Defying Gravity

I can hardly believe that it is almost November! Wow. I’ve been gone for three months and I’m still going strong. Actually, it’s the everyday adventures and opportunities that remind me to appreciate my present home. I’ve had countless experiences during the past three months that are unique to my location and I cannot go a single day without feeling grateful to be in Kenya.

Yesterday, I witnessed something so unreal. In fact, I’d be surprised if you actually believe me, because I had to see it to believe it. I went on a field trip to Machakos yesterday with my Intro to Community Development class to a visit an organization working in development in Kenya. Afterwards, we drove up the side of a mountain to a location that some call “the magic spot.” Sounds interesting, right? The rumors in the area are that in this spot water actually flows uphill, but few people have actually gone there to witness such a phenomenon. Our bus comes around a bend and stops so that we can all get out (or alight, as Kenyan would say). The road is at an obvious incline, but not too steep. We take some water and pour it onto the road assuming that they water will flow down the hill, as it has always done for the past 19 years of my life. Sure enough, the water splats on the asphalt and streams uphill! What was more unbelievable was when our bus driver drove up the hill, turned around and came slowly down the hill to this “spot.” When he got there, he put the bus in neutral and it went backwards up the hill. No joke. I wish I had a video camera. Some guys rode a bike and said it was harder to go downhill than uphill.

Anyways, I’d like to know where Newton is now. Haha. Can one of you science geeks explain this to me??? Or is it a product of the area’s witchcraft? Apparently anything is possible, even gravity that pulls uphill.

A Weekend In Kisumu and Lwanda

Hello!
I hope all is well back at home. We just had our "fall break" this past weekend, so I used the four days as wisely as possible and went back "home." Monica came with me and thoroughly enjoyed her first experience in rural Kenya. We traveled overnight by bus from Nairobi to Kisumu, where Fred picked us up on Saturday morning. We spent the day with Mary and Esther while Fred went home for a funeral.

Mary and I have become really good friends. We can laugh about anything, and I love that she is so open when it comes to talking about Kenya. We had a really interesting conversation about polygamy and women in the marriage context. In the West, we hear very little about the reality, functions, and negative outcomes of polygamy, so it is a blessing to be able to learn from someone I really look up to. Monica also enjoyed getting to know Mary and she became friends with the Odhiambos.

On Sunday we went to church, visited Syprose and Elisha in Kisumu, and cooked chapati with Mary in the evening. Next time I am preparing the chapati alone as a test of my ability, haha. I'll be making them in the U.S.

On Monday we traveled to Lwanda and stayed in George's house for the night. Monica and I couldn't believe how green that side of Kenya was. It was such an incredible contrast to the dust bowl where I stay in Athi River. The farmers are happy because they will likely get a second harvest. It was nice to see streams, rivers, red clay, and fields. What a beautiful area. In the afternoon we met with some teachers at the school to discuss the feasibility of electricity or solar power for Lwanda school. It was the beginning of my research for my final paper for my Appropriate Technology class, where I hope to conclude whether or not solar panels are ideal for Lwanda.

On Tuesday, we had a wonderful lunch: chapati and lentils, and headed back to Kisumu. Upon arriving at the market near Fred's home, Monica injured her foot as we were getting out of the matatu. We aren't sure exactly what is wrong, because we haven't recieved the x-ray results, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is fractured. It might be a sprain, although she is still in a LOT of pain, even after taking lots of pain medication. We got a ride from someone to a hospital in Kisumu, but they really did nothing for her and she continued to feel pain. Wednesday morning, we came back to Nairobi on an eight hour bus ride and got a taxi to a better hospital here. My poor friend is mostly just in her room and I've been taking good care of her and doing everything I can for her. The school had a crappy wheelchair, but this campus is barely wheelchair accessible and she was given the wrong type of crutches (not the armpit ones), so those are dysfunctional as well. Pray for her. Thanks to Fred and Mary for their hospitality and support for Monica.

Take care. More photos on facebook.

Pictured above:
1)The fig tree
2)Martin and sister-in-law Naomi and her daughter Mazi
3)A green view, however it doesn't show the mountains and hills
4)Martin's father's first wife outside her home

Are We Merely Seeds?

Some thoughts from a very powerful conversation that my close friend, Christian, and I shared. (He is a community development major from the Democratic Republic of Congo):

As social workers, community development facilitators, and non-governmental organization's we are trapped under the systems of society, which hold influential power much larger than that of our sphere of influence. We sweat below the heirarchy, which, if pursued, has the ability to make drastic changes to benefit the people with who we work. The system is corrupt. The system is unjust. However, the system defines societal development.

We work for justice. We work to meet the basic needs of all, but yet we feel alone. We work under the system and the reality appears to be that all our service is in vain. Let's take water, for example. There are a countless number of water sanitation initiatives, clean water education projects, filtering projects, and well drillings that are in progress. On a small-scale, some communities needs are being met, but what would the global crisis of clean water look like if the leaders of today mandated and provided access to clean water for every single person? What if the social workers, community developers, and NGO's were able to lead governments in an outline for solving the clean water crisis so that the "powers" can use their power effectively and for the benefit of the suffering?

Unfortunetly, this is all idealistic, at least presently speaking. The "systems" have always been in place, and sadly they will probably remain in their positions. So what do we make of this pessimistic outlook towards the role of such social advocates? Is our work making a difference? Are we just playing into the schemes of the system and perpetuating injustice?

