so we're all packed up and ready to set out in a boat for the islands of lake victoria. i wanted to post a quick update to let everyone know that we're leaving...we won't have access to internet, phones, electricity or running water for a week. YES.
we're traveling 30 miles out into the crocodile, hippo, and bacteria-infested waters of africa's great lake. the islands have small villages on them, and, well, nothing else. except lots of big bugs. the AIDS infection rate is 87%, and the main sources of income for these people are fishing and prostitution. many of the inhabitants practice witchcraft.
all that being said, we need some PRAYER. for physical and spiritual protection, as well as boldness to preach the gospel to a group of people thirsty for the truth. our leader, trevor, has contracted a virus in his lungs, and is under strict orders to rest for awhile. he's a trooper, though, and has decided to take the journey with us...as long as he stays in his tent for the first few days. prayers for healing would be great!
this is going to be an intense week. flyers are already being passed around the island advertising a "fire conference," and "10 muzungus from new zealand," that are coming to lead a revival! that's us. we're the white people with the Spirit. so we're asking God to move. we want to see healing, and deliverance, and salvation. and we need lots of prayer.
time to set off, so that's all for now...we'll be back in a week with lots of stories!
swahili is the national language. simba=lion. rafiki=friend. and "jambo!" is not just a line from 'mean girls.' besides swahili, there are over 40 other languages spoken in kenya.
the term "road" is used quite loosely. anything remotely resembling a path, walkway, dry river bed, or expanse of rocky dirt is considered fair game. transportation includes bicycles, motorcycles, cars, ox-carts, and taxis.
taxis (or "matatus") are vans, usually cleverly decorated with window decals featuring tupac and beyonce. the average model was built around 1980, and features 4 rows of teeny, tiny bench seats, holes in the floor, and hopefully a door or two. disclaimer: doors and windows not guaranteed to stay connected to vehicle during transport. our last ride in one of these lovely vehicles saw 18 adults piled in at one time. cozy.
we have no running water. we use an outhouse. we brush our teeth with water bottles. we walk across campus for drinking water. we hand-wash our clothes in big basins. we take showers out of a bucket.
no joke.
the average kenyan's favorite food is "chapati." it is essentially a piece of dough fried in fat over a charcoal fire. another african specialty is "ughali." maize flour and water. usually served plain and eaten with your fingers...but we've been lucky enough to eat it with cabbage on top! and they let the "mazungus" eat it with forks. mazungus are white people.
there is a herd of buffalo, a herd of zebras, a herd of impalas, and 19 giraffes living on this YWAM base. apparently you can see them while running around the property. it's slightly cooler than being on a treadmill at the gym.
church on sunday for some of us was in a mud hut. there were four "pews," aka. benches made out of sticks and branches. the pastor rolled up on an old bicycle. there was no official start-time for the service. almost every woman there was carrying a baby slung on their back with a scarf...except the one in the front row who decided to nurse her child during the service. oh. and about halfway through, a lady walked in carrying a chicken. yes. a real, live, squirming, squawking mother hen. at the end of the service, the chicken was offered to us as a gift. we took it.
basically, the only similarity i've noticed between kenya and the states so far is love for obama. you think downtown chicago was crazy on election night? tell a bunch of kenyans you're from the u.s. and you have instant insanity. obama-fever. it's awesome.
there is honestly just too much to tell about our experiences here so far. but i will say this: the country of kenya is beautiful. the people are lovely and joyful. the ywam base is a peaceful place, and the team is thoroughly enjoying our time spent here. we worship and pray every chance we get. we go out to schools, churches and homes to minister every day. we help out with work duties, too. sometimes this means cooking. sometimes chopping wood. and sometimes sorting rice. we eat a lot of rice. we don't have the internet, so cyber cafes are our only chance for communication. time is limited, the connection is slow, and it costs about a shilling a minute. a shilling is worth about 1.25 cents.
sooo... we'll be uploading pictures as soon as we can. hopefully before we leave africa! :) you can be praying that our team is helpful and effective here in kenya, and that we stay open to anything and everything God is trying to teach us! we're here for 10 more days...plenty of time for more experiences and lots of learning.
we leave tomorrow morning for NAIROBI, KENYA! please pray for safe and glitch-less travel. we will be arriving in the evening, and heading to the YWAM base outside the city. not sure what internet access will look like there...
not sure what the bathrooms will look like either.
we'll let you know. :)
peace and love from south africa for the last time!
