My first African kiss...
The first lion that I saw...
I am Safari Man!
Sunday, July 26, 2009
I'm Home!
Well I've been home a little over a week now. I apologize I have been slow on updating the blog. I promise to make several posts tonight after I get off work. I have been rather sick the last week which is my reasoning behind why I have not been posting. I am going to add some pictures and do a few other things. Thanks for your patience and be sure to stay tuned!
Joseph
Joseph
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Day 27 and 28 Experiences--Tuesday/Wednesday, July 14/15
Today was my last full day and night in Nairobi, as well the part of this day. I spent a lot of it packing and organizing. I also got to go downtown and walk around all by myself for a while, at my own pace, being able to walk quickly (something I don’t get to do here very often) when I wanted to, and to slow down and look around when I wanted to.
I have stuff from the big group that I need to bring back. It has taken me forever to get it all in my bags and I think I’m right at 50 pounds with both of my bags, plus I have two full carry-ons.
There is no such thing as fast food here. Everything operates at a snail pace, it took me 15 minutes to walk up and order and get a simple milkshake.
It is hard here sometimes to just walk down the street and not choke on a smell or massive amounts of smoke coming from some place. This is a cultural difference from what I am used to.
I am certainly going to miss a lot of things here. Mostly the people I have met. I have enjoyed being with them, but I look forward to coming home. I’m headed to the airport here in a few hours from writing this and then my plane leaves at 11:30pm tonight. I am scheduled to get home at the Springfield airport at 5:20pm on July 16th.
This will be my last post about daily experiences but when I get home I hope to do several more posts about a few things, plus at the end a nice big closing summary, so stay tuned in the coming time for all of that, even though I will be back, the writing won’t be done… maybe we can get to over 3,000 hits… Please pray for these people I have met.
I love you all and this time when I say I will see you soon I really mean it.
In Christ,
Joseph
I have stuff from the big group that I need to bring back. It has taken me forever to get it all in my bags and I think I’m right at 50 pounds with both of my bags, plus I have two full carry-ons.
There is no such thing as fast food here. Everything operates at a snail pace, it took me 15 minutes to walk up and order and get a simple milkshake.
It is hard here sometimes to just walk down the street and not choke on a smell or massive amounts of smoke coming from some place. This is a cultural difference from what I am used to.
I am certainly going to miss a lot of things here. Mostly the people I have met. I have enjoyed being with them, but I look forward to coming home. I’m headed to the airport here in a few hours from writing this and then my plane leaves at 11:30pm tonight. I am scheduled to get home at the Springfield airport at 5:20pm on July 16th.
This will be my last post about daily experiences but when I get home I hope to do several more posts about a few things, plus at the end a nice big closing summary, so stay tuned in the coming time for all of that, even though I will be back, the writing won’t be done… maybe we can get to over 3,000 hits… Please pray for these people I have met.
I love you all and this time when I say I will see you soon I really mean it.
In Christ,
Joseph
Day 26 Experiences--Monday, July 13
Today was supposed to be the day that we gathered the homeless kids around Kawangware and worked on their project of building them a shower. The Contractor said he was sick. So he wasn’t there, nor was anyone else for the building team, so there really wasn’t anything that we could do in terms of work. We gave them all a meal, and then they quickly dispersed.
-The day itself was not totally lost. I had a great time hanging out with the other youth from Kawangware, and some of the members of the “Conquerors” group. They are really a pleasant wonderful group of young men. I also got to then serve food to the orphan school children that come in every day for the feeding program. As I have said before when I talk about this program, for many of them this will be the only meal they eat that day.
-I had another set of sad goodbyes today as I said farewell to all of the Kawangware youths that I have been working with. They too have become my good friends and I will be sure to keep in touch with as many of them as I can. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given my email out. I felt truly welcomed by them and truly their friend. I praise God for their faith and for the fellowship I have had with them.
-My shout out today is to my little brother and sister, Colten and Annie. I love you guys. I think you would enjoy Africa.
Well, tomorrow is my last full day in Nairobi. I don’t have much on the schedule, but still have a lot to do before I’m ready to leave.
Love you all. Just a little while longer.
Joseph
-The day itself was not totally lost. I had a great time hanging out with the other youth from Kawangware, and some of the members of the “Conquerors” group. They are really a pleasant wonderful group of young men. I also got to then serve food to the orphan school children that come in every day for the feeding program. As I have said before when I talk about this program, for many of them this will be the only meal they eat that day.
-I had another set of sad goodbyes today as I said farewell to all of the Kawangware youths that I have been working with. They too have become my good friends and I will be sure to keep in touch with as many of them as I can. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve given my email out. I felt truly welcomed by them and truly their friend. I praise God for their faith and for the fellowship I have had with them.
-My shout out today is to my little brother and sister, Colten and Annie. I love you guys. I think you would enjoy Africa.
Well, tomorrow is my last full day in Nairobi. I don’t have much on the schedule, but still have a lot to do before I’m ready to leave.
Love you all. Just a little while longer.
Joseph
Day 25 Experiences--Sunday, July 12
Today I got to go to the service at Kawangware. About an hour before the service was a special service for the street boys. Matthew and I were both supposed to share a message with them. We held the “service” in a small room by the sanctuary. About 10 to 15 boys were there. They were extremely dirty, and wearing torn and tattered clothing for the “cold” weather. We sang a few songs which they got into a little bit, and then we shared the Word of God with them and shared our message through a translator.
Mine was very short and to the point. I talked about John chapter 6--Jesus being the Bread of Life. It was a simple message about how Jesus loves them, how our bodies must have bread to live, but spiritually we must have Jesus or we are dead still. I hope the simplicity of my message was helpful, I think they were paying attention. I would have gone on longer but I don’t think it would’ve been proper. After this, we prayed and listened to a couple of their stories through a translator. The stories were sad, but the two boys who talked kept a general thankfulness and hope about them. We gave them some bread and tea to drink (they make their tea with milk not water) and they gobbled it up as if they had not eaten in some time.
We were truly witnessing the absolute bottom rung of human existence. Teenage boys with no homes, no food, decrepit clothing, no one in the world that gave a care about them. Life was about survival and the easing of pain, which is why they are getting addicted to bad substances like glue sniffing which I saw was very prevalent.
I know that nothing of my words or anything I can do is able to change their situation here right now. I simply pray that the power of God’s Word works in and among them. If God’s Word when used with water, can claim a person like me as His child, and it can create the heavens and the earth, then it can do anything.
-I got to go to the normal service that the Lutheran Church at Kawangware has. They only have one service, and it's in Swahili. Their services last for several hours. This is mainly due to the fact that they seem in no hurry to do anything, but take their time moving about doing the readings, have announcements and such as well as just general talking about church business and happenings. All of this adds large amounts of time to the service. They also really love to sing, so they have lots and lots of songs. We had a song after each reading, one to start the service, one after a responsive, etc., etc. Most of the music was great, although the whole time I had no idea what they were talking about. The only time they did speak in English was to have me stand up and talk (right smack dab in the middle of the service). I could tell they were talking to me (seeing as I was the only white one in the service as Matthew had left) when they switched to English just momentarily. I extended greetings from the US and that I was blessed and thankful to be a part of their service.
-After a few more pieces of the service, the sermon was about to begin. Before the sermon they send all of the kids out for Sunday school. This was bittersweet for me because it meant I had to miss the rest of the service and music, but it also turned out to be one of the best experiences I have had here.
I got to take the “teenager's” class, though I think that is just what they call it because there could not have been a kid over 13 or 14 in their group, and none younger than probably 8. There was a pretty decent group there (my guess is 30) though I’m told there is normally more. We sang a little, prayed, and then it was time for me to lead their lesson. The lesson was from Acts chapter 28, all the way to the end. I simply had them read from the Bible, and explained the story, and truths we could get from it as we went along. My two main points were that even when something bad happens, God can turn it into something good. Paul was arrested (bad) but because he was arrested and forced to stay put, he wrote letters instead of just traveling. These letters would later make up most of our New Testament. We have much of our Bible (good) because Paul was in chains (bad). The other point was that Paul did not complain or feel sorry for himself, but continued to preach about God.
The lesson went well, and I went slow and think that everyone followed along. Afterwards I asked for questions and after a slow start, it really turned up. I felt like I was the out of town traveling “wise man” that was there to answer any and every question about God they ever had. It was such a joy to be able to listen to these adolescents ask questions that troubled them, and they simply didn’t know or hadn’t been taught. Questions ranged from “Is heaven up?” to “What do you have to do to get to heaven?” to “Jesus was taken up to the sky so doesn’t that mean heaven is up?” (hard one to explain) to “How much do I have to repent?” to everything else. It was my greatest joy to be able to answer most of their questions, and to share with them the joy of Christ.
My favorite moment was after we got done, Douglass (a member of the Conquerors and helping me that day) asked them what they had learned. One boy put his hand up and said “I learned that all I have to do to go to heaven is believe in Jesus and that he died on the cross for my sins.” I don’t know if he had just learned that this day, or if it was simply him saying what he heard in another lesson, but I couldn’t help but smile when he said it. It was so great to be able to share with each and everyone of them that God loved them no matter what they did forever and for always (yes we opened up the end of Romans 8 too).
All in all it was one of my happiest and most rewarding experiences here.
-After Sunday School I got to talking with Douglass of the musical group the Conquerors and all the great work they are doing. They are severely limited by finances though with the work they can do. They want to reach out and connect with more children but they simply don’t have the means to get out further. Their dream (he said it just like a boy who says he wants to be a Major League Baseball player when he grows up) is to one day go to the United States to play their music. I can say first hand, they are very very talented, and are doing great work for the Lord. For the second time in as many days I was pledging to help support them through prayer and whatever else I could do. A lot of that will depend on support from all of you.
They are fundraising for a ministry van. They visit so many schools and have so many more ask them to come (yes public schools asking this Christian band) but they simply can’t because they have no way of getting there and no way of hauling their equipment. They also want materials, devotionals, inspiration books, prayer books, etc. that they can give to these kids to help them.
These are just a few of their needs. This is another group that I would like to send things back to as they need it, doing whatever I can to help, even if its just sending a few Portals of Prayer or something like that.
Well, I’ve written a lot for these two days. I need to be getting some food now. I love you all.
Blessings.
Joseph
Mine was very short and to the point. I talked about John chapter 6--Jesus being the Bread of Life. It was a simple message about how Jesus loves them, how our bodies must have bread to live, but spiritually we must have Jesus or we are dead still. I hope the simplicity of my message was helpful, I think they were paying attention. I would have gone on longer but I don’t think it would’ve been proper. After this, we prayed and listened to a couple of their stories through a translator. The stories were sad, but the two boys who talked kept a general thankfulness and hope about them. We gave them some bread and tea to drink (they make their tea with milk not water) and they gobbled it up as if they had not eaten in some time.
We were truly witnessing the absolute bottom rung of human existence. Teenage boys with no homes, no food, decrepit clothing, no one in the world that gave a care about them. Life was about survival and the easing of pain, which is why they are getting addicted to bad substances like glue sniffing which I saw was very prevalent.
I know that nothing of my words or anything I can do is able to change their situation here right now. I simply pray that the power of God’s Word works in and among them. If God’s Word when used with water, can claim a person like me as His child, and it can create the heavens and the earth, then it can do anything.
-I got to go to the normal service that the Lutheran Church at Kawangware has. They only have one service, and it's in Swahili. Their services last for several hours. This is mainly due to the fact that they seem in no hurry to do anything, but take their time moving about doing the readings, have announcements and such as well as just general talking about church business and happenings. All of this adds large amounts of time to the service. They also really love to sing, so they have lots and lots of songs. We had a song after each reading, one to start the service, one after a responsive, etc., etc. Most of the music was great, although the whole time I had no idea what they were talking about. The only time they did speak in English was to have me stand up and talk (right smack dab in the middle of the service). I could tell they were talking to me (seeing as I was the only white one in the service as Matthew had left) when they switched to English just momentarily. I extended greetings from the US and that I was blessed and thankful to be a part of their service.
-After a few more pieces of the service, the sermon was about to begin. Before the sermon they send all of the kids out for Sunday school. This was bittersweet for me because it meant I had to miss the rest of the service and music, but it also turned out to be one of the best experiences I have had here.
I got to take the “teenager's” class, though I think that is just what they call it because there could not have been a kid over 13 or 14 in their group, and none younger than probably 8. There was a pretty decent group there (my guess is 30) though I’m told there is normally more. We sang a little, prayed, and then it was time for me to lead their lesson. The lesson was from Acts chapter 28, all the way to the end. I simply had them read from the Bible, and explained the story, and truths we could get from it as we went along. My two main points were that even when something bad happens, God can turn it into something good. Paul was arrested (bad) but because he was arrested and forced to stay put, he wrote letters instead of just traveling. These letters would later make up most of our New Testament. We have much of our Bible (good) because Paul was in chains (bad). The other point was that Paul did not complain or feel sorry for himself, but continued to preach about God.
The lesson went well, and I went slow and think that everyone followed along. Afterwards I asked for questions and after a slow start, it really turned up. I felt like I was the out of town traveling “wise man” that was there to answer any and every question about God they ever had. It was such a joy to be able to listen to these adolescents ask questions that troubled them, and they simply didn’t know or hadn’t been taught. Questions ranged from “Is heaven up?” to “What do you have to do to get to heaven?” to “Jesus was taken up to the sky so doesn’t that mean heaven is up?” (hard one to explain) to “How much do I have to repent?” to everything else. It was my greatest joy to be able to answer most of their questions, and to share with them the joy of Christ.
My favorite moment was after we got done, Douglass (a member of the Conquerors and helping me that day) asked them what they had learned. One boy put his hand up and said “I learned that all I have to do to go to heaven is believe in Jesus and that he died on the cross for my sins.” I don’t know if he had just learned that this day, or if it was simply him saying what he heard in another lesson, but I couldn’t help but smile when he said it. It was so great to be able to share with each and everyone of them that God loved them no matter what they did forever and for always (yes we opened up the end of Romans 8 too).
All in all it was one of my happiest and most rewarding experiences here.
-After Sunday School I got to talking with Douglass of the musical group the Conquerors and all the great work they are doing. They are severely limited by finances though with the work they can do. They want to reach out and connect with more children but they simply don’t have the means to get out further. Their dream (he said it just like a boy who says he wants to be a Major League Baseball player when he grows up) is to one day go to the United States to play their music. I can say first hand, they are very very talented, and are doing great work for the Lord. For the second time in as many days I was pledging to help support them through prayer and whatever else I could do. A lot of that will depend on support from all of you.
They are fundraising for a ministry van. They visit so many schools and have so many more ask them to come (yes public schools asking this Christian band) but they simply can’t because they have no way of getting there and no way of hauling their equipment. They also want materials, devotionals, inspiration books, prayer books, etc. that they can give to these kids to help them.
These are just a few of their needs. This is another group that I would like to send things back to as they need it, doing whatever I can to help, even if its just sending a few Portals of Prayer or something like that.
Well, I’ve written a lot for these two days. I need to be getting some food now. I love you all.
Blessings.
Joseph
Day 24 Experiences--Saturday, July 11
No power of man, beast, or machine, no not even African internet can keep me from posting my last days before I leave. I will still do the other sum up posts and more pictures when I get back, but for now here are the rest of the days.
Well, today was day 24 here. Today was the day of the youth conference of the area Nairobi churches, held at the church at Uhuru Highway.
-First things first, the conference was scheduled for 9am. The bishop of all of Kenya was there at 930. Pastor Winterle brough Matthew and I there at 10. No one else was there until well after that. We were unable to actually start the conference until 11:45 when enough people were there. We were definitely operating on Africa time… and people think I’m late.