It is as though we are just seeds. But am I forfeiting to the system if I call myself "just a seed"? Or is there honor in being a seed? Not only am I a seed, but it feels like my seed is blowing around the dry sand of the desert hoping that somehow, someway, it might be watered and grow into a fruit-producing tree.

I suppose this opportunity to live life as a seed wasn't mine in the first place. It was given to me by God. So why not give everything to the world around me? Why not surrender to this idea of life as not merely a seed, but of life as a seed that has a lot of potential to bear fruit? I trust that I'll be watered by God and not by the system.

Some people die before their death while others die at the time of their death. And some great people, such as Mother Teresa or Martin Luther King, died after their death because of the fruits left behind. But is it possible for me to change the world in a way where I will never die after my death?

I want to hear fruits of the seed dropping onto the ground after my death.

The Mystery Injury

I just wanted to give a quick update on my visit to the hospital on Tuesday. First of all, I went to a much much much nicer hospital called Aga Khan. I barely had to wait to see the doctor too. I first talked with a senior doctor, who referred me to a physiotherapist. She didn't think that I have a vascular problem, but wasn't exactly sure why I am having the pain. The physiotherapist used a machine to calm the nerves near the bottom of my tibia, gave me a painful calf massage, and did an ultrasound on my calves. She told me to do some stretches on my toes and heels also. I will be going back to see her a few times, including this friday. Today I am still having pain, especially on the inside on the bottom of my tibia, but I am hoping for the best. I won't be able to play for a while...

Patience For The Patient

Thursday was probably the worst day I’ve had here yet. I traveled alone to Nairobi West Hospital to see the specific doctor to whom I was referred. I was supposed to see her between nine and ten in the morning and the hospital administration kept telling me that the doctor was on her way from another hospital. I sat in the waiting room for over four hours before I was told that the doctor was not coming. I was really disappointed since I had to go through a lot to get there and I was hoping for nothing more than a solution to this leg pain. I was told that I could come back on Saturday at nine and meet with the doctor, so I gave them another chance… only to be disappointed again. After traveling all the way from Athi River again, the doctor wasn’t there, so I left.

I decided to go downtown to the University of Nairobi to relax and watch the guy’s soccer game. On the way there I asked a man a question about directions to the campus. It turned out that he was also headed there, so we walked together. After a horrible start to the morning it nice to talk with Bernard. Raised Muslim, at the age of 18 he became a Christian, a conversion that is almost unheard of. He now has a small church in the slums of Kibera and he runs a Christian school in a Muslim Somali community on the other side of Nairobi. He told me about the challenges of the school, the progress church and about his young family. We exchanged contact information and he invited me for a visit some time. What a blessing.

I’m just around campus now, getting ready for another week of classes. I talked with one of the soccer captains and he suggested a different hospital for me to go to in Nairobi, which is very nice and actually treats their patients well. I’ll go there on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Hope all is well back at home. Stay in touch. Peace and love.

The Gate of Hell

My lack of posting makes me wonder if I'm lazy, busy, or intimidated by this blog. Haha. Actually, I am quite busy and this past weekend I traveled to Naivasha. On Saturday I went there by public bus, which is about four hours from school, with Monica and our two friends Nelson and Reagan. We stayed with some of Reagan's friends for the night. During the day we visited Hell's Gate National Park and hiked through the deep gorge, that was formed mostly by intrusive rocks (as a result of volcanic activity). Luckily, I took geology last year and had to memorize a zillion rocks, so I was able to identify the common obsidian and pumice rocks. (What a nerd?) Eventually we arrived at hot water springs, mostly flowing from the sides of the gorge and through the middle. The volcanic activity, and hot water is where Hell's Gate got it's name. Afterwards, we climbed to the very top and had a view of the entire area, which reminded me of the time I awed at the Grand Canyon. On our way out, we drove through the game area of the park and saw buffalo, warthogs, a young giraffe, zebra, and antelope. You know, the usual. Haha.

Back at school, this week has been going okay. On Tuesday Monica and I went to Nairobi to meet with Wiclif, our friend from Kito International with whom we are volunteering. Since the organization is still in the very early stages, we are hoping to help him with some research on micro enterprise and youth-friendly loans. Also, he is looking for an office space, so we will help him set that up too. Next Tuesday when we meet, Wiclif is going to take us around the slums where he lives and works: Kangware. Kito's programs will target rehabilitated street boys/men. Beginning with a smaller group of men, they will spend one year taking classes on life skills and entrepreneurship, working in a business (which funds the organization), and giving back to the community by working with other street boys. Upon completing the year, the men will ideally take out a low-interest loan (which we are researching) and start their own business. Wiclif currently works alone in Nairobi as program director (well, now he has me and Monica) and partners with others in California, such as Maria who we met at the brunch. I'm excited to see what is to come.

Last night I left soccer early due to unbearable shin-splint and calf muscle pain that has been progressively getting worse. I went to the school health clinic and talked with the doctor. He thinks that the calf muscle isn't getting enough oxygen and isn't removing the lactic acid efficiently. He referred me to a cardiovascular doctor in Nairobi. If all goes as planned, I'll be going to see him tomorrow. I hope it isn't too serious.

Well, I'm off to my African Literature class. Enjoy the photos of this weekend. There are more on facebook.