Kathy Randall: Kisumu, Kenya.
It seems so familiar here. It is as if I had never been gone, and
everything is just the same as I had remembered from my time before,
three years ago. But there are things, details small and large, that
show that this is a town, a city, a country which has changed, and the
scars are trying so hard to fade in to the background.
Up at the top of the hill on the main road leading out of Kisumu, just
above the roundabout encircling the statue which looks out over Lake
Victoria, is a huge screen banner for The Nation, one of the national
newspapers. A photograph of Nelson Mandela, and a flip clock showing
the year date of 1991. "We were there" is emblazoned in large letters
over the man who helped bring peace to South Africa. Peace indeed.
This piece of history is hiding evidence. Behind this screen is the
burned out husk of a supermarket store where I had shopped during my
last stay in Kenya.
During the violence following the presidential election of December
17, 2007, riots erupted across the country, mobs overtook the
previously peaceful country, and places like this supermarket were
looted and destroyed. Angry men carrying pieces of tarmac torn from
the already washboard roads stormed through the shops of tailors,
carpenters, and craftsmen.
I was not here to see it. But as I said, I can see the scars. Yes,
they are healing, and Kenya is making strides to a healthier nation.
But still there are pieces which have not returned to the way they
used to be. Perhaps they won't. Perhaps they shouldn't. I hope that we
can learn from the scars here, and learn how to live and make peace in
this place.
That is what Umjoa Project is working towards. Through helping orphans
and vulnerable children by feeding them and allowing for support for
them to attend school, Umoja is helping educate those who will lead
Kenya. The hope of Kenya lies in its children.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Meeting my brothers and sisters
Written Sunday, May 30
Background for reading this blog entry: 1. For all of you who do not know me, I am African-American but very fair in complexion but I am not bi-racial. I just recently cut my hair and it is now about 4 inches long and is usually in some sort of curly afro. 2. Barack Obama's family is from the same area we are living in this summer.
On Sunday I visited an Anglican Church which provided lunch after the service. Following the meal, a man called me over and asked to speak with me. He said, "Your hair looks like mine but your skin does not." He asked me if I was like Barack Obama. Not knowing exactly what he meant, I replied, "ummm, not so much." I didn't know if he was referring to Obama being bi-racial or a black American. I tried as best as I could to explain that there are many different skins tones in America. I even went so far as to admit that there must have been a white person somewhere in my family tree but I don't know where. Still looking confused he asked me what percentage of America was black and I said about 12%. He replied that I must be 88% American. (lol – and we actually laughed about it) We finally agreed that I was just a black American.
Even before this conversation I wondered how people in Africa would perceive me. One of the interns from last year (who is a dark-skinned African-American was told by one man, "Welcome Home." I knew that wouldn't happen to me.") The fact is that I have had to answer similar questions about my heritage all of my life so I was well-versed on how to respond. Yet, as an African-American I often think of Africa as my "home" in some ways. It is the "motherland." But what happens when you bare only a slight resemblance to your mother? Will she recognize you? The man was able to see that I somehow shared a likeness with him but only because of my hair. What if he had met me weeks ago when my hair was longer and straighter? Would he have been able to recognize me? In some ways it is disappointing that those I consider to be my "brothers and sisters" do not see me as such. To them, I'm just another "mzungu" ("white person"), a foreigner.
One thing I have learned, however, even in this short time in Kenya is that while I may not be considered a sister of the Kenyans through blood or heritage I do share a family line that runs thicker than blood. By worshipping, praying, and singing together, I have found myself to be among and received as the sister in Christ of the Christian Kenyans. In this regard, while Kenya may not be my "motherland" we do share the same Father, the shed blood of our mutual brother, and our faith which binds us closer than hair texture or skin complexion.
Pig of God, You Take Away...
