Tuk tuk travels

I've gone on a few trips by tuk tuk this week, visiting colonial-type places and doing touristy things.

In the back of the tuk tuk.

Enjoying morning coffee in the shade of old tall trees. 

Chai time. 

Nanyuki

A few snaps of this week in Nanyuki:

My hosts, the Swanepoels.

Nine puppies...a few may have escaped?

Nibbling my sandles and toes

A couple of cuties

Mount Kenya

There are pineapple plantations around Nanyuki, which I think is quite exciting, and this Del Monte shop, which is not!!

Back in Korr

Last Monday I travelled up to Korr. It was so good to be back there: catching up with old friends and aquaintances; staying with AIM missionaries Jim and Laura; enjoying the heat and sunshine; drinking lots of chai; and hearing how the church is sharing the gospel with the Rendille community. It was almost like going home - I didn't get lost, did lots of reminiscing and I remembered most of the Rendille language I picked up before. Not all that much has changed. Only now there is mobile phone network and a daily bus service. I only took a few photos this time, but you can get a flavour of my time there. 

Previously I mostly travelled by plane. However, the road and public transport have improved over the last three years so this time I went by road which was quite an adventure and I'm so glad to have done it. This is part of the main road from Nairobi to the Ethiopian border that was not tarmacked back in 2013. I hired a driver to Logologo, the nearest point to Korr on the main road, and then got the bus for the final hour and a half off-road to Korr. 

This is me with Grace, a shop owner in Logologo who I spent most of Monday afternoon with waiting for the bus. She runs a little shop that sells what most little shops sell - soda, tea leaves, seasoning - as well as petrol for bikes from 1 litre water bottles, charcoal and kerosene in brandy bottles. Grace invited me to eat lunch with her - very Kenyan goat stew, ugali and sukuma wiki. I'm grateful for her kindness and hospitality that day. 

Morning devotions at Tirrim Secondary School led by Joshua Ndoto.

A beautiful sunrise in Korr, that followed a very starry night. The sky was just as big as I remember it. Mostly cloudless, sunrise and sunset around 6am and pm all year round, with the sun hot and high in the sky in between times. 

This is Chulayo, one of TSS's promising Form 2 students. His pink shirt indicates that he is a prefect. I got to teach Chulayo and his class one lesson on Thursday: a Bible class on Genesis 2, marriage and the creation of Eve. 

Mama Jane is school matron, looking after the students who stay at school. I went round for chai and a pray. She gave me some beaded earrings and a necklace that she'd made. Years ago she moved from Logologo to help with the church in Korr. She loves Jesus and telling Rendille people about him! 

Afternoon volleyball on the school field.

I taught Catherine (left) and Somo (right) back in 2013. It was good to see them again!

Desert Trails - the bus I took from Korr to Logologo early Friday morning. It's a bumpy ride on sandy roads, crossing dried-up river beds and stopping as camel herds pass. From the main road I got a bus all the way to Nanyuki where I am now. It was a journey that I was rather anxious about as some of the connections were potentially risky for a  female travelling alone. But there was lots of prayer and Pastor David ensured there was someone on the bus who was going in the same direction to keep an eye on me. A Tirrim Secondary School teacher also travelled part of the way. In the end, the journey couldn't have worked out better. I'm very grateful to God for answered prayer and safe journeys!

Mayfield

I'm staying at Mayfield Guest House at either end of my trip, where I stayed in Nairobi before. Many missionaries stay here when passing through. It is so true that you get to meet amazing folks and get to hear their stories. So far I've met Stanley, the big brother of Laura who I'll stay with in Korr; Joy and Martin whose recent adventures with the Samburu up in the north I've been praying for; and Ellen, who knows many of the same people I know because she used to work with Rendille! I already have lots of greetings to carry!

Miss Jackson in Kenya, again

My first time time back to Kenya since I left in August 2013

First blog post since then

First time seeing Loki Swanepoel and the children since Feb 2013 (I saw Grant a couple of years ago when he came to UK for his sister's wedding)

First EVER term-time holiday, I think!!

I'm heading back to Kenya for two weeks. Nairobi, Nanyuki, Korr...

I just a little bit excited!!

Gee, but it's great to be back home...

I was sad to leave Korr and Kenya. I miss the big skies and sunrises/sets and greeting people as I walk about town. I am sad that I couldn't complete the Kenyan school year and see Form 4s to their national exams. But I am enjoying being back home.



