I'm Home

My aunt reminded me that it was important for me to write an "I'm home" post, so I think after settling in for week that I can finally write that post. Although, I'll be leaving up this blog because Lora will be in Kenya again. So, I'm home and it feels surprisingly normal. I've spent a lot of time with family and friends and the next thing on my "to do" list is to get a job before heading back to school. It's really hard to be away from my kids and leaving Exodus was really sad. The kids cried and said really sweet goodbyes to me. I cried in front of all of them in my formal goodbye. I feel like there is something missing inside of me when I am away from them, but I've promised to stay in touch and come back when I can. I'm hoping to go back in May, God willing. I am selling earrings from a market in Nairobi to raise money to go back. I am so thankful to God for the opportunity to live in Kenya. I am also thankful for everyone who support me and prayed for me, so thank you to all of you. AND stay tuned cause I'm not done with Kenya...

Pearls Of Wisdom

Hello...
I hope all is well with you. I'm happy to share with you that I am a few days away from officially exiting my "teenagerhood"... okay, as far as the number goes. I'm in Machakos right now about to go pick up some lab results. I've been sick for almost four weeks and cold medicines and antibiotics did not help at all, so I had my lungs x-rayed yesterday and sputum investigations. I hope I'll get better soon!

Otherwise things are okay. I've started working a bit with a guy called Mike Musembi who graduated from Daystar long ago. He has lots of experience in community development and he's a really commendable man. For some time he worked with the resettlement of refugees and he did most of the "Lost Boys of Sudan" profile. He has a project called Pearls of Wisdom in a place called Kamulu, which is outside Nairobi. He has a vision to build housing and a secondary school for girls from the slums who are orphaned or who have been affected by AIDS/HIV. It is basically a rescue center for the very desperate, hopeless and needy young woman. He used to have a small school in the slums, but some logistics fell through and now he is planning to build his own center and school on a piece of land he owns near his home. He has all the planning done and just needs the funds. I met with a couple girls who used to be in the project when it was operating and I was impressed by their school performance at their current schools. I spent time with Musembi and his family last week and I felt so relieved to work with someone who is wise, honest, and focused.

I'm still staying at Exodus because I love those kids and I want to be a part of their lives; however, because of some issues there, God led me to be a part of Pearls of Wisdom as well.

I'm not sure of all of my plans before I head home, but I'll likely spent the first week of July in Kisumu and Lwanda. Be blessed.

He Never Said It Would Be Easy

Hello and Happy World Cup Season!
I hope that all is well and you are enjoying summer weather. Here, we are in the coldest season, but it's not too cold for the most part. I've been sick with a cough for a couple weeks and it's been kind of rough lately at Exodus. I can't get in to all the details, but I can say I've really been challenged lately and I have nothing to relying except God. I've cried and I've felt a lot of deep pain for something that is going on and I ask that you pray for me in this time. Trying to manage the transition home at the same time is also stressful. It's hard to establish an entire life and livelihood and then leave it. Thanks for your support. Be blessed

My latest work of poetry

This poem still needs a title...

Dreading departure,
Fighting time,
Facing reality.
Is this the end?
Or just another beginning?
Explored lands,
Orphaned smiles,
Poured rains.
Are they part of me?
Swimming in my veins,
Reflecting in my eyes,
Tugging on my heart.
Or just packed away in my memory?


I'm at Daystar for a couple nights, just to see friends, use the internet, and take a break from Exodus. Although I am tired, I can say that this is most rewarding work I have ever done in my life. Just a few minutes ago, some kids from Exodus called me to say they missed me and ask when I am coming back. I haven't even been gone for 24 hours! Haha. I miss them too! Last weekend I took part in a medical camp held in a slum outside Nairobi, called Mukuru. Life in the slums is something I don't have the energy to write about right now, but it was an interesting experience to say the least. Otherwise, I spent the week at Exodus as usual. I've been sick the past few days as well and I'm trying to prepare myself mentally to start life again in Michigan. It might seem a bit early, but trust me... it's better I start now.

Multipurpose and Multitasking

These days I've become the the co-director, social worker, computer teacher, english teacher, counselor, and nurse of Exodus... and that's not an exaggeration. Usually I wake up at 6 or 7am and work until 11pm. These kids can really see that the place is making a lot of progress in many areas. I feel so exhausted at times, but the kids give me the strength to press on. Mutua, a 19-year-old who finished highschool and is waiting to study nursing, and I are the two running the children's home. We have a day time house mother who cooks and washing and an intern. We really do our best and we struggle to get support from Elijah. I'm praying that Elijah will step it up and atleast provide financial support, if he can't give his time. The kids have many basic needs that still need to be met. Some things I've done lately include: hanging mosquito nets, organizing and cleaning our storage room, implementing the time and meal schedules, accessing each child's belongs, and making English assignments.

On Sunday, I was really reminded of the vulnerability of each child. I sat in a room of crying orphans for an hour. They have so much pain from their pasts and they still need therapy and healing time. You can try to imagine how crushed my heart felt, but the scene was indescribable.

Kalungu Women's Group

Hello!
I am in a cyber cafe in Machakos town printing a few documents for Exodus that I have been working on with Elijah and our intern, Carol. I made a powerpoint for Exodus and I am still hoping to make a video and set up a website.

