Floating thoughts...

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

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

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

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

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:

1. All cell phones here are 'pay as you go,' there are no long term agreements or plans... Nice :)

2. 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 :)

3. 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!).

4. 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 :)

5. 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

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"

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