Things that are burning:
1. My time here
2. My mind
3. My heart
4. My passion for community
5. My mind
6. My ideas of who I am
7. My love for Jesus
8. My ideas and plans
The last few weeks I have had a lot of time (too much time) to think. Actually, while i was at the Rhodes house, they really inspired me to read the bible so much more. It has impacted me so much, so much that i am just burning to not be by myself and love people. I also read "Follow Me To Freedom" by John Perkins and Shane Claibourne and that has really challenged my mind and my thoughts on fighting for whats right, ending gaps between people and really set my visions onfire in terms of wanting true community. I know I am only 20, and there is so much life I haven't lived, and when you live life in Christ you live life abundantly. This time here has been rediculous, I have learned butt loads of stuff on community, on leadership, on love, on Jesus, on living with Christ, on living responsibly unto God, and on relationships. This last week has really hit it home for me, and the thoughts and implications of my time here really have been challenging me to live right when I get back, to leave in the pursuit of justice, in the pursuit of constant learning, in the pursit of Jesus and the gospel, to stand for what is excellent in Gods eyes.
Anyway, This week has started out a little stressful. I found out recently that i need a transit visa to get through Nigeria on my way back home and I don't have one. So, after a day or so of making phone calls and such, i figured out what I have to do. Tomorrow I am going to the embassy of Nigera and hopefully getting the process underway which takes about three days to finish. BUT, I feel that even if I do things right and the process is 3 days I am still dealing with Nigeria. I am nervous, but holding onto hope that I can get it done by Sunday before i leave. Please Please pray that it works out. Also, multiple people have told me that one of the ways to make sure you get through the airport well is to carry 20 dollar bills with you for bribes. After struggling with this, I decided that I am not going to do this. I can't support bribery which in turn continues corrupt scociety, I just can't do it. I know its easy to say, "your only one person what difference does it make?" because I have been fighting that mindset, but I realized that if everyone says that then we aren't just one person, we are everyone and that makes the difference. Even if we are alone we are still apart of a community, the global community, the local community and ect. We have a responsibility to this community to seek justice and if i bribed my way through the airport which seems like the only option to have complete confidence you will get through I wouldn't be supporting my brothers and sisters left in the slums because of corrupt systems. SO, long story short, pray that I can get through the airport if I do get my visa. It might be easy, it might be hard. I'm not sure. Whatever, whatever happens happens and I am alright with it.
I am living at the Rhodes now which has been nice, i have a pillow and a shower head! SO AWESOME. And they have been huge on really bringing home all the thoughts and feelings that i have had the last three months (they don't know it though). I really respect them and their ability to constantly want to learn, to read and to discuss things.
The Kawangware group wants to throw a goodbye party for me! which I am so psyched about. I was able to see them last Thursday and they told me that that wasn't good enough and that they needed to have a party. So, I said why not, God likes parties, Jesus went to a bunch while he was around seems biblical. That will be this Saturday and it will also be hard because I love those people a lot and they have all really taken care of me since I have been here.
This is the last blog you will get from me while I am in Kenya, I am trying to decide if I should keep blogging once I get back. I am not sure. It seems really hipster/individualistic to think that everyone wants to know what some college kid thinks about stuff. I don't know. We will see I guess
Alright readers, thanks for sticking around and hanging out with me. Thanks for listing to all my moods and desciphering all my bad grammar and spelling. Thanks for walking with me and praying for/with me. Its been wonderful, and I hope that I get to see all of you, where ever you are and whoever you are very soon.
See you in the States (hopefully),
Dave Connis
Monday, August 2, 2010
Monday, July 26, 2010
Things, Things, Things (condensed fieldnotes)
Hey guys,
I don't have much time to write this so I have to be brief. My internet access has been lacking lately since Alvin left so I have to make do with crappy wi-fi. One place has more reliable internet but no outlets so I run outta battery. The other place has hit and run internet but it has outlets. Then there are days when neither of them work. So I am struggling with internet access and only have about an hour when I get to use it. Anyway, I have less than two weeks left so I am really not worried about it.
Wedding:
It was amazing, I had so much fun. It started at 9:30 AM and went till about 5:30 PM. I will tell more about it when I have the chance, but it was awesome to see Nancy and Alvin get married. During the recdpetion then one of the Center For Urban Missions workers grabbed my hand and we both started the dancing. SO MUCH FUN. You know at dances there is always one group of guys that are good at dancing but dont take them selves seriously and make people laugh? some how I ended up in that group and we all did crazy dances for about 2 hours. That morning Alivn was glazed over, he was so tired and outta it that he just wanted to go on his honeymoon. So, the wedding was great, I will write more about it when I get better internet.
