Center for Transforming Mission Nairobi

From Nairobi to Ohio...

2008-08-26T10:33:00.000-07:00

friends and family...

We are now in Ohio and have decided to start a new blog about our life back in the states... We cannot begin to thank you all enough for staying in tuned to our time in Kenya. We cannot describe how meaningful it is to know that others care about you. Please continue to check in on us as we start again in Oxford, Ohio...

Peace

Our new blog can be found at:

http://joelandmandyzylstra.blogspot.com/

Homecoming

2008-07-05T07:10:00.000-07:00

Wednesday was one of the longest days of our lives…literally-a 32 hour day! We were greeted in Seattle by friendly customs agents and Mandy’s family as we packed our year long possessions into the car and headed down to Tacoma. Back to T-town…I never knew how good the roads were here, how well-kept the sidewalks are, how clean the streets are and how nice it would feel to taste a root beer float!

We are yet to settle in anywhere yet, but are inching out way in that direction. We do have new phones, so if you want to give us a jingle, we’d love to hear from you.

Joel’s Phone #: (253) 302-1098

Mandy’s Phone #: (253) 302-2969

It looks like we are going to head up to the mountains for a few days to resituate our minds as we plunge into this transition. I can’t tell you how thankful we are for your continued support along the way.

It was an amazing year…not necessarily a “fun” year at all times, but a year that we will never forget. New perspectives, newfound gratitude and newfound relationships. We may be thousands of miles away, but these things withstand great distances. It is our continued hope that they will also withstand the tests of time and the American pace of life.

55 Hours in London!

2008-07-05T07:09:00.000-07:00

We boarded a plane at 11 PM on Sunday night and headed to London. The first glimpse of the city as we popped up from the subway was a bit strange-no matatus, few black people, it seemed quiet, people were on the move, etc!

We only spent a few days there but it was nice to have a bit of time to reflect as we prepared for our homecoming…a special thanks to David (who I met while climbing Mt. Kenya) and his family for inviting us in as well as the British government for making all of the museums free. (There sure is nothing else in London that is FREE!)

Perhaps the climax of it all was the icing on the cake for our year in Kenya with a trip to the London Theater to see The Lion King Musical…a beautiful experience- wonderful costumes, great music and a better storyline than an already great movie. We could see traces of the stories of Kenya in a broadway musical, perhaps a bit of foreshadowing as we continue to encounter our time in Kenya through everyday experiences.

Mathare Finale

2008-07-05T07:08:00.000-07:00

Our final day wouldn’t have been complete without a trip out to Mathare. We enjoye our last church service at the Inspiration Center with Mark, Moses, Boyye and roughly 100 more kids. It was a great day as the service was fantastic and we were able to share a meal together from a local hotel. After the service, David (a local restaurant owner) brought food up to the center where we all shared a meal together. We had to keep the kids inside as they would have brought the entire village back with them if we let them out and told them that there would be free food!

While it was hard to say goodbye, we are encouraged by what is happening in Mathare and are convinced that when we return, amazing things will be happening. Thank you Moses and all of our friends in Mathare, you have touched out lives and the lives of many others. We continue to stand with you in solidarity and pray for transformation in your community.

Lamu!!!

2008-07-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

culture, eautiful architecture, gracious hospitality, wooden boats and ornate doors everywhere you go. Even the regular power outages on the island felt like relaxing!

In long, a picture is worth a thousand words!

Boats, boats...

...and more boats

Dinner with Gideon, Mwix and our new friend Heika

Mwix and the widest street in town...

Beautiful Homes

The most amazing mango shakes ever!

BBQing our freshly caught fish!

Living the tough life...our balcony view!

Playing in the ocean...we got to go swimming in a storm and catch some good waves!

Swahili Architecture and local transport (donkeys)

The land of beautiful doors

Hurry up! Dinner is in 6 hours!

View from our balcony!

No complaints with our guesthouse...the stopover!

Eating our freshly caught fish for lunch on Manda Island

Flying back to Nairobi...in our tiny plane!

Last Minute Visits

2008-07-05T07:06:00.000-07:00

Just like any place that we have ever transitioned from, there are lots of visits that take place during the last few weeks. Between friends through CTM, frisbee and others that we met along the way, it was a busy time! Lots of tasty food, wonderful conversations and questions to help prepare us for our transition.

We enjoyed a trip to Banana (a small town 30 minutes outside of Nairobi) to visit Peter and his wife. Peter is doing some amazing work in his community within the matatu industry. He leads a Sunday morning church service at a gas station as the drivers fill up with gas, check the oil and get ready for a day on the road. While he may not focus on praise and worship, he provides a space to talk about areas of transformation in HIV/AIDS education, drug awareness and positive life choices. Peter’s hard work was recently recognized by USAID as he was awarded a 29 seater matatu to focus on behavior change. Check out the pics!

During our last week, we took advantage of the buy one get one free pizza offer at a local restaurant and invited several of the pastors and their spouses over from the CTM network. We had a wonderful time catching up on life, reflecting on our year together and watching people eat pizza for the first time. Luckily, we had ugali and sikuma on backup for those that didn’t like it. It was a wonderful evening in which they commissioned us to return to the US and to bless us in our future endeavors.

We couldn’t let some last minute visits with Lorraine slip away from under us. For those of you who don’t know the story with Lorraine, she is a friend that we went to school with in Tacoma at PLU. Joel graduated with Lorraine and she returned to Kenya and is currently at the University of Nairobi in Med School. When we first arrived in Kenya, we called her and found out that she lives about 3 minutes from us! It was great to have another person around familiar with our context throughout the year…as well as someone to shed some wisdom on the stomach problems that we encountered along the way! Our last day with Lorraine was appropriate as we started out at the Iranian Medical Clinic to get tested for TB and Malaria before taking off…neither of us were feeling well and would much rather be treated for these things in Kenya than in the US as they are VERY common over here. Both of our tests turned out negative!

Frisbee Folks: What can I say? We spent two evenings a week with this crew throughout the entire year. We had an amazing time with all of them and are so grateful to have found this outlet in our lives in Kenya…good exercise, good company and people that understand the challenges of living in various contexts. We are hopeful that we will get to see two of our friends this summer in Seattle as they will be out for work-related meetings! Thanks frisbee folks for many great games, tasty dinners, a rockin’ tournament with D4K and teaching us new card games!

Other last minute visits included bowling, the best Ethiopian food ever two more times, crepes, debriefing with fellow NWerners, Western food with Violet and final Nairobi impressions of wonderful Indian Food!

Nakuru with the boys!

2008-07-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

We knew that we wanted to get one last Safari in, but also knew that our time was coming quickly to a close-so we killed two birds with one stone and spent time with great friends as we ventured into Nakuru National Park on a camping trip. The top 10 from the weekend included:

Arriving 5 hours later than anticipated because of a late start, the sleeping bags that never showed up, extra stops for Nyama Choma (Roasted Meet) at roadside stands, etc.
Seeing 3 lions perched on a downed tree 50 feet from the road. It couldn’t have been set up better in a zoo!
Eating Roasted Meat, Chipatis, Fries and Juice around the fire…a true Kenyan bachelor’s meal
Being surrounded by 1000 pound buffaloes at night in our campsite and seeing grown me scared out of their minds.
Seeing tons of animals on our morning game drive…including hayinas, a male lion, buffalo galore, flamingos, rhinos, giraffe, zebra-tons of animals!
Surviving a stare down from a buffalo staking his territory in the middle of the road as we tried to pass him in a van. We don’t know the whole story but saw a car flipped over on one of the roads in the park earlier in the day…enough to remind you that these animals can do some serious damage.
Coming back to our campsite to find that it had been wasted by baboons…all of the tents were down, the sleeping bags dragged 100+ meters, clothes everywhere, even a poop surprise on the picnic table. These things are malicious!
A visit to see some of the boys from Dagoretti 4 Kids at a boarding school close to the park. They were so happy to see all of us and perhaps more excited to enjoy our leftover food from the trip as a break from their monotonous school menu!
Another Nyama Choma stop on the way home and the van overheating.
Hangin’ out with good people in a gorgeous place doing something that we love. Time well spent!

Bad Blogger

2008-06-28T14:05:00.000-07:00

Hello all...

I know-we have been terrible with the updates over the past couple of weeks.

Here is a sneak preview of the stories and pictures that will come after the re-entry into the land of highspeed. Until then, this is our last greeting from the southern hemisphere for a while.

Camping with the Dagoretti Guys, eating nyama choma and getting close and personal with a lion
Farewells to all of our local peeps...friends, pastors, leaders, frisbee players, teaching partners, family members...lots of food, lots of blessings and invites galore to return.
Significant time in getting the masters program up and rolling and in a spot where it will run smoothly from afar.
A trip to a 14th Century Swahili Island in the Indian Ocean with Gideon and Mwix
Getting our last (hopefully last) round of the stomach biology experiments in...I am taking my cipro as I type.

Tomorrow at 11:20, we enter a 777 and jet out to London...a few days to rest, to reflect and to re-energize followed by a Wednesday afternoon flight to to SEATAC airport. Get ready tasty cheeses, root beer, smooth roads, ice cream, high speed internet and evening walks-we are going to devour you!

Ugandan Delight

2008-06-22T07:03:00.000-07:00

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.

The beginning of the end...

2008-06-11T10:15:00.000-07:00

In less than 3 weeks, we will be sitting in traffic on I-5 heading wouth toward Tacoma. We can't believe how fast this year has gone. As we near the end of our time here, we have been busy cramming in all of the experiences that we never got around to...

Enjoying the new property of Tumani Children's Home!

Mandy livin' it up with her teaching crew

Watching Samara grow up...and learning about parenting (and patience) in the process!

Hording the scenes and moments that we will miss back in the states...

The Masters

2008-06-11T10:11:00.000-07:00

Tiger Woods and Phil Nickelson may be a long ways away, but we have officially launched the Nairobi Masters program in partnership with CTM, Carlile College and Bakke Graduate University. With 24 currently enrolled and 5 eagerly awaiting acceptance, the response has been overwhelming.

CTM Director Kris Rocke (the white one) and Mile High Ministry Director Jeff Johnsen facilitated the first intensive of the program last week. The first two days, which were open to the broader community, attracted over 100 local leaders. The two training days to follow were only open to those that are officially part of the CTM Nairobi Masters Cohort. Kris and Jeff were in their prime in “disorienting” the students and forcing them to think critically about their role as urban ministers. We often sat back and chuckled as they found a way to maneuver in tricky spaces around theological, cultural and social landmines. I don’t know of many others that could tread these tracks.

Collectively, we explored what it looks like to see the incarnational nature of Christ in the slums of Nairobi. This was good news to rise up against the prominent Africa prosperity gospel that justifies the circumstances that people find themselves in through God’s blessings and curses. Could it be that there are blessings hidden within the slums than we might think?

Their time in Nairobi allowed us to review our year here and gave us permission to think strategically about what the future holds for CTM Nairobi. We were able to sift through some of the challenges and successes of the past and capture some of the current energy and explore some new possibilities. With the program masters program off the ground, we certainly have our work cut out for us, but are confident that local leadership will continue to provide a way forward.

This process has taught us a great deal about education in various contexts. We came into the year with our own ideas of higher education based on our own experiences in the states but soon learned that there are obstacles to get around here in Kenya. A few examples:

As of this January, education is supposed to be free for everyone up to form 4 (the completion of high school). In actuality, it costs the equivalent of two months rent each 3 month term. While rent is very cheap in some places, incomes are low.
Because of a lack of access to technology, the expectations between high school and university curriculum are drastically different. Students are well prepared in knowledge content, but struggle with communicating ideas.
The Kenyan mode of education is incredibly classical. With the 3 R’s as top priorities and a high regard for structure, it makes are American education look like a bunch of play-dough degrees.

We are eager to see where this will all go. We invite you to learn more about the partner institutions by visiting their respective websites: Bakke Graduate University, CTM and Carlile College.

IDP Concert

2008-06-11T10:05:00.000-07:00

There are still thousands of people living in camps throughout Kenya following the 2007 election violence. One of our close friends and organizational partners reached out to his community by hosting a concert at one of the urban camps on the outskirts of Nairobi. With diminishing hope for quick solutions and few people paying attention to the reality they find themselves in, it ws a cool way to honor those that have gone through hard times in recent months. A few pictures to capture the day...

Dagoretti 4 Kids goes 6-0!

2008-05-30T05:06:00.001-07:00

Last weekend, we hosted Nairobi’s 3^rd annual Ultimate Frisbee Festival. We had 6 teams, 80+ players, sponors, good food and lots of fun. We co-facilitated the event with another teacher from Mandy’s school that plays on a national team in Canada. Many of the participants came from the 25-30 people that come out on Fridays and Sundays to play pickup games each week. They were a huge help in pulling all of this together!

In years past, this event has always been a fundraiser for a local organization doing work with kids in the community. In years past, proceeds went to an organization, they occasionally came out for the day to watch and at best, were somewhat involved. This was not the case this year. We decided to work with a group of kids that had never played ultimate frisbee during the month before, teach them how to play and form a team to enter into the tournament. It was in the spirit of all of this that we were able to go 6-0 in the tournament. Here’s a quick summary of our wins.

We taught 15-20 kids how to play a new game that they will likely hold onto in the near future. Teaching them the basics and providing the basic equipment, it was fun to rally them around a new activity.
The improvement from the first time that we played to our last game was incredible! You have to imagine that most of the kids had never seen a frisbee before. They thought it was a plate or something that you throw to a dog. All of the teams commented on how well these guys had done for only playing the game for one month.
We were able to build new relationships with a great group of guys that we may have never had the opportunity to spend time with. There is something about enduring competition together. It allowed us to connect with the leaders of the org as well as a great group of guys with a tough past.
We were able to raise 75,000 Ksh (approx. $1300 USD) for the organization. All of the t-shirts, food and drinks were sponsored by local businesses and the regular group of frisbee players.
We were able to help some of our expat friends in Nairobi gain a bit of insight into the lives of local stories. In many cases here in Nairobi, there is a huge gap between the international and local community. This was a way to bring people together in a fun and non-threatening way. Many of our friends from abroad expressed interest in visiting the dagoretti project and playing games in their area.
Despite the fact that we didn’t win any games, the guys had a postivive attitude, encouraged one another and set a great example for other teams. People commented left and right on their attitude and politeness to each of the teams that we encountered.

This was an incredible experience for everyone. I (Joel) will always remember my first ultimate frisbee tournament and I am convinced that the kids of dagoretti will do the same.

A few cool things going on here in Nairobi

2008-05-23T02:01:00.000-07:00

We Can’t express quickly time is passing over here. There were days in January and February when we thought time could not inch any slower. Now, things have changed and June 29 (our departure date) seems to be a blink away. Here is a brief snapshot of what is making time pass haraka haraka (quickly quickly) these days:

Frisbee:

As many of you know, we have played ultimate frisbee with a group of people here every Friday and Sunday. In February, we began planning for the 3^rd annual Nairobi Ultimate Frisbee Festival, a tournament to promote the game and activate local youth. We have been involved with planning the tournament and are coaching a team of former street kids that are connected to one of our partner organizations. The guys at Dagoretti 4 Kids have been awesome in picking up the game, practicing hard and using this as an opportunity to show how far that they have come. We practice, ½ times each week, have regular scrimmages against a team of kids from Mandy’s school and will play in the tournament this weekend. We have received sponsorship from the tournament from local sources and are excited to report that all proceeds from the tournament will go to Dagoretti 4 Kids. We will keep you posted on how the tournament goes this weekend!

Masters:

Setting up a masters program thousands of miles away from the source, in a place where computers are few and far between and in a very different academic context is a lot of work. We have worked hard to help 25 people apply for a CTM/Bakke Graduate University and Carlile College Masters program for grassroots leaders serving in the slums. There are few systematic ways of doing things over here. While it would be nice to have everyone simply go to a website, fill out the forms and send them in, it doesn’t work that way here. Instead, we print all of the forms, have a meeting with everyone to go through the application, have them handwrite their responses, hand them in, scan the documents and send large files (that take 10 hours to send) to the US via email. Other kinks present themselves, such as only having access to 1 computer for 25 people, not being able to find the correct textbooks here in Nairobi, coordinating with Kris and Jeff how to set up scheduling issues, etc.

Kris and Jeff’s Visit:

It’s one thing to plan for a family visit, but when visits are related to CTM functions, it takes a bit more time and energy. Kris and Jeff will be arriving in Nairobi next Tuesday night. During their time here, they will be facilitating an intensive training for 150 people and will be launching the Masters program with 25 people. We will also spend time visiting various communities, visioning with CTM Nairobi, etc. It will be fun to have visitors again…although the reality is speaking clearer than ever: when they leave, we have three weeks left!

Transitioning:

With our time here coming to an end, we are making sure that our work here this year doesn’t come with us. Equipping Gideon and others with helpful ideas and systems has become important as we think about leaving. Mandy is also transitioning from her work at ISK as her school year finishes in less than two weeks. We can’t forget the practical steps of moving and making sure that we can fit our year in Kenya back into 3 suitcases to return home.

So, those are a few things that are going on over here…others include a photo project in mathare, continuing to explore some partnership opportunities locally and abroad, hanging out with friends and members of the CTM network here, figuring out what we will come back to in American politics, taking Swahili lessons and learning how to cook Kenyan food.

One of those days...

2008-05-23T01:26:00.000-07:00

To give you a little taste of the clashes within the slums and western visitors, I’d like to take you on a trip down memory lane to last week Thursday’s visit to a place called Lunga Lunga.

I am not really sure where to start…perhaps a snapshot of Thursday evening’s emotions would be appropriate. Frustrated, hurt, honored, exhausted, fearful and maybe even a bit of resentment toward those who have gone before us.

Thursday was a reminder of how far the CTM network has come here in Nairobi. Although we came home exhausted, frustrated, embarrassed and perplexed, it provided new perspective on CTM’s ability to come alongside in fragile circumstances and to walk the fine-line of western empowerment in hard places.

Mandy, Gideon, Moses and I ventured into a new part of town to visit with a group of pastors. Mandy and Gideon had visited before and were encouraged by the transformational work taking place within this community. Gideon invited us as he was hoping to film a few clips for a “signs of hope” video that he is compiling to be shared with mainstream and slum pastors in Nairobi in the beginning of June. Gideon’s objective defies the norm as he is trying to capture beauty in the stories rather than the typical cries for help. We graciously accepted his offer, hoping to simply listen to a few stories emerging from their community.

In retrospect, the signs early on that things might be a different were obvious. The fact that we arrived 2 hours later than they had expected us, yet a group of 25 pastors will still eagerly waiting was sign number one. Signs two, three and four came in the first 30 seconds of our encounter when Mandy and I were asked to sit in the front, when we noticed a table with crafts for sale off to the side and when Gideon and Moses were barely acknowledged. Sign five came when our primary reason for the visit (Gideon’s interview clips) were placed on the back burner and Mandy and I were issued “lead roles”.

As we walked around the community, we went to six different churches. The tour of the community was meant to be a show and tell amongst other pastors in the area of what each ministry is doing. Ideally, we would be a listening ear in the background and there may have been a little red light on Gideon’s camera glowing. Instead, it became a ploy for access to resources, a cry for help and a presentation for what they had been prepped for as “potential donors”. Don’t get me wrong, there is some great stuff going on in this place. Most of the churches have started schools as there are few government schools operating in this area, there is a strong network of pastors who know what is going on in the community and these churches remain agents of transformation in a place that is environmentally, physically, economically and socially impoverished.

One could have said that it was an honor to be treated the way we were. We were offered bottled water regularly to cope with the beating sun, they insisted on carrying our backpack, we were given a 3-course meal at the end of the day, kids waited 3 extra hours at the school simply to say hello to us (and see white people in their school) and we were asked to sign guestbooks in many of the places. One could argue that these people were simply honoring us. The scary part for us was when Gideon and Moses were side-stepped in order for all of this to happen. The four of us arrived as guests, but only two of us remained guests over the duration of the day. Gideon and Moses, for that we apologize, You should be the guests of honor in your own city.

One can’t help but think how things got this way. Was it the western missionaries that previously expected better treatment? Is if western missionaries that have viewed each encounter as an opportunity to give money? Did we imply something in earlier interactions that encouraged this behavior? Do some people not have the capacity to look past skin color and the dollar signs embedded in the pigment of one’ skin? Or maybe, these people are simply survivors-they saw and opportunity and went in for the kill.

Oh Boyye!

2008-05-09T00:27:00.000-07:00

We first met Boyye during our second week in Kenya. His hospitality, interest in learning English and commitment to his community was unique, to say the least. Over the course of the year, we have gotten to know Boyye better and recently decided to sponsor him through secondary school. It was enlightening for us to peek behind the scenes into the lives of those that are on the margins, to understand what education looks like here in Kenya and to think about what a 4-year commitment looks like in Boyye’s world and in ours.

When Boyye’s father passed away in December, it was tough on him and his family. He lives with his mother and grandma and near his sisters in Mathare, an informal settlement on the east side of Nairobi. While his fathers’ passing was difficult to swallow, it also meant that he, as an only son, would have additional responsibilities in caring or his family. The first priority in considering going to school for Boyye was to cautiously gain approval from his family. 4 years in school could have been translated to 4 years away from the house and unable to provide for his family. Thankfully, he won his mother over in the process and gained full support from his family.

The second priority was building up Boyye to a point where he understood the complexities of joining 14-15 year olds in Form I (9^th Grade) as a 19 year-old…the realization that he would be 23 upon graduation was not only a strange concept for us, but also for him. Boyye has been committed to helping out at the Inspiration Center in Mathare over the past three years. Going away to a boarding school is going be a stark difference for him…high structure, new friends, rural setting, etc. We have yet to see how this transition will go, but are confident and hopeful that he will make the best of it.

