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
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
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
Monday, June 21, 2010
Java House, Schedules and Matatus
Hello again, it must be another Monday because my fingers and wrists hurt from typing. This week has been interesting, definitely my hardest week since I have been here but not my worst. Believe it or not, on Sunday my internship is halfway over! So, from here on out I only get closer to being done then to starting. So, here is the magic of this week!
Living and such:
This week has been crazy! I was so tired by Saturday that I was falling asleep on the couch watching the World Cup. By the way don't get me started on the refs at this world cup, they are jokes, I don't know what stupid hole they pulled them out of but man, I don't even think they know what a goal post is, why do we expect them to know what a HAND BALL IS FREAKING BRAZIL!
Anyway, it has been an interesting week, I didn't really see much of Alvin because we are both doing our separate things, plus he gets back very late at night sometimes. He calls me his "pre- marriage house keeper" because I wash the dishes and make dinner (sometimes) so he doesn't have too, last time he called me that I responded " keep calling me that and I will sit around all day licking plates and bowls .Using your spoons to kill mosquitoes and leave them in the sink! "and he thought that was the funniest thing. As I said before, this week has been a little bit harder in terms of mental strength. Some days (like Saturday) I find myself alone in the apartment for most of the day, I try to keep busy but some days are just lazy days like that. Those days I feel very alone and sometimes get a little sad so if you could pray for those kinds of days for me that would be great. I just learned that the week Alvin is gone on his honeymoon, I will be living alone for a week! Ugh, so I am going to have to figure something out. This weekend we head up to Kisumu to have the final meeting between Alvin's and Nancy's parents. That will be fun, I will get to see Lake Victoria from the other side of Africa and eat huge fish.
Community Development:
This week was hard, I had scheduled nine interviews, three for Tues, Wed and Thurs. However, each day we always wound up doing two. This was really frustrating because either my translator was late or one of the people "wasn't ready". I don't know what that means, its not like we were going out to a ballroom dance or anything I just need to ask them a few questions. So, each day I became more and more frustrated because I am running out of time to complete these interviews. I still haven't even met with any of the other group in Kibera, for many reasons but they have been very elusive! Also, I realized I hate doing interviews, I like the data and responses I get from it but I hate actually doing the interviews. They are so time consuming and monotonous it takes self control not to answer the questions myself to speed up the process. It makes me wonder how many official documents have been created by people who hate interviews. I am really excited to compile and compare all the data...I just need to get to that point. Until then I am walking everywhere, being asked"how are you"every two seconds and also being stared at until I look down and see that there is a hole burned in my back pocket because of so many people seeing the money sign stamped on it. Normally, I have the mental strength to just treat people nicely and go beyond that and make the best of it but this week I didn't. I was walking somewhere the other day and this kid that I had just seen with his parents comes running up to me going 'brother, brother" I automatically know he is going to ask me for money and I was so tired that I just turned around and stuck out my hand and asked him "hey, do you have any money?" On another note, most of the interviews went very well! Many people are giving some great answers and I am already seeing things that I can give to Alvin. However, pray for my scheduling because we both decided that I have to do at least 7 more interviews in the Kawangware group...pray that that will work out because I have this week and next week to finish interviews then I lose my translator. Also, pray for my mental strength as I continue, I want to make the best of the time I have here and in order to do that I have to really be strong mentally. So, please pray for that and this week as I continue doing interviews.
God and such:
I am still being challenged to just grow in faith and walk with God in daily life. As much as I hate interviews I really have been encouraged by many of the peoples testimonies. So many of these savings group members lost everything in the 2008 election violence and have been a victim of tribal clashes. I talked to a guy the other day that started his business with 300 shillings (about 4 bucks) and now owns a taxi and has a pretty big soap making business! So, their testimonies are really encouraging. Clara and I are reading Psalms together, and this morning and got to Psalm 19:7 that says "the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul..." and It got me thinking how backwards the church is. The other day I was watching Aljazeera (a world news station) and they did a segment on what people think of the church and many of the people who didn't attend one said something like "I don't need anyone else telling me what I can and can't do"or "Its so judgmental I just don't need that in my life". These souls don't sound revived...they sound beat to a pulp, and while these kinds of people are out there here we are arguing over whether or not a kid can be baptized. That argument isn't good enough so we have to argue if the kid can be baptized then we have to argue about which form is more holy, sprinkling or dunking. Sheesh, give me a break, no wonder everyone thinks the church is full of retards talking out of their butt. This doesn't give them a break either, if you take a look you see the world is full of retards stammering butt. I guess that is the point of the gospel though, the law revives the soul. The church has some how confused it and made it the opposite. With things like: You can't play vollyball on Sundays or you can't drink a beer without being a sinner or you can't have any democratic friends or views if you want to be accepted by Christ. Come on guys, wake up figure out that the gospel is for retards that talk out of their butt, the only difference between us and the world is that we know our butts have hope in being redeemed in the end. This is what the church is there for, affirming the butts and talking out of them together, struggling together and loving each other none the less and knowing what the implications of Christs coming means. This is also the point of fellowship outside of the church too...but that is another blog.
Other stuff and Small Anecdotes:
-it turns out that I have at least 10 names here, many people see you and want to be associated with you (because your from the west) so they will just call you a random name hoping you will say "hi" Here is the list so far:
Jesus, Tom, Jonathan, Daudi, Davoh, Christiano Ronaldo, Mozungu, Howareyou, Carrerras (some football player), Jonga and the big finale and my favorite, Antonio Banderas.
- USA is still in the WC and Kenyans are impressed...Yeah, that's right the US can bring it they came back from 2-0 in the second half two tie the game at 2-2...they would have won if it wasn't for the REF!!! COME ON!
-Last night I held a celebration in my room and ate a Slim Jim because it marked my 100th mosquito killing since my internship! I am hoping to reach 500 but July is supposedly the cold month so nature will take over then. We will see how many I get by the end of my internship, if it is 350 or over, I am taking Alvin and Nancy out for Japanese food. I am also competing with Kevin Hartzell for the championship belt of mosquito killing...I kinda got a head start though so I am starting a side project of Squito killin!
