Photos

the center of campus

some of my friends

Goodness and Raphael, who I play soccer with. They are from Cameroon. And that isn't my hat. haha. i am just posing.


Hello! I just wanted to let you know that I put a bunch of photos on facebook, but for those of you who don't have facebook, I'll put a few here. Peace.

Peace Wanted Alive

Greetings from cold Athi River

I hope that all of you are doing well as the summer winds down and everyone is heading back to school.  Sorry for delaying on this update.

Classes are now beginning, but I’ve had to make a few adjustments to my schedule because of class cancellations due to the few students who signed up for those classes.  So… instead of taking Community Health, I will be taking Introduction to the Old Testament.   Instead of Kiswahili, I will be taking Integrated Appropriate Technology.  Now I’m sure I lost a few (or all) of you with the title of that last class.  Well, the class is split between lecture and workshop.  It’s a practical hands-on class where we will learn how low and intermediate technology ideas can be applied to solve problems in communities, such as bio-sand water filters, solar panels, irrigation foot pumps, and  constructing a facility for raising poultry.  Should be interesting, right?  So when you see the photos of me running around with a table-saw you’ll know what that’s about.

Besides attending class, I have been playing soccer almost every week night.  One of my close friends here, Goodness (from Cameroon), and I play together with a group of guys.  We don’t think that there will be enough interest for a women’s soccer team, which is really too bad… so for now we are playing with the men’s team.  Obviously, we won’t compete with them, but they welcomed us to join them at practice.  I’ll say one thing: it’s true that Kenyans are fast runners.

Last weekend I went to Nairobi to visit my lovely sister, Mary.  She was attending a public health training in Nairobi to complement her work with the CDC (Center for Disease Control) near Kisumu.  On Saturday, we spent some time together and she introduced me to her co-worker, Asman, who trains people in community health in the slums outside of Nairobi.  He works specifically in Kibera, which has about 600,000 inhabitants.  During the post election violence, this area was a disaster.  Asman showed us areas that were burned and never rebuilt.  Someone had spray painted on walls and fences the following: “PEACE WANTED ALIVE.” Asman lives on the fringes of Kibera (which is near to the Daystar Nairobi campus), and he brought us to his home where we spent time with his four beautiful children and wife.   The view of the slums was incredible, indescribable, and sad really.   Try to imagine over half a million people living in rows of rusted metal sheets nailed together. Large extended families live in just one room as they struggle to survive.  I think his work is very practical and meaningful to the slum-dwellers.

That's all I have to share for now.  Peace to you.

Overwhelmed With Friendliness

Jambo! Hope all is well with you. I am doing great. I have just been thinking the past couple days about the friendliness of the Kenyans. I feel so welcome here. Everyday I meet sooo many people. There is no hesitation to say hi, shake hands, introduce yourself, and have a conversation. This attitude towards foreigners is such a contrast to the usual American perception of foreigners. Not always, but many times in the U.S. we don't welcome or fully accept people from outside or people who are different from us. I can't take this friendliness for granted and I am also becoming a very friendly and open person. I am very content and looking forward to classes beginning this week. Tomorrow I will move into my actual room, and meet even more people.

One more thing that I would like to mention is the water shortage. Sometimes we don't have water here due to the fact that there is simply no water in the area. It doesn't last for very long, maybe a few hours, but it is an issue. There is always drinking water available, which is a blessing and a necessity.

Take care. Love always, Lora

My address:
Daystar University
P.O. BOX 44400-00100
Nairobi, Kenya

(indicate Athi River Student)

Settling In

I haven't taken any photos of campus yet, but here are some from the first couple weeks...


These are the very fine desks at Lwanda Secondary School, which were donated by Trinity members. They were very thankful. Eighty chairs and desks were made.

These are three of the eight new classrooms. You can see one of the older classrooms in the background. What an improvement.

Me and Esther in Kisumu

Syprose, Martin, Jacob, Elisha, and I playing pick-up-sticks at their home in Kisumu.

Me and my parsley, with Mary, who is preparing chapati. (my favorite!) this is at the house in Kisumu.

Well... I am finally here at Daystar. Orientation week is coming to a close and classes begin on Tuesday. I have selected my courses (totaling 18 credits), however they are not final until Monday. I am really excited, so I'll share them with you:

Mon: 8:45-11:45 SWK 213/DEV211 Community Development and the Church
12:30-3:30 DEV 111 Intro to Community Development
Tue: nothing. Woot. Chapel. Wash clothes, Study, guitar, volunteer somewhere
Wed: 8:45-11:45 RUD 312/SWK312 Community Health
12:30-3:30 KIS 111 Beginning Kiswahili
Thurs: 1:50-4:50 ENG 211 African Literature
Fri: 8:45-11:45 PEA 365 Intro to Refugee Studies

This week we don't have a lot going on. We've spent some time with our orientation groups, had informational seminars, and had fun programs in the evenings. We are not yet in the specific dorm rooms where we will be staying, but I'm sure I'll be in the same hall, just in another room.