Perhaps the most peculiar thing for us in this process was learning how quickly things could happen. We have been talking with Boyye about going back to school for a few months now. He had shown signs of interest along the way, and became serious about things over the past month. Last week, when we decided that this would be our best bet in investing in him and the Mathare community, we approached a friend who deals with educational sponsorship. Coming into our meeting with her, we figured that we would have to wait until the following year since 3 months had already passed in the Kenyan academic calendar. 5 minutes into the conversation, we had a book list, a breakdown of costs and an appointment with the headmaster. Can you imagine? No application, no waivers, no admission process.

Another important learning process for us along the way was learning about the economics of education in Kenya. Kenya is supposed to have developed a “free education” government program for all primary and secondary students. This is an absolute joke! Boyye’s community, which is home to 500,000 people has only one government-run secondary school, leaving us with few options but to look elsewhere. We felt that being away from Mathare in a boarding environment would be more advantageous to his learning. When you add up the costs of tuition (which is the only part of government run schools that is free), transport, boarding, books, uniform, medical, an ID card and basic supplies, you are looking at $1,000 USD/year. Should we have chosen a “free” government school, we would be looking at $800 USD/year.

I joined Boyye, his mother, a good friend from Mathare and a volunteer from the sponsorship organization to his new school on Wednesday. It brought me back to our first weeks in Kenya as one of those breakable moments when any type of beauty is overwhelmed by affliction. After a 3 hour matatu ride on awful roads, we arrived at the school with a tin box of belongings, a backpack and 4 textbooks. Although the school’s setting was beautiful, the 6 years of its existence had taken a big toll. Perhaps the most startling realization was the dormitory, which I can best compare with a smaller version of my grandfather’s barn growing up. 10 x 25 meters, bunk beds lined up in rows, one big overhead light, nasty foam mattresses and a tin box for each bed. I was reminded of a college move-in day at PLU with moving trucks, TV’s, couches, carpet, computers galore…and people complaining about the size of our rooms. While the context is slightly different, our basic human desire for cleanliness and comfort remain the same. I began to wonder if we had indeed done a good thing by encouraging and assisting Boyye with going to school. 4 years down the road, we will know! In the meantime, if you can keep him in your thoughts and prayers with us, we would appreciate it.

A Different Kenya (for us)

2008-05-06T21:24:00.000-07:00

When most people think of Kenya ani- mals and talented long-distance runners. It is true that the game parks are incredible…filled with animals that we only ever dream of seeing locked behind the electric fence at the zoo, and that the Kalenjin tribe produces some of the world’s best long distance runners. I hope that, they think with lots of of going on a safari people realize that we have done our best to scale through the surface of Kenya to a core that is hard, tough and at times scary.

Last week was a week of just the opposite. I took the opportunity to enjoy one of the things that energizes me most effectively and set off to the mountains for a few days. In true Kenyan style, I joined a guide, three cooks and a team of 12 English guys to the slopes of Mt. Kenya. This was the first time that I had ever been under the provision of a guide while climbing. While my independent nature initially screamed, “let me do it myself!”, I soon realized that guiding plays an important role in Kenya’s highest income generator (the tourist industry), and that letting guides navigate the unknowns around transport, cooking different foods, fighting off different animals and accessing proper equipment was a relief.

The trip was excellent-perfect weather, beautiful scenery and a successful summit bid. Starting at 8000 feet, we climbed to 11,000 feet for our first acclimatization night and on to 14,000 feet the following evening. The summit of Mt. Kenya, which sits about 35 km north of the Equator stands at 17,000 feet. The group was in good physical condition and had few setbacks. We met an interesting couple from Israel along the way whose lives have been shaped by war and confusion. It was one more incentive to appreciate the freedoms that have been afforded to me and to find opportunities to engage with our global neighbors who can’t say the same. Can you imagine living every day of your entire life with the uncertainties associated with war?

When I re- turned to the park gate, I caught a ride into the closest town and took a four-hour matatu ride to Nakuru, home of the infamous pink flamingo flock in Nakuru National Park. I met Mandy and some friends from her school for the weekend as we had some rest and relaxation time, as well as a few game drives. The animals were spectacular…rhinos, giraffes, zebra, hyenas, cape buffalo, warthogs, flamingos, pelicans, gazelle, baboons and monkeys just to name a few. It was a good time to refocus our energy for how we can be effective during the upcoming months and also got us thinking about the future. Our group of 6 adults represented 5 different countries and lots of international travel. It was fun to dream about the possibilities out there…but for now-we are off to OhioJ!

Driving back into the crowded streets of Nairobi yesterday was like culture shock. People everywhere, shacks, dukas and children playing. Part of me wanted to retreat back into the mountains, while another part of me wouldn’t want to if I could. I was reminded of a comment that I heard when meeting with the leaders in our network a few months back. Someone made a statement that mzungu (white people) will always have a chance to get away and retreat from the realities of life. He was right…we were able to get away, to clear our minds and to refocus-and now it is up to us to share this energy with others!

But, it’s going to have to wait a bit…we are both sick with sinus stuff and are completely exhausted-maybe the rhino got us sick.

More Pics!

2008-05-05T02:07:00.000-07:00

Moses, Joel, Ken, Mark, Violet and Gideon after a fun-filled wedding day!

Joel and Mandy at Dan's going away party...fellow teacher and frisbee player

Mandy and her teaching partner...living the dream

Godfrey, Moses, Boyye, Joel and Mandy
Bowling 101 before Boyye goes to school!

The Girls at Catherine and Reuben's Wedding...Agnus, Mwix, Alice and Mandy. Mwix was the maid of honor.

The MC of the wedding...note the common Kenyan short tie...this was they guy that made us do the white man dance in front of everyone!

Gabi...perhaps our favorite hair style

Samara struttin' her stuff

Mark and Violet's Wedding...we were the official photographers! Mandy and the bride.

Worth 1,000 Words...

2008-04-28T06:06:00.000-07:00

joel and samara taking a nap :) The girls love to put one finger in their mouth and one on their belly button... (apparently Joel does too :)

I guess I haven't been kissing Joel enough lately...

Fun at the giraffe center

A couple of requests

2008-04-21T01:42:00.000-07:00

In our context, we often see asking for help as a form of failure and inadequacy. We were recently reminded when Joel’s parents came to visit that people around the world DO want to help in some way shape or form. While not everyone is called to come to Kenya for 10 months and serve grassroots leaders, there are other creative ways that we can come together to assist in people’s needs around the world. So, in light of our new-found revelation that people around the world are seeking ways to make a difference, we invite you to consider how you might come alongside some of our contacts that are facing pressing needs at this time.

• One of the community centers that we work with has been without electricity for nearly a year now. When they last had electricity, neighboring houses and offices tapped into their supply and raised their monthly bill from 500Ksh/month ($8) to 8000Ksh/month ($125). While this may be a small amount in our eyes, the absence of electricity has taken away any income generation that they might have previously had. We have tried to build a case for the community center to take to the power company. Unfortunately, after 4 months of working hard to figure out the situation, we are left with one alternative-to pay 8000Ksh ($125) so that the power company will move the power meter inside the community center and will turn the electricity back on again. If we can move beyond this initial barrier, we are confident that the community center can continue to be a beacon of hope in the Mathare community.
• The post-election violence took its toll on many of the schools set to begin their academic year in the beginning of January. Dagoretti 4 Kids, one of the organizations that we work with takes street kids into their community for a year, reunites them with their families and works to make connections in sending kids to school. Due to the nature of their background and pressure from their community, these kids are often sent to boarding schools. In January, these kids went to their respective boarding schools around the country. Due to the post-election violence, many were boarded at their schools in January, but did not start classes because some of the teachers and other students were unable to get to the school. To make a long story short, 6 of the kids were charged for boarding during the month of January and the schools have forced them to stay during the month of April (which they would otherwise have off) in order to make up for the time missed in January. Instead of being charged for 3 months of schooling, they are being charged for 4 months. Since, school fees cost 3000Ksh/month ($50) per student, we are looking to assist them with $300 to get them through this predicament. While these costs may seem minimal, these are the types of situations that can make or break small organizations when they are forced to deviate from their annual budget.

There are countless needs that we come across on a regular basis. These are two of the more pressing needs that have a widespread impact on two communities around Nairobi. If you are interested in learning more about these situations, helping out or learning of other needs that we hear of, please let us know. It is incredible to think about how far a dollar can go (even if it is getting weaker by the day!)

Masters Program Update

2008-04-21T01:40:00.000-07:00

Last week was an important week in the world of CTM Nairobi as 19 local leaders submitted applications to join Bakke Graduate University’s Masters program. It has been an interesting process along the way as we connect educational contexts around the world. Getting people to realize the challenges and hard work required with a masters level education, encouraging them to see this educational opportunity as equal to a monetary resource and helping people understand the importance of taking the time and energy to submit a masters level application was a daunting task.

We are hopeful that these pastors presented themselves in a way that made a statement about their preparation to enter the program. Having recently submitted graduate school applications, I was intrigued by the struggle that many of the leaders/pastors dealt with in presenting thoughts through a second language. When you think about a second language, presenting yourself orally is one thing, but having to write in a formal way that pulls together thoughtful ideas seems to be nothing shy of overwhelming. I have gained a new respect for those that can sit in multiple worlds in different languages.

A question that we have come across over and over again around the launch of this masters program is, “After the leaders get further training, will they abandon their positions in the slums and move elsewhere?” This is an excellent question that speaks to the nature of the hierarchy of life in Nairobi. We are attempting to sit with this question as a community of learners and put it on the table immediately. One of the unique aspects of this program will be that it is built around urban ministry in the slums of Nairobi. While some of the material is transferable, it is indeed contextualized in a way that confronts the modern issues of serving those that are labeled the least, the last and the lost of Kenya. The materials are rooted in liberating those that are oppressed, perhaps to the point where the materials lose their basis in other facets of society.

We are now eagerly waiting to hear the results from the states in May. The program is set to start in June. Please continue to think of CTM Nairobi as we find ways to come alongside of the pastors that we serve during this time. We also think and pray for the pastors, their families, their congregations and their communities as they enter into an intensive time of education.

Amazing Women

2008-04-11T00:17:00.000-07:00

On Monday, Joel and I visited with Dagoretti 4 Kids. Their aim is to get kids off the streets and to find funding for them to go to school. They have been in operation for 4 years, and currently have about 30 boys going to boarding schools and are beginning to imagine news ways to help their community. They have found that helping the kids alone can be limiting and wanted to find a way to help their mothers and families. As a result, a new program has begun at D4K where HIV postive women meet at the center three days a week to make jewelry and crafts. They call themselves Dagoretti 4 Kids Support Group, as their long term goal is to make enough money to give back to D4K. There were about 10 women there working on beaded crocodile keychains.
While my first attempt was a flop (my crocodile looked a bit deformed, with its legs going in four different directions and it's ribs completely caving in) and after a bit more coaching from my new friend, I was able to make a second one successfully. The whole process took me about 4 1/2 hours. (And to think that these items would sell at the market for maybe a little more than a dollar!) But aside from making a crocodile, I wish I could put into words how amazed I am by these women. While most of them speak little English, they embraced us into their small community with open hands. They spent the day encouraging one another and asking about each other's health, they are always looking out for one another. In the middle of my second crocodile I just sat back and thought to myself, "Take in this moment Mandy, cherish it. This is one of those experiences that will leave a mark on your life..."
So often we are able to buy crafts at Ten Thousand Villages or craft fairs that support small projects like this...and I found myself on Monday counting my blessings that I was sitting amongst these women.

A flat world

2008-04-08T05:57:00.000-07:00

I am currently reading a book called The World is Flat, a book capturing the globalization movement of the 21st Century. It has been an interesting read, particularly in a Kenyan context. In some ways I see the world as flat, while at other times a plateau with sharp elevation contrasts in various regions of the world. Although China and India are seen as the rising stars in the global market, I continue to wonder what impact globalization is having and will have on the African continent. Some pieces of globalization seem to be detrimental while others may shed profound light on the development of nations that tend to the basic needs of functioning societies.

As I read the book, I continually think about the corporate impact of these principles, rather than the personal. The Microsoft’s, HP’s and Wal-Mart’s have stronger connections to these ideas than any individuals could ever have. I was reminded that this was not the case when I met a young Kenyan at a birthday party this weekend. He is studying to be an architect but currently has a graphic and web design business to help him pay his way through university. When I told him that we would likely not be able to give him any business because we would only be here for three more months, he reminded me that I could have him design a website or publication from Kenya when we returned to the states, that it would probably be cheaper than anything than I could find their and that it would help him get an education. In his words, we are only “one click away”. This triggered my initial thoughts on the personal nature of globalization.

The next tier of thinking within globalization hit me last week when corresponding with our friend, Paul who had recently spent time in Bangkok. He described an experience that he had with a man from Kenya that was working in Bangkok to generate some income for his family. He shared some of his thoughts on the questions that he was grappling with on how to best assist this guy. Through our blogs and emails, we are somehow able to connect in these ideas and think about how our global experiences might help shed light into one another’s situations. A flattened world allowed me to learn from a friend whose encounter in Thailand is similar to many of ours in Nairobi.

The interesting thing in my virtual encounter with Paul was the timing of his email. You see, it is not uncommon for us to be asked for money 2-3 times/day. Whether it is an encounter with a street kid, person who has decided on begging as their profession or people that we know well that need financial assistance, sifting through each of these encounters is tiring and at times hardening. This weekend, when a boy asked me for money for bread as we were leaving a wedding, I didn’t give him a chance to tell his story and immediately told him that we didn’t have money for him. When we got home, there was an email in my inbox from Paul explaining his situation in Bangkok. His words prompted me to look inward in how I responded to the boy an hour earlier. At this time, I realized that a flattened world had triggered a response in me to reconsider how I respond to our regular encounters with requests for money. While we choose not to give to 80% of the requests that we get from people on a daily basis (because our annual budget would be long gone by now), each person does deserve our careful attention and a degree of inner turmoil to respond accordingly. It dawned on me that it took a friend’s experience in Asia to soften our hardening responses to requests for money…now that is a flattened world.

While we are still new to the world of blogging, we hope that this mode of communication can be a positive flattener as we share experiences from afar. We are often encouraged, challenged and convicted by your stories, responses and breaths of life into our work here in Kenya.

life in nairobi

2008-04-04T05:47:00.000-07:00

The rainy season threatened to start a few weeks ago with rainy nights and puddles galore, but this past week has truly been beautiful... the sun only hides behind friendly clouds for a few minutes at a time and the breeze keeps the day cool. Everything is a bit more green after having a nice long drink last week. I often find myself lost in the beauty of this place when I'm riding the bus home. The drive from my school begins with the sight of amazing red soil with maize and tea growing and then we head down a large hill into a jungle-book setting with trees towering as the road winds along. After this, the bus returns to the 'city' and my senses are overloaded with the sights, sounds, and even smells of Nairobi. I often have quite a bit of time to take it all in as traffic jams slows my bus to a crawl. I am thankful for these times of reflection as I try to process all that I am experiencing in this beautiful yet struggling place.

There is an excitement in my heart to return to the states in three months, to be with friends and family, to drink root beer and eat tortilla chips, to wash my clothes in a washing machine.... and yet I am already nostalgic about leaving Nairobi. I guess I'm reminded once again to 'Carpe Diem' and seize the day, for we are not guaranteed tomorrow and there is something amazing about today. It is has never happened before, nor will it happen again...

peace

Nairobi Update

2008-04-02T06:20:00.000-07:00

As much fun as we had with Joel’s folks around, it was a rude awakening to the reality that our time here is coming quickly to an end. In less than three months, we will be aboard a jet transitioning back into another world.

Here’s a look into some of the things that we hope to do before heading to the airport:

Take more pictures-taking pictures is awkward…especially around people that have been exploited by entrepreneurial photographers. I don’t really like taking pictures of people, but I don’t think that the cows on the street, the fruit at the stand or the 100,000 white matatu vans will mind if we create some memorial tokens.
Start a masters program…well this is happening on 2 fronts: 1.) Joel has been accepted into a masters program in educational leadership at Miami University of Ohio next fall and we have chosen to accept it. Nairobi…to the middle of miles of corn; can’t wait for this transition! 2.) By April 15, we hope to have all of the applications in for those that are interested in the CTM/Bakke Graduate University (Seattle, WA)/Carlile College (Nairobi) Masters program. We are hoping to have a cohort of 8-12 learners. The program will focus on urban ministry in the slums.
Use our “resident status”. There is a long list of things that we have held off on doing since we arrived because of the huge difference in resident/non-resident prices. We were both able to get resident status through Mandy’s job at ISK and hope to take advantage of it and go to the new museum, do a game drive in Nairobi National Park and go see Mt. Kenya.
Play some more Frisbee. We have been playing Frisbee for the past six months, but in May, we are co-organizing a tournament to benefit Dagoretti 4 Kids, one of the grassroots organizations associated with CTM. We are excited for the opportunity to teach kids how to play, to connect our expat friends with local kids and to raise some money for startup programs for Dagoretti 4 Kids along the way.
Cook. We can’t leave Kenya without knowing the basics of cooking here. While we have our nights in the kitchen, we need to take time to perfect the Kenyan basics (ugali, chipati, stews and bean dishes). Kenyans are oral historians in the kitchen as much as they are in the village, hence, No recipes.
Chart a way forward with CTM Nairobi-At this point, we are looking into registering it as a Kenyan organization. This may allow us to take advantage of some local opportunities. We are trying hard to be intentional about not making Gideon feel isolated from the North America office, while creating autonomy over here. This is a healthy process to go through as it requires thoughtfulness and creativity in how to move forward from a “listening post” to a healthy organization.

These are just a few of the things that will keep us truckin’ till the end. We are going to have a hard time leaving, but are hopeful that this won’t be our last time in Kenya.

A fresh glimpse

2008-03-28T01:49:00.000-07:00

Last night, we said farewell to Joel’s parents as they headed back to Michigan. Their 11 days in Kenya were packed with days of fun, laughter at cultural differences, reflecting on hard questions and grasping an understanding of our lives in Kenya. It was a much needed refreshment for us as well as an opportunity to voyage into parts of the country that we had put off until visitors came.

The following slideshow paints a pretty real picture of how they spent their time here.

Thank you to all of you who encouraged them to come to visit Kenya. It was a great encouragement to us and will continue to be important as we process sights, sounds, smells, relationships and signs of transformation in our own lives upon our return to the states in July.

Finally-a visitor!

2008-03-14T21:03:00.001-07:00

We are happy to report that Joel's parents are less than 2 km away as we write this.

We picked them up from the airport last night and took them to their guesthouse, where we caught up briefly before their attempt to get some sleep. (It was 3:00 in the afternoon for them!)

It was fun to see someone's first glimpse of the city and reminded us of how much we have learned during our time here. It wasn't too long ago when we made the trek from the airport to Gideon's home with wide eyes wide open! We will keep you updated of their ventures along the way if possible, but in the meantime-enjoy the gift of family!

Break Time!

2008-03-12T06:42:00.000-07:00

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”.

Breakthrough!

2008-03-01T11:07:00.000-08:00

Thursday, February 28, 2008 will go down as a historic day for Kenya.

It was somewhat ironic that we were on a reconciliation retreat with the grassroots leaders that we serve to reflect on cultural issues that have emerged over the past two months when the news broke the air. Perhaps the most symbolic part of our retreat was 20 of us huddling around the television for the evening news from different ministries, different tribes, different socio-economic levels and different political affiliations to learn that the government and opposition had signed a power sharing deal. While the memories will never be buried, the breaking news provided cautious hope as Kenyans move forward from this difficult time in history.

The following day as I traveled through town, it seemed that the vibrant Nairobi that we had come to forget, had returned. Uhuru Park (Freedom Park) was finally open after being shut down in fear of mass meetings for two months. Young couples wooed each other over Cold Fantas and old men read books without military officers waving their AK-47’s in sight. The buses and matatus buzzed with noise as the burdens of conflict began to subside. At one of the matatu stops, a banana supplier bringing a shipment to a roadside kiosk leaned in the window of our matatu, counted the heads and gave a banana to everyone. Even the aggressive hawkers (street sellers) nudged their sales tactics down, offered a smile to those walking by and joked with their sidewalk neighbors as they competed for sales.

Yet buried within the relief of moving on from the 2007 elections, I can’t forget about our CTM retreat where leaders were given space to learn from one another in how the past two months had impacted them. It became clear that members of our network had experienced a great deal during these times. From having their homes taken over and not being able to work in a church because of their tribe, to having to learn to operate with a machete in hand and learning code words to protect themselves from “the enemy”, this stuff was not just national news, but snapshots of the life stories that many are dealing with. It’s real, it’s ugly and it runs extremely deep.

This week marked an important time not in that the issues of the past two months can or should be lost or forgotten, but that it gave us all permission to hope for the future rather than being consumed by surviving the day. There have been many times in my life where I have been grateful to experience adversity because it brought me to a fuller appreciation of the world around me. Once again, I feel that I have been blessed with an experience that has tinted the lenses that I use to see this world. But for our friend Mark, whose finger was shot off and Peter, who lost his home and job, to the hundreds of thousands that have been displaced and to the families of those that have lost loved ones, we are reminded that it is a privilege to be able to move on from life’s valleys.

2008-02-27T10:56:00.001-08:00

Friends and family,

Joel and I were at a restaurant the other day and began to think about some of the aspects of Kenya that we are going to miss when we come back to the states, that we wish we could adopt as Americans....

~Kenyan Soda. It's GREAT for so many reasons.

It comes in a glass bottle, then it is returned to the factory, cleaned, and REUSED (without having to break down the glass completely to create a new bottle). Plus, it feels so much cooler to drink soda from a glass bottle :)
There is NO CORN SYRUP anywhere to be found in the drink, just good ol' natural sugar.
Stoney: It's a soda similar to sprite but made with ginger...it has way more kick than your typical ginger ale.

~Mango Juice: I wish I could describe just how wonderful mango juice is. It is so thick it tastes like a smoothie and it's to die for when it is served cold (baridi tafadhali!)