-Since I saw japan play a game in the World cup, I really really really want Japanese food
- I went to Java House the other day (Kenyan Starbucks) and sat down at a table. I had a Kenyan news paper in my hands and I was reading it at the table ( I love the newspapers here....I don't know why). First a woman waiter comes up and asks if I wanted anything and I said "is your internet working today?" She scoffs at me and looks at me like I asked her if she was pregnant and says "of course its working" and stomps away. First off, Java House internet never works and if it does it acts like an excel sheet with 80,000 cells filled with MP3's to turn the lyrics into a pie chart, so don't tell me "or course it is". I shrug it off and then the waiter comes up and says "would you like anything?" I asked "is your internet working today?"and he says with a smile "let me go check". He walks into the main building and then comes out with a woman...the same woman the stomped off. She comes out expecting someone else and then takes a look at me and walks back inside the building. I lean over and ask the guy "is she OK?" He just shrugs his shoulders and walks back inside. She comes back outside and says "what would you like" with a frown on her face. I open my mouth to order so food so she doesn't get more upset with me and I realize I have no money so what comes out is "can I just have a glass of water?" Yeah...I hope I don't see her again.
Alright everyone till next week,
Dave
Living and such:
This week has been crazy! I was so tired by Saturday that I was falling asleep on the couch watching the World Cup. By the way don't get me started on the refs at this world cup, they are jokes, I don't know what stupid hole they pulled them out of but man, I don't even think they know what a goal post is, why do we expect them to know what a HAND BALL IS FREAKING BRAZIL!
Anyway, it has been an interesting week, I didn't really see much of Alvin because we are both doing our separate things, plus he gets back very late at night sometimes. He calls me his "pre- marriage house keeper" because I wash the dishes and make dinner (sometimes) so he doesn't have too, last time he called me that I responded " keep calling me that and I will sit around all day licking plates and bowls .Using your spoons to kill mosquitoes and leave them in the sink! "and he thought that was the funniest thing. As I said before, this week has been a little bit harder in terms of mental strength. Some days (like Saturday) I find myself alone in the apartment for most of the day, I try to keep busy but some days are just lazy days like that. Those days I feel very alone and sometimes get a little sad so if you could pray for those kinds of days for me that would be great. I just learned that the week Alvin is gone on his honeymoon, I will be living alone for a week! Ugh, so I am going to have to figure something out. This weekend we head up to Kisumu to have the final meeting between Alvin's and Nancy's parents. That will be fun, I will get to see Lake Victoria from the other side of Africa and eat huge fish.
Community Development:
This week was hard, I had scheduled nine interviews, three for Tues, Wed and Thurs. However, each day we always wound up doing two. This was really frustrating because either my translator was late or one of the people "wasn't ready". I don't know what that means, its not like we were going out to a ballroom dance or anything I just need to ask them a few questions. So, each day I became more and more frustrated because I am running out of time to complete these interviews. I still haven't even met with any of the other group in Kibera, for many reasons but they have been very elusive! Also, I realized I hate doing interviews, I like the data and responses I get from it but I hate actually doing the interviews. They are so time consuming and monotonous it takes self control not to answer the questions myself to speed up the process. It makes me wonder how many official documents have been created by people who hate interviews. I am really excited to compile and compare all the data...I just need to get to that point. Until then I am walking everywhere, being asked"how are you"every two seconds and also being stared at until I look down and see that there is a hole burned in my back pocket because of so many people seeing the money sign stamped on it. Normally, I have the mental strength to just treat people nicely and go beyond that and make the best of it but this week I didn't. I was walking somewhere the other day and this kid that I had just seen with his parents comes running up to me going 'brother, brother" I automatically know he is going to ask me for money and I was so tired that I just turned around and stuck out my hand and asked him "hey, do you have any money?" On another note, most of the interviews went very well! Many people are giving some great answers and I am already seeing things that I can give to Alvin. However, pray for my scheduling because we both decided that I have to do at least 7 more interviews in the Kawangware group...pray that that will work out because I have this week and next week to finish interviews then I lose my translator. Also, pray for my mental strength as I continue, I want to make the best of the time I have here and in order to do that I have to really be strong mentally. So, please pray for that and this week as I continue doing interviews.
God and such:
I am still being challenged to just grow in faith and walk with God in daily life. As much as I hate interviews I really have been encouraged by many of the peoples testimonies. So many of these savings group members lost everything in the 2008 election violence and have been a victim of tribal clashes. I talked to a guy the other day that started his business with 300 shillings (about 4 bucks) and now owns a taxi and has a pretty big soap making business! So, their testimonies are really encouraging. Clara and I are reading Psalms together, and this morning and got to Psalm 19:7 that says "the law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul..." and It got me thinking how backwards the church is. The other day I was watching Aljazeera (a world news station) and they did a segment on what people think of the church and many of the people who didn't attend one said something like "I don't need anyone else telling me what I can and can't do"or "Its so judgmental I just don't need that in my life". These souls don't sound revived...they sound beat to a pulp, and while these kinds of people are out there here we are arguing over whether or not a kid can be baptized. That argument isn't good enough so we have to argue if the kid can be baptized then we have to argue about which form is more holy, sprinkling or dunking. Sheesh, give me a break, no wonder everyone thinks the church is full of retards talking out of their butt. This doesn't give them a break either, if you take a look you see the world is full of retards stammering butt. I guess that is the point of the gospel though, the law revives the soul. The church has some how confused it and made it the opposite. With things like: You can't play vollyball on Sundays or you can't drink a beer without being a sinner or you can't have any democratic friends or views if you want to be accepted by Christ. Come on guys, wake up figure out that the gospel is for retards that talk out of their butt, the only difference between us and the world is that we know our butts have hope in being redeemed in the end. This is what the church is there for, affirming the butts and talking out of them together, struggling together and loving each other none the less and knowing what the implications of Christs coming means. This is also the point of fellowship outside of the church too...but that is another blog.
Other stuff and Small Anecdotes:
-it turns out that I have at least 10 names here, many people see you and want to be associated with you (because your from the west) so they will just call you a random name hoping you will say "hi" Here is the list so far:
Jesus, Tom, Jonathan, Daudi, Davoh, Christiano Ronaldo, Mozungu, Howareyou, Carrerras (some football player), Jonga and the big finale and my favorite, Antonio Banderas.
