haha the title of the post is supposed to be the beginning of the lion king theme song. I could not help but play that in my head while I was on the safari. The safari was so much fun and such a good break. Africa is so beautiful! It is a mixture of green and brown, mountains and flatlands, trees and bush. You can look way across the land and spot a tree miles and miles away and it looks like it is so close to you. When I got to the safari, I was like this is the Africa I fell in love with. We had the coolest jeeps that had 4-wheel drive, which is a must if you want to do some of the major off roading. While on the safaris, our driver would all of a sudden take off so fast and we would get so excited because we knew we were going to see something good. All the drivers had radios and call each other when they spot something.
Here are some of the things we saw:
1. A leapord in a tree. Our driver said that it is so rare to see this.
2. Elephants really really close
3. A den of lioness' sleeping. We fish tailed the whole way down this really muddy path to get to them. It was so much fun and well worth it.
4. giraffes
5. cheetahs really close
6. an ostrich
7. a huge heard of water buffalo
8. zebras
9. and much more
we were not able to see the hippos or rhinos because it had rained and the path was too wet to get to the river. After our safari, we were able to visit the masaai village for just a short while. This was soooo fascinating. I believe one of the reason the Lord has brought me here is to develop my interest in tribalism. It is so huge here and I really want to study it in depth. I believe we must understand tribalism to understand Africa. And if you think about it, it was a huge deal in biblical times as well.
one other crazy thing happened this week. Yesterday as I was coming upstairs, I heard my name called. Sitting on the couch was one of the Invisible Children roadies who came through Nashville. It totally shocked me. He has been in Sudan and he is at the end of his trip. We talked alot about Africa and how it is hard to be here. It is so true. To be called here full time is a huge calling. You get here and want to go home. We both feel that way, but you really don't want to admit it. So I still believe that I am called to this place, I just do not know in what capacity yet.
We have changed up the schedule a little bit for the last two weeks because the internship has not been what we thought. The Lord has still be so faithful and worked despite human error, but needless to say, we have had several frustrations with the organization we are with. The people here in Africa are wonderful. It is the organization back home that is frustrating. So please pray as we work out what we need to discuss when we get back and how we can truly help these people here. I am half way there and nearly ready.
peace and love.
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
raffiki
I did not know what to title the post so raffiki means friend in swahili. well my time here has been totally different than i expected. I can honestly say at times I am ready to go home. Not because I am super homesick or I am miserable here, but because I have seen so much need and potential and crazy stuff that I am trying to process what I am supposed to do as a follower of Christ. Not as an American, not as a "I hate America" person, not as a young idealists, but through the mind of Christ.
It is so much. I wish I could express it all in words. Life here is so different. I continually find myself trying to shead my "Americanism" and then realizing that part of that is so taken for granted. Imagine life where no one asks you about your hopes and dreams or pushes you to be your best. There is a cultural tribalism here that I would really love to study in depth. Somehow so much of this cultural seems to go back to this group mentality of their tribe. I do not know what to say what is good/bad or right/wrong yet, it is just very interesting. It seems like so much is kept from them. Has no one told them that you wash your hands and drink water seperate from the water for the sewage? Has no one told them that learning is more than just memorization? Has no one told them that they have the potential to value life and have a purpose?
I just got to the point yesterday where I was overwhelmed by it all. This boy had a big bruise and open scab on the side of his mouth and was just moping around and crying. The other kids tried to comfort him, but I just finally picked him up. He just wanted someone to hold him. Then I saw other kids falling or being pushed and crying about nothing. I was just overwhelmed because all these kids want is love and attention. Not from the other kids and not in a conceited way, but just love from someone. There is a this group mentality here that so contricts everything I grew up around. Individuality is so important in America. I find myself in tension with these two cultures because I see value in both. Then I step back and ask myself how Christ would view all of this.
