"Life is lived when tiny changes occur."
-Tolstoy
The strike is over! Yay! Monday the kids start school back as normal. (I have no idea what was decided as far as salary and such, I just know its over.) This past week was quite nice though. We set up for the level 8 kids to come to school (in secret) and work on their studies with us. It was so fantastic. I taught Social Studies/ Geography, and Christian Religion Education, CRE. The biggest challenge that we found is that there is zero independent thought in schools. If the teacher says it, its absolute truth. So on friday, I did a lesson about thinking for yourself and always questioning things that dont 'sit well with you'. It took quite a few examples and about 10 minutes of discussion for them to get it. I put a list of 15 words on the board and asked the class if each thing was good or bad. Most were easy- drugs, lies; but some- money, posed challenges. They said money is always good. I asked what if you stole money from someone, they got quiet. I said what if your only goal in life is to get more, more, more money? Then they started to disagree with each other, which was great! They were thinking on their own! It was the best feeling to explain an idea, and have it start to play out in front of me. I told them that after they leave school and leave their parents, there will be no one to tell them what is right/wrong good/bad and they have to decide this for themselves, and they need to start practicing now. For most of them, this is their last year of school, which makes it so scary that this is the first time most of them have thought to disagree with something that they have been told in school.
(Like, the teachers there taught them that when the British colonists came over to settle in Kenya, they brought AIDS, and therefore they hate Brits for this.)
When you come to a country that is in a "malaria zone" you have to take some type of anti-malaria medicine. I had heard about the side effects concerning some of these meds, but Im not normally effected by stuff like this- not this time. One of the side effects is vivid and realistic dreams- which I love! My dreams have been so interesting and lifelike- its really fun. But.... I think this medicine has also caused my mind to manifest other things. At home, I am not afraid of the dark at all. But, here, I am terrified some nights. My fear of the dark has been quite crippling at some points. It seems silly now, to even write about, but once the sun goes down and one of my senses is removed, its serious! The moon doesnt come up most nights until after I go to bed, so there is a point when it is completely dark. No lights, no towns, no electricity. I have a good walk from the house to the latrine, and most times, Kathy has to come with me. If I go alone, I begin to think of the things that would scare me, (soooo dumb, not things I should be scared of, like leopards!) and then I hear someone coming up behind me, I spin around and shine my light there, only to hear the noise behind me again! When I whirl around again, I find the source of my fears to be nothing more than an old bread bag rustling in the wind. One night, I go up to go to the bathroom, and thought a tree was a giraffe and almost had a heart attack. Laughable now, but my mind is going crazy at night. But, in all this, I found my 'night power verse': "The Lord is my Light and my salvation- so why should I be afraid? The Lord protects me from danger- so why should I tremble?" Psalm 27:1 Im working on it....
God is so cool about speaking to me in ways I truly understand. I just finished this book, "Closer Than Your Skin", (thanks to Sarah Johnston for giving it to me!) and in the book, the author says, "When He says something to you, it will be in your own language, significant in a personal and specific kind of way. It will be exactly what you need to hear." Thats just what I feel here- in so many kinds of ways. And its not that I didnt feel like that at home, I just have less distraction here, (and if Im really going to be honest, have opened myself up to more here). For instance, at church this week, the pastor talked about discarding sin as "filthy rags". Would you take off your dirty clothes, and bathe yourself clean, only to put back on the same dirty shirt and ruddy pants? You have no idea how filthy I am here, so this spoke to me so much. I get to shower about once a week, and that feeling of cleanliness doesnt last long, mainly because sandals dont allow for clean feet. But what a visual I got! It made sense. And 'joy' has always been an important, kind of power word in my life. I have no reason to ever not feel this amazing emotion, I am so blessed. And those blessings are reiterated through this word joy. Like, my Maasai name- means one filled with joy. Then a little girl with the same name just came up to me and gave me a beautiful yellow beaded bracelet, that I now call my joy reminder. In class at school, one of the kids said "you are always happy!", so encouraging to me! Its just so amazing...
One of the most exciting ways Ive been spending my time here has been working with Kathy and Maggie on creating a women's co-op here. I call it the First Wives Club, because its made up of first wives who's husbands have moved onto their 2nd or 3rd wives (they practice polygamy here) and they no longer have an income to take care of themselves or children. We want to import the beautiful Maasai jewelry to the states and have 2 (or however many) shops host some of these gifts. The profits would go directly back to the women who make the jewelry, enabling them to take care of themselves, send their children to school, and break the cycle of poverty in the 'man'-powered Maasai community. If the women can afford to send their daughters to more schooling, then the daughters have the opportunity to get good jobs and not have to just be first wives and mothers who have to struggle. Ooohhhh! We're so excited. (More to come on this, you can be sure!)
Next weekend is Safari! And the last 3 days before I come home, Im taking a mini vaca to Lamu on the coast with Kathy and another volunteer, Tif. Yay for girls weekend!
Maggie's word of the week:
"If God says yes, no one can say no."
A few notes for donors:
For those of you who donated money: THANK YOU!!! Here's how some of your funds have been used so far:
-A community water tank! (Water is pumped in and the community has full access!)
-School supplies for all of Saikeri Pri School (400+ kids!)
-Exercise books for all of Saikeri Pri School
And thanks again for everyone who's continuing to pray and send me the wonderfully supportive emails and messages! I love you guys! And I miss you mom and dad!!! *muah* love you
B
PS- if one more person tells me how good Lost is, I'll go crazy. I cant wait to watch it when I get home! haha, actually I did see one episode playing on a tv here, but it was from season 2 and featured Ana Lucia.... probably the worst episode ever aired of Lost
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Sawa, sawa Same, same
**Revised!!**
I had not planned on being able to write so often, so this is quite nice. But I think this may be my last post for about a week, so Ill try to make it a good one!