Written Tuesday June 1, 2010
Ahhh the close of another day spent in the larger Kisumu area of Western Kenya. The exhaustion after a day with Joseph Okuya is not to be matched very often yet it is not exhaustion accompanied by heavy sighs or downtrodden faces but with dear memories and tears of gladness hidden behind sunglasses. We have an itinerary for our first week in Kisumu so that we know the names of the places we are going that day. Of course as resident aliens we have no idea what this means for us until we are at these schools and homes and interacting with principals, headmasters, men, women, and of course the students. The majority of our time at these schools is spent in the office of the principal or school administrator and/or getting a tour of the facilities. Each school we have been to barring St. Gabriel's Junior Seminary (where I will be hosted for one week starting June 6) is a school that has at least one Umoja scholar. The Umoja scholars have been present at their schools when we arrived and were promptly called to come meet their 'supporters' as we have been deemed. I will remember some of the principals and some of the facilities without pictures but I will remember all of the children who we have met. Their humble thankfulness and soft spoken voices accompanied by their shy handshakes leave a lasting impression when you are who they see as the face of their providers. But further than that is the interaction of the students with Ellen Daniels-Howell. Laura has fully captured and embraced the encouraging nature of Ellen with the students and brought it to my attention so that I can no longer go back to the van while she remains with the student but stay and be involved. It is so beautiful when the students and Ellen interact because of Ellen's spirit with the students and the truth that you can see in her eyes when she speaks to them and lets them hear how much she, Umoja, and the people in the U.S. care about each student. Not just that, but encouraging the students to seek after their dreams and to truly reach for the sky. And you can tell she is not blowing smoke in their ears but she means it and for me this is why I am here. It is truly a privilege being a part of a project like Umoja that does not just DO but that BELIEVES in what is done and what can be done. I praise God for this opportunity and ask God to impart into me that sort of drive and love of God's people that Ellen so obviously has. These moments between Ellen and the students as well as the overall humble generosity and radical hospitality of the Kenyan students, guardians, school teachers, and simply everyday people we meet is what has imprinted in my head the dear memories and what has caused my eyes to water behind my big Western sunglasses a number of times. Sitting at Lisuku primary school with the guardians WITHOUT my sunglasses on was emotionally overwhelming listening to these guardians of orphans and each of their stories and having to restrain watering eyes so that I did not make a fool of myself. It is in these times so far in Kenya that I have no doubt seen God working and been encouraged by the emotion I feel and the things I see because I get to be here in the middle of it.
Moving slightly away from the emotional drawings of our first few days meeting students and guardians, an interesting conversation took place today and I have a feeling it is yet to be finished. As I awoke from a brief eye-resting session at Charles's home today, I heard Joseph ask Ellen if he could consecrate (as in Eucharistic consecration) milk and mashed potatoes. Of course I felt the urge to jump right in this conversation and it developed into quite a theological discourse on the Eucharist and biblical interpretation, particularly the concept of 'lamb of God.' Four Kenya, Ellen, Joseph, Winnie, and Vitalis (driver) were all present and contributed, except Vitalis who was silent and Laura who was asleep for the majority of the conversation. The issue was not really about mashed potatoes and milk as elements as much as it was about how we understand Eucharist and how to handle unique situations as clergy and leaders that revolve around issues like allergies to wheat or gluten, grapes, or simply not having access to the traditional bread and wine/grape juice. The consensus seemed to be that it is not as much the elements in bread and wine form that constitute the sanctity of the Eucharist but it is the way in which whatever elements used are consecrated and taken as Eucharist. I am aware of the slippery slope of Eucharist theology this approaches which is why I will table this conversation. The move of the conversation into biblical interpretation came from Joseph as he pondered how to relate the notion of Jesus as the "lamb of God" to a place that did not have lambs and possibly only had pigs. We debated for a while and Laura chimed in later at dinner time after having the situation explained. Regardless of what we decided on the issue, I want to turn the questions back to you as a reader. How do YOU respond to someone not understanding what "lamb of God" means because they don't know what a lamb is? How do you relate scripture to people who are not familiar with the metaphors scripture itself uses? The reason I am challenging you is because this is a challenge we will face here in Kenya but that all confessing Christians will face wherever they are. My two cents is that we have to maintain the integrity of the biblical scripture while being able to 'make plain' the revelation of God in ways that carry substance and meaning for anyone who may not understand. This is easy in theory but quite different in the field. Can I get an amen? (especially from you fellow seminarians in FieldEd right now!)
