Tenwek Fashion

One of the Kenyan doctors asked me recently, "Do they tell you what to wear or something? Because none of you (missionary women) are very stylish." She is from Nairobi, and perhaps a little more modern than others in this rural area.

To answer her question: Yes. We were asked to wear skirts or dresses below our knee. It is just a very conservative society in general and we do not want to create waves or draw any more attention to ourselves than necessary. Many times I think of Marisa Tomei's line in My Cousin Vinny, "oh yeah, you blend!" Aside from that, as it was explained to me, African men do not focus on the top half of women as American men tend to do, but rather the bottom half. We do not want to cause any temptation, or in any way be a distraction from what Jesus wants to do through us while we are here.

We tease each other about our lack of fashion, and I have also received questions from the States, so I thought I would talk about "fashion" here in rural Kenya.


If you are anywhere but Nairobi, you will always see women, and older girls, in skirts or dresses. The typical roles of the women are cooking, farming, planting, plucking/picking vegetables, chopping down and gathering firewood, carrying water, and washing clothes. You will see women doing all of these jobs in skirts, dresses, or what we would call a business suit, all while carrying their baby on their back or side!


It is so interesting to look around at what people are wearing. The most colorful are the Masai. Their signature color is red. Naturally, as a Arkansas Razorback fan I am in full support of this. For the most part, people here tend to dress like they have for generations. However, due to Western influence, many wear clothing that they have bought at local markets. These markets somehow get their clothing, typically used, from England or the United States, and, it would seem, from an old ladies closet.


It's also funny to look around and see familiar US brands on these Kenyans who have probably never traveled more than a couple hundred miles.

One of our friends here, Eric McLaughlin, saw an elderly Masai man in the hospital this week with full traditional Masai attire with a cape, rungu (traditional weapon), and the characteristic very long earlobes. The kicker was that he was also wearing a Michigan Wolverines sockcap! Eric was so excited because he did his Family Medicine residency at Michigan and had the same "M" embroidered on his white coat. How disappointing not to have his camera with him at the time!

The guys, on the other hand, have alot more freedom. Logan is expected, however, to dress nicely in the hospital. No scrubs, unless you're planning on being in the OR. Logan did run into one clothing obstacle while we have been here: his belt broke! Ok, Liam broke his belt while playing with it. So, we headed to the Dukas and stumbled upon a real find. He loves it!


I know we are supposed to dress a certain way while we're here. But sometimes I get so tired of wearing the same 5 dresses over and over! What I wouldn't give to just wear some skinny jeans and my favorite high-heeled boots! It's easy to think, "well people need to be responsible for their own thoughts, and we do come from a different culture, blah blah blah." Then I think of Romans 14, starting in verse 13. (In parenthesis are the Julie commentary)

13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way. 14 As one who is in the Lord Jesus, I am fully convinced that no food (or pants in this instance) is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. 15 If your brother is distressed because of what you eat (or wear), you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating (or dressing) destroy your brother for whom Christ died. 16 Do not allow what you consider good to be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (and clothing), but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.

19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food (or fashion). All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat (or wear) anything that causes someone else to stumble. 21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else (wear pants) that will cause your brother to fall.

I just pray that I can get out of God's way and enable Him to show himself Mighty and Powerful here at Tenwek. He has called a great group of people to serve Him here at this hospital, both long term and short term.

Even if we aren't the trendiest bunch...