Karibu Africa!

I can hardly believe it. I am actually here, on this continent, a continent to which no member of my family has ever been, which I have literally only read about in books and seen in pictures and films.

I am in Africa.

The journey here went very smoothly, despite mildly misjudging train times in Amsterdam and cutting it very close with check in. Dave and I landed safely at Jomo-Kenyatta International Airport. The line was long for customs, but relatively painless. We grabbed our stuff from the baggage carousel and emerged from the airport, wondering exactly how we were supposed to find Fr. Kamanzi, especially when we saw the mobs of people waiting just beyond a railing outside the terminal.

It happened like a movie.

There we were, just two hapless Americans, recently landed in the heart of East Africa. I scanned the crowd, heart in my throat, panning from left to right, slowly studying each face, searching for that familiar cherubic smile.

And there he was. He was standing to the right of the crowd, a couple of feet in front of the throng, chuckling to himself and waiting for me to notice him. When I did, he greeted me with open arms and many hugs ensued. "Karibu! Karibu!" he was shouting. "Welcome! Welcome!"

I don't think that Dave and I could have dreamed a warmer reception into this wonderful country.