So, world's worst blogger; sorry. I arrived in Kenya on the 23rd of December, and it has been a whirlwind since then. Global Connections had two teams from the U.S. come in and there were like 37 of us total, thats a lot of white people...haha. But, Christmas Eve was a lovely affair at Mzungu Manor, we had food and sang old christmas carols by candlelight, Christmas Day was a day of eating, with a huge dinner with people from the LCC (Limuru Children Centre) and other Kenyan/Mzungus in attendance; it was quite a merry attendance. The house here is phenomenal and Kenya is like Europe in terms of convenience and development compared to Mozambique. Hot Showers, no malaria, no worms in the food, a personal chef...good grief, its kinda the lush life, but if so many phenomenal things were not taking place in the community through Global Connections, i might have time to worry, but i don't.
Being here I see that GC partners with indigenious programs rather than just barging in and planting new programs just for the sense of self-importance or worth. We've gone to tons of programs, a feeding program for widows, the LCC (GC's like linchpin, school with 35 orphans or "boarders" as they are more affectionately called, they aren't orphans, they have a home, it's just with 30 other kids and some awesome house mom's) a sewing program, and AIDS program (which i'm hoping to work with in terms of microfinance projects, which i know squat about, better brush up on my easterly and sachs) a environmental program, a church in the Kibera slum. Just so much sexy stuff, and im so stoked that i don't have to leave. I think i'll be here, God willing, for years.
At the moment me and some folks just got back from a primary school in Kibera (which i really want to spend some time at, writing about it and such, it enthralled me the first time i was in kenya, and now it's sucking me back in, the place is ridiculous) but we sat down with the headmaster, went over a list of needs, prices, goals, vision, and the American team expressed an interest in funding some projects. like for instance, there is no food at the school, and kids who go to school for 8 hours a day with no food in their belly, what are they going to retain, especially if they are already coming to school hungry. plans for expanded classrooms. So, there is too much capital in the west and too much potential in the rest for the two not too collide. (catchphrase #1). So, its neat because we can look at a need find a donor, spend time praying into a situation God put's forth, here on the ground we can build a relationship with the nationals, hold them accountable, make sure the funds and resources that donors are allocating are being used properly; its interesting for sure, and exciting to be a part of. And part of you thinks, wait there need to be 274 more hoops to jump through, and maybe there are only 15, and you are at the precipice, and you are there, with your holy spirit gut instincts, and you can think will i act, or will i be idle. its like the tip of the spear here, there is so much transformation needed, and you feel like you can help facilitate it, its exhilirating. and this was just one afternoon.
You don't need to reinvent the wheel, just make the wheel go faster. (catchphrase #2) so discipleship and development, and raising up kids in Christ, with education, who can reach the highest spheres of influence in the country so that there are systems in place where basic infrastructure is in place, people aren't dying from dirty water, and there is a space and funds set aside so that every child has the opportunity for education that way we don't need to keep fundrasing and convince people in the west that 750 dollars is a worthwhile investment to keep a child in high school, because his parents have no capital to send him, and so he can one day get a job and not starve to death from lack of income. Change the policy, and you'll change a country. anyways, ramble ramble ramble. Life is good, another fella on the ground here, Will, is stellar, and were going to get into a lot of trouble together, i'm stoked. We've already got plans in theworks for a trip to Mombassa, to climb Mt. Kenya, raft the Nile in Uganda, and help out at an Iris compound in Sudan, with carpentry and such (looks like those birdhouse days in cub scouts could come in handy). So, life moves along, sometimes slowly, sometimes with frustration...
prayer requests: that i can figure out how to drive stick so that i won't crash our car in the mean streets of Nairobi...haha.
P.S. everybody should come to kenya, theres a team forming for this summer, or come whenever, there is a lot to see and a lot to do....