Ahhh the close of another day spent in the larger Kisumu area of Western Kenya. The exhaustion after a day with Joseph Okuya is not to be matched very often yet it is not exhaustion accompanied by heavy sighs or downtrodden faces but with dear memories and tears of gladness hidden behind sunglasses. We have an itinerary for our first week in Kisumu so that we know the names of the places we are going that day. Of course as resident aliens we have no idea what this means for us until we are at these schools and homes and interacting with principals, headmasters, men, women, and of course the students. The majority of our time at these schools is spent in the office of the principal or school administrator and/or getting a tour of the facilities. Each school we have been to barring St. Gabriel's Junior Seminary (where I will be hosted for one week starting June 6) is a school that has at least one Umoja scholar. The Umoja scholars have been present at their schools when we arrived and were promptly called to come meet their 'supporters' as we have been deemed. I will remember some of the principals and some of the facilities without pictures but I will remember all of the children who we have met. Their humble thankfulness and soft spoken voices accompanied by their shy handshakes leave a lasting impression when you are who they see as the face of their providers. But further than that is the interaction of the students with Ellen Daniels-Howell. Laura has fully captured and embraced the encouraging nature of Ellen with the students and brought it to my attention so that I can no longer go back to the van while she remains with the student but stay and be involved. It is so beautiful when the students and Ellen interact because of Ellen's spirit with the students and the truth that you can see in her eyes when she speaks to them and lets them hear how much she, Umoja, and the people in the U.S. care about each student. Not just that, but encouraging the students to seek after their dreams and to truly reach for the sky. And you can tell she is not blowing smoke in their ears but she means it and for me this is why I am here. It is truly a privilege being a part of a project like Umoja that does not just DO but that BELIEVES in what is done and what can be done. I praise God for this opportunity and ask God to impart into me that sort of drive and love of God's people that Ellen so obviously has. These moments between Ellen and the students as well as the overall humble generosity and radical hospitality of the Kenyan students, guardians, school teachers, and simply everyday people we meet is what has imprinted in my head the dear memories and what has caused my eyes to water behind my big Western sunglasses a number of times. Sitting at Lisuku primary school with the guardians WITHOUT my sunglasses on was emotionally overwhelming listening to these guardians of orphans and each of their stories and having to restrain watering eyes so that I did not make a fool of myself. It is in these times so far in Kenya that I have no doubt seen God working and been encouraged by the emotion I feel and the things I see because I get to be here in the middle of it.
Moving slightly away from the emotional drawings of our first few days meeting students and guardians, an interesting conversation took place today and I have a feeling it is yet to be finished. As I awoke from a brief eye-resting session at Charles's home today, I heard Joseph ask Ellen if he could consecrate (as in Eucharistic consecration) milk and mashed potatoes. Of course I felt the urge to jump right in this conversation and it developed into quite a theological discourse on the Eucharist and biblical interpretation, particularly the concept of 'lamb of God.' Four Kenya, Ellen, Joseph, Winnie, and Vitalis (driver) were all present and contributed, except Vitalis who was silent and Laura who was asleep for the majority of the conversation. The issue was not really about mashed potatoes and milk as elements as much as it was about how we understand Eucharist and how to handle unique situations as clergy and leaders that revolve around issues like allergies to wheat or gluten, grapes, or simply not having access to the traditional bread and wine/grape juice. The consensus seemed to be that it is not as much the elements in bread and wine form that constitute the sanctity of the Eucharist but it is the way in which whatever elements used are consecrated and taken as Eucharist. I am aware of the slippery slope of Eucharist theology this approaches which is why I will table this conversation. The move of the conversation into biblical interpretation came from Joseph as he pondered how to relate the notion of Jesus as the "lamb of God" to a place that did not have lambs and possibly only had pigs. We debated for a while and Laura chimed in later at dinner time after having the situation explained. Regardless of what we decided on the issue, I want to turn the questions back to you as a reader. How do YOU respond to someone not understanding what "lamb of God" means because they don't know what a lamb is? How do you relate scripture to people who are not familiar with the metaphors scripture itself uses? The reason I am challenging you is because this is a challenge we will face here in Kenya but that all confessing Christians will face wherever they are. My two cents is that we have to maintain the integrity of the biblical scripture while being able to 'make plain' the revelation of God in ways that carry substance and meaning for anyone who may not understand. This is easy in theory but quite different in the field. Can I get an amen? (especially from you fellow seminarians in FieldEd right now!)
Our first days
Monday, May 31, 2010
Happy Memorial Day! Although this will not be posted until a later date (we need to add more minutes to the Internet card)
We are at the close of our fourth day in Kenya – it has been an amazing experience thus far. I will try to give you some details about the past four days (while also being mindful that I should not publish a novel right now).
First of all, I have been keeping a time journal. This is a practice I learned from a friend on a trip to Sierra Leone, Africa in 2008. It isn't inclusive of every detail by any means – instead, it is more just highlights throughout the day. For example:
Our first full day in Kenya (May 29, 2010)
7am- wandered down to Breakfast area at Methodist Guest House in Nairobi, Kenya. For breakfast had passion fruit juice, tea (with cream and sugar), croissant, toast &jam, DELICIOUS bananas, pineapple, and beef sausage
9am- toured Kazuri beads and bought some earrings (check out kazuri.com)!!
