I have a new place to live for the week…well last week. This update is a little old. Big changes going from living far away with few people ages ranging from 17 to 27, having lots of time and space to myself, with only ok English to living in the city with tons of people ages ranging 7 to about 80, sharing a room, and having people speaking fluently in English. I was getting kind of lonely out in kisasa by myself. At first having so much time to myself was just what I needed but then it became not as much of a good thing when I started to think too much and miss home too much. It was perfect timing…just like god knew what I needed : ). Now with so many people in the house there is always something going on. The kids always want to play. And I have no space to myself at all, but there are people I can have a real conversation with.
I’m staying at the bishop’s house for a week. There are 11 people sleeping here most nights and his wife is in Dar and their daughter is at school. So many people! There’s Peace who is 7 then Grace who is 12, a little bossy and doesn’t like to lose games… then Victor is 13 I think. He has some good insight on the world for a 13 year old. All the kids are really smart. And then Kabiro is the bishop’s nephew that lives with them. He’s 20 and really great. Then Shangwe is a girl that lives with them. I think she’s 20 something. She does the cooking and the cleaning. She is really close to the girls, pretty much like family, but then also the maid. Then both grandmothers are living here too. Neither speaks english. They are/were sick and are healing at their home until someone can take them back. They also have an older daughter who is going to school somewhere else. And the amos and esther. Wow! Oh and there is a girl staying, sharing a room with me. Sad that I don’t have my own room. I don’t have a space at that house at all to go hide away in. She is some bishops daughter, first was just passing through now maybe staying for 3 months. Not sure. She doesn’t speak very good English. She sleeps on the floor on a mattress. She seems to keep to herself…but I can’t have a conversation with her. She doesn’t really talk with anyone else in the family either. Haven’t quite figured that situation out.
The kids are fun. Good distractions. I’m not lonely…well in the same way. They love games. The first night I was here I showed them my card trick. It’s a pretty good one. Victor kind of picked up on it. Once I showed him, he mastered the presentation. I was proud! And we play phase 10, set, crazy 8s, kings in the corner. It’s great. If you know me… I LOVE card games. The other fun thing is that I’ve been doing exercises with the kids. Mostly the two girls. I’ve been trying to do push ups and sit ups just to do something physical with my body. I was trying to hide in my room one day to do them and Peace found me. I asked if she wanted to join…so she and grace did. We’ve done them everyday since. I guess that’s not something I thought of bringing here. Something that is so inate in me. I didn’t think anyone else would be interested. Since then I did a little stretching session with the little lahash kids. I didn’t have a translator so it was a do as I say kind of a thing. I enjoyed it. And Grace showed a bunch of her friends at the church on Saturday. That was fun!
Well Bible camping starts tomorrow. I hope it goes well. I’m helping teach and HIV lesson as well as games and crafts. Should be fun. There are lots of ages going. A change of pace from the normal routine is always exciting.
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