Decision-Maker By Force. Indecisive By Nature.

Hi Everyone!
I'm back at school and things feel "up-in-the-air" again... a feeling I encounter too frequently. This is my life story: I know what is happening today, but ask me about tomorrow or two months from now and I have no idea. Even if I think I have future plans, they are only a temporary comfort cause they end up changing anyways. haha.

At the present moment things feel up in the air because I am not in the self-catering dorm I booked for (should be at least another week), I am working on finding a new internship that is closer to Athi River (the one in Nairobi was just too far), I am deciding classes, and I am trying to decide what I'll do after the semester ends in May and when I'll come home. Sometimes I feel like an adult trying to decipher what I should be doing, then I remember that technically age eighteen is adulthood. What does that make me? A one-year-old adult? Sounds ill-equipped to me. haha.

Anyways, I guess I'm used to this "I'll never know the future" idea, but it isn't exactly the easiest way to live. It forces me to rely on and trust the only Constant. I appreciate the present for what it is and trust that the future will fall into place while at the same time trying to make careful decisions. I'm scared and sad to leave Kenya this year, I can't lie. Some day I'll share a bit more about this, but for now know that it is a struggle of mine.

Two highlights I'd like to share:
I found a church in Nairobi that I like (something I struggled with last semester)and I am attending a friend's wedding this weekend!

I have a few prayer requests:
1) My friend Mary has a serious eye problem and we are trying to find a place that accepts her insurance and will give her the best and needed treatment.
2) Pray that I make the right choices for the next five or six months and regarding my return home.

The photos above were taken at my friends house in Nairobi. They had a mango tree with so many mangoes that the branch broke from the weight. Mangoes are selling for about 10 cents! yum.

A New Year

Now when people ask how long I've been in Kenya, I can happily say "since last year." The only down side of that statement is that I also go home THIS year. Haha. Today someone said in Swahili to me, "karibu Kenya," mesning welcome to Kenya. I looked at my friend and said, "he shoulda said that six months ago." Haha.

Well, it's been a really great Christmas break for the most part. The break started out on kind of a low note. Monica and I were staying in Nairobi for a few days together before she left and Jen arrived. Unfortunately, Monica got really sick with malaria and spent her last two nights in Kenya in Nairobi hospital. I felt really bad and I was doing everything I could for her. She is now back in Vancouver and finishing her last semester at Trinity Western. However she is still recovering from sickness and a semester abroad.

At the same time Monica was in the hospital, Jen was stuck in Europe for two days due to the weather and flight schedules. I was overwhelmed a bit trying to deal with both situations and figure out how Jen and I would travel to Kisumu safely on the 23rd. Thankfully, a friend from the soccer team lives just minutes from my family in Kisumu so he traveled by public van with us.

We spent some days with Mary, Esther and Elisha (their brother) in Kisumu. From the 25th to the 30th, we stayed in Lwanda. Jen really had a great time in Lwanda and connected well with the Odhiambo family. Jen got a really good feel for life in Kenya and not the typical tourist's experience. It was great to catch up with her and hear the updates on everyone back at Hope. Wow, am I really out of touch of life in Michigan! There was LOTS of rain in Lwanda. The mud complimented my shoes well, I must admit.

Christmas was different from what I expected. There is little holiday hype here, which I certainly did not miss. But I did miss being with family and friends and eating a big meal with lots of homemade treats. Here, Christmas felt just like a normal Sunday and many people just spent the day conversing in the markets. Also, it was nice to see the Arogos in Kisumu. Especially my mom, Syprose, who is pregnant. I was shocked that she is due in March and I had to harass her a bit saying, "I thought I was your last born..."

I really enjoyed our time in Kisumu and Lwanda and I didn't want to leave. It was so relaxing and just felt like home. (Don't worry, mom, it's a SECOND home). Upon arriving in Kisumu, Mary, Jen and I went to visit Obama's grandmother at her home in Kogelo. She stays in a very modest home and takes care of widows and orphans. We asked a few questions and took a picture with her.

On New Years Eve, Mary, Jen and I went to hear a live Luo band and dance a bit. Mary is so amazing and I'm so happy to have her as a sister. She is having really bad eye problems, which I think is a bad case of cataracts. Currently we are trying to arrange for her to see a specialist in Nairobi, but it's quite difficult with her insurance situation. She works for the Centre for Disease Control and doesn't even have insurance that is accepted at the eye specialists in Nairobi for her own disease. Something is not right about that.

Jen and I spent her last days here in Nairobi, on a safari in Masai Mara, and a day in Athi River at my school. The safari turned out to be a disappointment, much to my surprise. We had to laugh at the fact that I am the most "anti-tourist-activity" white person in Nairobi and once I finally gave in it turned out to be far below my expectation. I'm not here for animals though, right? What irony. Jen is now back at school in Michigan and hopefully talking non-stop about our adventures. Seeing both Monica and Jen leave was weird for me knowing that my life was continuing on in Kenya, but that some day I, too, would be heading home on a plane.

