November 21st
I got up this morning and made pancakes for Rebecca and Emma. I
was almost late getting it ready, I got up on time but I dilly-dallied
doing the dishes from yesterday and feeding the cats. I then
realized I had 15 minutes to make the pancakes, set the table, and
get everything out that I needed for breakfast, the coffee, sugar,
etc… Anyway, I got it all ready in time and had a good breakfast
chatting about the differences between England and America. It’s
quite fun to discuss the views people have of their own country.
We went to the Wesleyan Katherie Church this morning. The
service lasted about 2 hours and was quite good. They had one
offering where it was a competition of the surnames. They would
call out a surname and then everyone with that surname came
forward and gives an offering. For us it was the Ashers and the rest
of mankind. I had to get up and hold the offering basket. It was ok
because that’s all I had to do, for each of the previous surnames
one of them had to stand up and start singing, because they sing a
song during each offering. They really get passionate about their
offerings, smiling and dancing and singing. After church we
returned to the house and had some lunch, then I read for a little
while. I’m currently reading the books in the Chronicles of Narnia
and I finished the first one today. From there I went down to
Rebecca’s because we were supposed to see Samuel who got
some palm wine for us to try. It was interesting; it’s fairly fizzy with
a strange taste. It was good to try it but not something I think I
would really enjoy having very often. From there we went over to
visit a couple who live here in Kamakwie but work out in villages.
Pietro and Adele, two people from some group called Interaid.
Pietro is from Italy and Adele is from France. Adele is a primary
school teacher but she’s working with Interaid to get some
experience living in a country like this because from what is sounds
like is that she wants to work in a country like this. I almost got bit
by a “safe” dog. It had the rabies vaccine so it was ok to pet, but
that doesn’t mean it like to be pet. I was petting him and it was
going ok but I think he has a sore spot on his back that was sore
because he snapped at me when I touch a certain spot. So I quit
petting him. Pietro apologized because he had told me that it was
ok to t him. Anyway, we were there for a little over an hour. They
will be here until just after I leave so I’m hoping to be able to talk
to them some more. Nothing against the English but there are so
many here that I think it would be cool to learn more about France
and Italy first hand. They were really nice and offered to feed us
this evening but we felt like it would be imposing since they weren’t
really planning on having us there. We promised we would be back
some time to take them up on their offer because they insisted. We
went back to the house and made a quick dinner of macaroni and
cheese with tuna, it was quite tasty. I’m pretty tired but expecting a
call so I have to wait up, but that’s about it for my day.

Blessings from Kamakwie
Ryan Brooks