- USA is still in the WC and Kenyans are impressed...Yeah, that's right the US can bring it they came back from 2-0 in the second half two tie the game at 2-2...they would have won if it wasn't for the REF!!! COME ON!
-Last night I held a celebration in my room and ate a Slim Jim because it marked my 100th mosquito killing since my internship! I am hoping to reach 500 but July is supposedly the cold month so nature will take over then. We will see how many I get by the end of my internship, if it is 350 or over, I am taking Alvin and Nancy out for Japanese food. I am also competing with Kevin Hartzell for the championship belt of mosquito killing...I kinda got a head start though so I am starting a side project of Squito killin!
-Since I saw japan play a game in the World cup, I really really really want Japanese food
- I went to Java House the other day (Kenyan Starbucks) and sat down at a table. I had a Kenyan news paper in my hands and I was reading it at the table ( I love the newspapers here....I don't know why). First a woman waiter comes up and asks if I wanted anything and I said "is your internet working today?" She scoffs at me and looks at me like I asked her if she was pregnant and says "of course its working" and stomps away. First off, Java House internet never works and if it does it acts like an excel sheet with 80,000 cells filled with MP3's to turn the lyrics into a pie chart, so don't tell me "or course it is". I shrug it off and then the waiter comes up and says "would you like anything?" I asked "is your internet working today?"and he says with a smile "let me go check". He walks into the main building and then comes out with a woman...the same woman the stomped off. She comes out expecting someone else and then takes a look at me and walks back inside the building. I lean over and ask the guy "is she OK?" He just shrugs his shoulders and walks back inside. She comes back outside and says "what would you like" with a frown on her face. I open my mouth to order so food so she doesn't get more upset with me and I realize I have no money so what comes out is "can I just have a glass of water?" Yeah...I hope I don't see her again.
Alright everyone till next week,
Dave
Monday, June 14, 2010
Walking, Meatballs and One Month
Its been one month since I got to Nairobi!!! wow, incredible. In two weeks I will be halfway done with my internship. So, in celebration of one month I will award my readers with a prize...TWO BLOG ENTRIES!!! :)
Living and Such:
Living has been the same, a lot of hanging with people. And since June 11 a lot of World Cup football, which I am completely ok with. Since I have been here, my love for soccer has surpassed my love for TV shows. I am starting to become obsessed with football and everything to do with it. Before coming, I liked it, I knew it existed, I flirted with watching a few games everyonce in a while. However, now it is what I think about with some of my down time, what I want to do on weekends...I'm in trouble! I have been playing with a buncha guys everyonce in a while on weekends...SO MUCH FUN. I have even had the thought of joining Covenants JV soccer team when I get back. Outside of soccer, I have really gotten to know quite a few people and now have some really good friends here in Nairobi. I still miss everyone at home though, I really am excited to get back, but I can't think about that too much. I was able to see Ryland Rainsford and his girlfriend Juliana Padilla ( classmates from Covenant) over this weekend which was AMAZING! They are going to be in town for the next few weeks and we are going to hang out a little more. However, it is so encouraging to be able to see friends from home. Outside of that, at the end of this month I will be going with Alvin, Nancy and her parents for the fabled parents meeting to Kisumu which is (i think) on the Northwest side of Kenya, so I will see some new sights. I will also be able to be in Alvins wedding playing music which will be fun!
Community Development:
Alot of my thoughts I put down in the other blog, But here is what I am up too. Last week I had a few interviews with the Kawangware group that went very well. I am pretty pleased with the data and information I am getting, I feel like even if I am doing something wrong I will be able to give Alvin some good data. This week I will be interviewing nine people! so pray for my feet because I will be walking so much, I am trying not to spend much money on public transportation/staying active by walking everywhere. So, I will be meeting with the majority of the group this week. One of the group members I met with last week was named Rose. She brought me to her shop which sold fish (she called herself a Fish Monger, which I found hilarious). It was such an encouraging trip because here was Rose, in the middle of a slum we were laughing constantly and she was sharing a lot of her testimony with me. By the end of this month most of my research should be finished, so I will have July to figure it all out!
God:
God has really been quitely working on my heart, his voice hasn't been to loud in my prayer life but his word has been really getting my heart. I think he is just letting me experience and then later he will show me all that I have learned and why I needed to learn it. He loves doing that to me! I remembered something the otherday, I remembered when i was little I had a day where I was barraged with things about Africa. I don't know why I thought this when I was eight but I felt that it was significant and it meant something and since then that day has always stuck in the back of my head. I was in the word the otherday and remembered this and really felt like that day was describing this summer. I said to myself "well, it could be a coincidence" and then God confirmed again in church. I have a bible with a metal attachment on the front in which you can put small notecards with verses on them. I have had this bible for about 8-9 years now so its been through a lot. I don't use this bible a lot because I have a smaller one in a different translation that I like better that i have been using for the 6 years. However, that one was falling apart and I didn't have time to get it rebound while I was in the states so I brought this other one. I wasn't paying attention to the sermon and church and took out the note card that had been on the front of it since who knows when and turned it around. On the opposite side was the African word Jabula which means praise. This had been there for at least 7 years and I had just turned it over now... and again I knew I was supposed to be here. So, I'm here and keep praying that I enjoy it and don't get distracted with everything else I am thinking about.
Other stuff and Small Anecdotes:
-USA tied England 1-1, I get to rub that in the face of many Kenyans who made fun of me for supporting the USA.
