So much has happened since I last wrote that I don’t even know where to start. It hasn’t been easy this visit, the kids have been working so hard that I haven’t got to see them as much as last time and I’m staying further away as well which means I need to leave earlier to get home before sunset. I saw them this weekend, but they have school even on Saturdays so it’s not easy. And church takes most of the day on Sunday so I don’t get to spend a lot of time with them then either. But I still get to see them when I’m teaching their class and at break and lunch times.
My Swahili is really improving and I’m getting lots of practice with the kids and the teachers and the people who work at the orphanage.
I’ve been going to the same church for the last couple of weeks but the service has been in Swahili which makes things interesting. Still, it’s good to worship God together and I get a lot of prayer time in during the rest of the service. I have felt uneasy quite a lot this time but I know that God is using it to draw me closer to him and teaching me to find my purpose in serving him. Sometimes I forget that for now, it’s ok that I only know what I’m doing from day to day and don’t have a great master plan but then God reminds me that my life is in his hands and that I don’t have to worry as he already has a plan.
I made friends with some girls that were also staying in the same compound and they’re leaving tomorrow, three of them are from the Netherlands though so I’m sure I’ll meet up with them when I go there so that will be something to look forward to.
I hope I can make the most of the two weeks I have left, there are still two weeks of school to go but they have this weekend off so I’ll be able to spend time with them. We are going to make wrist bands with some beads that I’ve bought, they’re really good at it and I can learn a lot from them!
I’m looking forward to coming back too, even if it’s not for very long, I’ll still be able to go to church once and see a few people and I can look forward to the little things that I miss when I’m here. I miss the long days because its summer – the sun sets at 6 here throughout the year, healthy bread – Kenyan bread is always sugary, the lack of mosquitos, traffic lights and seat belts, kettles (oh how I miss my kettle), being cold (strange I know but it’s strange to me to never be cold), comfortable sofas, and washing machines! And when I have all those things I’ll miss the things we have here and not in England... the kids of course and my friends here, the sunshine, paying 10 pence for a bus ride, being welcomed by anyone and sometimes everyone I pass (ok so I’m not sure I’ll miss that but I’ll certainly notice when it doesn’t happen suddenly), the passion and enthusiasm of the congregation at church, the mamas with their babies on their backs, the women carrying just about just anything on their head, the fruit stalls and street food, the shop names like ‘Blessed store’ and ‘Joy cafe’, the stickers on the matatus like ‘Jesus da redeemer’, ‘Mo’ blessings almighty’ and the hospitality of my friends and the joyful spirits of the kids. Anyway, just thought I’d share a few of my thoughts, hope you guys are all well, looking forward to seeing you in a couple of weeks.
Barikiwa (God bless), Chagit.x.