Irene is a happy, always smiling, fun-loving 19 year old girl. She is one of the friends I’ve met while living here in Bishop Basuru’s house in Mpeketoni, Kenya. She lives in a mud hut not more than 5 feet away from the cement house that we’re living in. The other night I was walking around our little yard when I saw Irene bending over a boiling pot, so I walked over to her to see what she was doing…sadly I couldn't figure out how to post the two pictures I had for this blog, so hopefully you can get a good picture of what I'm saying through my words.
“I’m making ugali for dinner,” Irene told me. She doesn’t have a stove or a lighter or even a simple fire pit. She made a fire herself with matches and a few sticks, and pushed the rocks together to make a cooking surface. There are no measuring cups, no timers, and no oven mitts to protect her hands from the burning pot. Before she was even halfway done cooking the sun went down and it was completely dark outside. She was cutting and preparing food with a dull knife and with no light. Of course I had to run inside and get my headlamp because I just couldn’t understand how on earth she could do this, but she laughed at me and said, “I do this all the time.” I was so amazed with how happy and content she was with cooking dinner every night. In the dark. By herself. I asked her why she was the one who had to make dinner every night and her response was, “It’s my duty.” Not one complaint left her lips.
Life here is drastically different than life in America. I have learned so much from these young, yet mature, Kenyan girls. They are thankful for what they have. They faithfully serve those around them. They possess gentle and quiet spirits. These young women are such an awesome example to me of how to serve others while giving all the glory to God. I was directed to this verse the other day by my leader Janna, and I just realized now how it directly applies to what I’ve written about. I Peter 3:4 “But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” I hope this is encouraging yet challenging to you all! God is so good to me. I’m happy, healthy, and at peace with where God has lead me. Hope you are all doing great! I’ll be praying that God blesses you all with overwhelming peace and comfort.
Love always,
Natalie