Week 1 of the strike is over, and no one knows how long it will last. Its very hard to teach school when the kids dont come. But this has afforded me other opportunities. For instance yesterday, I worked with Maggie in the clinic. Thursday is immunization day and prenatal day. So, I got to mix up vaccines in needles to be administered (no, I have never done anything like this before, but HIPPA laws do not exist here.) I also took pregnant women's BP's and listened to a baby's heartbeat. It was so faint, for 2 reasons: 1, the mother had been very sick, and was under nourished, as well as dehydrated; and 2 we have to listen with this ear tube thing. There is absolutely no electricity here, so everything is done manually. The cooler where the vaccines are kept, is kept cool with freezer bags that the health department brings every week. Its quite primitive, but works. We also handed out more mosquito nets and gave the babies shots. A few days ago a motorbike pulled up to the clinic and a man carried a limp woman in (we always assume its dehydration, as thats most common here). So Maggie treated her, and soon a truck came and took her and 4 other people away. Afterwards I asked her what happened, she said "She has tried to poison herself! She so crazy!" I really never thought about suicide in the area I live! In the states you think about it, but it just never occurred to me here. She is from another tribe and married a Maasai man. In Maasai culture, a man can have many wives, but not where she comes from. So, when her husband took another wife, she is left alone to take care of her 2 kids. She has no income, and has to try to scrape by. She was just done with everything. There wasnt much we could do for her in the clinic, so Maggie tried to neutralize the poison and sent her to the nearest hospital. They got back about 6 hours later, and she was alive! But unfortunately, her life is the same.
Its so interesting how being somewhere like this can really change people. I think before I came I really assumed that everyone who would be here volunteering would be 'just like me.' I mean, if they have the same heart for the same people- they're the same as me, right? Its amazing how different all the volunteers here are! Its also amazing how much these type of trips change the volunteers, as much as the people we're working with. A quote from one the of the girls here:
"All my (atheist) friends at home are going to be so mad at me when I go back! I just cant come across the world and see the difference in climate and people and everything and think that this can all happen by chance. Its hard not to believe."
Water.... oh, water. So, there is a women, Beatrice, who lives alone with her 2 small children near us. A few days ago, I saw her walking with them and carrying a few water buckets. So I asked if I could go help her. She looked at me like I was crazy, but let me come. Its about a 1/2 mile walk to the "machine" (the pump for water), the walk there is easy, all downhill, but the walk back is dreadful! The first time we went down, I took a 3 gallon bucket, and it wasnt so bad. So when we got back to the house, and she started to go again, I just followed. This time, I took a 5 gallon jug though (bad idea). You have to take the jug down, and fill it, then put a strap through the side, and put the strap on your forehead and the jug on your back, and walk. It was so very hard. Its about 40lbs of water on your head. I didnt think I was going to be able to walk back up the hill. And Im not a lazy person! Beatrice was so thankful though, and I told her I would help her again, but probably only 1 trip next time.
(This is when the power went off at the cyber cafe, but the computers were on generators, so it gave us a few extra minutes to save.)
Sometimes I get a bit frustrated when I see certain projects being done around here. One of the headmasters wanted a fence built at his school, but the kids there had no shoes, or pencils or books. Why build a fence!? Or a school wanted glass put in the windows, but the people in that village have absolutely no water! But, what Ive been learning is that everyone's heart is connected to something different. If everyone cared for the people without water in Kenya, there would be a lot of problems that would go unsolved. So, its like a puzzle, where all the pieces fit together. And when everyone works for what their heart is guiding them to, the puzzle can become complete. (And what a nice picture it can be!) And "no work that is ever done for the Lord is ever useless."
Strike is still on, but on monday all of the year 8 kids (thats the highest level of basic education here) are suppose to come to school to be able to work with us. This will be so nice! I cant wait!! We have lots of supplies waiting for them, so that'll be a nice surprise too.
Yesterday Kathy (this wonderful girl who is here from the states also) and I were walking back from a project in a nearby town, and trying to catch a matatu. We figured that it wouldnt take more than an hour, maybe 90 minutes, so we just started walking. We walked 10 miles- all the way home. It took us 3.5 hours, and we are quite sore today. Then, when we got home, we werent there for more than 5 minutes, and I got stung by an african bee. It was on my finger, and its a bit swollen today, but Ill live. haha We're about to go to Nairobi soon, and have decided that we will get milkshakes, and that will make us feel better.
On wednesday one of the girls who is Kenyan, but moved to Belgium is coming back with her mother- and we are slaughtering 2 goats. I really am excited, but really nervous too! There was something said about drinking blood.... I dont know about all that.... But it'll still be a huge celebration!
A few notes about my life here:
I live in a room with another girl, Maria (Massana). Actually, we are bedmates, but we have sleeping bags, and we're not sleeping on cardboard boxes (yes, thats normal), so its quite nice.
We eat 3 times a day. Its really way too much. And the climate is so hot that most of the time you can only have a very small portion because your body is just not hungry. And its ALL starch.
At our compound at nice it sooo safe. No only because we are out in the middle of no where, but there are 2 Maasai men who stay up all night and watch over our manyatta. Its a quite nice feeling.
Mzungu- white person. You can use this to gauge when locals are talking about you in kimaasai or kiswahili. "blah blah blah mzungu blah blah blah", yes that's about you, since we are the ONLY white people here. There are 6 of us in all of Maasailand.
To go to town, we have to catch a matatu at 6am. For those of you who dont know exactly what they are, its a very small truck (think chevy s10) that they pile a TON of people in. We ride for about 90 minutes, and it costs us 80ksh (about $1.10). You have to wrap yourself in a leso (a lightweight cloth that keeps out sun and dirt) or else look like a crazy Mzungu all day, since you will be covered in red dust. This morning we had 30 people (Im not exaggerating at all, counted), and a full grown cow. Its.... interesting.