~Natural lawn mowers: Before the elections we took a trip to Lake Naivasha and on the way there, there were goats and donkeys tied up by ropes all along the highway. Their job was to keep the grass mowed (and I'm guessing to become someone's dinner down the line). Can you imagine if the millions of miles of America's highways and freeways were contracted out to goats, cows, and sheep, we would have a whole new market of free range meat :)

~Electrical Outlets with an On/Off switch: I'm not positive if this exists in the US or not, but most outlets in Kenya have a switch, providing you the option to turn the power off completely. I'm also not sure if it's an energy saver or not, but it's a nice idea none-the-less.

~Dukas: Forgive me if this is a repeat on the blog...but I am continually amazed by the 'duka'. About 25 meters away from our front door is a group of small shops that sell all of the basics: milk, bread, eggs, fruit & veggies, toilet paper, etc... This is also one of those things that is great for many reasons:

Local business/jobs: These dukas provide jobs for MANY people in this city.
No need to drive to buy the essentials
You can literally buy your 'daily bread' so everything is fresh and delicious
Builds community: instead of buying your food from 'no name sales cashier', you get to know the people and share in this life together

~People walking EVERYWHERE: We realize that most people walk simply because they do not own a car and possibly cannot afford public transportation, but going for a walk is never boring because there are so many people out and about. The Nakumatt by our house (a store the size of Fred Meyer or Target) painted the lines on the edges of their sidewalks when we first arrived in September and it is already needing another coat because there is so much foot traffic and it wore the paint off!

~Chai: Kenyan's love their chai. It is simple to make (just boil water, milk, and tea leaves together...add ginger if you like:). Most people take their chai with 2 spoonfuls of sugar, so it is a very sweet drink. Regardless of the heat outside, people are always up for a cup of chai. We like how it draws people together, you will never go to a guests house without taking a cup of chai :)

Of course there is a flip side...there are many things that we are also looking forward to coming back to...

~Root Beer
~Speedy Internet
~Talking a walk at night
~Good beer and wine
~Good Cheese
~Fat Free milk
~American Football
~ATM cards (everything is paid in cash here)
~our family and friends!!

On another note, please keep the pastors we are working with in your thoughts and prayers. CTM will be hosting a one day retreat to provide some time and space for the pastors in our network to relax as well as take a step back from all that has happened these past few months and to reflect and pray. We are hoping for this to also allow our pastors to heal. Thank you for being on this journey with us!

Peace,
mandy

The last entry in question???

2008-02-26T04:05:00.000-08:00

For the past 7 Sundays, we have said to each other, “this is the week that we will know how the upcoming months will pan out”. Last Sunday was no exception…things have been peaceful here throughout most of the country for about two weeks now. We are moving around with caution, but the fear is no longer paralyzing. We were confident that Condi’s visit would either make it or break it.

While we don’t know what happened behind closed doors, Condi’s welcome was split among tribal and political lines as either the US flexing their muscles too much or a much-needed visit from a leader whose country has a good taste of democracy. Her comments to the Kenyan people spoke of a need for “real power sharing”, a direction that the current government had not been very open to. Well her overstepping of boundaries/concerned visit (however you look at it) was helpful in setting the stage for the week’s negotiations. Kofi has asked for a breakthrough in the negotiation process by tomorrow (Monday) while the opposition has promised “mass civil disobedience” if things are not cleared up by Wednesday. So, perhaps our weekly glimpse of hope is more justified this week.

Gideon was involved in a week-long pastor reconciliation meeting in one of the slums of Nairobi. It focused on tribal differences and the role that they church plays in reconciliation. We did not attend as it didn’t seem appropriate. Many of these meetings are taking place in cities throughout Kenya at this point, hosted by an organization that formed in Rwanda following the genocide. We continue to work on some of the upcoming developments with CTM and find ways to support pastors in a myriad of ways. Over the upcoming week, we will host a retreat for the pastors in our network and provide a space to think about how this impacts our work.

A few prayer requests as we enter this crucial week:

Government leaders as they consider long term solutions while dealing with the immediate nature of the crisis.
Community and church leaders as they reconcile ethnic differences and develop strategies to transform their communities.
The thousands of people that are still displaced as health and morale are decreasing and many of the camps are being shut down. Many people still do not feel comfortable returning to their homes because of tribal conflict.
CTM as we gather as a network this week to explore reconciliation within our group and to discern how it is that we move forward as an organization that learns from what has happened over the past two months.

We hope that you are all doing well, weathering the presidential primaries, Midwest snowstorms and Lenten offerings.

CTM Developments

2008-02-17T01:31:00.000-08:00

As many of you know, CTM has an ideology that promotes the art of listening to people, places, beauty and affliction before developing a strategy for supporting grassroots leaders. Over the past 2 years, CTM Nairobi has been set up as a “listening post” to get a pulse on where strengths, liabilities and opportunities lie in the slums of Nairobi. This is an extremely foreign concept to us westerners. Can you imagine spending 2 years of your life just being present and discerning what it is that you are called to do in a community?

It seems that we are rounding a corner in how we translate the voices that we have heard over the past two years to something that fills a niche in how we serve leaders that are working here in incredibly difficult situations. While loose ends have been dangling since our arrival in September, the recent election skirmishes have given us permission to look at how we as a small, non profit organization, fit into the bigger picture.

We are excited to report that some really cool stuff is emerging over here as CTM walks through a journey from listening to expressing. Training and networking seems to be our strength over here, and is an image of what people are crying for over here. Networking in that models of inclusion across tribal, economical, denominational and sector barriers are far from common and training in that there is a need for the church to nurture a gospel that runs deeper rather than wider. In addition to grassroots leaders, we see valuable opportunities in acting as a convener among several community-based youth organizations that are serving youth from the informal settlements around the city. This is an exciting element as it draws from Gideon's gifts in serving youth and opens an array of opportunities for organizations to collectively provide holistic transformation by sharing resources, collaborative training and pursuing joint funding opportunities.

Who would have guessed that January, the month of uncertainty, could bear so much fruit? We look forward to learning of how this might emerge and request your prayers as we discern and look for clarity during this time. There is a great deal of planning, both formal and informal, that needs to take place. While exciting, it can also be a bit daunting!

Power Struggle

2008-02-17T01:30:00.000-08:00

This weekend, George Bush's picture is plastered all over the news. His comments on the need for a power sharing agreement and his endorsement on sending Condaleeza Rice's to Kenya next week has put him in the spotlight of Kenya's political issues. Even though Bush and Rice are far from the situation and like us, know little about the history of the underlying issues, there voices are incredibly powerful. We were at the park yesterday enjoying a picnic and reading a book. The gentleman next to us was talking about next week's meetings with the two negotiating teams and he was adamant in saying that “Condi Rice is the world's third most powerful person” (behind Bush and Cheney). I guess that I had never thought about it that way, but perhaps he is correct. It sheds another source of light on the importance of November's presidential election. Whether we like it or not, our votes dictate the selection of not only the most powerful people in the US, but throughout the world.

This whole scenario has brought me back to a question that I have been dealing with for a while on how one leverages power in a way that draws from the strength of the party that is underpowered, promotes the use of power that is in the best interest of those that are powerless and fosters a long-term relationship in which the past use of power does not need to determine the future. In this case, what role does the US play in the Kenyan political crisis? This is a Kenyan problem and requires a Kenyan solution, but what about other countries (the US included) that have endured the growing pains of democracy? Do they play a role in all of this? I have no reservations in saying that this level of corruption from both sides would not be tolerated in most other nations. Is it ever OK for a powerhouse to come in and flex its muscles on behalf of the best interest of the citizens of a country? I have always been an advocate for the US to stay out of other country's business, but is there ever an appropriate time? Especially when decisions are being made on behalf of a few elitists with little concern for the majority of society. If there is power exerted, what implications does this have for future foreign relations?

The same question remains pertinent on a personal level. How is that we leverage power, or release it in a way that honors those that we interact with. We continue to grapple with when to push and pull or when to release and let things happen naturally. This is very tricky cross-culturally as there are many layers that can interfere. One of the more recent situations that I have analyzed is the Kenyan concept of time. To be honest with you, I enjoy not having to be on a tight schedule all the time and may have gained back a few hairs on my head for not feeling bad about being late. However, as we think about how to combat the enormous gap between the mainstream and grassroots leaders here in Nairobi, we can't neglect the concept of time. When we have a meeting with both parties and the mainstream leaders are on time and the grassroots leaders are 90 minutes late, what message does this send? As a representative of power, what is my role in addressing this situation? I think that all of you that are involved in teams and organizational structures, in particular those that are in positions of leadership, deal with similar power struggles on a regular basis.

We are hopeful, although slightly nervous, in how the US uses its power to promote peace in Kenya over the next week.

A bit on Tribalism...

2008-02-08T02:09:00.000-08:00

Hello all,

Below is a link to some thoughts posted by a friend of ours who has a big heart for Kenya. Happy Reading...

http://www.geographyofgrace.com/2008/02/race_ethnicity_tribe_and_exclu.html#more

A follow up on what has been brewing in my mind...

http://www.geographyofgrace.com/2008/02/one_body_identity_and_affiliat.html#more

2008-02-07T22:14:00.001-08:00

friends and family,

Joel has been very diligent at keeping our blog updated and you informed...and I have not. I often find myself at the computer attempting to 'blog' and find myself with nothing to say. But how can there be nothing to say? I often feel this pressure to write something profound that we leave you with a better understanding of our life here while opening doors for reflection in your own life. So today, I just want to put some quotes down that in some way or another have brought comfort, peace, or a better understanding of either our situation here or of my faith. I'll let someone else be profound today...I'll just be the conduit from which you receive :)

"There is a great difference between successfulness and fruitfulness. Success comes from strength, control, and respectability. A successful person has the energy to create something, to keep control over its development, and to make it available in large quantities. Success brings many rewards and often fame. Fruits, however, come from weakness and vulnerability and fruits are unique. A child is the fruit conceived in vulnerability. Community is the fruit born through shared brokeness, and intimacy is the fruit that grows through touching one another's wounds. Let's remind one another that what brings us true joy is not successfulness but fruitfulness."
Henri Nouwen

"Hatred and bitterness can never cure the disease of fear, only love can do that. Hatred paralyses life, love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life, love illumines it."
Martin Luther King Jr.

"God is strong enough to exult in monotony. It is possible that God says every morning. 'Do it again' to the sun; and every evening 'Do it again,' to the moon. It may not be automatic necessity that makes all daisies alike; it may be that God makes every daisy seperately, but has never got tired of making them. It may be that He has the eternal appetite of infancy; for we have sinned and grown old, and our Father is younger than we."
GK Chesterton

"You are blessed to be a blessing."
Unknown (but heard Gideon say it)

"With the help of the thorn in my foot, I spring higher than anyone with sound feet."
Soren Kierkegaard

A long month

2008-02-01T01:07:00.000-08:00

Well, the first month of 2008 has finally come to an end in this part of the world. We apologize for not writing more. The whirlwinds have picked up in East Africa and each story of hope or disparity is followed by the other. It truly was a week of highs and lows...Kofi Annan's arrival, raging tempers in Nakuru and Naivasha, the infamous front page photo opportunity handshake with Kibaki and Raila, the evolution of Kenya's “ethnic cleansing”, peaceful days, the shooting of 2 members of the Kenyan parliament, enjoying chai and discussing hearty issues with Kikuyus and Luos...what is next?

The problems that Kenya faces at this point are no longer about elections, but instead about the history that dominates people, places and relationships; A history of regional and economical inequality that have surfaced through the boils of a flawed presidential vote. The path forward remains unclear, but I can say with confidence that it will not be solved until the gap between the powerful and the absence thereof is at least acknowledged. My inner struggles for the week have not been from the horrific scenes that the international media creates of this country, nor the extremely-underestimated death toll of 800 people that have lost their lives in the past month, but instead the disconnect between those in power (government officials) and those are fighting on their behalf. (primarily 18-28 year olds without jobs and family). Until the death of two MP's this week (separate incidents), leaders across the board have shown little empathy to their followers, have tucked themselves away in nice hotels, expensive SUV's and have neglected the challenge of leading a country in a time of crisis.

One of the pastors in our network this week reminded us of the notion that a crisis is where great danger and incredible opportunity meet. While the media wants us to focus on the extreme dangers involved with machette-swinging, tire-burning, car-stopping, ethnic cleansing youth, we are trying to understand where and if the great opportunities lie within this tension.

On one level, this question defines the work that CTM does in finding meaningful ways to engage in ways that defy the appeals of responding to dangers and carrying a torch that lights a path of opportunity. What opportunities exist from the unforgettable Kenyan 2007 Presidential Elections that allow us to better “serve grassroots leaders in hard places”? This is the ultimate question that we are facing at this time...both the immediate needs of building community within our own networks to model strategies of inter-tribal, inter-socioeconomic and inter-communal collaboration, something that few other groups are willing to explore.

On another level, the existence of danger and opportunity define the lenses that we see our Kenyan experience through during this time. While the husband, son, brother and friend in me recognizes the need to tend to the dangers of what is going on around us, I can't ignore the need to seek opportunities during this time. Opportunities of perspective, of personal transformation and of calling in a world of instability.

Over the years I have become immune to news headlines portraying conflict in Iraq, anything that ends with an “istan”, and countries that start with an “S” in Africa. When you are no longer an ocean away from the commotion, the realization that these are people's lives begins to hit home. Nobody signs up to live in a world of instability, to have to question the daily itinerary because of what is going on in various parts of town, nor to have to live in fear of what is going to happen the next day. As an American, I have come live off of a calendar in planning hours, days and weeks to come, failing to recognize that this is a luxury, rather than a precious gift, one that millions in the world live without. I also wonder where this situates me as a person that is interested in educating people in the US somewhere down the road. How is it that my work as an educator is rooting for the underdogs of this world whose destiny is shaped by today's events rather than dreams of the future. Perhaps it is a privilege to dream, to plan, to expect.

Sorry for the random rumbling. In case you haven't noticed, it is tough to figure out how and why God is rocking our little worlds over here. We are however, grateful for the many messages of encouragement and prayer that we have received during this time. It has meant a great deal to know that Kenya is not alone in it's mourning.

Press on...in prayer, in reading the news and in taking your life one precious day at a time...giving thanks and renewing hope along the way.

Still going strong...

2008-01-24T23:49:00.000-08:00

The December 27 elections are nearly a month old, yet the unpredictability continues.

The feeling in Nairobi is one of fatigue. I can't tell you how many people say, “we are tired of this”. Some are tired of the violence, while others are tired of expensive produce, a weak kenyan shilling (it was 60 Ksh/$1 during the time of the elections and now is 73.5 Ksh/$1), the uncertainty of what each morning brings, not being able to go into certain parts of town, all of the conversations being about one topic and a constant uneasiness pervasive throughout all people.

There were a few gatherings this week that acknowledged those that have lost their lives during this time. Unfortunately, they turned political and ended in violence. For those of you that followed the Kenyan news this week, Wednesday's funeral service that ended up in police firing tear gas and participants burning a government building is the closest matatu stop to our house. In some ways, we have built and immunity to what happens or doesn't happen. I caught myself responding to Gideon's question of, “was there any news today?” saying, “nothing too bad-well I guess there were 7 people killed in the slums and in the Rift Valley.” It reminds me of how I deal with the number of deaths in Iraq on any given day, Afghanistan, or Sri Lanka...yet these are lives, members of families, co-workers, friends.

Yesterday, former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan came in and led mediation efforts. While Kibaki and Odinga posed for a front-page photo (smiling and shaking hands), their brief speeches made it clear that they are still on different wavelengths and that there will be no easy fix. We are hopeful that dialogue over the next few days will produce something positive.

CTM is shifting into a different mindset as we attempt to build up the leaders in our network as well as the communities that they serve. A large network of churches across the nation (National Alliance of Churches) has been instrumental in compiling data for needs in communities around the country. The network was established directly after violence erupted on December 30 and has been a huge player in the relief efforts throughout the country. The UN, USAID and large NGO's are using the their data to assist in their efforts. CTM has entered into this community and is linking our leaders to the efforts around peace and reconciliation in communities of different ethnic tribes and helping small businesses get up and going.

Thank you for your continual prayers and support during this time. The issues in Kenya are far from being solved, but we remain hopeful that people, places, institutions, communities and relationships can be reconciled beyond our limited imaginations.

An end to “Mass Action”

2008-01-19T20:18:00.000-08:00

After 3 days of protest, Nairobi experienced a day of peace. We are still hoping that leaders will find a way to come together in the next few days to give us reason believe that we are entering the beginning of the healing process for this nation. It was an ugly few days here with sustained violence, many deaths, property destruction and an absence of leadership. The news is stating 25-30 deaths over the past few days, but based on the stories from friends in Nairobi, this number is likely a low estimate.

We met up with friends today from Mathare at a downtown restaurant because of the instability of their area. The stories that they shared about their community were incredibly bleak. It raised some concerns on our end about what youth are seeing and how they are processing recent events. Gun shots, severed arms and burning homes...what are the hundreds of thousands of kids supposed to do after seeing something like this? Unfortunately, an immunity is eventually built so that responses to violence become irrational-perhaps the beginning of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

2 things that we need to highlight amongst our friends here in Nairobi...

Our friend Mark, who works with youth in Mathare, was shot in the hand two nights ago. He was opening a gate leaving his mother's home and was shot by a police officer who was looking for someone else. The last segment of his thumb is gone.
Pastor Alfred, one of our friends in Kawangware, lost his 6 month old son today. Please pray for his family at this time (see picture above). Other than diarrhea, we are not sure what symptoms led up to his death. Please pray for Alfred, his wife and other 3 children during this difficult time.

We are hopeful that diplomat visits this week will lead to conversations amongst the leaders of Kenya. I think that we are approaching a point where the government is realizing that there are issues that need to be dealt with and the opposition is recognizing the need to talk rather than carry out forms of “mass action”...I stand corrected-I read this morning the "peaceful" protests will go on again next week. Regardless of whether or not protests are set up to be peaceful, this week has shown that the police are given direct orders to contain those that want to assemble, defeating the chance of any peaceful gathering. People's emotions are running high these days and are not willing to meet governmental mandates.

We remain safe, a bit tired of all of this but hopeful for what is to come.

The first day of mass action

2008-01-16T11:31:00.000-08:00

The rains deterred many from hitting the streets today in the first of several days of "mass action". While the day was relatively quiet according to current standards, it would have hyped the media in other parts of the world. Hundreds did take to the streets of Nairobi to demonstrate peacefully, but were turned away by the police. The opposition continues to press on saying that peaceful protest is a right clearly stated in the constitution. We will see what happens tomorrow as rallies are said to go on until the needs of the opposition are met. We are all still waiting for the two leaders to come together and discuss their doubts rather than sending their followers to do the dirty work.

On a positive front, we met with several of the pastors and leaders today and gained some insight from them on how CTM can foster reconciliation and growth throughout this process. They spoke of issues honestly, respectfully and openly in the presence of others that don't necessarily agree. We sensed that our February training will need to look different given the urgency of dealing with the current situation and the baggage that it brings with it.

Each of them expressed gratitude toward you as we told them that there are people around the world that are paying special attention to Kenya at this time. I encourage you to press on...this is a time when the media may get bored and not have the most grandiose stories to report. This does not mean that the situation is stagnant, nor over but perhaps that opponents are not talking and that a long and treacherous healing process is slowly taking shape.

"These guys can't be serious"

2008-01-15T20:51:00.000-08:00

This has been a common phrase in the Ochieng/Zylstra Household over the past few weeks. Gideon's one liner has captured the mood of the majority of Kenyans as the few that make it into the national spotlight rarely reflect the thoughts and ideals of others.

Unfortunately, the situation remains serious. While the fighting that once activated the international news has diminished, there is a lot of tension that still exists. Major acts disruption may have subsided but the aftershock of recent violence, looting and displacement continues to haunt hundreds of thousands of people.

Many people have eluded to Kenya's strong infrastructure of government projects and NGO's. This is true, but it is important to know that these groups are set up for development purposes and are not equipped/trained to deal in a relief capacity. We are continually learning about the role of development and relief in various areas around the world. The most obvious difference exists in the emphasis on relief's short-term solutions to maintain stability while development focuses on the long term implementation of sustainable solutions. The crux of this situation sits at the axis of these two arenas.

Relief: There are between 300,000 and 400,000 people who have been displaced over the past few weeks out of fear, tribal conflict, the need to be with family and deaths of loved ones. These needs are immediate as most of them were forced to move with nothing in hand. Blankets, food, water, sanitation systems (at larger camps) are all imperative to the survival of these people. In addition, the 700 reported deaths have had an enormous impact on communities impacted as well as the nation as a whole.

Development: There is a hint of the developmental aspect that needs to be considered through all of this. In addition to the long term development that is required to deal with devastated areas, there is also an underlying political development process that needs to take place. Democracy remains relatively new here and maturity of systems is inevitably going to take some time.

These two areas are directly and indirectly tied to one another, making it difficult to work through current issues.

