As the only white people for miles, Matt and I have developed a new appreciation for what it means to be a minority and stand out in a crowd. You're always being watched. Everyone notices everything you do. You can't blend in.
Kenyans have a word in Swahili for white people: wazungu (the Maasai say mazungu). Maasai have a word for white people: olashumpai/enkashumpai (fem.).
But when our friend Celmali came to visit, the Maasai were confused. Celmali is from New York City, so English is her first language. She's learning Kiswahili, but definitely can't speak Maa. What confused everyone here? She's black. The Maasai couldn't believe that there are black people in the US. Now their word for us, olashumpai, doesn't work, because it meant white people, but now it needed to mean non-Maasai. So they started calling her enkashumpai narok (the black-white person).
All the color confusion was an opportunity to engage Celmali about race here and in the US. Celmali loves being able to blend in here. If she doesn't talk, no one knows that she's not from Kenya. I get frustrated when people I don't know shout "mazungu!" or "how are yous?" just because I'm white. Because I'm white, people assume I'm rich, so they can charge me higher prices for everything. And yet, at least here, being the minority is a good thing. In general, people respect me, just because I'm white. But at home in the US, it's not that way at all. I know that I can't possibly begin to understand the challenges that minorities go through, but I'm struck by how difficult it must be to walk into a room and be the only person of color. Or Celmali was sharing how you go into a store and people watch you like a hawk, because they think you'll steal, just because of your skin color.
When Matt and I are back in the States, I want to be a lot more intentional about overcoming racism, recognizing my own white privilege and more purposefull building relationships with non-whites. I think I have a lot to learn, but I know that God calls us to walk in unity as His Body. I hope that I can bring home the new understanding I've gained here and work to fight the racism so inherent in our society.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Pictures from Vipingo Part III
Getting aboard a dhow south of Mtwapa.
Just for Carolyn!
Us on the boat ride
Me on the beach.
Pictures from Vipingo Part II
Us at the beach
Sunrise over the Indian Ocean
Steph reading. The coral wall makes nice hooks to hang things from.
Sunrise
Pictures from our beach trip
The house as we walk in from the beach. Note the ladder to get up the rock wall.
Swimming at sunset.
The beach
View from the upstairs balcony
Enjoy!
Odyssey of the Modem: Part III
Monday: After calling the accountant multiple times, I finally got a response. He was out of town and according to him, he gave the modem to another staff worker days ago. I call the other staff worker who assures me the accountant is lying. Monday is market day, so I figured if I went to market I'd get to the bottom of things. I go along with Simion (the other staff worker) to stake out the accountant's father's house.
We go first to the accountant's place in town. We find his brother who assures us his father is back at home. We head to the other side of town to the father's house when we see a vehicle coming down the road. It's the accountant's dad heading to town. We wave down the truck and learn that the dad has no idea where the modem is. We catch a ride with him, and he vows to help us find the modem. We go to the accountant's brother's shop, a second store, everybody seems to be unsure of where the modem is. Finally we see that next to the accountant's apartment is a small internet cafe. One brother is running it and lo-and-behold, there is the modem. The accountant apparently had been "borrowing" the modem and using it for his brother's new internet cafe. We quickly shamed the brother into giving us the modem and we brought it back to the office.
So ends the odyssey of the modem!
We go first to the accountant's place in town. We find his brother who assures us his father is back at home. We head to the other side of town to the father's house when we see a vehicle coming down the road. It's the accountant's dad heading to town. We wave down the truck and learn that the dad has no idea where the modem is. We catch a ride with him, and he vows to help us find the modem. We go to the accountant's brother's shop, a second store, everybody seems to be unsure of where the modem is. Finally we see that next to the accountant's apartment is a small internet cafe. One brother is running it and lo-and-behold, there is the modem. The accountant apparently had been "borrowing" the modem and using it for his brother's new internet cafe. We quickly shamed the brother into giving us the modem and we brought it back to the office.
So ends the odyssey of the modem!
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Maasai Hand Signs: Part 3
Merry Christmas
As the Maasai say it, "Merry Christmas!" -yes that's right, they don't even try to translate Merry Christmas into Maa, they just say it in English. We had a period of about 10 minutes in church today where every group of people (children, youth, women, men, leaders) had to stand up and say, "Merry Christmas" to everybody else. Whoa.
Other than gratuitous English usage, Christmas was a bit strange in general. I'm so used to the Christmas hype starting around the fourth of July, that it was weird for Christmas to sneak up on us. Without wreaths everywhere, strange blow-up snowmen and santa clauses, more lights than in all of Kenya and Christmas themed everything, Christmas take on a different feel. In a lot of ways it felt like just another day. Most of the morning we relaxed and read books as we waited for church to start. We had a meal with everybody from church, but we do that at least once a month. In some ways, we lost the "feeling" of Christmas because all that I've learned as "Christmas" is not here.
At the same time, Christmas was still special. Steph and I celebrated on Christmas eve with our own candlelight service. We had time to reflect on "God with us" and even had our own communion (I hadn't had communion since August since they don't do it regularly in Najile). Also, because of the rain, there was a clear sense of God's blessing. To have so much rain at once was hard to imagine after months of drought.
So, Merry Christmas! I hope you all were able to appreciate the traditions of Christmas, as without them Christmas just is different. Also, take time to remember the gift of Christ and the reality of "Ketii Enkai te nebo iyiook" -God is with us.
Other than gratuitous English usage, Christmas was a bit strange in general. I'm so used to the Christmas hype starting around the fourth of July, that it was weird for Christmas to sneak up on us. Without wreaths everywhere, strange blow-up snowmen and santa clauses, more lights than in all of Kenya and Christmas themed everything, Christmas take on a different feel. In a lot of ways it felt like just another day. Most of the morning we relaxed and read books as we waited for church to start. We had a meal with everybody from church, but we do that at least once a month. In some ways, we lost the "feeling" of Christmas because all that I've learned as "Christmas" is not here.
At the same time, Christmas was still special. Steph and I celebrated on Christmas eve with our own candlelight service. We had time to reflect on "God with us" and even had our own communion (I hadn't had communion since August since they don't do it regularly in Najile). Also, because of the rain, there was a clear sense of God's blessing. To have so much rain at once was hard to imagine after months of drought.
So, Merry Christmas! I hope you all were able to appreciate the traditions of Christmas, as without them Christmas just is different. Also, take time to remember the gift of Christ and the reality of "Ketii Enkai te nebo iyiook" -God is with us.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Odyssey of the Modem: Part II
Update from Maasailand:
The accountant's father may be out of jail but we have a problem. Rain. Somehow, in one of the driest places, during a drought, it decided to flash flood so that the only road to the house of the father of the accountant is washed out.....
The accountant's father may be out of jail but we have a problem. Rain. Somehow, in one of the driest places, during a drought, it decided to flash flood so that the only road to the house of the father of the accountant is washed out.....
The Odyssey of the Modem
A cell modem, a small device with a USB port. A simple thing that brings information, communication, to the tips of our fingers in the remotest of communities. This is a story about a lost modem, a modem that was taken from its home and could not find its way back. This is a story of the people who fought for the modem so that they could skype their parents on Christmas. This is a story of adventure, of corruption, and a lot of Maasai.
It started on a friday. The power was out, only the accountant was at the office, the week was drawing to a close. The modem sat there, waiting to be used with its unlimited internet access and quick download speeds. The accountant hatched a plan, if I take the modem home for the weekend, I can check facebook for days and nobody will notice. Tucked safely into his pocket, the modem began its journey.
Days pass, websites are accessed, pictures are viewed, statuses are updated. Sunday flows gently into Monday and a new week begins. However, as the workday progresses, the accountant and the modem are nowhere to be seen. Reports need to be sent and emails written as the office is about to close for the holidays. Where is the modem?
Tuesday, the accountant appears, but without the modem. Where is it, what happened, why did you take it, the questions come quickly. He issues a shallow apology and promises to bring it the next day. The office will be closed but the rest of the staff can come in anyway to finish their emailing.
Wednesday, a phone call is placed. Where is the modem? The accountant doesn't have it, he gave it to his father. Where is your father? In Nairobi. When is he coming back? ….... he's in jail. The accountant's father, the only man with keys to the house holding the modem hostage is stuck in jail for a traffic violation. Fuming, the staff wonders, why did he take the modem home, why did he give it to his father, what was the accountant thinking? The office is paralyzed waiting for the Kenyan police, voted the most corrupt institution of East Africa, to release the father of somebody who shouldn't have the modem in the first place.
Will the modem find its way home? Will the staff be able to finish its work before Christmas. Will the Kistler's families get to skype with them over the holidays? Will the accountant's dad be released by the new year? Stay tuned, for the thrilling conclusion of “The Odyssey of the Modem.”
It started on a friday. The power was out, only the accountant was at the office, the week was drawing to a close. The modem sat there, waiting to be used with its unlimited internet access and quick download speeds. The accountant hatched a plan, if I take the modem home for the weekend, I can check facebook for days and nobody will notice. Tucked safely into his pocket, the modem began its journey.
Days pass, websites are accessed, pictures are viewed, statuses are updated. Sunday flows gently into Monday and a new week begins. However, as the workday progresses, the accountant and the modem are nowhere to be seen. Reports need to be sent and emails written as the office is about to close for the holidays. Where is the modem?
Tuesday, the accountant appears, but without the modem. Where is it, what happened, why did you take it, the questions come quickly. He issues a shallow apology and promises to bring it the next day. The office will be closed but the rest of the staff can come in anyway to finish their emailing.
Wednesday, a phone call is placed. Where is the modem? The accountant doesn't have it, he gave it to his father. Where is your father? In Nairobi. When is he coming back? ….... he's in jail. The accountant's father, the only man with keys to the house holding the modem hostage is stuck in jail for a traffic violation. Fuming, the staff wonders, why did he take the modem home, why did he give it to his father, what was the accountant thinking? The office is paralyzed waiting for the Kenyan police, voted the most corrupt institution of East Africa, to release the father of somebody who shouldn't have the modem in the first place.
Will the modem find its way home? Will the staff be able to finish its work before Christmas. Will the Kistler's families get to skype with them over the holidays? Will the accountant's dad be released by the new year? Stay tuned, for the thrilling conclusion of “The Odyssey of the Modem.”
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Vacation at the Beach
Greetings from Vipingo!
This past week Steph and I took our first real vacation together since we’ve been in Kenya. It was organized by friends from MCC who rent a house along the Kenyan coast (that’s on the east side of Africa next to the Indian Ocean) north of Mombasa. That couple, Jonathan and Marti, has two small children; Elise (pronounced El-e-zay) and Calena ages 4 and 2. We also traveled with a third MCC couple working in Kinshasa (DRC) who know Jonathan and Marti from Quebec.
This was a trip we looked forward to for months. Marti and Jonathan had found the house for a two month trip this spring to help Jonathan train local artisans how to better produce and sell their products. The place is out of their budget, but the price was reduced because it was low season and they were able to re-coup their losses by inviting other couples to stay in paradise with them, $50/couple/night. A parade of MCCers looking for a break followed them to the shore.
It is almost beyond words how beautiful this place is. Along a stretch of land recently sold off by a sisal plantation, stand about 10 houses. They all are built on cliffs that overlook the ocean. In some areas there are beaches below the coral rock, in others, the rock drops straight to the ocean. The vegetation is lush, green with palms, wild flowers and bushes. The houses are mostly built in a Swahili style, a fusion of Arabic, African, and Portuguese architecture. There are four bedrooms upstairs, with two full baths and more importantly, a covered deck connecting the entire floor. Often in the morning, we spent time there watching the sun rise over the Indian Ocean.
The downstairs area is one big room with an entranceway flanked by pillars down its center. The building is designed for air, with wind constantly flowing through each room, never letting the heat (which is considerable) overcome a space. The deck upstairs is matched by the deck below, where most of our dining and reading took place. The kitchen is notable mainly for the cook who works there. His food was excellent, featuring omelets in the morning, and various lobster, prawn, and kingfish dishes for lunch and dinner. The fish were all caught by locals who come to sell their daily catch at our doorstep.
A set of stone steps lead away from the deck to the pool. Kidney shaped and built in-ground, the pool area is pleasantly situated for the shade to cover it by 4pm and stays warm all day. Below the pool is a pathway to the cliffs where a ladder can be set to allow access to the ocean. The ocean floor is covered in sea urchins up to 1ft in diameter (including spines) and numerous rock pools where various coral grow.
The best beach is found about 10 minutes down the road where rocks hang over the sandy beach. The coral is perfect for hanging things as it includes thousands of small outcroppings that make excellent hooks. We’ve tried snorkeling, swimming, and even had the opportunity to take a boat ride on a traditional sailboat local fisherman use.
