For me, Africa was a place that I had heard about for so long before I went that when I finally stepped foot there, I felt like I was “coming home”.  I had this instant connection to her people and to the land.  It is hard to describe something like that unless you have experienced it firsthand.  I wish I could have taken you all on my journey!  Hopefully you were able to join me as I blogged my way around the country of Kenya and posted pictures and stories from my time there.  If not, you can still see the pictures and read the stories here.

Since I have returned, I have felt this pull, this desire to go back.  I cannot imagine it has anything to do with the unsanitary conditions, the dusty-ever-bumpy-throw-your-back-out roads, or the general smell of burning sewage that permeates your very being…no.  That all seems to take backseat when you find yourself in the arms of someone who has little to nothing in material possessions but has a love, a peace, a hope, a joy that shines brighter than anything you can possibly imagine or describe. 

THAT is what, day after day, kept me walking up hilly paths to visit homes made of clay, mud, thatch…whatever could be found…to visit people and see what true happiness and peace is all about.  THAT is where I found love and contentment.  THAT is where I saw people living with absolutely nothing, walking miles a day to obtain water to live on (and not even clean water), harvesting a small few square feet of corn to provide one meal for their family that day…yet, beyond joyful to show us into their home…show us where they sleep…show us where they cook.  THAT is priceless.  THAT is what I am returning for.