Karibu!

"Hodi!" 

"Karibu! Ikijaunitae iyong."

The approximate English translation of this exchange is as follows:

[Knock, knock!]

"Come on in! You are welcome."

I write this not to flaunt my new language skills (which, please believe me, are most unimpressive) but as a segue into a pictoral tour of my new home. Let me show you, as best I can, where I now live.

The dwelling before you is where I and two other Missionary Associates (M.A.s), Rachel and Angela, reside. The building on the left is our bathroom. Inside our room...

and turn to your left...

Tada! The partially-made top bunk is where I sleep. 

Here is our bathroom.

Allow me to point out a few features. First, the trash can is for toilet paper, as it cannot be flushed down the toilet. As a matter of fact, our toilet currently needs some assistance to flush even without paper in it; hence the jerrycan in the corner, the spigot above the toilet, and the piece of hose protruding from the top of the tank. Other fun things to note: our "sink" is the spigot outside on the right. The two doors to the left (only one of which you can see here) are our showers. You may notice that they are padlocked shut. Bathroom, showers, and bedroom doors--we are to lock them all when not in use. Thus far, we have successfully not misplaced the key. 

Coming out of our room, you can see

The mission consists of three contiguous compounds. We live on the northernmost compound which also includes "The Big House" on the right; the T's house on the far half of The Big House;  the pale blue house (for lack of an official name), and various other outbuildings. The kitchen in the Big House is a shared between five M.A.s, including yours truly, and is also where our common lunch is prepared.

Please note the lovely biscuits on the counter. The really stupendous thing about biscuits, I have learned, is that one does not need to wait for them to rise. From start to finish, it is barely a 40 minute undertaking. This is my second batch of biscuits in the past week. 

And here is "The Main Room."

This is where we gather for lunch. I also like to do my morning devotions here on the blue sofa. As I compile this blog, that is where I am currently sitting.

That is a brief tour of my living space. Allow me to show you a glimpse of where the mission itself is situated. 

Here, you are facing the mission coumpond. Now turn to your right. 

Nestled up against the foothills of Mount Kadam, the mission is between savannah and mountain. 

Mount Kadam to the South

The view as you turn west.

And savannah to the North.

This is where I live.