bumps in the road

Hello!

I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to post again. So it's been a week and a half. Have I really only been in this country 10 days? I’ve been contemplating how on earth I fill you about this week, and I’ve decided that there is simply too much, but I’ll try my best.

I over came my jet lag a couple days ago. After all that travel and then a few days of waking up at 3am and not going back to sleep, I’m very happy to report that I’m sleeping through the night.

So this past week I’ve stayed with Atara and we have had a few adventures. She introduce me to the main form of public transit here; matatus. Large vans that go everywhere, as fast as they possibly can. . I’ve been trying to get a feel for where things are, but it’s overwhelming at first. I’ll get there.

Last Sunday we climbed a mountain. We went with the youth of another vineyard church. Mt. Longonot is an extinct volcano so that was cool. When we got there we realized, that because it was a national park it was going to be 1,600 sh ($20) for Atara and I since we are non-residents. Everyone else paid 200 sh ($ 2) . Atara and I were not prepared to pay that much but the leaders were able to come up with the money which was extremely kind. The climb up was pretty intense but I made it and it was incredibly beautiful. e

So there are a lot of bumps and potholes in the roads here but that's not what this post is about...I've ran in a few bumps of my own.

Bump # 1: So I know that I said I was moving in my family last week. And I would love to be able to tell you about them and my new life there, but I’m no longer going to be living with that family. I did go to meet them and they were very nice and their house was beautiful, but when it came time to talk about rent, they wanted a lot more money than I could afford. It's been a little discouraging and frustrating. I’m still with Atara at her homestay, but I need to find my own family soon so I can start the course work and it would be nice to be settled. Not to worry, Atara has lots of connections here and great friends so I’m sure, we’ll find something for me soon. So keep me in your prayers, that someone will take me in!

Bump # 2: We are also looking for an internship for me. It’s been a challenge to find a organization that fit’s the criteria of our program. I had an internship before I left but I learned they wanted a lot of money to work with them so that didn’t work out. I know the perfect organization is out there, it’s just finding it and making sure it’s close to wherever I end up living.
Bump #3 My ipod broke (i have no idea what happened, it was fine than I came back to it and it wont do anything, plugging it in does nothing). I‘m so sad. I still have hope that if I leave it alone for a while it will miraculously work again. My ipod was my lifeline as silly as it sounds. I came to rely on that thing quite a bit. The nights are nosy here so it was nice to have it. I miss my music.

So my first week and a half has been a bumpy road, but I’m learning and I know it will all work out. I have so much to be thankful for and God is faithful.