Hello All,
I have to blog quickly today because we have a packed schedule! This morning we have a carnival themed field day for Timothy and Sallie up at the school. They are very excited and up and ready! After that we are heading into town (Nairobi) to eat a late lunch/early dinner at the Carnivore. We are celebrating Trevor's Birthday there. We should be able to eat some different things like Ostrich and Crocodile! After that we have to do the monthly shopping at a large grocery store. The car will be packed on the way home. When we get home there is no rest! Tomorrow after church we have several little girls coming over to celebrate Sallie's Birthday! They will require lots of food, a cake and some organized games that need to be prepared tonight. I am already looking forward to bed!
Communication with Africans is always an adventure! Jim and I read a book before coming here called African Friends and Money Matters. It was invaluable to our understanding of how their society works. But, even though we understand it, it is hard to manage in daily practice! You may think that you are saying something very clearly, but lo and behold, you are not. Africans have a way of talking around a subject that is almost an art form. We, being direct thinking Americans, have not yet mastered this art and I don't think we ever will! Bottom line is that it leads to frustrations and complicates life a bit. It is interesting to understand a culture that is so thoughtful of the other person's feelings that they won't tell you "no" even if the answer is "no." Please pray that we will deal with this in a gracious manner!
Thanks to you all!
In His Hands,
Jullie T.
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