“Mzungu, mzunguuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!” I don’t think I could put into words how many times a day I hear those words, which mean “white person” in Swahili. Everywhere we walk we have a cluster of ten or more Kenyan children following us and touching our skin to make sure we didn’t paint ourselves. My arm gets a workout from waving all day. I’ve learned not to get in close proximity to kids from about 2-4 years old because they are terrified seeing a white person for the first time and will scream their heads off. I have gotten comfortable with people awkwardly staring at me for long periods of time. We are staying with a pastor and his family of 12 in their mud house. We go to the bathroom in a hole that pastor likes to call “long drop”. We slaughter chickens and sheep that become our dinner a few hours later. Time is a relative term here. You never know what the day is going to hold…plans aren’t official here. I eat carbs for every single meal and have tea time everytime I step foot into someones house (yea, I’ve taken up running). Wi-fi doesn’t exist and if you can get a Skype connection on the dial-up computers, it’s a great internet day. 12 passenger vans=24+ passengers. The power goes out a few times a day. Every time we head to the “big town” our taxi runs out of gas or gets a flat tire. I hold black babies everyday.
This is Kenya….
We are living in a small farming community for the month (sorry this blog is late…the month is almost over!) in a town called Kiminini. Day to day ministry can really be almost anything. Pastor is having us dabble into different things and pour into where the Spirit is leading us. Amanda and I have been working with the social workers at the church who work for an organization based out of California, Ordinary Women. They sponsor 100 orphans in the community by paying school fees, providing food and basic living necessities. We walk around with the social workers and visit the different schools where some of the orphans are and talk to them. We’ve done a few house visits, too, to talk to their guardians and evaluate home life.
A big thing I’ve realized this year is how much I took my education for granted. I thought it was a right for me to go to school because that’s just how it is in America. Everyone goes to school then graduates high school and most go to college. Kids in other countries love going to school and they try so hard here because they know it’s the only way to get out of the poverty most of them live in. While I’ve looked back on my college experience and where my priorities were (party first, education second), I’ve realized what a blessing it is that I even had the opportunity to receive the education I did. Many people here don’t have money to send their kids to school or to college, but they are so eager to learn. The schools are overcrowded and some even have to hold classes outside because there aren’t enough classrooms.
Amanda and I work with the social workers Monday-Friday from 9am until 1 or 2 pm, but my heart is building relationships with some of the people around the community. My passion is visiting homes and talking to people about life. Even though we come from completely different countries and backgrounds, we really aren’t that different. We’re all relational, thinking, feeling beings and it’s a beautiful thing laughing and crying and spending time together.
Kenyans have shown so much hospitality to us and make us feel welcome to their country and into their homes. They have shown me what God meant for hospitality to look like. It isn’t about a fancy house, elaborate food and matching dishes…though, I do love all of that! Kenyan’s here have proved that you don’t need money to show great hospitality. They share what that do have with whoever steps foot in their mud floor(or cow dung floor…it’s cheaper than cement)house. You can share your heart and life with people, even if the meal is simple and the setting is humble. The most important gift of welcome says I care, I love you, and I have prepared a place for you. We are called to “serve one another in love” (Galations 5:13) and that is what everyone has done for us in their homes.
We’ve had game days with all of the kids around the village playing soccer, volleyball or watching on the sidelines holding babies. We usher at two of the three church services. Thankfully, Pastor doesn’t make us attend the 6 am service, although I can hear him preaching from under my mosquito net in my bed. We have helped the family around the house wash clothes, cook or sit and have tea time. Tea time is absolutely something I will be doing when I get home. They stop anything they’re doing for tea…it’s great. I have also gotten to hold black babies almost every single day, which is something I specifically prayed for haha. More often than not, I’m also offered to keep the baby to bring back to the states with me. Good thing I’m not here in month 11 or I may be coming home with more than what I left with.
Kenya is absolutely beautiful, the people are welcoming and we are having a great time here. Most Kenyan’s live on $1 a day and work very hard for their families. They show such deep love for each other and family is one of the most important things in their lives. Please pray for the people we are building relationships with and that we will be listening to what God wants us to walk in each day. My prayer for them is to experience a personal relationship with Christ, instead of having religion something practiced because it’s in their culture.
*Also, check out the Ordinary Women website at www.ordinarywomen.org. I’m still learning more about it, but they’re doing great things for some of the many orphans here in Kiminini.