In my dorm, called Patience, the rooms are pretty small, with four girls in each.

My first day here, I wasn’t really “feelin’” the school. I don’t know what it was and I don't really know how to describe it, but I just didn’t feel like I would like it. The people didn’t seem that open, there wasn’t a lot of direction and organization, and I was just generally not so excited. I even started thinking about how I could leave after the first semester. The whole day I wanted to feel super excited and happy and like it was “home” but I guess I just didn’t… until the evening. We had a program in the evening, which consisted of worshipping and some funny skits from a student group called Doulos. I felt really relieved and encouraged to be happy and make the best of this experience. The night programs are a highlight.

Since the first day, my entire attitude has changed. I really like it here. I think the reason I felt like I did at first was because of the issue of comfort. It is difficult to feel comfortable and connected in a country that is so different from my own. My skin color makes me stand out, there is somewhat of a language barrier, and I have to observe the culture before I can fully walk in it. But I can say that I feel great and even comfortable. I’ve met a lot of friendly and fun people and I am excited for the year to come.

Just some side things... The food is pretty good. I like Kenyan food, and we even had fries at lunch yesterday. Chai tea and hot chocolate are served twice per day as well! mmm.

Its cold here! Who would have thought?!? During the day time it is warm and sunny, but not unbearably hot. Nights and mornings are really cold though. People mostly wear pants and long sleeves in the morning.

The campus is really nice! I like it a lot. There are lots of trees and flowers. Buildings are in good condition and they are spread out (kind of over a hill). At night from the highest point of campus, where the library is, we can see the lights of Nairobi, Athi River, and another smaller city. Pictures to come...

That's all for now. Peace and Love.

One Week Until Daystar

Greetings everyone from Kisumu!
I am doing well here and enjoying each day.

Some quick info: When I went to Lwanda three years ago I lived with Martin and Syprose Arogo and I was also good friends with Fred Odhiambo and his family. Since my arrival, I've mostly been staying with Fred and his sisters, Mary and Esther, at their home in Kisumu. Kisumu is a large city about an hour and a half drive away from Lwanda. Fred is a teacher here, Esther attends school, and Mary works. They travel home to Lwanda about every two weeks.

Martin and Syprose Arogo also live most of the time in Kisumu, where Martin works at ATP Technical Training College. They live on ATP's campus with two of their sons, one of who ( Elisha) is my age. Their other children are spread around at schools and working in other cities. With that background information, I can tell you what I have been up to the past week.

Early this week, I stayed with my parents (Martin and Syprose) at their home at ATP for three days. They were very happy to have their daughter back and I really enjoyed being with them. They are so sweet, loving, friendly, and laid-back. Syprose is always smiling and laughing and I enjoyed cooking with her and just sitting on the back stairs with her. Martin is a really loving father to his whole family... he even hugs me. I enjoyed spending time with Elisha. He taught me a lot of Swahili and even gave me a quiz, which I did well on, by the way. Jacob, their youngest son, is shy; but not too shy to stay out of the game of "pick-up-sticks" that we played together as a family. On Sunday, I met one of their daughters (Helen, age 18)have never met before. We went to visit her at her boarding school near Lwanda. Helen was super excited to meet me and we connected right from the beginning of the visit.

On Saturday I went with Fred to Lwanda. I can't even think of words to describe what it felt like to be back. It was refreshing and just the way I remembered it. I reconnected with friends and the Odhiambo family. I played soccer, visited Martin and Syprose and the compound where I lived, and visited the school. I was really shocked when I arrived at Lwanda Primary and Secondary school and found that the size had almost doubled!! There were about eight new classrooms added to the existing 8 or 9. I was really impressed with the new classrooms. They were so beautiful compared to the older rooms, which didn't even have windows or doors. (I will post pictures when I get to Daystar.) ATP was responsible for the metal windows and doors on the new rooms. I saw the 80 desks and chairs which were donated (financially) by members of Trinity Lutheran Church over a year and a half ago. They were very beautiful and well built- enough for two of the new classrooms. I greeted the teachers and students, and they send thanks to those who sponsored the purchase of the much needed textbooks, desks (lockers), and chairs.

So, I am back in Kisumu until I head to the much-awaited Daystar on Monday. Also, I have some very good, and some very bad news that I just read in my email. First, my friend Jen from Hope College is going to be visiting me for three weeks during our Christmas breaks!!! The unfortunate news from home is that my good friend, Burt, was in a very serious car accident this weekend. Prayers for him, as he remains in a drug-induced coma. There is news that he is doing better, but I wish I could be there for him.

Take care. Blessings.