Sent from my iPhone in Kenya!
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Don't Panic
In the Masai Mara, the data service is not good. Only our iPhones work well, and then only when we are out on a game drive. Figure that! So right now I'm cruising around the game preserve, just saw three lionesses and a herd of giraffe. I'll make a proper blog entry with pictures when we get back to the excellent 3G service in Kisii. Oops there was a hyena!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Travel Day...and...God Shows Up.
Today was supposed to be a travel day. Our only goal for today was to get from Nairobi to Kisii, where we would meet up with our workers to begin our retreat at the Masai Mara Game Preserve tomorrow. Along the way, we decided to stop in and look at an IDP camp that one of our workers has adopted. We recently started giving them a little money for food, and it seemed smart to check in on them. So when we were least expecting it, God showed up.
It turns out that these people were survivors of some of the worst political violence that Kenya has ever seen. Back in 2007, there was an election for president, and the results were very close. When the ruling party decided to not wait for a full accounting of some irregularities in the balloting, violence erupted along tribal lines.
Now the thing is that Kenya’s tribes don’t really have a strong history of antipathy for each other. But that didn’t stop corrupt politicians from using whatever they could to get their way, so over 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were “displaced”. Most of these people were members of minority tribes that had migrated to other tribes’ traditional homelands. Having lost members of their families to the violence, many fled away from their adopted homes and into what the U.N. calls Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps.
Now the thing is that Kenya’s tribes don’t really have a strong history of antipathy for each other. But that didn’t stop corrupt politicians from using whatever they could to get their way, so over 1,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were “displaced”. Most of these people were members of minority tribes that had migrated to other tribes’ traditional homelands. Having lost members of their families to the violence, many fled away from their adopted homes and into what the U.N. calls Internally Displaced Peoples (IDP) camps.
These particular people, after living in a U.N. camp for a while, were invited by a concerned Kenyan to camp on his land. There they could break away from the hopelessness that surrounds these types of camps. They could farm and work together; things were looking up. But after a while, this Kenyan sold the land they were on and they had to move on. They settled near Gilgil, a town in Nyavasha Provence.
Somehow during all this they ran into John Kariuki. John is a WBS follow-up worker, which means he is a preacher who checks on WBS students, baptizes them, and organizes them into churches. John knew that God wanted him to minister in some way to these people, so he went there and did what preachers do. And God showed up. Now they have a little church that meets under a tree.
John and some people he knows raised some money and bough them a ½ acre plot of land to settle on. That’s great, right? Only problem is there are 155 of them. On a ½ acre. With no money. Of the 155, 46 are orphan children, 27 are widows, and 20 are over 65. The rest are able bodied and John is busy finding them work so they can restart their lives. These are some of the weakest, most helpless, destitute people on earth. They live in huts they cobbled together from sticks, shrubs, discarded plastic and mud.
John Kariuki told this story to our John DeFore and it seemed like God had placed us in their path so that we could help them. One of those “good works” that the bible says were prepared in advance for us to do. So we have started sending them a little money for food for these helpless ones, and today, we drove up.
We met Grace. Grace is one of the widows, and she has a natural love for others, an amazing faith in God and good leadership skills. She told us that one day she was sitting outside her hut, watching the orphans play, knowing they could all starve soon. As she had done so many times, she cried out to God in prayer to save them. Later that same day, John came to tell them our help was coming, and she said “God is faithful.”
John recognized that Grace could be the one who could organize the feeding of all of these people, and she has. Once again God used the least likely to save the most helpless. Check out this video I made of Susie's amazing pics.
John recognized that Grace could be the one who could organize the feeding of all of these people, and she has. Once again God used the least likely to save the most helpless. Check out this video I made of Susie's amazing pics.
These people still have incredible needs. Their latrine is a pile of sticks for privacy around a hole. They carry water 1km in jerry cans. Their huts are not suitable for the rainy season that swept down from the rift valley this very day, showering us as we drove away. They need blankets, shoes, tents, clothes, and most of all, hope. Isn’t it cool that it’s ours to give? If you’d like to help, just call our John DeFore.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Almost there
Who could have thought that one thunderstorm could cause this much trouble. If you have ever flown through DFW airport you know how much chaos a well placed storm can cause. A "ground stop" in Dallas because of the storm meant that our flight could not leave Midland. We were set to depart at 11:20am and ended up leaving at around 5pm. Our next flight to London left without us at 5:30 and we were forced to re-book onto a later flight leaving at 7:30. That made us 1 hour late for our Nairobi flight and stranded in London; tough break.