A few things to note that are going on locally and nationally:

The political arena remains paralyzed by leaders that are neglecting the needs of the people. Although many well respected African, British and US diplomats have attempted to get the two candidates to get together, they have yet to convene. Reports from international audits continue to recognize the elections as flawed. The parliament convened for the first time today and demonstrated that it is incapable of moving forward given unresolved issues at the presidential level. It took over 6 hours to elect the speaker of parliament (who is a member of the opposition). As we speak, the Members of Parliament are debating whether or not they should be sworn in right now because this process requires stating allegiance to the President of Kenya. Who is the president of Kenya? It is sad to see the political rhetoric in the comfortable Parliament Quarters when there are still hundreds of thousands of people that are carrying the true burden.
The humanitarian crisis is well under way. The Red Cross, Feed the Children, World Vision and several other large NGO's are up and running in many parts of the country. We participated in a National Alliance of Churches meeting yesterday that is involved with connecting churches with large NGO's that are active in the relief response efforts. It was very encouraging to see the efficacy of the church throughout the country. There are inevitably failures to reach all of the people but giant strides are being made to make sure that the humanitarian efforts are being dealt with. To give you a sense of the longer term plan in place, the NAC is implementing a 3 phase plan: Phase 1- Providing immediate food and shelter for those that are displaced (1 month); Phase 2 – Reconnecting families and getting them settled in safe communities (1-2 months); Phase 3 – Rebuilding businesses, job opportunities and infrastructure to restore areas that have been destroyed. (2-3 months)
We will meet with the pastors in the CTM network tomorrow if the countrywide rallies remain peaceful. We have connected with all of the pastors in the network and are in the process of setting up our own relief efforts to assist them and the people in their congregations. We will appoint a non-biased group to assess needs and to distribute funds. Many of our supporters have asked how they might be involved. We will make this information available by the end of the week.
We remain safe and well. Mandy has returned to teaching. It is amazing to see that the elections have had VERY little impact on many people in and around Nairobi. There are several pockets in the city that have not been impacted at all. We were reminded yesterday on our bus ride home that tension is still high as we saw the burned streets of Kibera and were stopped by a group of youths who demanded money from our driver (who was of a different tribe) in order to continue with the route. Mandy's school was canceled tomorrow because of the planned rallies (which are still banned by the government).

Thank you for your continual prayers, support and interest in what is happening in this part of the world. We are incredibly grateful for your dedication to experiencing the unrest that we experience here from afar. It has been an incredible learning experience for us and we hope that you have learned something along the way as well.

Please continue to pray for peace here over the next couple of the days with the scheduled rallies as well as continual progression in dealing with election wounds. Also, please lift up the stability of this nation as people are in many ways bound to move on with their lives by the events of the past few weeks. In particular, schools throughout the country were set to resume this week. Most schools remain closed because of fear of violence, displaced students and teachers and because of the destruction of school properties.

Calling it a night...we have been watching the parliament meeting from 2:00 PM – 11:30 PM...and we are tired! You trying watching C-SPAN for 9 hours:).

A prayer of thanksgiving

2008-01-11T11:51:00.000-08:00

Thank you Lord for the traffic jam today;
people felt safe enough to go to work

Thank you Lord for a hot, rainless day;
people without homes will stay dry

Thank you Lord for hawkers selling food along the streets;
people were able to feed their families

Thank you Lord for a slow and unpredictable internet connection;
people have power in their homes

Thank you Lord for the overcrowded sidewalks;
people were willing to go downtown

Thank you Lord for opening my eyes
to the many blessings that once appeared to be burdens.

While there is no resolution to the election turmoil, the people of Kenya are longing to return to a state of peace. It is odd how just a few weeks ago we would grumble about the amount of traffic there is in Nairobi and yet when the roads were bare we felt unsettled. Now that the traffic is back (from car packed roads to pedestrian packed sidewalks) there is an inner sigh of relief in hope that other aspects of the nation are also returning to 'normal', and with new eyes to the see the blessings that they truly are.

I've been reading about a man named Paul Brand recently who has spent most of his life working with people who have leprosy. He speaks about 'The gift of pain'. His patients' bodies are examples of what will happen to a person who does not feel pain; they will eventually injure themselves badly because there was nothing to stop them from doing whatever was causing the pain. I know that pain is something I often try my best to avoid, yet there are so many lessons and so much gained after experiencing something painful. Just like a story without conflict is dull... so is life without pain.

Many Kenyans are in pain right now, ranging from the loss of loved ones to hunger pains. The elections have drastically changed the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. It is hard to see the good in this situation, especially as it is unresolved, but I have found hope in the words of Paul Brand to see that there is a bigger picture being painted, one far too complicated to comprehend and we must trust that the gift of pain is at work here. It may be hidden among the ashes of a burned down store or amongst a family that is mourning their loss, or between tribes who feel misunderstood and judged unfairly... but that gift is there, embedded deeply, it may be hidden for months or even years, but my prayer is that God will use the turmoil of the elections for good.

“Its strange- those of us who involve ourselves in places where there is the most suffering, look back in surprise to find that it was there that we discovered the reality of joy” Paul Brand

Spinning Tires

2008-01-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

I wish that we could report that major steps were taken today to get this country up and going again, but this is not the case. "President Kibaki" appointed half of his cabinet last night at a pivotal time which sent shot signs of discouragement throughout the country. None of his appointments were from the opposition party (who have far more elected Members of Parliament) and he appointed the 3rd candidate as his Vice President, hoping to gain favor with 9% of the country's voters. This move was a huge slap in the face to Kenyans that have taken great strides in instilling peace and coming up with creative solutions to deal with election irregularities. This came two hours before the head of the Africa Union came to engage in mediation talks between the current "government" and the opposition...a slap in the face for all international diplomats that have come to aid this situation.

I am confident that widespread violence would have occurred again if it wasn't for the exhaustion that everyone is facing at this point. A note on the financial situation of 80% of all Kenyans...there is no such thing as a bank account or a paycheck. Most people are paid each day after a job is completed. When people are missing consecutive days of work, the impact is huge. The energy is depleted, the frustration is still bottled up inside...making it difficult to know what tomorrow will bring.

I ask you to pray that Kibaki and Raila will address issues at the heart of the matter. Kenyan citizens have been the catalysts of peace thus far, but a sustainable solution can only be found if government officials are transparent in confronting other irregularities. This is no longer a situation that can be healed with a band-aid...it needs to be treated properly.

We have now heard from all of the pastors in our network and they are safe and well. Two are still stuck on the west side of Kenya because of dangerous roads and a shortage of buses to get people back to Nairobi. We continue to find humanitarian agencies and hook those up in our network with necessary organizations. Gideon is also representing our network in building up the small business owners whose products were looted or destroyed. This will be a critical step in kick-starting community development.

We continue to hurt for those whose voices have been discredited and covet your prayers for sustained peace and the address of issues at the heard of the matter.

Signs of Hope

2008-01-07T13:51:00.000-08:00

We must say that things are really on the upswing here. Since the end of last week, the tone of the people has dramatically transformed. The first days of the new year were spent inside, fearful of what was happening beyond the gates of our compound and when we did venture to the supermarket, the Kenyan hospitality was overcome with fear and skepticism. This is no longer the case. We rode downtown in a matatu today...our first time in the city in 10 days and felt that Nairobi had some rhythm to it again, maybe not the same beat as before...but it has a pulse!

From our perspective, it seems that the problems that plague Kenya have been divided into two responses-the need for peace, reconciliation and handling the humanitarian crisis (500-700 deaths, 300,000 displaced and a huge problem with food distribution) as well as the governmental issues that stemmed from a rigged election. While it is hard to tell how the upcoming months will pan out, we are encouraged by the progress of the Kenyan people to stand against the chaos of this country.

A few of the signs of hope that we are encouraged by:

Thank you to many of you for your prayer support this week as individuals, families, churches, organizations, etc. We can't tell you how much we appreciate your time and initiative at this time.
I firmly believe that 99% of all Kenyans have given up on the fighting. Kenyan pride has stood up and proclaimed itself larger than violence, looting and rioting. Part of the decline in violence is due to shear fatigue and the inability to eat if there is no work. The majority of the decline has come back to people saying, “Enough is enough. Regardless of what our government officials are doing, we are going to get through this.”
The church has played an important role over the past few days in organizing humanitarian efforts, political pressure, reconciliation and prayer. We weren't able to go yesterday but Gideon joined 300+ pastors from all over the country to discuss matters and to chart a way forward. He told us about one of the more powerful moments when each of the tribes represented stood up and apologized to members of the other tribes for crimes committed over the past week. He described it as humbling and praised church leaders for modeling a way that other citizens can follow.
The opposition party has called off tomorrow's rally. They have recognized the potential violence that it would have caused and have chosen to make peace a priority in their fight for justice.
A group of African leaders are coming to Kenya on Tuesday and will mediate conversations between the current government and the opposition party to negotiate a feasible outcome. We are hoping that supporters of both sides will remain peaceful when discussions are made public.
The humanitarian aid is in full swing. Although access to food and water in the slums is still limited, there is a great deal of progress being made in this arena. The people of Western Kenya are still impacted by food distribution issues at this point as the road from Nairobi is impassible without a military convoy.

I am not sure how to accurately paint this picture but it really feels like most Kenyans are moving on from last weeks events. (In some ways, it appears that they are putting band-aids on deep wounds-but these wounds could not be healed through violence) It seems that many people have turned their attention away from Raila and Kibaki since neither of them are providing strong leadership. The newspapers and network stations are filled with ads promoting peace and reconciliation and pleading for leaders to lead in a way that restores unity. The kiosks on the streets are beginning to fill up with vendors again after time away in fear of being looted. Police cars and military trips are more sporadic and people of different tribes are returning to tribal “melting pot” areas.

One area that we do need to lift up however, is the pastors from the CTM Network. The magnitude of difficulties in the slums is incomparable to other parts of the country as they bring together many tribes, those that are already struggling to survive and what many people describe as "not much to lose". I am not sure how I feel about that statement at this point as I see immense value in the millions of people living in the slums of Nairobi. Please pray for the pastors as they are feeling exhausted caring for their own families, trying to get food, having to stay up all night to guard their houses and continual pressure from members of their congregations that are struggling to make it. We will continue to share more info on this front as the impact of these elections will undoubtedly altar how it is that we are serving these pastors.

We are hopeful. There is a long road ahead as this government realigns itself, but the past few days is what makes Kenya different from so many other developing countries. The people expect basic principles from one another, principles that go back a long ways, principles that have been developed by putting up with poor governance, principles that come back to the foundations of community. This national community will prevail.

A request from Nairobi...

2008-01-03T14:17:00.000-08:00

To the supporters of Center for Transforming Mission-Nairobi:

We write to convey our thanksgiving for your notes of encouragement, for praying and for educating yourselves through the media about the disruption, turmoil and grief that the people of Kenya have experienced in the past week. Although there are many troubled areas nearby, we are continually blessed with safe housing, an adequate food supply and care and support from others as we confront a level of conflict that we, nor the people of Kenya, have ever endured before.

Far too often, we find ourselves wallowing in the injustices of the political situation of Kenya. Recent events in Nairobi and throughout the country have caused us to retract a bit, to consider the needs of hurting people and to find a renewed hope in a restored society. Perhaps our western tendencies propel us to immediately look for ways to confront inequality, restore chaos and to move on. While there are some whose work is centered on this approach, we cannot ignore the necessity to broker love and support to those that we serve at this point in time.

As supporters of our work in Kenya, we ask that you join the people of Kenya in recognizing Sunday, January 6 as an International Day of Prayer for this nation, it’s people and its’ leaders, whose presence plays a significant role in directing citizens through this time of unrest. While tension is sorted through, it is imperative that we come together as a collective people to lift up the children, women and men of this country to implement ways of peace, to support one another and to extend hands of grace and love to their neighbors. We encourage you to share this request with your church, small group, workplace, family, etc. as a way to raise up the people of Kenya in prayer at this critical time in Kenyan history.

We urge you to join us in praying for the following areas of CTM-Nairobi, the grassroots leaders that we serve and as well as this nation as a whole:

Tribalism plays a critical role in the current tension in Kenya. Please pray for a willingness to forgive, the advancement of unity and the redevelopment of trust among all tribes throughout Kenya.
These have come to be extremely violent times in Kenya. It is our prayer that people find constructive ways to convey their pain, to spare the lives and property of others and to care for their neighbors at this time.
Currently, there is an underlying sense of fear ingrained in this country. Pray that people can function in community with others, that businesses can resume without fear of being looted, that food suppliers can again make food accessible to people and that a sense of hospitality can be renewed.
There is a need for leadership at this time. Join us in praying for the top candidates and their ability to convey a courageous and humble message of peace, of hope and of merciful justice at this time while not serving self-interests.
Like most churches around the world, the Kenyan church struggles to understand the role that it plays in dealing with politics. Pray that the church can be a unified voice to promote peace, to model inter-tribal support and care for those that have been victimized and promote healthy dialog between political leaders.
The slums of Nairobi are incredibly susceptible to violence at this time. Please pray for the pastors in the CTM network, their families and their congregations as they are extremely vulnerable to violence and property destruction.. Several churches in the slums have been burned and human targets of violent acts are often unpredictable.
The role of CTM Nairobi looks very different at these times. Please pray for our ability to meet the needs of pastors and leaders where they are during these times. While our primary goal is to educate and enhance their ministries, many of them are in survival mode needing assistance with shelter, food and safety.

We are incredibly appreciative of your support during this time. We ask that you continue to visit our blog at http://ctmnairobi.blogspot.com for updates and invite you to join us in praying for God’s radical love, merciful healing and shalom that surpasses all tribal, political and economic barriers during this difficult time.

Peace, (like we have never meant it before)

Joel and Mandy
Center for Transforming Mission Nairobi

Update

2008-01-02T08:15:00.000-08:00

As many of you know from the international news, things are really heating up in Kenya around the Kenyan election. While I am far from an expert on the history of Kenyan politics, the political climate of Kenya has played a huge role in our experience in Kenya. So...bear with me, grant me the grace to share my skewed perceptions as an outsider and learn something along the way...and know all along that we are safe.

Democracy is relatively new to Kenya. While there has been a history of a so-called democracy, it wasn't until 2002 that the a pre-democracy ruler was dethroned. In 2002, President Mwai Kibaki was elected to take the presidential position, a big deal as it required the former president to step down, to succumb to his loss and to pass on the torch. The people of Kenya described the election as a big step toward democracy. Many people grounded their votes in issues, rather than the “good old boys” politics from the past and found ways to vote across tribal lines.

A word on tribalism in Kenya. Like any other “ism” out there, the root of the problem is founded in a lack of historical justice that plays into modern tension. While the Brits can't claim to make up one of the modern tribes in Kenya, they are likely to be the perpetrators or intensifiers of modern day Kenyan tribalism. Toward the end of their colonial rule, there were certain tribes that were built up, others repeatedly exploited and still others that constantly rose to the occasion to take down European power in hopes of becoming a free nation.

Since independence, Kenya has slowly moved toward a democratic society. Many of the barriers in moving toward independence are rooted in the complexity of making a free nation out of 43 different tribes. You might ask how tribes are defined...well most Kenyans can tell which tribe others are from based their facial complexion and temperament as well as names and the part of the country that they are from. Historically, when people lived in rural areas, there were few reasons for members of a community to have much interaction with any other tribe. Modern urbanization has brought members of all tribal communities to the city, where in many cases-they work together, worship together, even marry eachother. Beneath the surface, a culture of standing up for your own tribe and supporting it at all costs is a guiding light in Kenyan culture. Regardless on who is in power, they are said to boost the agenda of their people rather than caring for the needs of Kenya. Recently, The central province has benefited from far more economic improvements than other parts of Kenya and Kikuyu-run businesses and appointed political seats have been Kikuyu-heavy in comparison to the other tribes.

The largest tribe (Kikuyu), which makes up approximately 25% of the Kenya's 40 million people has a strong history of influencing government policy with influential leaders and a large stake in economic communities. While many Kikuyu's attribute their success in Kenyan society to hard work and wise decision making, others argue that members of the Kikuyu tribe have been favored by government policy, resource allocation and appointment to leadership positions over the years. While Daniel Moi, leader of Kenya for 27 years was not a Kikuyu, many felt that those in his inner circle unfairly favored Kikuyu segments of the population. Mwai Kibaki, Kenya's president from 2002-2007 is a Kikuyu, while his opposition, Raila Odinga (Luo tribe) and Musyoka Kalonzo (Luya tribe) thus creating a heated environment for the 2007 elections.

While tribalism is a scapegoat for much sentiment, many tribes feel that their region has been shorted because of a lack of infrastructure as well as the firing of many of the officials that had been elected and consequently replacing them with their own tribe. Some of the tribal tension could comes back to regionalism in a fight for equitable distribution support and resources and other comes back to a resistance to the tribe in power.

In Nairobi, this tension not only exists in the government and large businesses, but also in the slums. Some call them gangs while others call them a version of a mob representing tribal differences. The Kikuyu-founded mungiki is known for their involvement in the matatu industry and regulating housing in the slums by charging non-rental fees and regulating which people live where. The Taliban (no relation to the other Taliban) is an opposition gang/mob that works to regulate the Kikuyu and fight for land reform. I haven't quite gotten my head around the Taliban yet, but I think that they are primarily Luo, (which is the tribe of the opposition running for president) and provide a backing for people in the slums that are being exploited by those that are powerful.

This segmented background brings us to Devember 27, when the elections were held in Kenya. With democracy relatively new in Kenya, people are very interested in politics. Probably 70% of the evening news is about politics, the newspapers are full of stories about the elections and the buzz when walking down the street or sitting in a matatu is centered around the December 27. Each citizen claims to be an expert on the candidates, unfortunately mostly rooted in tribal connections, economic incentives,etc. Each of the candidates held several large rallies all over the country in which they paid citizens $5-$15 to come and support them. The pre-election poles fluctuated quite a bit in the two months prior to the actual election, but Raila (the opposition party) held a lead throughout. Although Kibaki closed in at one point, the most recent polls had Odinga leading by 12%. December 27 marked the election of the president, 210 MP's and commissioners. The major parties represented are the Party of National Unity (PNU), the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM named after a referendum vote...the two sides were called the bananas and the oranges) and the Orange Democratic Movement of Kenya (ODM-K). The majority of those running for president, MP and commissioners fit into these parties. The streets, matatus, hotels (restaurants) were humming with political rhetoric. With very few incidents, people participated in a way that honored the democratic process.

December 27- was a peaceful day. International monitoring agencies applauded the work of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) for their work and praised 9 million + citizens for voting peacefully. The pace in the city was dramatically slower as people were either away voting in their rural villages, at the polling station or huddled around a TV or radio inside of their house. There is no such thing as an absentee ballot, so regardless of where you currently live, you must return to the place that you are registered in order to cast your votes. There were a few skirmishes at polling stations, a few people whose voting cards were not found immediately (including the ODM presidential candidate:)), but all in all, it was a smooth and peaceful day. There are 210 different constituencies throughout the country in which representatives from both parties, a neural electoral commission and foreign representatives tally and provide results to the commissioning board in Nairobi to tally the collective constituency results. Each party delegates agents to the constituencies to monitor counting. Each of the party representatives sign off on a form with the end final tally for a given area and make a copy before the commission brings the results to head commission in Nairobi.

For the most part, December 28 remained peaceful as well. Throughout the day, there was tension building because the ECK was not producing results quick enough. By the end of the day, less than 30% of the votes had been counted.

Waking up on Saturday the 29^th, I expected to know the winner of the presidential election. Only 40% of the votes had been counted and Raila (the opposition-ODM) had a commanding 55% to 35% lead over Kibaki (the current PNU president) at this time. I went for a run to find people clumped on the streets talking, no matatus out and lots of police and military members along the road. While the election officials were quick to announce the winners of the MP and commissioner positions in each district, the presidential results were still a mystery. As the day went on, tension increased more and more. The news reported violence, looting and several deaths in the western province where Raila is from and there were reports of significant violence in Kibera and Mathare as people begged for answers.

It is interesting to think how relative emotions are as Sunday the 30^th manifested more politically-charged emotions than I have ever experienced. The day started out peaceful. We went to a nearby grocery store to get toilet paper to find a huge mass of people outside. They regulated the number of people that could be let in for fear of being looted. We stopped by the roadside kiosks on the way back where the owner raised prices of toilet paper from 15 shillings to 25, not sure of when he would next have access to any goods. People were frustrated, anxious and seeking answers-but all in all, they remained calm. There were several press conferences throughout the day noting toll tampering, a theory that had built a very strong case at this point. At approximately 5:00 PM, the Electoral Commission of Kenya had announced Mwai Kibaki (the current president) as the winner over Raila Odinga (the opposition party). Within 30 minutes, Kibaki was sworn in to office for a second term. I went up to the patio on the roof of Gideon's home to get a bit of fresh air and to decompress after a day that clearly revealed some dissimilarities. Within minutes, the fires were ignited, gunshots fired and a hum of screaming, yelling and chanting filled the nearby Kibera streets. I can't even fathom what it would be like for all of the innocent people trying to live another day and being stuck in the midst of chaos. The sunset that night was filtered by smoke from burning tires, vehicles, homes and shops. 20 minutes later, the government stopped all live coverage of the news. Part of me understood the need to block viewers from perpetuating the violence, but it also gives the government one more advantage in dictating the emotions and information viewed by the Kenyan People.

I woke Monday, December 31 to gun shots. Although in the distance, there were many of them. I have learned that in many cases, police shoot into the air in order to scare people away. Many of the shots fired were followed by different gun sounds, evidence of bullets being exchanged. Sheth, one of the pastor's in our network was outside the gate with a friend, wanting to come in. I went down and talked to him...he looked physically and emotionally exhausted. He asked if his children could come and stay with us for the day as they are feeling traumatized at their home in Kibera. We gladly invited his family in. Minutes later, he left to tend to the needs of members of his Kibera-based congregation and said that his wife would arrive shortly to bring the kids over.

Minutes later, 20+ men came running by our home. I quickly learned that these are the shop owners of the kiosks that we walk past every day, that we buy from and have become fond of. They return within minutes with rocks, sticks and machetes to guard their shops. A loud hum of screaming filled the kiosk lined streets as people break out of Kibera toward town, where they want to confront the ECK and police. The owners return in a dead sprint away from the mass of people and disappear for 5 minutes. But...they return-this time with two armed police officers. As the turn the corner three houses down out of my site, I heard 4 gun shots, followed by 2 more. To this moment, I have no idea what happened out there...but have come up with my own conclusions.

This is what has made this election personal. I realize that these experiences are specific to me, that others perceive things differently and that many have no vested interest in what is happening here. My lenses have been tweeked over the past few days in how I look at democracy, politics in general and the freedoms that I so often take for granted.