Well that is where I am left at the moment. Although the trip definately has been rough at times, rougher than I expected, it has also been so rewarding and fun. I have been working in the kitchen some lately at the center and it is fun to be there with the two cooks. I have also enjoyed being with the kids and spending time with the sewing girls. Tomorrow we leave for the safari which is much needed for all of us. After we get back, we will still spend time at the center/orphanage, but the Lord has also opened up some new opportunities. We will go to the school at the Korogocho slum one day and then an AIDS home for infants another day. God has tugged all our hearts to a certain place at the korogocho school so we are excited about that. I am going to spend some time with the girls in the hair/beauty school and let them do my hair. We continue to meet so many other missionary types here who are such an encouragement to us. We watched a movie in a lady's room last night who is here on a break from sudan. we met a photojournalist tonight who has traveled around sudan and east africa and has amazing photography. so despite to the hard things we are trying to swallow, the Lord has provided encouragement for us.
one other observation that keeps coming to me is that I cannot help but think that I am experiencing the aftermath of western christianity coming to africa and then leaving it to perish. The city life is definately in Nairobi, but these people still live savage lives. Also, after talking to people about Christianity here, alot of it is confused with tribalism and things. I feel like discipleship and relationship got left out of the picture. But God is still at work here. We have met so many people who continue to encourage and inspire us with the work they do here and I am really excited about the rest of the trip. I guess where I am left now is that I feel like with the amount of time I have, there is no room for me to really invest somewhere. With Africa, when you say "just go love the people/children", I am starting to see that means years of work. That is just who they are, and who they are is so amazing and unique. So despite all the un-American things I have seen, my prayer now is to sift through what it looks like to follow Christ in Africa.
So I do not know if what I just said makes any sense, but please know that I am well and so excited about the rest of the trip (and excited about coming home). I will most likely write again when we get back from the safari.
peace and love.
It is so much. I wish I could express it all in words. Life here is so different. I continually find myself trying to shead my "Americanism" and then realizing that part of that is so taken for granted. Imagine life where no one asks you about your hopes and dreams or pushes you to be your best. There is a cultural tribalism here that I would really love to study in depth. Somehow so much of this cultural seems to go back to this group mentality of their tribe. I do not know what to say what is good/bad or right/wrong yet, it is just very interesting. It seems like so much is kept from them. Has no one told them that you wash your hands and drink water seperate from the water for the sewage? Has no one told them that learning is more than just memorization? Has no one told them that they have the potential to value life and have a purpose?
I just got to the point yesterday where I was overwhelmed by it all. This boy had a big bruise and open scab on the side of his mouth and was just moping around and crying. The other kids tried to comfort him, but I just finally picked him up. He just wanted someone to hold him. Then I saw other kids falling or being pushed and crying about nothing. I was just overwhelmed because all these kids want is love and attention. Not from the other kids and not in a conceited way, but just love from someone. There is a this group mentality here that so contricts everything I grew up around. Individuality is so important in America. I find myself in tension with these two cultures because I see value in both. Then I step back and ask myself how Christ would view all of this.
Well that is where I am left at the moment. Although the trip definately has been rough at times, rougher than I expected, it has also been so rewarding and fun. I have been working in the kitchen some lately at the center and it is fun to be there with the two cooks. I have also enjoyed being with the kids and spending time with the sewing girls. Tomorrow we leave for the safari which is much needed for all of us. After we get back, we will still spend time at the center/orphanage, but the Lord has also opened up some new opportunities. We will go to the school at the Korogocho slum one day and then an AIDS home for infants another day. God has tugged all our hearts to a certain place at the korogocho school so we are excited about that. I am going to spend some time with the girls in the hair/beauty school and let them do my hair. We continue to meet so many other missionary types here who are such an encouragement to us. We watched a movie in a lady's room last night who is here on a break from sudan. we met a photojournalist tonight who has traveled around sudan and east africa and has amazing photography. so despite to the hard things we are trying to swallow, the Lord has provided encouragement for us.
one other observation that keeps coming to me is that I cannot help but think that I am experiencing the aftermath of western christianity coming to africa and then leaving it to perish. The city life is definately in Nairobi, but these people still live savage lives. Also, after talking to people about Christianity here, alot of it is confused with tribalism and things. I feel like discipleship and relationship got left out of the picture. But God is still at work here. We have met so many people who continue to encourage and inspire us with the work they do here and I am really excited about the rest of the trip. I guess where I am left now is that I feel like with the amount of time I have, there is no room for me to really invest somewhere. With Africa, when you say "just go love the people/children", I am starting to see that means years of work. That is just who they are, and who they are is so amazing and unique. So despite all the un-American things I have seen, my prayer now is to sift through what it looks like to follow Christ in Africa.
