I know it's hard to believe, but I have been serving in Kenya for 20 years as of February 10, 2009! Well I remember arriving in Kenya 20 years ago and being taken to language school to try to learn Kikamba, the local language of the first place I worked. I didn't succeed AT ALL in learning Kikamba!!! I was useless! Totally unmotivated, since I was to teach in the Bible school using English.

I'm not surprised I was a failure at Kikamba because the vernaculars are very difficult, but the national language of Kiswahili is a trade language and really isn't that hard. Much to my embarrassment, I've never really picked it up. So to celebrate 20 years in Kenya, I asked for permission to take four months to try and learn the language enough to use it, at least in some circumstances. So for the past 3 months, I have been attending a language school 3 hours each day during the week. For the first half, I was in a class with 4 other women who were beginners. I was a bit ahead of them, but it was fun to interact with them. Then the school had a two week term break, and the others did not want to continue. That means I am on my own, but it also means I an being pushed in areas where I really need pushing. I'm making progress, but the more I learn, the more I realize how difficult even a 'simple' trade language is. We are delving deep into all the alternative ways of saying things, and into idioms and such, and IT'S HARD! I keep getting brain freeze. It's funny how some words stick really easily and others remain a mystery after many attempts. Oh well, it's good I am trying and I certainly know much more than I used to know. I have 1 month to go.

Part of why I want to learn Kiswahili is that my job has changed. I am still the Children's Ministry Consultant, but only for the Eastern Region of Africa, which is comprised of Kenya and Tanzania. I will work with missionaries and national church planters in producing materials and training to help people reach children with the gospel. I am looking forward to producing some materials that will help Sunday School teachers teach the Bible better. I will be traveling a bit, but only in Kenya and Tanzania, so it shouldn't be as demanding as the old job of trying to cover all of Africa!

But before this job starts, I have home assignment from August 1 until December 26, 2009. I will be helping in Boston at Park Street Church with the 200th anniversary Missions Conference in November, doing whatever I can to help with the children's program at PSC, connecting with friends and supporters, and .... trying to keep up my Kiswahili! Fortunately there are Kenyans around to help.