Day 1: The long road to Butere

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Well the flight was comfortable enough, we were all grouped together which was nice and after 8 hours we made it safe and sound to Nairobi. First job was to queue up and get ourselves Safaricom SIM cards. Then it was off to a shambolic immigration process and on to collect our bags. We then made our way to the carpark where we met up with our driver Elias and his sidekick Anthony. Elias drives a nice distinctive aqua blue minibus. It was a bit tight but we squeezed everyone in, prayed and we were off on our second long bus ride hoping it would be a bit more interesting than our bus trip to Heathrow.

Well we weren't dissapointed as the strange sites started almost straight away as we saw Maribu Storks nesting in the trees above the main road through Nairobi. We slowly made our way out of town and it became apparent just how hilly Nairobi is. Another thing you couldn't help but notice was people. Everywhere you look there are people, walking, driving donkey carts, chatting, selling stuff at the side of the road, or just relaxing, in fact it was a rare sight to not see anybody, even when we were apparently in the middle of nowhere!

The bus journey itself took almost 9 hours! Rather a lot more than the 4 we were told but as it turns out not far from the +-100% margin for error kenyans seem to work too. This morning could easily mean this afternoon and today may well mean tomorrow!

The journey itself was variously described as interesting, scary, teriffiying, ridiculous, incredible, tiresome, and amazing at different points along the way. Ill list some experiences and leave the reader to match them with their descriptions!
* Zebras, baboons, and warthogs at the side of the road.
* The panorama of the rift valley from a few thousand feet up.
* An incomplete road bridge with no sides and half the carrigeway missing.
* Holes in the road almost as big as the bus.
* Weaver birds nesting.
* The Lazarus funeral home.
* Nearly running out of diesel beacause every station we went to had run out!

After all that we arrived safely, ate what seemed to us to be a veritable feast and then proceeded to unpack and get some sleep. All of us looking forward to starting work properly tomorrow.

Andrew Wood

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Photos

In Flight
Here we all are enjoying to luxury of a Kenya Airways 777

Packed in!
Sardines anyone?

The rift valley
Especially for Angela!

Comments

[ruth hanson]

what a jourey
daddy (Hanson) wow no wonder you were tired. miss you lots. ruth hanson xx

[ruth hanson]

how come jerry gets in to every picture? !!!

[Neil Cheswick]

Phew!
Hi Andy, Sounds like you had an 'interesting' trip, thank the Lord you arrived safely. Hope you all settle in well, how is Dave B's ankle? Keep in touch, we'll keep praying for you. Yours in Christ Neil.

[kathryn Warne]

thank you
Thank you for the updates and photos it is giving us a much clearer picture of what is going on and what you are all up to. That journey will be something you all remember for the rest of your lives as will all wives and famillies at home who were anxiously waiting to hear of your safe arrival! Love to everyone, will continue to pray for you all as you begin work, Kathryn x

[allyson wood]

what a journey!
hi andy and everyone, the journey sounds amazing, although i bet you were all knakered at the end of it! the views of nairobi must be amazing probably a once in a life time opportunity. i think the work your doing is amazing well done you lot for showing that there are still good kind people out there. i actually prayed for a safe flight for you all(i know andy, me praying lol) i will continue to pray for a safe and happy trip for you all. good luck and god bless to you all xx allyson(andys sister)xx

[Dawn]

Glad you all arrived safe!! Keep updates and pics coming! Hope your first day working is going well! Make sure Dave doesn't do too much and knacker his ankle again!! Love to you all and lots of prayers xxx

[Jill Wood]

Hello Daddy!
Hello Daddy (Wood) Missing you and glad you are all safe. We are pleased you got some malaria tablets from Julian and Alistair. We were worried you were going to die!! after forgetting yours! Love Zena, Aidan, Daniel, Ruby and Jill. XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX Get someone to take a picture of you (as you're the photographer) Jerry is on every picture!!

[Joseph]

Hello daddy!
Hello daddy! Glad you got there safely! Have you seen any big spiders yet? Hope they are not as big as the one I got today at Wisley! Love you lots. I miss you....Josephxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

[Mum and Dad]

Rudgwick calling
Matt, pleased it's going ok. Sad about the shower! Hard luck!!! God bless. Have fun. Love you , Mum and Dad

[Crow Family]

Really glad you've all arrived safely. We have your mug-shots up on our fridge door, along with the prayer requests, so be assured that you are in our thoughts and prayers.

[Angela]

What about some views?
Hello everyone. Glad you all arrived safely and am really enjoying the reading the blog and hearing all your news, but any chance we might see some views too?!(..you can still put Jerry in the shots!) Angela x

[kathryn Warne]

kEEP Jerry in photos fan club!
Jerry isn't in all the pictures only most of them! What's wrong with that anyway he can't help being so quiet and shy that nobody notices he's there when they are taking the photos!

[ruth hanson]

hi dad(hanson) Just woken up! we are going to go swimming in a bit just us. Tell everyone to enjoy their chicken dinner. Ruth xxxxxxxxxx

[Sarah Cheswick]

Hey you guys
Old Granny Cheswick sends lots of love and prayers to all of you! Thankful you all made it there in one piece - just! As a group I hope you manage to achieve all that you set out to do and on an individual basis I pray you cope well with the huge differences in culture. Look forward to hearing more from you and I too am going to join the keep Jerry in the photo fanclub.

[Angela]

......still waiting for some views!.......for all us wives know, you could be on a two week jolly to the Costa del Sol!!!!!! Angelaxx

[Dave]

Hello
No news on the baby front, still happy where it is. No pictures of you on the bus or the plane, did you go to Conway and not Kenya. Liz has been on, wants to know where the hoover is and the timer on the microwave isn't working, and they're all starving. Seriously, have a great time, watch out for the warthog flu.

[Angela Woolley]

Ok, so you're not in Spain
Thanks for the extra photo Andrew. The Rift Valley looks amazing! Joseph, however, thought it was in Wales!!! Have a great day everyone! Love Angela xx

[Peter Fitz]

Hello Mark
Can I borrow your power drill? When do you go to Kenya?

[Peter Fitz]

Hello Mark
Seriously - hope it's going to plan and you are all keeping well. Just remember Mark no sliding doors and watch out for those Teste flies (I think I spelt that right!). Pete

[Rich Fitz]

Lincoln Branch calling
Hi Mark, hope your holidays going well! Good news about Jemma's results. Must have got her brains from Liz's side. See you soon, probably when whetting the baby. Cheers, Rich, Lar, Em, George ant Thomas.xxxxx