Our time here has been heavenly. We sleep, we eat together, we play board games, (always my favorite) and swim in paradise. While writing this blog I was offered a mango smoothie and said to myself, it doesn’t get much better than this.
This past week Steph and I took our first real vacation together since we’ve been in Kenya. It was organized by friends from MCC who rent a house along the Kenyan coast (that’s on the east side of Africa next to the Indian Ocean) north of Mombasa. That couple, Jonathan and Marti, has two small children; Elise (pronounced El-e-zay) and Calena ages 4 and 2. We also traveled with a third MCC couple working in Kinshasa (DRC) who know Jonathan and Marti from Quebec.
This was a trip we looked forward to for months. Marti and Jonathan had found the house for a two month trip this spring to help Jonathan train local artisans how to better produce and sell their products. The place is out of their budget, but the price was reduced because it was low season and they were able to re-coup their losses by inviting other couples to stay in paradise with them, $50/couple/night. A parade of MCCers looking for a break followed them to the shore.
It is almost beyond words how beautiful this place is. Along a stretch of land recently sold off by a sisal plantation, stand about 10 houses. They all are built on cliffs that overlook the ocean. In some areas there are beaches below the coral rock, in others, the rock drops straight to the ocean. The vegetation is lush, green with palms, wild flowers and bushes. The houses are mostly built in a Swahili style, a fusion of Arabic, African, and Portuguese architecture. There are four bedrooms upstairs, with two full baths and more importantly, a covered deck connecting the entire floor. Often in the morning, we spent time there watching the sun rise over the Indian Ocean.
The downstairs area is one big room with an entranceway flanked by pillars down its center. The building is designed for air, with wind constantly flowing through each room, never letting the heat (which is considerable) overcome a space. The deck upstairs is matched by the deck below, where most of our dining and reading took place. The kitchen is notable mainly for the cook who works there. His food was excellent, featuring omelets in the morning, and various lobster, prawn, and kingfish dishes for lunch and dinner. The fish were all caught by locals who come to sell their daily catch at our doorstep.
A set of stone steps lead away from the deck to the pool. Kidney shaped and built in-ground, the pool area is pleasantly situated for the shade to cover it by 4pm and stays warm all day. Below the pool is a pathway to the cliffs where a ladder can be set to allow access to the ocean. The ocean floor is covered in sea urchins up to 1ft in diameter (including spines) and numerous rock pools where various coral grow.
The best beach is found about 10 minutes down the road where rocks hang over the sandy beach. The coral is perfect for hanging things as it includes thousands of small outcroppings that make excellent hooks. We’ve tried snorkeling, swimming, and even had the opportunity to take a boat ride on a traditional sailboat local fisherman use.
Our time here has been heavenly. We sleep, we eat together, we play board games, (always my favorite) and swim in paradise. While writing this blog I was offered a mango smoothie and said to myself, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Bible Study
Just an update on our Bible Study. We've continued to study the book of John and have now incorporated a regular language lesson at the beginning to teach people how to read. We've seen a whole lot of enthusiasm and joy as we teach basic words and sounds. This week we introduced the final vowel sounds and it was a great joy seeing two of our students write letters, probably for the first time. Praise God for the great opportunity we have to serve the community here through studying of His word.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Maasai Hand Signs Part 2
Top: are (ah-ray) = two, make a peace sign and wiggle your fingers slowly back and forth
Middle: uni (oo-nee) = three, straighten your pointer finger & bring tip of your thumb and middle finger to 2nd knuckle of your pointer finger
Bottom:
on guan (own-wan) = four,
cross your pointer and middle finger
Monday, November 30, 2009
Nairobi Money
So....we have a problem. We love getting into Nairobi and getting away from the politics of Najile. The problem is.....we spend a lot....like 10X more than at home....each day. For example, for the month of november we spent about 7,000 shillings before coming to Nairobi on wednesday. Since then we've spent almost 20,000 shillings. Whoops. Of course, we stock up in Nairobi and those expenses cover us for the rest of the month. At the same time, it's a bit schocking to see one bill equal the rest of your month's expenses. Oh well! We are still blissfully under-budget so bring it on!
Maasai Hand Signals Part 1
So we'd like to start an on-going series on the hand signals associated with Maasai numbers. Each number one through one hundred has a hand signal and a common part of conversation is to say midsentence, "aja?" (how many) and then the hand signal for the number you are referring to. For example:Man 1: "Eata ninye inkishu aja...(He has how many cows)...::hand sign for 20::"
Man 2: "tikitam" (20)
This would be a very normal way of saying, the man has 20 cows.
So, we'll start with 1. Point the index finger only straight up.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Leak
Steps to Fix a Leak in Maasailand:
1. Notice the leak. A trail of water and puddles across the floor is a good indication that something is wrong.
2. Put a bucket under the leak. If the water is coming, you might as well use it for something!
3. Diagnose where the leak is. This may take awhile, but move your hand up the pipe in question until water doesn’t run down your arm.
4. Tie a rag around pipe to draw water down the rag, directly into your bucket.
5. Find other buckets to dump water into.
6. Close all valves to the sink and your roof-top watertank.
7. Stand in amazement as water continues to leak even though no water can conceivably be coming to the pipe.
8. Yell at the water.
9. Use a clothespin to hold the rag in place, you are going to be in this for the long haul.
10. Start boiling water like it’s your job. You need to put the leaked water to use!
11. Wait until water stops. This may take multiple days.
12. Try sealing leak with local “Maasai techniques”-gum and glue. Realize that Maasai don’t generally have indoor plumbing.
13. Once water is completely finished leaking, remove the pipe using whatever means available.
14. Hook up a glue gun and try covering the entire leak with glue.
15. Re-attach pipe, wait for glue to dry, and give yourself a hearty pat on the back.
16. Turn on water to tank and to the leak.
17. Notice the leak, still going un-diminished through your glob of glue.
18. Yell at the glue
19. Write a blog about your experience.
Happy plumbing!
1. Notice the leak. A trail of water and puddles across the floor is a good indication that something is wrong.
2. Put a bucket under the leak. If the water is coming, you might as well use it for something!
3. Diagnose where the leak is. This may take awhile, but move your hand up the pipe in question until water doesn’t run down your arm.
4. Tie a rag around pipe to draw water down the rag, directly into your bucket.
5. Find other buckets to dump water into.
6. Close all valves to the sink and your roof-top watertank.
7. Stand in amazement as water continues to leak even though no water can conceivably be coming to the pipe.
8. Yell at the water.
9. Use a clothespin to hold the rag in place, you are going to be in this for the long haul.
10. Start boiling water like it’s your job. You need to put the leaked water to use!
11. Wait until water stops. This may take multiple days.
12. Try sealing leak with local “Maasai techniques”-gum and glue. Realize that Maasai don’t generally have indoor plumbing.
13. Once water is completely finished leaking, remove the pipe using whatever means available.
14. Hook up a glue gun and try covering the entire leak with glue.
15. Re-attach pipe, wait for glue to dry, and give yourself a hearty pat on the back.
16. Turn on water to tank and to the leak.
17. Notice the leak, still going un-diminished through your glob of glue.
18. Yell at the glue
19. Write a blog about your experience.
Happy plumbing!
A few days in the life of the POMC Land Cruiser
Tuesday:
The GAR staff picks up 6 PLWHAs (people living with HIV/AIDS) from the surrounding villages (more than 3 hours apart) and brings them to Coptic Hospital in Nairobi for medical care. After bumping over rocky and semi-flooded roads, we make it to a tarmac road, only to stall out around a sharp curve going up a mountain with no shoulder. Because the battery has a poor connection and the car needs momentum to start, we have to back the car without power (or steering) down the mountain, across oncoming traffic into a “Rift Valley Lookout” tourist stop. Luckily it makes it to the rest stop and the engine revs with a push and starts up again. After bringing people to the hospital, the car makes a few trips across the city without mishap, always parked facing downhill to ensure that it will start again. The journey back home begins early evening, with a total of 15 people piled into the car, in addition to gas canisters, suitcases, medicine bags and groceries. Most people are dropped off at their homes by around 9pm, but as the staff went to drop off the final few clients, the vehicle got stuck in the mud. It had rained earlier that day, and the four-wheel drive no longer works, so no matter what they did, they couldn’t get the car out. The back tires were wedged into a hole and could not be moved. Staff called a friend to pick them up in a truck. The land cruiser stayed put for the night.
Wednesday:
Joseph, GAR staff and driver, gets up early and goes together with his brother and the 10-ton lorry he drives to try to pull out the land cruiser. After a couple hours, they are able to get it free and bring it back to the POMC farm (where our house is). The GAR staff are waiting. Wednesday means another trip about 2 hours away for an AIDS seminar. They load up the vehicle with mattresses, tents, a PA system, microphones and luggage. At Suswa, the vehicle becomes a VCT (voluntary counseling and testing centre) with people going in and out as they are counseled on HIV/AIDS and tested. More supplies and people piled in as we head to another village that evening over roads that would not be roads anywhere in the US. We were climbing hills meant to be left alone, tossing and bumping our way through thorns, bushes, rocks and seasonal streams. We arrive at the homestead where most of the staff would stay, so out come the tents, bags and food. A handful of us work our way back to Najile on those same roads-that-shouldn’t-be-roads, getting home around 9pm.
Thursday:
MFSP gets a late-morning start in the POMC Land Cruiser after spending multiple hours searching for diesel fuel. The local pump ran out, so people had to go to Ewuaso (10km away) for fuel. The cruiser arrives in Mosiro, after 3.5 hours of driving on rocky, dusty, and mountainous roads. There were farm visits, project inspections and agricultural trainings to do throughout the area. By early evening, the MFSP staff are on their way home. Two hours into the drive, as darkness replaced sunlight, a series of bolts broke, causing the drive shaft to stop sending power to the wheels. The Cruiser stood stuck on a hill, as the staff looked in vain for a solution. It was night, there is no cell phone reception and the nearest mechanic would be hours away. The staff would spend the night in the car, huddling near the floor where the heat of the engine kept them warm.
Friday:
The next morning, a heavy lorry was called to haul the vehicle back to Najile. By noon the vehicle was home, but crippled. The tires and broken pieces were taken to Ewuaso to be repaired. Parts were not available, so a further trip to Maai Mahiu pushed repair completion late into the night.
Saturday:
By morning, the vehicle was heading back to Suswa, working its way through the bush to fetch the GAR staff. Will the vehicle make it? Probably not. But it’ll keep rolling its way around Maasai-land until God calls it to the great junkyard in the sky.
The GAR staff picks up 6 PLWHAs (people living with HIV/AIDS) from the surrounding villages (more than 3 hours apart) and brings them to Coptic Hospital in Nairobi for medical care. After bumping over rocky and semi-flooded roads, we make it to a tarmac road, only to stall out around a sharp curve going up a mountain with no shoulder. Because the battery has a poor connection and the car needs momentum to start, we have to back the car without power (or steering) down the mountain, across oncoming traffic into a “Rift Valley Lookout” tourist stop. Luckily it makes it to the rest stop and the engine revs with a push and starts up again. After bringing people to the hospital, the car makes a few trips across the city without mishap, always parked facing downhill to ensure that it will start again. The journey back home begins early evening, with a total of 15 people piled into the car, in addition to gas canisters, suitcases, medicine bags and groceries. Most people are dropped off at their homes by around 9pm, but as the staff went to drop off the final few clients, the vehicle got stuck in the mud. It had rained earlier that day, and the four-wheel drive no longer works, so no matter what they did, they couldn’t get the car out. The back tires were wedged into a hole and could not be moved. Staff called a friend to pick them up in a truck. The land cruiser stayed put for the night.
Wednesday:
Joseph, GAR staff and driver, gets up early and goes together with his brother and the 10-ton lorry he drives to try to pull out the land cruiser. After a couple hours, they are able to get it free and bring it back to the POMC farm (where our house is). The GAR staff are waiting. Wednesday means another trip about 2 hours away for an AIDS seminar. They load up the vehicle with mattresses, tents, a PA system, microphones and luggage. At Suswa, the vehicle becomes a VCT (voluntary counseling and testing centre) with people going in and out as they are counseled on HIV/AIDS and tested. More supplies and people piled in as we head to another village that evening over roads that would not be roads anywhere in the US. We were climbing hills meant to be left alone, tossing and bumping our way through thorns, bushes, rocks and seasonal streams. We arrive at the homestead where most of the staff would stay, so out come the tents, bags and food. A handful of us work our way back to Najile on those same roads-that-shouldn’t-be-roads, getting home around 9pm.