-The conference itself was very good, the bishop gave a great and very interesting presentation in English, so I was able to follow along. He talked about what makes us Lutherans, and where we came from, and how we came to believe what it is we believe. All in all, it was a very interesting presentation, and I was very pleased to be able to meet the man in charge of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya.
-During the presentation, most of the youths were taking massive amounts of notes. There seems to be a strong hunger and desire to hear and learn God’s Word. Towards the end, it became apparent though that the youths had had an agenda that they wanted to speak with the leaders about. They wanted to bring up to the leaders that they felt they did not get enough attention. I got a list of the questions they had posed typed out and everything. They included things like, “What part does prayer, praise songs, etc. have in a Lutheran worship?” or “What is the Lutheran church's stance on Kenyan culture?” These were questions that were basic enough, but that they had a desire to know. They want to know God’s will for their lives. They want to learn about God’s Word, but they feel like they have no one to teach them. They feel like they do not have a pastor or leader that sits them down to learn these things. It would be my guess that they don’t have any sort of catechism classes or anything like that.
After the adults all left I stood up as they were having a youth only meeting and pledged to do my best to provide them whatever support they need. I promised to pray for them and to share their story back home. It is my goal to be able to send them Bibles in Swahili and English, and to send them catechisms and other such materials in Swahili and English. One girl had asked for an English Small Catechism and I made sure that she got one from Pastor Winterle. She came up and thanked me at this meeting (which was about a week after she got it) and thanked me very sincerely for getting her one. I think that these people want to learn. They want to grow. My heart goes out for them and their struggling youth program. They are working to get it off the ground, they are organizing themselves on their own, but they need help.
The big difference I see between us back home and them is in the substance. They believe and have faith from what they have been told and what little some of them may be able to read of the Bible. Their faith has no substance with which it is built on. They desire the substance, they desire the knowledge and wisdom that comes from knowledge of Jesus Christ, but they simply don’t have the resources to do so. I see many of them joyful when they get the chance to hear and learn about the word. The difference I see with us, is not that our faiths are vastly different, it is that we have all this great wealth of Christian resources at our finger tips, and yet many of us do not believe. Though for having the faith they do in the situations they are in is very commendable, though I have seen tough heartbreaking situations in the US in which faith preseveres. All in all it is not my place to judge their faith or anyone elses. Even the ones that do believe, how many times have you dreaded going to Sunday School? How many times have you dreaded sitting through a church service? How many times did you try to get out of catechism class as a kid? We have all these gifts, and yet I think sometimes we either take them for granted or simply don’t care to learn about God. These people seem to want to have that knowledge and I want to help them to have the tools to grow. “Blessed are those who have not seen, but do believe.” “Unless you enter the kingdom of God like a child, you will not enter it.” are two verses that come to my mind. They have the faith of children, simply trusting in God, but many of them not knowing much more. They haven’t seen much more, or have much more and yet they believe. We have so much more, and we have seen the truth over and over, but do we reject it?
-I got to take the long walk to the bus station with many of the youths after the youth meeting was over. I have become good friends with many of them. The parting with many of them was a very sad one because this was the last day I would see many of them. I will truly miss them. They are wonderful young men and women. They welcomed me with open arms, treated me with respect, helped me along my way, and are my friends (even when they laugh as I try to pronounce their words).
-They like to do greetings here when they stand up to speak in front of a group. Similar to our, “Christ is Risen!” to which everyone responds? Here they do many things in Swahili and a few more in English. The one I like is “God is good” reply: “all the time.” Speaker: “All the time” reply: “God is good”
-I was thinking today, how do we worship God? I think the biggest way is by obeying his commands. What are most of His commands summed up as, by Jesus? Love your neighbor. Therefore, I think that we worship God when we serve our fellow human. I think that’s one of the biggest parts of life, is to serve others, to treat others with respect. Life is about two things, God, and people. We love God and obey him and worship him alone. The rest is people. They are what is important. I am reminded of what my late grandmother whom I loved dearly used to say. We used to all go out to Colorado as a family (I miss those huge family trips) and then we’d stop at some scenic overlook and get out for a picture. Some people would ask if they had to get out of the car or if we could just take the picture of the mountain. My grandmother would always say that everyone would have to get out of and get in the picture. Her reasoning, “20 years from now, the mountains are still going to be there to take pictures of, but all of us won’t be.” My shout out today goes to her, and all those loved ones that are no longer with us. My grandma Esther Brockman was a wonderful person, and she had it right, people are what are important.
In Christ,
Joseph Highley
Well, today was day 24 here. Today was the day of the youth conference of the area Nairobi churches, held at the church at Uhuru Highway.
-First things first, the conference was scheduled for 9am. The bishop of all of Kenya was there at 930. Pastor Winterle brough Matthew and I there at 10. No one else was there until well after that. We were unable to actually start the conference until 11:45 when enough people were there. We were definitely operating on Africa time… and people think I’m late.
-The conference itself was very good, the bishop gave a great and very interesting presentation in English, so I was able to follow along. He talked about what makes us Lutherans, and where we came from, and how we came to believe what it is we believe. All in all, it was a very interesting presentation, and I was very pleased to be able to meet the man in charge of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya.
-During the presentation, most of the youths were taking massive amounts of notes. There seems to be a strong hunger and desire to hear and learn God’s Word. Towards the end, it became apparent though that the youths had had an agenda that they wanted to speak with the leaders about. They wanted to bring up to the leaders that they felt they did not get enough attention. I got a list of the questions they had posed typed out and everything. They included things like, “What part does prayer, praise songs, etc. have in a Lutheran worship?” or “What is the Lutheran church's stance on Kenyan culture?” These were questions that were basic enough, but that they had a desire to know. They want to know God’s will for their lives. They want to learn about God’s Word, but they feel like they have no one to teach them. They feel like they do not have a pastor or leader that sits them down to learn these things. It would be my guess that they don’t have any sort of catechism classes or anything like that.
After the adults all left I stood up as they were having a youth only meeting and pledged to do my best to provide them whatever support they need. I promised to pray for them and to share their story back home. It is my goal to be able to send them Bibles in Swahili and English, and to send them catechisms and other such materials in Swahili and English. One girl had asked for an English Small Catechism and I made sure that she got one from Pastor Winterle. She came up and thanked me at this meeting (which was about a week after she got it) and thanked me very sincerely for getting her one. I think that these people want to learn. They want to grow. My heart goes out for them and their struggling youth program. They are working to get it off the ground, they are organizing themselves on their own, but they need help.
The big difference I see between us back home and them is in the substance. They believe and have faith from what they have been told and what little some of them may be able to read of the Bible. Their faith has no substance with which it is built on. They desire the substance, they desire the knowledge and wisdom that comes from knowledge of Jesus Christ, but they simply don’t have the resources to do so. I see many of them joyful when they get the chance to hear and learn about the word. The difference I see with us, is not that our faiths are vastly different, it is that we have all this great wealth of Christian resources at our finger tips, and yet many of us do not believe. Though for having the faith they do in the situations they are in is very commendable, though I have seen tough heartbreaking situations in the US in which faith preseveres. All in all it is not my place to judge their faith or anyone elses. Even the ones that do believe, how many times have you dreaded going to Sunday School? How many times have you dreaded sitting through a church service? How many times did you try to get out of catechism class as a kid? We have all these gifts, and yet I think sometimes we either take them for granted or simply don’t care to learn about God. These people seem to want to have that knowledge and I want to help them to have the tools to grow. “Blessed are those who have not seen, but do believe.” “Unless you enter the kingdom of God like a child, you will not enter it.” are two verses that come to my mind. They have the faith of children, simply trusting in God, but many of them not knowing much more. They haven’t seen much more, or have much more and yet they believe. We have so much more, and we have seen the truth over and over, but do we reject it?
-I got to take the long walk to the bus station with many of the youths after the youth meeting was over. I have become good friends with many of them. The parting with many of them was a very sad one because this was the last day I would see many of them. I will truly miss them. They are wonderful young men and women. They welcomed me with open arms, treated me with respect, helped me along my way, and are my friends (even when they laugh as I try to pronounce their words).
-They like to do greetings here when they stand up to speak in front of a group. Similar to our, “Christ is Risen!” to which everyone responds? Here they do many things in Swahili and a few more in English. The one I like is “God is good” reply: “all the time.” Speaker: “All the time” reply: “God is good”
-I was thinking today, how do we worship God? I think the biggest way is by obeying his commands. What are most of His commands summed up as, by Jesus? Love your neighbor. Therefore, I think that we worship God when we serve our fellow human. I think that’s one of the biggest parts of life, is to serve others, to treat others with respect. Life is about two things, God, and people. We love God and obey him and worship him alone. The rest is people. They are what is important. I am reminded of what my late grandmother whom I loved dearly used to say. We used to all go out to Colorado as a family (I miss those huge family trips) and then we’d stop at some scenic overlook and get out for a picture. Some people would ask if they had to get out of the car or if we could just take the picture of the mountain. My grandmother would always say that everyone would have to get out of and get in the picture. Her reasoning, “20 years from now, the mountains are still going to be there to take pictures of, but all of us won’t be.” My shout out today goes to her, and all those loved ones that are no longer with us. My grandma Esther Brockman was a wonderful person, and she had it right, people are what are important.
In Christ,
Joseph Highley
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Joseph return flight info
He is scheduled to arrive in SGF at 5:20 PM on Thursday. We should be able to reach him by his cell phone (if he can find it!) after he reaches Atlanta at 2:20 PM. God Speed!
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Day 23 Experiences--Friday July 10
Today I also got to work at the free health clinic. Most of the day was spent in the pharmacy, I did some really good work I'd say... It was really enjoyable, and once again we got well over 200 people into the clinic. We certainly gave away a lot of medicine. I think all in all, my help was appreciated. We got really busy at times and I think that I at least helped a little. It proves that even someone with no medical experience can help out at a free medical clinic!
Other than that, the day was very much rather the same, not to say that it was boring in any way. One interesting note is that I heard Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" on one of the Matatu's radio stations. Paul Simon was heavily influenced by African music in his "Graceland" album. I can hear the distinct similarities in some of the guitar parts played during the services at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Church. This is definitely where Paul got it from. I thought it was an interesting enough point anyway...
-Also, today I would like to shout out ot all my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and normal parents and siblings. I love all of you. You are a great family. Just saying.
Lots of love
Joseph
Other than that, the day was very much rather the same, not to say that it was boring in any way. One interesting note is that I heard Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al" on one of the Matatu's radio stations. Paul Simon was heavily influenced by African music in his "Graceland" album. I can hear the distinct similarities in some of the guitar parts played during the services at Uhuru Highway Lutheran Church. This is definitely where Paul got it from. I thought it was an interesting enough point anyway...
-Also, today I would like to shout out ot all my cousins and aunts and uncles and grandparents and normal parents and siblings. I love all of you. You are a great family. Just saying.
Lots of love
Joseph
Day 22 Experiences--Thursday, July 9
Today Matthew and I had the pleasure of volunteering at the LCMS World Missions free medical clinic held at Kibera. Had the old facilities still been standing it would've occurred at a very nice clinic, instead we made use of what we had, and we still did great work. The clinic is a free clinic, no charges at all, to the entire area. If you can make it there, they will treat you. Many came without anything wrong, but there were also many that had numerous things wrong with them. What was also so great was that the team brought all sorts of medical supplies with them, so they had a full working pharmacy too, which was also free.
The first part of the day, I spent doing crowd control/playing with the children. I taught many a man, woman, and child how to throw footballs and Frisbees. It was a great time. After doing this for a while, there was much need inside the pharmacy filling orders, so that is what I did the rest of the day. It was one of my most rewarding days here. I truly loved doing work with my hands, to directly benefit these people that very moment. It was great.
A little more about the team, they do medical clinics in Africa all of the time. They are part of the LCMS officially and are organized and planned by a special office inside of it. They told me that they try to make around 5 or 6 trips to Africa per year to put on these clinics. This also means that there is a great opportunity for anyone with any sort of medical experience to help out one or more times. That means you. They are really doing great work. By the time I had met up with them, they had been in Africa for a while and already been to several countries. Also, due to non-regulation, they were not tied down to certain rules, such as nurses not being able to fill out prescriptions. If we could help them, we did, and the more we could help, the better. We got in over 200 people into the clinic on this day. It's a great feeling to have, and I don't even have a medical background….
A few more notes from the day:
-Many of my notes today were once again a result of conversation with Pastor Winterle. I am learning and soaking in a lot. Consequently, there isn't a need to write a lot of that down. One of the things that I started to think from listening to him, and this is my own words (not his, so don't hold him at fault). We simply cannot just give to these people. Either we are not going to give enough, and they will continue to struggle. Or, we will give too much and they will become reliant and then fall into the state of permanent charity. There is no middle amount. The sole source of our efforts in working with the massively poor areas of this country should be to equip. The old adage "give a man a fish and he eats for a day, teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime" rings true. Things like our medical clinic are great because it keeps them alive, but I think things like giving them much needed Bibles and Catechisms is even better. It equips them to learn, and then in turn... teach, using the tools that we've given them. Other work, such as teaching the HIV positive single mothers to make their own bookmarks for sale, is teaching them a trade, so that they can provide for their families (this is one of the tasks the Heart to Heart organization is involved in). I think a lot of my thoughts on this come from my experiences here, common logical reasoning, and listening to Pastor Winterle. I know that the book "When Charity Destroys Dignity" had a large impact on him, and from the excerpts I have read, it is a very interesting concept. I am going to see if I can find it once I get back to the US.
-I've got a great parable on Matatus I am planning for when I get back. I think I should turn it into a Bible study. My goodness they are not my chosen means of transportation. Craziness. Speaking of Matatus, my record for number of people on one in which I was on is now 23. They are 15-seat vehicles, one of which is taken up by the driver. We had one guy standing on the back bumper and hanging on. Two guys were standing hanging out the side of the van with the door open, leaving 19 people to sit in 14 seats. I must also make as much of a point of this as I can to truly clarify the situation, these seats are themselves very small, not designed for tall people (I'm only 6 feet tall and it kills me) and not designed for fat people (I'm skinny as can be and I struggle to get down the "aisle." That being said, it left 19 people trying to get into 14 very very small seats. Somehow we did it, still not sure how… its like one of those clown cars…. You see the Matatus unload on the side of the road and you wonder where all the people coming out of them are coming from…
Well, I suppose that is it for the day. Love you all, just a few days left!
Joseph
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Day 21 Experiences--Wednesday, July 8
Yup, I'm in the 20's now, and its day 24 here as I write this. I leave here late at night on local time next Wednesday. My stay is almost over. About to head to bed, here are the thoughts from this day before I do:
-Went to the Heart to Heart meeting made up of members of the area Lutheran churches. As I think I've said before, Heart to Heart works closely with orphans in the Nairobi area, and works to get them scholarships from donars to go to and finish school. Currently most of the sponsors are from Hungary.
-I've been thinking about my brother Jason Highley a lot lately. I miss the fella. I encourage you all to keep him in your prayers as he is across the Atlantic (and as I write this I also have the knowledge that he to was in Africa, who would've thought, two Highley boys in Africa at the same time) I love the guy, and I am pretty sure most of you reading this who know him do to. Thanks for serving us and your country Jason and come home safe.
-I woke up and found out I have music from home on my memory stick so I was listening to it. I listened to "Simle Gifts" performed by Robert Sims. I encourage all of you to youtube that or find some other way to listen to it, and then to contemplate the words. I love the message, and despite my grand desires to do something great for the good of God and all mankind, I think there is something to be said about living the simple life, "tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free" For those of us living in America we have been afforded the ability to do just that, to live simple free lives to get married and have children, and bring them up in the knowledge of Christ. Tis a gift...