-(the following story is really true and happened in real time! I promise) In Kenya, it is normal to see either a small pickup truck with at least 10 guys in the bed just riding around, or a huge cargo truck with at least 30-40 guys in the cargo area. I have been wondering why people ride in the back of these trucks. So, the otherday I was walking somewhere. I realized that it was going to be about 3 miles and I didn't feel like walking. So, I saw a big cargo truck coming up behind me. I decided to live a little, run and jump on the truck while it was moving and sit down with a buncha Kenyans and pray that the truck was going where I needed it to go. So, the truck is going about 15 MPH and I run and jump and my hands catch the rail on the back of the truck. I pull myself and am now in this cargo truck with a buncha Kenyans...or at least what I thought were Kenyans. I was feeling proud of myself that I jumped successfully onto a moving truck, knowing that getting off wouldnt' be as hard because of Nariobi stop and go traffic. Of course, I bring attention to myself because Muzungus (white people) don't do that. I get in the truck and surprisingly one of the guys looks over starts speaking in english to me and goes "are you south African?" (referring to the white population of SA) and I go "nope, why do you ask?" I glimpse around at all the people faces and realize they are all staring at me with very big eyes and are in shock. "Because I have never seen a Mozungu do that" I smile and say "well...now you have" The conversation ends there and I look out the bars are realize that the cargo area of the truck is hidden from the sight of anyone outside the truck. I find this odd and didn't really realize that until now, however. the truck was heading towards town. I look at the guy and say " why do you guys ride around in here? Why not take public?" He looks at me and then talks to another guy sitting beside him in a language that isn't swahili. he looks back and says in broken english "we aren't familiar with here". I say "oh, ok well...uh Karibu Kenya (welcome to kenya)" "he says "Asante" (thanks) and looks back at the guy next to him and they talk for a few minutes. He then looks at me and says "We need you to leave" I looked really puzzled and he noticed, I asked "why" and he said never really answered the question he just said " to much trouble, for us and you". I take that as my que to get out ASAP and tell him thanks. I wait for the vehicle to stop and hop out and walk about five minutes to my destination happy that I didn't have to walk the whole way. Later on I am with a Kenyan friend and see a truck and point at it and go "Mash, what are those trucks? why do I always see people in them?" Mash laughs and then says "sometimes they are construction workers getting a ride from work, other times they are used by illegal immigrants from other countries trying to get to Nairobi for work".
- I learned sometime throughout the week that when in rome, sometimes not to do what romans do because sometimes they aren't actually romans.
- Alvin bought me mince meat the other day for me to make speghetti and meatballs. I really didn't understand the difference betweem mince meat and ground beef until I started cooking with it. Maybe I did it wrong, but everytime I put the meat ball in the pan to cook (because we do not have an oven) and it would fall apart. So finally I had to break the news to Alvin. Here was our conversation:
D- I have bad news Alvin
A- What is this?
D- The meatballs aren't working
A- (laughs a little) why is that?
D- They keep falling apart when I put them in the pan
A- (laughs for at least a minute) You have the issue of dissintegrating meatballs?
D-Yep, it happens to the best of us. I'm just gonna add them to the sauce ok?
A- Im not sure what you are anymore
D-what?
A- your not American, your not Kenyan and you just gave me proof your not Italian
See you guys next week,
Dave
Living and Such:
Living has been the same, a lot of hanging with people. And since June 11 a lot of World Cup football, which I am completely ok with. Since I have been here, my love for soccer has surpassed my love for TV shows. I am starting to become obsessed with football and everything to do with it. Before coming, I liked it, I knew it existed, I flirted with watching a few games everyonce in a while. However, now it is what I think about with some of my down time, what I want to do on weekends...I'm in trouble! I have been playing with a buncha guys everyonce in a while on weekends...SO MUCH FUN. I have even had the thought of joining Covenants JV soccer team when I get back. Outside of soccer, I have really gotten to know quite a few people and now have some really good friends here in Nairobi. I still miss everyone at home though, I really am excited to get back, but I can't think about that too much. I was able to see Ryland Rainsford and his girlfriend Juliana Padilla ( classmates from Covenant) over this weekend which was AMAZING! They are going to be in town for the next few weeks and we are going to hang out a little more. However, it is so encouraging to be able to see friends from home. Outside of that, at the end of this month I will be going with Alvin, Nancy and her parents for the fabled parents meeting to Kisumu which is (i think) on the Northwest side of Kenya, so I will see some new sights. I will also be able to be in Alvins wedding playing music which will be fun!
Community Development:
Alot of my thoughts I put down in the other blog, But here is what I am up too. Last week I had a few interviews with the Kawangware group that went very well. I am pretty pleased with the data and information I am getting, I feel like even if I am doing something wrong I will be able to give Alvin some good data. This week I will be interviewing nine people! so pray for my feet because I will be walking so much, I am trying not to spend much money on public transportation/staying active by walking everywhere. So, I will be meeting with the majority of the group this week. One of the group members I met with last week was named Rose. She brought me to her shop which sold fish (she called herself a Fish Monger, which I found hilarious). It was such an encouraging trip because here was Rose, in the middle of a slum we were laughing constantly and she was sharing a lot of her testimony with me. By the end of this month most of my research should be finished, so I will have July to figure it all out!
God:
God has really been quitely working on my heart, his voice hasn't been to loud in my prayer life but his word has been really getting my heart. I think he is just letting me experience and then later he will show me all that I have learned and why I needed to learn it. He loves doing that to me! I remembered something the otherday, I remembered when i was little I had a day where I was barraged with things about Africa. I don't know why I thought this when I was eight but I felt that it was significant and it meant something and since then that day has always stuck in the back of my head. I was in the word the otherday and remembered this and really felt like that day was describing this summer. I said to myself "well, it could be a coincidence" and then God confirmed again in church. I have a bible with a metal attachment on the front in which you can put small notecards with verses on them. I have had this bible for about 8-9 years now so its been through a lot. I don't use this bible a lot because I have a smaller one in a different translation that I like better that i have been using for the 6 years. However, that one was falling apart and I didn't have time to get it rebound while I was in the states so I brought this other one. I wasn't paying attention to the sermon and church and took out the note card that had been on the front of it since who knows when and turned it around. On the opposite side was the African word Jabula which means praise. This had been there for at least 7 years and I had just turned it over now... and again I knew I was supposed to be here. So, I'm here and keep praying that I enjoy it and don't get distracted with everything else I am thinking about.
Other stuff and Small Anecdotes:
-USA tied England 1-1, I get to rub that in the face of many Kenyans who made fun of me for supporting the USA.
