Maisha Yanaendelea--Life Continues

It is hard to believe it is already Tuesday.  The weeks are flying by!  This past Sunday, the Deaf did not come because it was raining.  They have to walk a long way to church.  So, since I didn't interpret this week, I joined the ladies in the nursery.  I have felt bad because I make the nursery schedule each month, and I can't put my name on there because I am needed most weeks to interpret for the Deaf.  Of course, the ladies understand and they don't mind, but I still feel the need to lead by example.

Each time that I am in the nursery, I am so thankful to know Swahili!  The babies and the smaller children do not know English, and many times they seem almost afraid of white people.  However, I watch their fear dissipate when I talk to them in their language.  They must think I am not so bad after all!  I can almost see the wheels turning in their little heads, "She talks like us, but she sure looks different."

We only have about 2 and a half more weeks of language school!  BJ and I are so excited.  We will be glad to have those 3 extra hours back every day.  It has been worth it, though.  Ndelegua, our teacher, was so proud the other day when we told him this story:

BJ was in the hardware store, and there was a new employee there who did not know BJ.  (Many people around Karen know BJ by now; they know he will only speak Swahili, and they like that.  So most people begin conversations with him in Swahili now instead of English.)  Well, this new employee began talking to BJ in English.  There was another employee there, however, who knew BJ, and she switched to Swahili.  The new guy listened for a few minutes, then asked BJ, "Where in the world did you learn to speak Swahili like that?  That is proper Swahili."  Of course, that made Ndelegua's day because he is seeing fruit from his labor.  Thank God for a teacher who knows his stuff and gave us a good foundation in the language.  Swahili is truly a beautiful language.  I love to hear these people sing hymns in Swahili.  Seth enjoys Swahili songs too.  For a few days, he was singing, "Ila damu Yake Yesu."  (Nothing but the Blood of Jesus) all day long.  He also likes to sing, "Tuende zote kwa nyumba ya Baba" (Come and go with me to my Father's house.)

Here are a couple of Seth's latest creations--a hat and a kite.  I think Winnie had a hand in these two.

He was so proud of them when he showed me after class the other day.  The hat made me chuckle every time I looked at Seth!

We were without power for a couple of days this week, and we got to test out our inverter and battery system.  We were careful with the electricity we used, but not inconvenienced at all.  We were pleasantly surprised to find that we probably have about 80 hours of power before the batteries must be recharged.  

Today I made a chocolate cake for my neighbor's oldest son.  It is his 18th birthday, and his mom wanted to learn how to make a cake.  I told her I cheat when it comes to baking cakes.  I have not yet perfected a homemade cake recipe, although I would love to eventually.  I prefer the light texture of box cake mixes, and so far I have not been able to accomplish that with homemade cakes.  So we bought a cake mix from the store, and that is what we baked today.  Yes, I am spoiled.  I can get cake mixes, and many other "American things" here in Nairobi.  I came here expecting Papua New Guinea, and was very surprised at what all is available here.