As the due date fast approaches, I felt it was time to give everyone a chance at guessing the names of our babies. We aren't telling the genders... but here are your clues:
1. All the names are Bible names or at least Bible-inspired.
2. We have chosen pairs of names, meaning a first and middle name that flow nicely into Kistler.
3. Also, the first names start with different letters.
4. The twins' names don't match, but have a similar feel/style.
To submit your guesses, you can post on our blog, or email me : sak.kistler@gmail.com
Any correct responses, which could include any of the 4 names, will receive a personal phone call from us when the babies are born. So make sure that you include your phone number in your reply...
Happy guessing!
Monday, February 21, 2011
Reconciliation
Our roommate Katie is the new MCC Kenya peace worker. An avid reader like us, she brought a large collection of books and resources on peace-making. One such book, is written by a world leader in conflict resolution, also Katie's mentor, John Paul Lederach. The book is titled "Building Peace: Sustainable Reconciliation in Divided Societies."
I wanted to share a small piece of the book that struck me. I cannot claim any of these ideas to be my own.
Back in 1985 the author served as an advisor in mediating conflict between Nicaraguan Sandinistas (the government) and the Yatama (the indigenous resistance group). At the beginning of each village meeting, the conciliators would read Psalm 85. Later on a group of them were able to study this section more deeply:
"Truth and mercy have met together; peace and justice have kissed."
The group discussed the significance/imagery of each of those 4 words:
Truth: honesty, accountability, clarity, revelation, vulnerability
Mercy: compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, new start.
Justice: making things right, rectifying wrongs, creating equal opportunity, restitution.
Peace: harmony, unity, well-being- but only when it is for everyone, if just for a few, it is false.
When asked what is the place where all 4 of these meet, the group said: reconciliation.
Yet, these represent dichotomies. Truth and forgiveness must be validated. Wrongs must be righted, while visioning a harmonious and unified future. To balance truth and mercy, justice and peace is a paradox. And yet, as Christ's people, we are called to be peacemakers. We must find this balance between all 4, creating the space for reconciliation.
I wanted to share a small piece of the book that struck me. I cannot claim any of these ideas to be my own.
Back in 1985 the author served as an advisor in mediating conflict between Nicaraguan Sandinistas (the government) and the Yatama (the indigenous resistance group). At the beginning of each village meeting, the conciliators would read Psalm 85. Later on a group of them were able to study this section more deeply:
"Truth and mercy have met together; peace and justice have kissed."
The group discussed the significance/imagery of each of those 4 words:
Truth: honesty, accountability, clarity, revelation, vulnerability
Mercy: compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, new start.
Justice: making things right, rectifying wrongs, creating equal opportunity, restitution.
Peace: harmony, unity, well-being- but only when it is for everyone, if just for a few, it is false.
When asked what is the place where all 4 of these meet, the group said: reconciliation.
Yet, these represent dichotomies. Truth and forgiveness must be validated. Wrongs must be righted, while visioning a harmonious and unified future. To balance truth and mercy, justice and peace is a paradox. And yet, as Christ's people, we are called to be peacemakers. We must find this balance between all 4, creating the space for reconciliation.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Friends
Today's sermon on Mark chapters 1-2 sparked a new idea for me. Regarding the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus, I'd always seen them as two characters that interacted only on a few important occasions, each with their own job to do. What I've never considered is that they were cousins. Even today, I know all my cousins well and have spent lots of time with them. I'd imagine that would be even more the case in the Jewish culture of Jesus' time. These two probably played together, spent time together, knew each other well.
Fast forward to age 30 and re-think the statement John makes, "are you the one?" I always put the emphasis on "the one"....two strangers meeting with John trying to decipher whether this powerful teacher was the one for whom he was preparing the way. But today it struck me that the inflection could be on the "you"....You the one I've known all along....you are the messiah?