We made the best of it, however. After securing a hotel room for the night we ventured out with a 6-hour pass for the Heathrow Express and London Underground. We had nothing planned, we had never been here before, but we managed to find the London Eye, that big Farris-wheel thing, parliament square, Trafalgar square, Whitehall, the theatre district and a decent pub for dinner. Pretty cool. So tonight we will have an unexpectedly nice bed and depart for Nairobi tomorrow at 10:20am. Kind of a nice, unplanned, mini-holiday. Thanks God.
Here's a little video I did of our day:
We made the best of it, however. After securing a hotel room for the night we ventured out with a 6-hour pass for the Heathrow Express and London Underground. We had nothing planned, we had never been here before, but we managed to find the London Eye, that big Farris-wheel thing, parliament square, Trafalgar square, Whitehall, the theatre district and a decent pub for dinner. Pretty cool. So tonight we will have an unexpectedly nice bed and depart for Nairobi tomorrow at 10:20am. Kind of a nice, unplanned, mini-holiday. Thanks God.
Here's a little video I did of our day:
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Last Day
The orphanage worker meeting was good. There were various issues that we had to discuss, but no major problems. We talked about ways to ensure that older kids, as they reached the end of their time in the orphanage, were counseled regarding their options for training and education after high school. This is an issue that the GCR Orphans Board has been concerned with for some time. We want to know what the options are for each area; what jobs are available, what training is important and available. Each of these men has a heart for their kids. They are increasingly seeing them as their own. They are fighting for them. It’s beautiful to watch.
After the meeting, I met with our office staff. We trained on the mystic art of mail merge in Microsoft Office. It seems like kind of weird thing to do, but it is part of a new plan we have to increase the response rate to the introductory lessons that we send out to new students. By mailing them from Nairobi, we hope to cut the time between enrollment and receiving the first lesson. Hopefully more enrollees will continue with the lessons and have their hearts and minds changed by the gospel. Typical of many of the things I do, not traditional ministry, but technical support for ministry. It felt good to do it in Africa.
Soon it was time to leave for the airport and home. Mbuvi took us on one more adventure on the way, driving on a road under construction. In America, when a road is being built, you can’t drive on it. The construction companies go to great lengths to make sure you don’t. But in Kenya, its common. We actually drove around dump trucks and other construction machines. This new road will connect the Nakuru Highway west of the capital with the Mombassa Highway, bypassing the city center. It will cut hours off the transit time for trucks moving from the port to the interior. It will also take a lot of trucks off the streets in Nairobi. That’s a good thing I can assure you. It will also cut our time to get to and from the airport in half. It saved us 30 minutes this time, even though the road was not complete and we detoured several times.
We arrived at the airport expecting our usual four hour wait after clearing security. At the check-in area, however, we were informed that our flight had been “rescheduled” until 11:45am the next day. They were going to put us up in a hotel overnight. We were not interested in that, so we appealed to the supervisor. He was a very large, very intelligent Kenyan who was sympathetic to our plight. “We have children at home!”, “We have connections that can’t be missed!” etc. He was able to book us on the KLM flight to Amsterdam, and then another KLM flight from Amsterdam to London in order to make our originally scheduled Continental flight to Houston.
We were worried about the connections; they were all very tight. In London, a Continental gate agent actually pulled us out of the security line and rushed us through, in order to make the flight to Houston. I am writing this post from that flight, so you know that our Kenyan friend was successful. I only hope we make the flight to Midland; it would stink to get so close and be left behind. So now if you ask me if we went through Amsterdam or London on the way home, I will just say, “yes.”
