These last few days have been particularly good for me. One thing that made me happy on Friday was the students’ devotion time. They have morning devotion everyday, but on Friday nights they have a devotion for just the students and maybe the chaplain with no teachers. I have never gone before, but decided to this Friday. For the first time, I saw some actual passion behind their singing! It was so great to be a part of, as they sang Swahili choruses with their whole bodies, and their loudest voices. Then there was a time when students do some of their own “performances” and share a song or a thought or something. Keep in mind, these are highschool students and first of all they are all there without any force, and on top of that they choose to get up in front of everyone and sing or something. Including boys! This boggles my mind, having worked with highschoolers plenty and knowing what it takes to get them to all show up somewhere. Anyway, then the Chaplain spoke to them about more real issues, not just Bible verses or whatever. This week he talked about sexual purity and it was so funny because he asked them all what is the best gift a wife can give her husband-and he asked if anyone would be bold enough to say it. (he was looking for the answer to be her virginity) There were hushed whispers amidst a little giggling and then someone finally spoke up and blurted out “Twins?” I thought that was so funny and everyone just burst into laughter. It was so funny. Anyway…time with those students really bless my heart.
Yesterday Joan (the special school teacher I work the most with, she is right out of college and 24), Jennifer (my roommate), and I decided to go to Kabarnet to visit Kabarnet Deafblind School, which I just recently heard about and really wanted to go see. So we started walking instead of just waiting for a matatu to come. Anyway, since it was a Saturday only two ended up passing by and they were packed full, so we ended up walking the entire way! That is over two hours…but it was nice! You can see so much more of the views and the houses when you walk, instead of zipping by in a too-fast matatu. (ps…yesterday I was in one that held 21 people! It is supposed to fit like 13 or something) Well when we got there it was the most wonderful thing I could have experienced. There was one teacher on duty, and so she showed us around the compound and told us about each of the children. Basically, this is a place that is the only one like it and kids come from all over, even from neighboring countries. The kids range in age from 6 to about 20 and have a variety of things. Almost all are either deaf or blind or both, in addition to mental disabilities and some physical. These are the kids that are really abandoned. Most of them live at the school year round because their parents won’t take them back. The school actually goes out and looks for the kids, and sometimes just pulls them from their homes because they are hidden away. They really need one on one attention, and here they receive it as there are 26 students and 24 teachers. They also have a therapist that has gotten two children walking who came and weren’t able too. The school as vocational programs for the older students, so they can learn trades like farming or sewing or carpentry. Some of the students that have graduated actually work at the school now. They have about 12 housemothers who rotate in taking care of the kids in the evening. It is funded by the government and partnered by a group in Germany who helps to provide more staff as well as funds for eye surgeries or glasses, etc. Many students became deaf or mentally handicapped from Meningitis, and many have heart issues from Rubella. So it is such a wide range of needs, and a lot of kids just get sent there because of the severity of their needs. One kid was there unable to walk and talk, simply because he has been neglected since in was so young. The students were out in their play yard, and I wanted to touch each one of them and I did. There were some students who would just rock in place and hit themselves or the things around them, others that were just laying around, one girl just sat and was crying! I guess she cries all the time and fights a lot. So this gives you a picture of the mental disabilities. One girl that was seated at the ended of the a slide who was blind I crouched down to say hello and she began to feel me to see who I was. I lifted her hands to my face and hair and the she put her hands on my cheeks and kissed my mouth and then just started blowing in my face; I naturally did it right back to her. The students that were blind would feel my face and my chest to see if I was a man or a woman, and then smell my clothes and arms to see if they knew me already. It was just so precious and I teared up because these are those who my heart breaks for. It was so cool for me to hear about the school and everything they are doing for these children. It is one of a kind and so so wonderful. The children can actually be so happy there. I was warmly invited back, and I am going to visit again this week to see them in a school day and talk to the therapist.
So those things make me happy! Oh, then while I was still in town I went to a salon to buy little bands so some of the students can braid my hair. I so much wanted to stay in there and try on those awesome extensions and hairpieces. If only they made them in blonde…
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday, October 21, 2006
Glimpses of Kenya
-in town, there are two shops that are brick on the outside and from top to bottom painted with the red Celtel logo on it, which is my cell phone service here in Africa. So I go in to buy the Celtel card to charge my phone. “we don’t have any” they say. How ironic.
