Break Time!

Written Saturday, March 8:

In less than one week, Joel's parents will be in Nairobi! While the pace of life here is slower than in other places and we have had lots of “free time” following the elections, we are ready for a break. We eagerly await the opportunity to “bless ourselves” with some rest and relaxation-not only physically, but mentally.

Today was one more example of the polarized world that we find ourselves in. We left this afternoon to take Mwix and the girls to an International Food Fair at Mandy's School. We took the Citi Hoppa bus to town and then an old, beater matatu out to the school. We passed through slums, the large Nairobi Indian community, mansions and poor rural farmlands before reaching the school. Our short walk from the matatu stage to the school revealed $60,000 Toyotas and Mercedes and children whose outfits cost more than a months rent for 50% of people in Nairobi. We enjoyed foods from many different countries, acrobat entertainers and a fresh dip in the gorgeous International School of Kenya pool. Minutes later, we returned to the matatu and headed back to town, where a street girl's eyes pierced me ash she asked for money and one more man who needed to reiterate that he was “born again” pleaded with me to help him and his family.

I am reminded a bit of the location of our apartment in Tacoma last year. Our small 4-5 block neighborhood sat in what Tacomaites know as “the wedge”, the in-between zone that separates the more affluent North End from Hilltop neighborhood. While our apartment was closer to the North End in rent price and upkeep, we could not neglect our neighbors on each side. A trip to the Safeway in each direction revealed that we were in the middle of something. The SUV's, $50,000 landscaping jobs (trust me I know-I worked on them!), abandoned cars, sirens and occasional gunshots all told a conflicting story about how how polarized our world is.

There are many days we we find ourselves living in “a wedge” here in Nairobi. Living with a middle class family and serving those that struggle to put food on the table in the center of their 2 meter by 4 meter home and connecting with the world of families connected to the International School of Kenya, whose tuition is $12,000/ year. It is within this tension that we have learned so much, not only about the polarized world that we live in, but also about ourselves and where be begin to situate ourselves. It is in this hard place that we can remain effective in our work, while understanding “the other”.

It has made me think about how life will change when we hop on a plane in June and return to world that is far less polarized. A friend shared a thought via email that she heard in an interview with Jim Wallis commenting on the notion that “many middle class Americans don't know or associate with any poor people. How can we truly advocate on behalf of the poor?”. This is not only true in terms of economics, but also in our vocation, our interests, our advocacy. Until we can understand the world of “the other”, we remain untouched, feeding our own egos about our virtuous behavior without considering the wellbeing of another.

Teachers, know a struggling student. Middle/Upper class, know a poor person. Health care workers, know a sick person. Members of a church, know a pastor and someone in the community that has been hurt by the church. Advocates, who are you advocating for? This is when the wedge begins to takes down the wall that isolates us from “the other”.