October Newsletter - Sarah W. in Kenya

October 2007

This month all of the Young Adults in Global Mission were asked to consider the word “missionary” and how we are encountering its meaning in our various placements and contexts so far. I have found that often times it is the little things that happen during the day that show me how far I have come in the past two months. Finding myself understanding bits and pieces of conversations in Kiswahili show me that I am slowly learning, while also reminding me I have a long way to go.
Being a missionary also means I’m finding delight in what seem like simple interactions with people. One of my coworkers, Patrick, who barely talked to me the first few weeks was having tea and bread in the office one day when I walked in after finishing cleaning. I sat down and after several minutes of silence I was about to stand up and leave when he asked me if I like tea. When I said yes he replied that he was going to get me a cup and immediately stood up and left. He returned with a cup of tea and he insisted that I share the bread he had brought with him as well. We had a conversation for the first time and I discovered what a wealth of information he has. He literately grew up at the animal orphanage because his father worked there. Patrick has seen every animal now there come in as an abandoned baby or injured youngster. Since that day our relationship has become much more comfortable and familiar. We easily talk and joke with each other and often times he asks me to clean with him in the mornings. That day has also led to an increase in his trust level towards me. Now he has no hesitation in asking me to go somewhere by myself to clean or to take the young cheetahs outside to get some fresh air on my own.
Another simple interaction that has led to building stronger relationships is cooking every evening with the house keeper Marcy. Marcy and I always got along well from the beginning but our time spent together in the kitchen has helped us to get to know each other even better. I spend my evenings helping her peel potatoes and carrots, roll chipati, shell peas, or sometimes just sitting and watching her cook. The entire time we talk and share our experiences. She also likes to help me with Kiswahili and is determined to teach me how to cook “real food.”
Being a missionary is about building relationships with the people around me. It is about noticing small things that happen everyday that reassure me that I’m on the right track. Being a missionary means finding joy and finding God in even the simplest actions.