Day of the Beans!

Hello All,
This past week has not been too busy and even a little relaxing. 
Jim and I have been learning Kiswahili.  We take lessons 4 days a week for an hour each day.  It is a lot to keep up with!  But, Edward, our teacher, does not give homework, thankfully!  Our experiances in Italy and Germany were such that Jim did not get a chance to learn the languages properly and was even a bit discouraged at times, so here he has a goal of really getting it.  He is doing great!  He puts in a lot of time, and it is coming.  We had a visitor last Tuesday.  Wednesday was a Kenyan holiday.  As this visitor left, Jim told her, "Utakuwa siku kuu vizuri ya Maharagwe,"  Which is very close to, "Utakuwa siku kuu vizuri ya Madaraka."  The first one means, "Have a good day of beans!"  The second means, "Have a good Madaraka Holiday."  (Madaraka day is June 1 and Independence day).  So, this lady was very confused and thought Jim was telling her to have a good day to eat beans!  It was very funny and we have gotten a great laugh from it for many days now.  And she was gracious to tell Jim that it is OK to make mistakes, that is how we learn.  So, he is plodding on and continues to study and is determined to get it this time, even though we may wish people a good day to eat beans!

We continue to struggle here with how to "help" people.  Many ladies come to the door (the same every week) to sell us things.  But the items that they make and sell are the same!  As I mentioned before, the Kenyans seem to "do what your neighbor is doing."  We buy English muffins, samosas (triangular shaped meat pocket), spring rolls (egg rolls) and tortillas.  These are 4 items, which is great, but if someone came with something unique, like a nice brown bread or a pie or something, it would be refreshing.  This is also the case at the market.  The little vegetable market that is set up in town is great to be able to run to and get fresh fruits and veggies.  But, you enter and all the tables are set up exactly the same and there are at least 8 of them with ladies looking at you and trying to get you to buy from them.  We try and buy a little from each one, but it is difficult.  This past week, we have supported and given till we have almost run out of the "food fund" that we have set up.  Please pray that we will be able to support the ladies that are trying to make a living selling their muffins and spring rolls and that we would feel joy in doing it!

It is now June and we have been here for a little over 4 months!  It is amazing how time flies!  This time last year, Jim and I were here with the EMI team doing the design work.  When we came, we knew we were looking at how to serve, but never thought that we would be living in the building that was partially built, the kids would be going to RVA and we would be working on so many projects!  Wow, that was only one year ago.  Life sure has changed!  It has a rhythm that is good though.  We are grateful and thankful to you all for supporting us!

In His Hands,
Jullie T.