Kenya

We had a restful first R and R!

Off we go to Kenya...

As we waited on the tarmac to board the MAF plane which would transport us to Nairobi, there were plenty of planes, helicopters and humanitarian vehicles for the children to watch...

(As well as this view of a lady carrying a suitcase on her head: a sight so normal here that Ben and Joel take no notice at all! I wish I had good enough balance to be able to carry even a book on my head, never mind a suitcase!)

Almost time to board...

We climb onboard with Andrew as a passenger, since he is on R and R! We prepare to taxi up the runway in the very capable hands of our MAF pilot Jane Wambui:

Ben enjoys passing the enormous relief helicopters, of which there are many. These are some of the world's largest helicopters, so Ben was in his element having such amazing machines to look at!

Soon we are airborne. I enjoyed seeing some of the beautiful, lush landscapes which are in evidence alongside the great river:

We stopped at a couple of villages on the way to Nairobi, to drop off and pick up other passengers. The recent rains meant a very muddy airstrip in this village! We came to a squelchy stop in the dark mud. Despite the mire, this did not put off a crowd of interested onlookers. They were as interested in us, especially blonde-haired children, as we were in them!

The next stop was Nairobi... 

We had the first weekend in a guest house and them moved across to the MAF A Compound (NOT the compound where we lived from January to July this year). This was our very restful abode for 7 nights:

There was time for trips out for ice-cream (not something we can easily find in Juba), visits to friends, shopping trips and a walk in Nairobi's peaceful Karua Forest:

The weather was rainy at times and wonderfully cold in the evenings... and yes, I really do mean that! It can be nice to live in a warm country much of the time, but it is also lovely to get a break from the intense heat and enjoy a change of weather for variety's sake. In the early mornings, Esther exclaimed that she felt so cold, she had "never been in such a cold place!" I think she has forgotten the snowy winter we spent in England in 2012!
It was even cold enough for a log fire in the evenings! A nice way to write Christmas cards- reminiscent of a British Christmas:

On Monday,we set off again for our actual home.
It had been a lovely break. It served its purpose, as it also felt good to be back- to be greeted by MAF staff we know...

...to feel the warm sun again, to land in an environment which is starting to feel more familiar and to feel ready to get back into work; looking forward to joining in Christmas season festivities with new friends and to being settled in our own house again.