Right now I am staying with a friend and his family on the outskirts of Nairobi. I have nothing on my agenda, I'm just chillin and it feels good. I am so blessed to be able to stay with them and encouraged by their openness in hospitality. It is nice to have a safe and comfortable place to stay with great company. I'll go back to school this weekend.

Hope all is well. And by the way, I am doing well now after testing positive for malaria, which i was given medication for (so its gone,no worries). Pictures to come. Happy New Year!

The Transition

Hello everyone!

I just wanted to check in and wish everyone happy holidays. Tomorrow I leave campus for the next month, so my internet access will be limited until the middle of January. I'll stay in Nairobi for a few days and pick up Jen from the airport on Sunday at midnight. Hopefully, we'll travel to Kisumu on Tuesday the 22nd, the same day Monica returns to Canada. Unfortunately three well-known bus companies that drive between Nairobi and Kisumu are booked until after Christmas, so I've been scrambling to find a safe way to Kisumu. Luckily, I talked to one of my friends from the soccer team today, and he and his brother are also heading to the same area so we'll travel with them by another public bus or van. Please pray for our safety and that everything works out.

I am really excited to be back in Lwanda for Christmas! I've really missed my "family" and friends there. Jen and I will stay there until probably the 2nd of January, when we'll return to Nairobi for a safari and her departure on the 7th. After the 7th, I am not yet sure where I'll be until the 18th when classes resume. As you can see, I am really vigilant in my planning. My back up plan for those dates are to stay in Nairobi and begin working at my internship.

Speaking of internship... Good news! On Tuesday I finally visited to the Kenya Women's Voluntary Rehabilitation Centre in Nairobi. I spoke with two of the staff members there and inquired about the organization and the possibility of interning there next semester. I told them I didn't have expectations or much experience, but that I am just interested in learning and working in the field. They have various programs, and something going on everyday, so it sounds like a fitting internship. I'll detail the organization later in another blog.

Next semester, I've signed up for classes on Monday's and Tuesday's: Art in Africa, Music in Africa, New Testament Survey, and Photography. That leaves the rest of the week for interning. The only negative side to this schedule is that commuting to Nairobi multiple days of the week is extremely exhausting. It'd be easier to live there, but for now I am planning on staying in the self-catering dorm in Athi River. Another goal for next semester is learning swahili more seriously because I'll need it for my internship. This next month I am going to work very hard to learn a lot.

With all that said, this really is a month of transition into a new semester with new experiences to come. I'm feeling content, but still feeling kinda "up-in-the-air." No worries though. Good bye for now. Enjoy your Christmas, New Years, and time with family and friends. Peace.

A Week In Uganda!

Well, I've offically traveled to my second country in Africa now: Uganda. It is a beautifully green country. Monica and I traveled by bus from Nairobi to Kampala overnight, which took only about 10 hours! Usually it takes a lot longer, but traveling at night is much faster. In Kampala we stayed with Monica's friend's parents from Canada who have lived in Uganda for 11 years. Kampala was generally a nice city. It is built on seven surrounding mountains with the center of town seated in the middle. Lots of hills and beautiful views. It was safer and cleaner than Nairobi in my opinion too. We explored the city for a couple days and found our way (well, driven to) to Kasubi Tombs on our favorite mode of public transportation: a motorcycle. Monica and I really enjoyed Kasubi tombs, where we had a guide sit down with us and tell us about the four Bugandan kings buried inside the house. The history of Uganda is quite interesting: the Buganda king actually invited the British to come to Uganda around 1890. Presently there is a king and a president. Descendants of the kings come and stay in the homes and surrounding wives homes for different lengths of time. The first Bugandan king buried there had 84 wives!

After a couple days in Kampala we enjoyed two nights in Jinja. We spend the first day rafting twelve rapids of the White Nile river. The source of the Nile is in Uganda and it flows through Sudan and Egypt. Rafting was a new experience for me and it was a blast. There was one point where we flipped in a class five rapid and I wasn't sure I'd ever find my way to the surface for a breath... thank you life jacket. We went down a waterfall too (probably about 15 foot drop)! I wasn't sure how it'd work out... After rafting all day the company had a cookout for everyone. We stayed two nights at their "campsite." There were hostels, personal tents, and permanent tents on a small property overlooking the Nile. It felt surreal. We spent the day after rafting recovering by laying on the grass enjoying the view, sounds, and breeze.

Our third day in Kampala we enjoyed a bike ride through the surrounding rural area. Two fourteen year old boys who we met, Adam and Alan, led us on a little tour. I'm jealous of those people who live right on the Nile, although unfortunately, despite the abundance of natural resources, many of them are very poor.