So now that the trip is over, I am experiencing my usual post-Africa funk. Every time I am there it feels a little bit more like home. Now that Susie has been, and seen me at work there, I know that our lives will never be the same. I was changed by Kenya after my very first trip. The faces of the kids that we are helping to save are intoxicating. Now that Susie has experienced it first hand, she understands what drives me to return, and to do whatever I can to save more and more of them. My role is a small one, but it’s easily the most important thing I have ever been a part of.
But the most amazing thing of all is to experience the swirling whirlwind of the Holy Spirit moving in his people. It’s like standing in the eye of a hurricane. The church is alive! The hundreds of people who turned out to meet us, the church members who have been helping the starving by themselves because of their love of Christ, the silent labor of the chosen leaders in Kenya, this is the power of His holy church. This is how we will reclaim the world for God. As Charlton would say, ‘This is Christ redeeming the word through the power of the resurrection.’ Great stuff!
After the meeting, I met with our office staff. We trained on the mystic art of mail merge in Microsoft Office. It seems like kind of weird thing to do, but it is part of a new plan we have to increase the response rate to the introductory lessons that we send out to new students. By mailing them from Nairobi, we hope to cut the time between enrollment and receiving the first lesson. Hopefully more enrollees will continue with the lessons and have their hearts and minds changed by the gospel. Typical of many of the things I do, not traditional ministry, but technical support for ministry. It felt good to do it in Africa.
Soon it was time to leave for the airport and home. Mbuvi took us on one more adventure on the way, driving on a road under construction. In America, when a road is being built, you can’t drive on it. The construction companies go to great lengths to make sure you don’t. But in Kenya, its common. We actually drove around dump trucks and other construction machines. This new road will connect the Nakuru Highway west of the capital with the Mombassa Highway, bypassing the city center. It will cut hours off the transit time for trucks moving from the port to the interior. It will also take a lot of trucks off the streets in Nairobi. That’s a good thing I can assure you. It will also cut our time to get to and from the airport in half. It saved us 30 minutes this time, even though the road was not complete and we detoured several times.
We arrived at the airport expecting our usual four hour wait after clearing security. At the check-in area, however, we were informed that our flight had been “rescheduled” until 11:45am the next day. They were going to put us up in a hotel overnight. We were not interested in that, so we appealed to the supervisor. He was a very large, very intelligent Kenyan who was sympathetic to our plight. “We have children at home!”, “We have connections that can’t be missed!” etc. He was able to book us on the KLM flight to Amsterdam, and then another KLM flight from Amsterdam to London in order to make our originally scheduled Continental flight to Houston.
We were worried about the connections; they were all very tight. In London, a Continental gate agent actually pulled us out of the security line and rushed us through, in order to make the flight to Houston. I am writing this post from that flight, so you know that our Kenyan friend was successful. I only hope we make the flight to Midland; it would stink to get so close and be left behind. So now if you ask me if we went through Amsterdam or London on the way home, I will just say, “yes.”
So now that the trip is over, I am experiencing my usual post-Africa funk. Every time I am there it feels a little bit more like home. Now that Susie has been, and seen me at work there, I know that our lives will never be the same. I was changed by Kenya after my very first trip. The faces of the kids that we are helping to save are intoxicating. Now that Susie has experienced it first hand, she understands what drives me to return, and to do whatever I can to save more and more of them. My role is a small one, but it’s easily the most important thing I have ever been a part of.
But the most amazing thing of all is to experience the swirling whirlwind of the Holy Spirit moving in his people. It’s like standing in the eye of a hurricane. The church is alive! The hundreds of people who turned out to meet us, the church members who have been helping the starving by themselves because of their love of Christ, the silent labor of the chosen leaders in Kenya, this is the power of His holy church. This is how we will reclaim the world for God. As Charlton would say, ‘This is Christ redeeming the word through the power of the resurrection.’ Great stuff!
Friday, March 19, 2010
Meeting Day Part 1
Today, Susie and I were in Kamulu at the WBS office. I met with our WBS follow up workers while Susie helped out at the learning center at Made In The Streets. She had a good time making puzzles with the girls and conducting a spelling quiz with the older kids.
I met with our Follow Up Workers here in Kenya. These men have assigned geographic areas where the evangelize, and follow up on WBS students that have requested a visit, as well as checking on churches that have been established through their work. We went over expectations and work rules, and had some spirited bible discussions. I was impressed by their grasp of some of the same issues that we wrestle with at GCR.