Living:
Long story short, I thought Alvins cousin (who has become a very good friend) was going to live with me this week but now I don't think he is. So, this week I have a schedule that is keeping me relatively busy which is good. After the wedding week, it is kinda nice to have the apartment to myself because at any point in time there was a minimum of 3 people staying in the apartment no bigger than a average American kitchen. (remind me to write more about this later)
God:
I have another realization i want to talk about in here but I am starting to run low on battery so I don't have time. It has to do with two things 1. Freedom 2. Hope through dispair. They are good, so remind me to tell you later.
Other Stuff:
- I am going to visiting the Kawangware savings group one last time this Thursday which will be hard because they have really become a big family to me. So pray for me about that.
- I am reading Sherlock Holmes, SO GOOD. It inspires me to be observant and detail orientated.
-The wedding made me realize how many relationships I have actually built here which was a huge encouragement! someone told me "man you know everyone at this wedding" and I was struck with the realization that I actually did.
Alright guys,
Sorry this is so short more to come later. Not sure when but sometime. see you in 14 days
Dave
-
I don't have much time to write this so I have to be brief. My internet access has been lacking lately since Alvin left so I have to make do with crappy wi-fi. One place has more reliable internet but no outlets so I run outta battery. The other place has hit and run internet but it has outlets. Then there are days when neither of them work. So I am struggling with internet access and only have about an hour when I get to use it. Anyway, I have less than two weeks left so I am really not worried about it.
Wedding:
It was amazing, I had so much fun. It started at 9:30 AM and went till about 5:30 PM. I will tell more about it when I have the chance, but it was awesome to see Nancy and Alvin get married. During the recdpetion then one of the Center For Urban Missions workers grabbed my hand and we both started the dancing. SO MUCH FUN. You know at dances there is always one group of guys that are good at dancing but dont take them selves seriously and make people laugh? some how I ended up in that group and we all did crazy dances for about 2 hours. That morning Alivn was glazed over, he was so tired and outta it that he just wanted to go on his honeymoon. So, the wedding was great, I will write more about it when I get better internet.
Living:
Long story short, I thought Alvins cousin (who has become a very good friend) was going to live with me this week but now I don't think he is. So, this week I have a schedule that is keeping me relatively busy which is good. After the wedding week, it is kinda nice to have the apartment to myself because at any point in time there was a minimum of 3 people staying in the apartment no bigger than a average American kitchen. (remind me to write more about this later)
God:
I have another realization i want to talk about in here but I am starting to run low on battery so I don't have time. It has to do with two things 1. Freedom 2. Hope through dispair. They are good, so remind me to tell you later.
Other Stuff:
- I am going to visiting the Kawangware savings group one last time this Thursday which will be hard because they have really become a big family to me. So pray for me about that.
- I am reading Sherlock Holmes, SO GOOD. It inspires me to be observant and detail orientated.
-The wedding made me realize how many relationships I have actually built here which was a huge encouragement! someone told me "man you know everyone at this wedding" and I was struck with the realization that I actually did.
Alright guys,
Sorry this is so short more to come later. Not sure when but sometime. see you in 14 days
Dave
-
Monday, July 19, 2010
Rift Valley, Time and Bridal Showers
Hey everyone, its Monday, which means its update day which also means another week has gone by, which also means I have less time here. I just passed the 3 weeks left mark and am now heading to two weeks left. This week has been very eventful! some bad events, some bad events, but a good solid week none the less. (I'm switching up the format)
The last two weeks I have been working on my final written report on my research findings and today I have finished it! The whole reason I came to Kenya is done which is a strange feeling. Today I am going to be presenting and discussing it with Alvin and maybe a few other people which should be a lot of fun (I'm glad I can say presenting it will be fun). I ended up with a 16 page paper with too much information! but Alvin wanted all of it so he got it. I'm excited to be done and now what I have left is just random assignments and such to finish up.
This coming week I will be helping Alvin and Nancy with wedding arrangements and getting their show on the road. The other day I sat and assembled 50 wedding invitations for them which was fun, I got to sit with a candle on my lap and burn the ends of ribbons on the invitations for like an hour so they didn't fray, (they thought I was smart). The closer and closer we get to Saturday the longer and longer we are gone and the more Alvin disappears. So yesterday, Alvin, Nancy and I took a break from our work because we were all tired/stressed. Some of Nancy's friends planned a bridal shower for her so Alvin and I had to keep it a secret. Which was really hard because both of us really don't think about the things we say because we just talk and then realize what we are saying afterward. Needless to say she was really surprised, and we got free lunch outta the deal so I couldn't complain. In an effort to get out of the Nairobi for the first time since I have been here, Alvin took me out to Rift Valley. The air was fresh, it reminded me of home on the mountains and I immediately was able to relax. So, we just drove around for a while which was amazing. Rift Valley was really beautiful and for the first time in Kenya I was a tourist, I felt special.
