First week in the village!

This week has been full of so many blessings, discoveries, and new beginnings. I have done much!

Sunday am, I arrived in the village at 5:30am. You can read about my first thoughts, here.

After church and lunch in the village, my escort D and took a matatu up to Malindi where I then spent two nights and almost two full days with my mentor and her husband. That time was very relaxing; we walked the streets of the city, did a few last minute shopping needs, walked the beach next to the Indian Ocean J and had gelato! It was beautiful.

Tuesday afternoon, the three of us traveled down to the village to drop me off and give them an opportunity to see where I would be living. We, of course enjoyed chai together and chatted about ministries around the coast. We then said our goodbyes and I was left here!

First thoughts: what have I gotten myself into? Can I really live here? Will I ever get use to the bugs in the house? How will I cope with dirt everywhere?

Showering = a basin of water and a small cup to pour on myself (aka no running water).

Bathroom = squatting over a hole in the ground (a bit shocked at first I have to admit).

Sleeping = tucking my net securely in between the bed frame and mattress and using a Kanga (not a blanket) because it’s hot. Sleeping also involves spraying my net with bug spray before entering to ward off any unwelcomed guests that may have taken up residents on during the day.

Playing = dirt, small words (with motions to get my point across) & sometimes a ball. Lots of laughing, smiling, handshakes  & high fives!

Eating = drinking chai! Breakfast: bread & bananas. Lunch: rice or ugali and some greens usually. Dinner: rice, ugali or chapati served with greens or potatoes, chicken or goat in a tomato broth. And for good measure, add some more chai, oh and dinner is served between 8-9pm… I try my hardest to not fall asleep at the table!

Wednesday through Friday I joined the church in participating in their VBS. All the classrooms are “outside” and all the kids sit on some form a bench. I was amazed at how well they “sat” and for as long as they did… even the little ones! Recap: Wednesday, during VBS, I sat in the 7-9 year old class, which had 42 kids on their roster. Wednesday evening I made their refurbished previously used scanner/printing work and we/I set off in making them photocopied booklets for the kids to color. However, we ran out of ink and weren’t able to finish. So Thursday morning I went with Father J about 30 minutes south to Kilifi where we attempted to fix my internet modem, made copies, and picked up a few things at 3 different stores. Friday, I walked the throughout the property with the mission to take pictures of a VBS in a village setting. Success! The camera helped me to bridge the gap between the kids and myself. I quickly learned “mcono chini!”- hands down! and “pamoja” – together. (sidenote: the kids here don’t understand English at all)

Each day, the VBS concluded with lunch served to the kids. After lunch, most if not all the kids stayed on the property to hang out and play together. This was definitely my favorite part! I joined in a few organized games of football (soccer here), received a few Swahili lessons from the kids, and laughed a lot (many times at me).

I still can’t believe I get to be here. In so many ways it feels like I’m dreaming. There are truly no words to describe how joyful I feel inside as I’m surrounded by all the children. It makes my myoyo(heart) so happy! The biggest struggle I’ve had is my internet modem not working. I want to communicate with all of you at home what is happening and it has been very challenging to not get to as much as I would like. FB on my phone is incredible slow and uses what patience I have left at the end of the day to convey my thoughts in 180 characters or less. I pray I can get a new one soon!

At times this last week I felt as though learning Kiswahili would never come. I would listen to a conversation and get very little, I would tune out when I hadn’t a clue what was being said, and then get frustrated that I wasn’t getting anything. When I try to listen, I do catch words that I know and I can usually tell who is being talked about or the general topic, but I still have a long way to go. The kids have been awesome in helping me learning, mostly because we can’t communicate any other way. Friday, after they overheard a phone conversation in English, they were eager to sing “Create in Me” with motions as I had taught them it briefly on Wednesday. Their faces lit up as we sang together, “create in me, a clean heart Oh God, that I might serve you, create in me, a clean heart Oh God, that I might be renewed. So fill me, and heal me, and bring me back to you, create in me, a clean heart on God, that I might serve you.” We then spent the next 30 minutes or so translating it into Kiswahili! I loved it! That then turned into an hour and a half or two hour Swahili lesson learning commands, directions, and more. They were so incredibly patient with me, saying things over and over until I pronounced it right and what I love about their teaching is that they don’t know English so they never speak it! I tried forming a few sentences and they laughed if I got it wrong but did what I asked if I said it right. “ninakuhitaji kusimama mstari” –I need you to stand in a line. I formed that one all by myself and was thrilled when they did what I asked! Oh I really can’t wait to see how the Lord will continue to show Himself in power and patience as the learning process continues.

Tomorrow (Sunday) we are scheduled to attend church where we will have the closing of our VBS and then travel a bit to visit another church nearby. I’m sure this will make for a blog post in and of itself. I will do my best to document through pictures to share with you at home! “God is good all the time, and all the time God is good and that is His nature and that deserves a high five!”

And here's a few of my favorite pictures! Enjoy!

Eating breakfast... fried bananas & nhugo and of course tea! That's my Kenya Mama
behind me, Mama Joyce.

Most of the family. Their daughter Grace to the left, in front is Peter (he wouldn't
turn around!) Mama Joyce across and Father Joseph.

The first night I was in the village I made their printer work and we made coloring
packets for all of the kids for the VBS. I printed and then we formed an assembly
line. That's Shadrach across the table. He's another Pastor for the church and lives on
property with us.

During the VBS on Wednesday I taught the kids the song, "Create in Me"...
we have since learned most of it in Swahili as well.

This is how we wash our hands before every meal. They don't know what
soup is here.

The food is ready for the kids. Green Grams are in the pot and Ugali on the plates.
They fed over 100 kids each day and all the food was provided by members of
the Church.

6 yr old Agnus carrying Kadzu. This is very normal to see around here!

Athismun in the yellow shirt is the best language teacher! He is so incredibly
patient with me. If I don't understand he's usually around and I will call him
over to help me. He's also a character! Very entertaining!

Bahati & Salem... a precious picture!

Meet Priscilla! She was sitting on my lap and I was bouncing her up and down.
She was laughing so hard and its hard to tell but so was I! That's Steven
behind us, he didn't want to play soccer so that he could sit with me and teach
me Swahili.