-I am currently reading at leisure here "Six Frigates" It is about the founding of the U.S. Navy, and is immensely fascinating. For those of you interested in American history I would strongly encourage you to read it. I picked it up on the recommendation of my brother, and of course he too is in the navy... probably explains why he's been on my mind even more than usual.
-Something I must say about this country, they make some of the best milkshakes I have ever experienced. I don't even consider myself a big milkshake man. In fact, most of the time I pick something else when given the option, but my goodness they are good here. I simply cannot turn them away.
-Two men were walking down the street today holding hands. Apparently this has nothing to do with being homosexual here, just that the men are really good friends. Very interesting, I am not sure that that attitude is going to catch on in the States anytime soon...
-Pastor Winterle was telling me today that the average life expectancy in Kenya dropped from about 55 to 45 about ten years ago due to the AIDS pandemic. Not that 55 years was very high, but add AIDS to the mix, and suddenly someone who is 60 seems very old, and people who are 40 are well up in their years and elders of the society. Such is the situation here right now.
Well, I suppose I am off to bed. I get to preach tomorrow at the street boy's service, I look forward to it, I'll let you know how that goes on day 25 experiences. God's blessings to all of you. Less than a week away.
Joseph
-Went to the Heart to Heart meeting made up of members of the area Lutheran churches. As I think I've said before, Heart to Heart works closely with orphans in the Nairobi area, and works to get them scholarships from donars to go to and finish school. Currently most of the sponsors are from Hungary.
-I've been thinking about my brother Jason Highley a lot lately. I miss the fella. I encourage you all to keep him in your prayers as he is across the Atlantic (and as I write this I also have the knowledge that he to was in Africa, who would've thought, two Highley boys in Africa at the same time) I love the guy, and I am pretty sure most of you reading this who know him do to. Thanks for serving us and your country Jason and come home safe.
-I woke up and found out I have music from home on my memory stick so I was listening to it. I listened to "Simle Gifts" performed by Robert Sims. I encourage all of you to youtube that or find some other way to listen to it, and then to contemplate the words. I love the message, and despite my grand desires to do something great for the good of God and all mankind, I think there is something to be said about living the simple life, "tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free" For those of us living in America we have been afforded the ability to do just that, to live simple free lives to get married and have children, and bring them up in the knowledge of Christ. Tis a gift...
-I am currently reading at leisure here "Six Frigates" It is about the founding of the U.S. Navy, and is immensely fascinating. For those of you interested in American history I would strongly encourage you to read it. I picked it up on the recommendation of my brother, and of course he too is in the navy... probably explains why he's been on my mind even more than usual.
-Something I must say about this country, they make some of the best milkshakes I have ever experienced. I don't even consider myself a big milkshake man. In fact, most of the time I pick something else when given the option, but my goodness they are good here. I simply cannot turn them away.
-Two men were walking down the street today holding hands. Apparently this has nothing to do with being homosexual here, just that the men are really good friends. Very interesting, I am not sure that that attitude is going to catch on in the States anytime soon...
-Pastor Winterle was telling me today that the average life expectancy in Kenya dropped from about 55 to 45 about ten years ago due to the AIDS pandemic. Not that 55 years was very high, but add AIDS to the mix, and suddenly someone who is 60 seems very old, and people who are 40 are well up in their years and elders of the society. Such is the situation here right now.
Well, I suppose I am off to bed. I get to preach tomorrow at the street boy's service, I look forward to it, I'll let you know how that goes on day 25 experiences. God's blessings to all of you. Less than a week away.
Joseph
2000!
I just looked and saw that I was at 2000 hits on this site as of right now! Thank you for all the support. I don't know if it is just two of you reading that have visited 1000 times each, or how many of you are actually keeping up, but thank you none the less. Your support is much appreciated, and hopefully when I get back I will have generated enough interest with this blog for you to continue partnering with these people that need your parntership.
I can't wait to see you all again. Loving you all from all the way across the big blue wet thing.
Joseph
I can't wait to see you all again. Loving you all from all the way across the big blue wet thing.
Joseph
Day 20 Experiences--Tuesday, July 7
Well, just looking at my sheet, I have a ton of notes from today, so I'll just jump right in.
-Matthew and I visited the church at Kibera and Kawangware again today, with a mom and her son from the US. Hopefully the trip made an impact on them, and maybe they'll be encouraged to help out sometime. We also got to help out with the feeding program at Kawangware, meaning I got to do all the hand washing before and after (they use their hands to eat). It was rather nice to do.
-I woke up with this question on my mind: What am I afraid to give up for Christ? I then thought about how Jesus asked the rich man to give up all his money and he wouldn't. I don't think it means all of us need to donate all we have and live with nothing, but I do think that God asks us at times to give up something we may not like to give up to do his task. Or maybe to do things we aren't comfortable with. I then think of Moses having to lead an entire nation, and he wasn't "comfortable" with speaking, or with Jonah having to preach repentence to a vile and evil city, which he obviously wasn't comfortable with doing. The question remains, what am I afraid to give up for Christ? And, is it something that you should be giving up to serve him? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't...
-I've determined that I need to learn more languages. The language issue has been on my mind the whole time here, meaning I'll probably write a separate post about that. Which means I then also need to still do the other post about the group, and the one about the stereotypes I asked so long ago, and then one responding to the necessary comments that have been graciously left. My work is cut out for me.
-Walking through the slums, you are just walking through smoke and haze, of burning trash and other putrid scents that you pick up on. Its very sad.
-Pastor Winterle talked today about the difference between the Brazil slums and the Kibera slum. He said that the difference is that the Kibera slums are poorer, but as can be plainly seen they dress rather nice, much nicer than the Brazil slums.
-I'm worried about the bad habits I may be developing here, like expecting traffic to be coming at me from the opposite lanes when I cross roads. That's kind of a big one. Not being able to watch baseball is another. Yes, prior to contrary belief, not watching baseball is a bad habit.
-I will never look at hand sanitation and medical sanitation the same way. I hate to say it, but sometimes I become a hypochondriac here when I am around the slums and such. Its a wonder I still have hand sanitizer left.
-Everyone who donated will be happy to note this, and even more happy will be those that were here with me the first two weeks from Redeemer and King of Kings. I have seen much of the donations we have made put to use as I have revisted the places. I have seen our gospel message soccer balls (pardon me, "foot" balls) being played with. I have seen the Al Michel wooden crosses being worn around. I have seen the white color in bags being worn. The list goes on and on. I feel like our impact here has truly been felt by the people that we reached out to, and that was our goal. I have even many times recieved questions about where the rest of the group is. I sadly had to tell them you all had returned home.
-As I have stated before, there are many things about this culture that frustrate me, the efficiency, etc. I feel like (without trying to sound like we are high and mighty and have the answers) that they have a lot more that they can still gain from learning from us. Saying that puts me at the risk of sounding like some of the original imperialists that looked upon these people as heathen barbarics. I want to step away from that and say that just as they have much that they can gain from us, we have a lot that we can learn from them. Several of which are their emphasis that they place on the each individual and the relationship, as well as their cultures general sense of modesty to name just a few.
-Saw my first police car with lights on the top today. That was fun.
-As it turns out, despite the fact that I have already written a lot, I still have a lot more on my paper. What I found out though, is that the rest of it is notes to me from conversations with Pastor Winterle. This deserves a point in and of itself. This is not my first large page of notes that I have taken from conversation with him. My learning experience with him alone for this month has been enough to justify my trip here. I feel as if I am on a vicarage, or internship, studying directly under a very gifted man that I respect greatly. My insights and knowledge I have gained from him have been invaluable. Its like he conducts a seminar for me each time we have a car ride. Pastor Winterle and his wife have been ridiculously supportive of the many groups that they have organized and brought in from all over the world, and without them, none of what I have done, or many of the other people have done, would be possible. This only adds to the fact that he has mentored me so well. I am truly in his debt.
-Some of the road intersections here are confounding. They are not roundabouts (as are most of the intersections) and yet they do not have stop signs as some do, and they are major roads! In Springfield it would be like having no sign or stop light of any kind at Campbell and Battlefield, albeit the times that it occurs here are roads with the same amount of traffic but only two lanes with no traffic markings on the road. It is amazing there aren't even more complete traffic standstills and wrecks by the minute.
Well, I suppose that is all I have for this day, I know I have a few days coming up in which I wrote a lot, so I will try to continue with another tonight. God's blessings!
-Matthew and I visited the church at Kibera and Kawangware again today, with a mom and her son from the US. Hopefully the trip made an impact on them, and maybe they'll be encouraged to help out sometime. We also got to help out with the feeding program at Kawangware, meaning I got to do all the hand washing before and after (they use their hands to eat). It was rather nice to do.
-I woke up with this question on my mind: What am I afraid to give up for Christ? I then thought about how Jesus asked the rich man to give up all his money and he wouldn't. I don't think it means all of us need to donate all we have and live with nothing, but I do think that God asks us at times to give up something we may not like to give up to do his task. Or maybe to do things we aren't comfortable with. I then think of Moses having to lead an entire nation, and he wasn't "comfortable" with speaking, or with Jonah having to preach repentence to a vile and evil city, which he obviously wasn't comfortable with doing. The question remains, what am I afraid to give up for Christ? And, is it something that you should be giving up to serve him? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't...
-I've determined that I need to learn more languages. The language issue has been on my mind the whole time here, meaning I'll probably write a separate post about that. Which means I then also need to still do the other post about the group, and the one about the stereotypes I asked so long ago, and then one responding to the necessary comments that have been graciously left. My work is cut out for me.
-Walking through the slums, you are just walking through smoke and haze, of burning trash and other putrid scents that you pick up on. Its very sad.
-Pastor Winterle talked today about the difference between the Brazil slums and the Kibera slum. He said that the difference is that the Kibera slums are poorer, but as can be plainly seen they dress rather nice, much nicer than the Brazil slums.
-I'm worried about the bad habits I may be developing here, like expecting traffic to be coming at me from the opposite lanes when I cross roads. That's kind of a big one. Not being able to watch baseball is another. Yes, prior to contrary belief, not watching baseball is a bad habit.
-I will never look at hand sanitation and medical sanitation the same way. I hate to say it, but sometimes I become a hypochondriac here when I am around the slums and such. Its a wonder I still have hand sanitizer left.
-Everyone who donated will be happy to note this, and even more happy will be those that were here with me the first two weeks from Redeemer and King of Kings. I have seen much of the donations we have made put to use as I have revisted the places. I have seen our gospel message soccer balls (pardon me, "foot" balls) being played with. I have seen the Al Michel wooden crosses being worn around. I have seen the white color in bags being worn. The list goes on and on. I feel like our impact here has truly been felt by the people that we reached out to, and that was our goal. I have even many times recieved questions about where the rest of the group is. I sadly had to tell them you all had returned home.
-As I have stated before, there are many things about this culture that frustrate me, the efficiency, etc. I feel like (without trying to sound like we are high and mighty and have the answers) that they have a lot more that they can still gain from learning from us. Saying that puts me at the risk of sounding like some of the original imperialists that looked upon these people as heathen barbarics. I want to step away from that and say that just as they have much that they can gain from us, we have a lot that we can learn from them. Several of which are their emphasis that they place on the each individual and the relationship, as well as their cultures general sense of modesty to name just a few.
-Saw my first police car with lights on the top today. That was fun.
-As it turns out, despite the fact that I have already written a lot, I still have a lot more on my paper. What I found out though, is that the rest of it is notes to me from conversations with Pastor Winterle. This deserves a point in and of itself. This is not my first large page of notes that I have taken from conversation with him. My learning experience with him alone for this month has been enough to justify my trip here. I feel as if I am on a vicarage, or internship, studying directly under a very gifted man that I respect greatly. My insights and knowledge I have gained from him have been invaluable. Its like he conducts a seminar for me each time we have a car ride. Pastor Winterle and his wife have been ridiculously supportive of the many groups that they have organized and brought in from all over the world, and without them, none of what I have done, or many of the other people have done, would be possible. This only adds to the fact that he has mentored me so well. I am truly in his debt.
-Some of the road intersections here are confounding. They are not roundabouts (as are most of the intersections) and yet they do not have stop signs as some do, and they are major roads! In Springfield it would be like having no sign or stop light of any kind at Campbell and Battlefield, albeit the times that it occurs here are roads with the same amount of traffic but only two lanes with no traffic markings on the road. It is amazing there aren't even more complete traffic standstills and wrecks by the minute.
Well, I suppose that is all I have for this day, I know I have a few days coming up in which I wrote a lot, so I will try to continue with another tonight. God's blessings!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Day 19 Experiences--Monday, July 6
Matthew and I went to Umoja today to sit in on one of the HIV Positive support groups. We ended up interacting with the children more.
-Pastor Mark at Umoja is awesome. He is a bright man (went to the US to study at Ft. Wayne Seminary) and very joyous and happy. He is a light, and it was pleasure being with him even if just a few times. His sons and their friends are all amazing too. They took me all over Umoja showing me around, and were very friendly and welcoming. The joy that they expressed and the friendliness towards me is something I won't soon forget. I also understand that this congregation needs help. As I stated in a previous post, they are meeting in what is the equivilent in a line of storage facilities and they have just rented one and are in it. That is the set-up they have in their strip and about the room they have, and they are growing and they are deeply involved in all the workings of the community. They are truly doing good work there.
-I saw a Kansas City Chief's shirt today.
-The people here feel that this weather is very cold, and they certainly act like it. I am more than comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans. In fact, if I could I'd be in shorts. They go around buttoned up in full winter coats and stocking caps. Its really interesting to behold and more so when they ask me if I am freezing.
-I walked in to the Pastor's Bible study he was holding. The point he was making was about John 8:1-11 He asked why the people there only brought the woman to Jesus. Why not the man? It takes two to tango. I think its an interesting point for everyone to look at but specifically this society as well. Wouldn't you agree Janice Reynolds?
-Pastor's sons and friends were listening to some music videos, among them was Coldplay. It was nice to inform them that they are one of my favorite bands.
-Flowers here are one of their biggest exports. You can get a twenty roses for $1.50
-Pastor Mark at Umoja is awesome. He is a bright man (went to the US to study at Ft. Wayne Seminary) and very joyous and happy. He is a light, and it was pleasure being with him even if just a few times. His sons and their friends are all amazing too. They took me all over Umoja showing me around, and were very friendly and welcoming. The joy that they expressed and the friendliness towards me is something I won't soon forget. I also understand that this congregation needs help. As I stated in a previous post, they are meeting in what is the equivilent in a line of storage facilities and they have just rented one and are in it. That is the set-up they have in their strip and about the room they have, and they are growing and they are deeply involved in all the workings of the community. They are truly doing good work there.
-I saw a Kansas City Chief's shirt today.
-The people here feel that this weather is very cold, and they certainly act like it. I am more than comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans. In fact, if I could I'd be in shorts. They go around buttoned up in full winter coats and stocking caps. Its really interesting to behold and more so when they ask me if I am freezing.
-I walked in to the Pastor's Bible study he was holding. The point he was making was about John 8:1-11 He asked why the people there only brought the woman to Jesus. Why not the man? It takes two to tango. I think its an interesting point for everyone to look at but specifically this society as well. Wouldn't you agree Janice Reynolds?
-Pastor's sons and friends were listening to some music videos, among them was Coldplay. It was nice to inform them that they are one of my favorite bands.
