We took a hike one day through the mountain. It was so gorgeous! The view from the top and almost all the way up was literally breathtaking. The picture above captures some of the sunbeams, but I tell you it was much better in person.

Yet all the way up we see children just roaming free, covered in dirt, old tattered clothes on them. It was literally heart breaking. The American-ness in me really just wanted to start a clothes drive right away. But the more we learn the more I begin to wonder if maybe they don't need clothes, maybe I just need perspective.

Don't they have a care free wonderful childhood? No one is worried (except the Mzungo) that they look like that. No one judges them. Its not cold there so they won't freeze. Why do we think that tears in clothes are so bad? How much do we need to "help" them? More and more I have learned of people trying to help and just end up ruining a culture and way of life that was wonderful and unique all by itself.

It is so confusing to think about what God is calling me to do and what is totally beyond my control and possibility of helping. I mean they have one of the prettiest backyards in the entire world. What is blessing? Isn't that a blessing? Fields that grow crops. Amazing fruits that are delicious, cheap, and grow year round. What if they have love and beauty in their lives? Is that enough? Is that better than new clothes?

Sign...dealing with poverty is not easy. The more you learn the harder it gets.

The first night

okay, so I have to tell you about my first night at Scott. We get to campus and settle, and basically crash the first night. (still recovering from jet lag). My friend, Erica, and I are the only two who are in our side of the dorm. So we go brave the communal bathroom together, not really knowing what to expect.

What we do notice are all these "flies".

But we don't know any different...we figure that is normal. Maybe the hall light attracts them from outside. Erica and I just decide to ignore them and brush our teeth and head to bed. So as we go into the bathroom, we see this random guy walk past us. Both of us are like, that is so weird. Guys are not allowed in this area. But still we don't ask any questions since we are scared. Of what I am not sure. So we decide to just hurry. The guy is doing something, but we don't really know what.

We start brushing our teeth and one "fly" lands on me. That is when i notice its a BEE and scream! I brush it off and turn around to tell erica. But insead of going away, the bee gets confused and flies UP MY SKIRT!! As I am dancing around trying to get it out...it stings me on my butt! I was so annoyed. It even left the whole stinger in my leg!

That is when we realize that the hall, bathroom, and the room next to mine are COVERED in bees from a hive outside. The guy is walking between the three areas and spraying raid at the bees! It is quite hilarious actually. He would open the door to the room, spray in for a few seconds then slam the door shut. haha. It reaked of raid for 3 days after this!!

For the next week, i walked around with a sore and then ITCY butt! So it was hard to not scratch it..especially since no one really knew what happened, so they all thought i just scratch myself a lot! Oh goodness, that was quite an interesting start to our 3 weeks at Scott. the picture above is the room where the bees came in....if you look closely you can see them covering the floor.

African cars vs. American cars

This picture is one of the cars going to Scott in Machakos. Now, the interesting thing is that besides all the people you see...there are 4 others in the car that you can't see. That does not even mention the bags and suitcases that are strapped to the top of the car.

One thing I that was pointed out to me about Africa is that depite the large number of cars i have seen. Keep in mind I have really just been around cities...I do not think I have seen a car with just one person in it. Now in America...you would be hard pressed to find a car with more than one person in it.

We are always packing so many people into as few vehicles as possible. But it seems so many people are cramming in to save space, time, or just for the fun of it.

I do think this is a great idea though. saves gas...spend time with people...saves gas....need I say more?

Just a thought...why do Americans need to travel by themselves all the time? Are we too independent? Could we share cars with neighbors?

Feeling a bit settled

Wow, it has been so long since I have written. I almost feel like a new person! I am right now living in a medium sized village in Kenya. so REALLY bumpy dirt roads and random roads side stands with lots of people walking has become my life. It is so hard to describe what life is like here...but I hope everyone comes to Africa at some point to check it all out.

We are staying on a theological campus, so we have made some good friends here already. The single girls were religated to the dorms!! So I have many interesting stories of random naked people showering in the middle of the bathroom and slamming doors at all hours of the night. It has been an adventure. But I am blessed to wake up each morning to about 10 girls singing songs as they shower and do their laundry for the day. Quite different than American dorms, since everyone here (it seems) has an amazing voice!

There has been a long days of learning and taking tons of notes. We have been learning about African worldview, and why culture is the the way it is. Also, they told us a lot of "dos" and "don'ts". So hopefully we won't make too many mistakes. With all the information i have been given in the past two weeks, I feel more overloaded than prepared, but it will work out.

God has really blessed us with the opportunity to get to know so many other missionaries that will be working all over Africa. That is the best part. Each evening is spent hanging out, talking, playing card games, or maybe watching a movie. (since there is no TV, limited internet, and no place to go we are forced to interact).

Two nights ago we lost electricity for a while. so we all started singing praise songs. It was so dark, but awesome to sit and sing together. Two girls and I sat and looked at the stars. What an amazing sky. It looks so different from the sky at home. The stars are all in different places and most of the constellations that I am used to, you can't even see.

There is so much to tell, but only a bit of time. I will try to write more here, there are some good transportation stories. to get to town you either take a bouda bouda (bike with a seat on the back) or a tuk tuk (a three wheeled motorcycle thing). There always seems to be too many people or not enough space so we squeeze everyone in. One time we took a tuk tuk back in from town and put 4 people on this little seat that really should have 2!! It was a tight fit, especially since the tuk tuk was on empty and kept almost dying when we were idling. But we made it (Praise God).

I am settling into life here, but really excited to head towards Dar es Salaam! I can't wait to get there (especially to some warm weather). Surprisingly, it is very cold here. Long trousers (we can't say pants cuz that means underwear) and sweater weather. Unfortunately, I only brought skirts and tshirts.....so i have been cold. But its fine to wear the same jacket everyday here and thats what I do.

Ask me any questions if you have them, so I can tell you a bit more about what life is like.