Today when we went out for our language practice, we went into the same neighborhood as the last few days...I really want to build some friendships there and become familiar with those people. Today, however, when we went down there, we stopped and talked to some ladies when all of the sudden, 4 children came up to us and started chanting "mzungu" and laughing. While Sarah was talking with the adults, I pulled off to the side and started talking to the kids. I asked one boy, about 10 years old, what his name was. His name was Almas, so I told Almas what I was doing here and then preceded to ask him what some different objects were and what he was doing. He thought this was all very funny, but really was helpful in getting me to understand. He then started following us around (along with about 2 dozen other kids) and stopped and listened with each person we stopped to talk to. :)

At one point during the afternoon I had to just laugh because there was a woman standing atop her stairs by herself and then we came up and decided to talk with her...and before we knew it, we literally had an audience of children. They filled the stairway with her at the top and us at the bottom. One look at this lady and you would know she was tough...but as I watched her and she watched me, I discovered that she has a soft side as I smiled, she finally smiled back...totally giving herself away. :)

God is good and being here has reignited a fire in my heart that I thought may be gone...but just spending time talking with people with the limited language I have is the most amazing experience. Swahili is one of the two languages I really want to learn...so to hear Swahili coming out of my mouth...and even better yet-to know that they are understanding me because of their responses...it is just amazing. :)