A final note:
Maggie's brother was attacked 18 months ago by a leopard. We asked her why he got attacked. Here's the story (as told by her):
"A man was tending his cows when a hungry leopard came and tried to eat one. The Maasai man tried to fight the leopard but his hand was bitten right off! But he scared away the cat. Then the village men tried to run after it and kill it, but while the leopard was running and sooo scared, he ran into my brother, and ate his leg and bit his face. I was tending the first man when they brought my brother, and I fainted! We took them to the hospital in Karen (about 1:45 hours away) and they almost died."
We asked her why didnt the man just let the cat alone, he wouldnt have lost his hand. She said:
"Maasai men would rather die than lose a cow. If a cow is lost, he will stay out all night looking for it, even if its a small goat. He would rather die fighting a wild animal than to lose one of his own." (Sounds like someone you know.....?)
If you are interested in sponsoring a secondary school kid (these are the ones who really really want to go to school, and are so smart! They just dont have the funds to go):
Its about $300 a year, and just email me (brit2afc@hotmail.com), and I'll give you all the info. Several kids will write letters and you can pick which one you want. You'll get a picture and the money will either be send straight to the school or to their family, whichever you prefer.
Fav verse right now:
"If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the most high your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders His angels to protect you where ever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.
You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, 'I WILL rescue those who love me. I WILL protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I WILL answer; I WILL be with them in trouble. I WILL rescue them and honor them, I WILL satisfy them with a long life, and I WILL give them my salvation.' "
Psalm 91:9-16
I had not planned on being able to write so often, so this is quite nice. But I think this may be my last post for about a week, so Ill try to make it a good one!
Week 1 of the strike is over, and no one knows how long it will last. Its very hard to teach school when the kids dont come. But this has afforded me other opportunities. For instance yesterday, I worked with Maggie in the clinic. Thursday is immunization day and prenatal day. So, I got to mix up vaccines in needles to be administered (no, I have never done anything like this before, but HIPPA laws do not exist here.) I also took pregnant women's BP's and listened to a baby's heartbeat. It was so faint, for 2 reasons: 1, the mother had been very sick, and was under nourished, as well as dehydrated; and 2 we have to listen with this ear tube thing. There is absolutely no electricity here, so everything is done manually. The cooler where the vaccines are kept, is kept cool with freezer bags that the health department brings every week. Its quite primitive, but works. We also handed out more mosquito nets and gave the babies shots. A few days ago a motorbike pulled up to the clinic and a man carried a limp woman in (we always assume its dehydration, as thats most common here). So Maggie treated her, and soon a truck came and took her and 4 other people away. Afterwards I asked her what happened, she said "She has tried to poison herself! She so crazy!" I really never thought about suicide in the area I live! In the states you think about it, but it just never occurred to me here. She is from another tribe and married a Maasai man. In Maasai culture, a man can have many wives, but not where she comes from. So, when her husband took another wife, she is left alone to take care of her 2 kids. She has no income, and has to try to scrape by. She was just done with everything. There wasnt much we could do for her in the clinic, so Maggie tried to neutralize the poison and sent her to the nearest hospital. They got back about 6 hours later, and she was alive! But unfortunately, her life is the same.
Its so interesting how being somewhere like this can really change people. I think before I came I really assumed that everyone who would be here volunteering would be 'just like me.' I mean, if they have the same heart for the same people- they're the same as me, right? Its amazing how different all the volunteers here are! Its also amazing how much these type of trips change the volunteers, as much as the people we're working with. A quote from one the of the girls here:
"All my (atheist) friends at home are going to be so mad at me when I go back! I just cant come across the world and see the difference in climate and people and everything and think that this can all happen by chance. Its hard not to believe."
Water.... oh, water. So, there is a women, Beatrice, who lives alone with her 2 small children near us. A few days ago, I saw her walking with them and carrying a few water buckets. So I asked if I could go help her. She looked at me like I was crazy, but let me come. Its about a 1/2 mile walk to the "machine" (the pump for water), the walk there is easy, all downhill, but the walk back is dreadful! The first time we went down, I took a 3 gallon bucket, and it wasnt so bad. So when we got back to the house, and she started to go again, I just followed. This time, I took a 5 gallon jug though (bad idea). You have to take the jug down, and fill it, then put a strap through the side, and put the strap on your forehead and the jug on your back, and walk. It was so very hard. Its about 40lbs of water on your head. I didnt think I was going to be able to walk back up the hill. And Im not a lazy person! Beatrice was so thankful though, and I told her I would help her again, but probably only 1 trip next time.
(This is when the power went off at the cyber cafe, but the computers were on generators, so it gave us a few extra minutes to save.)
Sometimes I get a bit frustrated when I see certain projects being done around here. One of the headmasters wanted a fence built at his school, but the kids there had no shoes, or pencils or books. Why build a fence!? Or a school wanted glass put in the windows, but the people in that village have absolutely no water! But, what Ive been learning is that everyone's heart is connected to something different. If everyone cared for the people without water in Kenya, there would be a lot of problems that would go unsolved. So, its like a puzzle, where all the pieces fit together. And when everyone works for what their heart is guiding them to, the puzzle can become complete. (And what a nice picture it can be!) And "no work that is ever done for the Lord is ever useless."
Strike is still on, but on monday all of the year 8 kids (thats the highest level of basic education here) are suppose to come to school to be able to work with us. This will be so nice! I cant wait!! We have lots of supplies waiting for them, so that'll be a nice surprise too.
Yesterday Kathy (this wonderful girl who is here from the states also) and I were walking back from a project in a nearby town, and trying to catch a matatu. We figured that it wouldnt take more than an hour, maybe 90 minutes, so we just started walking. We walked 10 miles- all the way home. It took us 3.5 hours, and we are quite sore today. Then, when we got home, we werent there for more than 5 minutes, and I got stung by an african bee. It was on my finger, and its a bit swollen today, but Ill live. haha We're about to go to Nairobi soon, and have decided that we will get milkshakes, and that will make us feel better.
