Kenyan Accepts Differences By Melody Walker "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." M a r k 16:15. The Holy Scriptures have a special meaning w h e n people see the fruits of their labor. Audrey Langat is from Kenya. She learned about Liberty through the L U Kenya Team. Her goal is to become a criminal lawyer. She is planning to return h o m e for graduate school. Kenya is a country with hot weather year-round during the day. Its coldest temperatures usually get d o w n to only about 40-50 degrees at night. Besides the weather, Audrey has noticed m a n y differences in her country and the United States during her time here. Dating is private and more parentcontrolled in Kenya. It is also something to be taken more seriously. Engagement is viewed as more of a commitment - like marriage would be in the U.S. Hospitality is another difference. "In the U.S. people can talk freely," Audrey said. "In Kenya, people do not talk to each other unless they are introduced." According to Audrey, this is because there is a fear of people. "There are fences around everyone's property," she said. "Most of the fences are brick wall or wood, and some have bushes or flowers. To see a person, you have to knock at the gate." Churches in Kenya are also different. "Here you sit, listen and follow the program," Audrey said. "Churches in Kenya are open to change. All you have to say is T want to change this,' and they change it." Audrey enjoys the services in Kenya. "There is plenty of singing and dancing. Church lasts for about two hours," she said. " O n C o m m u n i o n Sunday church usually lasts for about three hours, sometimes four Photo by Tracy Creager hours." The differences in food preparation and eating are "You walk by and pick the meat. Then, they cut the added adjustments for Audrey. "Everything here is parts that you want." The judicial system is a noticeable difference. "Dieither frozen or in a can," she said. "In Kenya you have to cook everything from scratch. The food has a vorce is a rare occurrence in Kenya," Audrey said. " M y different kind of flavor because of the spices they use." tribe believes that the children belong to the father, but, Kenyans also shop at the butchery for freshly cut like here, the mother usually gets custody." Other parts of the government are also run differand hung meat. " W e don't freeze the meat," she said. ently. "On election day, w e go to the polls and stand behind the person w e want to elect," Audrey said. "The people then place their votes in a box, and the votes are counted. This is the n e w system." These governmental differences are also seen in the ^^^* * — ^^f» ^r* 1 celebration of holidays. " W e have several days w h e n w e put on national dress, sing traditional songs with tambourines and flutes, and dance." Audrey's memories of Kenya are fond ones. " W h e n I think of Kenya I think of the animals w e have, the beautiful country and the people," she said. "I love the animals and h o w they run free -1 miss that." * — —
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