-Flowers here are one of their biggest exports. You can get a twenty roses for $1.50
Day 18 Experiences--Sunday, July 5
Today was day 18. We went to church today, at Uhuru Highway church again. It was good, I got to teach the English Sunday School, and it went well, had fun singing and such with the kids. Afterwards, I went to the Hungarians house here in Kenya, and had a very nice lunch and swam and watched Wimbledon. It was a good day. Here are some thoughts on it:
-Heard a great quote in the adult Bible study class today, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." I think its true, and I like it.
-Met an American boy during the service, named Philip. He has a great story. He is living and going to school in North Carolina right now. He is over here for I think a month and a half doing work for a media organization that is doing church mission work. He is part of the filming and picture team and such. He was extremely interesting and we had great converstation. I haven't had a chance to yet (due to internet here) but I encourage all of you to check out the work he is doing. The website he gave me for it was http://www.philipvarvis.com/ He seems like a very talented and driven individual and it was my pleasure to meet him. Hopefully with him, and many of the other great workers I've met over here I will be able to stay in touch and will have made a great contact.
-They really don't believe in ice here. I have not experienced a single ice cube my entire time here (to the day of this writing too). Most drinks are then consequently warm or mild. At least they aren't the warm beer drinkers like in England. That just seems like heresy.
-To this point I have been 6 days without power, and tonight the generator broke, not that that is a huge deal because it was only running part of the time anyway. I guess in the entire 6 days it has been out, the electric company has only just now on day 6 come out. Only in Africa...
-As I said, I watched Wimbledon today. I got to watch it live our time here, like 7 in the morning real person time. It turned out to be the longest Wimbledon final in modern tennis. It also happened to be the first tv I have watched here. I was in a room rooting for the American Andy Roddick, while the Hungarians were rooting for the favored Swiss, Roger Federer. I must say, though he lost, Roddick gave Federer (who in the same match passed Pete Sampras for most Grand Slams won) a run for his money. I was proud of his effort as the underdog, and he narrowly lost taking the match the full five sets and into numerous extra games. Even more impressive I thought was the way this young man handled himself after losing a heartbreaking match. He spoke just minutes afterwards in an on court interview with class and dignity. Kudos to him and everyone else in this world that carries themselves with class, dignity, and respect for others.
Well I suppose that's it for today. Love ya much!
-Heard a great quote in the adult Bible study class today, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." I think its true, and I like it.
-Met an American boy during the service, named Philip. He has a great story. He is living and going to school in North Carolina right now. He is over here for I think a month and a half doing work for a media organization that is doing church mission work. He is part of the filming and picture team and such. He was extremely interesting and we had great converstation. I haven't had a chance to yet (due to internet here) but I encourage all of you to check out the work he is doing. The website he gave me for it was http://www.philipvarvis.com/ He seems like a very talented and driven individual and it was my pleasure to meet him. Hopefully with him, and many of the other great workers I've met over here I will be able to stay in touch and will have made a great contact.
-They really don't believe in ice here. I have not experienced a single ice cube my entire time here (to the day of this writing too). Most drinks are then consequently warm or mild. At least they aren't the warm beer drinkers like in England. That just seems like heresy.
-To this point I have been 6 days without power, and tonight the generator broke, not that that is a huge deal because it was only running part of the time anyway. I guess in the entire 6 days it has been out, the electric company has only just now on day 6 come out. Only in Africa...
-As I said, I watched Wimbledon today. I got to watch it live our time here, like 7 in the morning real person time. It turned out to be the longest Wimbledon final in modern tennis. It also happened to be the first tv I have watched here. I was in a room rooting for the American Andy Roddick, while the Hungarians were rooting for the favored Swiss, Roger Federer. I must say, though he lost, Roddick gave Federer (who in the same match passed Pete Sampras for most Grand Slams won) a run for his money. I was proud of his effort as the underdog, and he narrowly lost taking the match the full five sets and into numerous extra games. Even more impressive I thought was the way this young man handled himself after losing a heartbreaking match. He spoke just minutes afterwards in an on court interview with class and dignity. Kudos to him and everyone else in this world that carries themselves with class, dignity, and respect for others.
Well I suppose that's it for today. Love ya much!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Day 17 Experiences--Saturday, July 4
Got to go on another little mini safari today, though this one was more about the scenary. We hiked through this gorge today that was just...gorgeous. The park itself was very unique, with Lion King like rocks rising on the planes, and huge rock-faced cliffs, and of course, the enormous gorge.
-I went on the trip with my Hungarian partner Matthew, his contact here, Beata, a Lutheran at Uhuru highway, also Hungarian, her son who is, you guessed it, also Hungarian, and a husband and wife that were their family friends from back home, in, you guessed it, Hungary. For those of you keeping score at home, that makes 1 American and 5 Hungarians, in one car, in the middle of Kenya. I heard much gibberish throughout the day, though I'm told its Hungarian. Anytime something little went wrong on the trip, the response was (it's the American's fault) Thankfully it was all done lovingly.
-The mother, Beata reminds me of my friend Anna. So Anna, hello to you today. I missed you before I left, because obviously you like to go live other places, but I also miss you know too. The fact that she reminds me of you is a good thing by the way. I also haven't had a back pop from Jason in forever, and mine was stiff today.
-It was another hassle getting into the national park today. Just like the previous park. For a country that relies so much on tourism, they certainly do a lot to discourage it.
-The Hungarian boy (I say boy, he's 23 I think, I should just say son), named Marton, was driving and listening to, you guessed it, Dire Straits and Johnny Cash. Ah good ole American music...
-This was on my mind today, what is the first thing that Satan says in the Bible? Don't remember? Look it up. I loved it when Dr. Dorman would talk about this in Sunday School. The first thing he says tells so much about the tactics of how he works on us, tempting us. The first four words from his mouth (depending on the translation) tells so much.
-Saw the word "Harambee" (I think that's the spelling) on the Kenyan coat of arms or whatever it is called, and asked what it meant. I was told, that the first president of Kenya was very impressed by the unison and teamwork shown by the Indian workers that were working on the railroad at the time. Every time they would raise their hammers all at once, they would shout, "Harambee!" and bring their hammers down all together. The president used it on the coat of arms as a sign of teamwork. Later it was found out that "Harambee" is not an Indian word for "all together" but rather is an Indian word meaning praise, or all hail, or something along the lines of that, a Hindu god named Mbee. At that point it was already on everything. Since then, the Christians and Muslims (they are the vast majority of the country) have been fighting to get it taken off. All in all, my simple question came across a rather interesting story.
Well, that was two posts for tonight, so I am making progress, and God willing, will try to do more tomorrow. I love you all and miss you!
In Christ
Joseph
-I went on the trip with my Hungarian partner Matthew, his contact here, Beata, a Lutheran at Uhuru highway, also Hungarian, her son who is, you guessed it, also Hungarian, and a husband and wife that were their family friends from back home, in, you guessed it, Hungary. For those of you keeping score at home, that makes 1 American and 5 Hungarians, in one car, in the middle of Kenya. I heard much gibberish throughout the day, though I'm told its Hungarian. Anytime something little went wrong on the trip, the response was (it's the American's fault) Thankfully it was all done lovingly.
-The mother, Beata reminds me of my friend Anna. So Anna, hello to you today. I missed you before I left, because obviously you like to go live other places, but I also miss you know too. The fact that she reminds me of you is a good thing by the way. I also haven't had a back pop from Jason in forever, and mine was stiff today.
-It was another hassle getting into the national park today. Just like the previous park. For a country that relies so much on tourism, they certainly do a lot to discourage it.
-The Hungarian boy (I say boy, he's 23 I think, I should just say son), named Marton, was driving and listening to, you guessed it, Dire Straits and Johnny Cash. Ah good ole American music...
-This was on my mind today, what is the first thing that Satan says in the Bible? Don't remember? Look it up. I loved it when Dr. Dorman would talk about this in Sunday School. The first thing he says tells so much about the tactics of how he works on us, tempting us. The first four words from his mouth (depending on the translation) tells so much.
-Saw the word "Harambee" (I think that's the spelling) on the Kenyan coat of arms or whatever it is called, and asked what it meant. I was told, that the first president of Kenya was very impressed by the unison and teamwork shown by the Indian workers that were working on the railroad at the time. Every time they would raise their hammers all at once, they would shout, "Harambee!" and bring their hammers down all together. The president used it on the coat of arms as a sign of teamwork. Later it was found out that "Harambee" is not an Indian word for "all together" but rather is an Indian word meaning praise, or all hail, or something along the lines of that, a Hindu god named Mbee. At that point it was already on everything. Since then, the Christians and Muslims (they are the vast majority of the country) have been fighting to get it taken off. All in all, my simple question came across a rather interesting story.
Well, that was two posts for tonight, so I am making progress, and God willing, will try to do more tomorrow. I love you all and miss you!
In Christ
Joseph
Day 16 Experiences--Friday, July 3
Well, lets get to it. Did some more home visits today for the Heart to Heart organization of the area Lutheran churches providing scholarships for Orphans.
-Things are so slow moving here! My goodness, its like everything is in slow motion, walking places, moving around, checking out, getting things done. No efficiency. Work days are 10-4 and that is on Africa time meaning you can add an hour to lateness many times. I look around the slums and such as we walk and see grown men just standing around doing nothing during the work day. Its terrible and depressing to see.
-There is just filth and grime and trash everywhere in these slums. The smell is overpowering at times, especially near the giant trash piles lining the roads. Disease has to just fill the area, especially in such close quarters. It is no wonder that the average life span is around 45-50 right now. The living conditions are not conducive to a healthy life. If my parents saw this, they would never complain about my room again ;)
-Most of the houses we visit here in the slum speak no English. They know a few words, and can understand a little, but not enough for our purposes. We still pray with them and share the Word of God and that has stepped across all language barriers. So praise God for that.
-I saw some rather interesting sights today. I saw:
A Royal's hat
A Bass Pro Shop's t-shirt
A O'reilly autopart's t-shirt (owning brothers live in Springfield area)
Possibly an MSU shirt. It looked maybe too old to be an MSU shirt (it would've been SMS then) but that may just be do to wear and tear. It was all Maroon sweat shirt, that said, MSU or something like that, definitely written in the college way, and it didn't identify what the M was but I remember knowing that it was a state university because it said something like that on it. I think it was, but no confirmation.
Just a little taste of home over here.
Well, I suppose thats it. Love you all!
-Things are so slow moving here! My goodness, its like everything is in slow motion, walking places, moving around, checking out, getting things done. No efficiency. Work days are 10-4 and that is on Africa time meaning you can add an hour to lateness many times. I look around the slums and such as we walk and see grown men just standing around doing nothing during the work day. Its terrible and depressing to see.
-There is just filth and grime and trash everywhere in these slums. The smell is overpowering at times, especially near the giant trash piles lining the roads. Disease has to just fill the area, especially in such close quarters. It is no wonder that the average life span is around 45-50 right now. The living conditions are not conducive to a healthy life. If my parents saw this, they would never complain about my room again ;)
-Most of the houses we visit here in the slum speak no English. They know a few words, and can understand a little, but not enough for our purposes. We still pray with them and share the Word of God and that has stepped across all language barriers. So praise God for that.
-I saw some rather interesting sights today. I saw:
A Royal's hat
A Bass Pro Shop's t-shirt
A O'reilly autopart's t-shirt (owning brothers live in Springfield area)
Possibly an MSU shirt. It looked maybe too old to be an MSU shirt (it would've been SMS then) but that may just be do to wear and tear. It was all Maroon sweat shirt, that said, MSU or something like that, definitely written in the college way, and it didn't identify what the M was but I remember knowing that it was a state university because it said something like that on it. I think it was, but no confirmation.
Just a little taste of home over here.
Well, I suppose thats it. Love you all!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
More Photos:
This is a photo of the church at Kibera before it burned. 
This is a photo of Kibera after the riots and the burning.
The Story behind the Cross: Originally the congregation was going to take the cross down as it was so burnt. After much discussion, it was decided to leave the cross up. The blackness of the cross symbolizes the blackness that is in all of us, and the blackness that sent Jesus to the cross in for all of us. Surrounding the cross is scorched black wall, reminding us that the world around us tries to tempt us and bring us down. The message of the gospel (as you can see it creeping up from the bottom right) is a white portion of the wall, that appears to be creeping towards the cross and the blackness of the world. In the end the light overcomes the darkness, the fire is no more, and God prevails in the end. We are reminded of Jesus sacrifice on his cross and of Gods mercy through all of this. With this message, the congregation elected to keep the cross up.
Joseph at the entrance to the medical clinic.
A picture of a true Matatu, albeit this one is one of the ones in very good condition on the outside.
Children standing in the narrow dirt passageways in slums.
Typical scenes in the slums. Trash is piled up everywhere.
Playing sports with the children at Lutheran Church in Umoja.Day 15 Experiences--Thursday, July 2
Today was the first day Matthew and I went out and did work together. We did home visits working with the Heart to Heart program.
-I heard Victoria around a lot last night. I kept hearing certain noises and would shout out “Victoria,” but she was nowhere to be found. Very odd I know. I don’t know what that girl eats…
-The almost mugging I mentioned in an earlier post almost happened today. I was on a Matatu with one of my African friends when 5 men all with some sort of bats (I saw the men, didn’t see the bats) got on the 15 seat van, putting probably 17 people on at that time. Almost immediately as we got underway my friend started getting the attention of the conductor to stop in what was obviously an area not our stop. The conductor acknowledged my friend, but did not follow the request (very unusual for them to do so, normally the just call for a stop). Apparently, my friend recognized some of the men as having done this sort of thing. They work with the driver and force him to pull off into an empty area like a side parking lot and then take what they want from their target, and seeing as I was the only white person on the bus and carrying a full bag (however valuable a Missouri State bag can look). We got off and later saw a couple of the men just sitting at a truck stop doing nothing. All in all, I was told we narrowly avoided me getting mugged. I would say that’s a plus in my book.
-Something tripped the electric wire surrounding our fence, or someone accidently pressed the security button, because at about 11pm a group of security men showed up outside my room asking if I had pressed the button and was alright. They looked ready for action. It was kind of a happy site considering the notion that they were ready to go had there been an actual problem.
-Matthew and I did house visits today, our first day of work. We visited the places of residence of the orphaned kids and who they were staying with. One lady, the grandmother of two children in her custody was so happy. She was in tears and in Swahili kept thanking God. We had brought her food and the Word of God. Apparently she and her family had not eaten in over a day because they had nothing, and were staying with a friend because they had no money for rent. This situation was definitely the most touching of the day. It was such a joy to pray with her and see the happiness in her eyes.
-It is definitely interesting being white and the extreme minority. Sometimes I get some rather odd looks. Other times I almost get mugged ;) On many occasions on the Matatus I have been almost ripped off, with the conductor trying to keep my change or overcharge me. Thankfully I always hand one of my African friends my money and have them pay for me, and then I hear arguments in Swahili, to which afterwards they say, “he says you need to pay more because you are white.” Most people are generally friendly, kind, and welcoming towards me, as is their custom to do with strangers they meet.
Well, that is all the internet I am going to get tonight. I wish I was more caught up, I dont know when I will have a chance to post again, but I will do my best. Sorry for so many posts at once.
Love and miss you all.
Joseph
-I heard Victoria around a lot last night. I kept hearing certain noises and would shout out “Victoria,” but she was nowhere to be found. Very odd I know. I don’t know what that girl eats…
-The almost mugging I mentioned in an earlier post almost happened today. I was on a Matatu with one of my African friends when 5 men all with some sort of bats (I saw the men, didn’t see the bats) got on the 15 seat van, putting probably 17 people on at that time. Almost immediately as we got underway my friend started getting the attention of the conductor to stop in what was obviously an area not our stop. The conductor acknowledged my friend, but did not follow the request (very unusual for them to do so, normally the just call for a stop). Apparently, my friend recognized some of the men as having done this sort of thing. They work with the driver and force him to pull off into an empty area like a side parking lot and then take what they want from their target, and seeing as I was the only white person on the bus and carrying a full bag (however valuable a Missouri State bag can look). We got off and later saw a couple of the men just sitting at a truck stop doing nothing. All in all, I was told we narrowly avoided me getting mugged. I would say that’s a plus in my book.