On wednesday one of the girls who is Kenyan, but moved to Belgium is coming back with her mother- and we are slaughtering 2 goats. I really am excited, but really nervous too! There was something said about drinking blood.... I dont know about all that.... But it'll still be a huge celebration!
A few notes about my life here:
I live in a room with another girl, Maria (Massana). Actually, we are bedmates, but we have sleeping bags, and we're not sleeping on cardboard boxes (yes, thats normal), so its quite nice.
We eat 3 times a day. Its really way too much. And the climate is so hot that most of the time you can only have a very small portion because your body is just not hungry. And its ALL starch.
At our compound at nice it sooo safe. No only because we are out in the middle of no where, but there are 2 Maasai men who stay up all night and watch over our manyatta. Its a quite nice feeling.
Mzungu- white person. You can use this to gauge when locals are talking about you in kimaasai or kiswahili. "blah blah blah mzungu blah blah blah", yes that's about you, since we are the ONLY white people here. There are 6 of us in all of Maasailand.
To go to town, we have to catch a matatu at 6am. For those of you who dont know exactly what they are, its a very small truck (think chevy s10) that they pile a TON of people in. We ride for about 90 minutes, and it costs us 80ksh (about $1.10). You have to wrap yourself in a leso (a lightweight cloth that keeps out sun and dirt) or else look like a crazy Mzungu all day, since you will be covered in red dust. This morning we had 30 people (Im not exaggerating at all, counted), and a full grown cow. Its.... interesting.
A final note:
Maggie's brother was attacked 18 months ago by a leopard. We asked her why he got attacked. Here's the story (as told by her):
"A man was tending his cows when a hungry leopard came and tried to eat one. The Maasai man tried to fight the leopard but his hand was bitten right off! But he scared away the cat. Then the village men tried to run after it and kill it, but while the leopard was running and sooo scared, he ran into my brother, and ate his leg and bit his face. I was tending the first man when they brought my brother, and I fainted! We took them to the hospital in Karen (about 1:45 hours away) and they almost died."
We asked her why didnt the man just let the cat alone, he wouldnt have lost his hand. She said:
"Maasai men would rather die than lose a cow. If a cow is lost, he will stay out all night looking for it, even if its a small goat. He would rather die fighting a wild animal than to lose one of his own." (Sounds like someone you know.....?)
If you are interested in sponsoring a secondary school kid (these are the ones who really really want to go to school, and are so smart! They just dont have the funds to go):
Its about $300 a year, and just email me (brit2afc@hotmail.com), and I'll give you all the info. Several kids will write letters and you can pick which one you want. You'll get a picture and the money will either be send straight to the school or to their family, whichever you prefer.
Fav verse right now:
"If you make the Lord your refuge, if you make the most high your shelter, no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your dwelling. For He orders His angels to protect you where ever you go. They will hold you with their hands to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.
You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes; you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet! The Lord says, 'I WILL rescue those who love me. I WILL protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I WILL answer; I WILL be with them in trouble. I WILL rescue them and honor them, I WILL satisfy them with a long life, and I WILL give them my salvation.' "
Psalm 91:9-16
Monday, January 19, 2009
Giraffes and money
aye.....
I dont even know where to start with this one- so lets start posi:
Its crazy how its only been like 3 days since Ive posted, but so much has happened. We went to Nairobi, which was very cool. We had "american pizza" (which, incidentally, was the first thing to make me sick here). While we were there, myself and another volunteer, Kathy, bought pencils and pens and erasers and sharpeners (as they use straight razors for the pencils they have now) for all 400+ kids at our school in Saikari! It was great! We are also in the process of getting them all composition notebooks, but we have to do it in stages as we cannot carry them all. So, yes, thank you sooo much to those of you who donated money for that! The headmaster wanted us to give him the money and then he would get all them from his supplier- but we'll get to that in a minute.
I finally met my host mother, Maggie, who is a dream. She was in Nairobi for a few days at a nursing course, and got home on Saturday. She is beginning a community health program where we live that is largely funded by the government, who actually keeps her quite stocked! Again, we'll come back to this in a minute.
While coming into town one day, we slowed down and I looked up to see why, it was because 3 giraffes were crossing the road in front of us. Then a man jumped out of the matatu and he was chasing baboons away from the road. The baboons are big! And kinda scary, and make noises kinda like dogs.
Sunday, I went to church..... whoa church! Its a small group, only about 30, but they make more noise than almost any church Ive even been to. The singing was so beautiful and the drums... oh the drums. Its so wonderful. Im going to try to video a bit of church next week if they will let me. Julius, one of the teachers at my school, sat next to me and translated for me. It was great, and guess what the sermon was about?- Time. Ha! Go figure. How we must use our time wisely because it is a gift from God.
Ok, now onto some not-so-light notes:
So, as most of you probably know by now, the teachers in Kenya are on strike. This also means that they have closed all the schools. We have no idea how long it will last, but the last one was 3 months long, but that was also 10 years ago. Maggie says it'll be over by tomorrow, so we'll see. But, there is a positive to this. Where we live is the only health clinic until Ngong, which is about a 90 minute matatu ride- about a days walk. So, all of the people in the villages come there to get help. I talked to Maggie and until the strike is over Ill be working with her in the clinic. Yesterday we got to see patients, and we organized the medicine storage area. I could not believe how well stocked they were. And almost all from the government! We also gave out mosquito nets and I dispensed meds in the pharmacy. Maggie taught me to take blood pressure too, since 'everything is america is auto, but you have to do it with your ear here.' It was so great! Im excited to be doing that too.
