The flight into Amsterdam was so smooth that I didn’t feel the landing, or maybe I did finally sleep. I have a two hour layover at a beautiful, spacious airport. If I had the time, I’d wander through all the various shops. While I drink a cup of coffee and observe the mixture of faces, races, and languages, I realize how far away from home I really am. I can’t see much of Amsterdam at 8:20 a.m. It’s a bit cloudy and 44 degrees. Seems like I can’t get to Nairobi fast enough. The sun finally peeks through in a jagged pattern, like shards of glass lighting up a pale blue sky. I see quite an assortment of people waiting to fly to Nairobi: Harley T-shirts, a man with a harmonica, another man with a fishing shirt, students, and families. Interesting enough, I met some ambitious seniors. Two men, one in his 70s and another in his late 70s were in the business of planning churches all over the world. For the older man, this was his 75th trip abroad to plant a home church. Amazing, since many people their age are taking life easy. I look around and see many seniors on this trip. Soon I’m in the air again for the next several hours and wondering what is in store for me.
 

The directions at the Nairobi airport to obtain my visa are easy to follow. That’s a miracle, since I tend to be navigationally challenged. It seems to take forever to get my luggage and the huge box of books that I plan to give to the Sudanese. There is an assortment of these for pastors, men, women, and children. It’s dark outside, and for the first time I’m a little nervous in a sea of very dark faces. I look for a sign with my name, and there it is! I’ll be a guest at the AIM (Africa Inland Mission) Mayfield House. An elderly woman asks my driver, John,  if he would take her to another Christian guesthouse. Her flight was delayed and she missed her ride. This delightful woman is from Sweden and she’s here for a missionary conference. Like me, she’s traveling alone, and her husband is a bit concerned. Marguerite asked me to pray for her, because the conference was in a primitive area and much needed to be accomplished. She left me with three points to remember: 1. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is with us. 2. Nothing is impossible with God. 2. Never give up. I believe that message came straight from God.
 

It is very dark when the van pulls into the Mayfield Guesthouse compound. I’d never been anywhere where a guard tends to a huge gate. Another man who introduces himself as George helps John with my books and duffle bag. They have the key to my room, which is separate from the main house. Here I am in a foreign country, alone, in the dark, and trusting two men I don’t know to take me to my room. God does have a sense of humor, doesn’t he? I’m so tired that I cannot wait to sleep, but it takes me several minutes to figure out how to drape the mosquito netting. This is funny. What an adventure. I can hardly wait for what tomorrow brings.