my adventure on my way back to california

Well as many of you already know I had quite an event time coming home. I left Masii on August 8, at about 10 am, I left early because there were a few stops that needed to be made before arriving at the airport. We made our way, and as we drove down the street to make our way out of Masii, I am torn, I have been sick for 3 weeks so my body is ready to go home and rest but my heart aches, I know that once I get on that plane I will land in a place where never feel as much as home at being here. We drive to Machakos and go to the Mulei supermarket so I can buy some tea for my mom. We make our way to Nairobi and as time passes we go to a "souvenir" store and then eat lunch at the airport. 

As I look over my itenerary, I realize that it says that I have a 10 HOUR layover in Dubai. (for those of you that dont know, I did love staying in Dubai for a day but I hate the Dubai airport)

Is this a joke? 
Aye this is no fun.

I then said goodbye to Paul and Elizabeth who took me to the airport and I went and checked into the airport. (The airport in Nairobi is different, right when you enter the door of the airport, you walk into security and then you check in at the desk) As I check, in the lady at the desk tells me that there is a delay with my flight and they have no idea when my plane will leave. She then asked if I still wanted to check in....

well duh, what else am I going to do? 
leave?
oh I wish! 

I reply, yes I would still like to check in. Thank you. I am nervous as I lift my very heavy bags onto the scale, I scream with joy (literally) as she tells me that they are under 50 lbs. 

THANK YOU JESUS!

It is now about 2:30 pm and my flight is supposed to leave at 4:40pm. I am fully aware that I only have to wait around the airport for 2 more hours. I am worried that I wont find my gate, so I find my gate (gate #9), I find a seat to sit in, pull out my nook and begin to read a book. It is taking everything in me NOT to think about the idea of leaving Kenya and going back to California. I know that if I were to think about this while sitting in the airport I would completely fall apart right here. Well around 3:15, I walk down to where they have the flight schedule and I check my flight......

 .....
I stop, dead in my tracks
......


W
H
A
T
?
This flight plans says that my plane is not leaving until 10:30 pm tonight....
This is a joke right?! 
Oh my Lord. Every part of my being wants to cry, I already feel sick, hungry and exhausted and I haven't even boarded my plane yet. 


I call my mom, even though its 5 in the morning. I want to jump on any plane or I want to get in a car and go back to Masii. I spend the next 6 hours reading, listening to music, walking around, and wanting to be anywhere but this airport. (note in these 6 hours the number of the gate I was leaving from changed 4 times....stressful? yeah!)

IT IS FINALLY 10:30. We funnel past the gate and there are twice as many people as there should be! We realize that there are two flights leaving for Dubai at the same time. Now all the passengers are flipping out and mad and grumpy. Well needless to say that there are too many people, in too small of space, and our flight was not going to leave even near on time.

Finally, we get on the airplane, and we smoothly arrive to Dubai where I only had to have a 2 hour layover.  I find a very comfortable chair and fall completely asleep until 30 minutes before my flight. I board the plane, not fully ready to admit that I am riding on an aircraft for 22 hours... 

After 22 hours of lots of turbulence, screaming babies, no bathroom breaks, and disgusting airplane food, I finally stepped off the airplane and got through customs and FINALLY found my bags (which took almost an hour). 

As I venture my way out to the greeting area, I see my mom, I leave my cart of bags and run to my mom. I burst into tears. My heart is happy to see my dear family. Mom, Dad, Caleb, Sarah, Grandma, and Grandpa are all there and as I see them, they begin to sing a song about me coming home. :) 

(read the next post to see what the next 2 weeks have been)