mundane
no exciting bus rides, or venemous snakes to report.
is an hour and a half trip to the market, yielding only some eggs, bananas, avocados, and a straw basket exciting?
Everything here is slower. People don't seem to be too bothered by having their electricity cut off for the daylight hours. Negotiating prices on most things you buy isn't an incovenience. People seem genuinely unaware that in America, we can accomplish in minutes what might take a day here.
However, people are pretty bothered when you don't visit their home, or if you fail to offer a greeting as you pass by. This is life here.
Imagine if every time you picked something off a shelf at Walmart, even if just to look more closely, you entered into a conversation with the individual who either made it, picked it, or is reselling it. Price ceases to become first priority. It's all about relationships.
So Sunday AM church went from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. This included a 2 mile walk to the church, a three mile walk to visit the house of someone whose mother had died this week, where we continued our service, and a mile back home. Everyone was given an opportunity to share any encouragements, thanksgiving, or requests for help. All in Swahili, though we were able to have some conversations on the road in our limited Swahili. No one seemed to mind the walk, or the length of time spent in church.
After all, what is more valuable than relationships, anyway?
no exciting bus rides, or venemous snakes to report.
is an hour and a half trip to the market, yielding only some eggs, bananas, avocados, and a straw basket exciting?
Everything here is slower. People don't seem to be too bothered by having their electricity cut off for the daylight hours. Negotiating prices on most things you buy isn't an incovenience. People seem genuinely unaware that in America, we can accomplish in minutes what might take a day here.
However, people are pretty bothered when you don't visit their home, or if you fail to offer a greeting as you pass by. This is life here.
Imagine if every time you picked something off a shelf at Walmart, even if just to look more closely, you entered into a conversation with the individual who either made it, picked it, or is reselling it. Price ceases to become first priority. It's all about relationships.
So Sunday AM church went from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm. This included a 2 mile walk to the church, a three mile walk to visit the house of someone whose mother had died this week, where we continued our service, and a mile back home. Everyone was given an opportunity to share any encouragements, thanksgiving, or requests for help. All in Swahili, though we were able to have some conversations on the road in our limited Swahili. No one seemed to mind the walk, or the length of time spent in church.
After all, what is more valuable than relationships, anyway?
posted by Kevin at 11:57 AM
1 Comments:
Life can never be mundane when you get to ride in Matatus! I made the greatest list from my time in Kenya, including "Ghetto Fabulous," "Slim Shady," and other colorful banners. I always laughed at the blatant copyright infringement everwhere. If you like Nike, just paint a "swoosh" on your stuff. It's that simple.
You are not missing much in the states. You will be as up to date on the music as if you lived at the mercy of Abilene radio. Give hugs to Charity and those precious boys. We are so glad for you guys and your passion for Jesus. Thank you for sharing these stories that make me laugh out loud. Kevin- you are a wonderful writer. Please keep it up for your readers. I have a deep love for Africa, and you bring it all back to me!
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