-kids love to see you, a white person. They giggle when you wave, but then if you reach out to shake their hand they jump back like you are going to bite them! This is so funny to me. The other day I was resting on a rock when some girls walked by on their way to school at 6:15am or so. They laughed and giggled as I waved, of course. Shortly after I got up to begin running again. They were ahead of me and when they turned around and saw me, they took off running. (as if I was chasing them or something!) Eventually I caught up and they had stopped running. As I ran by I waved again, and this time stuck out my tongue and made some sort of a face, at which they burst into laughter. I have decided that silly faces is a is a separate language in itself that everyone can understand, and I am quite fluent in it. This is now my main mode of communication with children.
-this morning we had no power, and I was in desperate need of a shower. So I took three meter-high wooden candleholders and placed them in the bathroom. I put a pot of water on the gas burner to heat some water and proceeded to “shower”. This mean I dumped the hot water into the water basin, about a foot deep and 18 inches across, and then first washed my hair upside down under a faucet of cold water first, saving the precious hot water for the rest of me. Then I stand in this little bucket and pour water on myself. Not quite a candlelit bubble bath, but I smiled just the same.
-We pray for rain. Not because our lawns aren’t green enough, but because when it doesn’t rain we actually don’t have water. Last week we had to buy it from a town three hours away. It also gets so dusty you have to close your eyes when the wind picks up in the town.
-there are two types of sandals here. One is a flip flop, that looks like it is just cut out of a piece of rubber, in all sorts of colors. The other is a more soft plastic slip on sandal, that looks like what Crocs would be if they made sandals. They also come in many colors. That is it.
-there are shoe shiners and repairers in town. It is always men sewing soles onto shoes, and men getting their shoes shined. This makes no sense to me, considering everywhere you go is red dirt and dust, and shoes are always, always dirty.
-I have never seen a man carrying the big jugs of water or bundles of sticks on their backs, only women and children. I have seen one man holding a baby.
-All kids wear uniforms. You can tell which school they belong to by the colors. Most of them also carry a jug of milk to school with them, and then at lunch you can see the kids eating some sort of maize mush out of reused plastic containers.
-Often a mother carrying a baby on her back will stop and turn her back to me so the baby can get a real live look at a Mzungu.
-The air here always smells like the color green, fresh and sweet-always with the slightest hint of something burning, and a touch of cattle.
-Last week we went to Lake Bogoria hotel to eat dinner and on the way back our van was over heating, so we had to stop to find some water. This apparently turned into a town event because soon there was people all around to talk to us-not help or figure out the problem, just to talk and laugh because we are all Caucasian and Asian. Ha. I used my language skills in silly faces again.
-Everytime I go to town I am asked for money by someone. Often a man comes up to me and will start talking, and I always just think they want to chat. But never once have I not been asked for something. It usually goes like this: “Oh, you are from America? I would like to go to America.” “yes, it is a nice place,” I say. “I need to have a sponsor to get money to go.” “yes, it would be very expensive,” I reply. “Kenya is poor, I make very little. I need to have money.” “Yes, that is true. I don’t have any money.” “Maybe you have a friend in America that does that can sponsor me” “Pole sana, (I’m sorry)”, I say, “my friends don’t money either.” Sometimes I like to throw in: “today I have already been asked to buy two people lunch, and also been asked for a letter to get a visa, and also been told of so-and-so’s son who want to go to college in America, and also been asked to sponsor someone else, and once again, I don’t have any money.” At this point…they suddenly, for some reason, are no longer interested in me and leave.
-I have also been asked for my rings, I mean I have three, why can’t I just give him one? Is my skin not only white, but covered in dollar signs?
Each day I seem to learn more about the culture, it is so good to know. :)
-kids love to see you, a white person. They giggle when you wave, but then if you reach out to shake their hand they jump back like you are going to bite them! This is so funny to me. The other day I was resting on a rock when some girls walked by on their way to school at 6:15am or so. They laughed and giggled as I waved, of course. Shortly after I got up to begin running again. They were ahead of me and when they turned around and saw me, they took off running. (as if I was chasing them or something!) Eventually I caught up and they had stopped running. As I ran by I waved again, and this time stuck out my tongue and made some sort of a face, at which they burst into laughter. I have decided that silly faces is a is a separate language in itself that everyone can understand, and I am quite fluent in it. This is now my main mode of communication with children.