Driving around wasn't always special though, on Thursday, Alvin and I left the house at 7 in the morning and got back at 12 in the morning. Why you ask? because our car broke down on the way back from visiting his aunt and uncle. It was around 10:30 PM, and we were driving on a road in the middle of the city. But at the same time, both Alvin and I hear his car start making this wierd clicking noise that was getting louder as we drove. Eventually, I looked at his dash and saw his engine, battery and oil light all come on and then the car shuddered and stopped in the middle of the road. I look at Alvin and he goes "this is the worst place in the city to break down" I was like..."what does that mean" and then a drunk homeless guy walks up to our car and Alvin rolls down the window and i get a small idea. He ends up getting outta the car, telling me to get in the drivers seat and then both him and the homeless guy push the car into oncoming Nairobi traffic with the drivers side facing all the cars. Somehow I dodge death and we end up in a shady gas station with a drunk homeless guy, the homeless guy says its because we ran out of gas and I am trying to disagree politely but it isn't really easy to discuss and disagree about car trouble with a drunk man, let alone a drunk man speaking another language. Alvin thinks I know all about cars because of one statement I said the 3rd week I got here so he is letting me do all the checking while he is figuring out what to do. Eventually I realize that the radiator was over heated and had no water in it at all. Now Alvin doesn't trust the car, so we call some friends of his and we drive the car over to the Carlile college campus and then drive back to the house at 11:45. Afterward, Alvin tells me to think of one of my big cities and then think of the worst place to break down and that's where we were. He also told me that while I was checking the car, the drunk guy demanded money for helping us and started getting angry/physical when Alvin didn't want to give him any. So, the moral of this story is, don't ever discuss car trouble with a drunk man that doesn't speak English.
Anyway, the time is going super fast and before I know it I will be on the flight home. So please keep praying that I will get things done that I need to get done and that I stay sane in the process. This has been an amazing experience and I hope to keep it up in my last few weeks here. God has really had a huge impact, and I know that when I get home I will see all kinds of things that he has grown in me and all kinds of ways that this will rest on my mind for the rest of my life. I don't know if any of my contributors read this blog but I just really want to say thank you so much for making it possible for me to come here, even though some Kenyans don't believe that I had to raise money to come, I know I did. So thank you very very very much. So this week is wedding stuff, next week I'm all by myself finishing up my assignments!
Thanks for reading everyone,
Dave
The last two weeks I have been working on my final written report on my research findings and today I have finished it! The whole reason I came to Kenya is done which is a strange feeling. Today I am going to be presenting and discussing it with Alvin and maybe a few other people which should be a lot of fun (I'm glad I can say presenting it will be fun). I ended up with a 16 page paper with too much information! but Alvin wanted all of it so he got it. I'm excited to be done and now what I have left is just random assignments and such to finish up.
This coming week I will be helping Alvin and Nancy with wedding arrangements and getting their show on the road. The other day I sat and assembled 50 wedding invitations for them which was fun, I got to sit with a candle on my lap and burn the ends of ribbons on the invitations for like an hour so they didn't fray, (they thought I was smart). The closer and closer we get to Saturday the longer and longer we are gone and the more Alvin disappears. So yesterday, Alvin, Nancy and I took a break from our work because we were all tired/stressed. Some of Nancy's friends planned a bridal shower for her so Alvin and I had to keep it a secret. Which was really hard because both of us really don't think about the things we say because we just talk and then realize what we are saying afterward. Needless to say she was really surprised, and we got free lunch outta the deal so I couldn't complain. In an effort to get out of the Nairobi for the first time since I have been here, Alvin took me out to Rift Valley. The air was fresh, it reminded me of home on the mountains and I immediately was able to relax. So, we just drove around for a while which was amazing. Rift Valley was really beautiful and for the first time in Kenya I was a tourist, I felt special.
Driving around wasn't always special though, on Thursday, Alvin and I left the house at 7 in the morning and got back at 12 in the morning. Why you ask? because our car broke down on the way back from visiting his aunt and uncle. It was around 10:30 PM, and we were driving on a road in the middle of the city. But at the same time, both Alvin and I hear his car start making this wierd clicking noise that was getting louder as we drove. Eventually, I looked at his dash and saw his engine, battery and oil light all come on and then the car shuddered and stopped in the middle of the road. I look at Alvin and he goes "this is the worst place in the city to break down" I was like..."what does that mean" and then a drunk homeless guy walks up to our car and Alvin rolls down the window and i get a small idea. He ends up getting outta the car, telling me to get in the drivers seat and then both him and the homeless guy push the car into oncoming Nairobi traffic with the drivers side facing all the cars. Somehow I dodge death and we end up in a shady gas station with a drunk homeless guy, the homeless guy says its because we ran out of gas and I am trying to disagree politely but it isn't really easy to discuss and disagree about car trouble with a drunk man, let alone a drunk man speaking another language. Alvin thinks I know all about cars because of one statement I said the 3rd week I got here so he is letting me do all the checking while he is figuring out what to do. Eventually I realize that the radiator was over heated and had no water in it at all. Now Alvin doesn't trust the car, so we call some friends of his and we drive the car over to the Carlile college campus and then drive back to the house at 11:45. Afterward, Alvin tells me to think of one of my big cities and then think of the worst place to break down and that's where we were. He also told me that while I was checking the car, the drunk guy demanded money for helping us and started getting angry/physical when Alvin didn't want to give him any. So, the moral of this story is, don't ever discuss car trouble with a drunk man that doesn't speak English.