-(the following story is really true and happened in real time! I promise) In Kenya, it is normal to see either a small pickup truck with at least 10 guys in the bed just riding around, or a huge cargo truck with at least 30-40 guys in the cargo area. I have been wondering why people ride in the back of these trucks. So, the otherday I was walking somewhere. I realized that it was going to be about 3 miles and I didn't feel like walking. So, I saw a big cargo truck coming up behind me. I decided to live a little, run and jump on the truck while it was moving and sit down with a buncha Kenyans and pray that the truck was going where I needed it to go. So, the truck is going about 15 MPH and I run and jump and my hands catch the rail on the back of the truck. I pull myself and am now in this cargo truck with a buncha Kenyans...or at least what I thought were Kenyans. I was feeling proud of myself that I jumped successfully onto a moving truck, knowing that getting off wouldnt' be as hard because of Nariobi stop and go traffic. Of course, I bring attention to myself because Muzungus (white people) don't do that. I get in the truck and surprisingly one of the guys looks over starts speaking in english to me and goes "are you south African?" (referring to the white population of SA) and I go "nope, why do you ask?" I glimpse around at all the people faces and realize they are all staring at me with very big eyes and are in shock. "Because I have never seen a Mozungu do that" I smile and say "well...now you have" The conversation ends there and I look out the bars are realize that the cargo area of the truck is hidden from the sight of anyone outside the truck. I find this odd and didn't really realize that until now, however. the truck was heading towards town. I look at the guy and say " why do you guys ride around in here? Why not take public?" He looks at me and then talks to another guy sitting beside him in a language that isn't swahili. he looks back and says in broken english "we aren't familiar with here". I say "oh, ok well...uh Karibu Kenya (welcome to kenya)" "he says "Asante" (thanks) and looks back at the guy next to him and they talk for a few minutes. He then looks at me and says "We need you to leave" I looked really puzzled and he noticed, I asked "why" and he said never really answered the question he just said " to much trouble, for us and you". I take that as my que to get out ASAP and tell him thanks. I wait for the vehicle to stop and hop out and walk about five minutes to my destination happy that I didn't have to walk the whole way. Later on I am with a Kenyan friend and see a truck and point at it and go "Mash, what are those trucks? why do I always see people in them?" Mash laughs and then says "sometimes they are construction workers getting a ride from work, other times they are used by illegal immigrants from other countries trying to get to Nairobi for work".
- I learned sometime throughout the week that when in rome, sometimes not to do what romans do because sometimes they aren't actually romans.
- Alvin bought me mince meat the other day for me to make speghetti and meatballs. I really didn't understand the difference betweem mince meat and ground beef until I started cooking with it. Maybe I did it wrong, but everytime I put the meat ball in the pan to cook (because we do not have an oven) and it would fall apart. So finally I had to break the news to Alvin. Here was our conversation:
D- I have bad news Alvin
A- What is this?
D- The meatballs aren't working
A- (laughs a little) why is that?
D- They keep falling apart when I put them in the pan
A- (laughs for at least a minute) You have the issue of dissintegrating meatballs?
D-Yep, it happens to the best of us. I'm just gonna add them to the sauce ok?
A- Im not sure what you are anymore
D-what?
A- your not American, your not Kenyan and you just gave me proof your not Italian
See you guys next week,
Dave
The Use of Emotion
Hey everyone! It's Monday which means I write and write and write until I cannot feel my wrists! So, welcome to blog 4, yes that means I have been here one month! blog four of my summer internship. I am going to structure this blog a little differently I think because I have different things I want to say. I am going to write an update on my in another blog
The Use of Emotion in America
Almost all missionaires have something like this blog site to keep you updated on things. This is normal, people want to know what your doing and how your doing, and of course missionairy's want to stay connected. Also, all kinds of NGO's and non-profits put together liturature on what they do in order to inform and gather support. America is used to these things. People are constantly reading information on NGO's and programs, those in church circles are always reading updates from missionairy's the church supports. These things are normal ways of doing things in America, and they are not bad at all. However, I realized something the otherday. America is addicted to the emotional and dramatic! this isn't my main realization but what I want to say ties into this.
Think of marketing, think of the news, think of movies. They all move to inspire you and to move you. To shake you or to make you think. How many times have you heard someone describe a movie as a "break from reality" or in otherwords a way to let your emotions rest on something that does not involve you. Musicians make music (most of them) to inspire you and you hear people say "I feel this beat" or "this song just gets me". Contemporary church services want to move you, to help you feel your love for God and express it. I am not pointing this out to make fun of America and emotions, I am not saying "Americans are whimpy little girls and they should change" I am just pointing out emotion follows all human beings (not just Americans) and effects human beings, and all these things I have said above are part of my life as well. However, I think we have a dependency on this emotionalism and when we do not "feel" something, we freak out.
The reason I bring this up is because I realized that most of the summaries on NGO/ministry programs feed on your emotions. They write these descriptions of a broken, in mass chaos people who need your help to survive. They write these moving articles about someone undergoing an extreme hardship that none of us will ever understand. They portray people in horrible situations to draw you to action. Now, let me say that we need to understand hardships that people go through, we need to be aware and we need to be in action. It is our Christian calling and responsibility to care for the oppressed and broken. However, we also need to realize those broken people are not just a people that need our help. They are a people with a life, they wake up in the morning and sleep at night and the way they are portrayed is not the way they normally live.
I realized the other day that I have yet to write a blog like this, a blog that describes to you all that I have seen in Kibera. A moving and graphic description of the rivers of sewage that run through the heart, the handicapped boy sitting in a pile of mud hoping that I will give him some money. The vastness of the slums, the one million families that are living on a dollar a day. The day I was walking in Kibera and saw twenty shillings (about 10 cents) on the ground and realized that who ever dropped that money just lost food for their family for the day and now their family will have to go a day without food. I haven't written about these things and i should, I should tell you about them and how moved I was by the people and how deep in poverty they are. I was wondering why I wasn't and I realized that I was seeing something different, I was seeing not the horrible situation or the sewage rivers, I was seeing a people of Christ, a people with joy!
All the times I have been in Kibera I have seen people willing to talk, people in suits doing their daily business. The small vegetable stand filled with Avocados and the mother chopping cabbage to sell. I have seen and met many people who are living in Kibera that would not describe life like the liturature of programs and organizations. They would affirm that that does exist but that is only one side of the coin. I will show you an example of this, I am going to write about the same situation, in two different ways.
