The greeting for hello how are you in Swahili is Habari zako. The response to that is Mzuri sana. I’ve gotten to the point where I like to sing it as I greet Kenyans to the tune of the Hallelujah Chorus:

Habari zako
Habari zako
Habari zako, Habari zako
Habari zako!!!

At first, I would get rather piercing stares, but now it is common for me to have Kenyans respond by singing:

Mzuri sana
Mzuri sana
Mzuri sana, mzuri sana
Mzuri sana!!!

There are startling things that remind you that you are in Africa, and there are little things that are just as moving. The headline in today’s paper, and I promise you that I am not making this up, is:

ALERT AS POLICE SEIZE MORE DONKEY MEAT

Someone has discovered that they are selling donkey meat all over Nairobi. Since it is illegal to sell donkey meat and call in beef, and because donkey meat is not inspected, there is a real fear regarding how widespread this might be. It could never happen in America; there is no doubt it happens often here, and the only question is how often.

But there are little things just as jarring. I was in the hospital this morning, and a little girl just sat on the floor and patted it. I didn’t understand, and I asked her mother. Her mother told me `We have a dirt floor at home, She has never been in a room with a solid floor.’

One of the doctors told me later that the hospital is where many of the children first ever sleep on a bed, eat three meals a day, or even sit on a floor that doesn’t consist of mud. There are so many things here I hope I don’t forget, but I prayed that this memory would be seared in my heart. I’ve never thought about floors before I came to Africa, and that is one of the miracles of being here: seeing the world in such a different way. Even the floor.

We will be back in America in fifty days, and we would like to get a list of everyone we have corresponded with this year. I am trying to teach myself Access (forgive me Oracle friends) and having home addresses will be a practical way of making myself use it. I am calling it Christmas Card List, so if you can include your full name and home address, that would be great.

One more thing. My bride celebrates a birthday on Tuesday. If you have time, would you drop her an email happy birthday greeting? We don’t have Internet access here, so we can’t get any Internet cards, but a short note would be a treat.

I have truly enjoyed being in Africa, but I suspect that I have because I got to be here with Nancy. I am so glad she was born, and that we could share this adventure together.

YP

PS. The Pinewood Derby track!