Back in a country dominated by English one might think that learning a local language is all that necessary. My church is in English. My shopping is all done in English. Business and commerce take place in English. School children learn English beginning in nursery school. They are taught in English all the way through university. Much of the news and TV shows are all in English. So then, what’s the point?

Relationships are made in Kiswahili.

Sure, I have Kenyan friends. Quite a few. Some really close. But when gathering after church, it’s not English I hear. When we are in large groups or small Bible studies, it’s not English I hear. In the marketplace most of the chatter isn’t in English. On the playgrounds the words aren’t in MY mother tongue.

So it’s back to school for me (and Little Bear).