Karibu Dala (Welcome Home)
Journal Entries from Kenya Series
The journey to reach Sirembe is an arduous one, even when everything goes smoothly. This time the journey was full of delays and missed flights and changes, even though, admittedly, some of the surprises were good ones. I left my house in Arkansas on Wednesday morning and arrived in Sirembe on Sunday evening.
While on my flight from Amsterdam to Nairobi, I happened to look out the window and witnessed the exact moment we flew from over the Mediterranean Sea to over the deserts of northern Africa and I was in awe. It was stunningly beautiful and it really hit me how lucky I was to be coming home.
Years ago, on one of my first trips to Africa, I got up to go to the bathroom on the plane and happened to look out the window from 30,000+ feet up and I could see straight down to the Sahara Desert. I was completely filled with wonder. I spent the next hour staring out the window, fascinated by the desert below me and I was reminded how incredible it was to be living a childhood dream by coming to this marvelous continent. It makes me feel like I am 10 years old every single time.
And this time was no exception. In fact, it was even more intense, given that it had been so long since I had last made this journey. It was truly incredible to actually see the moment where the plane went from flying over the Mediterranean into the skies over Africa. I was giddy and grateful and felt so alive.
Hours later, when we landed in Nairobi, I was in tears. It felt so good to be back; I missed this place even more than I had realized. It was the middle of the night and I couldn't see much, but the energy was unmistakable and I knew I was home.
I stayed in Nairobi to rest for a day before boarding my 4th and final flight to Kisumu. I was jetlagged and exhausted, but so excited because I knew I would soon be with my beloved people in my beloved Sirembe. The next day I landed in Kisumu and saw a huge sign saying “Karibu Dala” and I teared up because that means “Welcome Home.” The phrase is a combination of Swahili and Luo. I got my bags and walked out of the Arrivals area to see one of the most important people in my life, Mathe (Mrs. Opot). Just as I started to run over to her I realized that she had nearly 20 people with her—she had brought most of our JCO Kiddos and two members of our Kenyan team to pick me up and I was so moved. Just a puddle of happiness and tears. So surprised and so grateful.
I hugged each and every one of them, shocked at how big many of them had grown. We all piled into the van and drove the almost 2-hour journey back to Sirembe. As we were driving, I was feeling so many things—exhaustion, happiness, and so much gratitude. It was also a strange Deja-vu moment. I had ridden, smashed in a van with our kiddos, on those Kenya roads millions of times. It is honestly a wonderful feeling to all be packed in there, usually going somewhere exciting. But this time most of the kids were new-to-me and some of the other kids who had ridden on my lap or were smashed next to me years ago are now the big people in the back of the bus waiting to start their college courses this September. Everything felt so familiar, yet also new, and it was fantastic.
We drove slowly down the dirt roads into Sirembe and my heart felt anchored, attached at the root to this place. When we pulled up to Mathe's house, I was home. I got out and was greeted by many more people, including my Kenyan bestie Christine (aka Nyarkisumu). I got unpacked, ate dinner, bathed out of my bucket and then I stayed up much later than I should have, catching up and laughing with Mathe and Nyarkisumu. It was glorious and so good for my soul. Later still, I fell asleep under my mosquito net and felt at peace, so grateful to finally be back home. Karibu dala indeed.
With Love & Gratitude,
Sarah Fennel Buchanan
Founder/CEO
Restore Humanity
