The more things change, the more they stay the same...

As we become more and more comfortable with our new home, we are sometimes struck with how different things are than we are used to in the States...and sometimes we are struck with how similar certain things are to the States.  For instance, here is a common little animal in Kenya...can you identify it?

Jackson chameleon...evidently he is mad about being held, because he is brown.

 Another thing you won't see in the West is a monkey nonchalantly eating your neighbor's corn (that he stole!)  in your yard while you hang your laundry out to dry!

Several people have told Ted that he needs to find a slingshot to "take care of" the monkey problem!

A couple that we met at ABO and who have lived in Africa for 30 years now invited us to go to dinner with them the other night - we went to a wonderful Italian place, and it was a very refreshing time.  This next picture you can totally imagine in the US!! :)

Yummy spinach and ricotta ravioli!  The only real difference was you can't eat the veggies and we got bottled water.

Then we went here - I couldn't believe this!  We felt like we were home...

I was amused by the phrase on the right end of this package of eggs...dust is ubiquitous.

This is not the gate to our neighborhood, but very typical - 'hooting' means honking. :)

 We went to another church in Nairobi this morning and were able to get a ride with another dear couple that we had met briefly at ABO.  The service actually felt similar to the "style" of worship we have been accustomed to in the US.  Of course, the style matters very little to the actual worship and teaching - it is just what we are used to.  We have come to see how much even worship is influenced by our culture and backgrounds. 

Overhead projector with words of songs.  There were 3 or 4 people playing instruments.

Sanctuary after service - I am guessing there were roughly 150 people there.

In the pastor's sermon, I heard again (as I had in Machakos) about the lament over the breakdown of the family and the influence of media.  There are so many more influences (at least obvious to me) here in Nairobi than in Machakos - for instance, there is a large tv monitor in the vestibule/check out area of one of the nearby supermarkets.  I tend to be very aware of tv moniters everywhere - even at some gas station pumps in the US!  It is a very distracted way to go about your day - and (depending on the content) can be very hard to follow Phiippians 4:8...
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

Well, our internet has been out for 2 days, so I am just getting this posted on Tuesday.  Our language class is going well, and we are learning some Kiswahili and some techniques for how to approach learning the language.  As expected, Ted is shaming his parents with how quickly he picks it up!  We are getting some good practice in the market and little dukas (shops), and the people have largely been very friendly and eager to help us learn.  I'll include some photos of where we are living below.  We head to Kijabe on Friday! :)

Love,
Sarah

The name of the washer brand is Fuzzy Logic - a very fitting name when trying to figure out how it is programmed!!

Clothes line on the covered porch - I hang the clothes in the yard, but bring them in at night so the monkeys don't walk on them.

Back yard from upstairs window.

Kitchen. Except in the kitchen, the light switches are outside the room they go to - a great setup for practical jokes while showering. :)

Shower with "real" shower head.