10:51 – slathered on some spf…the sun is SHINNING!
11am – I pet a baby elephant at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trusts' Orphan Project and saw some wild hogs. Also pet a hyrax (and then applied hand sanitizer)
12:05pm – sighted wild baboons running/skipping alongside the major highway. This then inspired me to look for Rafiki (from the Lion King) in every Acacia tree that we passed.
12:48 – Got up close and personal with a giraffe. What does this mean? Our team (minus Sanetta, she did not take the opportunity) got a kiss from a giraffe. A KISS? Yes, a good ol' lick on the cheek, chin, and/or lips by a giraffe. Also, met a giraffe named Laura! She was prego (a giraffe's gestation is 15 months…so glad I'm not a giraffe). WHO SAID MINISTRY WAS NOT WILD!?!
The rest of the day was not as fun – we waited in the Nairobi airport for couple of hours as or flight to Kisumu was delayed. Finally at 8pm we made it to St. Anna's Guest house in Kisumu and had dinner at 8:15. That's 1:15pm North Carolina/Indiana time. Wow, what a day.
On Sunday we split up and went to different churches – I want to write about this experience too. However, due to my previous goal of not creating a novel, I will give the briefest highlights.
Kathy and I went to the African Inland Church. The service was similar to mine back home in that there were hymns sung (we even sang a familiar song in the native tongue "To God Be the Glory"), prayer, scripture, a sermon, the Apostles' Creed, and the Lord's Prayer. It was different in that the sermon was 50 minutes long, there was a large wasp nest above my head, and about 7 or 8 scripture passages were used (however, I guess if you're going to preach for 50 minutes you'll need more than just the lectionary text, ha). The sermon was mostly in the native tongue, minus a few stories the preacher wanted to tell us because the congregation laughed when he told it to them. The service was about 2.5 hours long – and equally great was the congregation's warm welcome for us. We hated to rush out after the service, but we had another meeting to attend (this included a feast at the Catholic Church that Brandon and Ellen attended).
Monday (TODAY, May 31, 2010)
Today was a jammed-packed day. Yesterday we all attended churches that are partners of the GIP-Chulaimbo (the Kenya side of the partnership of the Umoja Project). Today we visited three schools that receive support in one way or another (for example, they might receive support for lunch program, for school uniforms, or Umoja might sponsor a specific secondary school student and pay for tuition). We also visited a fourth school that will host Brandon next week that is currently not supported by Umoja.
I feel like I have a zillion stories from today – about 500 words per each school could maybe justify our experience of what we saw and heard. Yet, I do not have adequate words to express the gratitude and hospitality that we received today from the schools.
To all those persons that are reading this that are connected to the Umoja project: I have been honored today to receive this gratitude in your place. I wish every single one of you could know just how appreciative the students, teachers, and other administrators are for the work you have done to raise funds and for you generous giving. Long story short, YOU ARE CHANGING LIVES HERE IN KENYA! I don't know how many times today I heard of something along the lines of: "the food you have given us has helped us because our children are fed and can concentrate in school" or, "By sponsoring this child you have kept him/her in school and they work hard which will increase their opportunities after secondary school." – By uniting with the schools and congregation here in Kenya you are truly making a difference. One student we met, Samwel Oguna is the 2nd highest grade student in his class (all grades are posted publicly at the school). I did not get the chance to read the grades at all the schools we visited though – but I'm sure the Umoja scholars are in the top percent.
One highlight of the day:
After meeting with Lisuka Primary School's administration and guardians (similar I think to our PTA in the US, yet due to the reason that many children have lost parents here they are given the title "guardians")à one of the guardians gave us a gift: A chicken that was still ALIVE (STILL BREATHING, SQUAKING, ETC.)! As I mentioned before, we are lucky enough to be the recipients of the gratitude of the local schools and churches ;) The chicken is being passed along to Joseph, the Umoja Project Director here in Kenya. Receiving a chicken…that is definitely a first for me!
TIME JOURNAL HIGHLIGHTS FROM TODAY:
9:46am – developing motherly instincts…saving Ellen during abrupt stops in the van (there are no working seat belts so today I used the motherly arm across the chest move to hold her in place in her seat)
10:55am- missed road to Lisuka Primary (drove down a country road for a little bit)
11:10am- arrived at Lisuka Primary School
12:42- Ellen receives special thank you dance from the elders – She is highly regarded
2:27pm – at lunch at Lisuka…avoided spooning out the fish head from the fish stew – and ate some DELICIOUS tilapia! YUMMY. Also avoided eating fried chicken claw (maybe by the end of the summer I will brave it up and try the claw)
2:57pm- put live chicken (a gift) in grocery bad and placed on the floor in the van as we set out to travel to another school
4:38pm- had second coke of the day (offered in hospitality by our hosts) at Father Caroly's house. Thank goodness for some caffeine. Is it the heat or jet lag that is getting to me?
