I find myself falling in love… with Africa

I have been in Kenya for one month on Tuesday and can scarcely believe how quickly the time has gone! A billion thoughts run through my mind of what to say, but the ability to catch each in words escapes me. I’ll try to grab some of these random thoughts to give you an idea of what I am learning and experiencing thus far….

• Hearing Mzungo, mzungo! (white person) as I walk by the boarding school on my walk to teach each day and children gather in the windows to practice their English “howareyous?” or walking through the streets in Kericho today and hearing the same “mzungu”and looking around to see only two other white people.
• 2-5-09~Spending a few hours at the Moja orphanage on the outskirts of town where a group of us washed the feet of 30-40 some odd people, gave new socks and shoes and shared the story of Jesus’ loving kindness displayed through the washing of his disciple’s feet. Watching Jenny Roberts (long-term missionary) communicate with Joseph, leader and organizer of Moja. This day increased my desire to practice and learn Kiswahili that I might better communicate with Kenyans. (I learned Kupicha=to cook, that day.)
• A gathering of Tenwek staff in the Kipiganga (gathering place) to celebrate Dr. Sara Cichowski’s (OB/GYN) 31st birthday. Watching my little girl students dance and sing “Doe a Deer” & leading us all in the “Hokie Pokie.”
• 2-7-09~A car ride to Kericho with 3 Kenyan girls (Mesh, Patty, Agnetta), laughing, sharing stories, shopping together. No radio or DVD player in the car, but a beautiful privilege of listening to Mesh sing.
• Church on Sundays-meeting an expanded group of people who are also a part of the Body of Christ. Feeling connected because of a shared faith in a Redeeming Christ. Singing a wonderful mixture of hymns and praise/worship songs.
• Being appreciated as a teacher by the many home-schooling missionary families and children here at Tenwek. While sometimes overwhelming, the stress is not even comparable to what I experienced at KPS.
• Listening and learning about medical related subjects via visiting doctors, medical students and residents here at Tenwek’s Guest House.
• Teaching African Geography once per week to K-6th graders is causing me to learn much more myself! (thank you also to my greatest support in this class-Caitlin Williamson) ☺

All in all, I find myself falling in love… with Africa.
I realize that my exposure, experience and emotional investment thus far are minimal in comparison with the extensive range of struggles throughout this massive continent. As Caitlin predicted, being this close has increased my awareness and prayer for struggles I come close to and those surrounding the country I am in: civil war in the Congo, Darfur in the Sudan, the Invisible Children in Uganda, blood diamonds, AIDs, poverty, Somalia-the country without a government, orphans of AIDs or poverty and women’s fistulas in Ethipia (www.walktobeautiful.com).
God has shown time and again that it was He who led me here. I am currently able to trust whatever His reasons are for developing a love and interest in this place within my heart will be revealed in His own time.