What went wrong:

Many people have asked me who I support in the election. Although many of the people that I talk Kenyan politics with are pro-ODM, I have supported a pro-democracy model rather than picking a side. As a guest of this country, I do not have a strong enough historical context of these leaders and was quite disappointed with all of the candidate's ability to articulate models of how they would deal with the main issues that Kenyans are dealing with, the main being an overwhelming disparity between the rich and the poor.

My pro-democracy interest stemmed from the tribal and economic divisions that dye the fabric of this nation. Like most other developing nations, Kenya runs off of a model in which the national government comprises 95% of governmental influence in areas across the country. Imagine if the US was run solely by the national government. How could those in DC tend to the needs of the Idaho's, Alaska's and New Mexico's of the nation when there are other needs in New York, Chicago and LA? There is a need for some local and state governance to tend to local needs as well as a guarantee that resources and support can be allocated to pressing needs. My story of growing up in Michigan and now living in Washington doesn't fly over here. Unless you are moving to the city for an education or a job, there is communal pressure to stay with your family, land and tribe. This being said, I feel that it is important that all members of the Kenyan society have a chance to vote in a leader that is going to meet their needs given their circumstances in their specific area. Anything less would force Kenyan development to move at different paces in different places.

As a proponent of democracy in this nation, there have been a few things that I have noticed along the way that have led to the failure of democracy over the past week:

There is a rule in the Kenyan Constitution in which the current president can set the date of the election. The election is to be held 60 days after the president dissolves the parliament. This provides an unfair advantage for the incumbent as it allows him (maybe someday Kenya will get to a gender neutral term on this one) to use the poles as an indicator in when they can be most successful in holding the elections. The constitution states that the elections must take place at any time on or prior to December 27 because the incoming president needs to be sworn in by December 30. This leaves a 3 day window for the results to be calculated, announced and for the new president to be sworn in. While it is possible to tabulate 9,000,000 votes in 3 days, it provides minimal room for due process given poor circumstances. Regardless of how far along the electoral commission was in their process on December 30, 2007-they were forced to make an announcement and swear in the president.
The representatives of the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) began tabulating votes in the respective constituencies when the poles had closed on Thursday, December 27 at 6:00 PM. Many of them worked through the night and produced results to the governing commission in Nairobi the following morning. Some of these submitted early were the larger of the 210 constituencies with 90,000+ voters. The ECK made these numbers public. I remember waking up on Saturday Morning to find that 37% of the votes had been counted and Raila had a 55% to 35% lead over Kibaki. I would soon come to find out the Raila's stronghold area results were submitted early and that Kibaki's stronghold areas would not come in until Sunday afternoon-72 hours after the election. Regardless of what happened during this time, red flags were raised all over the place as there was a discrepancy in when results favoring Kibaki came into Nairobi. Note: it is difficult to reach certain parts of rural Kenya and could take considerable time to retrieve documentation. Many of the slowest constituencies to submit results to the ECK in Nairobi were less than 100 miles away.
On Saturday and Sunday, when the majority of the results were being made public from the ECK, the process was incredibly dirty. With a lack of transparency and party agents from each of the constituencies not allowed to confirm their numbers with the ECK, there were many figures that were disregarded and unaccounted for throughout the process. There could have been a quick fix for this...prior to making figures public, simply have the head of the commission get numbers from his representatives as well as the representatives of agents from each of the parties and see if there are any discrepancies. If things don't line up-deal with it! Instead, the commission used their own numbers and disregarded the figures from ODM and PNU reps as well as other neutral representatives that were required to be present at polling stations including the several embassies, the UN and the European Union. All of these witnesses noted discrepancies in their figures in comparison to what the ECK (whose word is final) stated and voiced frustration in not being able to meet with the head of the commission to review results prior to the public dissemination of information. There were some areas for ODM and PNU constituencies whose voter turnout was higher than the number of registered voters...you do the math!
The ECK confirmed the election of President Kibaki in the midst of much controversy. Prior to his announcement, members of the opposition and the EU had reported possible tampering. Both of the candidates held press conferences to say that they had been elected...an announcement that should not be made by any party, but instead by the governing body of the election process. Protests were happening all over the city already and the media made sure that the commission was aware of tampering speculation. Even the head of the ECK made announcements that he wasn't sure of the process and that some of his representatives at the polling stations could not be reached when they were late in reporting results. TV channels had also broadcasted footage of ballot boxes being broken into, some even stolen.
The announcement of the election results was only carried by a state-run television station. No CNN, BBC or any of the other Kenyan TV networks were allowed to broadcast this event. The TV showed the president being sworn in less than 30 minutes after the election results. I am not even sure if the person announcing the results could get to the state house (where the president was sworn in) in less than 30 minutes. Once again, this was only televised by a state-run TV station. Less than 10 minutes after the president was sworn in, there was a ban on all live mdeia coverage. Some speculate that this was to reduce the perpetuation of violence as Raila's 4.4 million voters erupted after the announcement of the results and the swearing in ceremony. Regardless, this induced a state of panic in citizens and hindered the media's ability to communicate important information to citizens. 4 days later, we are still under a live-broadcasting ban, which has raised fear, has not allowed leaders to communicate peace to their people and has increased the number of rumors in circulation.
Other than a brief New Years greeting, the “re-elected” president has not addressed the nation in the response to the elections. His acceptance speech identified the process as free and fair, flaring the tempers of the opposition and anyone that wanted Kenya to move forward in it's democratic state. His officials have released statements about the chaotic state of the country, but his leadership has been virtually non-existent, a sign of incompetence in leading a democratic society.
Raila prematurely declared a rally in the city's largest park on Monday, December 31. Without consent from the police (which is a rule for all rallies in Nairobi), without any acts of diplomacy with the ECK or current government officials and playing into the emotion of his supporters, he likely escalated violence through this decision. This was later rescheduled.
When Raila did go through proper channels to set up a rally to deal with election discrepancies, the government did not allow him to legally do so. I feel that if Kibaki wants to go anywhere with his upcoming term, he needs to deal with the issues of his people, be transparent in the election process and allow his people to bring concerns to a table where they can be adequately dealt with. This is set to happen tomorrow...we will see if it happens!

So this is it...Kenya took a turn for the worst in its' democratic state this week, not because of a win or a loss, nor ties to a tribe or ethnicity, but because the process to lift the voices of the Kenyan people was not heard. We hope and pray that the violence stops, that justice will prevail and ultimately that the people of this nation would not be the ones that continue to suffer from this breach of democracy.

Selected articles that depict what is going on:

Sunday, Decemeber 30; Washington Post: Incumbent Declared Winner in Kenya's Disputed Election.

Monday, December 31; International Herald Tribune: Tribal rivalry boils over after Kenyan election

Monday, December 31; Voice of America: Kenya Bans Live Media Broadcasts

Monday, December 31; BBC: Odinga Rejects Kenya Poll Result

Monday, December 31; International Herald Tribune: Politics, Tribalism Volatile Mix in Kenya

Tuesday, January 1; Bloomberg: UN Calls for Calm in Kenya; Post-Election Deaths Rise

Tuesday, January 1; Voice of America: EU Calls for Inquiry into Kenyan Presidential Results

Wednesday, January 2: The Guardian: Fiery Speaker with the Populist Touch

Note: If you are having trouble with opening the links, copy and paste the article titles in Google. Some newspaper websites require a login if you link directly.

New Year's Eve Update

2007-12-31T09:24:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,

The events over the elections appear to be calming down quite a bit. We thank you for your prayers and will continue to keep you updated.

We just want to wish you a Happy New Years and ask that you would continue to keep this nation in your prayers.

Monday Afternoon Update

2007-12-31T03:22:00.000-08:00

Friends and family,

Just wanted to send you a quick update that everyone at Gideon's home is safe. We are currently without power and are unsure of how long that will last, thus we don't know when our next email or blog will be sent. We are hopeful that things will calm down soon. There is no source for news right now, so rumors are spreading quickly and it's hard to know what is true and what is not (so you may know more about what is happening than we do).

Please pray for this nation, that peace will come quickly. A few of the pastors we work have stopped by and so far their families, homes, churches, and church members are all okay... we pray to hear more news like this.

The gift of democracy... We never knew to be so thankful.

Blessings to each one of you.

Sunday Night Update

2007-12-30T08:34:00.000-08:00

Well, it has been a long day in Nairobi..everything is closed because of election tension, the streets are bare and everyone is huddled around the TV. The Electoral Commission of Kenya announced the former president as the newly elected official...despite an overwhelming number of appeals from the opposition and neutral parties. He was sworn in within 30 minutes and fire has erupted throughout the slums. Our home is less than 1 km from Kibera, a stronghold for the losing candidate. The fires are going, gunshots firing and people screaming.

I am a bit emotionally charged right now but ask that you pray for these people. Mandy and I (as well as Gideon and his family) are safe and well, but there are people that cannot run, hide and remove themselves from the slums which are overpopulated to begin with. There is going to be a long road ahead in healing the corruption (whether perceived or truth) that has taken place this weekend.

Today was a step backwards for Kenya as it attempts to build a mature democracy.

We work with pastors that are in the most vulnerable areas of the city. We ask that you pray for them, their families, their congregations and even their church structures as things are a bit chaotic. We hope to contact them soon and learn of their safety at this time.

Again, we are safe...but there are many people that we know and that we don't that are caught in the middle.

We'll keep you posted on any developments.

Update

2007-12-29T21:32:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to drop a note and say that we are doing fine here in Nairobi. I am guessing that Kenyan politics has made it to your respective places in the world through the international news. Unfortunately, violence has erupted in the slums and given the current situation will most likely be here until tonight, when the election results are revealed.

Please pray for peace and justice in this process...and never take democracy for granted:)

Quick Trip

2007-12-28T01:03:00.000-08:00

We left for the coast approximately 36 hours ago, hoping to enjoy a few days on the Indian Ocean. Somewhere along the way, things took a turn and here we are...back in Nairobi again!

We had an awesome train trek out there...it was a 14 hour trip, most of it during the night hours but train travel is just a great way to travel. It included dinner and breakfast, where we got to enjoy time with other travelers from Nigeria and Denmark and we had our own sleeping compartment. The only noteworthy hitch with the train ride between Nairobi and Mombasa was the German and/or South African woman in the compartment next door. While entertaining, her pompous traveling behavior was ridiculous. When the lights went out in our car, she made sure that EVERYONE heard about it, not to mention her “VIP” status, which little did she know, everyone is considered to have. The meals were way too salty and there was no way that she should have to pay for breakfast because apparently she is God's gift to East African cuisine. Mandy and I would like to salute her for the priceless entertainment, her loving character and prize-performing complaint fest. We would also like to salute the Kenya Railway staff (all 12 people that had to deal with her at least once-both on the train and at the office in Nairobi) for resisting the temptation to sneak her into the bathroom and send her through the toilet (a hole in the floor where the tracks are visible below).

Upon our arrival in Mombasa, we took a ferry to the south shore and a matatu to a place called Tiwi Beach. It is said to be a dangerous 3 km walk to the place that we wanted to stay, so we got a lift from a security company that was headed out in that direction. They dropped us off 200 meters from the entrance of the lodge. No more than 60 seconds later, two thugs took our hip pack and ran off into the woods with it. After a chase, reconvening the security outfit, settling down the Kenyan women that had witnessed it all and a ride to the police station in the back of a Kenyan police car (which are much more comfortable than matatus), we found ourselves 500 km out of Nairobi with no money, phone, camera, Bible, journal, hip bag, headlamps, Nalgenes and sunscreen lip gloss. Thanks to Mandy's great memory, we were able to call Gideon in Nairobi from the police station when he told us of an Anglican Guest House in Mombasa (20km north of where we were) that we could ask to borrow money from. A few phone calls later, a trip to Mombasa in the police car and with extraordinary generosity from the Anglican Guest House, we had $50 to get us back to Nairobi...and a bit of extra for some food for our hungry bellies. We ended up walking around Mombasa for 5 hours just to check it out (although it was extremely dead because it was election day). Although many have ranted and raved about how great Mombasa is, it wasn't quite what we had anticipated-partly due to our frustration with what had just happened and partly due to how much was closed due to the elections. We enjoyed sodas along the coast of the Indian Ocean, stuffed our faces with Indian food and caught an overnight bus to Nairobi.

We arrived in Nairobi at 6 AM this morning, eager to get things sorted out, to get home before the election results are announced and to see if any of our stolen items would be covered by insurance (which they are not:( ). Thanks to Gideon, email and Adam (in Tacoma), we were able to get stuff canceled right away and will be up and functioning again soon. We are safe, well and rebounding from our little escapade.

As for the elections, stay tuned-we will learn more today!

Well, our 5 day trip to the coast turned into 36 hours. The sour taste has dissolved and we will try again sooner than later...perhaps when our friends Robby and Karl come out from Tacoma...next week. On second thought, this is the 2^nd time that Mandy and I have been robbed near a beach-maybe we will stay put or go to the mountains:).

Merry Christmas from Kenya!

2007-12-28T00:58:00.000-08:00

What a gift it has been to have the opportunity to spend a Christmas in Kenya. While the familiarities were far away, we were exposed to a refreshed look at what Christmas is all about. Although a few of the shopping centers have Christmas Lights and Santa sessions, the lack of commercialism that we associate with the season would have made it easy to pass December 25 without noticing. A few things that we learned along the way...

Although our songs about winter and snow neglect it, Christmas comes during the summer for the entire southern hemisphere!
Gifts are not a universal norm around the holidays. It was incredibly freeing to not have to worry about gifts this year!
Movies are big in Kenya on Christmas Day...from 10 AM-1 AM the next day, you will find most Kenyans from Nairobi hovering around a television with food, friends and family.
Doors are open on Christmas Day...if you are not hosting the party, be ready to make the rounds visiting 4 or 5 homes throughout the day visiting with others.
Many people travel to their home villages at this time...although this year was slightly different as voters needed to stay in their home area until December 27 to cast their presidential vote.
There are very few Christmas Eve or Christmas Day church services.
Chicken and Chipati (a tasty version of a tortilla) are the staple foods for the holidays.

We joined some friends from Ontario for a Christmas lunch followed by a Kenyan feast at home in the evening. 30+ visitors came for some tasty eats, a movie or three and one last discussion on the elections 2 days before voters head to the booth.

We wish you all a wonderful holiday season and hope that you have had the opportunity to enjoy it with family and friends.

On a side note, it is interesting how we have tainted the Christmas story to be something that it is not. Jesus wasn't born in the Mayo Clinic, nor did he pretend to live as the part of our modern day population that lives on over $1 a day but perhaps, He came to bring hope for people whose world looks a bit more like this...

Hell's Gate = The Lion King

2007-12-25T23:47:00.000-08:00

Last week, Mandy and I had the opportunity to visit Hell's Gate National Park located 150 km west of Nairobi. We found ourselves singing songs from The Lion King in search for African wildlife. We rented bikes to travel through the park. Even tough they weighed about 50 lbs each, it was a great way to check out the area. We enjoyed a stay at the YMCA hostel on Lake Naivasha where we tracked hippos. We didn't see any this time around but found plenty of their enormous footprints. It was a great getaway weekend...one to be relived sooner than later.

Christmas in Mathare

2007-12-18T03:35:00.000-08:00

We are currently teaching photography and storytelling to a group of children and youth in Mathare. There was a bit of free time at the end of yesterday so I sat down with the little guys (8 and under) and asked them "What does Christmas mean to you?" There were only two responses. 1. It is the birth of Jesus and 2. They get to spend time with their family. Not ONE child mentioned presents, or Rudolph, or Santa. Christmas in Mathare or other slums in Nairobi is a day of rest with their family. When we ask people what they are going to do on Christmas they often tell us that they will have a very special meal of chipatis and chicken (which we eat about once every two weeks), and watch movies all day and relax with loved ones.

It makes me think about our 'Leisure Time" as Americans or Westerners. For these folks, it takes a very major holiday to take a day off, relax with one another and enjoy some movies. For us, we often have enough time to watch a movie once or twice a week. Many people who live in Mathare don't have jobs, so at first I found myself asking, "don't they have a lot of leisure time since they don't work?" But thinking back to personal experience, it is the times in life when I was unemployed and thus in theory had plenty of 'leisure time' that I found myself the most stressed and unable to relax because of the pressure I felt to always be searching for a job. I can't imagine what many of these people are going through on a daily basis. For many, they either never made it to school or were pulled out of school to begin working to support their family at a very young age, leaving them as adults with little skills to offer their community.

Before we came to Kenya, I didn't know what to expect but I was thankful to step out of American culture for a bit and see things with a new perspective. Since being here, I have often found myself more appreciative for the "American Way" that we so often target as corrupt or wrong. But yesterday I was blessed with the way children from Mathare see Christmas. I feel that they understand Christmas in a way that I don't know if I ever will.

I want to wish everyone a very wonderful Christmas! I hope that it is a day of family and peace :)

Mandy

Mathare Photo Project

2007-12-18T02:38:00.001-08:00

We are currently spending two days a week in Mathare with the Inspiration Center. What we thought might be 20-25 kids coming together to tell their story through photos and words has ended up being a crowd of 80. It is incredible to see the kids run with our theme, "Born from below" and tell a story about what it means to be a part of their community. AIDS, child labor, inequality, talent, beauty, artistic, athletic...these are the stories that have emerged from the 80+ students that join us on Mondays and Thursdays. We hope to compile their work for our February intensive as a way to share with pastors in the Nairobi community the stories of the kids from Mathare, our intended venue for the training.

Bulging Pockets

2007-12-18T01:52:00.000-08:00

Today started out with a Swahili lesson. Staged in a 10 foot by 12 foot one-room home with two adults and two kids, Violet taught us to barter in Swahili for a fair deal at the market.

-“You are giving me the mzungu price” (which literally translates to wanderer as white people are seen as never sitting still but always moving around)

-”I want the Kenyan price. That is too expensive, please reduce your price”

Back and forth we go, trying to knock a few shillings off of our make-believe elephant carvings, sunset paintings and wooden spoon sets. In the back of my mind, I am thinking about the lavish Pier One store in Tacoma where the prices are often marked up 50-100 fold for international artwork. It is really ethical for us to barter? I would rather have the artist reap the benefits of my white skin and inability to speak proper swahili than corporate America. What about the rich Kenyan at the kiosk next to me who is exerting his pocket power to make his living room look pretty. I deserve to be treated fair compared to him, don't I? I searched around the house for remnants of a Sunday market to find nothing. Our lesson fees covered her family's rent, food and school fees but apparently we didn't pay enough to send her to the market with her leftover money at the end of the month.

At the end of our lesson, she gives us her two cents on how she perceives us white wanderers. Careful not to offend, she points out the realities of mzungus that we try to avoid yet are confronted with many times each day. The concept of travel is within grasp of a very small percentage of this world. Planes, trains and private automobiles are few and far between in some circles. Crossing an ocean seems impossible to some while taking a bus to visit family 300 km away also poses its own set of problems. We thank her for her willingness to integrate Kenyan culture into a language lesson, say our farewell and wander on to our next engagement-an afternoon with a pastor in the same informal settlement.

We find him in the midst of an election rally waiting at stage 2, the last stop on the matatu route. He spots our complexion from afar and welcomes us to his turf. Because of the heat, he decides to cut back our schedule for the afternoon a bit, the main engagement being lunch at his home. We first walk to his church to find 10 of his members waiting for a 5 minute greeting, a prayer and a promise of return. We agree to the terms. Our walk through the community is insightful as he highlights the struggles, triumphs and some of the overarching issues that inform how and why it is the way it is. We have a great deal of respect for this pastor, his commitment to his community and the vision that he has for transformation.

Very similar to the home of our swahili teacher, we sit on a couch which is facing the bedroom and kitchen with no walls to separate the three. His wife graciously prepared a delicious stew, Sikumawiki (cooked Cale) and ugali for us. It was absolutely delicious. We enjoyed a conversation about hopes, dreams and goals for the future of his ministry. He also took the opportunity to learn about us, what it is that we are passionate about and how we feel that our experience in Kenya will change us. We spoke honestly, openly and without the cultural barriers that often hinder one's ability to feel comfortable in being themselves.

Minutes later, a neighbor arrived. Also a pastor, he had lots of questions about what we thought of Kenya, the people and specifically the church. We shared a few thoughts and took the opportunity to learn from his insight in the process. As if he were on cue, he began saying things that no longer corresponded with eachother and digressed from conversation about us as individuals into a conversation about “you people in America”. Over the next ten minutes, we were gawked at because of the amount that we paid for our plane ticket, we were told that our lives would be longer if we gave money to a church to buy land and that we should help bring pastors to the U.S. to be trained. Our wonderful afternoon had taken a turn for the worst.

We often find ourselves in much tension over the power associated with money. Our skin color and ability to travel to Kenya target us as having bulging pockets. It is somewhat ironic that Mandy and I have had many discussions on how things here are much more expensive than we anticipated, how we feel the need to spend wisely as some of our financial support has come from others and that we feel the need to live frugal lives here in comparison to many Kenyans and virtually all Americans. Kris Rocke, the CTM Director reminded us that money is a sacred subject, one that reveals something about the parts of ourselves that we want to cover up the most. I would add that in our situation, money is also a public subject, one that finds us in all situations. Although talk of money does not scare me amongst those that I know and trust, I am not sure how I feel about the sacred meeting the public in this instance.

Our bulging pockets, however slim we might perceive them to be have caused us to feel ashamed, to resent people's motives and to take a closer look at our own constructs of money than we may have ever wanted. Yet in the process, we are learning how to bless people appropriately, whether financially or in other ways, out of obligation, calling, crisis or the fulfillment of a lofty dream.

