A day in the life…
I wake up when Reese’s alarm goes off at 5. Of course, I go back to sleep. I wake up at 6:30 and feel the sun rise as it shines through the tent. I roll around for awhile, thinking about dreams and about life, and then I get up. I wander out of the tent, trying not to step in…anything. This week we live in Mama Mary’s front yard, and next week we will live in someone else’s front yard. We travel always for 2 weeks at a time, and then return to the base in Mbita for a restful week with the monkeys and hippos.
There is a bathroom out back from the house. It is made of corrugated steel nailed around a wooden frame, all surrounding a hole in the ground. You get used to it.
I make my way inside for breakfast. Michael, a Kenyan who works at the base, travels with us and cooks all our meals. He sets out hot water and hot milk for tea. This morning’s breakfast is mondazi, or African fry bread, and pineapple. 2 cups of tea later, it’s on to quiet time.
I love to sit under the trees in the yard and read and write. I journal my dreams, thoughts and feelings, and prayers. I love to sit and listen too. No matter how long or short the time is, it is nourishing.
This morning we are doing house visits. We walk in a certain direction to the mud huts in the distance. We ask to come inside, and pray with them and just talk with them and try to listen to them. People around this village rarely get visitors, so it’s really meaningful just to be able to stop in and learn their names and talk about their lives. After chatting for awhile, we invite them to come to Mama Mary’s house for a get-together later in the evening.
We come back for lunch – green grubs and chapati. Kind of like lentils and flat bread. Its a crowd favorite. After lunch we wash dishes in a basin in the backyard and have free time to play cards, read, nap, or whatever. In the afternoon the kids come over and we play with them, whatever games we know that involve whatever resources we have. They’re content just to run around with us.
We have dinner around 7:30 and share some good laughs about the day. We eat in Mama Mary’s living room, lit by kerosene lanterns. Africans and Americans, enjoying a meal, laughing about the things that have almost become normal to us, like having babies pee on our laps while we hold them, or the children being scared of us white people. After dinner we spend time with Mama Mary’s friends and watch movies, some about Jesus, some just to entertain us. Some people in the village have never seen a movie.
I crawl into my bed at what some would call a ridiculously early hour, but when the sun goes down, my body takes a cue. My head hits the pillow and I’m out, all snuggled up in my fleece blanket, as the kerosene lanterns are turned down low.
Jessica we at kogwang primary school(where you came back in the afternoon)to watch gymnastics performed by my young girls ,so so touched by your message in the morning about christ we thank you so much,Be blessed.Clifford.
Thanks so much for this “picture” of your day. I so often wonder what it is like & keep the time in mind from my location to yours. Have a feeling that your days are more like those Jesus walked in than ours are(for sure). In His love,
Great update Jess! I love “seeing” what you all see. Glad to hear things are going well. Can’t wait to hear more about the ministry.