Sunday, June 22, 2008

Ugandan Delight

A Thursday afternoon in June marked an interesting point in our time in Kenya. A good friend of ours, David brought us into the heart of Nairobi to share a meal and his life story. The Ugandan restaurant, set in the middle of someone’s one bedroom house was tasty and the people were amaed to see their first set of wazungu (white people) using their bed as a bench. I am not sure if I have ever felt more cramped in a restaurant, nor would OSHA approve, but it was a unique experience to say the least.

David’s life story is far from anyone’s that I have yet to meet. You have to understand his character a bit before diving in…he is all laughs. There were times when there wasn’t much to laugh about in Kenya this year, nor can you get to the sarcasm that you can enjoy with people from your own culture for fear of being misunderstood. David was our go-to guy in being OK with being misunderstood and laughing along the way. He is an outspoken politician, wanna-be church leader restaurant owner working in Mathare while also spending considerable time at the Inspiration Center, a community center for kids.

He allowed us to peer in behind his laughter and learn a bit of his hard past. He spent years of his life as a robber, thug and running from the police, helping him understand the ways of those in hard places in Nairobi who have little to hold on to other than criminal activity. He understood the post-election violence differently than you or I ever will, yet has somehow developed a new perspective on life. Time in jail, 4 gunshot wounds, memories of running for his life and seeing his closest buddies dead in ditches shape his worldview. His laughter is far from a coverup, and closer to an authentic realization that each day alive is a blessing, regardless of where you have come from.

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