Anyway, the time is going super fast and before I know it I will be on the flight home. So please keep praying that I will get things done that I need to get done and that I stay sane in the process. This has been an amazing experience and I hope to keep it up in my last few weeks here. God has really had a huge impact, and I know that when I get home I will see all kinds of things that he has grown in me and all kinds of ways that this will rest on my mind for the rest of my life. I don't know if any of my contributors read this blog but I just really want to say thank you so much for making it possible for me to come here, even though some Kenyans don't believe that I had to raise money to come, I know I did. So thank you very very very much. So this week is wedding stuff, next week I'm all by myself finishing up my assignments!
Thanks for reading everyone,
Dave
Monday, July 12, 2010
Spainish Inquisition, Nail Biting and God
Hey guys,
I now am on my final stretch, I have eclipsed the 8 week mark and I am now working on my 9th week which leaves only 3 weeks left. I am excited but also nervous, and I wish I had more time to be at home before I had to leave to go back to Covenant to finish my last year at college. Anyway, enjoy this update, you only get three more.
Living and Such:
I am going a little bit crazy! I am finished with my research work and now have analysis and assignments to do. Which means my field time is over, which means I really don't go out much now. I have been making sure I get out and about because if I didn't I would punch myself in the face. So I have been trying to see friends and do things that don't consist of me sitting in front of my computer in the apartment. The next few weeks concerning living situation will be interesting, this week and next week Alvin will be around getting things set and finished for his wedding. However, he leaves on the 24th so from the 24th to Aug 1 I have the apartment all to myself...UGH. Stir crazy here I come. After that I will be living with the Rhodes until the 8th and then I get outta here. Until then, I will be doing a lot of reading at a book store I can walk too from the apartment. So, there really isn't much different in this arena of life. Just homework and hanging around.
Community Development and Such:
I have mentioned this before but I am done with all my interviews and research for my internship. I currently am working on the analysis portion of my internship. I have put all the answers in an excel spread sheet and I am going through each question and making a summary of the percentages and implications. I have finished summarizing the Kawangware data and I am halfway through the Kibera data. I am going to putting together a whole package of data for the CFUM (center for urban mission) consisting of a 10 page impact analysis, short stories of some of the members I have interviewed, a CD of all the raw data, a comparison of the two groups, and a semi-evaluation of the CEEP program. I am excited to see how it all turns out. Its a lot of work but I am going to be really happy when I have all of that printed and in a folder. It will make me feel like I have accomplished something! I am making the presentation to Alvin on the 19th, which is next Monday. I am thinking of doing some extra random stuff with some of the groups just to keep busy but I am not sure. So thats whats going on in the world of Com Dev, I should be finished with all of that by the end of this week so if any of those things interest you guys let me know and I can post them.
God and Such:
The other day I again was having a semi-freak out about many things and I was really struggling in my satisfaction and my trust with God. I was walking back from an interview and I was praying honestly with. You know how we complain a lot and then think the Israelite's were stupid to complain about receiving manna? Yeah if the roles were reversed it would be the same deal. At that moment I said to God, "alright, I know I need to trust you. I'm sorry for being stupid but if you just tell me that you have everything worked out and all I need to do is trust you I will be fine" I was walking back and I ran into Nancy's brother(who I think is mentally disabled), and started talking to him. Surprisingly, he asked me if I was OK. This is the first time anyone has genuinely asked me since I have been here. I looked at him and was like "i'm a little frustrated, so just pray for me" he replied "its OK, God is for us" and he kept saying that over and over. I smiled and realized that God was replying to my freakout's and telling me to shut up and don't worry. Which I did. I was really impacted by that and I feel like I have more strength to finish this internship because of it which makes me very thankful.
Other Stuff and Such:
-Spain won the final, that makes me happy but it also makes me sad that Netherlands had to cry. Oh well! I was the only one in a room of six people going for Spain which also made me feel proud.
-I read a really depressing novel the other day, it was good but it sucked the happiness out of you which I didn't find enjoyable
-I have a new favorite candy called "mintchoc" BEST EVER, its made by Cadbury and is a mint cream covered in chocolate. I am planning on stocking up on them before I go back.
-Paul the Octopus is too famous, I agree with Alvin "he belongs on sushi"
Alright everyone, thanks for reading. Continue to pray for me! this has been an amazing experience and I want to try my hardest to keep it that way. So, please pray for my heart and my strength that I can keep trucking on and know that God has control.
