About Kenya

I have been receiving books to bring over with me to Kenya to give to the children there as our community continues to contribute to the important work happening at Bethany. I also recently received some beautiful portable (pocket size) versions of the New Testament to bring over as well to give to the children and the hospital. I was asked “What language do they speak there?” by the contributors of the books.

In Kenya, most people speak English as Kenya is a former British colony. In fact, before 1920, the area now known as Kenya was known as the “British East Africa Protectorate”. The educational system in Kenya to this day is still based on the British system. However, there are many regional dialects that are spoken throughout the country. A native language is Swahili and many Kenyans speak Swahili as their first language, but English is widely spoken and read in the country so our books will be put to good use there

It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somolia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the eastern border. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a very significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa.

Where I am going in Kijabe is into the mountains in Kenya. The temperature varies quite considerably throughout the country depending on the elevation. For example, down by the coast in Mombassa, the temperature is very warm as it is at sea level and close to the equator. Into the mountains, the air becomes thinner and temperatures drop. Kijabe, where Bethany Kids is located, is approximately 7000 feet above sea level so even though I will be very near the equator, the temperature actually dips quite low in the evenings. I’ve brought my St. Vincent hoodie to wear at night.

The high elevation is also a reason why Kenya produces some of the best distance runners in the world. Up at elevation, the body produces more red blood cells which carry oxygen. This gives runners who train at elevation an advantage when they run at sea level. So many of the Kenyan runners who are world class athletes actually come from or train in the part of Kenya where I will be: the mountains!

I encourage you to find out more about the country while I am there to find out about where it is the culture and people. Also, feel free to post a question on this blog and if I can find out the answer for you while I’m there, I will.