So, I am just now leaving a market in Nairobi City to head back to Juja Farm and the woman in the store thought I was Jamaican. I don’t know how but when I told her I was American, she and her coworkers were very interested in me. The lady was shocked to see a Black American for the first time and asked if I was a Black American like Obama. I answered, yes, just to keep the understanding relevant to her words. A crowd was drawing near, and Teacher Mary said that there was too much English being spoken and that it was time to go.

At first, I thought it was interesting and funny, but I didn’t understand the seriousness of that statement until I posted about this market interaction on Facebook. I was given words of caution to avoid impending dangers with being an American speaking English in another country. I recall being given a brief history lesson about British colonialism and the Mau Mau Rebellion in Kenya. Later, I started to connect the dots with my own research after my mission’s journey. At the moment of being in the city and experiencing the rich culture of Kenya, I appreciated the inquiry Kenyans had with seeing a Black American for the first time. As I reflect more on my time while being on African soil, I am starting to embrace the God’s vision for my life with every new experience I encounter.