You Know You're a NEW Missionary When...

The team helped me come up with this fun list. I thought it would give you a humorous insight into what our lives are like over here. We finally have internet, so I should be posting more regularly! God Bless~ Alita

So, you know you're a new missionary when...

YOU GET WORSHIP SONGS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD BUT YOU DON’T KNOW THE WORDS BECAUSE THEY’RE IN A DIFFERENT LANGUAGE.

YOU HEAR A WEIRD ACCENT AND YOU REALIZE IT’S YOUR VOICE. (sorta like a cross between british/american/african.)

YOU HAVE TO ASK WHAT KIND OF MEAT YOU’RE EATING.

YOU START WASHING AND SAVING ALL YOUR ZIPLOC BAGS INDEFINITELY.

YOU LEARN HOW TO PUSH START A DIESEL.

YOUR ONLY SOCIAL OUTLET IS TEAM DEVOTIONS.

YOUR NEW IDEA OF A GOOD TIME IS PLAYING SCRABBLE BY CANDLELIGHT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU HAVE TO FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS…LIKE GETTING A PHONE INTSTALLED AT YOUR HOUSE.

YOU CARRY TOILET PAPER EVERYWHERE YOU GO.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A MINORITY.

HAVING A SALAD IS THE HIGHLIGHT OF YOUR WEEK.

YOU SUDDENLY DEVELOP A PHOBIA OF MOSQUITOS…FOR FEAR OF GETTING MALARIA.

YOU DISCOVER THE JOY OF READING BOOKS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN’T FULFILL YOUR CRAVING FOR A DOUBLE TALL HAZELNUT SOY LATTE.

YOU ACTUALLY KEEP CANDLES IN YOUR HOUSE OUT OF NECCESITY (FOR WHEN THE POWER GOES OUT) NOT JUST BECAUSE THEY MAKE NICE DÉCOR.

YOU START TO DEVELOP A HABIT OF LOOKING FOR SNAKES EVERYTIME YOU TURN A CORNER.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE YOU KNOW WHAT A CELEBRITY FEEL LIKE BECAUSE EVERYWHERE YOU GO PEOPLE SMILE, WAVE AND YELL, “MZUNGU, HOW ARE YOU?!”

YOU START TO CONSIDER RENAMING YOURSELF “MZUNGU” FOR THE SAKE OF SIMPLICITY. (mzungu means, “white person”)

YOU REALIZE THAT PASSING ON TURNS AND HILLS REALLY ISN’T THAT BIG OF A DEAL!

YOU KEEP TRYING TO GET INTO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE CAR TO DRIVE SOMEWHERE, OR THE RIGHT SIDE TO BE A PASSENGER.

YOU KEEP REACHING WITH YOUR RIGHT HAND TO CHANGE GEARS.

YOUR NEW BEDTIME IS 9PM, AND YOU REALLY ARE TIRED ENOUGH TO GO TO SLEEP!

THE FIRST PHRASES YOU LEARN IN SWAHILI RANGE FROM “GOD BLESS YOU” (MUNGU AKUBARIKI) TO “GET OFF MY TRUCK!” (TOKA KWA LANI YANGU!)

YOU REALIZE YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO HAND WASH YOUR CLOTHES.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN YOUR LIFE, EVERYWHERE YOU GO PEOPLE ASK YOU FOR MONEY, INSTEAD OF YOU ASKING PEOPLE FOR MONEY!