Chuck and I returned home to Tala last Friday after 2 days in Nairobi. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who made that time away possible. It was a time of recharging for me and to do something I enjoy doing (something that isn’t possible here in Tala) – going to the movies!
It was a time of feeling “normal” again for me…I was able to have some girl talk with a friend from Nakuru (who, thank you God, just happened to be in Nairobi at the same time), go to the movies (Harry Potter AND Dawn Treader!), have popcorn at the movies, go to a restaurant and order any type of food, order a glass of wine, have pizza delivered to our room and one of the most comforting things was being able to do all that without being stared at, hearing “mzungu” (white person) yelled at us, or someone coming up with their hand out asking for a few shilling.
Those 2 days helped me to recharge and do a few of the fun things I used to do in the States…although the movie experience will never be the same without my Mandy girl (our youngest daughter) who was always my movie date!
It may be hard to explain or even understand how very much this meant to me and my mental well being and I was feeling pretty good even on the way back to Tala. Then we hit the rural area and the stares began and driving into Tala we heard mzungu a few times. The finale came as we were driving down the road/driveway where we live and the neighbor kid was on his way home too. We stopped the truck and said “hello, we haven’t seen you in awhile, how are you?” His response – “hello, can you buy me a bike?” To which we said “no” and “do you want a ride to your house?” After dropping him off he then said his grandmother wanted a Christmas, we asked what that meant. “She wants some gifts.” <sigh>welcome home.
Sometimes showing God’s love to those around us means saying no. Chuck has told some people “no” when he’s asked for kitu kidogo (something small i.e. coin) but he also offers some of them work…sadly most turn away just expecting a hand out. Little by little those we work with will see we are not the answer…God is.