-this morning we had no power, and I was in desperate need of a shower. So I took three meter-high wooden candleholders and placed them in the bathroom. I put a pot of water on the gas burner to heat some water and proceeded to “shower”. This mean I dumped the hot water into the water basin, about a foot deep and 18 inches across, and then first washed my hair upside down under a faucet of cold water first, saving the precious hot water for the rest of me. Then I stand in this little bucket and pour water on myself. Not quite a candlelit bubble bath, but I smiled just the same.
-We pray for rain. Not because our lawns aren’t green enough, but because when it doesn’t rain we actually don’t have water. Last week we had to buy it from a town three hours away. It also gets so dusty you have to close your eyes when the wind picks up in the town.
-there are two types of sandals here. One is a flip flop, that looks like it is just cut out of a piece of rubber, in all sorts of colors. The other is a more soft plastic slip on sandal, that looks like what Crocs would be if they made sandals. They also come in many colors. That is it.
-there are shoe shiners and repairers in town. It is always men sewing soles onto shoes, and men getting their shoes shined. This makes no sense to me, considering everywhere you go is red dirt and dust, and shoes are always, always dirty.
-I have never seen a man carrying the big jugs of water or bundles of sticks on their backs, only women and children. I have seen one man holding a baby.
-All kids wear uniforms. You can tell which school they belong to by the colors. Most of them also carry a jug of milk to school with them, and then at lunch you can see the kids eating some sort of maize mush out of reused plastic containers.
-Often a mother carrying a baby on her back will stop and turn her back to me so the baby can get a real live look at a Mzungu.
-The air here always smells like the color green, fresh and sweet-always with the slightest hint of something burning, and a touch of cattle.
-Last week we went to Lake Bogoria hotel to eat dinner and on the way back our van was over heating, so we had to stop to find some water. This apparently turned into a town event because soon there was people all around to talk to us-not help or figure out the problem, just to talk and laugh because we are all Caucasian and Asian. Ha. I used my language skills in silly faces again.
-Everytime I go to town I am asked for money by someone. Often a man comes up to me and will start talking, and I always just think they want to chat. But never once have I not been asked for something. It usually goes like this: “Oh, you are from America? I would like to go to America.” “yes, it is a nice place,” I say. “I need to have a sponsor to get money to go.” “yes, it would be very expensive,” I reply. “Kenya is poor, I make very little. I need to have money.” “Yes, that is true. I don’t have any money.” “Maybe you have a friend in America that does that can sponsor me” “Pole sana, (I’m sorry)”, I say, “my friends don’t money either.” Sometimes I like to throw in: “today I have already been asked to buy two people lunch, and also been asked for a letter to get a visa, and also been told of so-and-so’s son who want to go to college in America, and also been asked to sponsor someone else, and once again, I don’t have any money.” At this point…they suddenly, for some reason, are no longer interested in me and leave.
-I have also been asked for my rings, I mean I have three, why can’t I just give him one? Is my skin not only white, but covered in dollar signs?
Each day I seem to learn more about the culture, it is so good to know. :)
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Heidi the Explorer.
So this morning I went on a little adventure. I went back into the woods to go for a hike, and I had about 4 hours to do it. Let me explain for a moment, Kabarnet is kind of set up on the top of a mountain with a valley and more mountains on each side. So there is one road, and on each side it goes down into a deep green valley with distant mountains that has more valleys and hills on the other side. When you drive, it is views on both sides, but there are often a lot of trees so youjust get glimpses unless you come to a good clearing, like the one that I found where I can see the sunrise. The other side is more wooded, so I can’t see as much. So it is such a tease, because I know there are awesome views but I don’t know where to go to get a full picture. I feel like I am a little kid on my tiptoes trying to peer into a paned window, getting only a little bit at a time. But yesterday when I went on that little walk I found this clearing on the other side where I can see the sunset. So I started out that way, and as I made my way through brush I found the clearings I have wanted to see. I had to push and make my way through the trees and bushes that lined the edge of the cliff, but when I found I clearing I just sat and breathed it all in. the valley was so enchanting, So green, and soft looking. Little people walked below tending to their little crops and land. I could hear a distant cow and baby crying. I decided I wanted to go down there. Okay, so I kept hiking on. There were spots that if I would have lost my footing I would have tumbled down to the unknown. It was very steep. But very cool to be alone and not have any barriers to what I could do! (sorry mom and dad, I was feeling adventurous ;) ) I was feeling a bit like when I was young and could play in the lilac bushes in my yard for hours, “discovering” things. I eventually found a place among the reddish dirt path I was following that led me what looked to be down the mountain. I excitedly went forth. I have to say I have never started at the top of a climb before, so of course had a lot of energy. It became so steep that I literally just sat down and slid my way down, grasping at any shrubs I could use for support. I