So I do not know if what I just said makes any sense, but please know that I am well and so excited about the rest of the trip (and excited about coming home). I will most likely write again when we get back from the safari.
peace and love.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
good day
thank you for your prayers! i am feeling much better. still a bit stuffy and congested, but much better. my sinus was killing me this morning before church, but i said no satan! you will not let me have a bad day. so i went and it eased as the day went on. church was good today. these people worship with such passion. after church we took tony, the man who is the pastor of the church and runs bcc now, and his family out to lunch. he has the most adorable 10 month old girl. she sat in my lap on the way to lunch and feel fast asleep. it was great. and then she opened up and had quite the personality. he and his wife have a house on the same property as the orphanage and next week we will each lunch with them in their home. it was so good to be with them today.
i can't believe it has only been a week. it seems much longer. but at the same time it doesn't. this week we go on the safari which should be fun. i am also excited to spend some more time with the girls in the sewing class the next few days. again, thank you for your prayers and encouragement. i do not know if i will be able to get pictures up while i am here. we have not been able to so far. we will keep trying.
peace and love.
i can't believe it has only been a week. it seems much longer. but at the same time it doesn't. this week we go on the safari which should be fun. i am also excited to spend some more time with the girls in the sewing class the next few days. again, thank you for your prayers and encouragement. i do not know if i will be able to get pictures up while i am here. we have not been able to so far. we will keep trying.
peace and love.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
and so it goes...
well, unfortunately, i have become somewhat sick. breathing in all the nasty air and dirt has really aggrevated my sinus an allegeries so i am super congested right now. i stayed behind today and did not go to the center which is no fun. it was our first day that we get to spend all day with the orphans because they are not in school. i know it all happens for a reason and i want to get better. so i please ask for your prayers for my health and the heath of my teammates. we are all tired and fatigued and satan is definately using that to try to get us down.
the past few days have been good and exhausting. being in africa is a big adjustment. more than i think we realize. i have spent sometime with the children in the school which has been fun. different than i expected, but still good to be there. yesterday was our first day off, but it really did not end up being a day off. we went to one of the slums with a group traveling through to see another school that buckner supports. that was definately heavy to see. one thing that got me was a small boy was among other kids from the slums looking through the gate into the school. he was brave enough to run a little ways into the school area and he grabbed my hand. so i slowly walked him back to the door. it is so hard to resist to be with those kids outside of the school because there is just so much need. after the slum, we went to the masaai market at the village market. both my teammates got a little overwhelmed with the bargaining, but i kind of enjoyed it. my strategy was to say a price and stick with it. one man followed me around the market and insisted that i buy this one thing. it was definately a humorous and interesting experience.
one thing that has been shocking to us is the stigma here about america. even the kids are taught so they can get to america. there is a mindset that if we can just get to america, all our problems would be gone. please pray that we can encourage these people that God has them in africa for a reason, and that america is not what they think it is. they were shocked when we told me that poor, homeless people live in america.
well i guess that is all for now. thank you for your prayers and support. peace and love
p.s. dad, victor from world connex says hello. he is here on another vision trip and his group will be on the safari with us next week.
the past few days have been good and exhausting. being in africa is a big adjustment. more than i think we realize. i have spent sometime with the children in the school which has been fun. different than i expected, but still good to be there. yesterday was our first day off, but it really did not end up being a day off. we went to one of the slums with a group traveling through to see another school that buckner supports. that was definately heavy to see. one thing that got me was a small boy was among other kids from the slums looking through the gate into the school. he was brave enough to run a little ways into the school area and he grabbed my hand. so i slowly walked him back to the door. it is so hard to resist to be with those kids outside of the school because there is just so much need. after the slum, we went to the masaai market at the village market. both my teammates got a little overwhelmed with the bargaining, but i kind of enjoyed it. my strategy was to say a price and stick with it. one man followed me around the market and insisted that i buy this one thing. it was definately a humorous and interesting experience.
one thing that has been shocking to us is the stigma here about america. even the kids are taught so they can get to america. there is a mindset that if we can just get to america, all our problems would be gone. please pray that we can encourage these people that God has them in africa for a reason, and that america is not what they think it is. they were shocked when we told me that poor, homeless people live in america.
well i guess that is all for now. thank you for your prayers and support. peace and love
p.s. dad, victor from world connex says hello. he is here on another vision trip and his group will be on the safari with us next week.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
change of pace
i did not expect to run into so many emotions right at the beginning. there is one thing for sure. when you come to africa, you will be humbled. not because of the poverty and situation, but because of the faith of the people. we are no where near understanding who God is like the people do here. i have come across so many people who have blown my little bitty trip out of the water.
