Amani

i've been spending some of my time at a place called amani ya juu, which means "higher peace" in kiswahili. it is a group of about 50 women from all over east africa who sew clothes, bedding, bags...they've come together to generate income and to strengthen their faith. they have unbelievably beautiful grounds. if anyone wants to further check it out you can go to amaniafrica.org. oh and their american support is based in the lovely city of chattanooga for those of who who frequent TN.


woodshop
silkscreened fabrics
so many singers

also, i went to another church on sunday called Nairobi chapel. maybe victor goes there? it is near his house. it's the biggest church in nairobi and held in an enormous tent. the singing was out of control good.

today i had my most foreign experience yet. i took a matatu downtown to the silkscreen shop. it was another world there..more crowded than time square. someone said to me graciously in passing, "madam, you're too white to be here". i got some supplies and information about their processes. it was amazing, in the us we use these 10,000 dollar machines to expose the screens and they guy there was like, oh, we just take them into the sun for a few minutes. brilliant! then i ate at this dive next door. i had the "special" Kienyeji-like green mashed potatoes,and matumbo--cow intestines stew. it was delicious. so i just got home from there on a matatu..which i had to exit while it was still moving. i stopped on the way to the apartment to talk to nelson who sells bananas on the corner and i promptly sat in an ant hill! i'm still itching in awkward places.