What was supposed to be a smooth Friday departure from the U.S. turned into an unexpected 48-hour adventure. Due to a series of delays I wasn’t able to leave until Saturday. I then ended up missing my connecting flight from Nairobi to Kitale. But that was just the beginning.
When I finally landed in Nairobi at 8:55 PM, the first thing I did after getting cell service was check my email. The very first message was that one of my two checked bags had been left behind in Germany. Thankfully, the one that did make it was the box containing 55 water filters donated by Riverbend Church for distribution here in Kenya. Honestly, if only one bag had to make it, I’m glad it was that one.
As I walked out of the airport, there was a familiar and welcome sight, my dear friend and driver, Simon, waiting for me with a big smile. Despite the chaos of travel, that moment lifted my spirits. Without missing a beat, we started our 7.5-hour drive from Nairobi to Kitale.
Around 3 AM, halfway through the journey, we hit a major traffic jam. Kenyan traffic jams are unlike those at home. Cars maneuvered in every direction—some seemingly ignoring the rules of the road entirely—just to inch forward. Thankfully we made it through and finally arrived in Kitale at 5:45 AM.
To say I was tired would be a massive understatement. Two full days of travel with only six hours of sleep total left me absolutely drained. I checked into my room, took a quick shower, and grabbed 2.5 hours of sleep before it was time to get moving again.
After breakfast, I met up with Jordan, Roshan, and Ajay from Story Company. Together, we visited Seeds Academy to meet the potential actors for our upcoming film project. More to come on that later. We then toured the Kipsongo Slum—our primary location for filming. The energy, environment, and the potential of what’s to come made the exhaustion worth it.
After a quick lunch back at the hotel, we dove straight into an afternoon planning session—finalizing our shot list and discussing all the little details for the shoot.
It’s been a wild ride just getting here, but I’m excited for what’s ahead. Even in the midst of missed flights and interrupted plans, I know I am exactly where the Lord wants me to be and I am continuing to trust him every step of the way.
In His Service,
Elliott