Farewell to Eldoret… For Now
This was the day we said farewell to our friends and to Eldoret — for now — and began the journey back to Nairobi.
Early in the morning, everyone gathered up their items, took pictures, gave hugs to our new friends, and loaded into the van and mini bus. It is hard to say goodbye after days filled with ministry, fellowship, laughter, learning, and so many meaningful moments. Eldoret has become a place connected to faces, stories, and friendships we will carry home with us.
Once we arrived in Nairobi, the traffic was just as memorable as it had been on our first day. As we got closer and closer to the city, the roads became increasingly busy, with weaving cars and trucks, frequent speed bumps on the interstate and in town, and the steady rhythm of traffic that feels almost impossible to describe unless you have experienced it.
When we reached the City Center, traffic became very stop-and-go — with a lot of “stop” in that stop-and-go. Each time we stopped, there were people along the roadside, on medians, and approaching cars and buses attempting to sell items. Women carrying babies offered coffee beans, trinkets, and many other things. There were also endless tin-framed storefronts selling anything and everything. It was a vivid picture of daily life in Nairobi and a reminder of how much is happening all around you at every moment.
Once we arrived at our Nairobi hotel, we unpacked the bus and van, received our rooms, and had a short time to settle in. Not long after, we headed out to dinner together.
At dinner, Efren presented John Langer with a beautiful artwork piece of zebras in the sunset, signed by all of us. But Efren explained that the gift was incomplete. Why? Because John’s signature was not yet on the painting — and he was a member of our DLTZ team.
John then signed the artwork, and we all celebrated the team together.
It was a meaningful way to close this part of the journey: grateful for safe travel, grateful for the friendships formed, grateful for the work God allowed us to witness, and grateful that goodbye does not have to mean the end.
Farewell to Eldoret… for now.
Team DLTZ (2026 Stony Brook Kenya)
June 19, 2026: Nairobi Decompress Day
Our decompress day in Nairobi started quite early so we could get into the safari park before the heat and traffic picked up.
Upon entering the park, we came across a tribe singing and dancing, which was a lively and memorable way to begin the day. We split into two separate safari-style jeeps, ready for the adventure ahead.
The safari park covered 74 square miles, and the scenery was absolutely beautiful. The road was bumpy, which added plenty of humor to the ride, but it was worth every bump. Along the way, we saw many incredible animals, including jackals, giraffes, rhinos, baboons, several types of birds, and ostriches.
About three-quarters of the way through the safari, we stopped at a lookout and then took a walk through some lush brush. We saw several types of plants, flowers, and trees, and near the river we spotted a crocodile, a turtle, and a lizard. At the end of the path, before heading back, there were a few ladies selling trinkets.
After the safari, we stopped for a bite to eat and then headed to the Giraffe Sanctuary. There, we were able to feed the giraffes and even saw Pumbaa — a warthog like the one from "The Lion King".
After a full and memorable day, we headed back to the hotel grateful for the chance to rest, laugh, enjoy God’s creation, and reflect on all we had experienced so far.
June 20, 2026: Amazing Wonders and Amazing Chaplain Ministry
After several very full days, we were grateful for a slightly slower morning and a later start. Around 9:00 a.m., we left for Amazing Wonders, and the drive there made a lasting impression on all of us.
As we wound and bumped down the dirt roads through the slum area where Amazing Wonders is based, it became incredibly apparent that this community faces deep poverty. And yet, life was happening all around us. Tin-covered, homemade storefronts lined the roads, offering goods for those who live there. Makeshift areas with propane tanks, fire pits, broken-down umbrellas, and old plastic picnic tables served as restaurants. Goats grazed nearby. People moved through the day, many appearing tired and without much hope, simply doing what they needed to do to survive.
One child, maybe two or three years old, stood silently on a manhole with her hand in her mouth, watching as we passed. It was one of those moments that stays with you.
Entering Amazing Wonders and meeting the teacher, pastor, and head mom was an absolute honor. It was an honor to meet individuals with such vision and dedication — people committed not only to caring for God’s children, but also to providing what they need so they can simply be children, filled with the hope and love of a loving Savior.
The children welcomed us with a song, and then the fun began.
They invited us into several games they enjoy playing, with a young girl named Gloria leading the charge. Efren taught Spanish, Mo taught sign language, Dakota taught a song, and Jason taught a song as well. Some of the team toured the home base while others stayed outside and played with the children.
The children were especially fascinated with our circular fabric fans — the kind that pop open into the air almost like paper airplanes when opened and closed. Their curiosity and joy over something so simple was a beautiful reminder of the wonder children carry with them.
We then passed out soccer balls and candy gifts, and the children played with huge smiles on their faces. Several of us had a special connection with certain kiddos, and it was truly a blessed day.
Amazing Wonders is a place where deep need and deep hope stand side by side. The poverty surrounding the ministry is difficult to take in, but inside Amazing Wonders, there is love, care, laughter, learning, and a vision for a different future.
After our time there, we went to eat a late lunch, picked up a few souvenir items, and then headed back to the hotel.
Later, we met in the conference room with Peter Wambugu to hear about the Go and Grow program for chaplains serving in Kenyan prisons. It was another opportunity to learn more about ministry happening in Kenya and the ways God is using people to serve, encourage, and care for others.
We left the day grateful — grateful for the children we met, the leaders who serve so faithfully, and the reminder that hope can grow in even the hardest places.
June 21, 2026: Travel Day
After days full of ministry, relationships, worship, learning, laughter, and unforgettable experiences, our team is on the journey home. Travel days are often filled with packing bags, checking passports, loading vehicles, navigating airports, and trying to keep everyone together — and this day was no different.
There is always a mix of emotions at the end of a trip like this. We were tired and ready to be home, but also deeply grateful for the people we met, the places we visited, and the ways we saw God at work throughout Kenya.
As we traveled, there will be time to reflect on all we had experienced: the children who greeted us with joy, the stories of hope and transformation, the churches and ministries faithfully serving their communities, the beauty of God’s creation, and the friendships formed along the way.
We are thankful for safe travels, for the prayers and support from home, and for every person who helped make this trip possible.
More reflections to come as we continue processing all that God did during our time in Kenya.