Thursday:
MFSP gets a late-morning start in the POMC Land Cruiser after spending multiple hours searching for diesel fuel. The local pump ran out, so people had to go to Ewuaso (10km away) for fuel. The cruiser arrives in Mosiro, after 3.5 hours of driving on rocky, dusty, and mountainous roads. There were farm visits, project inspections and agricultural trainings to do throughout the area. By early evening, the MFSP staff are on their way home. Two hours into the drive, as darkness replaced sunlight, a series of bolts broke, causing the drive shaft to stop sending power to the wheels. The Cruiser stood stuck on a hill, as the staff looked in vain for a solution. It was night, there is no cell phone reception and the nearest mechanic would be hours away. The staff would spend the night in the car, huddling near the floor where the heat of the engine kept them warm.
Friday:
The next morning, a heavy lorry was called to haul the vehicle back to Najile. By noon the vehicle was home, but crippled. The tires and broken pieces were taken to Ewuaso to be repaired. Parts were not available, so a further trip to Maai Mahiu pushed repair completion late into the night.
Saturday:
By morning, the vehicle was heading back to Suswa, working its way through the bush to fetch the GAR staff. Will the vehicle make it? Probably not. But it’ll keep rolling its way around Maasai-land until God calls it to the great junkyard in the sky.
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Big 5
Our group of 17 headed out in 2 safari vans bright and early. I had spent many hours the day before bakinf muffins and cooking hard-boiled eggs for breakfast on the road. Everyone loved the munchies and we arrived at Mara after less than 6 hours driving, much of the time on tarmac roads. I have to admit I was surprised that the road leading to the park itself wasn't paved (lots of tourists paying big money, can't they at least fix the road?). It was like driving on a washboard for close to an hour. A few of us were keeping our heads out the open windows.. When we arrived at the park gate, Matt and I got the pleasure of impressing the guards with our Maa skills. Many in the group took the opportunity to visit the gift shop... Soon after we headed to our hotel. Upon our arrival we were greeted with warm towels to wipe our faces and fresh mango and pineapple juices to drink. Wow did I feel spoiled. We look around the place and it’s gorgeous. There’s a pool looking out over the game park and we’re all disappointed we didn’t bring our swimsuits, but soon that is neutralized by the amazing looking buffet lunch. There is so much food! fresh fruit and breads, juices, made-to-order pasta, a variety of meat cut to order, rice, stir-fry, hot vegetables, salads, etc. wow. I totally stuffed my face. It was soo good. Afterwards we climbed back into our safari vans for our first safari. At first we were all nervous because we were only seeing baboons and a variety of gazelles. We were wondering, did we just trek all the way out here to see the same things I can see in my backyard? But then we started seeing bigger types of deer, like topi, heartbeasts and elands (which are really big, I often thought they were bulls). Then we saw huge herds of wildebeests and cape buffalo. just beautiful. Cape buffalo are one of the Big 5 safari animals, so were pretty pumped. Then we saw lots of zebras and some giraffes in the distance. We came to the top of a hill and could see all those different animals all at once, thousands of animals framed against the horizon with acacia trees making it surreal.
But then.... we saw a lion. It was super far awayamong some bushes and trees, but we just kept waiting to see if it would do anything. Then we saw his mate, a lionness close by at a waterhole. We kept watching. But it was a hot day, the lions were clearly enjoying lounging in the shade, why would they get up? I started to get bored and wondered why we just kept waiting, but then the lion got up and started coming toward us! He was within 50 yards. Then his mate came up and joined him, only for them to mate right in front of us! whoa. that was crazy. Our guide told us that at the peak of mating, lions will mate as often as every 15 minutes. that's a lot of action.
Eventually we moved on and then we saw elephants on the horizon! So now we had seen 3 of the big 5, buffalo, lions and now elephants. They were so huge and so graceful. They were gentle and peaceful, I just wanted to keep watching them, especially the mom with her baby. But we were off on hunt to find a black rhino. On the way, we see some beautiful giraffes right next to the car. As we continue to our pursuit we find out that seeing the rhino would only be one a handful of times that our guide has seen a black rhino. They are always solitary and really rare. And then we see it. We never got super close, but it was crazy to see this rhino slowly trodding through the tall grasses in front of us. We saw 4 of the Big 5 in one trip. By this time it’s late and we have to hurry to get back to our lodge without getting in trouble with the park (you're not allowed in the park after dusk), but we stop on the way back when we ostriches, more giraffes and a beautiful sunset. Now if only we could see a leopard...
But then.... we saw a lion. It was super far awayamong some bushes and trees, but we just kept waiting to see if it would do anything. Then we saw his mate, a lionness close by at a waterhole. We kept watching. But it was a hot day, the lions were clearly enjoying lounging in the shade, why would they get up? I started to get bored and wondered why we just kept waiting, but then the lion got up and started coming toward us! He was within 50 yards. Then his mate came up and joined him, only for them to mate right in front of us! whoa. that was crazy. Our guide told us that at the peak of mating, lions will mate as often as every 15 minutes. that's a lot of action.
Eventually we moved on and then we saw elephants on the horizon! So now we had seen 3 of the big 5, buffalo, lions and now elephants. They were so huge and so graceful. They were gentle and peaceful, I just wanted to keep watching them, especially the mom with her baby. But we were off on hunt to find a black rhino. On the way, we see some beautiful giraffes right next to the car. As we continue to our pursuit we find out that seeing the rhino would only be one a handful of times that our guide has seen a black rhino. They are always solitary and really rare. And then we see it. We never got super close, but it was crazy to see this rhino slowly trodding through the tall grasses in front of us. We saw 4 of the Big 5 in one trip. By this time it’s late and we have to hurry to get back to our lodge without getting in trouble with the park (you're not allowed in the park after dusk), but we stop on the way back when we ostriches, more giraffes and a beautiful sunset. Now if only we could see a leopard...
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Friday, November 6, 2009
Bible Study Update
Bible Study Update:
Our Bible study has been a continued success, especially as we have now started a literacy component. Since nobody was arriving on time, we made a deal with the group. For anybody who showed up at the right time, we’d teach a basic literacy lesson before the study got rolling. Even educated people here barely can read their own language since Maa is not taught at any level of public school.
Today, Steph and I tried a new style of literacy lesson based on the work of Paulo Friere. We focused on teaching specific words that were associated with a picture that was meant to focus discussion. Since our Bible study was on John 3:17-30, I decided to talk about the letter “e” (ewangan=light, enaimin=darkness). After introducing the letter “e” and some words from the passage that had that letter, we had a picture with the title “Menyorr olngojine ewangan” (The hyena doesn’t like the light.). The picture included a traditional house, a fence, some sheep, a hyena and a man with a spear and a lantern. Then we discussed why hyenas don’t like light, and why people might not like light. From there it was a easy stepping-off point to the lesson on how Christ came as the light but people preferred the darkness (vs 19-20).
Throughout the lesson we’d return to the saying “Menyorr olngojine ewangan” and the “e” sound, finding the letter “e” in the text as we shared Bibles. The power of this method was to really connect people with learning. Everybody knows that hyenas don’t like light, but to take that understand into a spiritual and even socio-political context makes the lesson relevant. We also talked about how once you know how to read, the goal isn’t just to read words, but to better understand the world around you. Critically thinking about your situation helps you to better respond to injustice, to poverty, and to change.
This was a good week in class. People were interested. One person even clapped when the lesson was finished. I really hope that these times can help people deepen their faith, and expand their worldview. If even a small group of people can begin to really actively address the problems they face, change is possible. Truly God is moving in this place.
Our Bible study has been a continued success, especially as we have now started a literacy component. Since nobody was arriving on time, we made a deal with the group. For anybody who showed up at the right time, we’d teach a basic literacy lesson before the study got rolling. Even educated people here barely can read their own language since Maa is not taught at any level of public school.
Today, Steph and I tried a new style of literacy lesson based on the work of Paulo Friere. We focused on teaching specific words that were associated with a picture that was meant to focus discussion. Since our Bible study was on John 3:17-30, I decided to talk about the letter “e” (ewangan=light, enaimin=darkness). After introducing the letter “e” and some words from the passage that had that letter, we had a picture with the title “Menyorr olngojine ewangan” (The hyena doesn’t like the light.). The picture included a traditional house, a fence, some sheep, a hyena and a man with a spear and a lantern. Then we discussed why hyenas don’t like light, and why people might not like light. From there it was a easy stepping-off point to the lesson on how Christ came as the light but people preferred the darkness (vs 19-20).
Throughout the lesson we’d return to the saying “Menyorr olngojine ewangan” and the “e” sound, finding the letter “e” in the text as we shared Bibles. The power of this method was to really connect people with learning. Everybody knows that hyenas don’t like light, but to take that understand into a spiritual and even socio-political context makes the lesson relevant. We also talked about how once you know how to read, the goal isn’t just to read words, but to better understand the world around you. Critically thinking about your situation helps you to better respond to injustice, to poverty, and to change.
This was a good week in class. People were interested. One person even clapped when the lesson was finished. I really hope that these times can help people deepen their faith, and expand their worldview. If even a small group of people can begin to really actively address the problems they face, change is possible. Truly God is moving in this place.
Canadians are Coming!
Canadians are Coming!
So for two weeks, we are hosting a group of twelve Canadians, further confusing the Maasai perception that Canadians and Americans are the same. We will be sure to not wear any Maple-Leafed attire to help clear up the confusion.
The trip is primarily to record for a cd made by MCC to raise support for the Generation at Risk (GAR) program which helps people prevent HIV/AIDS and life positively once it has affected their life. This will be the fourth such cd, the first three have raised almost $750,000. (I would put a link here if I had one, but look up “Hope Is” “The Light Shines” and “To such as These” and if they’re through MCC, those are the cds. Anyway, we’re recording live in Najile to help connect the GAR program here and the listeners of the cd. We’ve had a mass Maasai choir (Mass-ai anybody?) and two individual choirs record already and it’s going pretty well.
Personally, Steph has been organizing/planning/running the trip which has been teaching her a lot and been lots of fun (though tiring). We are hosting a family of four at our house and generally our place is the home base. For people who aren’t part of the recording project, or during off-days, we have been visiting local sites, showing the group some of the people GAR supports and we’ll be going to market monday. Later next week we’ll be heading off to Kisumu where there’s another GAR site and Maasai Mara (elephants and rhinos please!).
It’s been fun having people here. It’s a little strange trying to straddle two cultures, sometimes feeling to western to be Maasai and other times too Maasai to be western. As much as it’s hard, it’s where I want to be. I like how I understand some of the deeper issues going on here, not just a tourist looking for some closeups of the jumping dance. To really relate to people in a different culture somebody needs to bridge the cultural gap and feel a little uncomfortable. If that’s what God has called us to at this time, than thanks be to God!
So for two weeks, we are hosting a group of twelve Canadians, further confusing the Maasai perception that Canadians and Americans are the same. We will be sure to not wear any Maple-Leafed attire to help clear up the confusion.
The trip is primarily to record for a cd made by MCC to raise support for the Generation at Risk (GAR) program which helps people prevent HIV/AIDS and life positively once it has affected their life. This will be the fourth such cd, the first three have raised almost $750,000. (I would put a link here if I had one, but look up “Hope Is” “The Light Shines” and “To such as These” and if they’re through MCC, those are the cds. Anyway, we’re recording live in Najile to help connect the GAR program here and the listeners of the cd. We’ve had a mass Maasai choir (Mass-ai anybody?) and two individual choirs record already and it’s going pretty well.
Personally, Steph has been organizing/planning/running the trip which has been teaching her a lot and been lots of fun (though tiring). We are hosting a family of four at our house and generally our place is the home base. For people who aren’t part of the recording project, or during off-days, we have been visiting local sites, showing the group some of the people GAR supports and we’ll be going to market monday. Later next week we’ll be heading off to Kisumu where there’s another GAR site and Maasai Mara (elephants and rhinos please!).
It’s been fun having people here. It’s a little strange trying to straddle two cultures, sometimes feeling to western to be Maasai and other times too Maasai to be western. As much as it’s hard, it’s where I want to be. I like how I understand some of the deeper issues going on here, not just a tourist looking for some closeups of the jumping dance. To really relate to people in a different culture somebody needs to bridge the cultural gap and feel a little uncomfortable. If that’s what God has called us to at this time, than thanks be to God!
Sunday, October 18, 2009
A Day in the Life
Trip to Mosiro: A Typical Maasai Day 10/15/09
7:00am: Wake up, have morning prayers and quick breakfast, check email
8:00am: Go to office, Sam the field extensionist is there, tells me we’re going to Mosiro (2 hours away) to check on some projects there.
