You Have Become an African
Man
I never expected to become friends with Margaret, but I’m
grateful for it nonetheless. I began to
know her when I first started buying maize and beans. I went to market myself,
and could never beat her prices. She was a brilliant negotiator, and I soon
started buying most of my beans from her.
When the pastor I was dealing with was transferred, Margaret started
going with me to the schools. Her husband is a pastor, and because of his
schedule, he asked that Margaret would go with me.
She has a merry laugh, doesn’t suffer fools, and every time we
hit a pothole, she yells `Oh my God, save me’ which makes long trips fun
and eventful.
Last week, I was delayed picking her up, and she got into the car and
said `You have become an African man.’
I thought `Was it the dance moves that made her think that? My innate coolness? ‘
No.
Kenyan men are always late.
I’m still holding out for the dance moves.
We took our last trip out to Kenton. The kids are so happy and so poor.
Their clothes are in the worst shape I’ve seen.
.
But we were able to tell the headmaster that it is likely that the new
computer center will be built at his school.
He just looked at me and looked at the hill and looked at me and looked
at the hill. He didn’t say anything for the longest time. Sometimes
silence can be the most eloquent thing you can say.
We will be back in the
Erik is a golden boy. Good looking, great basketball player, lead in
the musical, some of the highest scores on the SAT2 in the history of the
school. His dad is a surgeon who gives up millions to be out here. Erik dates
the prom queen, or at least she probably would be if we had a prom.
Anyway, we had cafeteria duty last week, and for the first time ever,
they had little bags of chips that were probably past the due date (because
that is when they are affordable). It hadn’t happened before in the cafeteria.
And Erik walked in, and went `WOW!! Bags of
chips!!’ He was so elated, and it’s one of the reasons I
love this place.
Where else does the coolest kid on the block get thrilled with a bag of
stale chips?
Your pal,
S
http://peifer.kijabe.org
PS. We are inviting all of our friends in the DFW area
to join us at Milwaukee Joe’s on Friday July 23rd at
(817) 581-1953
Steve and Nancy Peifer
Stateside Address: