :)

Gamasara Good-bye

Today was my last time to wake up at Gamasara. By 8:00, I'd gathered everyone who needed to go to town, and we were off!

I washed and hung my clothes while Bhoke and Amina cleaned up cat hair. The missionaries' cat is my #10housekeeping problem! We had tea and butter bread when Anna arrived, and then we set off to Sirari to exchange money and make our reservation for bus tickets to Nairobi tomorrow.

We were back in Tarime by 10:00, where we visited the bank, the post office, and picked up some chips for lunch. Before we finished eating, Teddy and her daughter, Happy, came to visit. They brought me a scarf/shawl which will be perfect for the plane and the winter weather. Just as we were ready to leave the mission house, the heavens opened up. So, I got out my computer and showed Tanzanian slide shows. (Rain often changes plans in a culture where cars are rare.)

When the rain stopped, we went by the Social Security office and then to town where Anna did some shopping. About 4:00, we returned to Gamasara.

As always, there were hugs and kisses all around. I set up the Gamasara Christmas slide show so the kids could see their most recent pictures. Meanwhile, Anna supervised the kids' work on a gift for Jocelyn, a recent volunteer.

Anna sat me down in the dining hall and escorted all of the kids to the boy's hallway. They sang me a song asking me to come back to Angel House and then filed into form a circle. Each Angel held a paper with a message to me. They continued singing as one-by-one each Angel presented his message to me. Then several kids spoke.

When Anna asked me to say a few words, I was overwhelmed with love. I told the kids they will always have a Bibi Bonnie who loves them very much. We will always be together in God's Spirit. As much as they wanted me to, I couldn't promise I will be back. God's plan is always a surprise to me. After all, I ended up in Tanzania on my way to South Korea!

I handed out small bags of treats to each kid. Anna read letter from Jocelyn to the kids. Then Rosie and William prayed.

I called Kennedy to drive me home. I'd promised to see him today. We needed to get a picture of the two of us on the pikipiki. We had a heart-to-heart conversation on the way to Tarime. I told him my idea of heaven is a place where everyone you love is, a place where you never have to say good-bye. I also told Kennedy what I told my grand kids just before I left them. "When you miss me, look at the sky and remember we share that same sky, our love for each other, and God's love. (I owe that thought to my brother who wrote it in a letter from Viet Nam.). Kennedy repeated what I'd said and thanked me for teaching him something today.

I asked Kennedy if I should email Holly and the new volunteers to have them sing to him. I thought maybe he wouldn't miss me so much if they did that. He was too polite to answer me, but he said he'd be at the mission house at 8:00 tomorrow to say good-bye.

I don't think I'm going to get much sleep tonight. The bus ride to Nairobi will provide plenty of time for that. Tonight, I think I better understand how Mary felt when "she remembered all of these things, treasuring them in her heart."
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

Something's Up!

Today was my last Sunday at Angel House. During testimony time, I told the kids tonight would be my last one at Angel House. Tomorrow, I need to be in town so we can start the long journey to Nairobi as early as possible.

Some people stood up and thanked Grassroots and all the volunteers for their help and support. There were some tears, and the service went on.

Later this afternoon, I got a call from Anna. She said she needed to give me something and would come to Gamasara. She arrived with a charcoal iron for the kids and 2 new padlocks for the mission house. We are down to one house key, and 3 new workers will arrive next month. I will put the old lock on the well house.

The day was pretty laid back, and I even took a nap! Ten year-old Salome fell asleep in my bed before devotions last night and I didn't get much sleep. Bunks are pretty small, and my mattress rolls everybody toward the middle.

Anna and I went over finances and gave the kids the iron. Then she gave me some chips (fries) and left me in my room to eat them. When I came out, kids were running around with papers and mischievous grins. Something is up!
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T

The Day After

Christmas is over, and I just realized I will leave Tanzania in 3 days. The rain poured down again this morning, so I waited to take the boys who needed to go to town until they'd have a drier trip. I went to the mission house to straighten and pack everything possible. If anyone steals my suitcases, they are going to be sadly disappointed. I am only taking home items for my missions silent auction and clothes I had made in Tarime.

I'm having a terrible time finding cat food for the missionaries' cat who is staying at our house until June. Kennedy, my favorite pikipiki driver even checked 4 store is Kenya. We can find dog food but no cat food.

I spent most of the day straightening the house, leaving notes for the next team, and working on finances.

I can't believe it's almost time to leave. I pray I will be able to return to Angel House. I've made so many amazing friends here. One of the nicest compliments I've ever received came from 2 staff members. The said, "Bibi's not a Mzumgu (foreigner). She's one of us.". I will always treasure those words.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T