Ok, I wasnt sure if I would write about this while I was here, but its just everywhere, so I have to talk about it. Corruption. Its everywhere. I thought maybe only on the government level, but no. I also believe that here corruption doesnt have to be learned, its simply ingrained. Now, Im not saying this to be bitter or angry, its simply how it is! The reason that I decided to talk about it is because while reading the local papers- they are covered with stories about it!! So here goes, a few of these stories-
Right now there is an extreme shortage of food in Kenya. This stems from a drought, but also the political turmoil of the last 2 years here. The WFP is sending in food all the time. But local Kenyans (KENYANS!) are taking fake WFP bags, filling them with maize meal (like corn meal, but gritty) and selling them over the boarder (taking more food out of the country) at 6 times what they're worth!
There's a girl at one of the placements who is working really hard doing community enhancement projects, like water tanks and latrines, and is going to put in some window pains at one of the schools. Shes working with a member of the community to set this up. But, we were told that another volunteer came through before her, and gave him money for the pains, and the windows never came. The same girl, when doing a latrine for one of the schools, had the headmaster of the school offer to help her transport materials to do the toilet. So nice, right? No.... on their last trip back, he asked for 2,000 shillings (about $30) or else he wouldnt deliver the materials to the project. For his own school!!! So this is why we got the pencils/pens/materials for the school ourselves. It can be so frustrating, but we know that good can be done (and not all Kenyans are like this, at all!!) we just have to do it ourselves. Maggie says "Money is not so important. If I can help people, and have relationships, this is the most important. You can say 'money is not important' and then demand that everyone pays you everything they owe, but that shows them that money owns you. And then you are as bad as them. It costs me nothing to be transparent, but I can gain all trust by being like this." (I hope this still makes sense, slightly out of context.) She super smart!
I really appreciate all the notes Ive been getting, and if you have questions, please ask! A lot of people have been asking how they can help, right now there's not so much. I still have money to spend from donations from before I left. But, there are kids who will be going into secondary school (which is not free) and need sponsors. The best thing to do is let me know if you would like to do something like this, and Ill hook you up with a family in need directly. Going through some of the agencies may cause some of your money to "get lost". So just shoot me an email about this: brit2afc@hotmail.com
And I did have the cookies, and yes, Ill bring some Jason. Yes, Ill speak at the prayer event- I'd love to!
Thank you again for everyone who's been praying, I can totally feel it! I really love being here, as though its normal for me. Its great, and I know that the prayers are part of why I feel so comfortable.
Love
B
I dont even know where to start with this one- so lets start posi:
Its crazy how its only been like 3 days since Ive posted, but so much has happened. We went to Nairobi, which was very cool. We had "american pizza" (which, incidentally, was the first thing to make me sick here). While we were there, myself and another volunteer, Kathy, bought pencils and pens and erasers and sharpeners (as they use straight razors for the pencils they have now) for all 400+ kids at our school in Saikari! It was great! We are also in the process of getting them all composition notebooks, but we have to do it in stages as we cannot carry them all. So, yes, thank you sooo much to those of you who donated money for that! The headmaster wanted us to give him the money and then he would get all them from his supplier- but we'll get to that in a minute.
I finally met my host mother, Maggie, who is a dream. She was in Nairobi for a few days at a nursing course, and got home on Saturday. She is beginning a community health program where we live that is largely funded by the government, who actually keeps her quite stocked! Again, we'll come back to this in a minute.
While coming into town one day, we slowed down and I looked up to see why, it was because 3 giraffes were crossing the road in front of us. Then a man jumped out of the matatu and he was chasing baboons away from the road. The baboons are big! And kinda scary, and make noises kinda like dogs.
Sunday, I went to church..... whoa church! Its a small group, only about 30, but they make more noise than almost any church Ive even been to. The singing was so beautiful and the drums... oh the drums. Its so wonderful. Im going to try to video a bit of church next week if they will let me. Julius, one of the teachers at my school, sat next to me and translated for me. It was great, and guess what the sermon was about?- Time. Ha! Go figure. How we must use our time wisely because it is a gift from God.
Ok, now onto some not-so-light notes:
So, as most of you probably know by now, the teachers in Kenya are on strike. This also means that they have closed all the schools. We have no idea how long it will last, but the last one was 3 months long, but that was also 10 years ago. Maggie says it'll be over by tomorrow, so we'll see. But, there is a positive to this. Where we live is the only health clinic until Ngong, which is about a 90 minute matatu ride- about a days walk. So, all of the people in the villages come there to get help. I talked to Maggie and until the strike is over Ill be working with her in the clinic. Yesterday we got to see patients, and we organized the medicine storage area. I could not believe how well stocked they were. And almost all from the government! We also gave out mosquito nets and I dispensed meds in the pharmacy. Maggie taught me to take blood pressure too, since 'everything is america is auto, but you have to do it with your ear here.' It was so great! Im excited to be doing that too.
Ok, I wasnt sure if I would write about this while I was here, but its just everywhere, so I have to talk about it. Corruption. Its everywhere. I thought maybe only on the government level, but no. I also believe that here corruption doesnt have to be learned, its simply ingrained. Now, Im not saying this to be bitter or angry, its simply how it is! The reason that I decided to talk about it is because while reading the local papers- they are covered with stories about it!! So here goes, a few of these stories-
Right now there is an extreme shortage of food in Kenya. This stems from a drought, but also the political turmoil of the last 2 years here. The WFP is sending in food all the time. But local Kenyans (KENYANS!) are taking fake WFP bags, filling them with maize meal (like corn meal, but gritty) and selling them over the boarder (taking more food out of the country) at 6 times what they're worth!