Tomorrow we meet with the Orphanage Workers, train the office staff for the new introductory lesson project, and pack for our 11:45pm departure tomorrow night. I'll update again from the airport. No new pics today. Blessings.
I met with our Follow Up Workers here in Kenya. These men have assigned geographic areas where the evangelize, and follow up on WBS students that have requested a visit, as well as checking on churches that have been established through their work. We went over expectations and work rules, and had some spirited bible discussions. I was impressed by their grasp of some of the same issues that we wrestle with at GCR.
Tomorrow we meet with the Orphanage Workers, train the office staff for the new introductory lesson project, and pack for our 11:45pm departure tomorrow night. I'll update again from the airport. No new pics today. Blessings.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Last Day (for some)
We had a great conversation as a group last night about the orphanage work. Thomas told the story that is so familiar to some of us. The story that I believe will be written in bold letters in the book of life some day. Everyone was amazed at what God has done. It so great to be first hand witnesses to the power of the Holy Spirit.
This morning we got up and left the Kunste behind for good. Our trip back to Nairobi was uneventful. We stopped at the Rift Valley overlook for pictures, and we arrived in time for lunch at the Nairobi Java House. This place is an island of western culture in the middle of Africa. You can get a good burger, great coffee, and ICED tea!
After lunch, we wen to the open market accross from Sarit Center. The hawkers were hyper aggressive, but everyone sharpened their negotiating skills and loaded up on souvenirs. After some last minue gift buying and note writing we set off for the airport to retrieve our long lost bags, and put 10 of our 12 on a plane.
I just want to say that these were the best group of travelers you could hope for. There was absolutely no complaining, no whining, and everyone seemed genuinely touched by what they saw. They were real troopers when things weren't perfect, and reminded me gently when I forgot something. I hope than all can do it again.
Susie and I are back in Kamulu. Tomorrow I will have meetings with our WBS workers here while Susie works with Francis at Made In The Streets. Saturday will be more meetings, computer training for our girls, and we depart for home Saturday night.
This morning we got up and left the Kunste behind for good. Our trip back to Nairobi was uneventful. We stopped at the Rift Valley overlook for pictures, and we arrived in time for lunch at the Nairobi Java House. This place is an island of western culture in the middle of Africa. You can get a good burger, great coffee, and ICED tea!
After lunch, we wen to the open market accross from Sarit Center. The hawkers were hyper aggressive, but everyone sharpened their negotiating skills and loaded up on souvenirs. After some last minue gift buying and note writing we set off for the airport to retrieve our long lost bags, and put 10 of our 12 on a plane.
I just want to say that these were the best group of travelers you could hope for. There was absolutely no complaining, no whining, and everyone seemed genuinely touched by what they saw. They were real troopers when things weren't perfect, and reminded me gently when I forgot something. I hope than all can do it again.
Susie and I are back in Kamulu. Tomorrow I will have meetings with our WBS workers here while Susie works with Francis at Made In The Streets. Saturday will be more meetings, computer training for our girls, and we depart for home Saturday night.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Lee McGraw and Dirubi
Wednesday was our last day at the orphanages, so we decided to go out with a bang! We traveled from Kericho about two hours to Dirubi and Lee McGraw orphanages, near Sondu. Dirubi was the first orphanage and Lee McGraw was one of the most recent. They are about seven kilometers apart. We went to Lee McGraw first.
At Lee McGraw, the primary kids were in school, and having end of term exams, so they were not there. Some of the secondary kids were there, and that was perfect for Steve, Allison, Stephanie, and Joel. Steve spent our entire time there talking with these kids, and they were enthralled with his stories of America, the good and bad. He also encouraged them in their education, and reminded them that their country was in their own hands; they could make it better if they had the will. It was inspiring to watch.
Some of the ladies went around to every bunk in the dorms and put a beanie-baby and sucker on each pillow. Only moms would think of that, that’s why I was so glad they came. Leah held court with some of the secondary girls, taking pictures and showing them to the girls. Becca had a group of girls playing tic-tac-toe on her iphone. Later they sang a song into her voice recorder app; that will be cool to hear later. Jason played with some of the widows kids who were there and took great video of the site for me. Thanks Jason!