Until Next Week,
Dave
I now am on my final stretch, I have eclipsed the 8 week mark and I am now working on my 9th week which leaves only 3 weeks left. I am excited but also nervous, and I wish I had more time to be at home before I had to leave to go back to Covenant to finish my last year at college. Anyway, enjoy this update, you only get three more.
Living and Such:
I am going a little bit crazy! I am finished with my research work and now have analysis and assignments to do. Which means my field time is over, which means I really don't go out much now. I have been making sure I get out and about because if I didn't I would punch myself in the face. So I have been trying to see friends and do things that don't consist of me sitting in front of my computer in the apartment. The next few weeks concerning living situation will be interesting, this week and next week Alvin will be around getting things set and finished for his wedding. However, he leaves on the 24th so from the 24th to Aug 1 I have the apartment all to myself...UGH. Stir crazy here I come. After that I will be living with the Rhodes until the 8th and then I get outta here. Until then, I will be doing a lot of reading at a book store I can walk too from the apartment. So, there really isn't much different in this arena of life. Just homework and hanging around.
Community Development and Such:
I have mentioned this before but I am done with all my interviews and research for my internship. I currently am working on the analysis portion of my internship. I have put all the answers in an excel spread sheet and I am going through each question and making a summary of the percentages and implications. I have finished summarizing the Kawangware data and I am halfway through the Kibera data. I am going to putting together a whole package of data for the CFUM (center for urban mission) consisting of a 10 page impact analysis, short stories of some of the members I have interviewed, a CD of all the raw data, a comparison of the two groups, and a semi-evaluation of the CEEP program. I am excited to see how it all turns out. Its a lot of work but I am going to be really happy when I have all of that printed and in a folder. It will make me feel like I have accomplished something! I am making the presentation to Alvin on the 19th, which is next Monday. I am thinking of doing some extra random stuff with some of the groups just to keep busy but I am not sure. So thats whats going on in the world of Com Dev, I should be finished with all of that by the end of this week so if any of those things interest you guys let me know and I can post them.
God and Such:
The other day I again was having a semi-freak out about many things and I was really struggling in my satisfaction and my trust with God. I was walking back from an interview and I was praying honestly with. You know how we complain a lot and then think the Israelite's were stupid to complain about receiving manna? Yeah if the roles were reversed it would be the same deal. At that moment I said to God, "alright, I know I need to trust you. I'm sorry for being stupid but if you just tell me that you have everything worked out and all I need to do is trust you I will be fine" I was walking back and I ran into Nancy's brother(who I think is mentally disabled), and started talking to him. Surprisingly, he asked me if I was OK. This is the first time anyone has genuinely asked me since I have been here. I looked at him and was like "i'm a little frustrated, so just pray for me" he replied "its OK, God is for us" and he kept saying that over and over. I smiled and realized that God was replying to my freakout's and telling me to shut up and don't worry. Which I did. I was really impacted by that and I feel like I have more strength to finish this internship because of it which makes me very thankful.
Other Stuff and Such:
-Spain won the final, that makes me happy but it also makes me sad that Netherlands had to cry. Oh well! I was the only one in a room of six people going for Spain which also made me feel proud.
-I read a really depressing novel the other day, it was good but it sucked the happiness out of you which I didn't find enjoyable
-I have a new favorite candy called "mintchoc" BEST EVER, its made by Cadbury and is a mint cream covered in chocolate. I am planning on stocking up on them before I go back.
-Paul the Octopus is too famous, I agree with Alvin "he belongs on sushi"
Alright everyone, thanks for reading. Continue to pray for me! this has been an amazing experience and I want to try my hardest to keep it that way. So, please pray for my heart and my strength that I can keep trucking on and know that God has control.
Until Next Week,
Dave
Monday, July 5, 2010
July 4th, Ghana heartbreak and Research
hey everyone, its another week and another day. I am now working on my eighth week were. So, on Sunday I will have been here two months meaning I have one month left! So here is the summary of my last week.
Living and Such:
Things have been interesting! I have had a lot of down time for multiple reasons. I get sick of staying in the apartment by myself because sometimes Alvin has multiple meetings that I really don't need to go to so I have him drop me off at a book store. I have already read two novels and am now halfway done with "Northern Lights" by Phillip Pullman (the Golden Compass guy). I see why Christians blew a gasket with the Golden Compass when it came out because I am pretty sure the dude wrote the book to piss of Christians, so it worked and he was smiling the whole time probably. However, it is still a good book none the less. Because Alvin is getting married in the next three weeks, I am trying to solidify living plans once they leave. I went with him this morning to look at a house that they want to live in, that was interesting. It is looking like I will be myself for one week during the 2nd to last week I am here and living with the Rhodes the last week that I am here. I never thought my internship would have me moving because my host was getting married, funny how life works that way. Outside of that it has been same old same old, eating,sleeping. Oh, my bed...has bed bugs...I have been eaten beyond all reason. I wonder why God made bugs that wait till you go to sleep...climb out of the cracks and come suck your blood. They are so itchy and leave big red bumps on your arms. I mean the bugs hate the light...automatic sign they are evil. I will never say "goodnight, don't let the beg bugs bite" lightly again, it is a serious matter.
