University of Nairobi, Kenya

Man, it's been a long time since I was in college. For those suffering the same fate as me -- growing old -- just know that college students are the same now as they were back in the day -- late night study sessions, late night gab sessions, late night hunger attacks and just late nights.

A photographer and I spent last week working in Nairobi with a group of volunteers from Kansas. The volunteers are here for three months to work with students at the University of Nairobi. These volunteers are special to me because they are not only from Kansas, but actually know where my hometown is located!

Keisha, Jessie, Luke and Porifio work with university students in an effort to disciple them to be the leaders Kenya need them to be. This is through the local student Christian union clubs. We spent the week following them around and meeting the Kenyan students.

One day, they had a good, old-fashioned American youth group party. They introduced the silly games most of us grew up playing -- like passing the orange underneath your chin, pop the balloon on a chair, etc. The Kenyan students had never played these games and the laughter could be heard all over the park.

One of the favorite games was drinking pop as fast as you can. Each team had a two-litre bottle and straws. In Kenya, pop is not an everyday thing for the common person, so it's a treat to drink one -- let alone two-litres. Of course, you know the object is for everyone on the team to drink pop out of the straw and be the first one done...and the result is a good, ole burping contest.

It was a lot of fun hanging out with some "home folk" for once. Here's a picture of us all eating at a nice restaurant in Nairobi. On the right side of the table are Keisha, Jessie and Luke. Justin (the photographer living in Nairobi) and I are on the left side. Porifio isn't in the picture because he took it.

Kansas people, I highly recommend you getting this team to your church to talk. They have some exciting stuff to say and it's another chance for you to learn more about my home. If you are interested in getting in touch with them to speak, just let me know.