On a much heavier note: alongside receiving the gracious hospitality and warm thankful hearts of the Kenyans, we have also received many sad stories today. As we met with the elders, they requested more help for the children. Many guardians are elderly and responsible sometimes for 4-5 grandchildren. The schools were underdeveloped; Ongalo Secondary school (where Samwel attends) does not have a single book in their library. Students who do not receive government support for university school (after secondary school) cannot afford university. One year for University = 70,000 KSH (less than 1,000 USDollar). Even with government funds it is still 20,000 KSH (267 USD)!
Thus, I end the day with two things to ponder:
1) How can I express to you how thankful the Kenyans are for your support/why am I so lucky to get to be the recipient?
2) What else can we do?…we heard suggestions from the school administration and the elders. What is the capacity of the Umoja project?
More to come later – but with four school visits today I am wornout.
Peace and grace,
Laura
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Leaving to Serve
Kathy Randall: Indianapolis, IN, USA
The team has spent nearly a week in Indianapolis. We have met so many people and heard so many ideas, that it is going to take the whole flight to think through all that we have already learned. Praise God that I am going with a team this time, a team that is going with the sole purpose of serving and loving the people that we are going to see, and most importantly minister with under the presence and calling of God. We are so blessed to be going to spend seven weeks with the Umoja Project, a program through Global Interfaith Partnership.
We leave North UMC (one of the partner congregations) before noon today, and we will not land in Kenya until late in the evening tomorrow. We will be travelling for over 24 hours in the next two days. It will be a very long journey, but it will be so worth it.
As we journey, we covet your prayers for travelling mercies. For us, it will be important that our hearts be broken for the people that we see, that we can see the needs, but also see the people for who they are. Let us learn, let us serve, let us be ministers to all we see.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
The Global Interfaith Partnership and the Umoja Project
Here's a quick overview of the GIP (Global Interfaith Partnership) and the Umoja Project -- but I encourage you to get some more details/info from their website.
"The Global Interfaith Partnership is a coalition of congregations in Indiana and the Chulaimbo area of western Kenya which has developed the Umoja Project ("unity" in Kiswahili). The overall goal of the Umoja project is to develop a coordinated community-based care system which responds to the multiple needs of vulnerable children in Kenya's Maseno Division. Particular emphasis is given to educational support, food security, safe housing, and psychosocial development. Our work includes providing direct service, working with families and the community to increase their capacity to meet their own needs, and coordinating with existing community services." - this brief overview was given on the back the worship bulletin at NUMC from the worship service that the 2009 intern led upon their return from Kenya.
As we prepare for our trip (we fly out of Indy tomorrow, May 27th, at 2pm) we have been to quite a few meetings this week. These meetings have ranged from staff meetings at the church to GIP board meetings. However, one meeting that was quite informative for me, was the Women-to-Women meeting that we attended at Second Presbyterian here in Indy. This meeting was planned because Ellen Daniels-Howell, the Executive Director of GIP, has recently returned from Kenya with some info and ideas. Overall, I think there were two main reasons for the meeting. First of all, there are some women's groups in Kenya that are currently meeting and helping out as they are able. In addition, many Indianapolis congregations with the Umoja project that have Women's groups who have asked how they can get more involved. The second reason is that there are complex issues affecting girls attending (or with the desire to attend) schools in Kenya. First of all, there is a safety issues walking to and from school. Also, girls miss a lot of school due to menstrual cycles...which means they are falling behind the boys in school! And finally, there are many child-headed households in the area due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other illnesses that have left children to care for their younger siblings (which means a lack of source of income or missing school).
Therefore, the Women-to-Women meeting yesterday gave us a few things to EXPLORE and LISTEN for while we are there.
One thing that I think is beautiful about the mission of GIP/Umoja is that as Americans the goal is not to rush in and fix. Instead, it is to LISTEN and work WITH the Kenyans. We are to listen to what they need and what their customs allow, etc. Also, if possible, instead of taking a work trip to Kenya - a goal is to create jobs in Kenya for the Kenyans. In addition, GIP/Umoja is about SUSTAINABILITY. Therefore, as we listen and explore options and opportunities the idea is to create something that is long-lasting and can essentially begin and continue to thrive in Kenya.
