We arrived back at the hotel in Nairobi at six o'clock as the traffic leading into Nairobi was atrocious! This gave everyone one hour to shower and repack before they had to leave for the airport. The majority of the group left the hotel at 7:00 pm to start their long journey home. As I write this I know that they have made it home safely.
Fern and I, along with the Rath's and the Knackstedts stayed one more night. We ordered up room service and drinks and had a little party before calling it a night.
On Sunday morning, Fern and I were picked up by two gentlemen from Plan International. We traveled for two hours to the home of our Foster child and his family. Along the way, we stopped to buy two cart loads of groceries and household supplies for the family. My tour group chipped in
some money to purchase supplies for the family.
The closer we got to our destination, the worse the roads got! We started out on a nicely paved
highway, to a pot hole filled highway, to a moderate dirt road and ended up on a goat trail through the
trees leading up to the house. Good thing that we were in a Land Rover!!!!
When we arrived there was about 30 people waiting to greet us. First, Emanuel, our foster child, came to the car to greet me. What a feeling to finally be able to meet him and hug him. It was very emotional for me! He is 13 years old but he is small and looks to be about 9. Then his immediate family came to meet us, his Mom, Dad, younger brother and younger sister. Then everyone got into the photo! As the time went on, more people showed up and there were over 40 people there!! Turns out they were all extended family!
We sat and visited, asking each other questions. The guide from Plan Canada helped by filling in some information. Emmanuels's father did most of the talking. It was interesting to watch some of the others just sitting and hanging on my every word. They have kept a photo album of the pictures that I have sent to them through the years so that was very touching! They were very disappointed to find out that Carl hadn't come with me.
Next they brought out lunch and fed everyone that was there. They had made white rice, some type of a tomato based soup, sweet potatoes, cooked chicken and chapatti. It was all very good (not that I was worried.....ha!). I was thankful that they didn't decide to kill a goat for the occasion! Peter (Emanuel's Dad) said he would kill a goat the next time we come (that cinched the fact that I won't get back 😄).
Then it was time to give out the gifts! First of all we presented the groceries and goods that we had purchased along the way. I had also brought a suitcase full of things to give, so that was the fun part! Fern and I sorted through everything and personally gave everyone there a gift! It was like being Santa Claus!! The smiles and excitement were amazing! The ages ranged from two months right up to two grandmas!
It took us so long to hand out the gifts that we were then pressed for time. The family presented me with a few gifts and then some of the ladies did a couple of songs and dances. They really got a kick out of me getting up and joining them!!
All too soon we had to say goodbye! Of course, the family wants us to come back and "spend a week" with them!!
By this time we were pressed to get back to the hotel by our desired time of 5:00 pm. We found our way back out to the gravel road and were bumping along when the car just stopped! We were in the middle of nowhere and we looked at each other with that "oh no" look in our eyes!! The driver discovered that the battery cable had "bounced" off the post! Phew! Well, a few more miles down the road it happened again!! Yikes! This time, when he went to hook it up, it gave off a "poof"! OMG! We thought we were really screwed, but luckily, he got the car going again. The good news was that we knew the roads were due to get gradually better heading in this direction!!!
I hope you have all enjoyed my blog! Stay tuned for my next adventure.... Or, better yet, join me!!
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