Where do I even begin? Happy one week in Kenya to me!
This week has been FULL of language and learning. Which is exciting to me – I love learning. Learning new names and faces, learning how to navigate my way around this city, learning a new language, learning which foods to eat, etc, etc. Lots of learning.
I have been thinking a lot about travel, especially in terms of mission work – and I think it is just best to learn the language before you go. I know in many cases, that may not be possible, but if you think you may end up somewhere, I vote…learn the language!! I could go on and on, mainly because I have been in language classes every day for several hours, but I won’t. (If you’re interested though, the method we are using is LAMP. You should definitely check it out. Very effective.)
Since I surely can’t write everything that has been happening, (you would never visit this blog again!) I will tell you my favorite experience so far. Well, there are a few, but I’ll stick to just one. :)
The first time I went down to the market by myself and bought passionfruit and yogurt. Nothing too crazy happened, and the lady I bought from wasn’t even that talkative with me – I’ve had much better conversations with the mama’s at the markets since then. But this day was different. I had some extra encouragement from a good friend in the States before I went out. (I won’t mention his name because he is so humble and Christ-like I’m sure he would rather me not. Hehe)
But here’s the deal. I was scared. I hadn’t been out alone yet, I didn’t feel confident in Swahili, and I just felt scared. There’s really no other way to put it. I could church the word up a bit, and say I was anxious, or apprehensive, or nervous…but no – I was simply scared. And here is the encouragement I received:
Psalm 91.
That’s all. Read it for yourself. That day, as I walked down the street, I felt those words “blanket” over me. And I came back with a yummy lunch, remembering what a faithful God I serve. Poa sana. (very cool)
Last night I had Ethiopian food. Delicious! It was really interesting, and so cheap. It cost me 280 shillings, about $3.40.
Today I went rock climbing with the family I am staying with right now. The most exhilarating thing I’ve done in awhile. Got to drive out of the city and see some wildlife. It was beautiful!
Start work on Tuesday, move into my apartment on Wednesday. Wiki njema.
Just walking down the streets, everywhere I go, I am reminded of the poverty that so many of these people face….that most of the world faces. Sometimes in America I think it is a distant thought. Here it is a stark reality. I think to myself, WWJD – “What Would Jesus Do?” No really. Ha. May seem funny, but if Jesus were here today, I wonder what he’d do? I’m not convinced he would be living in middleclass suburbia.
And I don’t have that figured out in my own life nor am I wanting to point fingers at anyone, it’s just something to think about…and hopefully, something to act upon.
I’ll leave you with a few interesting things I learned this week. Take it or leave it.
The unemployment rate in Kenya is about 40%. During the Great Depression in America – the unemployment rate reached 20%. Hmm.
Also, the unemployment rate in Zimbabwe…..90%!!!!
Sudan is 1/3 the size of the U.S. Africa is huge!
Don’t point with your finger in Kenya. It’s rude.
Stoplights/stop signs actually mean nothing.
Calling your grandma from Africa is a very special thing. :)
Love yall!
traffic in Nairobi. I wish this did it justice.
had to take a picture of this.
resting.
where's waldo? oh wait, he's wearing bright yellow shorts. cool.
