I don’t love what the rain does to Misri (the slum where Miracle House is located) roads! They quickly become a slimy/muddy/runny mess. I walk into Misri from the matatu (taxi) stop via a steep hill – my goal for this morning was to keep moving forward since stopping meant you mind start sliding backwards! I realized that my tennis shoes are not going to cut it for rainy slum days, so on my way home Emily and I stopped by the Bata – the shoe store in Limuru town – to get some more appropriate shoes. So I am now the proud owner of knee high black rubber boots! After I purchased them, Emily said, “Congratulations on now being a Kenyan!” Haha – now I will match all of the staff and most of the kids on muddy days!
I have new respect for Kenyan women (or women from any part of the world) who are forced to walk and carry water! I carried 10 liters of my drinking water up the hill to the house (only about half or three quarters of a mile), and it was exhausting!
I’m loving being with the kids! They have grown SO much! Lorine and Benson are no longer toddlers, and many of the children who could barely understand my English last time now translate for me to the younger ones! Joseph Muthiora today created a little bargain with Emily (the head MH teacher) and I – I can join their second grade Kiswahili class if I teach the second grade English and Bible classes. “We will learn more English, and you will learn Swahili!” he told me. I’m completely happy with this arrangement, especially since Joseph Njogu can most translate for me! Emily has also informed me that starting tomorrow, I will have Kiswahili assignments :) I’m surprised, though, at how quickly I am picking up Swahili! Yay God and yay for prayers! I feel like each day I learn so much more! The kids are WAY excited to see the rest of the team – especially “Mum Deanna” and Samantha and Rachael and Jeremy. Since I told them that the team comes in three weeks, I keep hearing “Mum Deanna na Samantha” and seeing three little fingers held up!
Today I road the matatu by myself to the slum. Just in case you aren’t familiar with a matatu, picture a Toyota version of a VW van boasting approximately 200,000 miles that has been converted to hold 14 people. Often, however, there are more than 14 people – “there’s always more room in a Kenyan matatu!” This morning, there were 18 people and several large bags of rice :) The matatus drive along their routes, and stop at certain places along the way. I catch one at the end of the road from Brackenhurst (where Pastor Sammy and his fam live) road and take it for the five or ten minute ride to the base of the slum, where Francis (the MH guard) meets me before we walk into the slum. It is an adventure, and I get a lot of surprised looks from other passengers since internationals usually have their own vehicles. This morning, I made a new Kenyan friend who also walks the Brackenhurst road to the matatu stop – she catches the matatu to Nairobi to work with young women in Kibera slum. She has a program that teaches girls better health practices (especially reproductive health practices) and empowers them with life skills. Anyway, she invited me to join her some days – which should be awesome! Thanks for praying about other connections! Also, the wife of one of the professors at seminary is a nurse who works at a community health clinic – there is a possibility that I can join her some days as well! I’m excited :)
I’m having a fantastic time!! Things you can be praying for:
- Continued safety
- Even more divine appointments!
- Sleep: I haven’t really slept a full night since I’ve been here, and I didn’t really sleep on either plane, so I’m tired! I’m definitely at the end of myself… but that is where grace abounds, so I’m thankful!
- You can also be praying for the team as they are preparing for their trip! Immersion training starts in two weeks!
Thanks for reading and praying, friends! You are a blessing!! I pray that you are having a wonderful, blessed week!
Christian - I live in his house :) He was born when I stayed with the same fam in the summer of 2007!
Dennis demonstrating excellent oral hygiene... I was pretty excited to see this! They brush their teeth after each meal :) yay!
The kids drinking warm porridge and huddled around the only source of heat... the charcoal burner (only available when someone is not cooking!) It was CHILLY today... seriously, I could see my breath until mid afternoon!
Sorry this one is sideways... Jane swinging at Imani - a church that lets us spend some time there in the afternoons so the kids can run around! This was taken yesterday... when it was super nice!
Again - sorry it's sideways! Jacintah enjoying some porridge! See Mom - they still wear the hoodies!
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