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.

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...