Today I went down to what they call the "Dukas" (DOOK-ahs). The Dukas are a little shopping area in Kijabe. There's the "Super Duka," of course, the vegetable ladies, the "Pride of Africa" store, and a few others... including a very iffy looking butchery. There's a Kenyan woman who works in the RVA library -- Olive is her name -- who told me that greetings are very important to Kenyans. So I was careful to greet the owner of each shop I entered. So Courtney and I walked into the Zebra Duka ("Pride of Africa"), and I introduced myself to Thenya. I asked how she was doing and asked about her husband and so on... anyway, in the course of the morning, I also met Sarah, Mary, and a few of the beloved "vegetable ladies." Buying a card, some potatoes, a pineapple, and two of the smallest green peppers I've ever seen, then, took over an hour, but I met some wonderful people. :) We bumped into the Browns, who were also picking up a few "quick" things.
The pineapples are incredible here! I hear they're even better in Uganda.
Today I wore shorts for the first time since I've been here. I was only able to wear them for an hour, though, before I put long pants back on. Ms. Mary, whom I met at the Super Duka ("Supa Duka!") couldn't believe that where I come from, August is the hottest month of the year. Anyway, it was a pretty warm day, and I'm getting used to the wind. The wind is a constant here. During the day, it's kind of a restless breeze, and at night it's a bit stronger. But the air is never still. I heard an old African proverb today: "The dust of Africa you can never wipe from your shoes." My shoes are quite dusty.
Last night, some of the "young people" got together to play games. We played a game called Farkle. Why it's called Farkle, I don't know, but there it is. It made me laugh a lot. It's a dice game, and you start with 6 dice. Each time you roll, you set aside scoring dice and re-roll the remaining dice until you either stop or have a roll that contains no scoring dice. A completely non-scoring roll is called a "farkle." Sometimes the dice would get stuck in the little dice canister from which we rolled, and someone inevitably would make a comment about squeezing that farkle out. We also had farkling all over the table, farkling in front of everyone, etc. etc. Needless to say, we all demonstrated our maturity. :)
I have had one meltdown, however. Tuesday morning, I was so excited to have slept so well, I made myself a big breakfast. When I checked my email, though, I realized that Charles and I had missed each other because of a couple of emails that got lost in cyberspace. Anyway, everything sort of built up at once... the new place, the distance from him and from my family and from my friends, the feeling of not quite understanding how things work here... but God is faithful, and I have to keep laying it all at His feet. Every day. And He takes care of me. Every day.
At any rate, I'm meeting and getting to know some wonderful people. :) And! Praise the Lord! I'm breathing and sleeping through the night. :D Do keep me in your prayers, though.
The pineapples are incredible here! I hear they're even better in Uganda.
Today I wore shorts for the first time since I've been here. I was only able to wear them for an hour, though, before I put long pants back on. Ms. Mary, whom I met at the Super Duka ("Supa Duka!") couldn't believe that where I come from, August is the hottest month of the year. Anyway, it was a pretty warm day, and I'm getting used to the wind. The wind is a constant here. During the day, it's kind of a restless breeze, and at night it's a bit stronger. But the air is never still. I heard an old African proverb today: "The dust of Africa you can never wipe from your shoes." My shoes are quite dusty.
Last night, some of the "young people" got together to play games. We played a game called Farkle. Why it's called Farkle, I don't know, but there it is. It made me laugh a lot. It's a dice game, and you start with 6 dice. Each time you roll, you set aside scoring dice and re-roll the remaining dice until you either stop or have a roll that contains no scoring dice. A completely non-scoring roll is called a "farkle." Sometimes the dice would get stuck in the little dice canister from which we rolled, and someone inevitably would make a comment about squeezing that farkle out. We also had farkling all over the table, farkling in front of everyone, etc. etc. Needless to say, we all demonstrated our maturity. :)
I have had one meltdown, however. Tuesday morning, I was so excited to have slept so well, I made myself a big breakfast. When I checked my email, though, I realized that Charles and I had missed each other because of a couple of emails that got lost in cyberspace. Anyway, everything sort of built up at once... the new place, the distance from him and from my family and from my friends, the feeling of not quite understanding how things work here... but God is faithful, and I have to keep laying it all at His feet. Every day. And He takes care of me. Every day.
At any rate, I'm meeting and getting to know some wonderful people. :) And! Praise the Lord! I'm breathing and sleeping through the night. :D Do keep me in your prayers, though.
1 comment:
Farkle, huh? That makes me laugh! I wonder if we could come up with a new meaning for it and use it as a new term. Like,"Hey, that is so farkle!" lol.
It was interesting to read your journal because I was thinking,"Man, she would make a good missionary!" lol.
I had this one day like you were talking about while I was in the Philippines. Where I really wanted to talk to Jonathan (but I only could once a week). I had told him to meet me online so we could chat but I didn't make it back in time to talk to him. I missed him by TEN MINUTES!!! I cried for seriously three straight days! It was so sad! I can feel your pain! But, hey, soon enough you will get to see him non stop cause you two lovebirds will be hitched!
I LOVE YOU! And, I am praying for you!
Not only will you not be able to shake that dust off your feet...but you also won't be able to get it out of your lungs for quite some time! I am still fighting off some lung problems from the Philippines. (wow, what a word of encouragment huh?)
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