finally was at a point where I could be upright again, and it was a field of maize (looks just like corn) up the side of the hill. So I rested, and then walking down through it, noticing a few makeshift scarecrows along the way. Then just sat when I was satisfied as to how far down I had come. I watched children below cut the maize with a huge blade and lean it up together teepee style. Now I was in the valley. !!! It was just so beautiful, and peaceful; birds swooping, the sun at my back, clouds disappearing behind the hills. The great thing about where I am is there is not a fear to be had. The only animals around are cattle, birds, and the occasional monkey. No mosquitoes, no hot days, no robbers, no scary people, no poison ivy. It is great. So I just sat and enjoyed. The hike back up turned out to be a crawl because of how steep it was. At one point I started going up the wrong way, which was apparent when it led to nowhere. At that point I turned around and was practically vertical as I slid down, down. I had a brief moment of panic when my arms started itching and I expected to look down and see huge porcupine-like needles sticking out of them. Thoughts of an unclassified African plant filling my skin with an allergic reaction as I broke out in hives all over and was lost on the this side of the mountain, no one knowing where I am as I lay there swelling into a big itchy rash rushed through my head. But then I looked a little to the left and saw the path I was supposed to take and all fears subsided. (these thoughts all happened in a total of maybe 3 seconds.)My arms were a little red though from something I slid on. Well I did make it back safely back up, and I silently praised myself for all those lunges I have been doing. Let me tell you this is where those things pay off. I ended up finding a way back that didn’t scale the edge, so it made it a bit easier. And probably safer.
We still don’t have water today. That is especially good, because I am filthy from this hike. It looks like am wearing socks, if that tells you anything about the condition of my legs. But we have power, so praise God. No water is also a good excuse to drink soda. Praise God for orange Fanta soda. I love that stuff.
P.S. we finally got our phone working again...one week later. so that is why the delay of the blogs...(internet uses the phone line..)
We still don’t have water today. That is especially good, because I am filthy from this hike. It looks like am wearing socks, if that tells you anything about the condition of my legs. But we have power, so praise God. No water is also a good excuse to drink soda. Praise God for orange Fanta soda. I love that stuff.
P.S. we finally got our phone working again...one week later. so that is why the delay of the blogs...(internet uses the phone line..)
Not on my time...
So I have definitely learned that I cannot have my own agenda. Even though my own agenda consists of things like hand washing my clothes, writing an email, reading, playing the piano, doing lunges-it’s still my own agenda that I like to have. But I cannot. Because, my friends, in Africa, circumstance prevails and there is no other alternative. Culturally people are always late. I have waited for over an hour for people or events. Just throw out my own plan, because I am now waiting. A better example of not having my own agenda was just the other day. The day was one of those frustrating ones; the language barrier made me a little snappy, I was hungry at lunch because of course it was only white rice and kimchi. (and Lord knows so much of that rice will make me expand like a hot air balloon) Then I fight back tears, because my plan that night consisted of calling home, and I am told that the phone is not working until Monday. (it is Friday.) Awesome. I make myself feel a little better by watching Pakistan Fashion TV, (all modeling and hair and makeup…it’s like a mini retreat every time I watch it), before I have to direct the musical. Well at 4 no one is even around the place we are meeting. There should be twenty students. So, at 4:30 no one is there yet, not even the teacher, so I decide I need to leave. I start out to take a walk in the forest to just be alone, and maybe cry a little, when I hear crying myself coming up from the gate. It is the cutest little Susie from the special school, sobbing as the guard takes her up the path. I scoop her up and fight back my own tears as hers are wetting my shoulder. When I bring her up to the school I find out that she isn’t supposed to have come back from the holiday unless her parents paid their school fees, because she hasn’t paid them all yet. So instead of facing it, the parents just left her at the gate crying so they didn’t have to deal with it. Now this broke my heart right open. I kissed that kid hundred times and then left the compound. I crossed the road into the forest, choosing the path that I have not been down yet and let some tears fall, for Susie, for myself, for frustration, just because. But then I found something I have been looking for since I came here. A clearing that gave me a perfect view of the valley and the distant mountains. It was just what I needed. I decided that I would go on a hike the next morning to explore, because there was much to see here! So I thanked God for that gift, walked a little further, and then made my way back to dinner feeling a little better. Before dinner I a spent some time watching the high schoolers practice a dance they are working on, which I love and always get to watch because they have to get permission from me to use the cd player at the special school ;) anyway, I sat and held little Susie on my lap and watched some of the special school kids try to join in and dance with them. This was so cute, and their little feet just danced on my heart so much that I teared up. It was then I realized that a black 8 year old boy with down syndrome has more rhythm than the average white person.
