Jambo!
First off, I'm not sure who's even following this old dusty thing but if you're still here, thanks for sticking around.
Incredible, 10 years... a decade... a decennium. I remember composing the last installment to this blog. It was painful to write, painful to imagine what my future held, but even more painful to leave my friends and those amazing people in Kenya. I remember pressing "publish" and closing the browser as the airwaves traversed through the interwebs and instantly to a number of readers on the other side of the globe. My blog post likely had an easier trip back to the United States than I did. Certainly it didn't take 6+ hours to drive through the bumpy desert roads of East Africa from the Mara West to Nairobi. Certainly it didn't get its bags confiscated in Uganda and held "hostage" in a private room for hours. Certainly it didn't endure having to explain why it was coming back so early in a busy Amsterdam airport. Certainly it didn't take 26+ hours to reach its final destination. "It'll probably be 10 years or never until I open this blog again." Well here I am exactly 10 years later.
It's amazing the type of fortitude I had at 17 to type those parting words. If I knew then what I knew now, I can't be quite positive that my sentiments would be the same. I mean let's face it, the 10 years weren't necessarily pretty. ....would not recommend! I will say that I'm absolutely stronger now. It's been 10 years of figuring things out, 10 years of bumping my head and stubbing my toes (one year for each toe culminated with the stubbing the last toe I have at the gym tonight 😑😑), but more importantly 10 years of growth. My dad would be pleased. He probably wouldn't be shocked that my mom looks the exact same. He would be proud of what I've become. And he would be even prouder to see what my sister has become and is becoming. I wonder if he knew that I'd keep his car (our car) on the road for a total of 12 years in very good condition. I'd still be driving it if it didn't get "totaled" by a rear in collision. I wonder if he knew I'd master driving stick and will never go back. I wonder if he knew I'd sing for a choir that would take me around the world and in unforgettable spaces. I wonder if he knew that 11 years ago when he was chauffeuring my and my little friend to our high school banquet, he wasn't chauffeuring "just some chick". He was driving the horse and carriage of my future wife and me. Nonetheless, here we are. 10 years later. 10 years stronger.
I hope to visit Africa again to complete my trip and to smile once more with those amazing people. I hope the school we helped to build has been a safe haven for students to learn, thrive, and grow. I hope the songs we taught those children still ring through the Mara West and will be taught to their children for generations to come. Finally I hope our driver, James is still successfully killing lions with his bare hands. Haha. Maybe I'll pick up where I left off and finally this blog will be complete.
Until then, I'll keep growing.
I doubt many people if anyone will read this but until next time, Kwaheri
-Gregory
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing." 2 Timothy 4:7-8
