On January 23, I boarded an airplane for Nairobi, Kenya. This trip was sponsored by Africa Inland Mission. AIM is celebrating 125 years of existence this year, so the trip was especially meaningful.
After a day in Nairobi, we were on our way to our first lodge and safari. I have posted lots of photos of animals on Facebook. While the animals were not the main reason I went on this trip, they surely added much excitement. It was so neat to see rhinos, elephants, giraffes, baboons, Cape buffalo, and all kinds of gazelles and impala on the plain.
After our days on safari, we traveled to Kijabe to visit Rift Valley Academy, a boarding school for missionary kids. We attended chapel while there and were served chai by some of the staff. Later we went to the Kijabe Hospital. Because our scheduled was crowded, we did not have the opportunity to tour the hospital in its entirety, but one of the doctors spent about a half hour with us, sharing with us the work that they do.
From there we stopped at the AIM Children's Feeding Center.
At the end of our visits, we boarded a single engine aircraft, operated by AIMAIR. We traveled back to Nairobi and toured the work of the airline. The pilots travel to remote areas to deliver supplies and passengers and are an integral part of AIM. Our hosts on the trip were Jim and Bev Streitt. They are long-time missionaries with AIM and were wonderful in their role as our hosts while they took care of business.
Before leaving to come back to the States, we visited AIM's Eastern Region office for a time of prayer and coffee before going to the Giraffe Centre.
This trip surely was a trip of a lifetime, and I'm so thankful I was able to go.