Well, at dinner I decided since I can’t use the phone, I will go write my emails and blogs and just save them to the computer to use the on the internet later when the phone worked again. As the disappointingly small dinner was served, the power went out. Wonderful. Oh yes, did I mention the water ran out about an hour ago? Yep. No power, no phone, no water. After our not so romantic candlelit dinner I went to my room to just be. Just sit and be alone. Then my new roommate came in and asked a stupid question and that was about the last straw. Now maybe you think I touchy, but I don’t know. Sometimes everyone just drives me crazy-and then I am reminded of how no one knows me here, and that feeling of aloneness drives me into wanting to retreat and be more alone and be in solitude with just myself and God. So I went out on our porch to just sit and look at the stars in the dark of the night. I put on my headphones and just cried a little again. But not out of homesickness, or sorrow really, more of a sort of cry that is just for God to hear, to let him know I was lonely and just wanted to rest with him awhile. Just then I saw a shooting star. Now, you can say this was a coincidence or whatever, but I think it was God saying to me “Oh, honey, there there. Here, would you like a star to stream across the sky?” At the moments when I have nothing left God has a way of speaking right into my heart.
Well, at dinner I decided since I can’t use the phone, I will go write my emails and blogs and just save them to the computer to use the on the internet later when the phone worked again. As the disappointingly small dinner was served, the power went out. Wonderful. Oh yes, did I mention the water ran out about an hour ago? Yep. No power, no phone, no water. After our not so romantic candlelit dinner I went to my room to just be. Just sit and be alone. Then my new roommate came in and asked a stupid question and that was about the last straw. Now maybe you think I touchy, but I don’t know. Sometimes everyone just drives me crazy-and then I am reminded of how no one knows me here, and that feeling of aloneness drives me into wanting to retreat and be more alone and be in solitude with just myself and God. So I went out on our porch to just sit and look at the stars in the dark of the night. I put on my headphones and just cried a little again. But not out of homesickness, or sorrow really, more of a sort of cry that is just for God to hear, to let him know I was lonely and just wanted to rest with him awhile. Just then I saw a shooting star. Now, you can say this was a coincidence or whatever, but I think it was God saying to me “Oh, honey, there there. Here, would you like a star to stream across the sky?” At the moments when I have nothing left God has a way of speaking right into my heart.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
the Pokot
I made my over from my house on a moonlit path in the cool of the evening to come and use this computer. There is a welcoming wind coming up from the valley to guide me as I walk, and against the black sky is painted with a fantastic display of sparkling stars. It is like the most perfect summer night every night here. I love it. Anyway…
This day last week I found myself going on a daytrip with a group of late-twenty somethings from Korea and the school’s chaplain, who is also from Korea, but speaks English. We piled in a van and headed the route towards Lake Bogoria, which is like God just saying to me “Look, look what I can make! Look what I made for you…I know you’ll just love it.” And I respond with no words because it is so wonderful. In a small town an hour from Kabarnet we picked up a Pastor, native to Kenya, who was to accompany us to visit a remote tribal group of which is his people. I of course did not know this until we got there and he spoke to them in his native tongue. The route there was decent, until we turned onto what I am sure is not supposed to be driven on. We are down in the valley now, so it is much dryer and more hot, and the dull trees are sparse among the reddish dirt. We round around as the pastor directed us to veer left or right, of how he knew where to I am not sure because it all looked the same: low trees every 10 feet or so, flat, dusty, rocky terrain that went on until the faint mountains in the distance. We took this route for I think two hours as we made our way further and further from anything. We stopped to look at the gravesight of his grandfather, which was a large pile of stones by itself. His grandfather along with his 8 wives are buried there. He showed us with pride, and also told us that he of course has only one wife. When I stepped out of the van and looked around, I thought “wow, this is what the middle of nowhere looks like.” (and I had thought I found that spot on Highway 2 in Montana this summer.) When we drove a bit further, I had to make the can stop because I saw camels! They graciously stopped so I could take a picture, although there were much more to come! When we finally arrived, we drove to the one water hole where people come from all over to drink from and bath in. The camels, goats, and donkeys also drink and bathe in there, among other things. Therefore, this is a real problem and there is much disease-and the nearest real hospital is four hours away in my town. As we walked around, people started to gather under a few trees, and soon a large number of the Pokot people were there. They are very unreached, with 90% being illiterate, no churches, only their tribal language is spoken, much disease, and barely