The possibility of the two knowing each other reminded me of Harry Potter and his friendship with Ron. Ron and Harry both struggle with Harry's fame. Ron is jealous and Harry doesn't want what has been given him. This seems like a very natural reaction when two friends are confronted with the fame of one. However, that dynamic does not seem to appear in the gospels. Christ knew who He was and was not ashamed. John knew who he was, and was happy to play his role. When we die to our own ambition and self, in Christ, we can be free to be just who God made us to be, and appreciate others for who they've been made to be.
Fast forward to age 30 and re-think the statement John makes, "are you the one?" I always put the emphasis on "the one"....two strangers meeting with John trying to decipher whether this powerful teacher was the one for whom he was preparing the way. But today it struck me that the inflection could be on the "you"....You the one I've known all along....you are the messiah?
The possibility of the two knowing each other reminded me of Harry Potter and his friendship with Ron. Ron and Harry both struggle with Harry's fame. Ron is jealous and Harry doesn't want what has been given him. This seems like a very natural reaction when two friends are confronted with the fame of one. However, that dynamic does not seem to appear in the gospels. Christ knew who He was and was not ashamed. John knew who he was, and was happy to play his role. When we die to our own ambition and self, in Christ, we can be free to be just who God made us to be, and appreciate others for who they've been made to be.
Valentine
So, I bet you didn't realize that Valentine's Day is a much bigger deal in Kenya than at home. Maybe its because Kenya is a major exporter of fresh cut roses and other flowers, or maybe its yet another bizarre way that Kenya has adopted to be more "Western." For whatever reason, Valentine fever is in full swing here. Flowers are everywhere, even churches are decorated in red, chocolates are ubiquitous, flowers are in every hand (a dozen roses for a dollar or two), and then there's the cards. Kenyans like big valentine's cards. And I mean BIG cards. Many card aisles are filled with cards 8.5X11 and bigger. Looking at these cards reminds me of those poor people who have to wear billboards or ridiculous man-sized hamburger costumes.....all I could think of is a person wearing one of these larger-than-life cards as a costume.
All that to say, happy valentine's! May the God of love and hope fill you with love that doesn't leave wanting and a wellspring of joy that does not grow dry.
All that to say, happy valentine's! May the God of love and hope fill you with love that doesn't leave wanting and a wellspring of joy that does not grow dry.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Back in Town
On Friday we moved into Nairobi as Steph prepares for the end of the pregnancy. I'll be traveling to Najile for one night and two days a week. The other days I'll commute to Ngong to work with MIDI or do MCC work here in Nairobi. Meanwhile Steph is looking forward to strengthening friendships with some people in the area, and doing various projects such as reading up for grad school, learning to cook some new dishes, maybe making a quilt, or just enjoying this time of quiet, before the craziness of kids begins.
We'll be staying in an apartment with another MCC service-worker named Katie whom we're excited to get to know better. We've already made use of the proximity of the apartment to the MCC office (7 minute walk), Mennonite Guest House (4 minute walk) and the Milton's house (5 minute walk). One positive about being in town is the health benefits. Since there are places to walk to, we tend to be a lot more healthy in our exercise patterns. We are also looking forward to rejoining our home group Bible study from Nairobi Baptist Church.
All in all, we look forward to our time in Nairobi. Many things will change during our time here, particularly the doubling of our family. We pray that God blesses this time of waiting, this time of transition, this time of city life.
Our apartment
We'll be staying in an apartment with another MCC service-worker named Katie whom we're excited to get to know better. We've already made use of the proximity of the apartment to the MCC office (7 minute walk), Mennonite Guest House (4 minute walk) and the Milton's house (5 minute walk). One positive about being in town is the health benefits. Since there are places to walk to, we tend to be a lot more healthy in our exercise patterns. We are also looking forward to rejoining our home group Bible study from Nairobi Baptist Church.
All in all, we look forward to our time in Nairobi. Many things will change during our time here, particularly the doubling of our family. We pray that God blesses this time of waiting, this time of transition, this time of city life.
Our apartment
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