8:30am: Try to think up ways to get out of Mosiro trip
9:00am: Pack survival kit of things needed for Mosiro trip and possible car breakdowns (including flashlight, matches and rice and beans)
9:10am: Leave from MFSP farm for Mosiro
9:30am: Tire puncture, nobody is surprised.
9:45am: Spare tire in place, back on the road
10:00am: Car turns off as we slow-down to look at elephant dung. See pictures of dung. Push car to get it started
11:00am: See carpenter driving on a motorcycle towards the MFSP farm. Try to flag him down but he keeps going
11:30am: Arrive at Mosiro.
11:45am: Inspect dam fencing, things are poorly done. Maybe that’s why the carpenter was going the other way!
12:30pm: Carry cement bags in car to nearby water tank. See 100 women carrying stones/sand and digging a trench for food for work. See pictures of women
1:30pm: Take numerous pictures of women. Women surround me to see pictures. Everybody is happy.
1:45pm: Women are gathered together to hear “sermons” and introductions of guests (me included)
2:30pm: More speeches
2:45pm: Still more speeches
3:00pm: Finally speeches are over, head to the church for dinner
3:30pm: Still no dinner, not sure why we’re waiting for it
3:45pm: Head back to town to buy some meat
4:00pm: Leave Mosiro
5:30pm: Visit goat and tank beneficiaries of the project
6:30pm: Nice sunset. See sunset pictures.
6:35pm: Arrive at home. Steph made a nice dinner for me and we crash by watching an episode of West Wing.
10:00pm: Zonk.
7:00am: Wake up, have morning prayers and quick breakfast, check email
8:00am: Go to office, Sam the field extensionist is there, tells me we’re going to Mosiro (2 hours away) to check on some projects there.
8:30am: Try to think up ways to get out of Mosiro trip
9:00am: Pack survival kit of things needed for Mosiro trip and possible car breakdowns (including flashlight, matches and rice and beans)
9:10am: Leave from MFSP farm for Mosiro
9:30am: Tire puncture, nobody is surprised.
9:45am: Spare tire in place, back on the road
10:00am: Car turns off as we slow-down to look at elephant dung. See pictures of dung. Push car to get it started
11:00am: See carpenter driving on a motorcycle towards the MFSP farm. Try to flag him down but he keeps going
11:30am: Arrive at Mosiro.
11:45am: Inspect dam fencing, things are poorly done. Maybe that’s why the carpenter was going the other way!
12:30pm: Carry cement bags in car to nearby water tank. See 100 women carrying stones/sand and digging a trench for food for work. See pictures of women
1:30pm: Take numerous pictures of women. Women surround me to see pictures. Everybody is happy.
1:45pm: Women are gathered together to hear “sermons” and introductions of guests (me included)
2:30pm: More speeches
2:45pm: Still more speeches
3:00pm: Finally speeches are over, head to the church for dinner
3:30pm: Still no dinner, not sure why we’re waiting for it
3:45pm: Head back to town to buy some meat
4:00pm: Leave Mosiro
5:30pm: Visit goat and tank beneficiaries of the project
6:30pm: Nice sunset. See sunset pictures.
6:35pm: Arrive at home. Steph made a nice dinner for me and we crash by watching an episode of West Wing.
10:00pm: Zonk.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Homecoming
Homecoming
A short tale of feeling welcomed
As our vacation was ending, we were not looking forward to facing the logistical nightmare which is getting home. First, we needed to get ourselves and all our bags (numerous shopping bags from numerous trips) to Ngong. From Ngong, we hoped to get a spot on a matatu or bus that would then leave sometime for points west.
Step one was made easier by Jacob volunteering to drive us to Ngong. We were even able to buy a new LPG cylinder and have Jacob put it at the MCC office where Ron can bring it to Najile later. We were at Ngong by 1:30 and considered ourselves quite lucky.
Step two was to find a matatu and then burn time until it left. Fortunately, I had called our partners and was able to meet with them at their office. This impromptu meeting came after failing to meet for 3 consecutive weeks of various mishaps. Sometimes planning just isn’t as effective as God’s grace.
Steph went ahead and toured Ngong market for our last food items, and reserved a spot on a bus to leave at 430. At 4:05 she called frantically telling me the bus was ready to roll away. I walked/jogged from the MIDI office with my hands full of bags to the bus stop and made it just in time.
Our ride was uneventful if not bumpier than a wooden roller-coaster. We were in Najile by 6:30 just as it was getting dark and were wondering whether to walk from the town centers (a 20 minute walk) or try to get the bus to drop us closer to home (it stops pretty much anywhere along its “route”). We were again blessed by the bus conductor who actually brought us most of the way home, even going a little out of his way for us.
We felt our way through the dark to our house and got home with a sigh of relief. It was 7:00pm and we were already home! As we started to unpack, we got a knock on the door. We both internally groaned as we didn’t really want to interact with anybody at the moment. Steph goes to the door and finds two farm caretakers who live next door, looking to make sure that it was us who had turned on the lights at our house. One guy even came with a club, ready to beat off any robbers. This sign of caring was truly touching, and made us feel more at home than any goat slaughtering could.
Throughout the day we felt like part of a community. We got things done when we could, and let each moment determine what our next step would be. Throughout the day, God was with us and reminded us that while our family and friends are thousands of miles away, we are still home here, and He is happy we are here.
A short tale of feeling welcomed
As our vacation was ending, we were not looking forward to facing the logistical nightmare which is getting home. First, we needed to get ourselves and all our bags (numerous shopping bags from numerous trips) to Ngong. From Ngong, we hoped to get a spot on a matatu or bus that would then leave sometime for points west.
Step one was made easier by Jacob volunteering to drive us to Ngong. We were even able to buy a new LPG cylinder and have Jacob put it at the MCC office where Ron can bring it to Najile later. We were at Ngong by 1:30 and considered ourselves quite lucky.
Step two was to find a matatu and then burn time until it left. Fortunately, I had called our partners and was able to meet with them at their office. This impromptu meeting came after failing to meet for 3 consecutive weeks of various mishaps. Sometimes planning just isn’t as effective as God’s grace.
Steph went ahead and toured Ngong market for our last food items, and reserved a spot on a bus to leave at 430. At 4:05 she called frantically telling me the bus was ready to roll away. I walked/jogged from the MIDI office with my hands full of bags to the bus stop and made it just in time.
Our ride was uneventful if not bumpier than a wooden roller-coaster. We were in Najile by 6:30 just as it was getting dark and were wondering whether to walk from the town centers (a 20 minute walk) or try to get the bus to drop us closer to home (it stops pretty much anywhere along its “route”). We were again blessed by the bus conductor who actually brought us most of the way home, even going a little out of his way for us.
We felt our way through the dark to our house and got home with a sigh of relief. It was 7:00pm and we were already home! As we started to unpack, we got a knock on the door. We both internally groaned as we didn’t really want to interact with anybody at the moment. Steph goes to the door and finds two farm caretakers who live next door, looking to make sure that it was us who had turned on the lights at our house. One guy even came with a club, ready to beat off any robbers. This sign of caring was truly touching, and made us feel more at home than any goat slaughtering could.
Throughout the day we felt like part of a community. We got things done when we could, and let each moment determine what our next step would be. Throughout the day, God was with us and reminded us that while our family and friends are thousands of miles away, we are still home here, and He is happy we are here.
R&R
Rest
This past week we took a much-needed vacation, staying with friends in Nairobi Tuesday through Friday. It was a great time of relaxing, buying up things only available in Nairobi and eating lots of good food.
One highlight was a thanksgiving meal on Thursday. In honor of the many Mennonite Canadians (none of whom were available, ironically) in Nairobi we had a Canadian Thanksgiving meal with chicken, stuffing, guava sauce (like apple sauce), beans, and much much more. We started the meal with the traditional, “name one thing you’re thankful for” to which I said, “I’m thankful for popcorn, ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, things that remind me of home.”
The meal was excellent, and truly took me back home. There’s something about the combination of foods, eating with friends, and an attitude of thanks that make thanksgiving meals seem like home to me. Like very few other things, Thursday night made me feel like I was home. Later, after the pumpkin, chocolate, apple, and peanut butter pies, we had a hymn sing. Our family used to always gather around the piano, dragging my brother or me in to play before we finished for the day.
As much as New Tripoli, PA will probably always be home for me, one meal made Nairobi seem not so far away.
Favorite Things of Our Nairobi Vacation:
1. Buying many new things (like a sweet printer for under $100)
2. Eating eating and eating. We had ice cream multiple times, a thanksgiving meal, plus our first experience of Diamond plaza, an Indian food court with excellent selection.
3. Sterns driving us around. Jacob and Alvera pretty much picked us up wherever we were, making numerous logistics easier.
4. Access to unlimited internet
5. Good conversations with friends
6. Crossing off multiple things from our to-do lists, something nearly impossible in Najile.
This past week we took a much-needed vacation, staying with friends in Nairobi Tuesday through Friday. It was a great time of relaxing, buying up things only available in Nairobi and eating lots of good food.
One highlight was a thanksgiving meal on Thursday. In honor of the many Mennonite Canadians (none of whom were available, ironically) in Nairobi we had a Canadian Thanksgiving meal with chicken, stuffing, guava sauce (like apple sauce), beans, and much much more. We started the meal with the traditional, “name one thing you’re thankful for” to which I said, “I’m thankful for popcorn, ice cream and chocolate chip cookies, things that remind me of home.”
The meal was excellent, and truly took me back home. There’s something about the combination of foods, eating with friends, and an attitude of thanks that make thanksgiving meals seem like home to me. Like very few other things, Thursday night made me feel like I was home. Later, after the pumpkin, chocolate, apple, and peanut butter pies, we had a hymn sing. Our family used to always gather around the piano, dragging my brother or me in to play before we finished for the day.
As much as New Tripoli, PA will probably always be home for me, one meal made Nairobi seem not so far away.
Favorite Things of Our Nairobi Vacation:
1. Buying many new things (like a sweet printer for under $100)
2. Eating eating and eating. We had ice cream multiple times, a thanksgiving meal, plus our first experience of Diamond plaza, an Indian food court with excellent selection.
3. Sterns driving us around. Jacob and Alvera pretty much picked us up wherever we were, making numerous logistics easier.
4. Access to unlimited internet
5. Good conversations with friends
6. Crossing off multiple things from our to-do lists, something nearly impossible in Najile.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Bible Study
One of the great blessings Steph and I have had recently is starting a Bible study at our church in Najile. For many, it is not only the first time they've ever studied the Bible, but their first structured educational experience. We're studying the book of John and its been a learning experience for us all.
Our first week, we met with about fifty people, of whom maybe fifteen spoke any English. We worked through an interpretor and tried to talk about who Jesus was. Week two started with just a few people, (as we wanted to start "on time") but soon it built up to around 25. The biggest realization was that people just have never critically read anything....well most have never read period, but those who have never have critically analyzed what they hear. We'd read a verse, "and John was questioned by the pharasees...." and we'd ask, "so who was asking John about who he was" and we'd just get blank stares. Maybe somebody might speak about how John did many miracles, and Steph and I are thinking...uhhhhh......
Some things we just take for granted. We take for granted that people have went to school, and even more so, that analyzing literature just comes with being born. Not true. We've now adjusted our teaching style to do more role-plays, skits reinacting the scene, and also tying in what our group-members know (like....cows, goats and sheep) into the passage (lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth makes a lot more sense here than the States).
It also reinforces, to us, the idea that people aren't just magically able to succeed from birth. In today's world, you need a lot of help, a lot of advantages to have the tools (like critical thinking) that are necessary to make an honest living. Picking yourself up from your bootstraps is really a distortion of reality, a vast majority of people need to have access to some advantages before they'll be able to succeed. I think this is important to remember as we think of the poor (people who have created their own fate, versus those who were never blessed with the advantages to succeed).
Our first week, we met with about fifty people, of whom maybe fifteen spoke any English. We worked through an interpretor and tried to talk about who Jesus was. Week two started with just a few people, (as we wanted to start "on time") but soon it built up to around 25. The biggest realization was that people just have never critically read anything....well most have never read period, but those who have never have critically analyzed what they hear. We'd read a verse, "and John was questioned by the pharasees...." and we'd ask, "so who was asking John about who he was" and we'd just get blank stares. Maybe somebody might speak about how John did many miracles, and Steph and I are thinking...uhhhhh......
Some things we just take for granted. We take for granted that people have went to school, and even more so, that analyzing literature just comes with being born. Not true. We've now adjusted our teaching style to do more role-plays, skits reinacting the scene, and also tying in what our group-members know (like....cows, goats and sheep) into the passage (lamb of God who takes away the sins of the earth makes a lot more sense here than the States).
