It has been a quick week and I can hardly believe it is the weekend already.

I still can't believe that it has been just over a month since I have been in Kenya. I have adjusted to a lot of things, but not everything. I have been learning to not assume anything, because I am often wrong when I do that. I have learned how much my perceived "needs" are actually more like "wants," such as having a functioning shower or a cold cup of water. I am grateful just to have water for drinking and cleaning. We found out last night that the first month of our outreach (June) will be in a place that there is not a lot of water. There is high potential for us to be walking about 40 minutes one way to get any water at all. We will find out more when we get there, but it was a good reminder to be thankful here, in all things. I have NO complaints.

And for those of you who have been asking, my bites are SO much better. Thank you for your prayers and concern. What a huge difference from last week. I am so blessed. My ankles are also back to normal, and God also sent rain again at the exact time we were praying for it. It is good, because there is a big drought here in Kenya - which means a lot of hungry people in this country. We have spent a lot of time this week praying especially for rain. The rain only came for about an hour, so we continue to ask.

Let's see.. what can I say about this week? Well, it was a lot of fun with the pastors on base. They were wonderful to talk to and laugh with. One of the women (she was someone's sister, but I don't know if she was also a pastor) wanted to take my picture, and I found out later it was because she wanted me to be her daughter-in-law (yikes!). haha. But all in all, it was a delightful week.
I should comment here on the responses of people when they see me for the first time. It happened a lot this week. First of all, the walk to and from town on the ferry always brings a lot. I have had people speaking to me in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese, in addition to the normal English "Hello, how are you?" I also here the calls "China" or various sounds. At least one person yells out "mzungu" (non-Kenyan) every time. I usually smile and pass by. But I also get a kick out of introducing myself. Usually, when I tell people I am from America, I either get a weird look or even a "but you don't look American." My favorite this week was "And what is your descent?" Sometimes their response to me comes with a story. One of the English pastors this week decided to tell me his experience with Asian food, particularly kimchee. It was hysterical.

One afternoon just the girls ventured off to a nearby church where they were having service outside. It was in Likoni, not too far from the base, but I'm not sure if some of the people there had ever seen a "mzungu." But it was fine and we ended up just worshiping and dancing with them. :) A little tiny girl came and held my pinky finger. It was a precious moment.

And I am also reminded of some tender moments on the ferry. One day we went and this beautiful little girl with a green headdress was standing in front of her kneeling mom. The mom was wiping the little girl's face, and then she looked up at me with these beautiful eyes. When the ferry stopped, the mom stood up. She held the girl in her left hand, a huge bag in her right hand, and (no joke) a HUGE bag of potatoes on her head. I am not kidding, this bag was bigger than the 20 pound one we bought for Mutunga. I was astounded.

We continue to laugh and sing at the base. Songs are just coming out of nowhere, and at all times. It is quite fun. Judy says I remind her of her daughter, who also sings all the time. haha.
Here is one of my favorites:
Jambo, Jambo sana
Habari ghani, Mzuri sana
Wagheni, wakari bishwa
Kenya etu, Hakuna Matata. :)
(It is basically a welcome to Kenya song, saying hi, how are you, welcome to Kenya, there are no worries.)

I just came back from time well spent with a ministry called King's Kids. They meet every Saturday morning at our base, and there are two classes. The class I taught had children from 9-13 years old. What a blast! I walked with two of them here (because they live close to the Internet) and we had a delightful walk, talking about planets and football (soccer). Oh how I love their laughter and their thinking. I told them of my fourth graders. :)

okay, that's all for now. Thank you!