Long Bumpy Rides

Entry #6: 9/5/10
It’s been a week…not much went on during the week, just classes and soccer practice…oh and went to a Bible study on Monday night to see if I would be interested in going regularly, but I think I will pass on that. It is hard at times saying no to people when they ask you to be involved in something, but since I am only here for a few months I am trying to not commit myself to too many things! Otherwise I would not have any time to go on my excursions or be free to visit places on weekends!

Anyways...Fridays I don’t have class, so I took time to do my laundry, which I have learned that I need to do my laundry on a regular basis so that I do not have to wash ALL of my clothes on one day—the one time I did that it took a few hours and I was soar by the end! Haha. In the evening that night there was a boys soccer game that I attended. Now I have not been to many soccer games back home, but this one I’m sure is a very different atmosphere than what I would experience in the states, I’m sure. It was a very dramatic game…meaning the fans are very dramatic! It was quite entertaining and a fun experience, because each time something would happen on the field the crowd would defiantly have a reaction. And anytime the team scored the fans would run onto the field cheering (be aware that we [the fans] were basically on the field anyways, because we watch the game standing right on the field line)… It was fun to see everyone get so excited—they defiantly support their team! After the game I had dinner and then joined some ladies in Dupa for dance lessons again. This time it was a bit more casual…we mainly went over the steps that we learned last week and I was a little tired by that time, so I was a little loopy..! Anyone who knows me when I am tired knows what I am talking about! Haha, the ladies there got a good laugh out of my ‘interpretive dancing’. On Saturday I did some homework, went to a soccer game again (a bit less dramatic this time), did a bit more homework, and then watched some TV episodes on my computer with some girls.

Today (Sunday) Nick, Janna, Daniel, Troy, Sarah, and I went into Nairobi for church.

Sylvia (who is in charge of us exchange students) invited us to her church, Nairobi Pentecostal Church. It is a large church of about 4,000 people and they have 3 services, which we went to the third service. It was pretty good…although for those who know Pentecostal churches, it was a bit more expressive than what I am used to. Following the service we were invited for tea and a snack since we were first time visitors. So we went to a back room with some other visitors and had some chi with a pastry and meet one of the pastors. After a short time of prayer, the six of us loaded back into the van we used for the day and were driven to the Bomas of Kenya, where we had lunch. The Bomas of Kenya is a place where they have traditional tribe homes set up for people to view and they also have a show where you can see traditional tribal African dances.
So first we ate lunch and then we watched the first half of the traditional dances (which was great! Very interesting to see) and then we walked around the different villages they had set up. I loved viewing the huts and seeing what a traditional village would look like.
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3bcNtDSAg5InChRLFm8KoQp-8vSW3l9uYg5wslIaya7OjF9TfhpCWIkaI0sz4ZUbI_jK4CYVKmgoNvZsUbklpWS5aOfv79N8VJKUJnt8imgUyZAjaJFeSuDXEX32b4nd2AOnqU4FHnLok/s1600/IMG_0539.JPG">
Once we left the Bomas of Kenya, we went to a supermarket so that we could purchase some things and then we headed back to campus.

Now this entry is titled, “Long Bumpy Rides”, because there are many roads you drive on here that are not paved, but you just speed right down them anyways. The main road from Daystar to Nairobi, Mombasa Road, is thankfully paved, but the road from Mombasa road to Daystar (which is about 4.5 kilometers) is unpaved. Now for the most part I do not mind the bumpy drive on the unpaved roads we come across…in fact most of the time when we are driving down these roads I find myself laughing! I can’t help it most of the time. One reason I find it entertaining is because when you drive down these roads you hear the car rattling so much that it seems as though it may just fall apart the next time you hit a bump. Another reason is because it almost feels like all the bumps push the laughter up and out of me.

I don’t mind these bus rides because as I see the landscape of Kenya rush by I love to reflect on my day and the time I’ve spent here so far. So, tonight as the van was sailing down the unpaved road and the dusty wind blew in from the window—I caught myself smiling and thinking about life here so far. I was realizing that I have been here a month and although it took some time getting used to life here, I think I am finally getting used to it. I was also thinking that yes I may miss things about life in the U.S. at times, but really I should be and I am content wherever the Lord has me, because I know that He has lead me here and He is in control. It was just a good feeling to know that I am content with where I am right now. So I think that tonight not only was the crazy driving making me smile, but knowing that I am content with where I’m at also helped.

So bring on the Long bumpy roads!