It also reinforces, to us, the idea that people aren't just magically able to succeed from birth. In today's world, you need a lot of help, a lot of advantages to have the tools (like critical thinking) that are necessary to make an honest living. Picking yourself up from your bootstraps is really a distortion of reality, a vast majority of people need to have access to some advantages before they'll be able to succeed. I think this is important to remember as we think of the poor (people who have created their own fate, versus those who were never blessed with the advantages to succeed).
Vacation
Things have been getting tiresome. The last few weeks we've been needing a break and we decided to come into Nairobi before the onslaught of work continues. Both of us are feeling better about our roles and have lots of work to do, but the work can be all-consuming. The biggest issue is we are facing powers that oppose us. Some of the changes that we'd like to see would come at the expense of people in power, and we've seen the difficulties of such a challenge. It makes me more sympathetic to people around the world who are up against governments, organizations, or companies that control their lives. Here we are, we are here for only 3 years and just trying to do our best, we are payed by an outside organization, but still it's a struggle some days to want to continue to fight for what you believe is right. Imagine if you didn't have an education, wealth, security, etc....how could you be willing to stand up to your employer, your government, your chief if it could mean losing your job, your land, or your (or your family's) life.
Part of the answer lies in remembering we are fighting principalities and powers that are not only of this world. Much of what we are facing has a spiritual side and it brings hope to remember that we worship the God who created the universe, who has defeated death is working in, through, and around us to unveil His kingdom on earth.
Anyway, it's hard to proceed each day with a positive attitude when you run into opposition so we decided to take 3 days in nairobi off. So far we have spent 25,000 shillings, which is about what we spend in 2 months normally. Mostly it was a printer, dry goods to feed a group of hungry Canadians who are visiting later this month, and this month's food for program meals (we'll be reimbursed later).
So, after a day of rest, we're enjoying Nairobi. I may be planning on going to Ethiopia with Nate (from Eastern) to see the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Also, on our schedule are a trip to Maasai Mara to see the animals and a beach trip to Mombassa. You know, you got to enjoy yourself sometimes. As a friend of our said recently, if mental health is worth getting back, it's worth keeping in the first place.
Part of the answer lies in remembering we are fighting principalities and powers that are not only of this world. Much of what we are facing has a spiritual side and it brings hope to remember that we worship the God who created the universe, who has defeated death is working in, through, and around us to unveil His kingdom on earth.
Anyway, it's hard to proceed each day with a positive attitude when you run into opposition so we decided to take 3 days in nairobi off. So far we have spent 25,000 shillings, which is about what we spend in 2 months normally. Mostly it was a printer, dry goods to feed a group of hungry Canadians who are visiting later this month, and this month's food for program meals (we'll be reimbursed later).
So, after a day of rest, we're enjoying Nairobi. I may be planning on going to Ethiopia with Nate (from Eastern) to see the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela. Also, on our schedule are a trip to Maasai Mara to see the animals and a beach trip to Mombassa. You know, you got to enjoy yourself sometimes. As a friend of our said recently, if mental health is worth getting back, it's worth keeping in the first place.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
The Plans That I Make
This week, I was once again reminded that my plans do not work well in Kenya. You simply can’t expect to do what you set out to do, and certainly can’t expect to do more than one or two things. Something always seems to go wrong. Somebody inevitably is late, is stranded, forgot, or the power is out, the water is out, the computer is done or the food is bad. It reinforces how little I have control of things here, I can work as hard as I’d like and I still may or may not have finished my work.
For example, I’ve been trying to meet with people from MIDI for the past few weeks. This week I was determined to make it happen. The meeting was originally set for Thursday in Ilkileret (40 minutes from Najile). I hoped to either take the program vehicle into town or have our motorcycle fixed by then. Well, there was a funeral Thursday and nobody showed up at the office. Our bike still has no front brakes and the vehicle had been borrowed to be used for the funeral. I rescheduled to Friday, though it would have to be in Ngong (2 hours from Najile). I came up with a whole new set of things to do in Ngong and how to best get them done on Friday. I even set up my driver and had plans to leave at 9, even though I told the partners I’d be in no earlier than noon. Well at 930 we’re ready to leave when the car brakes done. The front wheel was missing a bolt and therefore scraped against the body. The driver assured me he could get the piece and install it in quickly. He went to Ewuaso to find the piece at 1030. At 1, I hear that they can’t find the piece. At 4pm, they return to the farm.
Now I make a new plan, I’ll take the vehicle tomorrow, if it’s fixed, and we’ll hand out surveys for the research I’m doing. We could visit 4 towns and get a lot of the work done. We called around, got the piece we needed and just needed to pick it up and install it Saturday morning. We agree to meet at 8am. At almost 10, my friend comes with the piece, but the driver is nowhere to be seen and can’t be reached on the phone. Plus, the old bolt was still screwed into its whole, broken. We couldn’t get the bolt out so we were unable to repair the car.
Now, I make a new plan. We’ll just go to Ewuaso, talk to the people there, and I can get groceries. After being persuaded to ride the project motorcycle (instead of walking in the hot sun), we leave around noon. We get to Ewuaso do the interviews, get lunch, and buy groceries. By 1:30 we’re heading out and all is well. Ten minutes out of town, the clutch cable pulls loose and the bike is broken. We walk the bike to my friend’s house, and then carry my groceries back to Najile. We arrive at 3:30, having finally completed one of my plans.
All this to say, I’m starting to understand Maasai proverbs. Many of the proverbs read like, “Whoever has money today won’t tomorrow.” Or “As a bird who flies high has to come to the earth, so must all rich people.” The idea is, people have no control over their wealth, whether they work hard, or not. This is very Un-American, but gives a lot of insight into how things work here. If work doesn’t translate into any sort of financial or material reward, it’s hard to motivate yourself. Being poor here seems to have little to do with laziness, as some in American tend to believe, and a lot more to do with a whole slew of factors outside of your control.
For example, I’ve been trying to meet with people from MIDI for the past few weeks. This week I was determined to make it happen. The meeting was originally set for Thursday in Ilkileret (40 minutes from Najile). I hoped to either take the program vehicle into town or have our motorcycle fixed by then. Well, there was a funeral Thursday and nobody showed up at the office. Our bike still has no front brakes and the vehicle had been borrowed to be used for the funeral. I rescheduled to Friday, though it would have to be in Ngong (2 hours from Najile). I came up with a whole new set of things to do in Ngong and how to best get them done on Friday. I even set up my driver and had plans to leave at 9, even though I told the partners I’d be in no earlier than noon. Well at 930 we’re ready to leave when the car brakes done. The front wheel was missing a bolt and therefore scraped against the body. The driver assured me he could get the piece and install it in quickly. He went to Ewuaso to find the piece at 1030. At 1, I hear that they can’t find the piece. At 4pm, they return to the farm.
Now I make a new plan, I’ll take the vehicle tomorrow, if it’s fixed, and we’ll hand out surveys for the research I’m doing. We could visit 4 towns and get a lot of the work done. We called around, got the piece we needed and just needed to pick it up and install it Saturday morning. We agree to meet at 8am. At almost 10, my friend comes with the piece, but the driver is nowhere to be seen and can’t be reached on the phone. Plus, the old bolt was still screwed into its whole, broken. We couldn’t get the bolt out so we were unable to repair the car.
Now, I make a new plan. We’ll just go to Ewuaso, talk to the people there, and I can get groceries. After being persuaded to ride the project motorcycle (instead of walking in the hot sun), we leave around noon. We get to Ewuaso do the interviews, get lunch, and buy groceries. By 1:30 we’re heading out and all is well. Ten minutes out of town, the clutch cable pulls loose and the bike is broken. We walk the bike to my friend’s house, and then carry my groceries back to Najile. We arrive at 3:30, having finally completed one of my plans.
All this to say, I’m starting to understand Maasai proverbs. Many of the proverbs read like, “Whoever has money today won’t tomorrow.” Or “As a bird who flies high has to come to the earth, so must all rich people.” The idea is, people have no control over their wealth, whether they work hard, or not. This is very Un-American, but gives a lot of insight into how things work here. If work doesn’t translate into any sort of financial or material reward, it’s hard to motivate yourself. Being poor here seems to have little to do with laziness, as some in American tend to believe, and a lot more to do with a whole slew of factors outside of your control.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
We all like sheep...
Isaiah 53:6 "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all."
Psalm 23- "The Lord if my shepherd, I shall not want...
Over the years I've heard both those passages a zillion times. I've always liked them. The idea of God as our shepherd has rung true for me. We have a God who will protect us and care for our needs, for that I am thankful. But to be honest, I never really got the full extent of the shepherd analogy. I'd never taken care of animals or really seen shepherds at work. Living in Maasai land I now have a new appreciation for these verses. Everyone has animals. Lots of them. But often times the animals are allowed to go as they please looking for food. Quite regularly (twice today), we have to herd out goats and cows that have made their way into our yard and are eating our trees and garden... When the shepherd isn't there to watch the animals, they can cause trouble, like in our garden, or get into big trouble. Like our neighbors who lost 20 sheep to hyenas.
But what struck me even more came through yesterday. A group of us were driving into Nairobi and I was sitting next to Elizabeth, one of the GAR staff. We came across a group of sheep along the road. We honked the horn and slowed down and most sheep stayed closeby (instead of just moving), but weren't really in the way of the car, so we started to speed up, but then multiple sheep ran across to the opposite side of the road, forcing us to slam on the brakes. Sheep are really stupid. That's when Eliza said, "You know, the Bible says, we all are like sheep." And it struck me. How true. We are just as foolish as those sheep. We really do need a shepherd. How often do we run in front of the car to follow our friends on the other side, instead of waiting 5 seconds until after the car passes or just staying out of the way altogether? We too lack the foresight and ability to recognize what's best for ourselves. We make a lot of foolish choices. We are those sheep and we need our Good Shepherd.
Psalm 23- "The Lord if my shepherd, I shall not want...
Over the years I've heard both those passages a zillion times. I've always liked them. The idea of God as our shepherd has rung true for me. We have a God who will protect us and care for our needs, for that I am thankful. But to be honest, I never really got the full extent of the shepherd analogy. I'd never taken care of animals or really seen shepherds at work. Living in Maasai land I now have a new appreciation for these verses. Everyone has animals. Lots of them. But often times the animals are allowed to go as they please looking for food. Quite regularly (twice today), we have to herd out goats and cows that have made their way into our yard and are eating our trees and garden... When the shepherd isn't there to watch the animals, they can cause trouble, like in our garden, or get into big trouble. Like our neighbors who lost 20 sheep to hyenas.
But what struck me even more came through yesterday. A group of us were driving into Nairobi and I was sitting next to Elizabeth, one of the GAR staff. We came across a group of sheep along the road. We honked the horn and slowed down and most sheep stayed closeby (instead of just moving), but weren't really in the way of the car, so we started to speed up, but then multiple sheep ran across to the opposite side of the road, forcing us to slam on the brakes. Sheep are really stupid. That's when Eliza said, "You know, the Bible says, we all are like sheep." And it struck me. How true. We are just as foolish as those sheep. We really do need a shepherd. How often do we run in front of the car to follow our friends on the other side, instead of waiting 5 seconds until after the car passes or just staying out of the way altogether? We too lack the foresight and ability to recognize what's best for ourselves. We make a lot of foolish choices. We are those sheep and we need our Good Shepherd.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Bible Study
This morning before church Matt and I led our first Maasai Bible Study. We didn't really know what to expect. We started on time with more than 20 and by the end had close to 50 people there from young adults to people close to our grandparents' age. We had said in our announcement for it to be people who speak English, well, that didn't happen. People were so excited to study the Word of God they just came anyway! To be honest, we were disappointed at first, because we couldn't guide discussion very well, especially with having to translate back and forth, but then we were reminded that what a blessing to have so much interest.
Our topic is “Who is Jesus?” and we are going to be working our way through the Gospel of John. There were definitely some challenges with such big numbers, but we studied John 1: 1-4 and vs. 14, looking at who is the Word, why is Jesus called the Word, what's the significance of the Word and God's Word (looked at Genesis and how God spoke all things into being... the power of God's Word). So it was good learning for us and hopefully valuable for the people who came. Plus, since everyone's already there, church started a lot closer to on time (definite bonus points).
Afterwards many people expressed their thanks, specifically emphasizing this was the first Bible study most of them had ever participated in. It reminds me how blessed I am- I just took Sunday School and all the many Bible studies around me growing up for granted.
So we are thinking of ways to better work it for next week, including splitting up into groups, training some discussion leaders, setting ground rules for discussion, etc. One limitation is that many aren't literate, so, telling them to read through the verse for themselves has its limitations... however, we did ask them to read the rest of John 1 on their own this week. If they needed help, we told them to come see us and we would walk them through it. At first we were reluctant to volunteer ourselves to do that, it could be really difficult with language, but there are definitely a lot worse things to be doing than helping people read the Word of God... Plus, what an opportunity to encourage them to attend literacy classes to be able to study more on their own!