On a final note (I need to finish packing!), this is just a short overview...but in just the few days that I've been in Indy and part of planning meetings and preparation -- I have learned one thing: This will be like no other international trip that I have previously been a participant. There are two main reasons I think this: first, when I've visited other developing countries, the main cause of struggle was due to economic troubles or devastation caused by war. Kenya, on the hand, more than any other country I have been to is fighting against AIDS. Yesterday at the women-to-women meeting we saw many pictures of children that are living in child-headed homes. I've been anticipating this trip since I found out about my Field Ed. placement in December -- however, those pictures yesterday finally made me realize where we were going and what we would be doing and seeing. Also, this is going to be a different trip because I'm not there to build, but to listen. I'm looking forward to listening and coming back to share stories with you all.
Peace and grace,
Laura
"The Global Interfaith Partnership is a coalition of congregations in Indiana and the Chulaimbo area of western Kenya which has developed the Umoja Project ("unity" in Kiswahili). The overall goal of the Umoja project is to develop a coordinated community-based care system which responds to the multiple needs of vulnerable children in Kenya's Maseno Division. Particular emphasis is given to educational support, food security, safe housing, and psychosocial development. Our work includes providing direct service, working with families and the community to increase their capacity to meet their own needs, and coordinating with existing community services." - this brief overview was given on the back the worship bulletin at NUMC from the worship service that the 2009 intern led upon their return from Kenya.
As we prepare for our trip (we fly out of Indy tomorrow, May 27th, at 2pm) we have been to quite a few meetings this week. These meetings have ranged from staff meetings at the church to GIP board meetings. However, one meeting that was quite informative for me, was the Women-to-Women meeting that we attended at Second Presbyterian here in Indy. This meeting was planned because Ellen Daniels-Howell, the Executive Director of GIP, has recently returned from Kenya with some info and ideas. Overall, I think there were two main reasons for the meeting. First of all, there are some women's groups in Kenya that are currently meeting and helping out as they are able. In addition, many Indianapolis congregations with the Umoja project that have Women's groups who have asked how they can get more involved. The second reason is that there are complex issues affecting girls attending (or with the desire to attend) schools in Kenya. First of all, there is a safety issues walking to and from school. Also, girls miss a lot of school due to menstrual cycles...which means they are falling behind the boys in school! And finally, there are many child-headed households in the area due to the HIV/AIDS epidemic and other illnesses that have left children to care for their younger siblings (which means a lack of source of income or missing school).
Therefore, the Women-to-Women meeting yesterday gave us a few things to EXPLORE and LISTEN for while we are there.
One thing that I think is beautiful about the mission of GIP/Umoja is that as Americans the goal is not to rush in and fix. Instead, it is to LISTEN and work WITH the Kenyans. We are to listen to what they need and what their customs allow, etc. Also, if possible, instead of taking a work trip to Kenya - a goal is to create jobs in Kenya for the Kenyans. In addition, GIP/Umoja is about SUSTAINABILITY. Therefore, as we listen and explore options and opportunities the idea is to create something that is long-lasting and can essentially begin and continue to thrive in Kenya.
On a final note (I need to finish packing!), this is just a short overview...but in just the few days that I've been in Indy and part of planning meetings and preparation -- I have learned one thing: This will be like no other international trip that I have previously been a participant. There are two main reasons I think this: first, when I've visited other developing countries, the main cause of struggle was due to economic troubles or devastation caused by war. Kenya, on the hand, more than any other country I have been to is fighting against AIDS. Yesterday at the women-to-women meeting we saw many pictures of children that are living in child-headed homes. I've been anticipating this trip since I found out about my Field Ed. placement in December -- however, those pictures yesterday finally made me realize where we were going and what we would be doing and seeing. Also, this is going to be a different trip because I'm not there to build, but to listen. I'm looking forward to listening and coming back to share stories with you all.
Peace and grace,
Laura
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Who is Four Kenya?
We are Four Kenya and we look forward to participating in what God is doing in Kenya already. Our hope is that you will engage the Umoja Project and Kenya through our lives and stories that we share. Currently we are in Indianapolis finishing our last round of meetings before we get on a plane and head to Nairobi and eventually Kisumu. We appreciate not only your interest in this project and our lives particularly but also we appreciate your continued support through prayer.
Stay tuned for our first posts from Kenya!
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