first, the place we are staying is a place for missionaries to come and take a break basically. we have met some of the most amazing people. we usually eat breakfast and lunch here every day and the meals are at a certain time. you join with people at tables, so it is like a big family. i came to africa thinking what i was doing was more than just a "short term mission" or a pointless little trip that makes you feel good about yourself. before we knew it, we were talking to a girl my age who has been living in the slums for 9 months and has amazing stories. we then met a girl who worked in southern sudan for about a year. then, best of all, we met the most kind-spirited older woman yesterday. she has been living in africa for 34 years! and she highly recommends it. after her parents died, people began to give her money to go to africa and she did not think that being there (or here rather) would last longer. she has been here ever since she came. we also met another woman who has been working in southern sudan. just amazing.
second, yesterday was our first full day at the orphanage. we focused our time in the tech center where girls are learning to sew with peddle machines. they are girls around my age who did not make into secondary school or cannot go to secondary school. some are mothers. all but one come in from the slum surrounding the orphanage and they are amazing. at first they were shy, but then they asked me to play soccer and handball with them on their break. it was so much fun. then after we came in, the immediately brought me to their station and taught me how to sew. it was amazing. i made two different skirts in a cm instead of inches. the community here is amazing. the love each other with everything. at the end of the day the girls proceed to clean like i have never seen before. they are such good stewards of what they have been given. they worked together so well. after the clean, the sing a few praises and pray. it just blows me away. everything is so christ centered. they need God desperately.
the love the workers at the orphanage have for these children is amazing. they give up so much to show love to these children. we have no idea how to love like these people. they are the ones who need to be teaching us. i never expected to come to africa and be the one who is being served, but that is truly the case. our driver is this amazing africa man who is so generous and kind. he takes on different routes all the time to show us the different parts of africa. and by the way, mom, your greatest challenge in coming to this place would be riding in the car. i am pretty sure you would have to wear a blindfold. the staff here where we are staying are all africans and they serve us every meal. i was taught to sew yesterday by amazing girls. really, how did i ever deserve this?
i am still trying to process what i see everyday. going from the orphanage to the slums to the city can be overwhelming at times. there is just so much going on and such poverty. they hard thing is that this is normal for them. i see these tiny shacks and trash and children, but this is all normal for them. it is life. part of that does not need to be changed. my prayer now is how can i even help this place? this is all they know. well there are so many other things to share, but i believe this is all for now. i will write again soon.
peace and love.
first, the place we are staying is a place for missionaries to come and take a break basically. we have met some of the most amazing people. we usually eat breakfast and lunch here every day and the meals are at a certain time. you join with people at tables, so it is like a big family. i came to africa thinking what i was doing was more than just a "short term mission" or a pointless little trip that makes you feel good about yourself. before we knew it, we were talking to a girl my age who has been living in the slums for 9 months and has amazing stories. we then met a girl who worked in southern sudan for about a year. then, best of all, we met the most kind-spirited older woman yesterday. she has been living in africa for 34 years! and she highly recommends it. after her parents died, people began to give her money to go to africa and she did not think that being there (or here rather) would last longer. she has been here ever since she came. we also met another woman who has been working in southern sudan. just amazing.
second, yesterday was our first full day at the orphanage. we focused our time in the tech center where girls are learning to sew with peddle machines. they are girls around my age who did not make into secondary school or cannot go to secondary school. some are mothers. all but one come in from the slum surrounding the orphanage and they are amazing. at first they were shy, but then they asked me to play soccer and handball with them on their break. it was so much fun. then after we came in, the immediately brought me to their station and taught me how to sew. it was amazing. i made two different skirts in a cm instead of inches. the community here is amazing. the love each other with everything. at the end of the day the girls proceed to clean like i have never seen before. they are such good stewards of what they have been given. they worked together so well. after the clean, the sing a few praises and pray. it just blows me away. everything is so christ centered. they need God desperately.
the love the workers at the orphanage have for these children is amazing. they give up so much to show love to these children. we have no idea how to love like these people. they are the ones who need to be teaching us. i never expected to come to africa and be the one who is being served, but that is truly the case. our driver is this amazing africa man who is so generous and kind. he takes on different routes all the time to show us the different parts of africa. and by the way, mom, your greatest challenge in coming to this place would be riding in the car. i am pretty sure you would have to wear a blindfold. the staff here where we are staying are all africans and they serve us every meal. i was taught to sew yesterday by amazing girls. really, how did i ever deserve this?