1. Barney woke up and put on his coat. He walked out the door and saw a man in a wheelchair, he smiled and opened his 1995 impala car door to find a note from his wife saying how much she loved him. They had some rocky times but nonetheless they kept living and loving each other.The town he lived in was a place of hard knocks, but the town was small enough that there was an strong community of people who watched out for each other. Barney was a counselor and today he had an appointment with a man who had been addicted to alchol but is willing to work it through.
There is nothing really super emotional about this right? simple, it is just a smiple description of a guy's day and some of his life. Now I want to submit to you that this is how we recieve the information about third-world countries.
2. Barney tossed and turned and finally with an aching back climbed out of bed. He reached up for his coat and his arm ached because he had slept on the wrong arm. He always had done this and never learned his lesson. He walked out the door and smelled the air of industrialization, his thoughts immdiately went to a town with high pollution and the high rate of unemployment constantly attacking the city, casting a seemingly hopeless town into a neverending circle of poverty. He looked to his right and saw a man in a wheelchair on the side of the road, Barney forced a smile because he knew that this man needed his encouragement, he was stuck in a wheelchair with only a unobtainable doctors fee as salvation. He got in his car after struggling with the handle for two minutes and consequently cutting his finger. he found a note from his wife, saying how passionately she loved him, they had gone through times where they thought they would end, where their relationship could never be mended. They still struggle with loving eachother everyday, but do so the best they can....
And so on and so forth. SEE THE DIFFERENCE! This kind of representation isn't wrong, but it is misleading! We "romanticize" things so we can feel its effects more and this just is not the whole story.
In Kibera and all the other slums I have been too, I have seen more life than sorrow. I have seen just as many people dressed sharply that are dressed in tattered clothes. I have seen more joy than grief. Is it a bad situation? yes it is. Are the living conditions horrible? yeah, they are disgusting and un-humane. Are the people of these slums close to naked and sometimes face starvation? yeah, all the time Does it seem like a hopeless cycle of poverty? yes. However, what is more important than these things is how the people are living and how much God is doing in Kibera and Kawangware.
God is working there among everything! He is really present among the slums of Africa and I want you to know that. There is redemption happening! and I want to take part in redemption more than lifting hopeless poverty.
So, I want to tell you that all the things you read about the slums is true, its really bad and I have been impacted and emotionally moved by them. I do not have to tell you what is wrong because that is already out there and it is true! but what is even more true is the redemption work of Jesus Christ, how his remedy is found as far as the curse is found. I want you to walk away from reading my blog fully aware and encouraged about what I am seeing and doing here, I don't want to add to all thats wrong with Kibera or Kawangware.
So dear friends, be encouraged! God is working among the sewage rivers and the beggars, he has been before I got here and will be after I leave.
In Christ,
Dave
The Use of Emotion in America
Almost all missionaires have something like this blog site to keep you updated on things. This is normal, people want to know what your doing and how your doing, and of course missionairy's want to stay connected. Also, all kinds of NGO's and non-profits put together liturature on what they do in order to inform and gather support. America is used to these things. People are constantly reading information on NGO's and programs, those in church circles are always reading updates from missionairy's the church supports. These things are normal ways of doing things in America, and they are not bad at all. However, I realized something the otherday. America is addicted to the emotional and dramatic! this isn't my main realization but what I want to say ties into this.
Think of marketing, think of the news, think of movies. They all move to inspire you and to move you. To shake you or to make you think. How many times have you heard someone describe a movie as a "break from reality" or in otherwords a way to let your emotions rest on something that does not involve you. Musicians make music (most of them) to inspire you and you hear people say "I feel this beat" or "this song just gets me". Contemporary church services want to move you, to help you feel your love for God and express it. I am not pointing this out to make fun of America and emotions, I am not saying "Americans are whimpy little girls and they should change" I am just pointing out emotion follows all human beings (not just Americans) and effects human beings, and all these things I have said above are part of my life as well. However, I think we have a dependency on this emotionalism and when we do not "feel" something, we freak out.
The reason I bring this up is because I realized that most of the summaries on NGO/ministry programs feed on your emotions. They write these descriptions of a broken, in mass chaos people who need your help to survive. They write these moving articles about someone undergoing an extreme hardship that none of us will ever understand. They portray people in horrible situations to draw you to action. Now, let me say that we need to understand hardships that people go through, we need to be aware and we need to be in action. It is our Christian calling and responsibility to care for the oppressed and broken. However, we also need to realize those broken people are not just a people that need our help. They are a people with a life, they wake up in the morning and sleep at night and the way they are portrayed is not the way they normally live.
I realized the other day that I have yet to write a blog like this, a blog that describes to you all that I have seen in Kibera. A moving and graphic description of the rivers of sewage that run through the heart, the handicapped boy sitting in a pile of mud hoping that I will give him some money. The vastness of the slums, the one million families that are living on a dollar a day. The day I was walking in Kibera and saw twenty shillings (about 10 cents) on the ground and realized that who ever dropped that money just lost food for their family for the day and now their family will have to go a day without food. I haven't written about these things and i should, I should tell you about them and how moved I was by the people and how deep in poverty they are. I was wondering why I wasn't and I realized that I was seeing something different, I was seeing not the horrible situation or the sewage rivers, I was seeing a people of Christ, a people with joy!
All the times I have been in Kibera I have seen people willing to talk, people in suits doing their daily business. The small vegetable stand filled with Avocados and the mother chopping cabbage to sell. I have seen and met many people who are living in Kibera that would not describe life like the liturature of programs and organizations. They would affirm that that does exist but that is only one side of the coin. I will show you an example of this, I am going to write about the same situation, in two different ways.
1. Barney woke up and put on his coat. He walked out the door and saw a man in a wheelchair, he smiled and opened his 1995 impala car door to find a note from his wife saying how much she loved him. They had some rocky times but nonetheless they kept living and loving each other.The town he lived in was a place of hard knocks, but the town was small enough that there was an strong community of people who watched out for each other. Barney was a counselor and today he had an appointment with a man who had been addicted to alchol but is willing to work it through.
There is nothing really super emotional about this right? simple, it is just a smiple description of a guy's day and some of his life. Now I want to submit to you that this is how we recieve the information about third-world countries.