-Something tripped the electric wire surrounding our fence, or someone accidently pressed the security button, because at about 11pm a group of security men showed up outside my room asking if I had pressed the button and was alright. They looked ready for action. It was kind of a happy site considering the notion that they were ready to go had there been an actual problem.
-Matthew and I did house visits today, our first day of work. We visited the places of residence of the orphaned kids and who they were staying with. One lady, the grandmother of two children in her custody was so happy. She was in tears and in Swahili kept thanking God. We had brought her food and the Word of God. Apparently she and her family had not eaten in over a day because they had nothing, and were staying with a friend because they had no money for rent. This situation was definitely the most touching of the day. It was such a joy to pray with her and see the happiness in her eyes.
-It is definitely interesting being white and the extreme minority. Sometimes I get some rather odd looks. Other times I almost get mugged ;) On many occasions on the Matatus I have been almost ripped off, with the conductor trying to keep my change or overcharge me. Thankfully I always hand one of my African friends my money and have them pay for me, and then I hear arguments in Swahili, to which afterwards they say, “he says you need to pay more because you are white.” Most people are generally friendly, kind, and welcoming towards me, as is their custom to do with strangers they meet.
Well, that is all the internet I am going to get tonight. I wish I was more caught up, I dont know when I will have a chance to post again, but I will do my best. Sorry for so many posts at once.
Love and miss you all.
Joseph
Please read and comment soon!
I know I have posted several things today, and hope to get another post in as well, but this post is a little different.
I believe that I mentioned in an earlier post here about a group of former street boys that formed a band called the ``Conquerors`` They have a half completed Christian album of 5 song, (some english, swahili, other tribal languages) that they wrote the music to themselves. They are trying to get funds to finish their cd and continue their mission of feeding and helping the homeless street boys, as well as visiting schools and spreading the gospel.
They are selling their CD which comes with a DVD of one of their songs music videos for the price of 7 dollars. They are also selling t-shirsts that say ``we are more than...`` and ``conquerors`` on the back for 7 dollars too. The colors on the shirst are I believe black, white, and red.
Anyone who would like a cd or t-shirt or both, just let me know and I will buy it and bring it back for you (their website isnt really up and running yet, they are working on it with their limited resources). I can attest that the 5 songs are pretty good, and even if you dont like it you know that a good cause is being helped. Its not necessarily your authentic African tribal congo drum music, but still good and I dont really know the style so I wont try to describe it.
This is certainly not a plea for funds and I dont want people doing this as an offering or anything, but if anyone would like one, please comment on this post, or email, (I prefer commenting, allows me to keep track better) along with your name, and what size if you are getting a shirt. Thanks, and I will see you all soon God willing!
I believe that I mentioned in an earlier post here about a group of former street boys that formed a band called the ``Conquerors`` They have a half completed Christian album of 5 song, (some english, swahili, other tribal languages) that they wrote the music to themselves. They are trying to get funds to finish their cd and continue their mission of feeding and helping the homeless street boys, as well as visiting schools and spreading the gospel.
They are selling their CD which comes with a DVD of one of their songs music videos for the price of 7 dollars. They are also selling t-shirsts that say ``we are more than...`` and ``conquerors`` on the back for 7 dollars too. The colors on the shirst are I believe black, white, and red.
Anyone who would like a cd or t-shirt or both, just let me know and I will buy it and bring it back for you (their website isnt really up and running yet, they are working on it with their limited resources). I can attest that the 5 songs are pretty good, and even if you dont like it you know that a good cause is being helped. Its not necessarily your authentic African tribal congo drum music, but still good and I dont really know the style so I wont try to describe it.
This is certainly not a plea for funds and I dont want people doing this as an offering or anything, but if anyone would like one, please comment on this post, or email, (I prefer commenting, allows me to keep track better) along with your name, and what size if you are getting a shirt. Thanks, and I will see you all soon God willing!
Day 14 Experiences--Wednesday, July 1
Well, today was the first day with the group being gone, and I got to meet my new partner in crime Matthew, from Hungary. A couple observations from the day:
-I already miss my big group. I probably already mentioned that from the last day, but I do. They were like a big family to me and things are a little more empty here with them gone. I also miss the Reynolds being my unofficial protectors on this trip. Theyve taught me well, and left me in good hands... my own (wink wink)
-I heard 2, count `em 2, siren today! That makes for a grand total of 4 sirens heard in 14 and a half days inside a big city with goodness knows more than its fair share of crime and accidents.
-Shout out to Jason Hall, whom I was miracuously seeing almost everyday before I left, and now no more. You are in my thoughts and prayers always, just saying I love you brother.
-I got my partial schedule today for my final two weeks here and it should be interesting to say the least. A lot of time with just Matthew and I out there, and sometimes just me, and a lot of time away from Pastor Winterle who has taken me under his wing as a benefactor of sorts while out here. I as well as so many others who come here to work owe so much to Pastor Winterle and his lovely wife Lidia. They are wonderful people and a blessing.
-I will get my chance to preach at the special service for the homeless boys in a couple of Sundays. I am really really excited about it and really looking forward to it, even if their is part of the group of people with not so great a set of english skills... (it also means I will be ready to preach when I get back Pastor Sippy, just like you offered me what seems like so long ago, wink wink, haha)
-I feel a strange sort of confidence going out and tackling the world. I know I have God on my side, and am doing his work, and I know that all the years of church, and sunday school, and reading, and studying, and praying, and volunteering, and wonderful people I have come in contact with over the years, has prepared me for situations exactly like these. I look forward to the opportunity I will have the final two weeks.
In Christ,
Joseph
-I already miss my big group. I probably already mentioned that from the last day, but I do. They were like a big family to me and things are a little more empty here with them gone. I also miss the Reynolds being my unofficial protectors on this trip. Theyve taught me well, and left me in good hands... my own (wink wink)
-I heard 2, count `em 2, siren today! That makes for a grand total of 4 sirens heard in 14 and a half days inside a big city with goodness knows more than its fair share of crime and accidents.
-Shout out to Jason Hall, whom I was miracuously seeing almost everyday before I left, and now no more. You are in my thoughts and prayers always, just saying I love you brother.
-I got my partial schedule today for my final two weeks here and it should be interesting to say the least. A lot of time with just Matthew and I out there, and sometimes just me, and a lot of time away from Pastor Winterle who has taken me under his wing as a benefactor of sorts while out here. I as well as so many others who come here to work owe so much to Pastor Winterle and his lovely wife Lidia. They are wonderful people and a blessing.
-I will get my chance to preach at the special service for the homeless boys in a couple of Sundays. I am really really excited about it and really looking forward to it, even if their is part of the group of people with not so great a set of english skills... (it also means I will be ready to preach when I get back Pastor Sippy, just like you offered me what seems like so long ago, wink wink, haha)
-I feel a strange sort of confidence going out and tackling the world. I know I have God on my side, and am doing his work, and I know that all the years of church, and sunday school, and reading, and studying, and praying, and volunteering, and wonderful people I have come in contact with over the years, has prepared me for situations exactly like these. I look forward to the opportunity I will have the final two weeks.
In Christ,
Joseph
The Church at Kibera
Here is what I find to be the awe inspiring story of the church at Kibera. All of it is true and attested to by eye witnesses....
Kibera was a church that was worshipping about 60 on Sundays before the post-election violence. Also, a brand new, very nice (not just here in the slums nice, I saw the pictures it was really nice) FREE medical facility was attached to the church that was set up and run by Lutheran World Relief an agency of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod here in the US.
Kibera also had a school building and house for the pastor in the facility, both of which were burned, the house being completely destroyed.
Before the violence, the back end of the shops on the streets formed part of the fence for the church compound. During the violence, the shops were burned, leaving open passage to the church, the medical facilities and the rest of the compound. A large street gang broke in and started looting and burning everything. In the end almost everything was taken and the church as a whole was still standing as well as the walls (not the roof) of the school. Other than that, everything was destroyed. The pastors watched on live tv as the churches next to it were burned, then Pastor Winterle recieved the following phone call from a church leader:
``They have broken into the compound, they are taking and destroying everything,`` the caller said tearfully, watching from a distance, ``I hope they dont set fire to it`` Later he would call back in tears, ``they are burning it, they are burning everything.``
Here are a few notes however on how Gods hand was at work even in such a terrible tragedy.
-Some good samaritan as the church was burning on the roof, rushed in and brought out all the pews on the lawn to protect them from the fire. Amazingly, the pews were never taken, and when things such as sinks and bathtubs were being ripped out and stolen, as well as windows being ripped out, and the metal caging for the windows being ripped out and stolen, it is a miracle that the pews remained. Amazingly, despite the basement being burned, the roof partially burned, and the connecting medical center being burned, the church itself survived along with its pews.
-The church as a whole is still structurally sound enough to remain standing. This is also a miracle. Though parts of the building will need redone, it was still in enough shape to continue holding services in the time while they raise funds to rebuild the medical facility and everything else.
-Attendance as stated was at around 60 per Sunday before the violence. The Sunday after the violence ended (they had to cancel services during the riots) the church was open again and they are now averaging 130 people in attendance per Sunday!
-The leader of the gang, took the bottles of communion wine he found, and also the pastors robes and went out back as the church was burning and held a mock communion in mockery of the Lords Supper. Three day later this man was found dead. Upon medical examination, the cause of death was undeterminable, and ruled a ``mysterious death`` I will let the reader take that as you will...
-The principle at the school gave a great message. The leaders were all interviewed afterwards and pictures from the church made headlines across the world. When asked about the violence, the principle stated that none of them were mad at the people that did it, they just asked that God would forgive them because they did not know what they were doing and they forgave them. This was after her school had been ransacked, torn apart, roof burned off, bathrooms demolished, and all that was left standing was the walls and rooms. Enrollment at the school before the violence was 30. After the violence and with the aid of sponsor scholarships whose attention was grabbed by the headlines, enrollment was 120.
-The story behind the cross hanging in the front is a good one, although I will try to include that when I email my Dad the photos from that day. In short, the cross was completely burned, but the congregation after debate decided to keep it up.
-For the final story, and my favorite, I will share it and the end. Hearing this story and the others was very moving, the pastor and many of us almost to tears hearing him tell the stories of this church and congregation. Never did he complain, though saddened by the horrendous destruction, he continued to give thanks to God and with each story reminded us that at all times, these were reminders that God was working through even this terrible heartless disaster.
While cleaning up the altar area, someone came across the Bible that had been on the altar. The Bible was in miserable condition, having been burnt all the way through. Upon further examination, it was deemed that the Bible was so charred that none of the pages were visible, all except one that is. It was the one page that still had any part of it that was not touched by the fire. Some would say, as chance would have it, that this one page had only three visible verses. These verses came from Psalm chapter 124, with the only three verses able to be seen being verse 1, 2, and 3. They read:
``If the Lord had not been on our side -
let Israel say-
If the Lord hd not been on our side when men attacked us,
when their anger flared against us,
they would hve swallowed us alive``
They were not swallowed alive, not a single member parished in the violence. The church has gone on and is not only going on but is stronger. In the face of death, destruction, violence, they were not swallowed....
Kibera was a church that was worshipping about 60 on Sundays before the post-election violence. Also, a brand new, very nice (not just here in the slums nice, I saw the pictures it was really nice) FREE medical facility was attached to the church that was set up and run by Lutheran World Relief an agency of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod here in the US.
Kibera also had a school building and house for the pastor in the facility, both of which were burned, the house being completely destroyed.
Before the violence, the back end of the shops on the streets formed part of the fence for the church compound. During the violence, the shops were burned, leaving open passage to the church, the medical facilities and the rest of the compound. A large street gang broke in and started looting and burning everything. In the end almost everything was taken and the church as a whole was still standing as well as the walls (not the roof) of the school. Other than that, everything was destroyed. The pastors watched on live tv as the churches next to it were burned, then Pastor Winterle recieved the following phone call from a church leader:
``They have broken into the compound, they are taking and destroying everything,`` the caller said tearfully, watching from a distance, ``I hope they dont set fire to it`` Later he would call back in tears, ``they are burning it, they are burning everything.``
Here are a few notes however on how Gods hand was at work even in such a terrible tragedy.
-Some good samaritan as the church was burning on the roof, rushed in and brought out all the pews on the lawn to protect them from the fire. Amazingly, the pews were never taken, and when things such as sinks and bathtubs were being ripped out and stolen, as well as windows being ripped out, and the metal caging for the windows being ripped out and stolen, it is a miracle that the pews remained. Amazingly, despite the basement being burned, the roof partially burned, and the connecting medical center being burned, the church itself survived along with its pews.
-The church as a whole is still structurally sound enough to remain standing. This is also a miracle. Though parts of the building will need redone, it was still in enough shape to continue holding services in the time while they raise funds to rebuild the medical facility and everything else.
-Attendance as stated was at around 60 per Sunday before the violence. The Sunday after the violence ended (they had to cancel services during the riots) the church was open again and they are now averaging 130 people in attendance per Sunday!
-The leader of the gang, took the bottles of communion wine he found, and also the pastors robes and went out back as the church was burning and held a mock communion in mockery of the Lords Supper. Three day later this man was found dead. Upon medical examination, the cause of death was undeterminable, and ruled a ``mysterious death`` I will let the reader take that as you will...
-The principle at the school gave a great message. The leaders were all interviewed afterwards and pictures from the church made headlines across the world. When asked about the violence, the principle stated that none of them were mad at the people that did it, they just asked that God would forgive them because they did not know what they were doing and they forgave them. This was after her school had been ransacked, torn apart, roof burned off, bathrooms demolished, and all that was left standing was the walls and rooms. Enrollment at the school before the violence was 30. After the violence and with the aid of sponsor scholarships whose attention was grabbed by the headlines, enrollment was 120.
-The story behind the cross hanging in the front is a good one, although I will try to include that when I email my Dad the photos from that day. In short, the cross was completely burned, but the congregation after debate decided to keep it up.
-For the final story, and my favorite, I will share it and the end. Hearing this story and the others was very moving, the pastor and many of us almost to tears hearing him tell the stories of this church and congregation. Never did he complain, though saddened by the horrendous destruction, he continued to give thanks to God and with each story reminded us that at all times, these were reminders that God was working through even this terrible heartless disaster.
While cleaning up the altar area, someone came across the Bible that had been on the altar. The Bible was in miserable condition, having been burnt all the way through. Upon further examination, it was deemed that the Bible was so charred that none of the pages were visible, all except one that is. It was the one page that still had any part of it that was not touched by the fire. Some would say, as chance would have it, that this one page had only three visible verses. These verses came from Psalm chapter 124, with the only three verses able to be seen being verse 1, 2, and 3. They read:
``If the Lord had not been on our side -
let Israel say-
If the Lord hd not been on our side when men attacked us,
when their anger flared against us,
they would hve swallowed us alive``
They were not swallowed alive, not a single member parished in the violence. The church has gone on and is not only going on but is stronger. In the face of death, destruction, violence, they were not swallowed....