There's a girl at one of the placements who is working really hard doing community enhancement projects, like water tanks and latrines, and is going to put in some window pains at one of the schools. Shes working with a member of the community to set this up. But, we were told that another volunteer came through before her, and gave him money for the pains, and the windows never came. The same girl, when doing a latrine for one of the schools, had the headmaster of the school offer to help her transport materials to do the toilet. So nice, right? No.... on their last trip back, he asked for 2,000 shillings (about $30) or else he wouldnt deliver the materials to the project. For his own school!!! So this is why we got the pencils/pens/materials for the school ourselves. It can be so frustrating, but we know that good can be done (and not all Kenyans are like this, at all!!) we just have to do it ourselves. Maggie says "Money is not so important. If I can help people, and have relationships, this is the most important. You can say 'money is not important' and then demand that everyone pays you everything they owe, but that shows them that money owns you. And then you are as bad as them. It costs me nothing to be transparent, but I can gain all trust by being like this." (I hope this still makes sense, slightly out of context.) She super smart!
I really appreciate all the notes Ive been getting, and if you have questions, please ask! A lot of people have been asking how they can help, right now there's not so much. I still have money to spend from donations from before I left. But, there are kids who will be going into secondary school (which is not free) and need sponsors. The best thing to do is let me know if you would like to do something like this, and Ill hook you up with a family in need directly. Going through some of the agencies may cause some of your money to "get lost". So just shoot me an email about this: brit2afc@hotmail.com
And I did have the cookies, and yes, Ill bring some Jason. Yes, Ill speak at the prayer event- I'd love to!
Thank you again for everyone who's been praying, I can totally feel it! I really love being here, as though its normal for me. Its great, and I know that the prayers are part of why I feel so comfortable.
Love
B
Friday, January 16, 2009
Nashapae
Hujambo! Habari? (Today we're going to Nairobi, so I can use Kiswahili now!)
So, here's an update on where I am in my placement now:
Im working at a primary school in a town called Saikari now. We have to teach older kids, because the younger ones dont understand much english. They are so excited for us to be there. During breaks at school all the kids come up and rub my arms and touch my hair. (They say 'nzuri', which means good, so thats nice!). They want affection so badly. Students in the classes can be between ages 9-25, depending on how old they were when they started school. And then they just move up grade levels each year. Secondary school starts at age 18 normally, but most people cant afford to go. Its so sad at the school during class though. On my first day, I was copying something on the board and told everyone to get out their paper and write it down. Most of the just stared at me. So, I gestured, "write it down!". There was some rummaging about then they started working. But, as I was walking around the class, I realized that about 2/3 of the kids were simply pretending to write with their hands!! They had no writing utensils! I knew that the school would be low on materials, but I had no idea that they didnt have anything to write with. So, part of our trip to Nairobi today will be to get pencils, pens, and erasers for every kid in the entire school. (about 350 students.) The thing that made me the most upset though, is that the head master apparently has loads of materials in his office (including books, which the kids have none!). So, we're just taking this into our own hands. Also, on the school front- Monday is strike day. We talked to the head master about it, he says "You can teach here, you are our friends. But not the government people!" So, all the teachers will be gone on Monday, and the 4 of us will have to do as much as we can. When I came to the school, the first day I had a class that was just sitting in a room alone. I said "where's the teacher?" They had none. So they just came to school and sat in a classroom. So, even though there are a lot of barriers to break down (and it can be quite frustrating), I am so glad I am here- for the kids! (1 Corinthians 15:58) They are just so excited when you call on them to answer, or write on the board. They say "teacher, teacher!!" (we taught them hangman yesterday, they loved it!) So that's school so far.
Now, on the manyatta- (thats my homestay)-
I live with a small family by the school. All 4 of us teachers are there, but its so nice. We cook dinner every night with the family. First, we 'take chai'. Its a milk/sugar tea that you have before dinner. Then we eat around 8, by firelight. Then dishes, and to bed. On my first day at the manyatta, I got my Maasai name- it's Nashapae (Nah-shah-pie), which means 'one filled with joy'- I love it!! I dont think I could have gotten a better name. So this is what everyone calls me now. I get to take a shower tomorrow (yay! first one so far...). What happens is, there's a water barrel that you get water from, then you take it in a basin to the shower room. And you stand in the basin and wash. Pretty simple. Its actually weird, but its quite nice to not worry about being clean. The baby wipes were a good investment though.
Water here is a huge problem. And its weird, because I knew that, but its just different here to see it. There have been very few crops the last 2 years because of drought, and the land is sooo dry (I am filthy from the wind blowing the red dirt all over me, but its really not a big deal at all, everyone is dirty). Also, water to drink is scarce. Most people cant afford bottled water, so they have to walk miles with buckets to the nearest water pipe to get it for the families. This is normally the kid's job. So you see them walking with jugs often. And its not even clean water, but their bodies are used to it, so it's fine for them. So, Ive been praying for water- and guess what happened this morning!! In the middle of the dry season- rain! And then the sun came out and there was a huge, full arc rainbow. Beautiful.
One of my favorite things so far is the Maasai women. They are so beautiful. In the town where we live everyone is Maasai, and everyone dresses traditionally. The colors of the clothes and jewelry are wonderful. They do everything- wash, clean, cook, take care of the kids, and livestock. I love seeing them with their big sticks walking the cows around! But, you cant take pictures of them unless you know them really well, as pictures are quite taboo in their culture. The worst thing though, is that women are still taken advantage of here (not us, the Maasai women). Female mutilation still takes place, and if you choose not to, you are never respected in the community. I thought, maybe only some do this, but I asked one of the women at our homestay and she says "No! All girls! They have to!" Quite sad.
