February 7

I keep looking for pictures to bring you that are not the “why-must-people-visit -foreign-countries-and-come-home-with-such-heartbreaking-scenes”   pictures. So far......nothing! The reality of being the poorest country in the world is everywhere! I have enough landscape and scenery pictures to last a lifetime!
    I have been teaching classes now for 2 days. The road is 1 hour 10 minutes of washboard, each way. I teach from 8:00 until 12:00 with one 15 minute ‘coffee break’ (translation = 30 minutes for tea) They now make a pot of coffee for me. Not Tim Horton’s, but very thoughtful! Walungu is a large village, very nice, with a few nice buildings. My Bethsaida friends are going to take turns accompanying me each day. My translator is great, very fast, and accurate, so I hear. He is not feeling well right now (I suspect he has a Canadian malady......the not-so-common-here cold) Isn’t it nice I could bring them a little something? The weather is hot and holding. Pastor Raha & Mapendo have given me the household fan.......I take it everywhere (in the house, I mean)
    My Swahili is progressing........I can now say....”I am going to Bideka” (nina safiri kwenda Bideka.....are you impressed??)........pity that has such limited usage! Culturally......I drew an ‘x’ on the blackboard and told the class this is their question. Then I drew around, and around, and around it in a large circle, saying this is how you ask your questions. Next I drew another ‘x’ and an arrow straight to it, explaining that this is how we as questions in North America. We all shared laughter (they find our manner quite aggressive). However, I noticed the translator pointing to it several times as questions were being asked!
    They now have ‘speed bumps’ here. (hardly describes the jolt experienced on impact). I asked the Swahili word for them, which Pastor Raha kindly gave me. I then asked what that word means? He said “speed bump”! .....I’m learning....

February 8

OK.....so......I have been trying to think of a way to help everyone understand the high value these pastors place on the training classes. Today I have it.........
    A man came to class today for the first time. He missed Monday and Tuesday, but today he was there....... wearing his best suit and smiling. You might wonder why he is only coming in the middle of the week? The answer?.......his son died on Monday, on Tuesday was the funeral, today he came wearing his best suit.............   All of you who have contributed to make these classes happen, you were there for him today........how can I thank you????

February 8

OK.....so......I have been trying to think of a way to help everyone understand the high value these pastors place on the training classes. Today I have it.........
    A man came to class today for the first time. He missed Monday and Tuesday, but today he was there....... wearing his best suit and smiling. You might wonder why he is only coming in the middle of the week? The answer?.......his son died on Monday, on Tuesday was the funeral, today he came wearing his best suit.............   All of you who have contributed to make these classes happen, you were there for him today........how can I thank you????

February 7

I keep looking for pictures to bring you that are not the “why-must-people-visit -foreign-countries-and-come-home-with-such-heartbreaking-scenes”   pictures. So far......nothing! The reality of being the poorest country in the world is everywhere! I have enough landscape and scenery pictures to last a lifetime!
    I have been teaching classes now for 2 days. The road is 1 hour 10 minutes of washboard, each way. I teach from 8:00 until 12:00 with one 15 minute ‘coffee break’ (translation = 30 minutes for tea) They now make a pot of coffee for me. Not Tim Horton’s, but very thoughtful! Walungu is a large village, very nice, with a few nice buildings. My Bethsaida friends are going to take turns accompanying me each day. My translator is great, very fast, and accurate, so I hear. He is not feeling well right now (I suspect he has a Canadian malady......the not-so-common-here cold) Isn’t it nice I could bring them a little something? The weather is hot and holding. Pastor Raha & Mapendo have given me the household fan.......I take it everywhere (in the house, I mean)
    My Swahili is progressing........I can now say....”I am going to Bideka” (nina safiri kwenda Bideka.....are you impressed??)........pity that has such limited usage! Culturally......I drew an ‘x’ on the blackboard and told the class this is their question. Then I drew around, and around, and around it in a large circle, saying this is how you ask your questions. Next I drew another ‘x’ and an arrow straight to it, explaining that this is how we as questions in North America. We all shared laughter (they find our manner quite aggressive). However, I noticed the translator pointing to it several times as questions were being asked!
    They now have ‘speed bumps’ here. (hardly describes the jolt experienced on impact). I asked the Swahili word for them, which Pastor Raha kindly gave me. I then asked what that word means? He said “speed bump”! .....I’m learning....

FEBRUAR 4

Today Pastor Raha drove me to some of the slum areas of the city. First impression......so MANY people! They are not standing around looking for something to do. Everyone seems to be working hard. They do not take a siesta, they work just as hard through the heat of the day. Many of the tasks they are carrying out, are hard labour, and they don’t slow down because of the temperature. In the evening, you can see all ages climbing up the hill, from the lake to their homes, with heavy jugs of water. Some carry one on their back with a forehead strap while holding one more in each hand. Even tiny children carry a small jug of water on their backs. This is not usually the time of year for such drought, however it is the reality this year.
    We also visited a school project, run by the parents. Most schools are very expensive and unaffordable for the general public. This school charges only a small fee in order to promote education in the slum. Each class stood up to greet me in English. For some,  it was their first time to see such a washed out skin colour (or lack thereof)! They thought I was quite odd, but then............
    I think we should consider exporting snow.......it would be a win/win arrangement!
Great plan with only one small problem.....where is the market?

FEBRUAR 4

Today Pastor Raha drove me to some of the slum areas of the city. First impression......so MANY people! They are not standing around looking for something to do. Everyone seems to be working hard. They do not take a siesta, they work just as hard through the heat of the day. Many of the tasks they are carrying out, are hard labour, and they don’t slow down because of the temperature. In the evening, you can see all ages climbing up the hill, from the lake to their homes, with heavy jugs of water. Some carry one on their back with a forehead strap while holding one more in each hand. Even tiny children carry a small jug of water on their backs. This is not usually the time of year for such drought, however it is the reality this year.
    We also visited a school project, run by the parents. Most schools are very expensive and unaffordable for the general public. This school charges only a small fee in order to promote education in the slum. Each class stood up to greet me in English. For some,  it was their first time to see such a washed out skin colour (or lack thereof)! They thought I was quite odd, but then............
    I think we should consider exporting snow.......it would be a win/win arrangement!
Great plan with only one small problem.....where is the market?