It is funny how quickly things can change and how things are not always how they seem!  Unfortunately in my last week at the orphanage and school I was staying at certain situations arose, which unfortunately I can't go into huge detail about publicly, but let's just say that it was extremely evident why God so randomly took me there and on my own!  Everything suddenly came out into the open when the other Western guests left and i was at last on my own.  I think previously visitors to the centre hadn't realised what happened because they had always been in groups so everyone was on best behaviour, and when you are travelling with someone else you tend to hang around in a group and stay with your travelling partners - as I was on my own, guards were down and I developed strong one-on-one friendships with the children there so they ended up confiding in me.

Having given quite a few sermons whilst in Kenya on how to love like a Christian  and how to stand firm and stand up for what you believe (things that I am not even close to perfect in, and was hugely hypocritical) I could hardly walk away from the situation knowing that God took me there.  I had to remind myself of my own advice to the Kenyans, that to make a change you have to stand up for what you believe and Christian love is to not walk away from something that is wrong but to change it for those who are helpless and can do nothing on their own.  It was very hard to leave when I had to, especially without this little girl called Mercy, who was around 3 years old and was abandoned as a baby, and foudn with worms crawling all over her - but now she is a sweet little happy girl who would come over to my house everymorning and eat breakfast with me and follow me everwhere - If I could adopt her I really would!.....However, I know that it was right to leave when I did and God timed my departure perfectly and I didn't have to cut anything short, although at times I felt like I wanted to!  I now know I  have a long standing commitment with the children to stand by them and up for them in the future and I pray that I never forget that and God continues to use me.  (sorry, a bit of a riddle - but will explain more when I'm back)

Things that I learnt whilst in Kenya:
    As a Muzungu (white person) never attend a church service without a sermon already prepared as you will, without doubt, be expected to preach as the guest of honour!  I gave a total of 3 sermons in one weekend which was quite hardcore considering it was my first time at giving even one!  What was even more hard core was having to sit at the front of SDA (seventh Day Adventist) service, which lasts 9 hours, and of course I didn't understand a word of what was said (except my own part in the service of course) and with hundreds of faces staring at you constantly for nine hours, there is nooo way you can fall asleep!
   A Matatu (public mini-bus) is never full and if you are over the limit of 14 it doesn't matter becuase whn you pass a police stop just give him a nice fifty shilling hand shake and you'll ba waved on your way!  This happened on every journey I took into the nearest town as I was never on a bus with less than 20 on it!

  When Kenyans ask you to marry them, they realy mean it!  After 3 proposals, a total of 159 cows offered to me as a dowry, and the best chat-up line ever of, "You are my sweet, my honey (my Kisii name was Nyaboke, meaning honey), my beauty, my love, my rib!!!!" I was spoilt for choice!  Although never really did make up my mind in the end - thought best to leave things open!