Lemoru

This past weekend we went to Lemoru. We mainly went to be at the Harambe for Linda's fund raiser. Harambe means come together. It was introduced by President Moi. (the president before the current one, Kibaki) It's where the people in the village come together to help one another in whatever way they're in need. Mostly its to raise money. This was to raise enough money for Linda to fly to the U.S. Praise the Lord, enough was raised. It was amazing that we got her a ticket on the same flight as us. A couple of weeks ago we looked at prices and availability and the prices were very high and there were no seats for her on our flight. She's never been out of Kenya so she got a bit nervous. After we found out she raised enough we brought her home with us the next day and immediately started to look for tickets. To our surprise the prices had droped almost half the price and a seat opened up. Bud called to talk to them and get it paid for and found out it was the last seat on our flight, that someone must of cancelled their ticket! Whoohoo! Praise the Lord. AND it was only $1,000 rather than the usual price around $1700. She's now here, staying with us, and we've been giving her American culture 101 lessons. Its SO humorous some of the things. There were so many things we've told her but here are the top 10 differences we've found to be hilarious...



The majority of people do not farm in America. Here almost every person has their own piece of land and does some type of farming. We've been trying to let her try as much american food we can find here. Linda says "i'll bring seeds from here to plant sukumawiki (like spinach, its a native vegetable) at my host families house". Lesson #1... do NOT bring seeds from here! you will be stipped searched in the airport if they find them.



When going anywhere in town there are hawkers. Different people are constantly pushing stuff in your face to buy... you want fruit? you want hankerchief? you want tv antena? you want radio? you want biscuit? you want candy? You can set up camp wherever you want and sell. You can go through the streets asking anyone at anytime to buy what you have. Lesson #2... do not get on the plane and pull out a box of stuff to sell the passengers! (joke, haha)



Most women do not shave and NO one wears deodorant here. In the grocery stores they have a tiny section of maybe 3 different types of deodorant. Lesson #3... Shave your arm pits and wear deodorant!

There are words used in America that you shouldn't use here, and words here that you shouldnt use in America. Such as a cat, should be called a cat or kitten, not the way they call cats. A rooster should be called a rooster, not how they call it. (if you didnt get that, dont try to get it, keep on reading) You should NEVER use the bad "N" word for a black person. Lesson #4... learn what not to say and for sure dont say the "N" word!


Everyone in Kenya washes their clothes by hands and I dont think there's one dishwasher in this entire country. Last night she was washing dishes and told me she loves it. If she doesn't wash clothes she feels lazy. Lesson #5... almost every house has a dish washer and washer and dryer... enjoy it but dont get lazy.



Here when woman are brestfeeding their child, they pull out their breast and feed the child ANYWHERE. The most common place? In the front row of church! No one has a problem with it here. Its a natural thing. When teams come here we have to warn them. If a visitor is going to preach in church we warn them. And they usually dont have a blanket. Oh and they breastfeed up until the child is usually 2 or 3. Hey when you dont have much money and live in a 3rd world country, you do whatever is free. We explained how even in our church in Keller, they have a room only for mom's that nurse their babies. She just laughed. Lesson #6... when you get married and have a child, do NOT nurse in public and if men are around cover up!



When trying to get someones attention here you say "sksksss". If you heard it, you'd be highly offended. In America you'd say "excuse me". It's not common here to say "please". So we've been teaching her different manners that people respect when they hear. Lesson #7... when eating in a resteraunt dont "sksksksksss" someone for their attention.

In Kenya most places you go, you have to bargain for the price. Its very few places where there is a set price. For clothes, food, almost anything you are haggling people. We explained in America you never find that. (except the flea market but ive never been and doubt she will) Lesson #8... when checking out at the grocery store, do NOT argue with the cashier about the price, it probably wouldnt turn out well!

Almost everywhere there is public transport in Kenya and it is super cheap. There are buses and vans that go from city to city and town to town. Some of them go direct, some take the people they have and on the way stop to pick up more. We explained hitch hikers in America and that you do not pick them up, it could be dangerous. Here if you get a free ride from someone, then you are so lucky. So lesson #9... when walking, do not flag people down to pick you up. (linda is a petite young lady, so not safe at all!)

And now for the one thing she for sure has to remember. Linda says "when I go to America, I cant wait to get fat". In Kenya, the bigger the better. If you tell someone they are thin or skinny, its like saying they are dieing. Here the bigger you are, the more wealthy you are. When coming back here from the U.S. people will try to compliment Bud and I by saying "oh, you have become huge!". (whether we have or not) So lesson #10... NEVER, ever tell someone they are huge! (i think there is a good middle ground that the American and Kenyan culture needs to come to. American standard of a good weight is too small and Kenyan standard is too big. Both can be unhealthy.)

Here are some pictures from this past weekend...

At Lemoru Children's Home. Samuel with Elisha on a calf. Elisha LOVED it out there. Of course the kids loved it too since they've never seen a white baby.

Linda asked me to make her a cake for her fund raiser. There's an American and Kenyan flag on the cake.



Here is at the fund raiser, or Harambe. This is the main part that people would talk and give their speeches. In the village they just let their children roam wherever. Elisha freely did so and found his way to the center and got a microphone. He was hilarious!

Here's Linda and I cutting the cake. Anytime there's cake its a very special occasion. And you always have a way of cutting it and an order of who get to eat the cake.

Caleb and Ian at the home. They've become great friends. Ian looks up to Caleb a lot. Pray for Caleb. The board at the home is trying to make him go to the high school in the village instead of continuing at the nice school he goes to. (because they dont want to pay school fees)

Just a precious picture of my baby boy!

That's it for now. Our internet isnt working and probably wont the remaining time we have here. So for now I have to come to town and so I wont be able to post as much on here. Our children come tomorrow to stay with us until Monday. Then we'll all have Christmas together! It'll be a wonderful feast and time of celebrating Jesus. Also pray for our vehicle. Its having a lot of problems, which it has this year but I think this might be the worst. We might need a new ingine. We probably wont have the car the remaining time we're here so it's making it difficult to get things done before going home. (REALLY difficult) Thanks for your prayers!

We love you! And Merry Christmas.

Kimberly