any water. We had a really neat advantage because the Pastor was able to speak to them, and he spoke to them about the love of Christ, and introduced all of us. They sang us a welcome song, as a herd of camels sauntered behind them making their way to the water. At this point I had to just step back and make sure this was all real. I felt like I was in a documentary or something. Like, what do you do when you are actually standing in something you have been dreaming about for years? They all wore their hair the same, shaved except for the top with was adorned with beads or braids, or something like dreads. The women had elaborate beads around their neck, they rested on their shoulders because of how big they are. They wore tattered tank tops and sleeveless shirts, easily lifted to breastfeed casually. The had a sort of wrapskirt as well. The had big stretched out ears because of the big copper hoops that adorned them, often held up by hair or beads that connected each earring over their head. The men had a wrap of some sort on for the bottom, and carried a bow and arrow and a very small piece of carved wood that they can where around their wrist and serves as a stool. It was a crazy experience, and very unique to be able to interact with them. It is so obvious the need and time that needs to be invested into this group of people. I still am not quite sure what to make of that experience. (keep in mind there are Koreans excitedly speaking Korean and taking pictures all around me as well)
This last weekend I went to a town near Nairobi for a retreat for new missionaries with AIM. I was so ecstatic to have real conversation and talk with others who spoke English I think I spoke more than I have in the last month in one hour. It was really good, because I make a lot of good connections to be able to see more of physical disabilities while I am her and maybe give me a picture of what physical therapy looks like in the third world. So I am excited for those doors to open for me. The funniest thing about it, was that the majority of people there were from Germany! Granted most of them spoke English, when they were together they spoke German…so it seems I am always the minority! But we had a great game of volleyball, Germans, Canadians, and Americans. Sand volleyball has no language…:) Anyway, I am getting so much culture, and learning so much. It is quite a blessing. One last note-I recently have a new job to do! I am directing a musical…go figure. Today I had the auditions, so I have my cast. Tomorrow is our first practice. This is a true testament to saying, “here I am Lord, use me how you wish…”
p.s. i came back with a roommate! She is from Canada, and is now learning a new way to speak: Very slowly and pronounced, leaving out all filler words getting straight to the point.
This day last week I found myself going on a daytrip with a group of late-twenty somethings from Korea and the school’s chaplain, who is also from Korea, but speaks English. We piled in a van and headed the route towards Lake Bogoria, which is like God just saying to me “Look, look what I can make! Look what I made for you…I know you’ll just love it.” And I respond with no words because it is so wonderful. In a small town an hour from Kabarnet we picked up a Pastor, native to Kenya, who was to accompany us to visit a remote tribal group of which is his people. I of course did not know this until we got there and he spoke to them in his native tongue. The route there was decent, until we turned onto what I am sure is not supposed to be driven on. We are down in the valley now, so it is much dryer and more hot, and the dull trees are sparse among the reddish dirt. We round around as the pastor directed us to veer left or right, of how he knew where to I am not sure because it all looked the same: low trees every 10 feet or so, flat, dusty, rocky terrain that went on until the faint mountains in the distance. We took this route for I think two hours as we made our way further and further from anything. We stopped to look at the gravesight of his grandfather, which was a large pile of stones by itself. His grandfather along with his 8 wives are buried there. He showed us with pride, and also told us that he of course has only one wife. When I stepped out of the van and looked around, I thought “wow, this is what the middle of nowhere looks like.” (and I had thought I found that spot on Highway 2 in Montana this summer.) When we drove a bit further, I had to make the can stop because I saw camels! They graciously stopped so I could take a picture, although there were much more to come! When we finally arrived, we drove to the one water hole where people come from all over to drink from and bath in. The camels, goats, and donkeys also drink and bathe in there, among other things. Therefore, this is a real problem and there is much disease-and the nearest real hospital is four hours away in my town. As we walked around, people started to gather under a few trees, and soon a large number of the Pokot people were there. They are very unreached, with 90% being illiterate, no churches, only their tribal language is spoken, much disease, and barely any water. We had a really neat advantage because the Pastor was able to speak to them, and he spoke to them about the love of Christ, and introduced all of us. They sang us a welcome song, as a herd of camels sauntered behind them making their way to the water. At this point I had to just step back and make sure this was all real. I felt like I was in a documentary or something. Like, what do you do when