Midst

Is it strange that every single time I read or hear someone say the word "midst" that I think of my wonderful Kenyan friends? I heard pastors and other locals say that word many times and I just can't stop their unique pronunciation from continuously ringing in my head. 


I am sure you are probably thinking, "What in the world is so memorable about how they say this little word?" Well, I will do my best to explain. The typical american says the word "midst" as a one syllable word where the "d" and "s" blend together. In Kenya the word is broken into two syllables and the "d" and "s" are completely independent from each other. It sounds something like, "Mid-ist". It's just not quite right when it comes out a pastors mouth as one syllable. 

Outside of the church where I first heard the word "Mid-ist" in Bondenni. 

That's not the only thing I've been missing about Kenya. In fact I could make a whole long list that would most likely bore you to death so I won't do that to you, not today at least. I know I can't leave you hanging like that so I will attempt to quench your curiosity by sharing two more examples with you. 


It's really the little things that make me realize that I'm in a different continent, both geographically and culturally. For example, many times when leaving a group of people or person I have to restrain myself from calling out "Kwaheri". Sometimes it slips out and then I have to explain to a room of confused people that it means goodbye. Something else that keeps trying to slip through my lips is "Bwana Asifiwe". Just today I was in a meeting and after someone finished sharing something I had to press my lips together to prevent myself from exclaiming, "Bwana Asifiwe!" Saying "Praise God" just does not have the same meaning to me anymore. It has become cliche in this culture but in Nairobi, Bwana Asifiwe exclaims that no matter what the situation, God deserves to be praised! It is said often as a reminder that things are God's doing and that he gets all of the glory from it. In the mid-ist of a Kenyan telling a life-relating story, they will interject "Bwana Asifiwe" at least once every minute, sometimes multiple times in a row if they think the meaning hasn't sunk with you yet. 


I never would have thought that these would be the things that I would miss. Don't get me wrong, I miss my lovely friends there as well. Maybe these words resonate with me so much because they are a constant reminder of all of my Kenyan brothers and sisters. 


Thanks for listening. 
Mungu Akubariki


P.S. My family got a letter from my sponsored child today and I am anxiously awaiting when it gets forwarded to me so that I can read it... SO EXCITED!