Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
A little bit of luxury
In Kenya the hotels are not too bad, but Anne and I were longing for a little bit if pampering. So we looked into our personal budget and decided to splurge out with a night at the famed Sameta Lodges in Ugembo (the village where the church is). It was going to cost us about $100 but when we looked around and saw the big bath (a novelty here in Africa) the large lounge area in the suite and the huge bed, we were won over. We arranged to stay there the next night.
That day I dropped Anne off as I went to the church building. They were very nice and they let her in the suite at 9.30 am, when she arrived. She spent the day relaxing, having a nap - all together well deserved.
I arrived at the lodge very tried from a very full day of teaching. The first thing that Anne told me to do was have a long soak in the bath. That was when things began to go wrong.
I started filling up the tub but before too long the water ran cold. That was when I discovered the hot water system. It held 23l or 5 gallons. That equates to one inch in the bottom of the tub. The bath was out.
We went down for dinner and waited and waited to be served. Eventually Anne went to the kitchen and told them we were waiting. The chef aroused a waitress we had not noticed. She was laying over a table in a dark corner, looking like she was asleep, but she was talking on her phone which was attached to a distant wall socket.
Each item we ordered something we were told they didn't have it. Eventually we asked what they DID have. We ended up ordering spaghetti and fish. Then the wait started. The kitchen is designed so the clients could look in (they told us this in the brochure). I wished that I couldn't. Their activity was not what I would call rushed. After a while I stopped looking. About an hour and a half later we got our food.
Never mind we said as we went up to our big suite and that lovely large bed. That was when we realised there was no mosquito net! Sure enough we spent the night hiding under the sheets as the buzzing little insects performed kamikaze tactics.
Before we left the dinning room that night they had asked what time we would like breakfast. I told them at 7.30. I headed down there at that time the next morning and found a sleepy, yawning crowd in the kitchen. I took pity on them and just asked for some milk (there was tea making facilities in the suite). They seemed to want to make up for their short comings and gave me some milk in the largest mug I have ever seen. So I took this with thanks and staggered up the stairs with about a litre of milk.
Our "little bit if luxury" was not all that we expected it to be, but Anne and I loved it. Each little "hiccough" started us giggling and sometimes laughing out loud!
I am sure that the locals here think that mazungus (white people) are crazy. At Sameta Logdes they are sure of it.
That day I dropped Anne off as I went to the church building. They were very nice and they let her in the suite at 9.30 am, when she arrived. She spent the day relaxing, having a nap - all together well deserved.
I arrived at the lodge very tried from a very full day of teaching. The first thing that Anne told me to do was have a long soak in the bath. That was when things began to go wrong.
I started filling up the tub but before too long the water ran cold. That was when I discovered the hot water system. It held 23l or 5 gallons. That equates to one inch in the bottom of the tub. The bath was out.
We went down for dinner and waited and waited to be served. Eventually Anne went to the kitchen and told them we were waiting. The chef aroused a waitress we had not noticed. She was laying over a table in a dark corner, looking like she was asleep, but she was talking on her phone which was attached to a distant wall socket.
Each item we ordered something we were told they didn't have it. Eventually we asked what they DID have. We ended up ordering spaghetti and fish. Then the wait started. The kitchen is designed so the clients could look in (they told us this in the brochure). I wished that I couldn't. Their activity was not what I would call rushed. After a while I stopped looking. About an hour and a half later we got our food.
Never mind we said as we went up to our big suite and that lovely large bed. That was when we realised there was no mosquito net! Sure enough we spent the night hiding under the sheets as the buzzing little insects performed kamikaze tactics.
Our "little bit if luxury" was not all that we expected it to be, but Anne and I loved it. Each little "hiccough" started us giggling and sometimes laughing out loud!
I am sure that the locals here think that mazungus (white people) are crazy. At Sameta Logdes they are sure of it.
Zanzibar
Anne and I were able to take a few days away on the beautiful island of Zanzibar in January. I hope you enjoy seeing some of the sights.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
African Party - Mbise Wedding Part 2
After the service everyone filled outside to greet the young couple and get a breath of fresh air (it had been a long wedding). After a bit it was time to head to the reception. Anne and I did not know what to expect from a Meru reception, but we were ready.
So we both rounded up the people we were taking and headed off. It was not too far, but the roads were pretty rough - Anne did wonderfully well with her 4X4 driving skills. I was very proud of her.
We got to our destination and were directed to the parking spot and then we made our way down to the family compound.
Anne and I were given the honour of accompanying the family into the wedding house (the couple had been given this house) and took part in the prayers and the toasts pronounced.
It was then time for the presents to be given and the food to be served. I don't really know how many people there was there, but I would estimate over 500! And they were all fed.
The first up was males on the father of the brides family. We all lined up and gave our gifts and greeted the couple. Then we were given tickets that would enable us to get our food. I was amongst this number. Next it was the men from the grooms side - then the women from the grooms side and last of all it was the women from the brides side. All this took about 2 hours. After the family was feed all those visiting came. They had a lot of food!
We were very impressed with the presents! I already mentioned the house.They also got 3 cows, furniture, appliances galore. They did really well. . Those who did not have gifts gave money. A lot of money!
We left about 5 o'clock - wanting to get down the mountain before it was dark. Anne once again did wonderfully driving her 4X4!.444
So we both rounded up the people we were taking and headed off. It was not too far, but the roads were pretty rough - Anne did wonderfully well with her 4X4 driving skills. I was very proud of her.