Community Development and Such:
I have two more interviews to do! that is it! Moses and I were able to do six last Wednesday,much to my surprise. So, this is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because I am done with my research, bad because I have a month left to go. However, it is getting to the point now where I start my analysis which i am excited about. Alvin told me he would like me to have the evaluation and do the presentation before he left for his wedding which is on the 24th. So, I am kinda running out of time, i think I have more time then I actually do I guess. What I am doing for an analysis is pretty in depth. I have to analyze and compare every question and answer given on every interview from the Kawangware group. So once I have come to conclusions I will have a page of raw data and percentages and then however many pages of findings and patterns and then the summary. Then I do the same thing with the Kibera group interviews, then I have to compare Kibera and Kawangware's data and analysis's and then write my findings on what I find between the two. So pray for me as I try to figure out how to do all that and get it all done before the 24th.
God and Such:
I am so thankful for you for the prayers you have been giving me. God has been really helping me stay strong since I have been here. There are some weeks that are harder than others, but in all he has been the only way of survival since I have been here. It has been really hard the last few weeks being away from everyone. I have come to love community and relationships so much more here that it makes me really miss the one I have back home. Ironic kinda. So keep praying for me as I enter the last month of my internship, I know what is close but I just need to focus on the here and now.
Other Such Things:
-If any one watched the Ghana game the other night, they know that the possibility for heartbreak in a person was high. My heart was broken, they were the last team I really supported. Is it sad that I couldn't sleep because they lost? I literally could not watch the penalty shoot out at the end of the game, I had to turn around. I guess I can support Spain though...I don't know they aren't the same as Ghana.
-For July 4th I was at a loss of what to do, I didn't bring any red or blue clothing...so I just decided to go over to the US Embassy. They were closed because it was a Sunday...boring, so I looked at it threw dirt in the air and pretended it was fireworks and saluted the flag and then left.
-I love Pizza....Hawaiian pizza. I am beginning to wonder if the pizza here is better than anything I have had in the US, then I talk myself out of it.
-One of my new favorite TV shows is Americas Best Dance Crew (on every Saturday night at 7:30) I also enjoy the show Top Chef, but I can't watch it too much because I get hungry.
-Pants in Kenya means underwear, which is a taboo subject in Kenya. Do they tell Americans that? no they don't so remember that the word for pants is trousers.
Me: Alvin, see those polka dot pants on the wall over there? I am going to get them for you as a wedding present
A: You and your pants, be glad I understand you because the word for pants here is trousers. If you walk into somewhere and start talking to people about pants, people are going to ask "what is wrong this guy talking about pants".
Me: Oh, I'm sorry...What I meant to say is Alvin, see those TROUSERS on the wall over there? y I am going to get them, wrap them in paper and write pants in red marker and put it on your gift table.
A: you are too smart for my own good
M: I know...I pray for you every morning
A: thanks, I forget to pray for you so do that in the morning too...just don't make me late
Thanks for reading guys,
Dave
Living and Such:
Things have been interesting! I have had a lot of down time for multiple reasons. I get sick of staying in the apartment by myself because sometimes Alvin has multiple meetings that I really don't need to go to so I have him drop me off at a book store. I have already read two novels and am now halfway done with "Northern Lights" by Phillip Pullman (the Golden Compass guy). I see why Christians blew a gasket with the Golden Compass when it came out because I am pretty sure the dude wrote the book to piss of Christians, so it worked and he was smiling the whole time probably. However, it is still a good book none the less. Because Alvin is getting married in the next three weeks, I am trying to solidify living plans once they leave. I went with him this morning to look at a house that they want to live in, that was interesting. It is looking like I will be myself for one week during the 2nd to last week I am here and living with the Rhodes the last week that I am here. I never thought my internship would have me moving because my host was getting married, funny how life works that way. Outside of that it has been same old same old, eating,sleeping. Oh, my bed...has bed bugs...I have been eaten beyond all reason. I wonder why God made bugs that wait till you go to sleep...climb out of the cracks and come suck your blood. They are so itchy and leave big red bumps on your arms. I mean the bugs hate the light...automatic sign they are evil. I will never say "goodnight, don't let the beg bugs bite" lightly again, it is a serious matter.