2. Barney tossed and turned and finally with an aching back climbed out of bed. He reached up for his coat and his arm ached because he had slept on the wrong arm. He always had done this and never learned his lesson. He walked out the door and smelled the air of industrialization, his thoughts immdiately went to a town with high pollution and the high rate of unemployment constantly attacking the city, casting a seemingly hopeless town into a neverending circle of poverty. He looked to his right and saw a man in a wheelchair on the side of the road, Barney forced a smile because he knew that this man needed his encouragement, he was stuck in a wheelchair with only a unobtainable doctors fee as salvation. He got in his car after struggling with the handle for two minutes and consequently cutting his finger. he found a note from his wife, saying how passionately she loved him, they had gone through times where they thought they would end, where their relationship could never be mended. They still struggle with loving eachother everyday, but do so the best they can....
And so on and so forth. SEE THE DIFFERENCE! This kind of representation isn't wrong, but it is misleading! We "romanticize" things so we can feel its effects more and this just is not the whole story.
In Kibera and all the other slums I have been too, I have seen more life than sorrow. I have seen just as many people dressed sharply that are dressed in tattered clothes. I have seen more joy than grief. Is it a bad situation? yes it is. Are the living conditions horrible? yeah, they are disgusting and un-humane. Are the people of these slums close to naked and sometimes face starvation? yeah, all the time Does it seem like a hopeless cycle of poverty? yes. However, what is more important than these things is how the people are living and how much God is doing in Kibera and Kawangware.
God is working there among everything! He is really present among the slums of Africa and I want you to know that. There is redemption happening! and I want to take part in redemption more than lifting hopeless poverty.
So, I want to tell you that all the things you read about the slums is true, its really bad and I have been impacted and emotionally moved by them. I do not have to tell you what is wrong because that is already out there and it is true! but what is even more true is the redemption work of Jesus Christ, how his remedy is found as far as the curse is found. I want you to walk away from reading my blog fully aware and encouraged about what I am seeing and doing here, I don't want to add to all thats wrong with Kibera or Kawangware.
So dear friends, be encouraged! God is working among the sewage rivers and the beggars, he has been before I got here and will be after I leave.
In Christ,
Dave
Monday, June 7, 2010
Hamburgers, Rugby and Reactivity
Hey everyone,
On Sunday I will have been in Nairobi for a month! I really cannot believe that I have been here that long. So, I have two more months left here. So, here is update number three.
Living and Such Things:
Our power is out, it has been for the last two days. I have no internet access and i cannot work because my computer is out of charge! so I am in Africa Keibasa(completely). Because of blackouts, we don't keep the fridge stocked because it is a waste of money and food. So, there isn't much food around. The other day I was gone most of the day and had only a 3 inch chicken meat pie and one egg the whole day. So, when i got home I was hungry. I rummaged the house and found: rice, a shrivled cumcumber, a tomato and some feta cheese. yeah I combined them all, and then I remembered that I had a slim jim...so I added that in there for protien. I turned on the TV and nothing was on except for WWF raw...I just decided to leave it on. So, the moral of this story is I felt like a complete bachelor, not only did my meal contain slim jims I watched wrestling, the only thing I was missing was a beer and a dog. I also attended the Kenya rugby tournament on Saturday which was amazing, met a lot of great Kenyans and will be hanging out with them this coming Saturday. I also have been hanging out with Micahel and Rebbecca Rhodes a lot (CDV, 2008) I went to the Rugby game with them. (the Kenya team won by the way). Because Alvin and Nancy are getting married in a month, they are looking for a house. So, we were sorting out what was going to happen with me once they get back from their honeymoon and decided that I will be moving over to a place called westlands (side note, there is a westlands, southlands and eastlands but no northlands, also there is South C and B but no A) and living with the Rhodes for the last week. I'm driving in Nairobi now...I hate it its the worst thing to spend your time on but it is nessicary. I don't know how Kenyans put up with it.
God and Church:
This Sunday I decided that I would attend New City Fellowship Nairobi (church plant of NCF Chattanooga). Coincidentally, I am now playing with their worship team, I played drums for them on Sunday which was a wonderful blessing. The people are so amazing and I am making many many friends there. There is also a team from Chatt here so I have been able to turn aquaintances into friendships! This past Sunday Randy Neighbors actually preached (on racial reconciliation)! it was really good and encouraging. God is really working on my heart and mind. I have been really struggling with confidence here, more on that later. So, he has been really hitting me hard. He has however, really been teaching me about loving people and upkeeping with relationships. He has been using Alvin to do this a lot.
Research:
My research is very slow, I am finally starting my one on one interviews this week, I was supposed to start them today but because we didn't have power my computer ran out of battery and i wasn't able to finish my interview questions. So, I am excited to do that. I realized today that I am quickly running out of time to get them done so i need to really start pressuring people to get things running.
I also need prayer because I am feeling a little useless, for multiple reasons I am wondering if my research is actually needed. I have talked to my host and he says it is but I am still very unsure. So, this has been a battle with my confidence and attitude on being here. Please pray for that. I think I am also having issues with reactivity in my research. When i ask people about weaknesses on their savings group or the organization facilitating them, there is a lot of silence, when i ask them about strengths you have to limit the time spent on it. This may mean that the group and organization is actually that good, I wont know until my one on ones I guess, so pray that people are honest and give good data.
Other things:
- A fellow Cov College student just arrived in Nairobi (Ryland Rainsford) So, we will be meeting up soon. I am very psyched.
-I saw a goat the other day, it walked on its hind legs because it didn't have front legs...I laughed really hard and then felt really bad. So, as encouragement I told it " not to worry, he will still end up as Naya Choma" (roast meat).
-I am seriously considering killing the dogs outside, I honestly have to talk myself out of it every night. I learned that two of the landladies dogs have already been killed by posioning. I felt encouraged. On the same idea, please pray for my sleep, I have not been sleeping well at all.
-The world cup is this Friday, Nairobi will clean out during games. Actually, the office Alvin works at normally closes at four, and it takes two hours for people to get through Nairobi traffic and get home (most people live 15-20 miles away), so they will miss the games. They want to buy a TV for the office and just stay here, watch the game and go home after traffic is done...committed? yes they are
-The other night I was doing some assignment work, Alvin wasn't home so it was just me. I hadn't eaten all day so I was really hungry. At around 10:30, Alvin and Nancy came home and Alvin whips out a package of beef pattys and a conversation goes like this:
A "your American" (hands the package to me)
I take them
D "what does that mean?"
