Life, Language and Culture

Its another beautiful day here in Kisumu!  We really do like the weather.  Its just when we're in town or somewhere in direct sun that we get so hot.  When we're in our house or in the shade its quite comfortable.  Mornings are nice and cool.  I often wear a sweater for the beginning of language class.  Shonda, Vanessa, and Bradlyn are at the pool right now with Tommy's children.  Judith and Charity took them out there while Wayne and I and Clarissa were in language class.  So its nice and quiet... and a relief to know that language is done for the day! :)  

  On Sunday eve. the unit was invited to Joseph and Becky's house for a farewell for Marlin Weavers.  We sat out in the lawn and after dark Joseph used a slide projector that shone up on the wall of their house.  He showed us pictures of their furlough time in America.  So you see when we're in America we look at slides of Kenya and when we're in Kenya we watch slides from America! :)  We were surprised to see a nice picture of Grossdauddy and Sanford and Laura!  Becky and Laura are first cousins and Grossdauddy and Josephs attended the same church. There were beautiful pictures of the Big Valley in Belleville.  Wow!  Everything looks so green and orderly!  We enjoyed the evening with the unit.  These people are becoming more dear every day.  When I look around and think about who all plans to leave within the next year, it makes me very sad. :(  But I guess changes are just part of life here and the sooner we accept that the better.  

Monday morning found all the pastors and their wives, (except for Marjie, who was sick) :( headed for Rondo Retreat... located in the Rain Forest about an hour and  half from Kisumu.  Rondo is a very lovely place where the staff take care of you hand and foot.  Its very American and just a wonderful place to relax.  The weather was so perfect that we all sat outside for our meetings.  The men in one meeting and the ladies in the other.  By the way, our children stayed home with the single ladies in the compound.  I think they really enjoyed the day too.  We ladies had a time of sharing whatever inspiration we had and then we were served drink and mandazis. ( the best we ever had!) We also spent some time discussing upcoming events... such as joint unit meeting with Nakuru next week.  These scheduled events are carefully planned and very organized.  As we were sitting in our circle I was able to watch the monkeys in the trees!  They were all over the place!  So MUCH FUN to watch! :)  After our meetings Wayne got within about 4 ft. of one of them.  They don't seem to be very shy.  

 After being served a good lunch we ladies relaxed for a little while in the house.  Its beautifully furnished with nice, soft seats! The men were playing can jam and bocce ball.  It was fun to see them having such a good time.  We bounced and jolted our way home again that afternoon.  Some of the roads were BAD... it was such a relief whenever there was a relatively smooth section.  We saw a weird parade of some kind in one of the small villages.  It gave us the "creeps".  Our van was basically surrounded by people who were dressed very weird.  The youth had costumes made of skins with putches of grass and I think some had horns.  Some of the men had monkey skin hats. They were marching and beating a rhythm on a long board. It appeared to be some kind of cultural ritual that may have "dark" connections.  It was a relief to get out of there.  Tommy warned us not to take pictures as that can make people mad and cause them to "mob".  
  Language class started on Tues. I usually get up soon after 5:30 so I have time to start laundry and make chai (chae in luo).  I was so happy the first time I made chae and our teacher really liked it!  She said someone taught me well.  Thank you Cynthia! I also like to do my homework mornings when my mind is clearer. Our first day was 6 hrs. long and by the time we were done I was almost in tears and felt like my brain had major overload.  We decided that was enough of that!  4 hrs. a day is plenty long enough!  We are thankful that our teacher was ok with letting us do less in one day.  She was almost falling asleep herself the first day!  Josephine (our teacher) is a professional language teacher from Nairobi.  She teaches English, Swahili, and Luo.  She does a good job and we like her quite well. We get sidetracked sometimes while she teaches us things about Luo culture.  She says that the Luo people came from Egypt. They followed the Nile River until they came to Lake Victoria and then they settled around the lake.  There are Luos in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and Tanzania.  Josephine says that Luo is easier to learn than Swahili. There are quite a few words that Luos have borrowed from Swahili.  When folks come to our house they say "Odi" which means "knock knock" or "Hodi" in Swahili.  We then say "Karibu" (welcome) which is Swahili.  Another popular word is "pole sana"(sorry). Its amazing how many things are similar. Today we learned that the Luo word for medicine (yath) is the same word as tree (yath).  I noticed Wayne made a note saying, "The medicine for our soul (Jesus) hung on a tree."  So I guess he is getting ideas for messages even in language class! :)  Josephine showed us a number of plants in our lawn that have medicinal value.  The hibiscus flower is good for high blood pressure when it is dried and put into drinks.  A pretty white flower that we have is good for cancer.  It works like chemo.  Another bush we have is used especially for babies when they have stuffy noses.  It makes them sneeze and get rid of the mucous.  Interesting!!!!!  Before the arrival of the msungu (white man), the Luo's got their medicine from trees and plants, which is probably why the word for tree and medicine is the same.

 Yesterday morning Wayne and I stood at our gate and waved at Marlin Weavers as they drove out of the compound on their way to the airport. Tommys drove them to Nairobi!  It was SAD to see them go.  We connected well with them even though we were only here a short time. 
 Here our children are waiting for the lady in the chair to make us some chapatis (African tortilla).  Its so handy to have them just down the road a bit from the compound.   Chapatis are so good leftover too.  We like to fry them til they are a bit crisp then eat them with fresh salsa.

 Here is a picture of our dining room...my favorite spot in the house.  Marla I think of you when I see this flower arrangement.  Its the only nice flower in the house and even though it gets dusty and I have to clean it... its such a bright spot for me and reminds me of home.  So glad I got it at your yard sale!!  :)

Our kitchen is nothing great but I'm hoping I will learn to love it someday. :)  The writing on the wall says... "There is always, always, always something to be thankful for! :)  So true!!
            Thank you for your prayers,  
                                                   Clara