Please be praying that God would bless us and this community in this valuable work.
Our topic is “Who is Jesus?” and we are going to be working our way through the Gospel of John. There were definitely some challenges with such big numbers, but we studied John 1: 1-4 and vs. 14, looking at who is the Word, why is Jesus called the Word, what's the significance of the Word and God's Word (looked at Genesis and how God spoke all things into being... the power of God's Word). So it was good learning for us and hopefully valuable for the people who came. Plus, since everyone's already there, church started a lot closer to on time (definite bonus points).
Afterwards many people expressed their thanks, specifically emphasizing this was the first Bible study most of them had ever participated in. It reminds me how blessed I am- I just took Sunday School and all the many Bible studies around me growing up for granted.
So we are thinking of ways to better work it for next week, including splitting up into groups, training some discussion leaders, setting ground rules for discussion, etc. One limitation is that many aren't literate, so, telling them to read through the verse for themselves has its limitations... however, we did ask them to read the rest of John 1 on their own this week. If they needed help, we told them to come see us and we would walk them through it. At first we were reluctant to volunteer ourselves to do that, it could be really difficult with language, but there are definitely a lot worse things to be doing than helping people read the Word of God... Plus, what an opportunity to encourage them to attend literacy classes to be able to study more on their own!
Please be praying that God would bless us and this community in this valuable work.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
The Bike Ride
So last week we got our motorcycle, the moment we’ve been waiting for and dreading simultaneously. On one hand, we really appreciate the freedom to move around, go to market etc… that comes with having a bike. On the other hand, it’s scary to do something new.
On Wednesday, we resolved to both practice riding. It was a cool evening, and we had gotten ourselves fired up enough to actually get on the 125 cc bike. I would drive it first, go to Najile and drive back. It should only take about 10 minutes total. After some issues getting the bike started, I was finally off and feeling good. I drove past the demo farm, church, and onto the main road to Najile. I waved to passersby and started to relax and enjoy the ride.
Once at Najile, I thought, why not go a bit farther, I’m having fun. So I turn towards Ngong, with the plan of turning around as soon as possible. I quickly realize the narrow road gives little room to turn around. After a few kilometers, I decided to just stop, manually turn the bike around and start up again. I do this, looking only like a partial doofus to the truckful of people who drove by. Heading back to Najile, I again felt comfortable and was looking forward to reporting back to Steph. Just as I got back to Najile, I noticed the bike was a bit sluggish. In about 20 seconds I was stopped. The bike was out of fuel. I had thought Daniel (who had the bike before) had left a good portion of the tank filled, but since there’s no fuel gauge, I had no idea how far we could go. Fortunately, I stopped just across from a friends’ house, and I had remembered to bring my phone. There’s a petrol station in Najile, but I had no money, so I called Steph to come bring money and I’d walk to the station to get some gas.
After about 15 minutes, Steph arrived with money, though it was now getting dark. The crowd of people who had gathered around the bike, ascertained that the petrol station was probably still open so I hustled my way to Najile center. By the time I got there, it was dark. I couldn’t find the station attendant and couldn’t recognize people in the dark, (one of the problems with having black skin at night). Fortunately, another friend from the Demo Farm saw me and helped me find the attendant, and a jerry can to carry the gas back to the bike.
I stumbled and bumbled my way through the night with my can of gas, hoping that I would even recognize where the bike was in the dark. Again, God was faithful and helped my find my way. Our friend who lived nearby was talking with Steph and of course invited us in for tea. After an hour of drinking tea with our friend and his family, we finally were headed back home. Steph, not excited about starting her bike-riding in the dark, persuaded me to ride home and she would walk back with our friend (and a flashlight). So, once again I saddled up on the bike and inched my way through the night. I nearly missed a few turns, but ended up at home safe and sound and was greeted by a gorgeous display of stars and a few friends who had noticed my absence and were about to start a search for me.
Despite battling overwhelming fear multiple times that night, I made it through. More than that, I realized that even my worst scenario wasn’t so bad, that God was always with me, and that people cared for me and were looking out for me. Hopefully the next time I drive, things will go a little more smoothly. Either way, I know that I am not alone.
On Wednesday, we resolved to both practice riding. It was a cool evening, and we had gotten ourselves fired up enough to actually get on the 125 cc bike. I would drive it first, go to Najile and drive back. It should only take about 10 minutes total. After some issues getting the bike started, I was finally off and feeling good. I drove past the demo farm, church, and onto the main road to Najile. I waved to passersby and started to relax and enjoy the ride.
Once at Najile, I thought, why not go a bit farther, I’m having fun. So I turn towards Ngong, with the plan of turning around as soon as possible. I quickly realize the narrow road gives little room to turn around. After a few kilometers, I decided to just stop, manually turn the bike around and start up again. I do this, looking only like a partial doofus to the truckful of people who drove by. Heading back to Najile, I again felt comfortable and was looking forward to reporting back to Steph. Just as I got back to Najile, I noticed the bike was a bit sluggish. In about 20 seconds I was stopped. The bike was out of fuel. I had thought Daniel (who had the bike before) had left a good portion of the tank filled, but since there’s no fuel gauge, I had no idea how far we could go. Fortunately, I stopped just across from a friends’ house, and I had remembered to bring my phone. There’s a petrol station in Najile, but I had no money, so I called Steph to come bring money and I’d walk to the station to get some gas.
After about 15 minutes, Steph arrived with money, though it was now getting dark. The crowd of people who had gathered around the bike, ascertained that the petrol station was probably still open so I hustled my way to Najile center. By the time I got there, it was dark. I couldn’t find the station attendant and couldn’t recognize people in the dark, (one of the problems with having black skin at night). Fortunately, another friend from the Demo Farm saw me and helped me find the attendant, and a jerry can to carry the gas back to the bike.
I stumbled and bumbled my way through the night with my can of gas, hoping that I would even recognize where the bike was in the dark. Again, God was faithful and helped my find my way. Our friend who lived nearby was talking with Steph and of course invited us in for tea. After an hour of drinking tea with our friend and his family, we finally were headed back home. Steph, not excited about starting her bike-riding in the dark, persuaded me to ride home and she would walk back with our friend (and a flashlight). So, once again I saddled up on the bike and inched my way through the night. I nearly missed a few turns, but ended up at home safe and sound and was greeted by a gorgeous display of stars and a few friends who had noticed my absence and were about to start a search for me.
Despite battling overwhelming fear multiple times that night, I made it through. More than that, I realized that even my worst scenario wasn’t so bad, that God was always with me, and that people cared for me and were looking out for me. Hopefully the next time I drive, things will go a little more smoothly. Either way, I know that I am not alone.
Book Recommendation
This past week are been a challenge in both a good way and bad way. Within one of our partners, organizational change has been fomenting for awhile and this past week some of the changes happened, and some didn’t. Without getting into details, keep our partners in your prayers as they try to best serve the community with honesty and integrity. All these changes challenge me to be an example of God to others and see that what I want for an organization may not always be best.
On a more positive note, I just finished reading a book passed on to me by my good friend Josh Lehman, N.T. Wright’s “Surprised by Hope.” Reading this book has been a great joy this week and I’d like to share with you a quick review of it.
N.T. Wright writes in response to what he sees as a generally falling away from a historically orthodox perspective of the afterlife within the church. He presents a convincing argument that Christianity is not about going to heaven, but bodily resurrection after going to heaven, at which point we will live in the new earth that has been re-created as God’s good creation. He specifically rejects the idea that only our disembodied “souls” go to heaven, calling the theory Platonic, Pagan, and completely against the example of Christ’s resurrection.
More than simply making sure people are doctrinally sound, Wright explains how our views on the afterlife do and should effect how we live now. If we are living only for heaven, a place completely separate from the space, time, and matter God has created for us now, there is little motivation to work to better this earth. This is reflected in the ease with which many Christians today justify destroying the earth and supporting oppressive regimes world-wide (corporate, political and otherwise). However, if we believe that we will be resurrected in the body, as Christ was, there becomes added importance to taking care of the earth, humanity and all its institutions now. One might ask, if Wright implies that we can renew the earth by our own good works. He specifically addresses this, saying that just as we are in the process of being inwardly sanctified, a process not complete until our recreation, we are in a process ushering in God’s kingdom to earth, (in essence sanctifying the earth), a process only complete until God recreates earth. Just as we cannot use an “already- but not yet” excuse to justify sin personally, we cannot use the argument to justify disregarding our call to be bringing God’s kingdom to earth.
All these ideas Wright backs with powerful understanding of the Bible. He shows how when the Bible talks of the afterlife and resurrection, the universal understanding of what this meant among Christians until the 14th-15th century was a bodily resurrection. Also, he makes the point that seeing our hope in only our spirits continuing on after death in no way shows death’s ultimate defeat, the promise of Jesus. Instead, death being defeated only makes sense, he argues, if our physical bodies are re-animated in the new heaven/earth creation (though we don’t know what those bodies will look like or whether they’ll involve any molecules from our old physical bodies).
Anyway, I think this is a great read for any Christian looking to better understand what their faith says about the afterlife. I think it is also a good book for a non-Christian who is interested in a more balanced perspective of what the Church is about. Feel free to ask more questions, though realize to really understand what the book says and believe it (or not), you’ll have to read the book yourself. In the words of LeVarr Burton (Reading Rainbow), “But you don’t have to take my word for it.”
Enjoy!
On a more positive note, I just finished reading a book passed on to me by my good friend Josh Lehman, N.T. Wright’s “Surprised by Hope.” Reading this book has been a great joy this week and I’d like to share with you a quick review of it.
N.T. Wright writes in response to what he sees as a generally falling away from a historically orthodox perspective of the afterlife within the church. He presents a convincing argument that Christianity is not about going to heaven, but bodily resurrection after going to heaven, at which point we will live in the new earth that has been re-created as God’s good creation. He specifically rejects the idea that only our disembodied “souls” go to heaven, calling the theory Platonic, Pagan, and completely against the example of Christ’s resurrection.
More than simply making sure people are doctrinally sound, Wright explains how our views on the afterlife do and should effect how we live now. If we are living only for heaven, a place completely separate from the space, time, and matter God has created for us now, there is little motivation to work to better this earth. This is reflected in the ease with which many Christians today justify destroying the earth and supporting oppressive regimes world-wide (corporate, political and otherwise). However, if we believe that we will be resurrected in the body, as Christ was, there becomes added importance to taking care of the earth, humanity and all its institutions now. One might ask, if Wright implies that we can renew the earth by our own good works. He specifically addresses this, saying that just as we are in the process of being inwardly sanctified, a process not complete until our recreation, we are in a process ushering in God’s kingdom to earth, (in essence sanctifying the earth), a process only complete until God recreates earth. Just as we cannot use an “already- but not yet” excuse to justify sin personally, we cannot use the argument to justify disregarding our call to be bringing God’s kingdom to earth.
All these ideas Wright backs with powerful understanding of the Bible. He shows how when the Bible talks of the afterlife and resurrection, the universal understanding of what this meant among Christians until the 14th-15th century was a bodily resurrection. Also, he makes the point that seeing our hope in only our spirits continuing on after death in no way shows death’s ultimate defeat, the promise of Jesus. Instead, death being defeated only makes sense, he argues, if our physical bodies are re-animated in the new heaven/earth creation (though we don’t know what those bodies will look like or whether they’ll involve any molecules from our old physical bodies).
Anyway, I think this is a great read for any Christian looking to better understand what their faith says about the afterlife. I think it is also a good book for a non-Christian who is interested in a more balanced perspective of what the Church is about. Feel free to ask more questions, though realize to really understand what the book says and believe it (or not), you’ll have to read the book yourself. In the words of LeVarr Burton (Reading Rainbow), “But you don’t have to take my word for it.”
Enjoy!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Musings
Everyday, Matt and I spend multiple hours, if not most of the day, capacity building. What does that mean exactly? We’re working to help the staff of POMC more effectively run their programs, Maasai Food Security and the GAR (Generation-at-Risk) HIV/AIDS awareness and support. So, we do things like teaching typing skills, and how to use different computer programs; doing English grammar and editing activities; creating workplans and assessing effectiveness of completed projects; evaluating for improvement for similar activities in the future; creating outlines of good reports and proposals- what should be included, what shouldn’t. So we’re helping the staff do their jobs better. Instead of teaching the same things over and over, without knowing what people actually know, now staff are starting to see the benefit of pre and post-surveys at AIDS awareness events, so that they know how to align their teaching with knowledge of their class, as well as seeing what was actually learned. Instead of doing goat distributions haphazardly to people in the community, staff are seeing the benefit of creating programming that decreases dependency.
