When the Spark of Easter Came Alive

We spent a beautiful, and slightly different, Easter here in Kilifi. Different, for example, because the chocolate melted almost as quickly as we could unwrap it.

On Saturday, we spent the day preparing for Easter Sunday: painting eggs and crafting little Easter “nests.” Between these small projects, life unfolded in its gentle, joyful rhythm, moments of arts and crafts at the table, splashing in the pool, wandering along the beach, and greeting the quiet monkeys who have now become regular visitors to our garden.

On Saturday evening, we went to Holy Mass at around nine o’clock. The day before, one of Leo Ferdinand’s new friends had seriously advised us to bring jackets, as it would get “really cold.” We didn’t. And we were quite astonished when a young man next to us arrived wearing a thick down jacket… while it still felt like 30 degrees.

At one point, his friend looked at Leo Ferdinand in disbelief and said,“I told you to bring a jacket!”There they all sat, bundled up in winter jackets and jumpers, while Leo Ferdinand, in shorts and a shirt, was quietly sweating and wondering how this was even possible. After about two hours, the younger ones began to nod off, so we decided to head home and return the next morning.

Easter Sunday Mass was just as special, even though we didn’t understand everything. The service moved between English and Swahili, but so much of it didn’t need translation. During the songs, people clapped, raised their arms, and even the priest joined in. At one point, someone danced down the aisle. There was such a sense of joy and openness that it was impossible not to feel it. We felt very grateful to be part of it.

After Mass, we celebrated in our own way, with a long, leisurely brunch. As always, we savored the slow, shared meal and included some of the treats Wenzel had brought from Switzerland, a little taste of home, before easing into the afternoon. Later, we enjoyed the beach once more, taking in the waves and sunshine, before the evening brought another highlight: a sundowner at Salty’s, right next door, watching the colors of the sky deepen over the ocean.

By evening, the day took another unexpected turn. Inspired by boarding school, Leo Ferdinand was eager to learn how to dance the waltz and “Friesenrock.” Soon, all the children joined in. We found ourselves dancing to rock and roll music, laughing, moving, and, of course, sweating in the warm evening air. Eventually, there was only one logical next step: we all jumped into the pool to cool off before falling into bed, happy, tired, and full of the day.

And then came this morning. We woke up early, and Julius is already becoming a bit of a local, putting on a jumper because it felt “fresh.” We all had to smile, as “fresh” here still means around 26 to 28 degrees!

Today took us to Plantation, where we had the opportunity to climb a baobab tree. These trees are absolutely fascinating, massive, ancient, and full of character. The children climbed one after another without hesitation. Getting up was easy. Getting down, however, was a different story. But with each attempt, their confidence grew. It made me think: this might be something we continue back in Switzerland. Maybe not baobab trees, of course, but rocks, walls, and whatever we can find to keep that sense of adventure alive.

After the climb, we enjoyed a wonderful breakfast at the Food Movement and discovered more local food varieties. Breakfast here is very different from what we are used to — not sweet at all, but full of eggs, guacamole, Mahamri, salads, and chapati in different variations. It was delicious, and exactly what we needed after the climb.

Back at home, we spent the rest of the day quietly, relaxing by the pool and fitting in a bit of homeschooling.

And just like the day before, the evening ended with dancing, a jump into the pool, and that familiar, contented feeling of falling into bed after a full day.

Wishing you all a happy Easter, wherever you are, and hoping you were able to spend it with the people who matter most to you.