Community Development and Such:
I have two more interviews to do! that is it! Moses and I were able to do six last Wednesday,much to my surprise. So, this is a good thing and a bad thing. It is good because I am done with my research, bad because I have a month left to go. However, it is getting to the point now where I start my analysis which i am excited about. Alvin told me he would like me to have the evaluation and do the presentation before he left for his wedding which is on the 24th. So, I am kinda running out of time, i think I have more time then I actually do I guess. What I am doing for an analysis is pretty in depth. I have to analyze and compare every question and answer given on every interview from the Kawangware group. So once I have come to conclusions I will have a page of raw data and percentages and then however many pages of findings and patterns and then the summary. Then I do the same thing with the Kibera group interviews, then I have to compare Kibera and Kawangware's data and analysis's and then write my findings on what I find between the two. So pray for me as I try to figure out how to do all that and get it all done before the 24th.
God and Such:
I am so thankful for you for the prayers you have been giving me. God has been really helping me stay strong since I have been here. There are some weeks that are harder than others, but in all he has been the only way of survival since I have been here. It has been really hard the last few weeks being away from everyone. I have come to love community and relationships so much more here that it makes me really miss the one I have back home. Ironic kinda. So keep praying for me as I enter the last month of my internship, I know what is close but I just need to focus on the here and now.
Other Such Things:
-If any one watched the Ghana game the other night, they know that the possibility for heartbreak in a person was high. My heart was broken, they were the last team I really supported. Is it sad that I couldn't sleep because they lost? I literally could not watch the penalty shoot out at the end of the game, I had to turn around. I guess I can support Spain though...I don't know they aren't the same as Ghana.
-For July 4th I was at a loss of what to do, I didn't bring any red or blue clothing...so I just decided to go over to the US Embassy. They were closed because it was a Sunday...boring, so I looked at it threw dirt in the air and pretended it was fireworks and saluted the flag and then left.
-I love Pizza....Hawaiian pizza. I am beginning to wonder if the pizza here is better than anything I have had in the US, then I talk myself out of it.
-One of my new favorite TV shows is Americas Best Dance Crew (on every Saturday night at 7:30) I also enjoy the show Top Chef, but I can't watch it too much because I get hungry.
-Pants in Kenya means underwear, which is a taboo subject in Kenya. Do they tell Americans that? no they don't so remember that the word for pants is trousers.
Me: Alvin, see those polka dot pants on the wall over there? I am going to get them for you as a wedding present
A: You and your pants, be glad I understand you because the word for pants here is trousers. If you walk into somewhere and start talking to people about pants, people are going to ask "what is wrong this guy talking about pants".
Me: Oh, I'm sorry...What I meant to say is Alvin, see those TROUSERS on the wall over there? y I am going to get them, wrap them in paper and write pants in red marker and put it on your gift table.
A: you are too smart for my own good
M: I know...I pray for you every morning
A: thanks, I forget to pray for you so do that in the morning too...just don't make me late
Thanks for reading guys,
Dave
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Boredom, Girraffes and Pizza
Hey everyone! So, on Sunday I will have been here 7 weeks! Pretty crazy, time is getting shorter and shorter and it wont be very long until I am saying "OK I am heading back". Today I don't have much time so I think this will be a pretty short update...maybe who knows.
Living and Such:
You know how I told you I was going to Kisumu? yeah that didn't work. Because I was so behind on schedule with interviews I had made appointments with four people on Sunday afternoon at the church (without my translator). I had asked Alvin the day before I made the plans if we would get back on Sunday before 2 and he said "yes" so I made plans to go with him and do the interviews. However, the next day I am talking about the interviews on Sunday and he says "wait what time are you doing the interviews?" I say "2" he looks back at me and says "we wont be back in time for that!". UGH!!! so i ended up staying in the apartment all weekend by myself! I had a lot of work to do so it was OK. I got to see Ryland and JP again which was great, we went out to have Indian food OH MY GOSH SO GOOD! I am pretty sure it tasted like the breath of an angel who brushed his teeth with God's glory. Anyway, outside of that I really haven't done much aside from work, sleep and watch the World Cup. I took a day off the other day, went to a bookstore, picked up a book and read for at least 6 hours. So relaxing!!! However, I have been super busy which equals super tired.
Community Development and Such:
I am finished with Kawangware! I am so so happy. In the end I ended up doing 18 interviews which is almost the whole group! This week I will go to the Kibera group which is a much smaller group and interview them. I think I should be done either this week or the middle of next week, however, you never know. Pray that my translator stays focused, if he does it won't take as long. I did three interviews on Sunday by myself (in English) in about an hour, if that happened this week then I will be done...today. Anyway, the research is going well and very soon I will be finished with the interview stage and start the analysis stage...awesome.
God and such:
I am really enjoying the Psalms right now, it has really blessed me for sure. Also, on Sunday I went to a church in Kawangware which was amazing. Most of the service was in Swahili, but I could follow along because I can understand better than I can speak. I think the biggest thing for me was being able to fellowship with this group of people in another country. It is so strange to see and hear worship and praise in a different language and then realize that God doesn't have language barriers. It's also really humbling because you remember that's why God is the basis for community development! Right now I would ask you to just keep praying for me and the weeks ahead. Once I finish interviews I will have days where I am just sitting around doing assignments and writing reports and such so there will probably be a little bit of down time. Just pray that I can keep busy until the end so I don't get distracted about why I am here!