you are actually standing in something you have been dreaming about for years? They all wore their hair the same, shaved except for the top with was adorned with beads or braids, or something like dreads. The women had elaborate beads around their neck, they rested on their shoulders because of how big they are. They wore tattered tank tops and sleeveless shirts, easily lifted to breastfeed casually. The had a sort of wrapskirt as well. The had big stretched out ears because of the big copper hoops that adorned them, often held up by hair or beads that connected each earring over their head. The men had a wrap of some sort on for the bottom, and carried a bow and arrow and a very small piece of carved wood that they can where around their wrist and serves as a stool. It was a crazy experience, and very unique to be able to interact with them. It is so obvious the need and time that needs to be invested into this group of people. I still am not quite sure what to make of that experience. (keep in mind there are Koreans excitedly speaking Korean and taking pictures all around me as well)
This last weekend I went to a town near Nairobi for a retreat for new missionaries with AIM. I was so ecstatic to have real conversation and talk with others who spoke English I think I spoke more than I have in the last month in one hour. It was really good, because I make a lot of good connections to be able to see more of physical disabilities while I am her and maybe give me a picture of what physical therapy looks like in the third world. So I am excited for those doors to open for me. The funniest thing about it, was that the majority of people there were from Germany! Granted most of them spoke English, when they were together they spoke German…so it seems I am always the minority! But we had a great game of volleyball, Germans, Canadians, and Americans. Sand volleyball has no language…:) Anyway, I am getting so much culture, and learning so much. It is quite a blessing. One last note-I recently have a new job to do! I am directing a musical…go figure. Today I had the auditions, so I have my cast. Tomorrow is our first practice. This is a true testament to saying, “here I am Lord, use me how you wish…”
p.s. i came back with a roommate! She is from Canada, and is now learning a new way to speak: Very slowly and pronounced, leaving out all filler words getting straight to the point.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
I want a Pumpkin Spice Latte!!!
So i really miss milk, cereal, and meat. i especially miss the fall! The thing i miss the most besides people of course, is Pumpkin Spice Lattes and other coffee drinks during the fall. oh what i would give for one of those! But besides that, the last few days have been some of the best since I got here, and not because of big things, but because of some of the small ways God chooses to show Himself to me. On Friday we had a physical exam day at the Special School, so each of the children gets measured and weighed. I also got to do something I am particularly fond of: nails. I got to clip their cute little nails. So I sat in a chair outside, the mountains as my backdrop, and all the kids gathered around taking turn placing their little chocolate-colored hands as I took each of their little fingers on my pale hands and clipped away. I had at least 6 hands on my lap, a couple of fingers petting at my legs and picking at my toes, while one cutie little girl named Susie pulled my hair out in front of my face and blowing it away over and over. While most of the kids poked at me, the others chased each other around the green grass and just played while they waited their turn to be measured. I am not sure why this made me so happy, but it just did. When I was done clipping I just sat around and played, always aware if their affection to me would suddenly switch to abuse, as it often done. One second I am being kissed and the next my earring is almost pulled out; usually by one 10 year old boy who is kind of the brat of the group. You love him, but I am always telling him “no” and to stop what he’s doing. He’ll be touching my hair gently, then all of the sudden get aggressive and pull it out! They are all very interested my appearance. There is one little boy named Elkana, who I have a particular fondness for, who is especially precious to be around. He was laying floppily in the grass so I just had to scoop him up and tickle him a bit to bring the life back into him. He is 8 and only weights 35 pounds!!! He as this face that when he looks up at you and smiles it is just a sunbeam. He has big eyes and a round mouth that is always open a little bit, and he just looks like a doll! I love it. Today I was talking to some girls from the secondary school about hair, and my English which they say they understand “read fast” and can I teach it to them? Haha. Anyway, I was pulling out loose hair which is constant because it so long right now, and they were asking why I was doing that and thought it was so weird. Anyway, one of the girls took a strand of it and preceded to play with it for the next 1/2 hour! I told them I am tempted to cut it all off, but they said “no! it is very smart!” (smart is what they use to say cute or nice). They all wear their hair very short, some the same as the boys, and they said that is how they all like it. On Saturday we went to a little group of stores with the special school for some sodas and mandazi (a fried bread) and I was just reminded of how kind all the people in Kabarnet are. They all light up when you say hi, and are very welcoming. Many