Monday - Good-Bye Tanzania

On Monday morning, we left for the bus stage at 7:00. The plan was to hop on a bus to Arusha which is six hours away. From there we were booked on an Akamba bus to Kisumu ( 9 hour bus ride). Herbert escorted us to Arusha. We bought tickets for a bus and when the bus arrived, so many people rushed the door, we weren’t able to get on. Fortunately, another bus came shortly after and we got on that one. This bus was very crowded. Instead of two seats on each side, one side had three and the other side had two. We were very crammed. I was initially in the middle seat and was so uncomfortable. George traded with me so I was on the isle. A couple hours into the ride, the arm rest pinched my side really badly and that led to an emotional breakdown. I put my sweatshirt over my head and cried. I was listening to some songs that reminded me of home and that made me cry even harder. I cried because I was in pain, I cried because I was so uncomfortable, I cried because I missed the comforts of home, I cried because I missed having a car, I cried because I missed family and friends, I cried because I am sad no one will be there to represent me at my wedding and I cried out for comfort from the Lord. I cried my eyes out for about an hour and a half and then was all cried out. Slowly, I began to feel better. Sometimes, I just have to get out my feelings and then I can move on. Although I know I am supposed to be here, I still miss home and the blessings we have there. I hope it’s ok that I mention that. I want to be open about the good times and bad. Missionaries aren’t perfect. We sin and struggle. I always want to be honest about how I am feeling so you can pray for me.

Anyway, after I had recovered from my breakdown, we arrived in Arusha around 2:00. We had time to eat lunch and wait for our bus that was supposed to leave at 3:30. After lunch, George and I ran to the grocery store to get a last minute present for Herbert. He told us about a time he and Alan were traveling by bus and was left behind. During one of the stops, he went to the store to get peanut butter and the bus left without him. George and I were praying history didn’t repeat itself and were rushing back to the bus station. Fortunately, we had plenty of time. The bus didn’t come until 4:30.



Around 4:30, we boarded the bus to Nairobi and bid farewell to Herbert. The Tanzania/Kenya boarder was only one hour away. When we got there, George and I rushed to the immigration office. I was still in fear of being left behind. We got through the Tanzania side very quickly and were hurrying to the Kenya side when I rolled my foot. I do that all the time, but this time was worse than the others. The pain I was experiencing was extreme and I could barely put weight on it. We got through the Kenya side again with no problems and got on the bus with time to spare. Unfortunately, my foot swelled and continued to hurt.

We got to Nairobi around 9:00 and just missed our connecting bus. We were able to board another one that left at 10:15. By the time we arrived in Kisumu it was 4:30 in the morning on Tuesday. We hired a tuk tuk to get to the house and we were happy to be home.