A "You mean you don't know how to make hamburgers?! (looks at Nancy) we have a fake American living here"
D " I never said I didn't know how to make them, I just thought you made a huge racial stereo type"
A "Well you are American right?"
D "Yeah"
A " So make me some burgers! I want to feel special tonight"
N " Me too, I have never had one before"
D " (laughs) ok I will do it, I'm actually really hungry"
I make the burgers, and through the whole time I was asked so many questions about them. I also had to teach them how to get the Katsup (I know its spelled wrong shut it) out of the bottle. The excitement that these two had over cheeseburgers was hilarious. The ending statement by Alvin was even funnier:
D "so did you like it? do you feel special?"
A " My goodness, I loved it. I am so sad that it ended"
Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement, it means so so so much. I miss all of you a lot! Keep praying for me and feel free to send me some verses to read.
Till next week,
Dave
On Sunday I will have been in Nairobi for a month! I really cannot believe that I have been here that long. So, I have two more months left here. So, here is update number three.
Living and Such Things:
Our power is out, it has been for the last two days. I have no internet access and i cannot work because my computer is out of charge! so I am in Africa Keibasa(completely). Because of blackouts, we don't keep the fridge stocked because it is a waste of money and food. So, there isn't much food around. The other day I was gone most of the day and had only a 3 inch chicken meat pie and one egg the whole day. So, when i got home I was hungry. I rummaged the house and found: rice, a shrivled cumcumber, a tomato and some feta cheese. yeah I combined them all, and then I remembered that I had a slim jim...so I added that in there for protien. I turned on the TV and nothing was on except for WWF raw...I just decided to leave it on. So, the moral of this story is I felt like a complete bachelor, not only did my meal contain slim jims I watched wrestling, the only thing I was missing was a beer and a dog. I also attended the Kenya rugby tournament on Saturday which was amazing, met a lot of great Kenyans and will be hanging out with them this coming Saturday. I also have been hanging out with Micahel and Rebbecca Rhodes a lot (CDV, 2008) I went to the Rugby game with them. (the Kenya team won by the way). Because Alvin and Nancy are getting married in a month, they are looking for a house. So, we were sorting out what was going to happen with me once they get back from their honeymoon and decided that I will be moving over to a place called westlands (side note, there is a westlands, southlands and eastlands but no northlands, also there is South C and B but no A) and living with the Rhodes for the last week. I'm driving in Nairobi now...I hate it its the worst thing to spend your time on but it is nessicary. I don't know how Kenyans put up with it.
God and Church:
This Sunday I decided that I would attend New City Fellowship Nairobi (church plant of NCF Chattanooga). Coincidentally, I am now playing with their worship team, I played drums for them on Sunday which was a wonderful blessing. The people are so amazing and I am making many many friends there. There is also a team from Chatt here so I have been able to turn aquaintances into friendships! This past Sunday Randy Neighbors actually preached (on racial reconciliation)! it was really good and encouraging. God is really working on my heart and mind. I have been really struggling with confidence here, more on that later. So, he has been really hitting me hard. He has however, really been teaching me about loving people and upkeeping with relationships. He has been using Alvin to do this a lot.
Research:
My research is very slow, I am finally starting my one on one interviews this week, I was supposed to start them today but because we didn't have power my computer ran out of battery and i wasn't able to finish my interview questions. So, I am excited to do that. I realized today that I am quickly running out of time to get them done so i need to really start pressuring people to get things running.
I also need prayer because I am feeling a little useless, for multiple reasons I am wondering if my research is actually needed. I have talked to my host and he says it is but I am still very unsure. So, this has been a battle with my confidence and attitude on being here. Please pray for that. I think I am also having issues with reactivity in my research. When i ask people about weaknesses on their savings group or the organization facilitating them, there is a lot of silence, when i ask them about strengths you have to limit the time spent on it. This may mean that the group and organization is actually that good, I wont know until my one on ones I guess, so pray that people are honest and give good data.
Other things:
- A fellow Cov College student just arrived in Nairobi (Ryland Rainsford) So, we will be meeting up soon. I am very psyched.
-I saw a goat the other day, it walked on its hind legs because it didn't have front legs...I laughed really hard and then felt really bad. So, as encouragement I told it " not to worry, he will still end up as Naya Choma" (roast meat).
-I am seriously considering killing the dogs outside, I honestly have to talk myself out of it every night. I learned that two of the landladies dogs have already been killed by posioning. I felt encouraged. On the same idea, please pray for my sleep, I have not been sleeping well at all.
-The world cup is this Friday, Nairobi will clean out during games. Actually, the office Alvin works at normally closes at four, and it takes two hours for people to get through Nairobi traffic and get home (most people live 15-20 miles away), so they will miss the games. They want to buy a TV for the office and just stay here, watch the game and go home after traffic is done...committed? yes they are
-The other night I was doing some assignment work, Alvin wasn't home so it was just me. I hadn't eaten all day so I was really hungry. At around 10:30, Alvin and Nancy came home and Alvin whips out a package of beef pattys and a conversation goes like this:
A "your American" (hands the package to me)
I take them
D "what does that mean?"
A "You mean you don't know how to make hamburgers?! (looks at Nancy) we have a fake American living here"
D " I never said I didn't know how to make them, I just thought you made a huge racial stereo type"
A "Well you are American right?"
D "Yeah"
A " So make me some burgers! I want to feel special tonight"
N " Me too, I have never had one before"
D " (laughs) ok I will do it, I'm actually really hungry"
I make the burgers, and through the whole time I was asked so many questions about them. I also had to teach them how to get the Katsup (I know its spelled wrong shut it) out of the bottle. The excitement that these two had over cheeseburgers was hilarious. The ending statement by Alvin was even funnier:
D "so did you like it? do you feel special?"
A " My goodness, I loved it. I am so sad that it ended"
Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement, it means so so so much. I miss all of you a lot! Keep praying for me and feel free to send me some verses to read.
Till next week,
Dave
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