Finding a routine...

Well, it has been a little over a week, and I’ve gotten into about as much of a routine as possible I think. Everything is very relaxed and much more slower paced; you have “plans” or at least you mention having a plan, but really they are just guidelines that you hope you get done at some point. However, my typical week looks something like this:
Monday: in the office. Here we do a little office work, but mainly, we sit and wait. Not too much goes on with these days but that might change in the future.
Tuesday and Wednesday- these are field days!!! On these days we go out into the field, meaning we go on visits to see the guardians and orphans into homes and schools. For the past two weeks though the teachers working in the public education system have been on strike. They are way underpaid and with not so good conditions, so they went on strike. But this means the children have not been able to go to school, which is a big set back because education is EVERYTHING here! We have been hoping and praying the gov’t would take this strike seriously soon and fortunately on Friday, they finally did something. So the teachers went back and school resumed!!! However for this week most of our visits were to the homes. While we are there, we work to build the relationship between the guardian and the child; we make sure the child is being properly cared for; and the child is mentored to help keep a healthy and positive perspective. Part of what these visits are intended for are to foster collaboration, relationships, ownership, and community among what is being done thru and with “Life for Children” program. I really do like field days, but I’m somewhat limited my participation with the guardians because I don’t speak their mother tongue of Luo. With the children it is a little easier because they know English a little more because they learn it in school ((actually pretty much everything is taught in English)), but still it is a slow process.
Thursday: these days are somewhat up in the air. This week we used them to write reports and make more visits. When you go to the homes or make any kind of visit, you take noted of what you observe. You write things like who you saw, how you were greeted, what you did, etc. Then later you compile everything into a report of what happened, and at the end of the month everything I think is put together to have a monthly journal for summarization, evaluation, and progress.
Fridays: are free days! Free in the sense that there is never really a plan, and you use it for catch up- more visits, exploring, evaluation, etc.
Saturday: Every other Saturday is mkutano, which is fellowship. It is a time where the guardians and children come and we all meet together outside of the office. It is fellowship in the truest sense of the word. We come together to pray, share stories of how God is working, sometimes people randomly start leading a song, and we just commune together. At the end, a gift is given for the families to take home. Most often it is a sack of maize, which is the primary source of food here. Maize is used to make ugali, and ugali is eaten with every meal. By the time it is ready for eating, it looks like smashed rice. It is often taken with some type of meat and then tomatoes or something. Like I said every meal, so needless to say it is pretty important. We still have some to give out, but recently, the farmers here have been hording it because the gov’t won’t but it at fair prices. Apparently, the gov’t has been importing maize from Sudan and buying higher prices than they would from the local farmers. So the farmers only thought it fair not to sell unless prices went up. Well, with that came a food shortage, and three people died as a result. Then finally, the food shortage was declared a national crisis, and the gov’t agreed to pay higher prices for the next two months. I don’t know what is going to happen after these two months but let’s pray for something good.
Sunday: Sundays are one of my favorites. Like in the states we go to church on Sundays. I am going to Robert and Peter’s church (which is fairly new and a small congregation) called Fellowship Bible Church ((FBC)). I love it! Worship is simple but extraordinary!!! There is so much life, authenticity, and FUN in it!!! I haven’t got to hear a sermon because I go help with the kids in Sunday school during this time, but it is way worth it. This is one of the times that I really just get to be with kids, and it is always rejuvenating!!! The thing about kids is they love you no matter what; if you can run around with them and laugh, they are your new best friend!!! After church, Sunday is filled with resting and relaxing with friends and neighbors. You go to someone’s house or they come to yours, and you all just share stories and time together.

So that is my week so far. I know it got pretty long, I apologize for that, but maybe it can give a little inkling into life in Kisumu. There is always so much to say and most of the time not enough words to really capture it. But please keep praying!!! . Let’s give praise for God being a God of impeccable timing and providence!!! And then pray for the teachers returning from the strike, the farmers and the price of maize, the food shortage and people dying of starvation, and again for me becoming a quick learner. Until next time…peace!!!

The first 96!!!