Day 13 Experiences--Tuesday, June 30
First a few comments on my father's post. Yes, I have been without internet for almost 4 full days now, making that the second hiatus from the internet I have had this trip (the first being 5 days). I am back to posting now, and despite almost getting caught up am going to have to now make many many posts a day to try to make up lost time, plus I have no idea when I will be able to get back on the internet again, maybe not for another 5 days. It is now day 20 here so obviously I have my work cut out for me. My other comment is that for those wondering where in the world is Joseph, if you dont know by now, you have obviously not been reading anything. To answer the question, I am in Africa, to be more precise, Kenya, to be most precise Nairobi, to be mostest precise, the Karen district of Nairobi, to be even more mostestest precise, in Pastor Winterles house. To be even most mostestest precise, in his computer room.
Okay, enough of the shennanigans, on to day 13
-Today was my dear brother Jason's birthday. Happy birthday to my best friend. I miss you. We all miss you. Currently he is in Africa himself serving our country and all of us once again. We love you Jason Ross Highley. Come back safe and soon.
-This was my last day being with the whole group. Their flight left at 6 today. Sad to see them go. I will never forget them and my experiences with them. They were all truly wonderful. Every last one of them. Ive already mentioned how great the Wehmeier family had been, and all the others as well, from Bob and the great stories we shared to Michael and his friendship, to all the others, as well that were so great. I thank you. Truly I do, I need to have a post dedicated to just all of them so I can mention them all. Thank you once again.
-I woke up thinking one about the rain from the night before, and thought of my dear friend and storm buddy Lindsey because of that as well.
-I also woke up thinking about a certain song that goes a little bit like this ``I am Victoria, oh I am Victoria! Taking all of Dan's stars away... Take! Take! I am Victoria...`` It made me smile to think of it and miss all my friends and loved ones back home, so basically all of you reading this now!
-I might get to meet a Hollywood group coming over to build a school that has lots of celebrities. That would be cool. We will see if it happens. I have a feeling no, but there is a chance.
-We visited the churches at Kawangware and Kibera today and I want to make special post just for the one at Kibera so I will say nothing more about it for now. Kawangware is where I will be (and to this writing have been) doing a lot of the work I will be doing now that the group will be gone. It is located in a slum much like the giant slum at Kibera, though a little nicer, probably in that it is not as tightly packed together with a few dirt roads running through it, whereas Kibera is so tight you couldnt fit a car in most of the walkways and seperations between buildings.
-Saw not only the church at the Kibera slum, but the Kibera slum up close for the first time. A train track runs right through the middle of it and you can see where rioters in the violence last year literally tore up the tracks and flung them away. They have not been moved since that time even though the rail itself was repaired. There is dust and garbage and waste everywhere. Someone read in a magazine that there are more churches in the slum than there are toilets (and there are estimated to be over 1.5 million living there, whereas the city of Nairobi is only 3 million people, meaning half the people live in the slums). In regards to the point this makes, it says that one, there are a lot of churches, but more so, t really indicates that there are little to no toilets for people to use, which only adds to the waste problem. If something like the flu or the plague struck in a place like this they would all be dead within weeks. It is just a filthy mass of people living tightly. The smell was overpowering in many places. I dont know what to do for these people other than to just pray pray pray.
Well, I suppose that is all for this day, I feel like this is a long post already, and I know that I wrote a lot on some of the following days too, so here comes a lot of posts tonight for which I apologize in advance.
In Christ
Joseph
Okay, enough of the shennanigans, on to day 13
-Today was my dear brother Jason's birthday. Happy birthday to my best friend. I miss you. We all miss you. Currently he is in Africa himself serving our country and all of us once again. We love you Jason Ross Highley. Come back safe and soon.
-This was my last day being with the whole group. Their flight left at 6 today. Sad to see them go. I will never forget them and my experiences with them. They were all truly wonderful. Every last one of them. Ive already mentioned how great the Wehmeier family had been, and all the others as well, from Bob and the great stories we shared to Michael and his friendship, to all the others, as well that were so great. I thank you. Truly I do, I need to have a post dedicated to just all of them so I can mention them all. Thank you once again.
-I woke up thinking one about the rain from the night before, and thought of my dear friend and storm buddy Lindsey because of that as well.
-I also woke up thinking about a certain song that goes a little bit like this ``I am Victoria, oh I am Victoria! Taking all of Dan's stars away... Take! Take! I am Victoria...`` It made me smile to think of it and miss all my friends and loved ones back home, so basically all of you reading this now!
-I might get to meet a Hollywood group coming over to build a school that has lots of celebrities. That would be cool. We will see if it happens. I have a feeling no, but there is a chance.
-We visited the churches at Kawangware and Kibera today and I want to make special post just for the one at Kibera so I will say nothing more about it for now. Kawangware is where I will be (and to this writing have been) doing a lot of the work I will be doing now that the group will be gone. It is located in a slum much like the giant slum at Kibera, though a little nicer, probably in that it is not as tightly packed together with a few dirt roads running through it, whereas Kibera is so tight you couldnt fit a car in most of the walkways and seperations between buildings.
-Saw not only the church at the Kibera slum, but the Kibera slum up close for the first time. A train track runs right through the middle of it and you can see where rioters in the violence last year literally tore up the tracks and flung them away. They have not been moved since that time even though the rail itself was repaired. There is dust and garbage and waste everywhere. Someone read in a magazine that there are more churches in the slum than there are toilets (and there are estimated to be over 1.5 million living there, whereas the city of Nairobi is only 3 million people, meaning half the people live in the slums). In regards to the point this makes, it says that one, there are a lot of churches, but more so, t really indicates that there are little to no toilets for people to use, which only adds to the waste problem. If something like the flu or the plague struck in a place like this they would all be dead within weeks. It is just a filthy mass of people living tightly. The smell was overpowering in many places. I dont know what to do for these people other than to just pray pray pray.
Well, I suppose that is all for this day, I feel like this is a long post already, and I know that I wrote a lot on some of the following days too, so here comes a lot of posts tonight for which I apologize in advance.
In Christ
Joseph
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Day 12 Experiences--Monday, June 29
Well, lets get to it...
-Up to this day I have only heard 2 sirens since I have been there, and I know that this is not a town that just doesn't have accidents, what is the deal?
-I have seen absolutely no American chain restaurants here. For all the other obvious American influences here that seems very odd to me. Not even a McDonalds. The only one I have seen is one solitary Olive Garden, and that is it.
-Had church today, I got to lead the Sunday school. I must say that although it was more difficult to do with the Swahili group we had a lot of fun because we (all of us plus Wehmeier girls) got to sing and dance all over the place with them. They already knew such songs as "Father Abraham" and a few other good ones, and we taught them a few more, like the "Hippo" song, though I still don't quite have that one down. All in all, we had a great time sharing God's Word with these children. God's truth and his Word truly are universal to all cultures. God loves everyone, from the little kids in Africa, to each of us in America, and yes, even the French ;)
Welp, got this one in too, I am off to bed here, it would be firework time here if they celebrated it. Makes me miss all of you and miss firing off fireworks with the best cousin in the world and his set of quite lovely sisters (despite the fact that I will never stop recieving trouble from them) And of course what is a Fourth of July without the rest of my Brockman Clan (those who have the last name and those who don't), with the best sets of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents that a person could ask for. From the Keehns, to the Brockmans, to the Highleys, to the Fields, to the countless other last names involved in the big thing I call family, I love you all! I am truly blessed to be one of the family.
-Up to this day I have only heard 2 sirens since I have been there, and I know that this is not a town that just doesn't have accidents, what is the deal?
-I have seen absolutely no American chain restaurants here. For all the other obvious American influences here that seems very odd to me. Not even a McDonalds. The only one I have seen is one solitary Olive Garden, and that is it.
-Had church today, I got to lead the Sunday school. I must say that although it was more difficult to do with the Swahili group we had a lot of fun because we (all of us plus Wehmeier girls) got to sing and dance all over the place with them. They already knew such songs as "Father Abraham" and a few other good ones, and we taught them a few more, like the "Hippo" song, though I still don't quite have that one down. All in all, we had a great time sharing God's Word with these children. God's truth and his Word truly are universal to all cultures. God loves everyone, from the little kids in Africa, to each of us in America, and yes, even the French ;)
Welp, got this one in too, I am off to bed here, it would be firework time here if they celebrated it. Makes me miss all of you and miss firing off fireworks with the best cousin in the world and his set of quite lovely sisters (despite the fact that I will never stop recieving trouble from them) And of course what is a Fourth of July without the rest of my Brockman Clan (those who have the last name and those who don't), with the best sets of aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents that a person could ask for. From the Keehns, to the Brockmans, to the Highleys, to the Fields, to the countless other last names involved in the big thing I call family, I love you all! I am truly blessed to be one of the family.
Day 11
Well, today was another day in Africa!
-It seems that things just work on a completely different ideology over here. Everything works differently. It seems efficiency, customer care, speed, practicality, common sense, etc. are all foreign words to them. I could write an entire paper just on that. So I won't go on too long. Good example though, at the Sunday school seminar yesterday, it was scheduled to start at 9, not a soul was there until 10:30!
-Just a shout out to my two favorite girls, Laura and Rebecca, yes I am playing with Pip, but he is a lazy mutt and has only actually gotten the ball twice. Also, I stepped in a huge pile of mud today and you would just be happy as can be at how dirty my shoe was. I even took a picture just for you… ;) and where is that email!!!!
-Our vehicle broke down, for 2 hours today, a hose blew, so what did they do to fix it? Cut a garden hose and attached it where it needed to be…. Only in Africa… thankfully it was by a restaurant so I went in and had a drink watching a soccer match between South Africa and some other country or something like that I don't really remember.
-I've had a lot of fun playing cards with the Wehmeier family the past few nights, a wonderful family and I am blessed that they have taken me around so much and made me feel so welcome.
-I dreamed about the show Avatar a few nights ago. I think about that show a lot out here for some reason. A lot of the words out here sound like Avatar Earth Bender words, for example I literally saw a sign and took a picture of it that said "Omajoo" which although the spelling is different is a city in the earth bender kingdom. Also names like "Ba Sing Se" and such would fit perfectly out here.
-I hear a lot of American music from all eras out here. The whole hip hop music is probably most popular, but it restaurants and coffee shops I hear a lot of American music from as far back as the 60's playing. Pretty interesting if you ask me. Heard some Sinatra, Backstreet Boys, Early Britney Spears (amongst other early 90's pop) and a whole bunch of others I can't remember now, and of course Elton John (yes I realize he isn't American).
Well, I suppose that's it, trying to get a few in tonight. Happy 4th!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Chatting with Joseph
The following ‘conversation’ is the first major communication we have had with Joseph in two weeks. Other than this, we just read his blog and sometimes get a random one sentence email. Because internet has been very sporadic, he has not been able to do a great deal. Today though, he sent us the message that he was on ‘instant messaging’. If you are not familiar with this, it is sort of like live talking, but you type everything, no audio---called ‘chatting’. Good news is that it is free, but Joseph had to hike over to a neighboring compound though in the dark and ‘borrow’ the internet because he had the password for that compound, but he didn’t have one for the one he was staying in and he also says power has been out for a few days. They are running a generator to compensate. He now has a ‘pay per use’ cell phone and he actually called and talked a few short minutes on Thursday. Our conversation that day centered around us suggesting strongly that he hire a local person to escort him around. Because of the civil unrest, we are concerned for his safety. Joseph is being careful, but it takes a while to learn the local street smarts (who to avoid, how to escape an escalating situation, local geography) so we are glad he is taking precautions. He has found a young man named Peter that will travel down to the ghetto area with him. On days that Peter cannot go, they will take a taxi and go direct rather than riding on the public transports. In the transcript below: MotoPopster is Duane and gojoego7777 is Joseph.
July 3, 2009.
MotoPopster (11:17:09 AM): Hey Joseph, are you there?
gojoego7777 (11:25:47 AM): hi
gojoego7777 (11:26:07 AM): its 7:24 pm here and very dark
gojoego7777 (12:40:08 PM): it’s been dark here since 6:30
gojoego7777 (11:26:17 AM): I’m outside, hacking kind of onto internet
MotoPopster (11:31:16 AM): Are you meeting nice people?
gojoego7777 (11:31:43 AM): yes, many nice people working in the church here
MotoPopster (11:32:07 AM): Who sets up the ghetto visits?
gojoego7777 (11:33:28 AM): well for the last two days we go to a church at a place called Kawangware, and there is an organization of Lutherans, pastors and lay, called Heart to Heart orphans, and we visit the single parents, or whoever the kids are living with and interview them to see about getting them scholarships, and then share a Bible passage and pray
gojoego7777 (11:33:29 AM): so i tag along with a lady who did that the last two days
gojoego7777 (11:33:33 AM): went to 8 places
gojoego7777 (11:34:08 AM): work day is from 10 to 4 and that’s Africa time, meaning the only time to maybe get stuff done is 11 to 330
gojoego7777 (11:34:55 AM): here you schedule appointments not from 10 to 11 or 1030 to 11, or 1 to 3, you get one for the morning and schedule one for the afternoon and that’s all you’ll get
MotoPopster (11:34:33 AM): Sounds like they move on Godspeed, meaning the relationship and the journey is more important than the destination or the immediate results
gojoego7777 (11:35:43 AM): well, not really, no, they say that, but we spent a lot of our time just walking to the destination, slowly, slowly, slowly, or waiting until 1045 or 11 to leave the church because someone hadn't showed up yet
MotoPopster (11:36:19 AM): They are not slaves to time, i can see that
gojoego7777 (11:36:33 AM): its called Africa time
MotoPopster (11:35:32 AM): Are you learning some life lessons?
gojoego7777 (11:38:03 AM): i'm learning some life lessons, becoming more comfortable sharing, and leading, that’s probably the biggest thing, and also learning to deal with things i would use to not want to deal with like filth and extreme poverty, and learning many other things, like stuff I would’ve learned just staying in Springfield going on house visits with a pastor, but its neat to do it here
MotoPopster (11:46:03 AM): are the police visibly present?
gojoego7777 (11:47:18 AM): I see very few policemen
gojoego7777 (11:47:20 AM): even fewer police cars
gojoego7777 (11:47:44 AM): only 4 sirens while I'm here the whole time, 2 on one day, that is unheard of in a big city
MotoPopster (11:53:05 AM): What is for dinner?
gojoego7777 (11:56:02 AM): For dinner I had a burrito from a shop by the grocery store when I was getting groceries
gojoego7777 (11:56:35 AM): Its the closest thing to Wal-Mart and the cashiers average checking out an item every 4 seconds if they are fast, 20 if they are not
gojoego7777 (11:56:43 AM): and it closes at 8:30
gojoego7777 (11:56:49 AM): talk about efficiency....