Back at school, I've taken four exams in the past three days and I have another tomorrow. I'll have one week of no exams, until the 18th when I take my last. I am going to work on my internship for next semester during that week and roughly plan out the December holiday, which I'll spend with Jen! Monica leaves in two weeks, which I am really sad about. I'm pretty sure I'll cry when I say goodbye to one of my best friends on the 22nd. She heads home to snow and the winter Olympics in her hometown, Vancouver, with an injured foot and one semester of college left. We've shared so many great memories and experiences.

Mombasa

I'm back from Mombasa and burnt on my shoulders. It was so hot and humid... felt like the Oaxacan coast in June. I had a great weekend: spent time with Lissen and Christine Arogo, rode a camel, swam in the Indian Ocean, visited Fort Jesus and the Old Town, ate chicken biriani, took a ferry, and relaxed.

Monica's friend told us about a place to stay on the "south coast", which was actually on an island. We got an entire fully-furnished flat, that can sleep up to 12 people right on the ocean for only about $20! It was such a bargain and we enjoyed relaxing in the yard. We stopped at a store and bought two treats that we haven't had in months: salad and corn on the cob. yum. It was fun taking the ferry between the mainland and the island and we were surprised how many people traveled between the two each day. Because so many people live there, the ferry leaves about every five minutes and it is free.

On Friday, we visited Fort Jesus and learned a little about the history of Mombasa. The fort was built right on the coast by the Portugese in 1593 and was later attacked by Oman. Also, the city has a lot of Middle Eastern architecture and Arab-Kenyans. In certain areas, I felt like I was in the Middle East. It was a really interesting contrast to the rural Kenya and city of Nairobi that I know and I appreciated the diversity.

We met up with Lissen and Chris, my sisters from Lwanda. (I also visited Ann and John Riany from Lwanda who live there.) It was a nice reunion with Lissen and good to finally meet Chris. We went to the beach, where the water was surprisingly warm, and rode a camel. Monica and I also met up with our friends Alyssa and Raija from school.

I'm back at school now for the final week of classes, which I can hardly believe. Next week, Monica and I are going to visit some of her friends in Uganda, if everything works out. Gotta take advantage of the travel opportunities, and thankfully it is pretty cheap to travel around.

Photos above: Fort Jesus, the ferry, riding the camel

To The Coast

Hey Everyone!

Hope all is well. I am doing fine and finishing out the semester. I finished two final papers within the past week. The first was for my appropriate technology class. I discussed the feasibility of solar panels for Lwanda School. What I found was that to bring electricity to the entire area from the main road was about double the cost of installing solar panels for just the secondary school, so my conclusion was that until the prices of solar panels down (which they will with time, research, and production competition), they are not appropriate for Lwanda. The second paper I wrote was about foreign aid and how it can actually hinder development rather than promote growth due to the poor implementation/distribution, and poor government policies. We have two weeks of class, then two weeks of exams. I can't believe how fast the semester went! The classes I enjoyed most were African Literature and Community Development and the Church. As for next semester, I'll likely spend most of my days interning/volunteering at an organization in Athi River or Nairobi to get some practical experience and break out of the campus life a bit. I'll probably just take two classes here.

This evening I am leaving for the coast of Kenya! I have never been there, and I've never been to the Indian Ocean. Monica and I are traveling by bus, and in a couple days we'll meet up with two friends from school, Raija and Alyssa. My "sister" Lissen Arogo lives there too, so it will be nice to reconnect after three and a half years! So as it snows, just remember I am laying on the beach.

Oh What The Rain Can Do

Hello from sunny Athi River,

As I was heading to Nairobi yesterday with the soccer team, I was thinking about what I should write in my next blog. Looking out the window, I noticed that the river I've always looked for in Athi River had finally appeared! This area is incredibly dry and dusty, but recently we've had some rain, which has proved to be such a blessing. People really suffer without water out here, and a lot of our water is actually brought in with a truck that reads "clean water." But, since it's rained a little, people are able to at least get some water and the area even has a tint of green from the sprouting grass. Our soccer field, which has been completely dirt, is now half-covered with grass. It seems like such a basic concept, but rain can mean life or death.

Another thing I have been thinking about lately is how my concept of "my belongings" and "my belonging" has been transformed. I guess this kind of gets at the idea of living simply and sharing, since we are all valuable members of the community. What I have, I use. What I am blessed to have, such as a guitar and computer, I share on a daily basis. I don't feel so driven to have my own things, my own space or home, and my own little bubble. In fact, I feel at home (away from home), but I just can't identify a physical space where that home exists. I know it's there, it's probably just wherever my friends are or where I feel at peace. I especially enjoy spending time outside playing guitar, soccer, walking, ect... so I assume my home is somewhere outside with the monkeys and zebras, but far from the hyenas.

Speaking of soccer, I have been playing more lately. The pain is still there, but not so unbearably present. I recently recieved in-sole supports from my mom, which I am trying out.

Take care and stay in touch.