02.22.07
Streams in the Desert
WE HAVE WATER! Today at about 4:00pm the meter was fitted and our apartment was no longer a water free zone.
For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about here’s the skinny: We have been in our flat for about 3 weeks. In all that time we have been borrowing water by the barrel full from our very gracious neighbors.
Apparently the officials at the city council noted our very non-Kenyan names on the application for a water meter and decided to stall the process (possibly trying for a bribe). And so we have been waiting…this morning they gave up the wait and we were the joyous recipients of a water meter and our big beautiful apartment now has water. : )
We are thoroughly enjoying being on our own in our new home. It is so beautiful; sunny, big, and warm…we have a guest room too should any of you come to visit. : ) We feel a bit lost in all the space but I think we’ll get used to it.
Rahab (the angel who does our laundry by hand) comes three times a week to help around the house and keep us from making any huge cultural blunders. House-help here is extremely cheap and culturally expected. The Kenyans are perplexed as to why we don’t have full-time (live-in) house help while I often have a hard time figuring out what to have Rahab do in the time that she is here. She has promised to teach me some good Kenyan cookin’ though which I am looking forward to.
I think she gets a good laugh out of us Muzungus (white people) and is often mystified at our strange ways. She was astonished to hear that Americans try to cook with little fat in order to stay thin…Big is beautiful in Kenya and she just couldn’t understand why Americans would want to be skinny. We’ve had fun comparing cultural differences with her.
~ Roadsign of the Week ~
“Power is nothing without control”.
It’s a tire sign that is posted everywhere in Nairobi…which I have found rather ironic the last three weeks considering our water situation but it’s a good thought anyway.
~ Food Highlight ~
Cadbury Drinking Chocolate. What more can be said? We got some this week at the store…its not very sweet but rich and chocolatey all the same. Seth said all the Kenyans he’s had it with add sugar and milk to it.
And I must close before you all give up and stop reading. : ) Thank you to all of you who have been writing to us via email/skype. Its been such an encouragement to us an has kept us going more than once. Seth and I both hover over the computer and feel all warm and fuzzy (and occasionally teary) as we read the news from home. So, thanks.
Lots of love, keep praying, Water conservationists in the making,
Seth & Hannah, Keziah and Jared
Our dining room.
We saved money on chairs and made the table Kez height.
Our lovely kitchen.