Getting to Know Nairobi

My previous visits to Kenya have been with the Kuj family and Mark (In January/February) and Matoch, the medical evacuation (in March). Now that I am here alone, I get to explore Nairobi a little more. While I am here, I am staying at a house that is rented by a friend of Sabet and Suzy's. He offers it to missionaries and others here on break. The Kuj family stays here whenever they are in Nairobi. We just chip in on the rent and utilities. Right now, in addition to me there is Karen and a couple, Dan and Laura, who work in North Africa. Gordon, our logistician also lives here.

Gordon has been great and is showing me different areas of Nairobi. Yesterday I went to a memorial service with him for a friend of his, Joseph, who died earlier this week. It was held in a Calvary Chapel and was a really nice service. There was worship, a great sermon and people sharing about Joseph. Later we watched the second soccer game of the evening. It was a really nice day. It was neat to get a glimpse of Gordon's life here. Like any big city, there are places that are not safe and some that are not. He makes sure to take me only to places that are safe.

Earlier that morning, I hung out with Laura. We went to Java House for drinks (coffee for her, tea for me) and dessert. Then we walked around a did a little shopping. We found a cute charity shop and I bought two shirts for 200 shillings (about $3.00). Since I have lost some weight and have no clothes for colder weather, I had to do a little shopping. Darn. Before my doctors appointment on Thursday, Gordon and I went to Toi Market, the giant second hand clothes market. I have to brag about my bargaining skills. This is what I got: two jackets (really cute ones!), two sweaters, three jeans, 11 t-shirts and three capris for $70. It's pretty much the only place I will shop at. They don't have cheap mass produced clothing (like at Target or Wal-Mart) so everything in the malls is very expensive. The bummer is many places you can't try things on. So half of the t-shirts, two of the jeans and the capris don't fit. But, it's ok I will save them for next time I am in Nairobi when I am hopefully smaller!

Slowly I am feeling myself relax and feel rested. It's strange to go to sleep at night in such silence. I am used to hearing frogs, crickets, donkeys, roosters and people singing as I try to fall asleep. I am loving the weather here. It's cold, but not freezing or raining. Sleeping with blankets again is wonderful!