Jambo!

Since I last wrote, much has happened. On Friday we spent the day in orientation learning about the Swahili language, the Kenyan culture, transportation, etc. We ate lunch at a wonderful restaurant where we sat outside at tables with umbrellas. The pepper steak was very spicy! I enjoyed getting to know the other 15 volunteers. Chloe, from Melbourne, Australia, is actually attending Macquarie University in Sydney, which is where Steph and I spent a semester during our junior year in college! Quite the small world. Our host from Thursday to Saturday was Jane, otherwise known as Mama Monica (women are referred to as their oldest child). She had a relatively nice home in a gated community with electricity, hot running water and toilets. She made food all of the time and wouldn't take no for an answer! Day 2 of orientation was spent at an animal orphanage where we saw lions, zebras, a rhino, warthogs, an ostrich, etc. The orphanage borders the Nairobi National Park which we could see into, so the warthogs we saw were actually wild. Afterwards we drove into the city. One of our leaders walked us into a market to exchange money, but since it was Saturday, the main office was closed. So, we walked into one of the sketchiest little places I have ever seen. Behind a stand selling fruits and veggies, there was a doorway into a tiny, dark room where 3 men were sitting who exchanged our money. I felt like I was dealing drugs. I didn't want to make any sudden movements and made sure my hands were always visible! Afterwards we drove for about 45 minutes to the home of our host family where we will be spending the rest of our time while in Kenya. Grace, her husband Stanley and son Brian are all very kind. The house has a tin exterior, electricity, running water and a toilet, which is much better than I expected! There are 3 bedrooms, a living room (with a tv, 3 couches and 4 chairs arranged in a circle), one bathroom, and a tiny kitchen. When Steph and I saw there was a toilet and overhead faucet for a shower, we were very excited! Then we realized there was no hot water. More about that later... The interior walls our unpainted plywood. Steph and I have our own room (bunkbeds). We had a late supper (the norm is to eat around 8:30) of beans, rice, cabbage and fabulous mango and oranges. Prior to eating, Grace said one of the most moving prayers I have heard. While I sat in the poorest home I have been in, she gave thanks for Steph and I, and then prayed for all those who are unfortunate and do not have food to eat. It truly brought tears to my eyes. She spoke quietly yet so sincerely. It has been the highlight so far. After dinner we went to bed. As I got in my top bunk, I saw a few spiders and freaked out. Steph told me before the trip that she would kill the spiders for me so I made her get out of bed and climb up into my bed to kill them. She got the daddy longlegs but the black spider that I was most concerned of ran away into a hole in the wall so it probably watched me sleep all night. Or try to sleep...my mattress is quite uncomfortable.

This morning before church, Grace showed us how to shower. She heated a bucket of water on the stove and then in the bathroom, showed us to pour the water into a large basin and then told us to use a small container to scoop the water and pour it over ourselves. It is something to get used to, I guess. I think I still have some conditioner in my hair... We then walked to the main road where we caught a matatu. This was the first real matutu ride I have been in, since prior to this we have had a leader driving us and 4 other volunteers around. The matatu pulled up and one man in the front got out so Steph was lucky and got to sit in the front. When the sliding door opened on the side, Grace ushered me in but when I looked into the van, there was no seat available as it was absolutely jammed packed!! But she shooed me in so I stepped up and kind of leaned on a woman and hung on, thinking I could just ride half inside and half outside. But after we got moving a man started shutting the door and I almost got half my rear end chopped off! I squeezed in even more and amazingly the door shut. I bet there was probably 17 or 18 people in the van. We arrived to the Presbyterian Church of East Africa which was such a wonderful experience!! The church is built in the shape of a cross, with a front of the church at the head of the cross, and the congregation sitting in wooden pews at the "arms" and "foot" of the cross. The building has a stone exterior, white plaster walls inside, red carpet in the aisles and a beautiful wooden ceiling. There were probably about 150 people in the congregation, and they also have 2 more services which were in Swahili and another language. There was lots of singing and the children danced in the aisles, and at one point the choir sang for us in traditional harmony. They could have passed for Mennonites! The children of Sidai Orphanage (which is where we will be volunteering) stood up in the front and recited a Bible verse. That was my first glimpse of the children and boy, are they adorable. I can't wait to meet them all. After the children spoke, the leader up front prayed for them and their future and the congregation spoke out in affirmation. The leader then asked the newcomers to stand, so we did, and he wanted to hear us speak so he told us to say "Praise the Lord!", which we did. Then the choir stood and sang a song of welcoming. It was so cool. Another man stood and spoke about the need to renovate the living quarters for the new pastor and said it would cost 600,000 Kenyan Schillings, then said "we are blessed" so it is nothing. Laughter rippled across the congregation. Today was communion Sunday. The pastor broke bread, ate, then served the 6 people seated behind him, then did the same with the wine. Then 9 people carried the bread and wine dishes to the front and the congregation walked to the front in no orderly fashion and served themselves. The wine was quite bitter. We then sang "Crown Him" and the 2 hour and 20 minute service ended.

After church we met a lot of people and saw our 2 friends who are volunteering at the hospital and made plans to meet up with them later. Grace then walked us to see Sidai. We walked on the dirt roads lined with shacks that are shops, with garbage lining the streets, people walking everywhere, goats wandering about, loud music being played, and lots of unpleasant smells. It was like nothing I've seen before. We arrived at Sidai which is on a back alley on the edge of the slum. There were no leaders there so it was locked so I haven't seen the inside, but the outside is tin with no windows. We met 8 or 9 boys outside and introduced ourselves. They shook our hands which is how they like to greet us. All the children that we pass stare at us and once I smile and wave, they do the same. Some run up to us to say hi. They are adorable.

Tomorrow we are going to the orphanage so I will have lots to update about when I write next. I would like to upload pictures but am unable to do so at the time...we my memory card reader won't plug into the computer. I'll have to figure something out.

Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers...they are much appreciated.

-Kristin