i am still trying to process what i see everyday. going from the orphanage to the slums to the city can be overwhelming at times. there is just so much going on and such poverty. they hard thing is that this is normal for them. i see these tiny shacks and trash and children, but this is all normal for them. it is life. part of that does not need to be changed. my prayer now is how can i even help this place? this is all they know. well there are so many other things to share, but i believe this is all for now. i will write again soon.
peace and love.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
babump...babump...babump
I'm in Africa!!
we made it safely last night. The Lord really blessed us with smooth and enjoyable travel. I set next to a wee little Scottish man on the ride for london to nairobi. he was quite the character and had quite a bit of alcohol. did you know that bristish airways gives you free alcohol?! this man used that service for sure. he was going to drill for oil in uganda. not exactly doing much good for uganda, but he did keep me entertained. the whole africa thing did not really hit last night because it was dark and i couldn't really see anything. today we went church at the orphanage center and it was quite a treat! on the way there is when the whole africa thing hit. i don't really want to say much about it now because i am still trying to process everything that i have seen. here are a few observations: africans make intense eye contact...a good kind of intense, i heard justin timberlake in the place i ate lunch at today...quite unexpected, a golf course, pot holes make driving alot more exciting, an old african woman introduced herself at church today my giving me a great hug....and lets just say that africans should be teaching us the bible...period.
the place we are staying is very nice. all muzungus (white hommies). we have showers and sleep under mesquito nets. there is a computer here so i will be able to write on the blog alot. we will have much free time at night because it is too dangerous to be out after dark (although the crazy take risks spirit inside of me wants to...but it won't happen). my teammates are great and we all bring a certain spark to the team. i am so excited about the next month. i played soccer with some of the boys after church and that was quite fun. one boy just told me what to do. "you, go to that goal!" "sorry, wipe you face" (this was after the ball hit me in the face...haha.) and he constantly reminded me that "you-zero, me-three" because he was winnning.
i love it here already. i find myself wanting to be african because i just want to roam the streets and talk to these people. everyone i see, i want to stop and know their story. they are just genuine people and what i see is normal for them. well this is all for now. i will write again after we have spent some more time with the children.
peace and love
p.s. the title of the blog was for you sarah...you think the crazy three speed bumps at belmont were interesting...you would be saying babump quite a bit here
we made it safely last night. The Lord really blessed us with smooth and enjoyable travel. I set next to a wee little Scottish man on the ride for london to nairobi. he was quite the character and had quite a bit of alcohol. did you know that bristish airways gives you free alcohol?! this man used that service for sure. he was going to drill for oil in uganda. not exactly doing much good for uganda, but he did keep me entertained. the whole africa thing did not really hit last night because it was dark and i couldn't really see anything. today we went church at the orphanage center and it was quite a treat! on the way there is when the whole africa thing hit. i don't really want to say much about it now because i am still trying to process everything that i have seen. here are a few observations: africans make intense eye contact...a good kind of intense, i heard justin timberlake in the place i ate lunch at today...quite unexpected, a golf course, pot holes make driving alot more exciting, an old african woman introduced herself at church today my giving me a great hug....and lets just say that africans should be teaching us the bible...period.
the place we are staying is very nice. all muzungus (white hommies). we have showers and sleep under mesquito nets. there is a computer here so i will be able to write on the blog alot. we will have much free time at night because it is too dangerous to be out after dark (although the crazy take risks spirit inside of me wants to...but it won't happen). my teammates are great and we all bring a certain spark to the team. i am so excited about the next month. i played soccer with some of the boys after church and that was quite fun. one boy just told me what to do. "you, go to that goal!" "sorry, wipe you face" (this was after the ball hit me in the face...haha.) and he constantly reminded me that "you-zero, me-three" because he was winnning.
i love it here already. i find myself wanting to be african because i just want to roam the streets and talk to these people. everyone i see, i want to stop and know their story. they are just genuine people and what i see is normal for them. well this is all for now. i will write again after we have spent some more time with the children.
peace and love
p.s. the title of the blog was for you sarah...you think the crazy three speed bumps at belmont were interesting...you would be saying babump quite a bit here
Monday, May 14, 2007
friends are friends, not food...or is it fish?
This year I have met so many wonderful people and I would like to show some of my favorite pictures of my favorite people. This blog is really feeding my withdrawl more than anything. All these people you see in these pictures are absolutely amazing and I love them to death. It starts off with some of my favorite group "family" pictures and then the rest are random and mostly funny.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)