A few things that I think are interesting/ Ive learned here so far:
Africa really might be addicted to aid. (Probably more on this in a later post)
Time: Its a relative thing. Ive only been here a few days, but it feels like forever. Things are slow here, and I knew that, but being immersed in it is quite different. It really made me think about the difference in how we view time and how God understands time. God, the designer of time and space has an eternal mindset, which we cannot grasp. It makes me think about waiting on God, and His timing- really quite different from ours! Just seeing the difference in the way my time was in the US and how it is here, makes me understand a bit more how much I really havent comprehended God's view of time. But He has entrusted us with time, so no matter what it feels like (slow or fast!) we must use it to glorify Him.
Its really nice to be: Dirty/Disconnected/Not rushed
I think thats it for now. I miss everyone, and please keep praying for me.
penda-
Brittany
So, here's an update on where I am in my placement now:
Im working at a primary school in a town called Saikari now. We have to teach older kids, because the younger ones dont understand much english. They are so excited for us to be there. During breaks at school all the kids come up and rub my arms and touch my hair. (They say 'nzuri', which means good, so thats nice!). They want affection so badly. Students in the classes can be between ages 9-25, depending on how old they were when they started school. And then they just move up grade levels each year. Secondary school starts at age 18 normally, but most people cant afford to go. Its so sad at the school during class though. On my first day, I was copying something on the board and told everyone to get out their paper and write it down. Most of the just stared at me. So, I gestured, "write it down!". There was some rummaging about then they started working. But, as I was walking around the class, I realized that about 2/3 of the kids were simply pretending to write with their hands!! They had no writing utensils! I knew that the school would be low on materials, but I had no idea that they didnt have anything to write with. So, part of our trip to Nairobi today will be to get pencils, pens, and erasers for every kid in the entire school. (about 350 students.) The thing that made me the most upset though, is that the head master apparently has loads of materials in his office (including books, which the kids have none!). So, we're just taking this into our own hands. Also, on the school front- Monday is strike day. We talked to the head master about it, he says "You can teach here, you are our friends. But not the government people!" So, all the teachers will be gone on Monday, and the 4 of us will have to do as much as we can. When I came to the school, the first day I had a class that was just sitting in a room alone. I said "where's the teacher?" They had none. So they just came to school and sat in a classroom. So, even though there are a lot of barriers to break down (and it can be quite frustrating), I am so glad I am here- for the kids! (1 Corinthians 15:58) They are just so excited when you call on them to answer, or write on the board. They say "teacher, teacher!!" (we taught them hangman yesterday, they loved it!) So that's school so far.
Now, on the manyatta- (thats my homestay)-
I live with a small family by the school. All 4 of us teachers are there, but its so nice. We cook dinner every night with the family. First, we 'take chai'. Its a milk/sugar tea that you have before dinner. Then we eat around 8, by firelight. Then dishes, and to bed. On my first day at the manyatta, I got my Maasai name- it's Nashapae (Nah-shah-pie), which means 'one filled with joy'- I love it!! I dont think I could have gotten a better name. So this is what everyone calls me now. I get to take a shower tomorrow (yay! first one so far...). What happens is, there's a water barrel that you get water from, then you take it in a basin to the shower room. And you stand in the basin and wash. Pretty simple. Its actually weird, but its quite nice to not worry about being clean. The baby wipes were a good investment though.
Water here is a huge problem. And its weird, because I knew that, but its just different here to see it. There have been very few crops the last 2 years because of drought, and the land is sooo dry (I am filthy from the wind blowing the red dirt all over me, but its really not a big deal at all, everyone is dirty). Also, water to drink is scarce. Most people cant afford bottled water, so they have to walk miles with buckets to the nearest water pipe to get it for the families. This is normally the kid's job. So you see them walking with jugs often. And its not even clean water, but their bodies are used to it, so it's fine for them. So, Ive been praying for water- and guess what happened this morning!! In the middle of the dry season- rain! And then the sun came out and there was a huge, full arc rainbow. Beautiful.
One of my favorite things so far is the Maasai women. They are so beautiful. In the town where we live everyone is Maasai, and everyone dresses traditionally. The colors of the clothes and jewelry are wonderful. They do everything- wash, clean, cook, take care of the kids, and livestock. I love seeing them with their big sticks walking the cows around! But, you cant take pictures of them unless you know them really well, as pictures are quite taboo in their culture. The worst thing though, is that women are still taken advantage of here (not us, the Maasai women). Female mutilation still takes place, and if you choose not to, you are never respected in the community. I thought, maybe only some do this, but I asked one of the women at our homestay and she says "No! All girls! They have to!" Quite sad.
A few things that I think are interesting/ Ive learned here so far:
Africa really might be addicted to aid. (Probably more on this in a later post)
Time: Its a relative thing. Ive only been here a few days, but it feels like forever. Things are slow here, and I knew that, but being immersed in it is quite different. It really made me think about the difference in how we view time and how God understands time. God, the designer of time and space has an eternal mindset, which we cannot grasp. It makes me think about waiting on God, and His timing- really quite different from ours! Just seeing the difference in the way my time was in the US and how it is here, makes me understand a bit more how much I really havent comprehended God's view of time. But He has entrusted us with time, so no matter what it feels like (slow or fast!) we must use it to glorify Him.
Its really nice to be: Dirty/Disconnected/Not rushed
I think thats it for now. I miss everyone, and please keep praying for me.
penda-
Brittany
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Can you kill 2 lions with 1 spear?
Supa!! (All my Kiswahili studies are for not right now, as Im having to speak kimaasai!)
Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am here. Its so amazing!! We went to the schools today to visit and the kids are excited to see new faces and full of energy. None of them could pronounce my name, which I thought was cute. So Im told I need a Maasai name, which CoCo will give me soon.
Tomorrow I start my orientation, and then will know where I will be and what I will be doing. Right now Im in Ngong Hills, southwest of Nairobi. Its very very dry. One of the girls who has been here for a few months is working on a project to get a water tank installed in one of the villages, and should be done by the end of the month. Then they'll be a big party!
I already feel sooo blessed to be here. Its nothing and everything like I thought it would be- all at the same time. God is good.