I have now been in Kenya for 4 days, so I call this the first 96!!! I’m not going to lie, the trip over was a killer. Two days of traveling with time changes and spending an entire day in an airport full of people you don’t know, can’t communicate with, and are looking at you strangely isn’t exactly the most fun I could have. And I have to admit, mentally I thought like the Israelites. Back and forth between trusting in God’s providence and complaining that things weren’t going according to my plans. But then conviction set in and I realized what I was doing, and now I can see how the whole time God’s plans were so much better anyways. With that being said, I arrived in Nairobi.
I was meet by two guys named Billy and David. They took me around the city, and they were so welcoming. I had the opportunity to go in the slums, and I can’t tell you how revelational that was. I want you to imagine your house filled with what’s in your garbage can right now. Now divide your house into doll size areas, and times the amount of trash built up around it, and you can also add factors of running sewage, walls and rooftops made of mud or tin, and not even having the bare necessities. It is something I cannot get my head around, but this is what 70% of the population of Nairobi lives in. I am boggled by how we let ourselves get this greedy. It is just an unfathomable thing. But what I was also taken aback by was the life that was still happening in this place. People smiling, laughing, greeting me and one another with pleasure and respect. SO often we put a price one what a good life is; we put an expectation on what success should look like and what really living means. But I just have to say that the people I met there may be on unbelievable times, things we can’t even imagine, but they are still living. They are still alive, and I for one am changed by meeting them.
Well, after Nairobi I made it to Kisumu, and to keep with the theme, it has been AMAZING!!! I am staying with a woman named Ann, and she has two children- Chris and Catius. They have been so hospitable. They regard me as family and treat me as the most honored guest!!! I have also met the people I am working with- Peter, Robert, Presca and Mary. I have only known them for a short time, but already I love them so much! They truly are incredible people with an unquenchable passion. They embody love, hope and FUN in every single aspect of who they are and what they do. They have been so kind and graciously welcoming that even though I am an obvious outsider (a white American girl) I never notice I am different. It has been a true sense of radical hospitality. My prayer is that they feel the same about me. Even in my not know what’s going on, I hope my meager attempts of kindness and authenticity shine through. Things are well though. But of course I can always use prayer. Please pray I become a fast learner. I want to know what’s proper in this culture, and I want to be able to express my gratitude and love for all they have done for me. So prayers for that please! Prayers of thanksgiving for God’s overwhelming sense of providence and preparing a place for me here and getting me here safely. Prayers for God having a kingdom that is bigger and more glorious than anything we can imagine. And then prayers for me to learn fast. That I will have the ability to learn language quickly and take on this culture in a way that overflows with love and kindness. That I will and am returning the hospitality that they are showing me.
Well, internet is a little harder to come by, but I am working on it. However with that being said, I might not get to blog every week. SO please be patient, and I will keep you updated as often as possible. Thanks. I love you guys and miss you all!!

The Final Countdown

It is that time...the 7 day count down to departure!!! I wish I could sing "my bags are packed and I'm ready to go"...but unfortunately, I am not that far ahead, but I am getting there and will be ready!!!

But enough with the specifics, I have an extraordinary story to share of how God is already blowing my expectations.

About a week ago, I was at the bank looking into credit card and checking options for international service, and this woman named Kara was the assistant helping me. As time passed in her office with asking questions and figuring out what the best options would be, Kara started asking questions about my trip. As she found out that I was going to Africa as a volunteer in missions, working with a program called Life For Children- a foster care system for AIDs orphans, she told me this,

"I was praying over my lunch break today that God would send me someone to help this afternoon. And I think that person is you."

She then asked me if I was taking donations, and I said yes. So she opened her checkbook and wrote me a check for $100!!! A complete stranger gave me a check for $100!!! That is NOT normal, and I have no other explanation except God is faithful and works in ways we cannot understand.

Already in preparation for this trip, He has done big things, and I am waiting in eager anticipation for what is to come!!!

As always, I appreciate the prayers, and I will keep in touch. Keep checking in for more AMAZEMENT in Africa!!!