AIDS and Advent

2007-12-08T22:19:00.000-08:00

December 1 marks the beginning of Advent, a purposeful season to explore and prepare for the flesh that dwelt among us. Often times plagued by last minute shopping, hectic schedules and the ulcers that batter the holiday cheer, it comes and goes...perhaps a few days off from work, confusion when looking at the next month's visa bill followed by resolutions to change our behavior in the year to come. December 1 also marks a day in which we acknowledge one of the deadliest pandemics that millions of people cope with (or perhaps can't) throughout the world. This is a day when we acknowledge a deadly flesh that lives among us. Each day people wake up to the advent of a deadly disease manifested in their temple...shopping doesn't do the trick, busy schedules add to the suffering and life itself becomes the resolution for the following year.

Spending my first World AIDS Day and beginning of Advent in Africa has raised some interesting questions in my mind around the concept of preparation. The statistics and stories of HIV/AIDS in Kenya cannot be avoided as it has impacted everyone in some way. I have wondered how it is that those infected prepare themselves for what is to come? What does the advent of their declining health look like? What are they preparing for? What if this Christmas had the potential to be my last one? What would I shop for? How would I schedule my days? What would I commit to do in the next year?.

Perhaps, my friend Banuwa has it all right as he opens his eyes with a sense of relief each morning as yesterday wasn't his last. He has declared victory for one more day in his fight against the terrorist inside of his body. Perhaps his level of preparation far exceeds mine and yours as the holidays approach. Perhaps his priorities are more purposeful. Perhaps, there is something that we can learn from him.

World AIDS Day in Nairobi looks very different from western Washington. I have experienced times in the states when this day comes and goes, without a thought of those infected by this deadly disease. NGO's, CBO's, churches and government entities alike be sure to pause and acknowledge the impact that HIV/AIDS has on the Kenyan people. We spent our day partnering with the Inspiration Center in Mathare where we held a youth rally. Through the arts, youth were given an opportunity to share their story, the stories of others and to offer a renewed sense of hope within their community. Hundreds of people showed up throughout the day to share their appreciation with the performers and to inhale a breath of hope for the future. (See “Ode to Boyye” for pictures from the event)

On a national front, the decrease in HIV/AIDS prevalence has decreased over the past 10 years. Kenya is a leader throughout Africa in sustainable education models and access to medicine for those infected. This being said, there is still much work to be done! The infected rate hovers around 10% nationally and 15% in the slum areas. For those of you that are teachers, imagine 2-3 kids in your class carrying the weight of this burden with them and the impact that it would have on the dynamics of your classroom. 10-15% is a large number of people. While this rate remains lower than other parts of sub-saharan Africa, I cannot adequately explain the impact that it has on the entire population. Whether infected or not, there are ties to this deadly disease all over that span throughout the country, throughout generations and throughout the landscape of society.

Context

2007-12-08T05:06:00.000-08:00

“This morning, a white girl went for a run outside wearing shorts.”

In the American context, this sentence sounds like it came from a “Learn to Read” book for a first grader, and there would not be much thought regarding what it is saying. I am currently learning by experience the power of context. In Kenya, this sentence creates a lot of stares when it is put into practice (which I do about 3 times a week).

Step for a moment with me into the context of a Kenyan living in Nairobi. People are on their way to work (most likely) and they see me running by. Some could care less, and yet some stare so hard I wonder if I'm missing a major article of clothing :)

After many runs I've come up with some possible interpretations of this sentence:

White girl: power, money, what is she doing here?
Run: Exercising? Willingly? Doesn't she walk enough?
Outside: Why is she not an athletic club with the other mazungu?
Wearing shorts: What? In this weather? It's not nearly warm enough for shorts.

I cannot say if this is an absolute truth...but after so many runs, and so much staring and several comments, my mind begins to wonder about how I am perceived.

So if we were to flip this scenario around and think about context in the US... What/who do we stare at? What's out of our context? How should we react to it?

Ode to Boyye

2007-12-08T04:41:00.001-08:00

These are pictures taken by a friend of ours from Mathare. Boyye, whose father past away this month is 19 years old, has grown up in Mathare and now shares a piece of who he is with the children of the Inspiration Center. This is his first time behind the viewfinder portraying a few glimpses of our World AIDS Day event through his lenses. Enjoy!

More to come....soon!

2007-12-05T20:29:00.000-08:00

Needless to say, having visitors around makes things a bit more busy. A few highlights since the last time that we posted:

Visiting Dagoretti 4 Kids, a youth program aimed at street kids in one of the many hard places around Nairobi. We were incredibly impressed with their organization, their thoughtful planning and the commitment that they have shown to their own backyard community. Check out their website at dagoretti4kids.org.
Joining the Seattle crew for a delicious dinner at the infamous Carnivore Restaurant. It was great to see people from home, to be reminded of seeing Kenya for the first time again and catch up on happenings in the NW. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of your team.
Welcoming Andy Guinn (PLU) and his friend Bryce to lovely Nairobi for the weekend. We weren't sure if it would work out to get together during Andy's semester abroad in Dar e Selaam, but we pulled it off. Thanks for making the trek guys. We shared a bit of our experience with them by spending time with friends in Mathare, playing some ultimate frisbee, eating delicious Ethiopian, Indian and Kenyan food and playing a few rounds of cards!
World AIDS Day event in Mathare...see AIDS and Advent
Joel's first shot at preaching in a church service...Since arriving in Kenya, we have been approached by many of the pastors to share in their churches. We explain that we are not pastors, that we have utmost respect for them and their work and see ourselves best supporting their work in other ways. This usually is followed up by, “When will you preach to us?”. So, Joel gave it a shot...it was much too short for their liking (Much to long for Joel's) but people seemed to be remotely interested and it went pretty well. Having a translator mimicking everything said is a bit distracting!
Our first bed bug epidemic-Not sure where they came from...but we have the bites all over our bodies to remind us that they are around. Itch, itch itch.
Christmas Celebration with the pastors: Last week, we met with the pastors and their spouses for a Christmas breakfast. Many of them will take off for the holidays to visit friends and family in their hometowns. French toast, Mandozi and fruit was the food of choice.

We will write more soon but wanted to let you know that all is well, the week has been busy and that life in Nairobi is picking up before the holiday and election lull.

One step deeper...

2007-11-24T23:42:00.001-08:00

For the past two months, Mandy and I have seen, touched, heard, smelled, laughed, cried and even pooped the molecules of life in the slums of Nairobi. At times, we have found ourselves building an immunity to the beauty and affliction while other moments provoke the inevitable gulping contraction of the throat. There are many estimates out there on how many people live in the 170 slums of Nairobi, the most common exceeding 2,000,000. We have come to wonder where all of these people come from, the stories that frame their existence and the journeys that they have embarked on.

This week, I had an opportunity to join a group of people a group from Seattle through World Concern (a development non-profit out of Seattle who is doing some great work www.worldconcern.org) for a visit to Narok, a Maasai area in southwest Kenya. It was here that I was confronted with the realities of many of the people living in rural villages throughout Kenya, the adjustment that they must face when journeying to a city of 4 million and the beautiful people and place that they temporarily (or perhaps forever) abandon. Life outside of the most developed city in East Africa is different to say the least. My first day in Narok brought me back to September 7, when we landed at Nairobi's airport. With little confidence in language, a paralyzing mindset to be culturally sensitive while attempting to manage my senses and the life of the Maasai took its toll.

Perhaps the picture can best be painted through the story of a man named Peter.

Peter grew up in traditional Maasai culture. No electricity, no water, one father, many mothers, hundreds of cows and goats, no education, perplexity at the sight of a car and calloused feet from his miles explored each day. His mother was the first wife, feeling robbed of sharing her family and resources with others. Maa was the language of choice in and among his people while his land was similar to the most remote places of Nevada, New Mexico and Utah as his people were confined to barren areas by the colonizers. (sound familiar?) I hate to use the word primitive as it implies that society has advanced through industrialization and technology, (What has it advanced toward?) but it is the only word in my mind to adequately describe the live of rural villagers in Kenya.

Imagine life without plastic, with life possessions on one shelf and under the cow hide bed, being trapped in a carbon monoxide dungeon every day with a cooking fire inside of a windowless hut and never really seeing or needing access to money.

At the age of 12, Peter was told by his father to take over the foraging goats on a graze in quest of food and water. These journeys are ongoing, spanning across the region and often led solo or with a pair of Maasai boys. Days or perhaps weeks into his journey, he did what most 12 year olds would do, fell asleep and lost the herd of goats. Upon waking up, they were nowhere to be found. Even though he could see miles across the desert landscape, his goats were gone. He returned home to tell his father of his careless mistake. Needless to say, his father was incredibly upset.

Ironically, a few weeks later, the police came to the village and mentioned that there were a few openings in a boarding school near Nairobi. Convinced that his son was a shame to the tribe, Peter's father sent his son with the police with few reservations. This was the beginning of Peter's educational journey through primary school, secondary school and eventually university. Unfortunately, Peter's siblings were strong herdsman, warriors and sought-out girls and women bound for marriage and never had the opportunity to be punished by being sent to school.

I am not sure how the next steps panned out in Peter's life, but know that he is now back in his community, eventually accepted by his family and tribe and working with orphans and vulnerable children in rural areas. I was most intrigued by what the car ride must have been like for him as he entered into Nairobi for the first time, seeing multilevel buildings, at abundance of produce at stands lining the streets, traffic jams, brick walls around homes, watchman, restaurants and car alarms.

It is no wonder that many people end up in the slums. While I realize that this is not the path of a good chunk of the 2,000,000 people living in nearly inhumane conditions, at some point in time, families moved to the city in search for a better life. Life better than Kibera, Mathare, Kawangware and Lunga Lunga. Perhaps there is comfort in being surrounded by those who have experienced the same contrast, by those who have lost their goats and by those who were punished by a trip to the city.

Gobble, Gobble!

2007-11-22T09:26:00.000-08:00

Hello friends and family!

Just want to wish you all a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving! We hope that is a time of being surrounded by loved ones and allowing you to ponder the many blessings in your lives. We have thought of all of you today and are so thankful to be surrounded from 'afar' :)

It is hard for us to believe that the holiday season is officially here, as it was warm and sunny this afternoon here.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Spiritual Trauma

2007-11-20T09:15:00.000-08:00

I volunteered to go to the church, I will give you that... but after that moment my consent for what happened stopped and I thus became the victim. Joel and I attended a church that one of our friends invited us to. It sounded refreshing to go to a church where we could just sit in the congregation and enjoy the morning without needing to 'represent an organization.' The church is ran by a Korean Mission Group and thus had a Korean pastor. The message was first translated into English and then again into Swahili. It was quite a linguistic experience! Yet, one and half hours later, he was still preaching and not even close to being done...even though I'd say 90% of the congregation had already checked out.

When the service finally completed, they asked for the first timers to move to the back to be welcomed. I should have listened to the inner voice saying, 'now is your chance to escape...' but that would be rude, so I headed to the back, unaware of the trauma I was about to encounter. Our group of newcomers was split into several smaller groups and I was sent with the man with a mission, Pastor Lee. Pastor Lee is a 50+ year old Asian man with a hearing problem, broken English, and the eagerness to save souls. What was meant to be at the most a thirty minute, 'welcome to our church' schpeel, turned into a very harmful encounter with the Christian faith. Pastor Lee began by learning our names, of which I'm sure he doesn't remember, and then proceeded with his “mission” of bringing us to Jesus without any further inquiry into what we believed and why we were in Kenya, and it still wasn't enough to explain to him that we believe in Jesus. He diligently continued on taking us through many familiar scriptures of the Bible...the Roman Road, and the fall of man, etc... exerting his beliefs unto us like a criminal who can overpower his victims, refusing to read the obvious cues that he was offending us. Oh the anger and hurt that was welling up within me as he continued on and on, often times refusing us the opportunity to speak because 'he wasn't done yet.' To disagree with what he was saying would only lead to further abuse, so in time I simply succumb to the despair I felt and stopped fighting it.

What could have been a wonderful and engaging conversation quickly turned sour and ended in a direct abuse of power. To think that this may be a person's first experience with Christianity nearly brought tears to my eyes in the midst of him talking to us. Without any attempt to build even a casual relationship, this man forced us into a conversation that we were obviously resistant to having. Not to mention the fact that we expressed our belief in Christ from the very beginning.
An hour after the conversation began, he was still pursuing us and even had the nerve to express interest in seeing us again, which would be like an attacker asking his victim out to coffee after stripping away their dignity. With the tiny amount of strength (and yet restraint) we had left in us, we politely stood up, thanked him, and walked away. He followed, requesting our contact, and I ignored him. I have never felt so rude in my life, and yet I wish I would have walked away much sooner.

I felt demoralized spiritually on Sunday. The man may have had good and honest intentions, but I walked away deeply paining for people who have had similar encounters.

An invitation into the Christian faith should NEVER feel like this. There is no “3 step formula” that opens the eyes of people to see Jesus, it is His doing within our hearts. To think that we as humans have the ability to convince people into the faith is a disgrace. I apologize for the graphic metaphor, yet I can't think of a better way to explain the experience, which only reinforced to me the utmost importance of building relationships with people and sharing your faith out of love, not a formula.

Peace,
Mandy

Sunday...

2007-11-13T04:03:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning, I trekked down the street to Pastor Esau's church in Kibera. The streets were full, the sun shining and energy was in the air. Unfortunately, I flew solo today as Mandy stayed behind and dealt with an upset stomach.

Four hours later, I returned home hungry and exhausted.

Four hours of interpreting pieces of Swahili, watching those around me, deciphering scripture, explaining my presence, singing and day dreaming. It made me think a great deal about the church (or any other social structure for that matter) and what it means to enter in for the first time. While familiarity allows us to relax and be comfortable, entering unknown territories has the opposite effect. I was literally exhausted by the end of it all. It made me think about what it takes to practice inclusion, to create a gracious space where all are not only welcome, but comfortable to be who they are. I thought of the international students at PLU, the visitors that walked into Trinity for the first time or even the first day on a job.

What do you do to create an environment that allows one to be himself? When do I think about the needs of the outsider-the individual whose first language, culture and customs are different than the norm?

An hour later, a taxi picked us up and took us to a field where we play ultimate frisbee every week. The grass is green, the players are white, the language is English and on the field, people are who they are. Two and a half hours of running around felt like a nap compared to the morning. I was in my element...well I should note that it is an element that is quite new. As of six weeks ago, I had never played ultimate frisbee and felt the pressure of stepping into the unknown. I wasn't an outsider this time around, nor did I feel the need to pick up on everything that was going on around me, but instead-just to be present.

The contrasts of these two parts of my day made me think a great deal about “diversity”. For a split second, it made me question some of my previous thoughts on inclusion. It made me wonder if diversity is a term that people strive for to be politically correct. Maybe it is OK to have black communities, white communities, schools and churches. What is wrong with me not wanting to be exhausted by a church service by making it “diverse”? What is wrong with me feeling more comfortable around the UN, USAID, and embassy workers on a field than those speaking fluent Swahili?

Peeling back one more layer, I see a few flaws in my theory:

1.Diversity is not just about sitting together, but about understanding one another. I think that is why my Sunday experience was so tiring-I have a lot to learn in order to understand the people of Kibera. Understanding people is no different than understanding any other complex subject. It takes time, work, energy, failure and constant attention.

2.I have to be extremely careful with what is really at stake with diversity. I get sick of the term because it tends to be a light and fluffy idealistic word for inclusion when its actual roots are formed in oppression and injustice. Is it possible that my discomfort is actually result of dealing with the past and the present, the forms of injustice and oppression that have occurred and continue to occur? That is an exhausting thought in itself. I can't just dodge it all together.

3.What if I never stepped foot in a church that made me uncomfortable? What if I never took any college courses that challenged me? What if I never took the time to hear the story whose life is drastically different from my own? Who would I be? Who would they be? What if everyone took this approach? What would our world look like?

The night ended with a tasty sandwich and playing cards with friends. It took me to a place that was comfortable, allowing me into a space where I could make sense of my day, my desire for comfort, my contributions to the whole diversity debate and what it means to be a white, male in the streets of Nairobi...once again-I am tired.

Thursday in Mathare...

2007-11-10T07:17:00.000-08:00

Show and Tell

2007-11-10T07:15:00.001-08:00

A few days ago, one of the leaders in the CTM network came over for a meeting. We strayed heavily from our agenda and I showed him an article about his community that someone had sent me. He read it, felt that it was very accurate and asked if I had any photos of my family on the computer.

One thing led to another and I showed him photos from the last two years of my life. It never dawned on me until then how difficult it is to tell an accurate story with photos across cultural barriers. Think of the things that we take pictures of and how this might be interpreted by others. It forced me to think hard about the story that my photo album tells and how inaccurate (or maybe accurate) it might be perceived by another. Here are a few examples that required some serious explanation:

Backpacking with my dad and brother in Colorado: “You mean to tell me that you flew on a plane to a different state (country in many people's context) to walk for 4 days and stay in a tent when you have a nice home that you can stay in?”
A “decorated” car after our wedding: “People put paint on your car, fill it with balloons and tie cans to it...on your wedding day and you aren't supposed to get mad?”
Ugly Christmas sweater competition at work: “You go out and buy the ugliest sweater that you can in order to beat out your coworkers? Will you wear it again? Wouldn't you rather wear your other clothes...like the shirt that you have on-that one looks much better.”
Tubing behind the boat in the Puget Sound: “What is the boat for? Do you use it to get places? Why do some people ride on a tube? Is there not enough room for them in the boat?”
On the magnitude of wedding photos: “What are you going to do with thousands of wedding pictures? Do you print them? Then what? Why do you smash cake on Mandy's face when you are wearing nice clothes. Did she get mad at you?”
On the entire collection: “Are these all from you country?” Oceans, lakes, mountains, sand dunes, cities, flowers, fall leaves-not something that people are used to seeing every day.
My folks house in Michigan: “Where are the other houses? Do people pay to visit? Does anyone stay in the covered area in the front? (the porch)”

It was an interesting process. One that challenged me, made me laugh and made me somewhat embarrassed to know that many of the people that I interact with here would not be able to identify with many of the experiences that have made me who I am.

An excellent article explaining the situation in Nairobi

2007-11-02T22:00:00.001-07:00

I came across this the other day on Africa Online when doing some research on one of the communities that we are working in. It is well written and inline with so many of the feelings that we have been experiencing...

On a quick note, we are doing well. We had a great week and a lot of cool stuff is going on. A few of the highlights that we will ellobrate more on include...Mandy getting a job, moving forward in Mathare-one of the neglected slums of Nairobi and gearing up for some cool stuff happening in February!

By: Gathoni

Give a man a fish he feeds for a day, teach the man to fish and he feeds for a lifetime. The most complex problems in a society can be sometimes be solved by simple ideas and concepts based in old proverbs. It is time we realized that the solution to poverty is not handouts in whatever form they may come, but sustainable long-term solutions that benefit all Kenyans equally. If those in power and those who have the responsibility to vote would take heed to these wise words, the poverty problem would not be what it is today.

The economy may be on the increase and several sectors resuscitated, however the reality is; although the number of those living in areas like Runda and other wealthy suburbs is on the increase, so are those living in Kibera, Mathare Kangemi and other sprawling slums. Even with the increase in fuel prices, it seems that more and more Kenyans are able to afford cars despite the limited infrastructure as is seen with Hummers and other luxurious cars that litter the Nairobi roads during rush hour.

It would be my biggest recommendation for all Kenyans to walk through areas like Kibera and Mathare; I am not talking about slum tourism where their lifestyle is exploited at their expense. What I wish is a simple walk, a mile perhaps in their shoes. Imagine living with millions of other people in approximately 3 sq km, where a trip to the kiosk or bus stop requires you to develop superior navigation of open sewers where faeces and waste form part of the path. Imagine waking up cold, or wet, everyday in your house built of mabati and mud, only to give birth at home because basic hospital services are but a myth. This is how a great majority of us live, and it is not because they are lazy or not like you. It is time we realized that poverty is our problem, and affects us all. How can we expect a safer society when so many live in such deplorable conditions that, crime becomes a lucrative business? How can we expect the economy to grow when such a small population controls so much?

Kenya is one of the most unequal societies in the world. Resource distribution is favorable to the few in power, where the fight for power is entirely among the elite, who wants to safeguard their economic prosperity. It is undeniable that there is money in this beautiful country, what one must ask is why it not trickles to all levels of society. The economy may have improved for you, you make more money than you did 5 years ago, but yet, you still pay your gardener and watchman the same amount you did then. If your basic necessities amounts to more than you pay your unskilled worker, how is he or she supposed to survive with so little?

The poverty problem cannot be successfully addressed without addressing rural poverty, which accounts for the majority of poor who live on $2 or less a day. If more financial investment and development focussed on rural areas, less people would be inclined to leave their farms and shags to move to the city in search of a better life.

Once again elections roll around and we hear the same rhetoric on job creation and poverty alleviation, yet 5 years down the line although some things may have changed, I am yet to hear of long-term solutions that stand a chance of creating change. The middle class is a mere blip on the radar while the gap between the extremely poor and economic elite is vast almost to be measured on the same scale as space.

When I asks around the common consensus is poor governance is to blame for our pink elephant. Our political history created this complex poverty vortex, where the way out seems almost impossible. What is clear then, is we are the architects to our own demise, we choose our leaders and therefore we choose our fate. In this election I would urge everyone to listen to the issues, to the proposed solutions, and to whom these solutions will indeed benefit. When you vote, think about the woman who sells tomatoes on the side of the road, the man who is employed as your guard or gardener but is forced to live in a shack to make ends meet, the graduate who is forced to drive the City Hoppa bus; these people are the majority, and are affected most by the choices we all make.

Updated Photos

2007-10-31T01:56:00.001-07:00

Amoeba Races

2007-10-31T01:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the blogging delay. There is not much to report on when you are hampered by an Amoeba in the stomach. We took our first dose of Cipro (The equivalent of carbourator cleaner for the tummy). It takes you down for a bit and then brings you back to life. I guess that stomach egos were slightly uplifted when we learned that the whole house had it and that it wasn't just the white folk. While it did not completely put us down for the count, it was enough to plan for short days and to make sure that a bathroom was close at all times.

