Culture Shock

May 1, 2000 by Steve Peifer

You would expect that Culture Shock would hit you immediately. And we did have some degree of culture shock right away. There were all of the “differents” to get used to. But the biggest shocks are just now coming.
Friday afternoon I had a very long conversation with a Kenyan friend. It all started because I had stepped on cultural toes with army boots. To share the exact situation would cause me to step on cultural toes again. Suffice it to...

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SHUT UP! HE’LL HEAR YOU!!!!

April 30, 2000 by Steve Peifer

I’ve been a rude host- please forgive me. I’ve not properly introduced you to the Dorm Boys:

Joseph Kim aka Eating Machine: Joseph is a Korean who is quiet, a good athlete, a diligent student and great on the clarinet. His nickname is due to his determination when he eats: he puts his head down and shovels. I have seen champion eaters in my time, and I would put him against all comers.
Seth Shaffer aka Tarzan. Seth is an American from...

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Ode to a Warm Chapati

April 26, 2000 by Steve Peifer

As I sit down to write this morning, I wish I were a poet. For if I were I would write “Ode to a Warm Chapati”! I just bought some freshly made, warm chapatis this morning and, although I had already had my breakfast, I had to eat one. Ahhhhhhhh. They are surely Kenyan comfort food. Although I have written about chapattis before, I want to be sure you understand just how wonderful they are. Chapatis are the bread of...

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Bulletin Board Blues

April 23, 2000 by Steve Peifer

Things that probably wouldn’t happen in the United States:

A friend is buying a car and is having it delivered to his home. The car does not arrive when promised: he finds out it was damaged when it ran into a giraffe.
Some Kenyans are talking to a medical doctor from the States. They ask him about his wife, and he informs them he is single. They are shocked by this; since he is a young man, he asks why. The response...

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What a glorious week!

April 19, 2000 by Steve Peifer

As we are into Resurrection Week my heart is full to overflowing! God is indeed a triumphant God! His own son, Jesus, willingly paid the price of his life to reconnect us to God, then God raised Him up from the dead, and anyone who asks can be connected to God the Father and Creator of us all! And this week I have been able to rejoice with 2 friends whose husbands have accepted Jesus’ offer of new life!
Grace’s husband...

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The sound of hunger

April 7, 2000 by Steve Peifer

The good news is that we received 8 more boxes of toys.
The bad news is that they wanted $500 US Dollars or about 35,000 shillings. So we had to negotiate, and it got pretty fierce.
Customs: You will pay 35,000.
Me: These are donated toys given to orphans free of charge. And you want to charge me 35,000?
Customs: Yes.
Me: Send them back.
Customs: Send them back?
Me: If you aren’t going to clear them, send them back.
Customs: OK, 29,000.
Me: Send them back. And by...

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Never saw THAT at the FT. Worth Zoo!

April 5, 2000 by Steve Peifer

We had the opportunity to go to another game park this week. Samburu is known for the river that runs through the park. I was completely dry. You could walk across it. Which is why there was a staff member whose job was to walk back and forth all night to make sure that none of the leopards came across to the people side. Whenever you think you have a bad job, remember, you could be walking back and forth...

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Even Aunt Nancy?

March 26, 2000 by Steve Peifer

There is always one event that signifies that yes, it is time for the end of the term. Our neighbor had college age twins visiting her, and we invited them over to do devotions with the guys. They are both bright cute woman, and after they sat down, one of the guys tooted loudly. And they all laughed loudly. And so I said loudly `That’s it. In this dorm, we honor woman. We will never pass gas in front of...

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