Although the trip was extensive, there were no delays. all our baggage arrived, we passed customs, and were even met by our dear friend rachel (whom we had met in the states and drove 8 hours to greet us). That itself was an answered prayer.
The people here have been very warm and welcoming. We were dinner guest every night for the first week in order to meet some new people. And despite the fact that we were made to eat way too much, the food was very good and familiar. there goes my philosophy of eating as much food as i could before i left because i wasnt going to eat well here. (even though i do, and probably always will, miss taco bell) Our first meal was at an italian restaurant where we had pizza. A pleasant surprise :)
Our apt. (or flat) is amazing as well. we have a kitchen with a "cooker" and a mini fridge, a nice living room, a bedroom with twin beds (hopefully getting a double soon), and a bathroom (with a washmachine next to the toilet). so all the basics you would have at home with just a little alterations. we have running water on most days, but we have a trash can filled with water for extra supply. We also have electricity.... almost all day. but it usually doesnt go out long enough to spoil our food because the compound where we stay just bought a generator. We plan on getting internet soon and have been waiting for the installation since friday. but kenyan time is different from american time so friday really means whenever they get to it. it is now wednesday and still no one has shown up :)
The first week has been pretty relaxed, mostly getting settled in apt, buying what we need, and playing with the children that live in the home on the compound. We brought a frisbee with us which they enjoyed! Although it made me miss my students back home and our church youth.
We have been doing rosetta stone swahili every night since we have arrived and suprising know a lot..... a lot of words that is. not nearly enough to form sentences yet, besides the usually greetings (habari yako, habari zanu, asante).
The best part for me so far was my experience at church on sunday. it is very easy to feel isolated when going into a totally new country and culture. Especially when you know upfront you are going to be there for a while. Most things are completely foreign, and the things that seem familiar are still a far stretch from what you have at home. And the biggest problem is the language barrier. and while it is fun for me to pick out a word or two that i recognize, i am far from understanding what is being said. yet as i sat and listened to a sermon (translated into english) i instantly felt like i understood and spoke the same language for that breif amount of time. for some ignorant reason i had imagined that their concept and understanding of christianity would be different. but i couldnt have been more wrong. he knew and understood the same God i do. and his message was one i needed to hear. it is true that the bible's message has no language barrier!
More pictures soon to come.... kenyan time :)
We Miss u Alicia brought her BABy to church I have pics of her on my blog
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