Last week Brad, Tricia, and I traveled to Arusha on the 4th of July for a three day trip. They travel there about once a month to get supplies. It takes about 5 hours to get there on extremely bumpy roads. And there is so much dust from the lack of rain (it hasnt rained once since ive been here) that when cars drive by its scary... you cannot see a thing. its like a giant fog. and the trees on the side of the road are covered with dust. it looks almost like snow.
well anyways, we traveled there and spent our time getting supplies that you cannot get in Katesh like meats, shampoo, canned foods, cereal, different things like that. So we travel out there and pack up the car with enough goods to last a month.
We stayed at a single missionary lady's house. She is only recently single though, her husband suddenly died last year and she has only recently been back to the ministry. It is very amazing to see though. She has spent many years with her husband out here and I can't imagine how hard it is for her. But she is an awesome woman and definitely has the love language of service.
I was told today by one of the girls in the church that I'm too quiet. But i said, i dont speak very much Swahili. I dont have much to say! it is kind of frustrating. i can pick up enough words.. construction words especially, to know kind of what they are saying. but not enough to converse. but all i can really say is, Hello, How are you? and answer back. I am very grateful that the majority of my time is at the school which is an English medium school.
But I am very grateful for my time here. I am learning a lot about myself, about God, about missions life, about the ministry, and about life in general. Its crazy that a month from right now i will be back in America and back to school to finish out my last year.
want to know some words that I know?
Shikamoo- greeting to someone older than you
Marahaba- the reply to that word.
Hujambo- How are you?
Sijambo- I'm fine.
Bwana asifiwe- Praise the Lord.
Habari yako? What's the news with you?
Hamna sheda- No problem.
Asante- Thank you.
Safi- Cool. Safi sana- very cool
Habari za asabuhi? - Whats the news of the morning? -basically, hows your morning?
Habari za leo? - Hows your day?
Nzuri- Good.
okay. thats basically the extent of my verbal vocabulary. what i hear is a little bit more, but only by a little :)
Wow! Samantha you know 100% more of Swahilli than I know! :) It sounds like you've become used to teaching the children in English. What are the ages of these kids? How big are the classes? Do the kids pay to attend the school? Are the church's Bibles written in Swahilli? How many people attend the church in a service? Do they have to travel far by foot? Do they sing English hymns in the Swahilli language?
ReplyDeleteILY
Momma Samantha
the kids at the school are about 4 years old to second grade. they add a grade each yr to the school so next year they will have 3rd grade. yeah there is tuition, the missionaries made it so that it can some day be run by nationals.
ReplyDeletethe Bibles are in Swahili. there were about 50 people in church on sunday. and they all live in Katesh. most people in katesh like 98 percent dont have cars so they walk or bike everywhere. most people that go to Kweli Baptist church live 5-20 minute walk from it. they sing some hymns, but they do a lot of their type of songs... ill show you from video when i get home