of the children like to hug and shake hands with adults that walk by, and I have never seen one person not stop and say hello to the children. In Kenya, everyone greets with a handshake, so I am always shaking hands with people. Like, I walk into a room I would go around and shake everyone’s hand. It is just a very friendly culture. At least here, anyway. There is also no such thing as personal space. I was in a matatu again, where I laughed to myself because I was in the middle of a three person seat, and there was six of us sharing it. One person was sort of half kneeling half standing in front me. This is how it is everywhere you go. I, of course, am very awkward on the matatus because I am so tall and have a terrible time getting in and out and crawling over people. It is not graceful, to say the least. It is just the small things like that that I enjoy so much! God also showed me something so awesome, which I will write in the next blog-so please read the next one! J
Sunrise
I was laying in the big field, arms wide open, trying to get some sun into my skin and just listening to the tall trees clank together in the background while feeling a gentle wind blow around me in the open space. As I was laying there, I could picture myself anywhere in the world, anywhere that I have layed out in the sun like this. My mind wandered to Florida, California, Mexico, my own back yard. I got this overwhelming sense of how much God is like the sun. This is the same sun that shines on me and everyone in the whole world. We all get what we need from it. This feeling was only strengthened the next morning. I woke up a little before 6am to run to a spot that gives a perfect view of the valley and the mountains and all the rolling green beauty. I have been dying to do this since I got here, so I woke up before my alarm clock went off, which just sets my off on the right foot! My window showed my darkness with a tinge of orange in the distance, so I hurriedly went down the creaking wooden steps and put on my shoes and was out the door. This is an amazing time to run because there isn’t anybody out yet, the roosters are all growing, and there is a loud chorus of birds to sing be along. When I got to the spot a huge smile crept over my face as I found the perfect shaped rock to sit on to witness God’s creation in action. If I would of stepped forward a few feet I would have fallen down into the vast valley below-it is so great to be in a place where there aren’t railing and other man made crap in the way. Slowly I watched a deep blazing orange gradually appeared over the mountain, soon the top of the sun began to appear and slowly shed light over the green rolling hills below. The colors of this magnificent thought of God to light his world and put it into motion reflected off my wet eyelashes as I tried to comprehend what was happening. Gradually the sun was a brilliant perfect circle, so brilliant I could barely look at it with both of my eyes open. It was such a Holy Moment-there were no words for me to even utter to my Maker. I could only sit and enjoy it. God- I thought again-we all, we as in the whole creation, rely on this one thing. No one could survive without it. It was such a lofty thought, one I could barely conceive of. It just makes me realize more than I already am of how much we are all really the same; there really is only one race. We all do human things and need human things, and being here as never showed me that more. Highschool boys are highschool boys whether in a wealthy suburban school in Minnesota eating off fancy lunch trays or in a Kenyan boarding school arising at 5 am to get their own water to get ready for the day. Children in the US, in Korea, in Africa, all want to be told they are good and they are smart and worth something. Women want to look beautiful-if it is me trying to get tan, my housemate using cream to make her Korean complexion more snowy white than it already is, or an African getting browns and golds braided into her dark hair-we are all the same somehow. That day I was laying in the field, a song came to mind that I love and really just rang true to the moment and the next few days. It is by Sara Groves, and the words are below:
You are the Sun, shining down on everyone. Light of the world, giving light to everything I see. Beauty so brilliant, I can hardly take it in… and everywhere You are is warmth and light. And I am the moon with no light of my own, still You have made me to shine, and as I glow in this cold dark night, I know I can’t be a light unless I turn my face to You. Shine on me, with your light, Without you I’m a cold dark stone. Shine on me, I have no light of my own. You are the Sun you are the Sun, You are the Sun, and I am the moon…You have made me to shine. I’ll never be a light unless I turn my face to you. I cannot be a light unless I turn myself to You.
You are the Sun, shining down on everyone. Light of the world, giving light to everything I see. Beauty so brilliant, I can hardly take it in… and everywhere You are is warmth and light. And I am the moon with no light of my own, still You have made me to shine, and as I glow in this cold dark night, I know I can’t be a light unless I turn my face to You. Shine on me, with your light, Without you I’m a cold dark stone. Shine on me, I have no light of my own. You are the Sun you are the Sun, You are the Sun, and I am the moon…You have made me to shine. I’ll never be a light unless I turn my face to you. I cannot be a light unless I turn myself to You.
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