MotoPopster (11:56:41 AM): do they have regular grocery stuff - what's the weirdest thing you've eaten? I'll bet you would be totally happy with a falafel now!
gojoego7777 (11:58:02 AM): they do have somewhat kind of regular grocery stuff
gojoego7777 (11:58:39 AM): some American brands on things like cereals as well as lots of imitations, and no American brands on other things, like beers, and chips, and crackers, and etc.
gojoego7777 (11:58:53 AM): I haven’t eaten all that weird of stuff
gojoego7777 (11:59:10 AM): other than poor parts of meat at times that I just have to keep chewing it hasn’t been bad
MotoPopster (11:59:26 AM): Do they all have good refrigeration, e.g. no dead birds hanging out for sale in the markets unrefrigerated?
gojoego7777 (12:01:49 PM): better refrigeration than in the Israel market in terms of the good stores, but not at the markets in the ghettos
MotoPopster (12:01:18 PM): how’s the electric supply system - off and on? do they need a good coop power engineer?
gojoego7777 (12:03:58 PM): no, they need power lines that weren’t made by Europeans years ago, all of their nice things over here are just either brand new, or were really nice when they were made when the British were still here and haven't been up kept since
gojoego7777 (12:05:18 PM): all we have is a blown transformer and no one will come out and work on it
MotoPopster (12:07:34 PM): Who was with you on your safari
gojoego7777 (12:09:54 PM): this family (pastor Dan, wife, daughter 15, daughter 12) the Wehmeiers, as well as Pastor Carlos and Lidia
MotoPopster (12:11:51 PM): The safari sounds good, like the movie "Daktari" - I liked that movie when I was a kid. It is every kids dream, to be on a safari
gojoego7777 (12:14:14 PM): I never saw Daktari, but I started watching Out of Africa, about how Karen Blixen settled this area and started the coffee crop
gojoego7777 (12:15:16 PM): the area of Nairobi I am in is called Karen because of her. I bought a map of her old plantation and can point out where I am staying on it
gojoego7777 (12:13:04 PM): phones are huge here, all are the prepaid types, everyone in the slums has them even
gojoego7777 (12:14:30 PM): coffee is huge here, even pastor Carlos admits it’s as good as in Brazil
MotoPopster (12:15:51 PM): Cool - do you like the coffee? I hear people rave about it
gojoego7777 (12:16:41 PM): i haven’t had the chance to try it yet
gojoego7777 (12:16:48 PM): tea is huge here too, also a biggie
MotoPopster (12:17:05 PM): Tea is a holdover from the days of the crown
gojoego7777 (12:17:44 PM): it is
gojoego7777 (12:17:44 PM): and some still observe tea time
MotoPopster (12:17:58 PM): Think about what you want to achieve before you leave, these last days will fly by and you won't know where they went
gojoego7777 (12:18:41 PM): we already have a schedule for me and Matthew. We have some good things planned
gojoego7777 (12:20:04 PM): I will be "preaching" at the lost boys service at Kawangware in two Sundays, so that’s really neat
gojoego7777 (12:20:29 PM): I will work two days with LCMS World Relief at Kibera church (in the huge slum) for their free medical clinic
MotoPopster (12:20:32 PM): are you leaning Swahili?
gojoego7777 (12:22:40 PM): i am barely learning a few words
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): hakuna matata really means no worries
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): and simba means lion
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): jambo hi
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): choo toilet
gojoego7777 (12:23:27 PM): I’ll have a whole other post on languages here too though
MotoPopster (12:23:45 PM): Mosquitos bad, or so what?
gojoego7777 (12:25:51 PM): they are semi bad but nothing too bad compared to that one time in Canada or many places in the states
gojoego7777 (12:25:59 PM): and there is no risk at this altitude of malaria
MotoPopster (12:26:20 PM): Does that mean no need to take malaria pills?
gojoego7777 (12:32:45 PM): probably don’t need to take the pills but I am anyway
MotoPopster (12:31:24 PM): See any good music or dancing?
gojoego7777 (12:32:02 PM): well the best example of that is a group of former street boys and orphans that does music with a band called The Conquerers (Romans 8:37) and their music is great, they have a partially completed album and shirt and I want to support them because it’s Christian music and they spend all their time going to schools, working hands-on with the street boys, and doing the orphan feeding program. I would like to bring back some of their music to the states to sell here as a fundraiser for them or something, they are selling the cd/dvd combo for 500 shillings and their shirts for 500 and the five songs on it are great, some acappella African, others more of an upbeat almost hip hop but not really
MotoPopster (12:37:00 PM): Has the political unrest settled?
gojoego7777 (12:37:05 PM): kind of
gojoego7777 (12:37:24 PM): but as I said, there was almost an assassination and coup attempt on the government but the U.S. stepped in
MotoPopster (12:43:56 PM): Did you do much driving?
gojoego7777 (12:45:42 PM): i only drove in the national park, but i drifted a bit a couple times, and since it was a bumpy dirt road i didn't have much a lane to stay in
MotoPopster (12:46:03 PM): Lots of motorcycles?
gojoego7777 (12:46:10 PM): a few
gojoego7777 (12:46:14 PM): lots of bikes
gojoego7777 (12:46:17 PM): lots of walkers
gojoego7777 (12:46:19 PM): bad roads
gojoego7777 (12:46:50 PM): no traffic rules obeyed
gojoego7777 (12:47:05 PM): only "traffic rules" are the silent policemen they have aka tons of speed bumps
MotoPopster (12:46:33 PM): Do you think it would be safe for a middle-aged white man to go riding around Kenya on a motorbike? Sounds like probably not...
gojoego7777 (12:47:15 PM): well depending on the time of day and where it'd be fine
gojoego7777 (12:48:02 PM): but the roads are terrible, crowded, filled with potholes, and people drive crazy, its a wonder there are n't more wrecks, and bikers and motorcyclists dead
MotoPopster (12:50:30 PM): How many people in the LCMS compound?
gojoego7777 (12:50:40 PM): just me and Matthew right now
gojoego7777 (12:50:55 PM): the Houges who sent me the letter, Claude and Rhonda are in the states right now
gojoego7777 (12:51:02 PM): this scripture mission is huge though
gojoego7777 (12:51:11 PM): several families with their own houses
gojoego7777 (12:51:49 PM): plus a few guest cottages scattered around, plus a big center that has a kitchen and like 15 or so rooms on its second floor for guests, so that’s where the group stayed
gojoego7777 (12:52:36 PM): my compound also contains all the offices for the LCMS in the area too, as well as Claude and Rhonda’s nice-sized house and the garage with my guest house on it
MotoPopster (12:53:11 PM): wow-sounds very nice
gojoego7777 (12:54:42 PM): yes, it is very nice
gojoego7777 (12:54:54 PM): so is Pastor Winterle’s house and the three or four houses in his compound
gojoego7777 (12:55:01 PM): if only the internet would work!!!!!!!!!!
gojoego7777 (12:55:41 PM): right now its not bad between us, but try loading a web page
gojoego7777 (12:55:56 PM): over an hour to load that youtube video that you guys put up
gojoego7777 (1:05:28 PM): I look forward to returning
gojoego7777 (1:05:47 PM): but still have a lot of work to do before I'm ready to leave
MotoPopster (1:06:29 PM): ok, TTFN Joseph, God Bless you
July 3, 2009.
MotoPopster (11:17:09 AM): Hey Joseph, are you there?
gojoego7777 (11:25:47 AM): hi
gojoego7777 (11:26:07 AM): its 7:24 pm here and very dark
gojoego7777 (12:40:08 PM): it’s been dark here since 6:30
gojoego7777 (11:26:17 AM): I’m outside, hacking kind of onto internet
MotoPopster (11:31:16 AM): Are you meeting nice people?
gojoego7777 (11:31:43 AM): yes, many nice people working in the church here
MotoPopster (11:32:07 AM): Who sets up the ghetto visits?
gojoego7777 (11:33:28 AM): well for the last two days we go to a church at a place called Kawangware, and there is an organization of Lutherans, pastors and lay, called Heart to Heart orphans, and we visit the single parents, or whoever the kids are living with and interview them to see about getting them scholarships, and then share a Bible passage and pray
gojoego7777 (11:33:29 AM): so i tag along with a lady who did that the last two days
gojoego7777 (11:33:33 AM): went to 8 places
gojoego7777 (11:34:08 AM): work day is from 10 to 4 and that’s Africa time, meaning the only time to maybe get stuff done is 11 to 330
gojoego7777 (11:34:55 AM): here you schedule appointments not from 10 to 11 or 1030 to 11, or 1 to 3, you get one for the morning and schedule one for the afternoon and that’s all you’ll get
MotoPopster (11:34:33 AM): Sounds like they move on Godspeed, meaning the relationship and the journey is more important than the destination or the immediate results
gojoego7777 (11:35:43 AM): well, not really, no, they say that, but we spent a lot of our time just walking to the destination, slowly, slowly, slowly, or waiting until 1045 or 11 to leave the church because someone hadn't showed up yet
MotoPopster (11:36:19 AM): They are not slaves to time, i can see that
gojoego7777 (11:36:33 AM): its called Africa time
MotoPopster (11:35:32 AM): Are you learning some life lessons?
gojoego7777 (11:38:03 AM): i'm learning some life lessons, becoming more comfortable sharing, and leading, that’s probably the biggest thing, and also learning to deal with things i would use to not want to deal with like filth and extreme poverty, and learning many other things, like stuff I would’ve learned just staying in Springfield going on house visits with a pastor, but its neat to do it here
MotoPopster (11:46:03 AM): are the police visibly present?
gojoego7777 (11:47:18 AM): I see very few policemen
gojoego7777 (11:47:20 AM): even fewer police cars
gojoego7777 (11:47:44 AM): only 4 sirens while I'm here the whole time, 2 on one day, that is unheard of in a big city
MotoPopster (11:53:05 AM): What is for dinner?
gojoego7777 (11:56:02 AM): For dinner I had a burrito from a shop by the grocery store when I was getting groceries
gojoego7777 (11:56:35 AM): Its the closest thing to Wal-Mart and the cashiers average checking out an item every 4 seconds if they are fast, 20 if they are not
gojoego7777 (11:56:43 AM): and it closes at 8:30
gojoego7777 (11:56:49 AM): talk about efficiency....
MotoPopster (11:56:41 AM): do they have regular grocery stuff - what's the weirdest thing you've eaten? I'll bet you would be totally happy with a falafel now!
gojoego7777 (11:58:02 AM): they do have somewhat kind of regular grocery stuff
gojoego7777 (11:58:39 AM): some American brands on things like cereals as well as lots of imitations, and no American brands on other things, like beers, and chips, and crackers, and etc.
gojoego7777 (11:58:53 AM): I haven’t eaten all that weird of stuff
gojoego7777 (11:59:10 AM): other than poor parts of meat at times that I just have to keep chewing it hasn’t been bad
MotoPopster (11:59:26 AM): Do they all have good refrigeration, e.g. no dead birds hanging out for sale in the markets unrefrigerated?
gojoego7777 (12:01:49 PM): better refrigeration than in the Israel market in terms of the good stores, but not at the markets in the ghettos
MotoPopster (12:01:18 PM): how’s the electric supply system - off and on? do they need a good coop power engineer?
gojoego7777 (12:03:58 PM): no, they need power lines that weren’t made by Europeans years ago, all of their nice things over here are just either brand new, or were really nice when they were made when the British were still here and haven't been up kept since
gojoego7777 (12:05:18 PM): all we have is a blown transformer and no one will come out and work on it
MotoPopster (12:07:34 PM): Who was with you on your safari
gojoego7777 (12:09:54 PM): this family (pastor Dan, wife, daughter 15, daughter 12) the Wehmeiers, as well as Pastor Carlos and Lidia
MotoPopster (12:11:51 PM): The safari sounds good, like the movie "Daktari" - I liked that movie when I was a kid. It is every kids dream, to be on a safari
gojoego7777 (12:14:14 PM): I never saw Daktari, but I started watching Out of Africa, about how Karen Blixen settled this area and started the coffee crop
gojoego7777 (12:15:16 PM): the area of Nairobi I am in is called Karen because of her. I bought a map of her old plantation and can point out where I am staying on it
gojoego7777 (12:13:04 PM): phones are huge here, all are the prepaid types, everyone in the slums has them even
gojoego7777 (12:14:30 PM): coffee is huge here, even pastor Carlos admits it’s as good as in Brazil
MotoPopster (12:15:51 PM): Cool - do you like the coffee? I hear people rave about it
gojoego7777 (12:16:41 PM): i haven’t had the chance to try it yet
gojoego7777 (12:16:48 PM): tea is huge here too, also a biggie
MotoPopster (12:17:05 PM): Tea is a holdover from the days of the crown
gojoego7777 (12:17:44 PM): it is
gojoego7777 (12:17:44 PM): and some still observe tea time
MotoPopster (12:17:58 PM): Think about what you want to achieve before you leave, these last days will fly by and you won't know where they went
gojoego7777 (12:18:41 PM): we already have a schedule for me and Matthew. We have some good things planned
gojoego7777 (12:20:04 PM): I will be "preaching" at the lost boys service at Kawangware in two Sundays, so that’s really neat
gojoego7777 (12:20:29 PM): I will work two days with LCMS World Relief at Kibera church (in the huge slum) for their free medical clinic
MotoPopster (12:20:32 PM): are you leaning Swahili?
gojoego7777 (12:22:40 PM): i am barely learning a few words
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): hakuna matata really means no worries
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): and simba means lion
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): jambo hi
gojoego7777 (12:23:10 PM): choo toilet
gojoego7777 (12:23:27 PM): I’ll have a whole other post on languages here too though
MotoPopster (12:23:45 PM): Mosquitos bad, or so what?
gojoego7777 (12:25:51 PM): they are semi bad but nothing too bad compared to that one time in Canada or many places in the states
gojoego7777 (12:25:59 PM): and there is no risk at this altitude of malaria
MotoPopster (12:26:20 PM): Does that mean no need to take malaria pills?
gojoego7777 (12:32:45 PM): probably don’t need to take the pills but I am anyway
MotoPopster (12:31:24 PM): See any good music or dancing?
gojoego7777 (12:32:02 PM): well the best example of that is a group of former street boys and orphans that does music with a band called The Conquerers (Romans 8:37) and their music is great, they have a partially completed album and shirt and I want to support them because it’s Christian music and they spend all their time going to schools, working hands-on with the street boys, and doing the orphan feeding program. I would like to bring back some of their music to the states to sell here as a fundraiser for them or something, they are selling the cd/dvd combo for 500 shillings and their shirts for 500 and the five songs on it are great, some acappella African, others more of an upbeat almost hip hop but not really
MotoPopster (12:37:00 PM): Has the political unrest settled?
gojoego7777 (12:37:05 PM): kind of
gojoego7777 (12:37:24 PM): but as I said, there was almost an assassination and coup attempt on the government but the U.S. stepped in
MotoPopster (12:43:56 PM): Did you do much driving?
gojoego7777 (12:45:42 PM): i only drove in the national park, but i drifted a bit a couple times, and since it was a bumpy dirt road i didn't have much a lane to stay in
MotoPopster (12:46:03 PM): Lots of motorcycles?
gojoego7777 (12:46:10 PM): a few
gojoego7777 (12:46:14 PM): lots of bikes
gojoego7777 (12:46:17 PM): lots of walkers
gojoego7777 (12:46:19 PM): bad roads
gojoego7777 (12:46:50 PM): no traffic rules obeyed
gojoego7777 (12:47:05 PM): only "traffic rules" are the silent policemen they have aka tons of speed bumps
MotoPopster (12:46:33 PM): Do you think it would be safe for a middle-aged white man to go riding around Kenya on a motorbike? Sounds like probably not...
gojoego7777 (12:47:15 PM): well depending on the time of day and where it'd be fine
gojoego7777 (12:48:02 PM): but the roads are terrible, crowded, filled with potholes, and people drive crazy, its a wonder there are n't more wrecks, and bikers and motorcyclists dead
MotoPopster (12:50:30 PM): How many people in the LCMS compound?
gojoego7777 (12:50:40 PM): just me and Matthew right now
gojoego7777 (12:50:55 PM): the Houges who sent me the letter, Claude and Rhonda are in the states right now
gojoego7777 (12:51:02 PM): this scripture mission is huge though
gojoego7777 (12:51:11 PM): several families with their own houses
gojoego7777 (12:51:49 PM): plus a few guest cottages scattered around, plus a big center that has a kitchen and like 15 or so rooms on its second floor for guests, so that’s where the group stayed
gojoego7777 (12:52:36 PM): my compound also contains all the offices for the LCMS in the area too, as well as Claude and Rhonda’s nice-sized house and the garage with my guest house on it
MotoPopster (12:53:11 PM): wow-sounds very nice
gojoego7777 (12:54:42 PM): yes, it is very nice
gojoego7777 (12:54:54 PM): so is Pastor Winterle’s house and the three or four houses in his compound
gojoego7777 (12:55:01 PM): if only the internet would work!!!!!!!!!!
gojoego7777 (12:55:41 PM): right now its not bad between us, but try loading a web page
gojoego7777 (12:55:56 PM): over an hour to load that youtube video that you guys put up
gojoego7777 (1:05:28 PM): I look forward to returning
gojoego7777 (1:05:47 PM): but still have a lot of work to do before I'm ready to leave
MotoPopster (1:06:29 PM): ok, TTFN Joseph, God Bless you
Happy 4th of July
Highliting the me being out of the loop point, I had no idea that in a few hours here it will be Independence Day back home. Happy 4th everyone. Take this time to thank God for the country we (well by we I mean all of you except me currently) are living in. It truly has many things to be thankful for even at its worst! I know, I've seen the alternative. May God bless you today and keep you all safe.