I thought that I would stop posting on this blog once I returned to the UK. After all, I'm no longer 'Miss Jackson in Kenya' and life here doesn't seem quite as interesting as life in Korr. 

However, a few friends have encouraged me to continue blogging. I suppose I can get round the title of the blog because a part of me is still in Kenya! And the adventure isn't over; the readjustment, I am sure, will be just as eventful as many times over the last year.  

For example, I have to share with you the excitement that was one of my birthday presents from my brother (in case you haven't heard already). I got a signed photo from one of my favourite people: Julie Andrews! (Julie's sister-in-law works at Jonathan's school and he put in a special request. I am so chuffed!)



"For Hannah, with love from Julie Andrews"

It is strange being back. In some ways it seems completely normal. So quickly I adjust to being back in my house, driving my car, going to the supermarket and putting out the bins.

Being back is also quite a novelty; discovering clothes and belongings I had forgotten, catching up with people I haven't seen in over a year, discovering changes in the city, enjoying the beautiful British countryside and appreciating modern conveniences, clean feet, ice cream and fresh fruit. I am even looking forward to the start of the new academic year; welcoming the new Year 7s, seeing old students and getting back into the school routine (not sure how long I will stay excited about that!)

I found a book devoted to the subject of returning from mission trips and I am led to believe that the next few months may be rather challenging as I go through what's called 'reverse culture shock' once the novelty wears off! And things are not the same here. There have been changes both at my school and my church. And I am not the same as I was.

Yet I am comforted by the fact that God does not change. Psalm 90 declares: Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. And in James: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

I change, people change and situations change, but God is a constant: great, good, loving, all powerful, forgiving, provider, holy, merciful, compassionate, gracious, patient, perfect, trustworthy.....(I could go on!)

Nairobi - next stop home

Nairobi - population 3 million. It means 'cold wet place' and it lives up to its name. As I write it is tipping it down with rain and it is cooold!

Nairobi is big, busy, noisy, dirty and cold! There is great poverty, crime, pollution and congestion. Personal safety is a big issue as pick pocketing and mugging and road accidents are real dangers. But it is an interesting place of contrasts and culture, new developments and promise.

There is mains electricity, faster internet, piped water, hot showers, mobile phone reception, coffee shops, cinemas, buses, tarmac and chocolate. I've stayed at a guesthouse full of missionaries and visitors who are coming and going and passing through.

I've had a good few days preparing to return (including sorting a new mobile and broadband at home), doing packing and shopping, saying goodbyes, and doing some evaluation/debrief stuff.

So, I have had my hair cut, travelled on matatus (crazy 14-seater minibuses with music blaring out), met up with folks for coffee, had photos developed, taken a new short termer grocery shopping, been to a colleagues church and home, packed my backs again.

I am looking forward to returning home but I will be sad to leave here. I have appreciated being immersed in a culture and environment so different from what I am used to; every day I feel like I am walking in a geography text book. In many ways daily life has not been that different. I teach, read, cook, hang out with friends, go to church. But I have enjoyed the simple living, amazing sunsets, starry skies, smiling children who want to play, people with big hearts, and seeing how God is working in the church and wider community.

It hasn't always been easy but I’ve enjoyed teaching here and being able to weave the good news of Jesus into ordinary classes and conversations with students. It has been a real privilege to be a small part of the mission work in Korr and get a taste for international and cross-cultural missions by supporting the long-term gospel work.

Being away from everything that is familiar, missing friends and family (including the arrival of nephew Sebastian), contending with language and cultural differences, and living communally, all have enabled me to learn more about God and about me. I feel God has done far more in me this year than through me as he teaches me to trust him.

After an overnight flight I get back to the UK early on 16^th August. It’ll then be a hectic two weeks moving back into my house, a family holiday and preparing for the start of the new academic year.

I am so grateful that I can return to my job as Geography teacher and Head of Year at LCHS. Once again I will be looking after the new Year 7 students. I’ll have a different office, different classroom and different team but I am really looking forward to returning to a familiar role and I am excited to return to re-join colleagues and students. I am mindful that gospel work is not limited to special missionaries or far-flung places and I pray that God will use me there for his purposes.

People here ask me when I will be back in Kenya. Well as yet I have no plans but I don’t think this will be the last I see of Africa and I await the Lord’s guidance for the future!