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