Off to Kipkelion!!!

So here I am again. I'm sitting in a cybercafe in Ngong writing this post before I leave for my assignment tomorrow. I will talk about that more later. First I am going to write out one of my journal entries to give you all an update.

We went on a scavenger hunt in Nairobi this last Thursday. I was in a group with Hannah, Ben, and a guy named John and one of the Kenyan students Flora. I had been feeling really lonely and frustrated leading up to this, so it was nice to be surrounded by people I am comfortable with. I bought a raspberry colored kikoya (like a shawl type thing that can also be used as a skirt) in the City Market. I actually really like wearing it. Wrapping it around me gives me a bit of comfort.

The market was pretty crazy. Everybody is trying to call you over to buy their stuff. Since I am a mzungu, they love to try and sell me things for way over their actual value. They like to call me "Sister" and they say things like "Don't worry, I will give you a good deal...I will show that you are welcome in Kenya" or variations thereof. It was a little overwhelming, and I think I am a little too nice and soft-spoken for that type of thing, but I am excited to go back. I found that I had to say "Sitaki leo" a lot, which means "not today", so they usually listened to that. We won't be able to go back until after our ministry assignment though, so it won't be for awhile.

On Wednesday after Mathare Valley we went to Sanctuary of Hope, which is a home for children from the slums. They sang to us and recited poetry, and afterwards we got to play with them for awhile. Unfortunately, I was not one of those people playing with the kids. I felt very awkward and I didn't know what to do, so I just stood and watched everyone else enjoy being with the children. That situation kind of bummed me out, because in my mind I pictured the children swarming to me and me laughing and picking up the children and playing with them. That was one expectation that was definitely broken. I guess even in Kenya I feel awkward around kids lol.

Pastors from the Masai village that were staying at the Watakatifu Wote Senta with us led us in their style of worship for their last night here. There was a lot of clapping and jumping up and down. I enjoyed it a lot, seeing how much joy and liveliness they have in their worship. There are times when I wish my church worshiped like that.

On Sunday we went into groups to different churches around Ngong. My group walked around for probably an hour without ever finding the church that was assigned to us. Instead we just went to a random church that we stumbled upon during our wandering. The church was pretty small, so we definitely stuck out. We tried to spread out among the congregation to make us a little less overwhelming. There was a lot of singing, and like the Masai there was so much joy in the worship. About half of the songs were in English and half were in Swahili, but it was fun nevertheless. Also, instead of a choir doing performances, the Sunday school kids got up with the worship team and danced a choreographed dance to the songs. Of course the movements were simple, but it was very cool to see and experience. After that a group of the kids danced to a recorded song, and then after that 5 high school students danced to a recorded song. Apparently dance is pretty big in Kenya among the younger folk. Before the sermon my group was asked to come up and greet the congregation. We performed part of "How He Loves", and then we each introduced ourselves in Swahili. Basically it went like this: "Bwana Asafiwe! Ninaitwa Britni. Nimeokoka." which means "Praise the Lord! My name is Britni. I am saved." Pretty simple, but that's all you really need to say. It was amazing to see how much the churches in Kenya love visitors. The pastor made a whole speech about how we were angels sent to them to bless them. They were extremely welcoming. You don't see that kind of stuff in America, at least not in the churches that I have been to. Then, for the sermon, Joshua, one of the Kenyan students on our team, actually got up and gave the sermon. He had no clue that he was going to do it, but he just got up and did it. He was incredible! It was impressive to see how passionately and eloquently he spoke. I hope that I will be even a fraction that good when I have to give my sermons.

After church Pastor Elvis insisted that we stayed for chai. They made chai for us and served us slices of bread. It is insane how hospitable Kenyans are. They brought out chairs for us in the lawn and set them up in a circle so that we could talk. The boys in our group got into a discussion about how the Kenyan students had taught them how to open bottles of Coke with their teeth, and John stated how he could open one with his wedding ring. Elvis was so amazed by that statement that he gave money to one of the men of the church and had him buy a Coke for John just so he could see it done. He was hilarious lol.

Alright, so now to the juicy stuff. I got my ministry assignment yesterday afternoon. Even though I was so sure that I was going to be placed in the slums, that is not what God had for me. Instead, I am going to be working in Kipkelion, which is in the southwestern part of Kenya. I will be partners with a girl named Sarah Stickney. Mostly, from what I understand, we will be preaching on Sundays, doing house visits and evangelism, going to Christian Union meetings, and going to prayer groups. I will be finding out more tonight. The pastor that we are going to be living with is at the Watakatifu Wote Senta. He came in yesterday night. All of the pastors are coming to get training on how to take care of us weak and stomach sensitive Americans ;) He seems really nice, so I am excited to get going. I will be doing everything that I am scared of doing on this assignment, so it will be a great learning experience and a chance to grow in my faith. What could be more exciting about that?

Chai Runs In My Blood

Hello everybody!!! Habari! (This means how are you). This is now my fourth day in Kenya, and I am writing this entry in a cybercafe. I took me about 20 minutes just to log on to my blog page, so I am afraid that this blog is going to have to be very short (we only get 30 minutes).

A lot has happened since I have arrived here. The Kenyans are so wonderful, so much more welcoming and inviting than Americans are. The culture in Kenya is very much relational and spiritual. The pace is very slow, and time does not matter as much. Unlike in America when we just say "hi" and continue walking, Kenyans want to have a conversation with you, even if you are a complete stranger. They love to get to know you and hear about your family and culture, and they love sharing about theirs as well. I have found this very refreshing, but also kind of difficult. I am not the kind of person that walks up to random people and starts conversations. The Kenyan's english is British, so it is very difficult to understand them sometimes. I have often found that when people on the street are talking to me I don't know if they are speaking English or Swahili! I have loved the people that I have met so far though.

Yesterday we went to Nathare Valley in Nairobi, which is one of the major slums in Kenya. It was definitely something that I have never experienced before. The houses are made of tin, and often the roofs are so low that they only go up to my shoulders, if even that. The houses are very close together and have only one room in them. The streets are filthy and covered in trash. The kids were absolutely adorable. The first English phrase that they learn in "How are you?", so when they see white people, the little children all start chanting "How are you? How are you"? They love to take your hand and walk through the streets with you.

If I had more time, I would tell you all about my feelings and the spiritual battles I have been facing, but I will not be able to go into much depth. Hopefully I will be able to next time. All I can say is that honestly I have not been feeling much sorrow over the things that I have seen, which has been unexpected. I have discovered that I observe, and I ask questions, but I do not feel much emotion over the things that I have seen. I don't necessarily see it as a really bad thing though. I am learning that we each respond to things like this differently. God has made us each to be individuals, so it is ok when we don't all feel the same things. I do love Kenya and I am excited to see more, especially finding out what my assignment is going to be.

Oh yes, I know many will be wondering about the food, especially my family. The food is actually really good so far. We have two chai tea times a day, one being in between each of the main meals. Tea time comes with food, so I am always full, especially since the main meals are so huge. I would usually eat half of what they people serve me, but I have been able to finish everything. Except for the yams during one of the chai tea times. The server gave me two big pieces, and I could only finish the first one and get a little bit into the second. I was starting to gag and feel sick, so I decided it wasn't worth the fight at the moment. The chai by the way is very good. I actually kind of look forward to drinking it now. It wasn't that great the first time I tried it, but it has started to grow on me. That is good since we have it so often!

Well, I have to meet up with the rest of my team soon, so I will update my blog again when I find out what my three week assignment is. Until then!!!