When we were leaving, Charlton was really itching to have a run. He had been a good boy and stayed away from the streets of Kenyan towns where we stay, but he was ready to fly now. He zipped off his pant legs (convertible shorts) and ran the entire seven kilometers from Lee McGraw to Dirubi! We followed him in our vehicles, and we went as fast as we could but he still arrived right with us. There are some cool pics of this on the Picasa web album, click the link to the right.
The most impressive thing about Dirubi is the calm. After the near-chaos of Kericho feeding station (I still can’t believe all that) it was refreshing to feel a sense of normalcy. Dirubi has been in operation almost five years, and these kids have a healthy glow and the easy familiarity of a community. Very cool. We toured the new additions, a tailoring room and the director’s house, and soon the kids arrived home for lunch. Their two choirs treated us to concerts and they were very good. Don’t be surprised if a video of that shows up in worship soon.
Another thing I noticed on this visit at Dirubi was the church building. Keep in mind that this was a church that Thomas established 12 years ago. It has 250 members, and has outgrown its building twice. The current structure is incomplete and in need of a lot of work. Why, you ask? Easy, they spend all their money helping orphans. GCR men, I’m thinking “mission trip”, what do you say?
We got some great pictures with Thomas under the mango tree where the church first met, and then we were on our way to Nakuru. Tomorrow we act like tourists in Nairobi and put most of our party on a plane home tomorrow night. Susie and I will stay for two more days in Kamulu, holding meetings with the WBS workers and the orphanage workers before leaving for home Saturday night. Stay tuned, there is more adventure to come.
At Lee McGraw, the primary kids were in school, and having end of term exams, so they were not there. Some of the secondary kids were there, and that was perfect for Steve, Allison, Stephanie, and Joel. Steve spent our entire time there talking with these kids, and they were enthralled with his stories of America, the good and bad. He also encouraged them in their education, and reminded them that their country was in their own hands; they could make it better if they had the will. It was inspiring to watch.
Some of the ladies went around to every bunk in the dorms and put a beanie-baby and sucker on each pillow. Only moms would think of that, that’s why I was so glad they came. Leah held court with some of the secondary girls, taking pictures and showing them to the girls. Becca had a group of girls playing tic-tac-toe on her iphone. Later they sang a song into her voice recorder app; that will be cool to hear later. Jason played with some of the widows kids who were there and took great video of the site for me. Thanks Jason!
When we were leaving, Charlton was really itching to have a run. He had been a good boy and stayed away from the streets of Kenyan towns where we stay, but he was ready to fly now. He zipped off his pant legs (convertible shorts) and ran the entire seven kilometers from Lee McGraw to Dirubi! We followed him in our vehicles, and we went as fast as we could but he still arrived right with us. There are some cool pics of this on the Picasa web album, click the link to the right.
The most impressive thing about Dirubi is the calm. After the near-chaos of Kericho feeding station (I still can’t believe all that) it was refreshing to feel a sense of normalcy. Dirubi has been in operation almost five years, and these kids have a healthy glow and the easy familiarity of a community. Very cool. We toured the new additions, a tailoring room and the director’s house, and soon the kids arrived home for lunch. Their two choirs treated us to concerts and they were very good. Don’t be surprised if a video of that shows up in worship soon.
Another thing I noticed on this visit at Dirubi was the church building. Keep in mind that this was a church that Thomas established 12 years ago. It has 250 members, and has outgrown its building twice. The current structure is incomplete and in need of a lot of work. Why, you ask? Easy, they spend all their money helping orphans. GCR men, I’m thinking “mission trip”, what do you say?
We got some great pictures with Thomas under the mango tree where the church first met, and then we were on our way to Nakuru. Tomorrow we act like tourists in Nairobi and put most of our party on a plane home tomorrow night. Susie and I will stay for two more days in Kamulu, holding meetings with the WBS workers and the orphanage workers before leaving for home Saturday night. Stay tuned, there is more adventure to come.
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