Riding into Kericho

Bishop Nixon Dingili leads our team toward Kericho.

Our second full day of riding east from Nairobi took us from Bomet into the Kenyan highlands. The roads seemed to go no direction but up. We steadily climbed into lush, green areas that are the heart of Kenya's tea plantations. The vast fields cultivated with tea plants filled the hilltops.

Our cyclists seem to be fully recovered from the first day's ride. Collectively, we rode well. Most improved cyclist for the day: Bishop Nixon Dingili.  He seemed to rise to the occasion of riding into areas where he served for so many years and to Kericho, our destination for the evening.

We were blessed with a cloudless sky for most of the day. Our first two days of riding are in stark contrast to the weather Kenya has been experiencing up until now. Our sunshine finally gave way to a thunderstorm about the time we reached Kericho mid-afternoon. A downpour drenched us as we rode the last few miles to Kericho Free Methodist Academy.

Picture the most broken up, steepest road you've ever driven, ridden or walked. Now add heavy rainfall.  Now add mud on the steep, broken-up road, making it impossible to ride up.  Now add eight drenched cyclists who've been climbing through hills all day.  Now picture those cyclists, led by a Kenyan bishop pushing their bikes up that hill to the gates of a children's school at the top of the hill.  Now picture one cyclist--Kevin Williams--actually staying on his bike and picking his way through the pot holes and slipping through the mud and pedaling to the top of the hill. Impressive.

We have no way to describe what happened as we pushed our bikes through the gate of Kericho Free Methodist Academy. There was an eruption of cheers from 300 children who had been anticipating our arrival. As each cyclist straggled through the gate, another uproarious round of cheers ensued.  Frankly, it was overwhelming.  I wish every person could experience something like this at some point in their life.

The school held a special assembly for us, singing songs, reciting verses from the Bible, playing games, and making introductions.  Though our team was shivering from wet clothes, we so appreciated the welcome and feel very much honored.  The memory of this will spur us on in the days ahead.  Our thanks to the Kericho FM Academy and Free Methodist Church for their gracious hospitality.

Next up: we pedal our way from Kericho to Nyakach. That means more hilly pedaling.  We are making our way northward and on Sunday will see the shores of Lake Victoria.

Thanks for sharing this journey with us.  And thanks for sharing in the purpose for which we ride: support for a high school where one does not currently exist. Tomorrow, we will share why building this high school is so important for the educational opportunities of many children.