Other Stuff and Such:
- I am now rooting for Ghana, you should too. No African team has ever made it to the Semis!
- I am a firm believer in Indian food
- I am still trying to talk Alvin and Nancy into getting some Japanese food. However, until then I have fallen in love with a place here called Pizza Inn...their Hawaiian is probably endorsed by Hawaii.
- I dream about restaurants in America...I miss Olive Garden a lot
-Please pray for a professor/worker here named Tim Ryder, he is an American that has lived in Kenya for about 15 years. Right now his daughter has faced some serious health issues which have put her in ICU for about 28 days gathering a hospital bill of about 1 million dollars. I know the hospital is going to forgive some of it, but I'm not sure how much. Pray that the Lord provides for him and his family!
I am sorry this update was late, we didn't come to the office on Monday to my surprise. Also sorry that this one is a little more basic. My translator and I are leaving at 11:45 to go do some interviews in Kibera.
Until next week,
Dave
Living and Such:
You know how I told you I was going to Kisumu? yeah that didn't work. Because I was so behind on schedule with interviews I had made appointments with four people on Sunday afternoon at the church (without my translator). I had asked Alvin the day before I made the plans if we would get back on Sunday before 2 and he said "yes" so I made plans to go with him and do the interviews. However, the next day I am talking about the interviews on Sunday and he says "wait what time are you doing the interviews?" I say "2" he looks back at me and says "we wont be back in time for that!". UGH!!! so i ended up staying in the apartment all weekend by myself! I had a lot of work to do so it was OK. I got to see Ryland and JP again which was great, we went out to have Indian food OH MY GOSH SO GOOD! I am pretty sure it tasted like the breath of an angel who brushed his teeth with God's glory. Anyway, outside of that I really haven't done much aside from work, sleep and watch the World Cup. I took a day off the other day, went to a bookstore, picked up a book and read for at least 6 hours. So relaxing!!! However, I have been super busy which equals super tired.
Community Development and Such:
I am finished with Kawangware! I am so so happy. In the end I ended up doing 18 interviews which is almost the whole group! This week I will go to the Kibera group which is a much smaller group and interview them. I think I should be done either this week or the middle of next week, however, you never know. Pray that my translator stays focused, if he does it won't take as long. I did three interviews on Sunday by myself (in English) in about an hour, if that happened this week then I will be done...today. Anyway, the research is going well and very soon I will be finished with the interview stage and start the analysis stage...awesome.
God and such:
I am really enjoying the Psalms right now, it has really blessed me for sure. Also, on Sunday I went to a church in Kawangware which was amazing. Most of the service was in Swahili, but I could follow along because I can understand better than I can speak. I think the biggest thing for me was being able to fellowship with this group of people in another country. It is so strange to see and hear worship and praise in a different language and then realize that God doesn't have language barriers. It's also really humbling because you remember that's why God is the basis for community development! Right now I would ask you to just keep praying for me and the weeks ahead. Once I finish interviews I will have days where I am just sitting around doing assignments and writing reports and such so there will probably be a little bit of down time. Just pray that I can keep busy until the end so I don't get distracted about why I am here!
Other Stuff and Such:
- I am now rooting for Ghana, you should too. No African team has ever made it to the Semis!
- I am a firm believer in Indian food
- I am still trying to talk Alvin and Nancy into getting some Japanese food. However, until then I have fallen in love with a place here called Pizza Inn...their Hawaiian is probably endorsed by Hawaii.
- I dream about restaurants in America...I miss Olive Garden a lot
-Please pray for a professor/worker here named Tim Ryder, he is an American that has lived in Kenya for about 15 years. Right now his daughter has faced some serious health issues which have put her in ICU for about 28 days gathering a hospital bill of about 1 million dollars. I know the hospital is going to forgive some of it, but I'm not sure how much. Pray that the Lord provides for him and his family!
I am sorry this update was late, we didn't come to the office on Monday to my surprise. Also sorry that this one is a little more basic. My translator and I are leaving at 11:45 to go do some interviews in Kibera.
Until next week,
Dave
Monday, June 28, 2010
A Hiccup
Hey guys,
So, last night at 10 PM I found out that we weren't going to the office today...So, I am not at the office today which means I am on paid internet. Because of this, I cannot write a blog today. So, check back tomorrow (Tuesday) because that is when I will get to the office and have a little bit of time to do stuff. Sorry!
Until Tomorrow,
Dave
So, last night at 10 PM I found out that we weren't going to the office today...So, I am not at the office today which means I am on paid internet. Because of this, I cannot write a blog today. So, check back tomorrow (Tuesday) because that is when I will get to the office and have a little bit of time to do stuff. Sorry!
Until Tomorrow,
Dave
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