CORE VALUES
•Cultivate a spirit of hard work and holistic development
•Empower target groups with technical skills and knowledge of life skills
•Reduce poverty through sustainable methods
•Raise responsible servant leaders
•Respect for positive values, attitude, and behaviour
•Empower women in society
•Promote responsible parenting
•Encourage effective and efficient communication in relationships and for development

MISSION STATEMENT
To nuture poverty reduction strategies and raise the standard of living amoung the people of Africa as reflected through improved health service, food self-sufficiency, education, character building, and positive behaviour change, with an overarching goal of sustainable development

VISION
To develop a new generation of responsible visionary and strategic leaders who will participate in the society to promote effective development through positive transformation of attitude

TARGET GROUPS
•Orphans and vulnerable children
•Youth
•Women seeking empowerment
•Persons affected by AIDS/HIV
•Disabled persons
•Widows

OBJECTIVES
•To raise, mobilize, and disburse funds and other resources to our target group
•To initiate development projects which acknowledge individual and group potential to improve socio-economic status through developed skills
•To build mutually beneficial networks to other partner organisations
•To train in modern farming techniques and assist farmers in agricultural managerial skills
•To establish educational centres which provide a conducive learning environment for both genders

Time Schedule
Monday Through Friday after school
5:00-6:00 Chores/Free Time
6:00-6:30 Bathe
6:30-8:15 Study
8:15-8:30 Fellowship
8:30-9:00 Supper
9:00 Sleep
9:00-10:00 Optional Study Time

Saturday
7:00-8:00 English class
8:00-8:30 Breakfast
8:30-12:30 Chores
12:30-1:00 Lunch
1:00-6:30 Free Time
6:30-8:00 Study Time
8:00-8:30 Fellowship
8:30-9:00 Supper
9:00 Sleep
9:00-10:00 Optional Study Time

Sunday
8:00- 10:00 or 1:00 Church
1:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-7:00 Event or Free Time
Meetings with kids and staff
7:00-8:00 Bathe and prepare for school
8:00-8:30 Fellowship
8:30-9:00 Supper
9:00 Sleep
9:00-10:00 Optional Study Time

We also made a meal schedule and budget. Also, I am happy to say that we have 32 children's books now and I am still hoping to get more. The kids love reading the story books and I have been giving them English assignments. Carol, a guy called Mutua, and I are the only staff at the Children's Home now, besides the house mom who comes in the day. It is certainly now easy taking care of and managing 23 kids, but at least they are good. I have had to do a lot of care for sick and injured kids and I've managed, but I will need to study more on health when I come back to the U.S.

On Monday, we visited a Women's Self Help Group in a place called Kalungu. It was really inspiring to meet them. This group of women have built a sand dam to benefit the community. They weren't the architects, but they were the construction workers and I can say that if you could see how far they carried bags of cement you wouldn't believe those 29 women accomplished the task. It was a food for work program. They also have dug terraces to help with erosion and dug furrows for irrigation. Their group has been really successful in generating food and income for their families, as some of their husbands stay away in Nairobi.

Everything is going well, despite the usual challenges of co-directing a children's home. Elijah is usually busy with trainings and other projects and he's stays in another home so thats why I say I'm "co-directing."

Feeling Purposeful

My access to internet has been minimal lately and I’m disappointed that I haven’t been journaling frequently either. I have been doing a bit of poetry, but I can’t really share it with you because usually I change between Swahili and English, so it wouldn’t make sense. Just as explaining my experience here is like painting a picture with a pencil, so does translation lose meaning.

I have to admit that here at Exodus I feel so focused. I am sure of my purpose and I forget all the little worries of life. I am constantly thinking about our programs and these kids and how we can continue to improve. I believe that as people we should refuse to live a life that is stagnant. We must constantly be growing and developing individually and in the community. Every week, I make sure that Exodus progresses, whether it be hanging mosquito nets, writing proposals, or teaching kids English. I’ve been emphasizing reading and writing with the kids and they are learning to type on my computer too. They’ve become so comfortable with me and I can’t even express my love for them. This week, I went with Elijah to do two trainings with a few different communities’ “Youth Groups.” These groups of 20 to 30 year olds are writing development project proposals for their community. We work with another organization helping them write action plans and consider development techniques. I’ve also completed a powerpoint about Exodus and who we are. Next, I’d like to make a video about Exodus and set up a website. That’s just the beginning of my list of things to do. Unfortunately, two months is very little time to be here and I am wishing I could extend my stay, as I see the work that I am doing is very meaningful. I’ll still be a staff member from the U.S. though! We are still looking for land and praise God we’ve received a large donation for the land (USD $6500). The remaining amount we are hoping to receive from a grant.

I went to Kisumu and Lwanda this past weekend for the baptism of Steve Otieno Arogo. My parents are his godparents, so I represented them at the baptism. It was so nice to be home, but very rainy and muddy. I only get to go “home” one more time before going home in July, which is quite sad for me. At home I used a lot of Swahili because now that they know I understand and they don’t need to put more effort in speaking English. It’s funny though because I have difficultly saying everything so sometimes my side of the conversation is English and theirs is Swahili but we still understand eachother. I’ll learn Luo and Kikamba at some point. For now, being (almost) trilingual is still a commendable accomplishment.