Kenya, Africa
For years I have longed to visit Africa and specifically Kenya. Reasons probably include stories of my best friend’s two incredible summers in Nairobi, a deep love for African babies, or possibly because when I was 15 and asked what I wanted to do with my life I responded with, “I want to move to the bush of Africa and live in a mud hut.”
Eight years later I finally find myself Africa (wohoo!) although not in a mud hut…yet!
My team arrived in Kenya two weeks ago. We flew into Nairobi and after a few restful days in the capitol, we traveled 10 hours into western Kenya to a town named Kitale, a sweet village we are calling home for the next 4 weeks.
Upon arrival at the bus station, we were warmly greeted by Pastor Moses and taken to his home where his wife Roselyn and five children welcomed us as though we were long-lost family. They have made us feel completely at home and accepted as part of the family. In only a week, I feel as comfortable here as I do in my own home.
Here are 3 reasons why, in only a few weeks, I think Kenya is amazing:
ChapatiAccording to Pastor Moses, chapati is made out of “wheat flour, water, oil…and fire!” I wish could capture the extent in which we love this bready goodness. Each day we excitedly anticipate if we will have it for dinner or not. When we see it at the end of the table, we erupt in “wohooo’s!!!” and songs of “Chapati! In my body!” Our obsession has gotten so out of control that Moses’s sons, Oscar and Edwin, make fun of how ridiculous we get at the sight of something so common to them 🙂
Our beautiful surroundings:
Kenya. Is. Beautiful. Before setting foot in Africa, I anticipated level grasslands…dry heat…you know, Lion King/safari-land. Kitale is anything but the grasslands I expected. Our new home sits at an elevation of 7,000 feet and all around us are trees, vegetation, rolling hills, and crisp, cool weather. After a month in the scorching heat of bustling Phnom Penh, a city with no vegetation or nature, I am SO excited about spending a month surrounded by God’s beautiful creation!
The Dancing!
Holy cow-African’s can DANCE! It is a beautiful part of their culture and everyone dances…little kids, grandmothers, men…everyone! On our second day in Kitale we went to a wedding that Pastor Moses was officiating, and (just to show how AWESOME this country is) the bridal party, bride and groom DANCED down the aisle! I’m talking loud, upbeat African music with 30 people jamming down to the front. The wedding was outside under a tattered tarp that held at least 300 people. We met an 84 year old woman named Rebecca and she sat with us and had the most incredible moves I’ve ever seen. She put us to shame for sure!
My favorite part about Kenya though is how at home I feel. The Kenyan’s are joyful, helpful, warm and exceptionally friendly. Here’s a funny story to illustrate:
I was in the grocery story with three squad-mates. We were in the check-out line and I put my groceries on the conveyer belt and placed the coffee I had in my hand on the counter. The cashier-man looks at me, smiles, and points to my coffee. For some reason, I take his pointing as an indication of him wanting to taste my coffee (which is obviously what you do when you want to try a strangers drink, haha) and when I reach out to offer him a sip, he looks at me like I’m crazy putting my coffee in his face and he starts to laugh, then I start to laugh because I have no idea what’s happening, then the man bagging my stuff begins to laugh because the whole moment is ridiculous, and we just stay that way, unable to control ourselves for a good minute. It was then that I knew I was going to LOVE this country and culture!!
Each day with Pastor Moses is different. So far, we’ve spent time at a local hospital praying with patients, preaching in church services, teaching at a school that was founded by our friend Pastor Peter, and devoting a great deal of time to intercessory prayer. Each day is a new adventure and I can’t wait to share more stories of life in Kenya and the incredible ways God moves in this month!
