Mimi ni Mzungu

My coworker Faith and me

I am a white person.

I have never been more aware of this fact than I am now, being in Kitui. I know, it seems like a weird introduction to a blog that should be about the new place I am living, how beautiful it is (it is very beautiful), how nice the people are (they are very nice and welcoming people), and how much I like my new host family (I have been very blessed with an awesome host family).

However, for me, the thing that stands out most is indeed how white I am. There are no wazungu (white people) in Kitui. In Nairobi it is not as shocking for people to see a mzungu, but here it is a little overwhelming. Three facts about being white (more specifically a white girl) in a small East African town:

1. ALL of the children want to say hello and wave at the mzungu, and you make their day when you respond to them. I don't mind this part so much because I like kids, and it brightens my day to see them so excited just to say hi to me.

2. You will get stared at everywhere you go. If you ever want to feel like a celebrity, this is where you should come! For me, it has been strange trying to get used to people staring at me all the time.

3. You have no shortage of dating options.There isn't much I can say about this except that it is true. I am not looking for a date, but there have been a few guys already who have seen the white girl in town and wanted to take me out to coffee. I am flattered, but that is not what I am here for :)

I am settling into Kitui well. During the week I live with my host mom, Lucy, and the house girl, Marie. I met my host dad this weekend, and we traveled to Nairobi to meet their kids. They have 3 children (Faith, Mutua (Francis), And Ndinda (Jen)), all of them have graduated university and are working. They were very welcoming and hospitable to me.

My new bedroom

SASOL (the NGO I am volunteering for) has great employees that I get to work with. The work is more difficult than I expected, above my knowledge of expertise, but I am learning on the job. I could use some prayer for the Lord to lead me in the work I need to do, because I will not be able to do it on my own knowledge alone. 

My new office!!

Mutheu (Marie) the front desk attendant

Thank you to everyone who has continued praying for me! Please continue to pray, and send me an email or a FB message if you need prayer for something. I would love to be a part of your prayer community as well.

"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace."

-Numbers 6:24-26