One of the highlights of the week was meeting with all of the CTM Network pastors/leaders. Several of them just graduated from a local urban leadership program. We enjoyed the opportunity to celebrate with them in their hard work. It was great to sit in a circle of leaders that have lived their call in commitment to their respective communities. Many of them have had opportunities to “move up” and “out” of the informal settlements but have remained committed to their people. What an admirable and courageous undertaking!

The week of Amoeba would have been complete without the Nairobi 10km! Our week of training leading up to the consisted of walking up the stairs, to the kiosk markets for a Sprite and several trips to the restroom. To our benefit, there were a few glitches in the race that made things a bit easier on our end. The race had a great turnout...about 12,000 runners...most of whom were a bit discouraged by the end of the day. The course for the 10k was an out and back that led us through the finish line within 5-6km. There was no one telling us at that point that we needed to continue through and do an additional lap in the other direction. 90% of the people (including Mandy, Gideon and myself) stopped, walked around a bit in confusion, got a cup of water and then...realized that there was another lap to do. So...we turned up the throttle a bit and finished the last lap of the race. Walking away from the finish line the 2^nd time, I looked at my watch and learned that I had just completed a 10km in 33 minutes! The excitement was killed a second later when I realized that there is no way that I was running 5:20 miles. The well deserved buzz from the front runners reamed the race organizers for a poorly managed race. Not to mention, the prize money that was compromised. All mistakes aside, it was a great run and the shirts are great!

The Voice of the Children...

2007-10-23T06:50:00.000-07:00

The “voice” of the children...

Thursday:
Last week, we spent some time at the “Inspiration Center” in Mathare, a slum on the east side of Nairobi. We walked around the area for a couple of hours, ate a delicious lunch in a local hotel (restaurant) and visited the largest school in the slum. It was one of those days when I wished that I could have come home, sat in the electric recliner, read the newspaper and drank a nice cold Black Butte Porter. My exhaustion didn't come as a result of our 5 km walk, nor the scorching sun, but the marathon that my mind completed that day.

It all started when we stepped foot off of the matatu and were greeted by the “How are Yoooouuuuuu!” screams from the nearby children. They don't require a response, just a validation of their limited English vocabulary. If you ever want to boost your ego, this is the place to be as a simple touch of the white skin puts you in Santa's league. The first question that I had to ask myself was, “why in the world are these kids not in school?” With the current presidential elections, politicians are tauting their implementation of free primary school for all kids. Apparently “all” no longer includes a huge chunk of the population under 12 years of age in Mathare.

Moments later, we began walking through the community just to get a simple lay of the land. The feel was starkly different than any of the other slums that we had visited. On our 90 minute walk, I saw 3 churches, two schools, one public restroom and 2 vehicles. Mathare is situated in a valley, so the opportunity for roads is limited but the lack of services was just disheartening. Where are the small, microfinance projects? The churches? The Non Government Organizations (NGO's)? The government? With all do respect for those that are doing things in other needy areas of Nairobi, did this community fall off the map? The walk gave us a pulse for the community...a pulse that was strong yet slightly hardened as there were very few units on standby for any type of resuscitation.

An afternoon walk to the largest school in the area gave us a glimpse of the realities of life in Mathare. Leaders of the Inspiration Center estimated that 700 kids attend the school sitting in the heart of Mathare Valley. In terms of Physical space, I would estimate that the facilities were 150 feet by 200 feet. For those of you that are voting on levy's for school renovations think about trying to pass the construction of buildings like these. We visited several of the classes where kids sang us a song, recited a Bible verse and /or a social issue chant and laughed at us as we stumbled through introductions in Swahili. The walls between the classrooms vary from tin to bed sheets as 40-50 students cram onto the benches with their notebooks. A side note: some of the best schools in all of Kenya are located in the slums as these are the kids that are extremely motivated to surpass societal expectations.

I was reminded of a book whose title I can't remember that was written by a friend and colleague of my brother and sister-in-law in New Mexico. The author, Tim Stewart-posed a question around children being labeled “at-risk”. In short, he asked whether there are any kids in this world that are not at risk of some type of failure. If there is any community that I would label as a haven for producing “at risk” kids, Mathare is it. Yet, under the dirt, the crowded conditions and few services, these kids are survivors. They are determined, have an amazing instinct and can navigate systems with the best of them...while the kids across the way at the embassy school, with everything that they could ever ask for and more may be the ones that are “at risk”.

We will be back at this school again. There was something that was warm, inviting and cozy about it even in the scorching heat. Behind the voices of these children was a source of hope and promise...one that I am “at risk” of missing.

Friday
Following our Swahili lesson on Friday, we joined Pastor Alfred in a community call Kawangware on the west side of the city. He took us to a church which functions as a school during the week and introduced us to the kids. There are 37 kids that attend the one room school ranging from age 3-10. Teachers out there...count your blessings as curriculum development and classroom management for a group like this cannot be a simple task. As the norm here, Mandy was asked to lead a PE lesson on the spot. Given the circumstances of no equipment, a language barrier and getting 3-10 year olds on the same page, she rocked it! These kids pay about $4.00/month to attend the school so that the teacher can be compensated. They are hoping to set up a food program as well so that the kids can have a meal at school. Lunchables, cafeterias and leftovers are not the norm in these parts of the city.

Soon, we gathered for lunch at Alfred's house with his family. 6 people living in a 10 foot by 12 foot space. We got cozy on the couch and enjoyed some Ugali, potatoes and beans followed by two rounds of chai. As guests, you never go hungry here! Shortly after lunch, we saw a girl pass by outside. Alfred mentioned that she is deaf. We explained that Mandy took American Sign Language and that we might be able to communicate with her.

We soon learned that Ruth was 9 years old and was born deaf. She has never been to school, only recently learned how to finger spell and has a very difficult time interacting with her family. Can you fathom what it would be like to not be able to communicate for 9 years? I am sure that she has been able to express herself in some ways, there is no such thing as a Disabilities Act over here, nor are there accessible resources for those that don't fit the norm. Mandy taught Ruth and her father a few signs. We will meet with her family again this week or next to see if we can help arrange for them to enroll her in a school and/or find some resources for them.

When I think about the life of a child in Kenya (I guess anywhere for that matter), the voice plays such a crucial role in discovering yourself and your surroundings. It's a ticket to asking questions, to picking up on social cues and to sharing who you are with the rest of the world. There are no “How are yooouuuu?”s from Ruth. No crammed classrooms with 40-50 kids listening intently to their teachers. No songs...just a glance of curiosity toward her surroundings...for now at least. We'll keep you posted.

Sunday
There is something so beautiful and authentic about a child in song...I have to share a brief story about a little boy names Moses at the Inspiration Center on Sunday. This little guy was a true gift to us. He couldn't have been more than three years old, standing at a proud 30 inches and a smile that pierced through the oppression outside. Moses was one of about 50 kids at a church service of 70 people. Kids galore! When he came into the room, he ran up to me trying to see what mzungu (white person) skin feels like. He ran over and just grabbed my hand, gave me a high five and then just looked up at me. I had a hard time figuring out who he was looking at early on as his head was facing one way and his eyes another...come to find out-my little man Moses is cross eyed. That didn't stop him from giving some wicked high 5's, climbing up onto my lap during the church service and dancing in the aisles during worship time.

I didn't hear many words from Moses, but his actions spoke louder than any keynote speaker that I have heard. He didn't hold back...but instead used his “voice” to welcome us, to make us comfortable and to show what it means to be authentic in the presence of others...particularly in the context of church...where we often feel stifled.

Moses did something for me that day that will help guide my time here in Nairobi. He gave me eyes to see and ears to listen to a Psalm from David that touched me in that place at that moment. His toothless smile, intersecting eyes and weathered clothes helped me articulate a Psalm that is emerging in my mind...although there are many stanzas to this Psalm of Nairobi, this speaks to the context in which I met my little friend.

“To the One who remembered us in our low estate,
His love endures forever.” Psalm 136: 23.

To the Inspiration Center and the communal cross that it carries,
His love endures forever.
To the waves of dung wisping from the neglected toilets below,
His love endures forever.
To the children entering with calloused feet and ugly sweaters,
His love endures forever.
To the little boy whose crossed eyes do not make him blind to worshipful dancing,
His love endures forever.
To the valley below, where moonshine is prepared to intoxicate the city,
His love endures forever.
To the Nissan vans lined up on the street, their bumping systems and careless drivers,
His love endures forever.
To the mother behind me who sits in tension of giving an offering or eating a meal,
His love endures forever.
To the Mark and Moses, who choose to cry with the city instead of for it,
His love endures forever.
To the pastor down the street striking a deal to buy a helicopter,
His love endures forever.
To the landlord, who has not provided electricity for months,
His love endures forever.
To me, who can leave at anytime, and not come back,
His love endures forever.
To the millions of people in Nairobi, dreaming of a better life,
His love endures forever.
To campaigning politicians, soliciting slum votes soon to abandon them,
His love endures forever.
To the drugged rapper meters away whose bitterness prevails in his psalms,
His love endures forever.
To the churches and NGO's who have neglected this community,
His love endures forever.
To you, the reader who has faithfully supported us in this journey,
His love endures forever.
To Mathare,
His love endures forever.

The Weaker Parts

2007-10-22T02:33:00.000-07:00

I read a devotion yesterday by Henri Nouwen that spoke straight to my heart as if God himself was speaking to me. I love it when I come across a scripture or reading and it speaks to exactly how I am feeling and it captures an emotion or thought that I would never be able to find the words to describe it. I pray that as you read it, it would speak to your heart as well. I feel like because I am walking in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Nairobi, it is very easy to find a context for this text for myself...I want to ask you to think about the community in which you find yourself, who is it speaking about for you? If we are truly members of one body, what are we doing to protect the weaker parts?

“The most honored parts of the body are not the head or the hands, which lead and control. The most important parts are the least presentable parts. That's the mystery of the Church. As a people called out of oppression to freedom, we must recognize that it is the weakest among us- the elderly, the small children, the handicapped, the mentally ill, the hungry and sick- who form the real center. Paul says, “It is the parts of the body which we consider least dignified that we surround with the greatest dignity.” (1 Corinthians 12:23)
The Church as the people of God can truly embody the living Christ among us only when the poor remain its most treasured part. Care for the poor, therefore, is much more than Christian charity. It is the essence of being the body of Christ.”

Joel and I are here on behalf of Center for Transforming Mission. I am convinced that if the Church, the body of Christ, lived in such a way that we treasured our 'weakest' parts, there would be true transformation. I guess another way to ask the question is: “If we (The church: those who claim to be made in the image of God and to be living for Him) are not considering these weaker members with the greatest dignity, then who will?

Peace,
Mandy

The race is on...

2007-10-17T07:12:00.000-07:00

Kibaki, Hillary, Raila, Guliani, Obama...politics is heating up all over the world! The beginning of a new era is emerging. Kenya, United States, Zimbabwe (who desperately needs some good leadership)...global politics is fascinating. First things first, what an embarrassment to be corrected by Kenyans in the polls on the American Presidential front runners. Part of their interest stems from Barrack Obama's ties to Kenya, while the rest is due to the US's influence in politics that govern the world. A lot is at stake. Fearful that my opinion may get away of what I really want to share, I am going to shift over to painting a rough sketch of kenyan politics at its finest. First, a few simple observations:
-I would guess that 70% of the televised news has to do with the elections at this point. Another 10% goes to soccer followed by a bit of local news. We joke that the stations will have no news broadcasts after the elections are over.
-Newspapers are sold on the sides of the road at market stands. Every morning, when a new issue comes out, there are 5-15 people gathered around each newspaper to learn or the latest election news. We have not seen any newspapers without election news on the front page. Everyone is interested...young, old, male, female, white collar, no collar-everyone.
-60% of Nairobi's 4.5 million people live in informal settlements (slums). While there are some exceptions, the vast majority of these people are living in financial poverty...I will clarify “financial poverty” at some other point. As you can imagine, $1000/plate fundraising lunches are not the norm in this neck of the woods. No candidate will stand a chance without appealing to the majority of his/her people living in the slums of Nairobi.
-Although there are 150-200 parties running for president, two main parties have emerged...PNU (People's National Unity-which was created about 3 weeks ago built around the current president) and ODM (the Orange Democratic Movement which was developed to encourage change and the formation of democracy in Kenya's political system).
-Rather than red states and blue states in Kenya, there is an issue around tribalism. Because Kenyan culture is rooted in place and community, people vote for leaders based on where they are from, which tribe they are a part of and who they associate with. This issue is evolveing quickly as people continue to move into cities permanently.
-The current president has the final say in when the elections will be held. There is an obligation to hold the elections prior to January 1, 2008 but if it would be advantageous to hold the elections earlier, the current president has the power to do so.
-The poles as of Saturday, October 13: Kibaki (PNU-current president) 37%, Raila (ODM) 53% and Musyoka (Another ODM Candidate) 9%

As of now, the time leading up to the elections has been peaceful. We hope and pray that this will continue as historically this has not the case.

Floating thoughts...

2007-10-17T07:11:00.000-07:00

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

This is a verse that I have found myself meditating upon this week. It's to the point and easy to remember which may be the reason why it comes to mind so easily.

Joyful in hope: It's amazing how if I chose to be joyful in the hope I have, if I stop to recognize that my life is full of hope...my perspective will change. Many people here are teaching me this lesson so well. Their lives are less than desirable in many respects, and yet they are so full of joy. They get it. They see God in such a way that fills them up with the joy of the hope that He gives. Wow.

Patient in affliction: I again am humbled by what I find 'afflicting.' Maybe it's a headache or a person who I don't get along with. I have yet to deal with the affliction of watching my child go hungry each day, or of being suppressed by the government that is supposed there to 'serve the people,' or the affliction of working for an unjust boss that refuses to pay his workers a fair wage. Many of you have read “The Kite Runner” and I think of Hassan, a character in the book who I feel exemplifies the idea of 'being patient in affliction,' and there is something so beautiful about a person who endures pain with out complaining. I don't think this means to just sit back and take it... but when the affliction is beyond my control, the way that I deal with it will say a great deal about my character. I desire to become a person who is patient in affliction.

Faithful in prayer: It is so easy in America to forget to pray... It is so easy in Nairobi to forget to pray. When my eyes are closed to the suffering around me and even within me, I am not faithful in prayer. When I open my eyes and truly see the condition of my heart and of those around me, I find my only reaction is to pray. It is my prayer that my eyes will stay open, that I refuse to be blind to the hurts of others, that I don't look the other way and hope for the best. The question I must ask myself when I pray is: Am I listening? ... a true listening post. How does God see this situation, what is His take on everything? What is He asking us to do? Wow. If only we listened to you Lord, forgive us.

These are just some thoughts floating around this head of mine...

Mungu Akubariki,
Mandy

The nuts and bolts of CTM Nairobi

2007-10-13T03:25:00.001-07:00

The Center for Transforming Mission

Many of you have asked what it is that we do over here. Prior to our arrival in Kenya, we didn't feel that we were in a position to answer that question. 5 weeks later, I think we can give you a snapshot of what the organization looks like in Kenya as well as how we fit into the grand scheme.

CTM is a non-profit based out of Tacoma that works to develop grassroots leaders in hard places. What do I mean by hard places? When I think of hard places, I think of the parts of town that you and I try to avoid after dark, places that no not have well-developed infrastructures and places where passionate people are left to care for the people because no one else wants or dares to. The idea behind CTM emerged from inner-city Philadelphia but has since expanded to support urban leaders in several cities around the states, in central America, Thailand and now, Nairobi. It looks different in each of these areas depending on what the “hard place” is in each respective place. In central America, the overlooked population deals with gang members that have been sent to prison, in cities around the states, the urban centers that no one wants to get their hands dirty with and in the case of Nairobi, the slum areas where leaders are not well-supported by organizations or churches but feel a call to reach out to communities in dire need of transformation.

CTM is not a program-based organization, but focuses on building capacity amongst what already exists through trainings, further education and bringing leaders together to create a network of peers. In many parts of the world, organizations are not 501c3's with advisory boards, endowments and long range plans but instead one or two people that see a need and have a desire to meet it. CTM recognizes this and looks to support these small organizations and churches whose work is imperative in transforming communities.

In our particular situation, Gideon (the CTM Nairobi Director) works 30-35 grassroots leaders throughout Nairobi that are working in hard situations in and around the city. He is a support for them by checking in with them regularly, pulling them together on a monthly basis to discuss challenges, celebrating their successes and providing local and international training opportunities through the US CTM office.

Over the past month, we have spent out energy on getting to know some of the pastors/leaders in the network and learning more about their work. We are now entering a stage that will allow us to pour more time and energy into specific areas and enhance the support that CTM can provide.

A few of our focal points:

Work with two leaders (Mark and Moses) that are working in a community called Mathare. This is a slum that it seems that no one is paying attention to. In many of the slums, there are lots of churches and NGO's, yet it seems that Mathare has reaped the benefits of neither of these. We are exploring setting up the CTM office in Mathare part-time in order to find ways to partner with them and support them in their work.
Another group that is often neglected in hard places is the 14-24 year old age group. Since high school is not free and many come from disjointed families, this poses to be a difficult time in life. CTM is partnering with a local non-profit called Real Stars to sponsor kids to go to high school while also providing a complimentary leadership development program that takes place over 3-one week intensives over their 4-year high school experience.
We are in conversation with Carlile College to provide a formalized educational opportunities for slums in the area. Carlile takes pastors through a 2 year certification program to help them in their respective areas. CTM is looking at the possibility of a partnership with Carlile and Bakke Graduate University (A Seattle-based Theology school) to provide a master's level program for the pastors working in slums communities.

This is the work of CTM in a nutshell. If you are interested in learning more about it, please check out the website at www.ctmnet.org.

2x4's

2007-10-13T03:23:00.000-07:00

Notty pines, nor warping

Not the sticks that builders use, Nor the 1 ¾ x 3 ½ deception to save a penny.

2 meters x 4 meters

A dwelling. A house. A home.

4-5 adults and children.

Sleeping side by side.

Windows in the mud walls are not an option.

The sun fries the tin roof cooking the contents.

Karibu (Welcome) is what they say.

Sit down on our lone couch, while I make us Chai or buy us Fanta

Beds, a shelf, coffee table and couch-each square foot is used.

A TV in the corner

A light in the center which works on occasionally

The yellow water buckets carried from who knows where

A smile, their best English

Our best Swahili

Her it comes-Chai and bread followed by a plastic bin to wash our hands

We bless it

We eat it

We laugh and share.

We pray.

We leave. They stay.

Back to our 2x4 bedroom we go

1 Room in a house of many

2 people

Windows

Cement walls keep us cool

1 bed, many shelves, a desk and chair

3 lights

a bathroom-running water

The door is closed

We are sleeping.

Pace, Power and Providence

2007-10-03T03:25:00.000-07:00

Pace, Power and Provision

On Saturday, we enjoyed the Night of Champions Track event in Nairobi. It was the first international track meet that Kenya has ever hosted and drew some of the top runners from all over the continent. Although supported by Tusker (Kenya's equivalent to Budweiser), it was a big step for Nairobi as event planners have historically stayed away from large events at night because of the potential for violence. I have never seen anything like it before...they were hauling! 3:40 for the 1500 and 7:40 for the 3000 meter races. Can you imaging the kind of pace that one would have to maintain to do that? It's interesting to think about where sports have come from and where they have taken us. With illegal enhancers in the Olympics, the Tour de France and just about every major sporting league, one can argue that we are wasting our time and resources on such events. Our night under the lights was a refreshing example of how athletes can compete on behalf of a family, a tribe and a collective nation to share a talent with others, to overcome adversity and to combat the lies of unethical competition.

We have had several interesting conversations lately around some of the cultural differences of Kenya and the states. It has allowed us to understand a bit more about how to interpret cues from others, which areas to be sensitive to when interacting with Kenyans and has highlighted some things that many of us have never been forced to think about. In particular, I was drawn to an interesting conversation around the role of power in establishing independence. Let me explain. It is no secret over here that most western nations are independent in nature. We like space, freedom, fences and oppose carpools, sharing rooms and cell phones and sitting in the seat next to someone when there are others that will allow us to be further apart. Where did this mentality come from? The Native Americans didn't think this way, neither do some minority groups. It was brought to my attention that independence can often be equated with a certain amount of power. When one develops enough power, he or she does not feel the need to rely on others, to create a communal voice or to represent others in his or her opinion. I remember during the first day of classes when we were instructed how to contribute to classroom discussions by using statements like, “I feel that” or “I think that” as a way to make others feel comfortable, to not generalize on behalf of others and to make a clear distinction that it was my opinion that I was sharing. Even last week at a conference with 50-60 African leaders, I often heard the terms “we” and “us”. It was a collective plea for power, in community. The next time you are offended because someone uses you as a guinea pig and speaks on behalf of a collective, consider the implications. Most of the time, you can say, “I think...” but with that comes an understanding that you have somehow acquired the power to represent yourself...independently.

Yesterday morning, Mandy, Gideon and I sat down for 4 hours and spoke about what we were seeing and hearing as we begin to create a vision for our time in Kenya. It has almost been a month already! Our conversation was a reality check in that there is a lot to do, that American long range plans and agendas do not work over here and that our goal is to be adamant about finding ways to fill niches that exist in serving the least, last and lost of this community. In the context that I come from, there is an organization serving all of the needs that you could think of. Not to say that there aren't problems, but it is often not because of a lack of people trying. If you want to start something new, you find a specific area that you can dig into and stay focused. Well, let me welcome you to Kenya, where niches are enormous, needs are prevalent and all organizations do a little of everything. In some ways, this is daunting, while in others it is empowering. Gideon has a warm heart for this area and his gentle spirit has allowed him to encounter an array of people that will allow him to further his ministry. As we look ahead, we will be focusing on putting some structures in place that will allow CTM Nairobi to succeed in its mission to serve leaders in the slums, to raise up a generation of youth that can tell their story in a world that doesn't want to hear it and help mainstream churches and organizations see the value of those that are working in extremely difficult places...where the pay sucks, where the outcomes are often never seen and where it takes work to see Joy. We ask for provision in discerning these questions.