We got to our destination and were directed to the parking spot and then we made our way down to the family compound.
Anne and I were given the honour of accompanying the family into the wedding house (the couple had been given this house) and took part in the prayers and the toasts pronounced.
It was then time for the presents to be given and the food to be served. I don't really know how many people there was there, but I would estimate over 500! And they were all fed.
The first up was males on the father of the brides family. We all lined up and gave our gifts and greeted the couple. Then we were given tickets that would enable us to get our food. I was amongst this number. Next it was the men from the grooms side - then the women from the grooms side and last of all it was the women from the brides side. All this took about 2 hours. After the family was feed all those visiting came. They had a lot of food!
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| This was the "goat" cake. |
We were very impressed with the presents! I already mentioned the house.They also got 3 cows, furniture, appliances galore. They did really well. . Those who did not have gifts gave money. A lot of money!
We left about 5 o'clock - wanting to get down the mountain before it was dark. Anne once again did wonderfully driving her 4X4!.444
African Time - Tanzanian Wedding Part 1
The invitations said the wedding was to be at 10.00 a.m., so that is when we thought it would be...
There is an understanding here about "African Time". That is - time is
different. What ever has been planned "probably" will happen, but not necessarily at the time first said. Then again there is Swahili time. Here the day starts at sun up, so the first hour is at 7.00 am. 10.00 am is therefore the fourth hour, or "saa 4". You see is CAN be confusing.
Brother Mbise, the father of the bride had asked Anne and I to bring both of our cars to provide transport for the wedding party. When I asked him at what time did he want us there, he told me 10.00 a.m.! This confused me, because that is when I thought the wedding was to start, but he assured me that was when we were to be there.
So the day of the wedding came and Anne and I headed out. We were about 5 minutes from our destination when Mbise phone me and told me that if we had not left yet, don't worry and come at 11.00! Are you starting to see what African time is?
We dropped one car off at Mbise's house and then went back down the mountain for a cup of coffee. Just before 11, I phoned and was told not to come until 11.30. So that is how it went.
We finally got to the wedding and it was wonderful! Everyone else seemed to know what time to be at the church builging and eveyone was very happy.
There is an understanding here about "African Time". That is - time is
different. What ever has been planned "probably" will happen, but not necessarily at the time first said. Then again there is Swahili time. Here the day starts at sun up, so the first hour is at 7.00 am. 10.00 am is therefore the fourth hour, or "saa 4". You see is CAN be confusing.
Brother Mbise, the father of the bride had asked Anne and I to bring both of our cars to provide transport for the wedding party. When I asked him at what time did he want us there, he told me 10.00 a.m.! This confused me, because that is when I thought the wedding was to start, but he assured me that was when we were to be there.
So the day of the wedding came and Anne and I headed out. We were about 5 minutes from our destination when Mbise phone me and told me that if we had not left yet, don't worry and come at 11.00! Are you starting to see what African time is?
We dropped one car off at Mbise's house and then went back down the mountain for a cup of coffee. Just before 11, I phoned and was told not to come until 11.30. So that is how it went.
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| Bro. Mbise (in the middle) with his wife on his right. |
It was a Lutheran Wedding in a large church building in Nkoaranga. By the time everything started, there were very few people, but 2 hours hours later towards the end of the service, the building was FULL!
The couple were finally wed and the singing and dancing followed the out of the church.Weddinh
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Mbita, Kenya
My trip to Western Kenya has been going extremely well. We have meet so far with seven different congregations and have had many studies.
On some days we have meet with several congregations. On other days we have spent the whole day in one place studying. Yesterday we meet with the brethren near Kisii and after we had studied all day two women made it known that they needed to be baptized. The whole congregations walked down the hill from the church building and they were baptized there.
This is a very young church and everyone was filled with great joy as they watched these two sisters added to the church.
Today we traveled to Lake Victoria and I am writing this sitting on the lake shore. We had a very good study this afternoon and tomorrow we are planning on two with different congregations.
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| The church building at Uradi |
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| At Uradi. We had a very good meeting here. Before we started they insisted that we have some "breakfast" (tea with bead). We then gathered together and studied the word of God. The subject was " the foundation of the church. |
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| After our study |
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| The next day we went to two congregations near each other. First we went to Ulwan, where we met with the brethren (and they gave us breakfast). We then went to Kabura church where we had an out door meeting. |
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| At the Uranga church building |
On some days we have meet with several congregations. On other days we have spent the whole day in one place studying. Yesterday we meet with the brethren near Kisii and after we had studied all day two women made it known that they needed to be baptized. The whole congregations walked down the hill from the church building and they were baptized there.
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| The church at Kisii. The man in the front (in the light green shirt) is Mark Masese who had been studying with Paul Nichols over the internet. He was baptised in August and went home to convert the brethren he was worship with. This was the first time we we able to be with them. We studied for 1 and a half days had had a wonderful time with the. |
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| One of the two sisters who were baptised |
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| This is Mark Masese's wife being baptised. |
This is a very young church and everyone was filled with great joy as they watched these two sisters added to the church.
Today we traveled to Lake Victoria and I am writing this sitting on the lake shore. We had a very good study this afternoon and tomorrow we are planning on two with different congregations.
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| With my co-workers, George and Vincent on Lake Victoria |
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| The congregation on Msinga Island |
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| These are the brethren that meet at Mbita, on the shores of Lake Victoria. They meet in a rented building that is used as a school through the week |
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| Inside the building at Mbita |
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