Ok, Ill let you guys know more about whats going on..... when it happens.
Love
B
PS- Last night, Daniel, our coordinator, picked us up from the airport. One of the guy volunteers was talking about going on a walking safari and walking to a mountain (we might do this next week!) and Daniel said, No! The lions will get you if you sleep outside! Kevin said, I have a spear! Dan says, Can you kill 2 lions with 1 spear?
So epic.....
Just a quick note to let everyone know that I am here. Its so amazing!! We went to the schools today to visit and the kids are excited to see new faces and full of energy. None of them could pronounce my name, which I thought was cute. So Im told I need a Maasai name, which CoCo will give me soon.
Tomorrow I start my orientation, and then will know where I will be and what I will be doing. Right now Im in Ngong Hills, southwest of Nairobi. Its very very dry. One of the girls who has been here for a few months is working on a project to get a water tank installed in one of the villages, and should be done by the end of the month. Then they'll be a big party!
I already feel sooo blessed to be here. Its nothing and everything like I thought it would be- all at the same time. God is good.
Ok, Ill let you guys know more about whats going on..... when it happens.
Love
B
PS- Last night, Daniel, our coordinator, picked us up from the airport. One of the guy volunteers was talking about going on a walking safari and walking to a mountain (we might do this next week!) and Daniel said, No! The lions will get you if you sleep outside! Kevin said, I have a spear! Dan says, Can you kill 2 lions with 1 spear?
So epic.....
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Still not real
You know how when something great is coming up, and its right around the corner, but you have so many things before that, you cant really get excited yet? Yeah, thats how I feel tonight. Tomorrow I leave, but it will take me a full day to get to Kenya. So, I think it still doesnt feel real. I think the last flight, from Zurich to Nairobi, will be the one where I start feeling it all.
I get into Nairobi at 7pm on tuesday night, *sigh* and start a brand new chapter in my oh-so-blessed life. I wish I had more to share... just dont yet! Actually, a few quick notes on the current state of Kenya:
WFP currently feeds about 1.5 mil people in Kenya, but the country is going through serious drought, and the number is thought to go up to 10mil this year because the last 2 harvests have been disapointing. (AP)
Kenya's Harambee Stars play away at Uganda in the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge (Cecafa) Cup finals! Go Kenya!!
Kenya teachers are of the lowest paid civil workers in Kenya, and would like to be given a pay increase. Since they have been told no, they are planning on going on strike starting January 19th. (KBC)
I dont know what that last story means for me, but that will be something to look out for.
Thanks to you all for your support (special thanks to Believers Church in chesapeake for their super support and prayers today!!), and especially prayers, and Ill see you soon!
B
I get into Nairobi at 7pm on tuesday night, *sigh* and start a brand new chapter in my oh-so-blessed life. I wish I had more to share... just dont yet! Actually, a few quick notes on the current state of Kenya:
WFP currently feeds about 1.5 mil people in Kenya, but the country is going through serious drought, and the number is thought to go up to 10mil this year because the last 2 harvests have been disapointing. (AP)
Kenya's Harambee Stars play away at Uganda in the East and Central Africa Senior Challenge (Cecafa) Cup finals! Go Kenya!!
Kenya teachers are of the lowest paid civil workers in Kenya, and would like to be given a pay increase. Since they have been told no, they are planning on going on strike starting January 19th. (KBC)
I dont know what that last story means for me, but that will be something to look out for.
Thanks to you all for your support (special thanks to Believers Church in chesapeake for their super support and prayers today!!), and especially prayers, and Ill see you soon!
B
Monday, January 5, 2009
1 week to go
Hujambo!!
Heres a little rundown of what my trip will be like:
Im flying out on Monday, Jan 12, and Ill arrive in Nairobi on Jan 13th at 7pm.
Honestly, I really dont have a good idea of what Im going to be doing. I know Ill be teaching, but besides that, no idea. The 15th really begins everything; thats orientation day. Then after the organization gets to know us, they'll give us our actual placement. Ill be living with a Maasai family somewhere outside of Nairobi, and teach in a primary school in that community. We work Mon-Fri, and then the weekends are free!!
So, getting started I got in touch with a New Zealand based organization called International Volunteer HeadQuarters. They work with a ton of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) all over the world, and help you get in contact with them and set your trip up. I totally recommend them if you ever want to do something like this. They were so great to work with. So, they set me up with my whole trip to Kenya.
Here's some info about the organizations Im working with (yes, there are 2, we'll get to that in a minute):
First, MEAC: They are an organization that help Maasai tribes to better educate their youth, bring social equality to women, and improve living conditions of community members. There, Ill be teaching at a local primary school. http://meackenya.org
Second, Fadhili Helpers: This is a wonderful group who work a lot with street orphans in Kenya. Part of their vision is to get these kids off the streets and into schools, feed the hungry, and help teach the boys trade skills so that they can get jobs. www.fadhili.org
Why am I working for 2 organizations? Well..... I was originally only going to work with MEAC, but I just got an email saying that starting Feb 1st all MEAC volunteers will be going over to FH. I have to admit at first I was a little upset. Part of me going for the 5 weeks was because I wanted to have time to create real relationships, but now that time was being cut in half, and split over 2 groups. (I should have learned by now that this stuff is out of my control, but God has it on lock!) However, when I looked into FH, a large part of their program is to tell people about God (word.)! So, in addition to teaching, Im now going to be part of an evangelism program. I should also mention that the original program nor my booking group are Christian organizations. But, *sigh* it always works out just right! So cool...
Ive been wanting to go on a trip like this for about 2 years, and its finally here! God put everything right in order for me too- it was just too easy! (Not that Im complaining.... at all!) I cant wait.
Last, I would love if you would all pray for me everyday! Asante sana! (Ive also been working on my kiswahili!)
Brittany
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