Today was a big step forward in our Habitat for Humanity journey in Kenya. We had the pleasure of meeting Ian, our Habitat Kenya coordinator, who will be guiding us throughout the week. Calm, kind, and clearly passionate about his work, Ian welcomed us with a heartfelt orientation, sharing more about the project we’ll be working on and what Habitat Kenya is doing across the country. We also participated in an advocacy session, which helped place our build into a broader context of housing justice — both globally and locally. It was a powerful way to start our journey and a reminder of why we’re all here.
Afterward, we piled into a van and began our drive to Nanyuki — about 120 miles north of Nairobi, right on the equator. As we left the city behind, the scenery began to shift — rolling hills, open skies, and more green than I think any of us expected. On the way, we stopped at a mall to pick up groceries and exchange money, getting our first small glimpse into the daily life in a Kenya community. As we neared our destination, we paused again — this time for a group photo at the Nanyuki Equator sign. The moment felt surreal. How often do you get to say you stood with one foot in each hemisphere?
By late afternoon, we arrived at the hotel that will be our home base for the week. Nestled out in the countryside, the space is quiet and peaceful, with gardens tucked into every corner of the courtyard. Beyond the buildings, farmland stretches in every direction — it’s the kind of place where you can hear the sounds of crickets, cows, and the hum of nature. After a long day of travel, it felt like a deep exhale.
Once we were settled in, some of our group members gathered in the courtyard, catching up on travel stories, and sharing experiences from past builds. As we sat outside, enjoying the peaceful atmosphere, we were introduced to an unexpected delight—Hyraxes! When the hotel owner told us there were relatives of the elephant on the property, I didn’t know what to picture — but it certainly wasn’t a small, furry animal climbing trees and swinging from power lines.
As the sun set and the air cooled, we all gathered around the dinner table for a shared meal — our group, Ian, and our two wonderful drivers. After dinner, Ian handed out Habitat Kenya volunteer shirts to each of us, and suddenly, it all felt real. With our new shirts in hand and the build just a day away, the excitement was undeniable. Tomorrow, we roll up our sleeves and get to work. It’s time to begin what we came here for — united by a shared purpose and ready to make a lasting difference, one brick at a time.
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