But is this worth doing? I think so. But now that Food-for-Work has ended, what about the people who have no food and many mouths to feed, no usable skills and no potential income? Should I be doing something to help them? What can I do? I don’t have any skills that will help them right now. I can’t make food magically appear. I don’t know how to start a small business. What kind of business would be successful right now? Most can’t afford food, let alone clothes, beadwork, or other items.
I know that long-term what I’m doing day-to-day will have positive effects on development within this community. The program will empower people to help themselves. We’re starting income generation activities, so that the program itself isn’t going to be dependent on foreign donors (a model to the community). We’re developing curriculum for training in haybaling, drought resistant crop farming, water harvesting, etc. We’re encouraging formation of self-help groups and merry-go-rounds, where people come together to solve their collective problems, or pool their money to jump-start businesses or pay school fees. I just wish there was something I could do right now. I’m so blessed. MCC provides for all of my needs. I have food. I have water. And yet, I am reminded, that I am powerless to do anything. All I have, all I am, is a gift from God. I am humbled reminded that apart from God, I can do nothing. God is control. (phew!)
But is this worth doing? I think so. But now that Food-for-Work has ended, what about the people who have no food and many mouths to feed, no usable skills and no potential income? Should I be doing something to help them? What can I do? I don’t have any skills that will help them right now. I can’t make food magically appear. I don’t know how to start a small business. What kind of business would be successful right now? Most can’t afford food, let alone clothes, beadwork, or other items.
I know that long-term what I’m doing day-to-day will have positive effects on development within this community. The program will empower people to help themselves. We’re starting income generation activities, so that the program itself isn’t going to be dependent on foreign donors (a model to the community). We’re developing curriculum for training in haybaling, drought resistant crop farming, water harvesting, etc. We’re encouraging formation of self-help groups and merry-go-rounds, where people come together to solve their collective problems, or pool their money to jump-start businesses or pay school fees. I just wish there was something I could do right now. I’m so blessed. MCC provides for all of my needs. I have food. I have water. And yet, I am reminded, that I am powerless to do anything. All I have, all I am, is a gift from God. I am humbled reminded that apart from God, I can do nothing. God is control. (phew!)
Calling all language learners
I just wanted to say that I have no idea what other things you'd like to know about Maa. So now it's your turn, tell me what you want to know. I look forward to your imput.
Friday, August 28, 2009
The Census
So this was census week in Kenya, which I have to admit, is pretty exciting for me. As a math and economics nerd, this is about as close to nirvana as you can get, lots of counting, lots of statistics, all in relation to economic decisions/domestic policy. It’s like voting but you only have to participate with your existence. In a lot of ways, it is a privilege to be counted. To be counted is to be known, to exist. Every time the government or some official references Kajiado district, I’ll now be one of the people they talk about. I affect the “literacy rate” “poverty rate”, all these rates that you hear thrown around in politics. Since they were counted, my neighbors might actually get some of the services they deserve from the government, like the teachers that are promised to local schools but have to be paid for by parents. It’s exciting that a set of mundane questions can have so much impact, and rich and poor can participate equally (in theory).
In many countries, avoiding a census is a major political tool. If you don’t count the people, you can cite ignorance when you don’t do what you’re supposed to. “Half the people aren’t educated….that’s news to me, I thought our population was just half as big.” Or, it can be used as a tool to marginalize certain people groups, invisible communities that the government can wish away and oppress because they don’t even exist in the eyes of the world. One thing you hear a lot of sarcasm about in Kenya is the non-existence of IDPs (internally displaced people). As far as I can tell, the government does not recognize any IDPs from the 2007 post-election violence, while the camps where these people who were driven off their land but politically funded thugs live are visible from the road (I literally saw 5 camps just driving to the MCC retreat). I surely hope the census officials made it to the IDP camps….
Anyway, census day (Tuesday) was a national holiday and I wanted to wish you all a happy census day. Even as it is flawed, conducting a census is reason to celebrate. I have been counted. I am now known.
In many countries, avoiding a census is a major political tool. If you don’t count the people, you can cite ignorance when you don’t do what you’re supposed to. “Half the people aren’t educated….that’s news to me, I thought our population was just half as big.” Or, it can be used as a tool to marginalize certain people groups, invisible communities that the government can wish away and oppress because they don’t even exist in the eyes of the world. One thing you hear a lot of sarcasm about in Kenya is the non-existence of IDPs (internally displaced people). As far as I can tell, the government does not recognize any IDPs from the 2007 post-election violence, while the camps where these people who were driven off their land but politically funded thugs live are visible from the road (I literally saw 5 camps just driving to the MCC retreat). I surely hope the census officials made it to the IDP camps….
Anyway, census day (Tuesday) was a national holiday and I wanted to wish you all a happy census day. Even as it is flawed, conducting a census is reason to celebrate. I have been counted. I am now known.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Goat Slaughtering
Goat Slaughtering: (some of the contents of this blog may not be suitable for small children. Parents are advised to read it before sharing with children.)
On Monday a friend (Joseph) from the program invited me over to his house and mentioned that his father was planning on slaughtering a goat. I looked forward to having something to do while the power was out all day and wanted to reciprocate his willingness to come visit me.
After a short walk through featureless brush, we arrived on his family’s compound. Joseph’s house was next to his father’s, within the same thorny fence. His house was made of mud and wood with a tin roof. It was a bedroom only, maybe 4 meters long by 2.5 meters wide. It was everything that you’d imagine a “mud-hut” to be from its looks but was remarkably a home. It felt like a place to live, a home like any other. I was again surprised to see him turn on a radio as I hadn’t noticed his small solar panel powering a radio and feeding a battery. Joseph is able to run a tv for 2 days on his battery fed by a solar panel he bought for ~$50. Here our program was crippled because of no power but Joseph could go about his normal routine.
After visiting with some of his 14 brothers and sisters (from two moms), it was time to slaughter a goat. I had seen goats killed before but had never really been part of it and I was pretty apprehensive. I realized how removed from death we are in the States and how it is abhorrent to me. I’ll spare you the details but to see a person take an animal’s life was distressing, even as I knew that the same had happened to many animals to feed me in the past. After my initial hesitance to participate, I decided I had to at least seem interested to not offend the family that was inviting me to celebrate with them. I helped skin the goat which I did with moderate success. Then came the removal of each and every part, all used for one purpose or another. Every part was thrown into a pot, heated over a small wood fire they built under an acacia. Joseph was very proud that nothing got wasted. Even the vertebrae, once cleaned of meat, were stuck onto the end of a stick to make a soup stir-er….this just amazed me.
Throughout the process I was confronted with various stretching decisions. Should I drink blood (thankfully Joseph refused for me), eat raw kidneys (I said I’d probably throw them up even if I liked them), eat cooked heart and liver (I did), and Maasai “soup” (water, boiled fat and the essence of various tree branches)? On a deeper level, I was challenged to rethink whether the things I have been taught as “right” or “wrong” are cultural, moral, or traditional. Why don’t we eat raw kidneys? I’m not sure really. I’m sure a doctor could tell you why, but at the same time I see these Maasai who have a life expectancy in the 60s without a hospital in sight. Part of the conclusion I came to was that our culture enforces strict sanitary regulations to overcome the anonymity of the food supply. When I buy a steak from Wegman’s the only assurance I have that it isn’t from rabies-infested road-kill is that the FDA has checked it and zapped the bad things out of it. When you literally know not only the goat you eat but its parents, you don’t need as many controls because you know exactly where it came from, exactly its health, and exactly what you are eating.
At the end, Joseph walked me home and gave me a beautiful hunk of meat which I later cooked “oloshumpai” (white-man) style with a chili-sauce over rice. I felt like I was able to honor Joseph and deepen our friendship through the day’s events. While I often was uncomfortable or down-right queasy with what I was seeing, these are the things that help me grow. I was blessed to have Joseph, who understands me relatively well, to help me navigate the various cultural expectations and norms. Having somebody to talk through what I was feeling helped me cope with what I was seeing. In the end, I praise God for knowing a little more about life, being a little less sure about what I know, and a being little richer for it.
On Monday a friend (Joseph) from the program invited me over to his house and mentioned that his father was planning on slaughtering a goat. I looked forward to having something to do while the power was out all day and wanted to reciprocate his willingness to come visit me.
After a short walk through featureless brush, we arrived on his family’s compound. Joseph’s house was next to his father’s, within the same thorny fence. His house was made of mud and wood with a tin roof. It was a bedroom only, maybe 4 meters long by 2.5 meters wide. It was everything that you’d imagine a “mud-hut” to be from its looks but was remarkably a home. It felt like a place to live, a home like any other. I was again surprised to see him turn on a radio as I hadn’t noticed his small solar panel powering a radio and feeding a battery. Joseph is able to run a tv for 2 days on his battery fed by a solar panel he bought for ~$50. Here our program was crippled because of no power but Joseph could go about his normal routine.
After visiting with some of his 14 brothers and sisters (from two moms), it was time to slaughter a goat. I had seen goats killed before but had never really been part of it and I was pretty apprehensive. I realized how removed from death we are in the States and how it is abhorrent to me. I’ll spare you the details but to see a person take an animal’s life was distressing, even as I knew that the same had happened to many animals to feed me in the past. After my initial hesitance to participate, I decided I had to at least seem interested to not offend the family that was inviting me to celebrate with them. I helped skin the goat which I did with moderate success. Then came the removal of each and every part, all used for one purpose or another. Every part was thrown into a pot, heated over a small wood fire they built under an acacia. Joseph was very proud that nothing got wasted. Even the vertebrae, once cleaned of meat, were stuck onto the end of a stick to make a soup stir-er….this just amazed me.
Throughout the process I was confronted with various stretching decisions. Should I drink blood (thankfully Joseph refused for me), eat raw kidneys (I said I’d probably throw them up even if I liked them), eat cooked heart and liver (I did), and Maasai “soup” (water, boiled fat and the essence of various tree branches)? On a deeper level, I was challenged to rethink whether the things I have been taught as “right” or “wrong” are cultural, moral, or traditional. Why don’t we eat raw kidneys? I’m not sure really. I’m sure a doctor could tell you why, but at the same time I see these Maasai who have a life expectancy in the 60s without a hospital in sight. Part of the conclusion I came to was that our culture enforces strict sanitary regulations to overcome the anonymity of the food supply. When I buy a steak from Wegman’s the only assurance I have that it isn’t from rabies-infested road-kill is that the FDA has checked it and zapped the bad things out of it. When you literally know not only the goat you eat but its parents, you don’t need as many controls because you know exactly where it came from, exactly its health, and exactly what you are eating.
At the end, Joseph walked me home and gave me a beautiful hunk of meat which I later cooked “oloshumpai” (white-man) style with a chili-sauce over rice. I felt like I was able to honor Joseph and deepen our friendship through the day’s events. While I often was uncomfortable or down-right queasy with what I was seeing, these are the things that help me grow. I was blessed to have Joseph, who understands me relatively well, to help me navigate the various cultural expectations and norms. Having somebody to talk through what I was feeling helped me cope with what I was seeing. In the end, I praise God for knowing a little more about life, being a little less sure about what I know, and a being little richer for it.
Life Without
This past week has been a week without. As has been the case for a few weeks, we have been without a fridge, which also means we are without meat. Kenya is currently going through a electricity rationing regimen because they are producing about 50% of capacity due to no water in the hydro-dams. Three days a week (MWF for Najile) we have no power from 8am-6pm. The water was out this week, meaning I was going off our talk in our roof and carrying water in jerry cans from the MFSP farm. In addition to that, Steph’s trip home meant that for me it was life without Steph.
Despite missing many things, it was a blessed week. God showed me His faithfulness in providing during my “without.” On Sunday, I was really despairing that I would be both angry at people (for various things) and frustrated at church (it went for about 5 hours). However, God was truly faithful, changing my heart, teaching me new lessons and challenging me to grow.
Also, in the midst of going without, it is easy to see the value of what there is. Having electricity or water is like having a party, cause for a celebration. I notice how much I value friends who came by almost every night to just hang out and make sure I wasn’t lonely. Finally, seeing God provide for all my needs each day, from food, to water, to being able to get done, is a blessing that I’ve longed for at home, in a land “with”, and now can experience fully.
Life without can be stressful, can be unproductive, and very lonely. However, we have a God who provides. How can we be without when God is with us?
Despite missing many things, it was a blessed week. God showed me His faithfulness in providing during my “without.” On Sunday, I was really despairing that I would be both angry at people (for various things) and frustrated at church (it went for about 5 hours). However, God was truly faithful, changing my heart, teaching me new lessons and challenging me to grow.
