We have different customs and traditions.
We have different modes of transportations.
We have differnt foods.
We have different rules and regulations.
*I'm currently typing in the dark because the home I'm staying in
doesn't have electricity. I'm also sitting on my bed under a mosquito
net. It's 11pm here; at home it's 4pm. -- just to name a few.
However, I have really enjoyed taking in, observing, and participating
in the differences . I have joked with my new friends here that I'm
becoming Kenyan. For example, I love learning the mother-tongue
language (DuLuo) and speaking it (I always get giggles because of my
accent).
Yesterday, my host, Alice, said in a matter of fact tone, your country
is better than Kenya. I responded, "That depends on how you look at
it."
Due to my response, she looked at me as if I had not heard her
correctly. In my initial response I wanted to be nice and also show
appreciation for her country too. And, I did not want to respond
boastfully and say something like, "Yes, we have a better country...We
have it all under control. And, We have endless opportunities." I
think we have problems in USA too. Moreover, while I have been here,
I've tried to show gratitude for all that I've received here. It is
indeed a beautiful country with beautiful people; it's all part of
God's creation.
Yet, when Alice asked for further explanation of my "it depends"
comment I soon found myself to being corrected by her.
I said, "We have opportunities in USA, but they pull us away from
family. It can be lonely setting out on your own. In Kenya, you stay
close to family; that is so nice. I live hours away from my family in
USA. It takes me a days travel [10 hours] to reach my Mom and Dad &
one sister and my other sister is farther away than that. The concept
of family is home here. Home in America is whatever place you move;
it is separate from generations of family."
Alice corrected me.
She said, "Family is not a close tie here, it is a burden. We cannot
afford to move away for opportunities. If you see family living in a
compound that is not love; it is burden. It is a burden because
grandparents are caring for their grandchildren. Yound men that are
able either can't find work or they are lazy and drunk. They leave
others to care for them and their numerous children. My relative died
last week with nothing. I never really saw this relative, but because
no one else was capable, my husband had to pay the mortuary bill to
bring the body home. We had to pay and prepare the meals for the
funeral. It is a burden. It is sadness and stress, not love. I want
my children to be far away because I know they would have work and
money. It is not love to leave one with struggles. I would take your
loneliness in America over what you have called family."
Family as a burden. That is hard to understand and hard to cope with
as I hear it.
Growing up I didn't really know how blessed I was. My dad helped me
on math homework. I can recall my mom quizzing me on spelling words.
My sisters sat at the same table that I did and we had food for every
meal.
Tonight I ate dinner with Alice and we talked about HIV and AIDS. We
discussed the danger dor students of child-headed homes (children who
have lost both parents). We talked about how Umoja and other programs
can help -- but yet there is still so much need. Here in Kenya, a
common Saturday event is a burial. They are very common -- yet, a
summer Saturday day in the US is filled baseball, pool parties, and
BBQs.
It's a different world here. It fills me with sadness. These
conversations that I've shared with Alice over meals have left an
empty pit in my stomach.
When I leave at then end of our seven weeks, I'll be bringing back
more than just pictures on my camera. I'll be bringing back with me
some of their burden -- because I've heard their stories with my ears.
I have seen their pain with my eyes. I have felt their sorrow with
my heart.
Jesus tells us his "yoke is easy, and his burden is light" (Matt.
11:30) -- tonight I read Psalm 121...a prayer of assurance:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade as your right
hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time and forevermore.
On another note, Brandon and I were able to see some "different"
dances at the Secondary School (high school) Music Festival
competition on Saturday. These were traditional song and dance from
local tribes.
TIME JOURNAL SATURDAY (first full day at Alice's)
6:30am-woke up to natural alarm... roosters...not quite daylight yet,
thank you very much.
6:35-7:18- praying/reading time -- rooster were God's way of telling
me to have some spiritual food for early breakfast
7:25am- first sponge bath with no faucet (for extra water, etc.).
It's cold morning and it's a somewhat outdoor shower. Water for
spongebath was warmed over coals and is now steaming in cold air.
8:30 - Local teacher who is taking me to festival is supposed to pick
me at Alice's
9:00 - Brandon texts and let's me know he arrived safe as meeting
destination (I'm still waiting on the teacher so we can go and meet
Brandon).
9:17 - teacher arrives (47 minutes late) -- Alice tells me that he's
on "African time"
9:40 - arrive at meeting place to get Brandon (we were supposed to be
there at 9)
9:55am- we start to try to flag down public transportation. A
matatu...a van that's supposed to hold ONLY 14 people.
10:28am - we finally tag a Matatu -- 24 people riding in van (NEW
RECORD!) Brandon has left butt cheek hanging out of van door. The
teacher is not sitting down but half of body hanging out door. Laura
is sitting down and praying.
11:00am- arrive at Matatu stage and snag a Tuk Tuk (3 wheel motorized
tricycle that drives like a motorcycle and has canopy for protection
of sun/rain) -- this is my favorite Kenyan mode of transportation.
You can fit 2-5 people in it (made for 3 people counting driver).
11:15 - arrive at Xavian primary school in Kisumu for Regional music festival
11:25- discover African "violin" called the Orutu (homemade from
wire, banana leaves, snake skin, and treat trunk...I'm so impressed).
12ish- music competition starts
12:30-1:30 - glich in programming, unintentional intermission
1:25pm- small local boy (3-4 years old) keeps tapping brandon's
shoulder -- I'm sure we look so different to him!
3:45pm- leave to catch a Matatu to Chulaimbo before the rush hour for
Matatus...and before the rain! The roads are bad when it rains.
4:15pm- catch a Matutu - Thankful I'm don't hyperventilate in tight
spaces, it's another packed ride.
5ish- arrive back at Alice's shop. Brandon catches a little World Cup
action on TV in Alice's shop before walking back to Margaret's
6pm - Alice and I leave so we can walk home in daylight.
6:30pm- home and reading by "torch" (aka flashlight) -- no electricity
9:00pm- dinner - rice and beans and fresh pineapple!
10pm- bed time!
**The day was great and we saw some amazing musical pieces and
wonderful handmade instruments
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