So besides just a few things Africa isn't that different. Well I mean it IS different in some ways, I will get to that in a minute, but first let me explain. I left home, a place of cultural norms familiar to me that I understand and came to Africa knowing full well I would have to adjust my norm and learn the ways of a new culture. However, I have been living and serving right beside some amazing Kenyans (fun fact: the dont pronounce the first n) and I have come to realize they aren't any different from me. The past four weeks I have watched the cultural lines that generally seperate groups of people completely melt away. There's something about being like-minded and serving the same God and seeking him on the other side of the world that bonds people instantly. It doesn't matter that they are from Kenya and I am from America, to me they are just my brothers and sisters I have finally met.
Alas! I can not leave out the most interesting aspects of this culture that are well… slightly different than where I come from:
In Africa it is not unusual to share the "road" with cows, chickens, donkeys, goats, sheep, motorcycle taxis, and bicycle taxis. O and its normal to see women holding their babies riding on the back of motorcycles. People carry things on top of their head, which is so efficient I may start doing that at home. Some babies may cry at the sight of a white person. Its not a bad idea to check under your bed for chickens or rats before you go to sleep (yes there was a chicken under my bed). When you want chicken for dinner here it is quite a process. First you chase the chicken down then you chop its head off and then well, cook it. (My friends here thought I was a big baby when I refused to slaughter one.) Toilets are hard to come by. People do stay clean here, however I have yet to see running water, so showering and laundry is always an adventure. Its normal to see a donkey chillin outside a furniture store or even goats at gas pumps. There are many more things that stand out about Africa but I want to keep this lighthearted. Although there is a language barrier at times there are still some things that mean the same, a smile, a hug, a handshake, laughter, and dancing. So really even when words can't be shared its not that difficult to communicate the love that I came here to share in the first place.
Preach the gospel always. When necessary use words. Simple as that.
