Simplicity

 

This is a small duka (store) and a hoteli (restaurant) that is owned by one of the Mamas in my neighborhood. In my community, there are many small, family owned shops along the Site Estate road (shown below) that provide the most common house hold items for the convenience of the nearest residents. Common item include mafuta (cooking oil), maziwa (milk), and Royco seasoning for meat, among a few other things. 

The BEST part about living in this small community is that, along with the little dukas that sell household items, there are also little stands that sell fresh fruit and vegetables. It is very uncommon for people to buy vegetables and fruits from the supermarket in town because they are more expensive, and also less convenient. This fresh food comes straight from local farmers with no processing or preservatives. I tell you, my body has never felt so good!

Back home it is more convenient to go to the store and buy the processed and pesticide covered food that makes your body do funky stuff. It is also cheaper than the organic fruits and vegetables that often cost an arm and a leg (at least for a poor college student they do). Here it is the opposite. The fresh, organic vegetables are the cheapest and easiest to get. In my host home we often only keep in our house what we are going to eat for that day, and nothing more. The next day Mary goes out to buy fresh vegetables for lunch and dinner.

Mary watching one of the babies that lives in our compound

The same goes for the meat. If we plan to have meat for lunch or dinner that day, Mary goes in the morning to the butchery right down the road, next to the other dukas, and we have fresh meat for that day.

Although I try not to think too often of what life will be like when I return home (because I want to be fully present in my time here!), I can already tell that this is something I am going to miss. Not having to go to the grocery store every week, always having fresh food available just a 2 minute walk from the house, and being content with the food available. Life is just so much easier when it is simple!

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Fun Times!

Quick advice for living in Kitui:

While brushing your teeth over the toilet, do NOT put your glass of filtered water on top of the tank of the toilet (which is sloped downward). It will in fact fall and shatter against the toilet bowl!

Disclaimer:
Yes, I brush my teeth over the toilet.

No, there is nothing in the toilet while brushing your teeth.

Yes, it was strange at first, now it is completely normal.

There is one sink in our house, which is in the kitchen, and that sink is strictly for the washing of utensils, not for washing your face or brushing your teeth (or so I have been told).

Nzambani Rock:
I have had the privilege of getting closer to some of the awesome women that I work with. As a result, we have had some fun times together!

Two weekends ago I went with MaryJames and Harriet to Nzambani Rock, one of the tourist attractions in the area.

Nzambani Rock from the bottom

View of the valley from on top of the Rock

Mary James (left) Harriet (right)

Kitui is very similar to Fresno in that it is in a valley. Nzambani Rock is in the middle of the valley, so when you climb to the top you can see the entire valley (Ukambani land, or land occupied by the Kamba tribe). Although the hiking wasn't too difficult (and believe me, I was in the mood for a good hike!), it was such a beautiful place to be, and the company (along with all the snacks) made the trip an excellent one!

Birthday Party:
The next activity I got to do was go to the birthday party of Mutheu's daughter Emily. This was particularly special because Emily turned 6, and my niece Serena is turning 6 tomorrow! It was a blessing to be able to celebrate Emily's birthday with her, and to celebrate my niece's birthday in my heart.

Mutheu and Me!

Emily and her birthday cake

Mary James and her baby Jaden

It is a joy to get to know the women that I work with. Although it is sometimes difficult to understand the cultural differences, they have all been so gracious to me in overlooking my blunders and misunderstandings. I praise God that he has placed these women in my life, and that his love is GREATER than any cultural boundaries that we have constructed here in this world.

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus"

-Ephesians 2:4-6