Gabe on the Lunatic Express!

This is Jill, writing on Gabe's blog to update you on his trip: They arrived safely in Nairobi on Saturday morning and Gabe was able to call me later that day for a short phone call. They have spent a couple of days in Nairobi working with a slum area with a ministry that helps Street Children. This is an email he sent me about that experience:

"We are getting ready to head to the train for our ride to Mombasa. MITS (Made In The Streets) was great. It was difficult for all of us and the students were very moved by the experience. One of the guys at MITS did a debriefing with the group and there were lots of tears expressing how they were affected. We went out on foot and visited several of the locations where street boys congregate, shared testimonies and prayed for them. It was very shocking for most folks - especially when they heard there are poorer parts of Nairobi than Eastleigh. Thanks for your prayers - they were much appreciated. Nothing bad happened at all so I know we went under God's protection."

As he said, they should now be finished with their 14 hour overnight train ride from Nairobi to Mombasa. This train is called The Lunatic Express and is the railway that the movie 'The Ghost and the Darkness" was written about. You get on the train at 7 pm and after supper in the dining car, you sleep in your train car in little beds that fold down from the wall. It's a pretty neat (although somewhat dangerous, based on the wreck history the last few years!) experience. It's an economical way to travel and since you travel through the night, it is a good use of time.

The Lunatic Express

Train going through Tsavo Game Park

Train car where you sleep

I'll post more as I hear from Gabe. He should be in Kilifi now, which is where we lived for 4-5 years, so I know this will be the most special part of the trip for him - to see old friends and spend time with some of the brothers and sisters there who are very dear to us.

Thank you for your interest, and your prayers. Avery and I are being well taken care of with my family here in the Dallas area.