It is Wednesday, August 5, 2009. It is a significant day in our lives. It is the day that we should be embarking on our journey to Kenya as a family. It is the day that we have anticipated since December. Even more so, it is the date that we have longed for since June of 2007.

We should be stuffing the last of our Earthly belongings in this or that footlocker–hoping it won’t be overweight.

We should be saying good-bye to those things that are so familiar to us right now–our families, our friends, our neighbors, our churches, our school, our house, our “comfortable middle class life”, our stores, our vehicles, our restaurants, etc.

We should be driving the three hour journey to Chicago O’Hare International Airport with four anxious kids in tow.

We should be unloading and checking in our 24 pieces of luggage–not an ounce underweight–in hopes that we won’t have to unpack anything for inspection.

We should be scrambling to get all the shoes back on the correct kids’ feet after passing through security and being stripped of anything metal.

We should be waiting patiently (or–not so patiently!) at the gate with our hearts aflutter in anticipation of the big flight we are about to take.

We should be arguing over who will get window seats and who gets to sit by Dad or Mom.

We should be soaring over the clouds to a destination that we have sought for over two years.

We should be landing in London, maybe riding a double decker bus for a fun memory, all the while enjoying the precise accent of the British and hearing the kids trying to mimic it back.

We should be trying to keep peace amongst four children who haven’t had nearly enough sleep due to the excitement of flying.

We should be boarding the plane for our final flight to Nairobi, Kenya–flying, literally, on nothing but adrenaline, at this point.

We should be more than ready for a good sleep now but unable to find a comfortable position due to a child’s foot that we have lodged in our ear.

We should be feeling a little disheveled and slightly cranky as we near the end of our flight.

We should be renewed with strength as the pilot says that we are due to land in Nairobi in approximately 15 minutes.

We should be feeling the awe and wonder of this spectacular African country as we get close to touching down.

We should be watching the breath-taking view of the Nairobi National Game Park in the distance as the gazelle graze by the landing strips.

We should feel the balmy heat of Nairobi as we exit off the plane into our new world.

We should be respectfully greeting the Kenyans with, “Hamjambo!” as we walk, heavily laden with our luggage, down to passport control.

We should be attempting to find all 24 pieces of our worldly belongings so that we can pass through customs.

We should be taking in the smells, sounds, colors, voices, and ways of Kenya and her beautiful people.

We should be warmly greeting our friends from Rift Valley Academy, who have come to take us to our new home called Davis Dorm.

We should be unpacking our footlockers in anticipation of “Arrival Day”, when we will meet our twelve new fifth and sixth grade dorm boys.

We should be feeling surreal about this time and wondering if we are just dreaming or if we are really here!

We should be… but we aren’t.

We are saddened but we have hope–and a future! We know who holds our future and we trust Him. When the time is perfect, we will be fully supported and we will then be able to experience this–and much more! Until then…

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience

While I’m waiting
I will serve You
While I’m waiting
I will worship
While I’m waiting
I will not faint
I’ll be running the race
Even while I wait

I’m waiting
I’m waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I’m waiting on You, Lord
Though it’s not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting
I will serve You while I’m waiting
I will worship while I’m waiting on You, Lord

–Lyrics by John Waller

Thanking you for your amazing faithfulness in giving and praying on our behalf,
Travis, Patti, Kylea, Joshua, Tia, and Levi

Send an email to tpnielsen@aimint.net