Happy 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Happy 4th!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Day 9 and 10
Well I am having to redo this post from memory because the internet caused me some problems with it. These days the main group was still gone, so it was me and the Wehmeier family. I really enjoyed going around with them, I felt kind of like their adopted son, as I also have with the Reynolds throughout this trip. We went on some visits and had a Sunday School Seminar
-We had a Sunday school seminar one of these days. For anyone that donated any Sunday school supplies, or any money to buy any of the things, it has been put to good use. Things we take for granted in Bible studies and Sunday school (actually having enough Bibles, or any handouts, dvds, programs, etc.) they have little to none of. Now they have resources and materials to probably last them several years, as well as some materials that will be great for training and such. It really is a help to them, it is a help to their whole circuit of churches. God's Word continues to go out.
-I heard Michael Jackson died today. One of those deaths that is kind of heard about everywhere. Several radio stations here played his songs all day in tribute. It reminds me how out of contact I am. Other than the correspondence I have every few days with a few of you. Its a good and bad thing. I am out of the loop and have no idea whats happening back home, but I get the chance to get away from it all and view another place, in a situation that is frankly, very poor. Gives you some perspective, and it also opens your eyes and gives you some experiences.
Well, not much else from these days, just a few of my thoughts from them.
Joseph
-We had a Sunday school seminar one of these days. For anyone that donated any Sunday school supplies, or any money to buy any of the things, it has been put to good use. Things we take for granted in Bible studies and Sunday school (actually having enough Bibles, or any handouts, dvds, programs, etc.) they have little to none of. Now they have resources and materials to probably last them several years, as well as some materials that will be great for training and such. It really is a help to them, it is a help to their whole circuit of churches. God's Word continues to go out.
-I heard Michael Jackson died today. One of those deaths that is kind of heard about everywhere. Several radio stations here played his songs all day in tribute. It reminds me how out of contact I am. Other than the correspondence I have every few days with a few of you. Its a good and bad thing. I am out of the loop and have no idea whats happening back home, but I get the chance to get away from it all and view another place, in a situation that is frankly, very poor. Gives you some perspective, and it also opens your eyes and gives you some experiences.
Well, not much else from these days, just a few of my thoughts from them.
Joseph
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Day 8 Experiences
Today was the day where I got to go out on my one day safari to the Nairobi national wildlife park. Getting in was a hassle (they don't know how to cater to tourists here, and that is their biggest industry!), but the park was great!
-Saw more giraffes than I have ever seen in my life.
-Got great videos and pictures of everything wildlife.
-Observed part of it from the top of the vehicle while riding
-Got to drive from the right side of the car.
-Saw herds of Zebra
-Saw a lone wildebeast
-Saw a lion and was mere feet from it!
-Saw the giraffes do this weird neck-banging-into-eachother-while-walking-thing.
-Saw a leopard which I am told is very rare to be able to spot in that park
-Saw some hippos
-Saw the spot where Kenyans burned millions of dollars in ivory in protest of the ivory trade. Ashes are still there. It turns out when you douse ivory in petrol it will burn...
-Got my picture taken with a Massai
I think those are the highlights. It was a pretty fun day but I was toasted and tired and dusty as can be by the end of it.
-Saw more giraffes than I have ever seen in my life.
-Got great videos and pictures of everything wildlife.
-Observed part of it from the top of the vehicle while riding
-Got to drive from the right side of the car.
-Saw herds of Zebra
-Saw a lone wildebeast
-Saw a lion and was mere feet from it!
-Saw the giraffes do this weird neck-banging-into-eachother-while-walking-thing.
-Saw a leopard which I am told is very rare to be able to spot in that park
-Saw some hippos
-Saw the spot where Kenyans burned millions of dollars in ivory in protest of the ivory trade. Ashes are still there. It turns out when you douse ivory in petrol it will burn...
-Got my picture taken with a Massai
I think those are the highlights. It was a pretty fun day but I was toasted and tired and dusty as can be by the end of it.
Day 7 Experiences
7th full day here. Wow!
-Everything is so dusty here! Everywhere you go there is dust and dirt. Its a wonder anyone can stay clean. It really makes you put the whole feet washing passage in the Bible into perspective when you don't just think about gross smelly feet, but think about gross smelly feet that have been walking around in the dust and dirt and garbage all day.
-There is no A/C in any of the buildings I have been in here, or heaters for that matter. They just open the windows or close them, which when you combine that with all the dust.... it also makes for flies to be a very bad problem around this time of year due to it being their season. Thankfully it is cool here at nights, because I am afraid to open my window were it any warming in my room because of all the mosquitoes I would let in.
-I had a great conversation this night with Pastor Dan and creation and life and God's Will and getting the word out to everyone about God's great love for us. Pastor Dan truly is a wonderful man, I have great respect for him. This is yet another example of how Lutheran pastors are some of my favorite people on this planet. I know I don't have all the answers, but if any of my friends ever feel the need to talk, or just have questions or are just wondering about life, I would love to talk to you. It would be my joy not to pressure you, but to just share the great love I know God has for each of us. Its my desire that everyone I knows would have this same knowledge.
-The nights here are so beautiful, making it all the more sad that it is nearly impossible to enjoy them because it is very unwise to leave the compound at night, even in a group, such is the safety situation here.
Thats all for day 7!
Joseph
-Everything is so dusty here! Everywhere you go there is dust and dirt. Its a wonder anyone can stay clean. It really makes you put the whole feet washing passage in the Bible into perspective when you don't just think about gross smelly feet, but think about gross smelly feet that have been walking around in the dust and dirt and garbage all day.
-There is no A/C in any of the buildings I have been in here, or heaters for that matter. They just open the windows or close them, which when you combine that with all the dust.... it also makes for flies to be a very bad problem around this time of year due to it being their season. Thankfully it is cool here at nights, because I am afraid to open my window were it any warming in my room because of all the mosquitoes I would let in.
-I had a great conversation this night with Pastor Dan and creation and life and God's Will and getting the word out to everyone about God's great love for us. Pastor Dan truly is a wonderful man, I have great respect for him. This is yet another example of how Lutheran pastors are some of my favorite people on this planet. I know I don't have all the answers, but if any of my friends ever feel the need to talk, or just have questions or are just wondering about life, I would love to talk to you. It would be my joy not to pressure you, but to just share the great love I know God has for each of us. Its my desire that everyone I knows would have this same knowledge.
-The nights here are so beautiful, making it all the more sad that it is nearly impossible to enjoy them because it is very unwise to leave the compound at night, even in a group, such is the safety situation here.
Thats all for day 7!
Joseph
Day 6 Experiences
Well today was our last day of building, we got the portion of the church finished that we set out to finish, and they are in line to get the rest done. On to the bullet points:
-I had probably my best looking into the future pose that I have ever had today. I got many of the African children to do it with me, and although they didn't necessarily understand the concept, it all worked out! Its amazing, can't wait till you all can see the pictures.
-We went to a local primary school after we were done working and got out and the kids just flocked us! They were just amazed to see us, and I am told for many of them it was their first time seeing a white person. I felt like the president because everyone wanted to shake my hand. The video I have of it is just crazy, kids swarming everywhere. Truly a sight to behold.
-Great quote from the day, as we were going out on home visits some cows started mooing by us. The pastor said to us, "careful, they only eat white meat."
-We did home visits today around the neighborhood and got a lot of people very excited about the church and made some great conncetions.
Well, thats about it from today. Mostly the same in terms of building, but it was our last day so it was sad to go.
-I had probably my best looking into the future pose that I have ever had today. I got many of the African children to do it with me, and although they didn't necessarily understand the concept, it all worked out! Its amazing, can't wait till you all can see the pictures.
-We went to a local primary school after we were done working and got out and the kids just flocked us! They were just amazed to see us, and I am told for many of them it was their first time seeing a white person. I felt like the president because everyone wanted to shake my hand. The video I have of it is just crazy, kids swarming everywhere. Truly a sight to behold.
-Great quote from the day, as we were going out on home visits some cows started mooing by us. The pastor said to us, "careful, they only eat white meat."
-We did home visits today around the neighborhood and got a lot of people very excited about the church and made some great conncetions.
Well, thats about it from today. Mostly the same in terms of building, but it was our last day so it was sad to go.
7/2
Well I am hoping that I have rehashed my internet breakthrough today that I thought I had on earlier days. Today was the first day out doing visits on my own and such. That was very good and very moving. Things are definitely more lonely here without the group. I miss them. No one to relate to back home here, but oh well, at least I still hear english.
Today was also my first day riding the Mutatos, and they are not as glorified as the picture that my Dad included on the blog from the internet. Much worse. They seat 15 (and that includes the driver) and most of the time there are 16 to 20 people in them.... oh yeah, and I almost got mugged by 5 men carrying bats, so yeah I guess you should be praying for me extra hard... Honestly I was most worried about my camera and video camera, would've hated to have lost those, I guess my own health should maybe come first though ;)
Anyway, as long as the internet holds up I'm going to try to get some more posts written out and days caught up now.
Love,
Joseph
Today was also my first day riding the Mutatos, and they are not as glorified as the picture that my Dad included on the blog from the internet. Much worse. They seat 15 (and that includes the driver) and most of the time there are 16 to 20 people in them.... oh yeah, and I almost got mugged by 5 men carrying bats, so yeah I guess you should be praying for me extra hard... Honestly I was most worried about my camera and video camera, would've hated to have lost those, I guess my own health should maybe come first though ;)
Anyway, as long as the internet holds up I'm going to try to get some more posts written out and days caught up now.
Love,
Joseph
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Marula fruit video
Here is a link to a youtube video about animals and Marula fruit that was mentioned in the post a few days ago. See it here.
More photos!
"Oh the Lions can eat my body, but they can't swallow my soul--Oh, no, no!"--Lost and Found
"Nala!" Us driving right next to a lioness. Hakuna Matata?????
View of the ``storage looking structure`` that the church at Umoja is in until it can come up with the funds for a new building.
Joseph driving on the right side, also known as the wrong side.
Joseph with a Massai, one of the most famous Kenya tribes.
View of the inside of the church at Umoja.Day 5 Experiences
Monday 6/22
Well, today was our second day building the church. It went much like the first day building, except that it did not have the same number of kids at the work cite just hanging around because they were at school. Very unfortunate, but it was still a good time and we made good connections.
-Future spoiler alert from what we now know as I am writing this. The building contractor whom David Reynolds spent a lot of time talking and chatting and getting to know, as well as many of our other people like Bob and Pastor Dan and Michael, has decided to seek out the Lutheran Church in his area (Kibera) and is going to get baptized along with his wife and two daughters!!! God truly works in amazing ways! We were here working, and our team and David reached out to him with the Word of God, and our entire team created a strong Christian environment, and the contractor (Samuel) was then led to be baptized! I believe the baptism is happening this Sunday (7/5) if I understood correctly. Truly something to be joyful for! Our presence made a difference, even if just him and his family.
2 Corinthians was read at some point today.
Passage 2 Corinthians 9:9-15:9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!-
It really does fit in so well with what we are trying to do here. At the national youth gathering a few years back, we talked about how we are tools for God. Normally, in todays slang, you call someone a ``tool`` and it is a bad thing, but we talked about how we are ``tools`` for God and that is better than being anything else. That is exactly what we are trying to do here, be tools for God. We are here hoping that men praise God because maybe we were able to do something for them, just at the verse states. Anyway, that was a very meaningful verse for me today.
-I am quite thankful for the alarm clock courtesy of a certain Dan Schelp. It has proved most valuable to me and I have not been late yet (and still havent been late even at the time of this writing, day 14)! Thank you thank you Dan for your gift, and thank you for all the others who provided things for me for this trip. It has ALL been useful and appreciated. Thank you for all who provided not just for me, but also provided things for the work we are doing here!
-You men back home better not be trimming your beards. Certain individuals made a pact not to shave as I am not, and I am holding them to it! You will all look beautiful!
Well, not much else to report for this day, long day of working at the church. Last day of church building is the next day. Hope to continue doing Gods work and connecting with and helping the people here at Kiambu.
Lots of love!
Joseph
Well, today was our second day building the church. It went much like the first day building, except that it did not have the same number of kids at the work cite just hanging around because they were at school. Very unfortunate, but it was still a good time and we made good connections.
-Future spoiler alert from what we now know as I am writing this. The building contractor whom David Reynolds spent a lot of time talking and chatting and getting to know, as well as many of our other people like Bob and Pastor Dan and Michael, has decided to seek out the Lutheran Church in his area (Kibera) and is going to get baptized along with his wife and two daughters!!! God truly works in amazing ways! We were here working, and our team and David reached out to him with the Word of God, and our entire team created a strong Christian environment, and the contractor (Samuel) was then led to be baptized! I believe the baptism is happening this Sunday (7/5) if I understood correctly. Truly something to be joyful for! Our presence made a difference, even if just him and his family.
2 Corinthians was read at some point today.
Passage 2 Corinthians 9:9-15:9 As the Scriptures say,
“They share freely and give generously to the poor. Their good deeds will be remembered forever.”
10 For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.
11 Yes, you will be enriched in every way so that you can always be generous. And when we take your gifts to those who need them, they will thank God. 12 So two good things will result from this ministry of giving—the needs of the believers in Jerusalem will be met, and they will joyfully express their thanks to God.
13 As a result of your ministry, they will give glory to God. For your generosity to them and to all believers will prove that you are obedient to the Good News of Christ. 14 And they will pray for you with deep affection because of the overflowing grace God has given to you. 15 Thank God for this gift too wonderful for words!-
It really does fit in so well with what we are trying to do here. At the national youth gathering a few years back, we talked about how we are tools for God. Normally, in todays slang, you call someone a ``tool`` and it is a bad thing, but we talked about how we are ``tools`` for God and that is better than being anything else. That is exactly what we are trying to do here, be tools for God. We are here hoping that men praise God because maybe we were able to do something for them, just at the verse states. Anyway, that was a very meaningful verse for me today.
-I am quite thankful for the alarm clock courtesy of a certain Dan Schelp. It has proved most valuable to me and I have not been late yet (and still havent been late even at the time of this writing, day 14)! Thank you thank you Dan for your gift, and thank you for all the others who provided things for me for this trip. It has ALL been useful and appreciated. Thank you for all who provided not just for me, but also provided things for the work we are doing here!
-You men back home better not be trimming your beards. Certain individuals made a pact not to shave as I am not, and I am holding them to it! You will all look beautiful!
Well, not much else to report for this day, long day of working at the church. Last day of church building is the next day. Hope to continue doing Gods work and connecting with and helping the people here at Kiambu.
Lots of love!
Joseph
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