Hello People from the other side of the world!! :D
We started Swahili class yesterday!!!
So we have been in Northeastern Kenya for a week now. We got here
around 2 or 3 on Tuesday the 19 of January.(everything time I will
mention will be in my time, which is 8 hours ahead of eastern standard
time) The culture here when writing out the date they put the date
first, the month, then the year. For instance today would be like
26/1/2010.
Wednesday the 19 we had a little amazing race/scavenger hunt around
the town and market so we could get familiar with the town and how the
culture works. It was very much fun, stretching and a great learning
experience. I will tell you a couple of stories from this adventure!
So our team was split up in to 3 different teams and we each got a
guide who were from the team that has been here for about a year. A
girl named Abby and I were on a team, our guide was named Jessica.
(Let me give you some contacts before I get into the stories. The
culture here is very influenced by Islam, 98% of the people are
Muslim, and the men have more rights then the women. And a rule of the
game was we had to ask for direction to find different places and
things. So I either had to ask some random person who was a man or
Abby had to ask a women. Another thing is we are WHITE and everybody
here is black and no matter where ever you go you will be stared at.
We are getting more use to it but it is still very different! lol Here
there really is not grass its sand and rocks. Only very few roads are
paved with as-fault. And when you are greeting somebody or asking a
question you ALWAYS ask them how they are doing and start a small
convo then ask what you want, because here it is very offensive if you
just ask your question then walk away)
When we were on our way to the 2nd clue I asked this man that started
to walking in front of us were the market was, (for reading and typing
sake I am going to shorten the story) he introduced him self and his
name was Shukri (I think) and I introduced my name. (which is Andrew
here so they can actually say a name close to mine. lol its funny)
Shukri took us to his hardware shop that he owned, introduced us to
some of his brothers. The big shocker that hit me was that his father
has 5 wives. You are only allowed 4 but one died, and through that
Shukri has about 40 brothers and sister, most half same dad different
moms. Having more family means you are respected more, the think that
also hit me was he was so kind and open to give us a ride to the
market which was not very far. It just blow me away on how much
hospitality this culture has. Shukri also gave us cold drinks which
shows a lot of respect and he gave me his phone number and I got his.
:D
This one was not as good as the experience with Shukri but it was just
totally different from the states.
We were walking out of town to our last destination (oh, by the way we
walk ever where which is a lot of fun, no lie!) and these nice Muslim
men drive up in this pretty nice car and say "Just letting you know
there is some thieves following you." We say "thank you very much" in
Swahili and keep walking. It was funny because out guide Jessica was
saying it would not be smart at all to follow anybody in town cuz
there are people every where. But we just made sure out bags were
close and keep walking, and eventually the guys that were following us
went there own way. :D (it was just a different experience lol!)
And on our scavenger hunt I had to eat cow intestate which was really good!
Sorry there will not be a lot of pictures especially of people here
cuz it is rood and they think it stills apart of there soul. No lies
not joking.
There will be pik on my facebook of the picture I do/can take. Sorry
about that.
Well I think that is all for to day!! Please keep praying and lifting
this team up!
Pray Request:
1. That we adapt into this culture as best we can.
2. Soak in the language here :D
Peace Love and Jesus!
Your brother in Christ
Drew
Isaiah 51:7-8 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in
whose heart is My law, Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be
dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them like a
garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness
will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”
We started Swahili class yesterday!!!
So we have been in Northeastern Kenya for a week now. We got here
around 2 or 3 on Tuesday the 19 of January.(everything time I will
mention will be in my time, which is 8 hours ahead of eastern standard
time) The culture here when writing out the date they put the date
first, the month, then the year. For instance today would be like
26/1/2010.
Wednesday the 19 we had a little amazing race/scavenger hunt around
the town and market so we could get familiar with the town and how the
culture works. It was very much fun, stretching and a great learning
experience. I will tell you a couple of stories from this adventure!
So our team was split up in to 3 different teams and we each got a
guide who were from the team that has been here for about a year. A
girl named Abby and I were on a team, our guide was named Jessica.
(Let me give you some contacts before I get into the stories. The
culture here is very influenced by Islam, 98% of the people are
Muslim, and the men have more rights then the women. And a rule of the
game was we had to ask for direction to find different places and
things. So I either had to ask some random person who was a man or
Abby had to ask a women. Another thing is we are WHITE and everybody
here is black and no matter where ever you go you will be stared at.
We are getting more use to it but it is still very different! lol Here
there really is not grass its sand and rocks. Only very few roads are
paved with as-fault. And when you are greeting somebody or asking a
question you ALWAYS ask them how they are doing and start a small
convo then ask what you want, because here it is very offensive if you
just ask your question then walk away)
When we were on our way to the 2nd clue I asked this man that started
to walking in front of us were the market was, (for reading and typing
sake I am going to shorten the story) he introduced him self and his
name was Shukri (I think) and I introduced my name. (which is Andrew
here so they can actually say a name close to mine. lol its funny)
Shukri took us to his hardware shop that he owned, introduced us to
some of his brothers. The big shocker that hit me was that his father
has 5 wives. You are only allowed 4 but one died, and through that
Shukri has about 40 brothers and sister, most half same dad different
moms. Having more family means you are respected more, the think that
also hit me was he was so kind and open to give us a ride to the
market which was not very far. It just blow me away on how much
hospitality this culture has. Shukri also gave us cold drinks which
shows a lot of respect and he gave me his phone number and I got his.
:D
This one was not as good as the experience with Shukri but it was just
totally different from the states.
We were walking out of town to our last destination (oh, by the way we
walk ever where which is a lot of fun, no lie!) and these nice Muslim
men drive up in this pretty nice car and say "Just letting you know
there is some thieves following you." We say "thank you very much" in
Swahili and keep walking. It was funny because out guide Jessica was
saying it would not be smart at all to follow anybody in town cuz
there are people every where. But we just made sure out bags were
close and keep walking, and eventually the guys that were following us
went there own way. :D (it was just a different experience lol!)
And on our scavenger hunt I had to eat cow intestate which was really good!
Sorry there will not be a lot of pictures especially of people here
cuz it is rood and they think it stills apart of there soul. No lies
not joking.
There will be pik on my facebook of the picture I do/can take. Sorry
about that.
Well I think that is all for to day!! Please keep praying and lifting
this team up!
Pray Request:
1. That we adapt into this culture as best we can.
2. Soak in the language here :D
Peace Love and Jesus!
Your brother in Christ
Drew
Isaiah 51:7-8 “Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, A people in
whose heart is My law, Do not fear the reproach of man, Nor be
dismayed at their revilings. For the moth will eat them like a
garment, And the grub will eat them like wool. But My righteousness
will be forever, And My salvation to all generations.”