Also, in the midst of going without, it is easy to see the value of what there is. Having electricity or water is like having a party, cause for a celebration. I notice how much I value friends who came by almost every night to just hang out and make sure I wasn’t lonely. Finally, seeing God provide for all my needs each day, from food, to water, to being able to get done, is a blessing that I’ve longed for at home, in a land “with”, and now can experience fully.
Life without can be stressful, can be unproductive, and very lonely. However, we have a God who provides. How can we be without when God is with us?
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Farmers Field Day
Bead makers at the Farmers Fied Day
Bob and Judy (MCC East Africa Directors) and Martha and Ron (MCC Kenya Reps)
Our lovely house
Accacia Pods and other usundry items
Pictures I Like
Picture 1:Guess What! A Cow
Picture 2: Esther, Mary and Steph
Picture 3: Our 2nd Anniversary
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Keeping Cool
Fridge Issues:
So our fridge broke again. To get it fixed we needed to do the following: invite people over to eat all our leftovers before they went bad, hire a truck, make a 2.5 hour trip each way into Nairobi with the fridge, pay a visit to the police station, negotiate a fair (?) price with the truck driver, and then make a second trip to Nairobi, pick up the fridge and drive it home.
The first problem we encountered was deciding who would drive into Nairobi with the fridge. Neither of us like traveling to Nairobi, it is a dusty, long, and usually frustrating trip. We both had things we wanted to do at home, so there was no easy way to decide who would go. Steph drew the short straw.
The trip was uneventful and easy, we dropped the fridge off at the repair place with no complications. I was on my way back to Ngong for some light shopping and an early return to Najile when the cops intervened. They flagged over the truck to the side of the road, asking for registration and the drivers’ license. It was a mistake to hand the license over to the cops. They started quizzing the driver on any possible problem with the truck, and found the broken hand-brake as an excuse to direct us to the station since we were on the road with an “unsafe vehicle.” With the drivers’ license in hand, the cop walked away, beckoning us to follow.
Two hours later, we were still at the station. The police were asking for Ksh 5,000 cash “bail” and a court date. Meanwhile, I called the MCC office, and Wambui our super-secretary told me to call a taxi, since the cops just wanted money from the “muzungu.” The moment I called the taxi, the “bail” price dropped. I told the driver to not pay any bribe and that I’d meet him in Ngong. The police held out for Ksh 1,500 and eventually the driver gave in because he needed his license. A week later, we’ve had no more run-ins with the police, but the fridge still isn’t fixed.
So our fridge broke again. To get it fixed we needed to do the following: invite people over to eat all our leftovers before they went bad, hire a truck, make a 2.5 hour trip each way into Nairobi with the fridge, pay a visit to the police station, negotiate a fair (?) price with the truck driver, and then make a second trip to Nairobi, pick up the fridge and drive it home.
The first problem we encountered was deciding who would drive into Nairobi with the fridge. Neither of us like traveling to Nairobi, it is a dusty, long, and usually frustrating trip. We both had things we wanted to do at home, so there was no easy way to decide who would go. Steph drew the short straw.
The trip was uneventful and easy, we dropped the fridge off at the repair place with no complications. I was on my way back to Ngong for some light shopping and an early return to Najile when the cops intervened. They flagged over the truck to the side of the road, asking for registration and the drivers’ license. It was a mistake to hand the license over to the cops. They started quizzing the driver on any possible problem with the truck, and found the broken hand-brake as an excuse to direct us to the station since we were on the road with an “unsafe vehicle.” With the drivers’ license in hand, the cop walked away, beckoning us to follow.
Two hours later, we were still at the station. The police were asking for Ksh 5,000 cash “bail” and a court date. Meanwhile, I called the MCC office, and Wambui our super-secretary told me to call a taxi, since the cops just wanted money from the “muzungu.” The moment I called the taxi, the “bail” price dropped. I told the driver to not pay any bribe and that I’d meet him in Ngong. The police held out for Ksh 1,500 and eventually the driver gave in because he needed his license. A week later, we’ve had no more run-ins with the police, but the fridge still isn’t fixed.
Matatu Ride
Matatu Ride:
We were planning on meeting the folks from GAR (Generation at Risk, a MCC-sponsored HIV/AIDS program) in Ngong around 4. After leaving the MCC Guest House at 2, we made it to Ngong (suburb of Nairobi) just around 4. We figured we had some time since GAR was late all day, so we did some quick grocery shopping at the open-air market. We texted two people to see when they might arrive in Ngong, but got no response. While sitting at the Ngong branch of Barclay’s bank, we saw a friend from Najile who was taking a matatu back home. We asked if there was space for us, just in case our other ride didn’t work out. She said there was and we went to the matatu stop (which included such luxurious amenities as a hillside to sit and wait on). By 6:15, we still hadn’t heard back from GAR and our matatu was ready, so we piled in.
This matatu, was a pickup truck, but did have an army-green canvas over a metal frame over the bed. The bed was about 1.5 meters wide, by 3 meters long. Along the two sides and the back of the cab were small wooden benches. Down the middle of the bed was a whole assortment of boxes and packages, taking up a solid half-meter of the width and piled a couple feet high. We fit 9 in the back, three along each side and three along the cab back. The biggest problem with the ride would be the dust. Since it hasn’t rained in awhile, huge clouds of dust follow every vehicle that travels to Najile, so sitting in the back of a pickup was asking for dust-trouble. Some people completely covered their face with a shuka, others wrapped cloth arab-style over their mouth, and others just hunched over and tried to breathe into their shirt.
Fortunately, the canvas prevented most of the dust from coming into the truck. The ride went by smoothly, many stories were told, everybody was happy to learn we knew Maasai, and by the end, we were all singing hymns together. Despite driving much faster than a normal vehicle, the trip took longer due to the frequent stops, especially as we approached Najile. When we got home, it was dark, our backs were sore, we were tired, and had a nice dust covering. However, we were in Kenya, a beautiful land that is to be our home for 3 years. As we watched the sun go down as we entered the Rift Valley, it didn’t all seem so bad.
We were planning on meeting the folks from GAR (Generation at Risk, a MCC-sponsored HIV/AIDS program) in Ngong around 4. After leaving the MCC Guest House at 2, we made it to Ngong (suburb of Nairobi) just around 4. We figured we had some time since GAR was late all day, so we did some quick grocery shopping at the open-air market. We texted two people to see when they might arrive in Ngong, but got no response. While sitting at the Ngong branch of Barclay’s bank, we saw a friend from Najile who was taking a matatu back home. We asked if there was space for us, just in case our other ride didn’t work out. She said there was and we went to the matatu stop (which included such luxurious amenities as a hillside to sit and wait on). By 6:15, we still hadn’t heard back from GAR and our matatu was ready, so we piled in.
This matatu, was a pickup truck, but did have an army-green canvas over a metal frame over the bed. The bed was about 1.5 meters wide, by 3 meters long. Along the two sides and the back of the cab were small wooden benches. Down the middle of the bed was a whole assortment of boxes and packages, taking up a solid half-meter of the width and piled a couple feet high. We fit 9 in the back, three along each side and three along the cab back. The biggest problem with the ride would be the dust. Since it hasn’t rained in awhile, huge clouds of dust follow every vehicle that travels to Najile, so sitting in the back of a pickup was asking for dust-trouble. Some people completely covered their face with a shuka, others wrapped cloth arab-style over their mouth, and others just hunched over and tried to breathe into their shirt.
Fortunately, the canvas prevented most of the dust from coming into the truck. The ride went by smoothly, many stories were told, everybody was happy to learn we knew Maasai, and by the end, we were all singing hymns together. Despite driving much faster than a normal vehicle, the trip took longer due to the frequent stops, especially as we approached Najile. When we got home, it was dark, our backs were sore, we were tired, and had a nice dust covering. However, we were in Kenya, a beautiful land that is to be our home for 3 years. As we watched the sun go down as we entered the Rift Valley, it didn’t all seem so bad.Testing
This past week was exam week. Many of the schools in Kenya were closing for the 1-month break and conducting the same kind of finals that children seemingly dread worldwide. At the same time, Steph and I were tested in all the lessons we have been learning from God the past two months. We were tested again and again in patience, in keeping our eyes on God, on loving people even when we wanted to either hide in our house or snap at everybody. Through it all, God has been faithful. This week we also decided to re-commit ourselves to daily prayer together and as we prayed for strength each day, we were blessed with all that we needed to make it through the day.
After a wonderfully relaxed 2nd anniversary on Monday, we realized our fridge had been fried for the second time since moving to Najile. We began the hurried process of planning to get the fridge to Nairobi and the food that was left eaten. Tuesday took me to Ngong to meet with one of our partners. A two hour drive ended with me finding out the meeting was cancelled because another meeting had been scheduled in its place. On Wednesday, Steph was feeling sick most of the morning, which made hosting a training on surveys catered with all that was left in the defunct fridge difficult. After the training, we found a dead mouse in one room-and the mouse had been dead for awhile. Thursday and Friday were without power most of the day and of course the water has been off most days in July (fortunately our reserve tank has held us through). In all these things God has been faithful.
On Tuesday, I had the grace and patience to not only get shopping done while the other meeting went on, but also to travel with our partners all over Kajiado district to visit their project sites with a visitor. I found out the visitor and I had a lot in common and we were happy to have connected. On Wednesday, Steph felt better in the afternoon and was able to clean up the mouse remains without any major problem. On Thursday, Steph sat in on a meeting of adult literacy teachers and found great joy in helping teachers, one of her great passions. At the same time, we learned about an MCC choir visiting in early Nov. Steph will be able to work with the choirs here to prepare them, which again got Steph excited to be teaching music. While plans changed again and again, all week we remembered what God has been teaching us about keeping our eyes on him. We are so blessed to be here and a dead mouse should not affect our joy here.
So did we pass our test? I’m sure there’s much more for us to learn, but I praise God for showing us that He can grow us and bring us to a place where we can truly reflect Him to others. We pray that these lessons will stay with us for years to come.
After a wonderfully relaxed 2nd anniversary on Monday, we realized our fridge had been fried for the second time since moving to Najile. We began the hurried process of planning to get the fridge to Nairobi and the food that was left eaten. Tuesday took me to Ngong to meet with one of our partners. A two hour drive ended with me finding out the meeting was cancelled because another meeting had been scheduled in its place. On Wednesday, Steph was feeling sick most of the morning, which made hosting a training on surveys catered with all that was left in the defunct fridge difficult. After the training, we found a dead mouse in one room-and the mouse had been dead for awhile. Thursday and Friday were without power most of the day and of course the water has been off most days in July (fortunately our reserve tank has held us through). In all these things God has been faithful.
On Tuesday, I had the grace and patience to not only get shopping done while the other meeting went on, but also to travel with our partners all over Kajiado district to visit their project sites with a visitor. I found out the visitor and I had a lot in common and we were happy to have connected. On Wednesday, Steph felt better in the afternoon and was able to clean up the mouse remains without any major problem. On Thursday, Steph sat in on a meeting of adult literacy teachers and found great joy in helping teachers, one of her great passions. At the same time, we learned about an MCC choir visiting in early Nov. Steph will be able to work with the choirs here to prepare them, which again got Steph excited to be teaching music. While plans changed again and again, all week we remembered what God has been teaching us about keeping our eyes on him. We are so blessed to be here and a dead mouse should not affect our joy here.
So did we pass our test? I’m sure there’s much more for us to learn, but I praise God for showing us that He can grow us and bring us to a place where we can truly reflect Him to others. We pray that these lessons will stay with us for years to come.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Anniversary
With our anniversary coming up, I tend to find myself looking back. I got to thinking about the spring before our wedding. At my bridal showers, my sister put together a quiz about our relationship. One of the questions was “In Summer 2009 where will Matt and Steph be living?” The correct answer was South Africa. We had planned for Matt to enroll in a masters program that took him to South Africa each summer for 3 consecutive years. Instead, God opened the door for Matt to complete his masters in only 1 year and for us to be in Africa doing development work within our first 2 years of marriage. Every-once-in-a-while we have to remind ourselves that we’re really doing this. We’re in Kenya. Doing development work. Working toward real, tangible change in the lives of the people here. We feel incredibly blessed and thankful for the privilege to serve God in this way.
Maasai mix-up: So I was trying to tell some ladies after church today that Matt and I are celebrating our anniversary tomorrow. There is no word for anniversary in Maa, so I was trying to say we have 2 years of marriage. [Kiata enkiyama ilarin oare] Instead, I said, we have 2 months of marriage! [Kiata enkiyama ilapaitin oare] Luckily, Matt noticed my mistake and corrected it before there was too much confusion.
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