Peace,

joel

Update

2007-09-28T05:06:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!

We went to a conference this week called the Monday Church conference... It was about a new way of looking at the church... in that we should see our vocations, our callings as more than just a job...but where God has called us to be, and where ever our job is, that is 'OUR' church... that is where we minister to the people in OUR congregation... and then on Sunday's all of us 'pastors' gather back together to be equipped and filled and ready to serve. It's an interesting concept that really validates the fact that we are not all called to be pastors or church workers, and yet God has still included us in His plan for His Kingdom.

One thing that I REALLY appreciated about the conference as well is that the speakers really emphasized that our job is not just to 'save souls'...but to walk along side of people as they transform their lives and to live a life of service. Especially in the context of the poor, so many people believe in Jesus, and they are just waiting for the glory of heaven, relinquishing all hope for here on earth... yet in the Lord's prayer he says, “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, ON EARTH as it is in heaven...”

It was just an opportunity for a renewed perspective that God has a calling on my life and those that I will be working with, not to just wait for heaven and not to just 'survive,' but to be LIVING here on earth .

On another note: Joel's birthday was yesterday and I just want to say THANK YOU to everyone who sent a fun email his way! He has a lot of irreplaceable memories with many of you and I know that many of you have been a part of shaping him into who he is today... which is someone I'm very thankful for!

We LOVE to hear from you and what is going on in your lives!

Snapshots on life:

All cell phones here are 'pay as you go,' there are no long term agreements or plans... Nice :)
I'm reading a book called 'The Kite Runner,' right now. I'm just a short way into it, but it is VERY good so far, and I recommend it already :)
There is a house being built next door to us, and last night when we came home (around 9:00pm) there were probably at least 50 men all working together as one solid machine to combine the sand and rock to make concrete and then pour the roof. This process MUST be done all at once or the house will have a pour foundation to build any other stories on... It was AMAZING to watch so many people work as one unit to complete a job (in the dark!).
All around town there are people who are roasting corn by the side of the road... they put a seasoning on it and it tastes similar to popcorn... it's very good!! It's an African treat :)
When we walk through areas where they are not used to seeing white people, we will often hear one of two things:
1. Mzungu!! Which means white person (or European)
  
  or
2. How are YOU?! And the kids all say it the same where the 'how are' are in their normal voice and then the 'you' is emphasized and they say it for longer and usually with a higher voice

If you watched the Constant Gardener, there was a very short scene where Tessa is walking around Kibera, and the children are saying, 'how are you?!' and this is EXACTLY what it is like

That's all for now... I pray that these blogs provide insight for you... and if there's anything you want to know more about... don't hesitate to email us! We really hope that our time in Kenya will be educational for everyone, not just ourselves :)

Conference, Construction and Constant Gardening

2007-09-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

This week has been a change of pace for us. We have participated in a conference with several African leaders around the role of the church in transforming society. (I should point out that 4 of the 5 presenters were from the states) It has been an interesting case study in developing an image of the African Church, the struggles that it deals with and the lessons that it might share with the rest of the world. It is interesting to consider what the African Church might look like without Western Influence. Africa as a whole seems to be a very tribal continent, recognizing the interconnectedness of various facets of life and lifting up the importance of community. Somehow, there has been a shift to a dualistic nature toward isolating pockets of life, separating the mind from the spirit and in some ways losing a sense of what it means to live in authentic community. I should say that my observations were based on some of my own preconceived notions as well as a conversation with church leaders about the role of western influence in African societies. I wonder what it might take to let Africa be itself, to feel empowered and equipped to live with nonwestern systems. The conference was valuable. It raised some interesting ideas, allowed me to be a part of a process of contextualizing western thought amongst Africans and affirmed my taking for granted of access to continual education.

Last night on the way home, I experienced something pretty cool. As most of you know, Mandy and I are currently living with Gideon (CTM Nairobi) and his family. Gideon’s sister in law, Rose is building a house next door. All of the homes in our community are made out of block/cement. It has been interesting to watch the builders work from the ground up to develop the home. Over the past couple of weeks, the walls were completed and prepared to lay a cement ceiling. (This is done so that the homeowner can build additional levels when financially able). I am not very familiar with African construction, but I guess that when a ceiling is laid, it needs to be done in one shot…so an early start is necessary along with tons of human power. Well, at approximately 9 PM, they were at their prime. It was dark out, but the moon was full and there were at least 40 people working to pour this roof. It was incredible. Everyone had a job and collectively they created a giant machine. From the sand, water, crushed stone runners and cement ratio supervisor to the assembly line up the stairs to the roof, each person knew their role. A constant chatter was present and despite the hard work, limited tools, and very little compensation, people were committed to finishing the job and doing it well. It was amazing.

Late last night, Mandy, Rose and I watch Constant Gardener. Trinity (our home church) is going to watch it and discuss it tonight. Part of the movie is filmed in Kibera, a slum that we live very close to in Nairobi. It was interesting to watch it for a second time. I remember the first time that we watched it in the states. Both of us had a gut-wrenching feeling about what we were getting ourselves into. It seemed so extreme, so horrendous and so unjust. In viewing it after having spent time in Kibera, it took on a new persona. Kibera is no longer so bad…it is what it is. In some ways, I am extremely frustrated that I am already desensitized to these living conditions. In other ways, I feel like I have begun to see beauty in Kibera. Through the injustices, I see people living in community that are beautiful, that are wise, that work hard, that help others, that laugh, that dance and sing. Through this inner debate, I hope that I never stop questioning the why. Why are these 1 million people called to live on a 600 acre plot when others of us around the world live in such affluence?

This is the latest and greatest from Nairobi. We will be sending our first monthly newsletter shortly. Thanks for checking out the blog. It is great to know that our experiences can be your experiences.

peace/joel

"Inspiration"

2007-09-24T20:57:00.000-07:00

Some refer to Kibera as a middle class slum. My version of middle class looks a bit different than temporary structures and horrible sanitation systems, yet something about the people, the economics and the opportunities that it provides boosts the state of the community. It wasn't till last Friday that could trump its state. We entered a slum on the west side of Nairobi to visit Mark and Moses, two products of the slum that have given up the past 10 years to run a community center on the perimeter of the slum. We walked for a total of about 250 yards in the slum and both immediately felt something different. Something was missing...or maybe something was present. Maybe it was psychlogical, none the less-different than anything else that I have experienced.

I will write more about this community later but wanted to share a brief story about Mark and Moses...These guys are Mandy and I's age and have lived in Mathare for their entire lives. When they were teenagers, they started hanging out at a building where that Matatu (taxi) stops along one of the main roads east of the city. After finishing high school, they stayed committed to the center and began spending more time there. The center has since evolved into a place for kids to hang out in the evenings and a church on Sunday mornings. There is no electricity or running water, but they have a generator that they bring in occasionally. The center attracts 50-75 kids each night. The center, called THE INSPIRATION CENTER is all that and more. Well, maybe not the center itself, but the guys that run it are as much of an inspiration as I have ever seen. These guys have had the opportunity to leave the slum for 10 years, yet they have remained committed to serving this community that is crying for help.

Recently, they partnered with a rotary club to do a project in their community. Wanting to truly make a difference they asked the residents what they would like to see changed. Most of them wanted to see the community bathrooms improved. With no sewer systems, community bathrooms are the only solution to people defecating on the streets or “flying toilets” when people poop in a bag and throw it out of sight. We first went to a recently renovated public toilet. The facility was light, clean and carried a sense of pride with it. Soon, we walked to another facility that had not yet been touched. I usually have a high tolerance for this kind of stuff but I nearly puked. It was absolutely disgusting. Mark and Moses shared their vision for this bathroom and for 11 more bathrooms throughout Mathare that they hope to restore in the future. I couldn't help but think about Jesus as he washed his disciples feet the night of the last supper. These guys are washing and restoring the “feet” of this community...not because they have to, but because they are committed to restoring the lives of individuals and transforming their community.

A few other random updates: Mandy and I went to a 4 hour church service on Sunday (extra points for us!), I played my first ultimate frisbee game on Sunday, we are both feeling much better...thanks for the prayers, we now have a Kenyan cell phone (see the right side contact info if you're interested), we start Swahili lessons 3x/week next week, we met up with Lorraine-an old friend from PLU and we are at a conference for 4 days this week looking at how churches work with other sectors to transform society.

Sorry for the lame update. I am tired after 8 hours of listening at the conference. I will write more later this week! For those of you that are interested in photos, bear with us-we want to be sensitive to our roles and will take pics when we build up relationships with the kids and leaders that we are working with.

peace/joel

Flickering Lights

2007-09-18T05:48:00.001-07:00

It has been a week of power struggles in more than one way.

The first, we were without electricity for 4 days last week and without internet for 6 days. Two days without power due to a tall truck that took down the wire near Gideon's home and the other two days for who knows what...maybe because of the furious rains that came in!

Perhaps more important, the processing of power distribution in what it means to enter into this community. In our preparations, we explored the realities of power in a community that isn't used to seeing many “Vanilla Lattes”, the baggage that comes with it and the unavoidable topic that we have CHOSEN to enter into a hard place plagued by injustices, extreme poverty and unfathomable living conditions. I think that we are in a dangerous situation if we ignore these conditions, yet since our pre-trip planning a new dynamic has emerged.

***I want you to know that we are having a wonderful time. My thoughts below outline some of the questions that we face. These experiences are also surrounded by warm hospitality, people that are interested in learning about us and leaders that have blessed us in many ways.

The Mitatus
Mitatus are imported used white Toyota vans from Japan and Europe converted to squish together 15 passengers, and whose muffler secretes enough soot to make a gravel road look like asphalt. Each one tells a story with a layer of stickers on the exterior, blaring music and the young man hanging out the side herding passengers at each stop. The roads are FULL of these vehicles...people line the streets waiting to be picked up.

As I wait on the side of the road, I become the newest prey for the 20-30 shilling (40-50 cent) trip down the road. “Mzungu CAAM HEEYR”, (White person, come here) they call. I look at the route on the side of the van making sure that it is headed in the correct direction and jump in. I soon wish that my 34 inch inseem was cut in half as my knees dig into the seat ahead of me. Around me, people are talking...perhaps catching up on the upcoming Kenyan election, maybe pointing out a nice car or commenting on the driver's lead foot. But me...I don't know. I have no clue what they are saying...later to find out that they are joking about charging me more because I am white.

Down the pothole ladened road we go...at the mercy of one of many CRAZY matatu drivers...with inches between us and the car next to us, ahead of us and behind. Music blaring, Swahili lingo flying, stenches permeating, coins passing...and the white kid in the back seat.

Where the streets have no name...
I wouldn't know where to begin in painting a picture for you of what Kibera might look like. Some day, I hope to be able to find a way to share its personality, its appearance and some of the stories that are derived from it with you...but for now-as I have already begun to lose my initial shock, I will share some of my first impressions.

A bit of context on Kibera:
Kibera is the largest slum in Africa...Although there is now way to completely tell, there are around 1,000,000 people living in this area. NWesterners...this is more than Seattle and Tacoma proper combined. Michiganders...more than all of GR Metro. They live in approx. 2 square miles. (5,280 feet by 10,560 feet). A railroad track cuts between their beloved turf and it sits in the midst of a valley. Kenya is in the process of dealing with a dilemma in which rural villagers are moving to Nairobi in groves. This has been a common occurrence for decades. Historically, people moved to the city to make some money, to get educated or to make connections that would support their rural agricultural needs. Times have changed...and now they are not returning to their native communities. As people come to the city, the only affordable housing lies within the slums. While Kibera is by far the largest slum in Nairobi, there are 169 other slums throughout the rest of the city. 170 slums in a city of 4.5 million people! The main distinguishing factor about a slum is that the government owns the land, and residents are not allowed to build permanent structures on it. Consequently, infrastructures are terrible and people are forced to make temporary dwellings...usually mud/stick walls and rusty tin roofs. Electricity is available yet water comes from the river flowing through this sewerless community. Each year, people live with the question of whether or not they will have a place to call home in the future.

As we entered Kibera for the first time, It was raining. I got to pull my hood up over my head, focus on the muddy ground and seclude myself from the thousands of people around me. My long pants and jacket covered my pasty arms and legs, and I could bury my face by pretending to concentrate on the puddles. Was it that I didn't want to see? Or maybe, that I didn't want to be seen? Each time I enter the slums, I continually question whether I ever will or ever shall “belong”.

On Sunday, when returning from church in Kibera, a man began walking next to me and shared some of his thoughts in English: “Take a look around, these are my people. They are black. You are white. What are you doing here?” I blanked...I had absolutely nothing to say and kept walking. I wished that it was raining so that I could put my hood over my head again. He was right. What am I doing here? What gives me the right to enter into his community? Some might find this a bit cruel on his part...but you have to understand that many of these people have been taken advantage of by politicians, tourists, Hollywood actors, institution, non-profits, etc. How can I expect him to determine whether or not I am here to do the same?

For the past 25 years, I have been granted a sense of power. I am white. I am a male. I am balding and look older. I am educated. I have money. For the past 10 days, these seemingly positive attributes have been challenged. I have to rely on others to understand the language around me. I am White. I am Educated. I can leave whenever I want to...I don't “belong”.

Power is fearlessness.
Power is money.
Power is communicating.
Power is opportunity.
Power is belonging.

Loving life, identifying challenges and feeling blessed,
joel

A preview of Nairobi

2007-09-18T05:41:00.000-07:00

The night before we left for Kenya, we met up with some friends from church for a small send off and some final goodbyes. During the party, Kris Rocke gathered everyone around to “bless us.” It was a wonderful experience that I feel has already brought many wonderful moments our way. Someone blessed us with safe travels and our travels were not only safe but flawless.... we were blessed with traveling mercies indeed!! Another person blessed us with smooth transitions and new friendships and that have also come to pass as we have met many wonderful people already... another blessed us with a strong and growing relationship with one another and I have been amazed at the peace and love I feel when I am with Joel. It is beautiful thing to experience God through your blessings! It has taught me to be free with blessing others and to hold back on cursing. How easy it can be to curse, especially in the heat of a moment, and how difficult it can be to bless. I hope that those who blessed us, have felt a return of blessings in their own lives.

Every day has been a new experience and as I learn more about the people and their culture, I find myself enjoying each moment all the more. It's a wonderful feeling when something as simple as going to the store becomes a new and noteworthy experience simply because it is not in the context of the culture that you are used to. Instead of a writing a novel (which I feel I could easily do :), I just want to highlight random thoughts, moments, or experiences that will allow you a glimpse into our life here in Nairobi.

~ A person can buy 5 Roma Tomatoes for the equivalent of $.15 and an avocado (that is TWICE the size of the avocados in the states) costs $.05. Produce is CHEAP!! I went to the market in downtown Nairobi on Saturday and bought over 50 pounds of fruits and vegetables for a little over $10.00. WOW :)

~ Many streets are not paved, and when it rains, it gets MUDDY! Kenyans are very talented at walking through the mud and keeping their shoes clean. I gave up on this task and bought “gum boots” (rubber boots that go up to your knees and wash off easily).

~ They have a store called Nakumatt that is similar to a Fred Meyer or Wal-Mart... there are many conveniences here that I did not expect...

~I found a group to play ultimate frisbee with!!

~We travel around town either by walking (YEAH for exercise!!) or by Matatu. Matatus are 14 passenger vans that drive on set routes and are aggressive on the road!! Many times they will weave in and out of traffic making sudden stops if they see a potential passenger and are consider by some to be bullies on the road. The lonely planet guide describes Kenyan drivers as BAD... and I see it differently, it's more of a talent to successfully drive on the roads here... there's such an ebb and flow to the traffic that doesn't exist in the states.

~They have ice cream here!

~Some fun Swahili words that you can use in your conversations:

Pole, pole: slowly, slowly

Karibu!!: Welcome!!

Asante: Thank you!

Sasa: Hello

Kwaheri: Goodbye

Lala Salama: Sleep well (this rolls off the tongue so nicely :)

I just also want to say ASANTE SANA (thank you very much) to those who sent me birthday wishes. Receiving letters from home was the best birthday gift I could have received this year, and it was so wonderful to receive even more blessings!! One of my prayers is that I will be able to bless others half as much as I have received this past month :)

Peace from Nairobi,

Mandy

The time has come!

2007-09-11T02:17:00.000-07:00

Well, we have been in Nairobi for nearly four days! Lots has happened given the first 12 hours were spent trying desperately to stay awake while the next 12 were spent giving into the temptation.

Let me start by letting you know that I have no idea how this Blog thing will turn out. Some of you want a play by play of what is up in this neck of the woods (or shall I say desert) while others see this as an opportunity to enter into our minds of chaos, of affliction and the turmoil that comes with living in different contexts. Hopefully, it will be a bit of both...something that both Mandy and I can use as a collection of thoughts and something that we can process, share and be supported through given the benefits of a technologically globalized world.

The first thing that Mandy and I noticed as we touched down in Nairobi was the overwhelming discrepancy in the number of white people on our plane compared to what we had anticipated. Granted, we were coming from England, what some might call the motherland, but it still seemed a but odd. As a rule, I equate travel with opportunity which often corresponds with money. We began to wonder if the 2:1 of the plane that was white was a correct ratio of the Kenyan populus but were soon proven wrong as we drove the streets of Nairobi to Gideon's house.

Gideon is our main link in Nairobi. He heads up CTM in Nairobi and provides support and leadership for grassroot leaders working in hard places. He is an incredibly talented man with a heart for serving others in his own community. Despite the opportunity that he had to advance his education and to work in Seattle, WA, he returned to his own community to build up the work of leaders that work tirelessly to enhance the lives of those that live in the slums. He has a beautiful family whose pictures we will post as soon as possible. They have opened their home to us as we transition into life in Kenya. Their house is a beautiful cement home that is less than 1 year old. We enjoy basic amenities, running water and electricity.

We are certainly taking our time in getting settled as 10 hours is tough to make up. Saturday, we ventured approximately 1 mile to the supermarket. I am told that this is one of the nicer supermarkets in town with many of the same products from the states. I soon learned that there is a large price gap between food that is traditional Kenyan food and that has been brought in through western influence. While rice, beans, potatoes and local vegetables cost next to nothing, cereal, spaghetti sauce and cheese cost nearly twice what it would at home. It was an interesting experiment thinking about how a person living on a normal Kenyan salary might develop a food budget.

The second half of our day consisted of a 6 hour birthday celebration for Gideon's daughter Samara, who turned two. It would have been an 8 hour celebration but the guests were 2 hours late:). I can role with this schedule! We enjoyed the opportunity to meet lots of friends and family as we joined Samara and her family in celebrating this momentous occasion.

Sunday, we joined Gideon and his family for church...which was held in a huge tent that looks similar to the Denver Airport. We enjoyed our first church visit to a Kenyan church and eagerly anticipate the opportunity to begin our weekly venture into new churches around the city. The afternoon consisted of playing games, drinking chai and talking technology and politics with Gideon's family. I always enjoy hearing what others have to say about politics!

I am not sure when this blog will be posted as internet connections are hit and miss during the day. As you go on in your week, we thank you for the support that you have already shown from afar and hope that you will think of this place often.

I am hitting the sleep zone and should sign off before I fall asleep typinggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg.

T-town to Nairobi:

2007-09-05T01:24:00.000-07:00

What a journey it has been. We haven't even stepped foot in Nairobi yet, but have felt a powerful presence of family and friends as we prepare for this transforming experience. A special thanks to those of you that have gone out of your way to clear any doubts in out mind that Tacoma is a place that we can call home. From gifts and prayers to garage sale funds and home made tiles, we are incredibly grateful for those that have chosen to embark in this journey with us.

To the airport we go...9 hours to London, 9 hours in Heathrow while the underground workers are on strike and 9 more to Nairobi.

We'll catch you on the other side.

Our blessings to each of you.

joel and mandy

3 Weeks and Counting!

2007-08-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

Greetings! Things are coming together smoothly as we prepare for our September 5 takeoff. We have had a great response from family and friends in supporting our trip in a myriad of ways. What a gift to feel the love, support and investments of others. We are finalizing the last minute details on health insurance, have one last round of shots and are learning lots about what the IRS expects from those that are volunteering abroad!

We are currently living with Mandy's parents in Puyallup, WA and housesitting for friends from church for the month of August. Mandy and I will celebrate our 1 year anniversary tomorrow and we head to Vancouver, BC to join our cousins for a wedding reception.

Our emails will not change throughout this process and our phones will not be switched off until September 6. We'd love to hear from you!

Joel and Mandy

Joel email: jdzylstra@gmail.com Joel Phone: (253)414-4315
Mandy email: mandy.zylstra@gmail.com Mandy Phone: (253)732-1698

Learn about how you can partner with us in our journey to Nairobi, Kenya!

2007-06-22T07:38:00.001-07:00

We have developed a 6 minute video to share a bit more about the people and the place that we will be serving. We are a bit on the amateur side of film production but hope that you can bare with us!

Happy Viewing,

Joel and Mandy

Note: The quality of the image above is not indicative of the resolution of the video.

2.5 months and counting!

2007-06-02T16:34:00.001-07:00

Well, it sounds like a long time-but the summer if going to fly! Joel will be on the road for the next two weeks and Mandy will be teaching until the end of June. We will both be going to Michigan in early July and will move out of our apartment by the end of July. Oh, yeah-did I mention that we need to find some time to get all of our ducks in a row for this Kenyan adventure?

So...we are working on creating a small video to share our experience with you all a bit more in-depth and to paint a picture of what the upcoming year holds. We hope to unleash it by mid-June! The fundraising will begin sooner than later in hopes of raising $12,000, ($7,000 by the time that we leave.)

that's a brief update...we're plugging away.

much love from T-town,

Joel and Mandy