The Final Post of this Past to Present Adventure

Hello all :)

Thank you to all of you that have supported me before, during, and now regarding my time in Kenya.
Originally, I didn't have much time to think about what occurred during my time or reflect on what actually happened because I returned to Ontario for a wedding and then took off on a road trip with my sisters to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. Then the next day upon my return home I went straight to work at my Grandparents farm. Whew. Just saying all that makes me tired. Nevertheless, Abba is faithful, and as soon as I put my focus to the grindstone to prepare a presentation for my church family, I began to absorb, reflect, and yes, even cry.
How blessed I was by the faithfulness of the Father and the love of his people.

Someone once asked me if I could summarize my experience in one word - I really can't... but I've narrowed into down to 5 encompassing words about my time.

1. Unexpected... I knew I had wanted to go to Africa for a long time, but I never knew where in Africa to go - and as many of you know, Africa is a big continent. So I began first looking for an organization that could take me with my restricted window of opportunity. The country of origin, Kenya, was then chosen by the organization Africa Inland Missions (AIM) who I went with - their flexibility with my schedule and their support spoke so much to my unexpected viewpoint making it a journey of excited expectation.

2. Challenging... I went not with a team, but as an individual. I had to learn to rely on Abba as my teammate, rather than just a captain of the ship. As you know from my previous blog, my time in Nairobi was rather lonely because at the Mayfield guest house so many people come and go, yet, Abba provided people just when I needed them.

3. Stretching... because of the unplanned events that occurred... all. the. time. Though my primary area of service was Kurungu, I went to many different places in Kenya after Jay and the Callaghan family were medi-evacuated to Kijabe.

Yet, despite the unexpected, challenging, and stretching time, I was able to experience so much more! And my experience became...

4. Enhancing. Beyond learning about the culture (which was an extensive learning curve for me), I learned to dwell in the moments and realize that the most rich experiences happen in those times.

5. Memorable. I experienced so many first time things. Beyond culture shock, I met a diversity of people from different walks of life all wanting to spread the word and love of Christ, and I fell in love with two beautiful family's (the Swanepeol's and Callaghan's).

I learned to roll with the punches and recognize that nothing usually goes according to plan, that moments are not just seconds in time, but rather the realization of beauty, and that promises should not be made on shifting sand - those circumstances we don't have control over.

Well friends, thank you; thank you for supporting me, loving me, praying for me, and following me in this adventure.

Much love!

Spinning Around

"Cool Cars"

Reunited with the Callaghan family after being away for a month.

The answers to your Questions

Well lovely people, my journey and time in Kenya has come to an end.

Thank you all for your love and support, for reading these blog posts, praying for me, letting me know that you are backing me.
I plan on doing a final reflection blog post soon, but until then…. Here are the answers to some of the questions I was asked about my experiences:

Q: Since arriving, what was the first traditional food you ate? what was the first comfort food you ate? what food do you miss the most?

A: I think the first traditional food I ate was a chapatti (which is like a flat tortilla). The first comfort food was licorice J and the food I missed the most … apples.

Q: Is Kurgunu more of a nomadic area? People pass through versus settle down? How tall are the people there?

A: The people are more nomadic in the sense of their animals – some will travel with their livestock 40km in order to find good grazing and water.

The interaction I’ve had to discover is that the women are quite short and have limbs (I soon discovered that a common bracelet that many of the people where will not fit over my palm). The men are about average around 5’10/11 and usually are more slender. However, it’s common that both male and female are slender, in contrast to what I’ve seen in the city.

Going for a walk in the Luga 

Q: How far away to the nearest coffee shop? Who are you staying with? What does your typical day look like?

A: Umm… well the closest grocery store is 8.5 hours away and so is the nearest coffee shop. The family I’m staying with Callaghan’s and Swanepoel’s tend to grind their own coffee beans.

The description of a typical day does not exist, since there are no typical days. A day can range from anything like doing school with the girls, preparing lunch, having rest time, doing an activity with the children, helping with bath-time, and serving supper and then putting the kids to bed or making a trip out to help install internet service at another missionary’s station 3 hours away or building chicken coops or … well anything really. 

Showing the Children their photo

Q: What words have you learned in their language? What has been your best moment with Jesus?

A: The words I’ve learned are actually hard to write because firstly, I don’t know the spelling, and I really don’t know the English translation of the words because I’ve learned the typical response of a greeting, rather than a direct translation. Haha, also, The family I was primarily staying with speaks Afrikans, the community language is Samburu, and the conversing language between the missionaries and local people is Ki-Swahili. So sometimes I have difficulty distinguishing.

One of my best moments with Jesus was being removed from the context of life and writing music. However, our routines before bed such as bath time and story reading has been one of my most treasured moments.

At Church

Q: What have you learned from their culture and traditions?

A: I have learned the beauty in their cultural dress and that even if their clothing is the same day-in-and-out, they take pride in presenting themselves with beauty. Another thing that I discovered, perhaps not really in the category of culture or tradition is how within the church the members would start singing with no instrumental lead-in and yet, it wasn’t a solo because everyone joined them (I have recorded some of the service, I’ll have to share their music with you).

Q: How bad are the bugs? What types of critters have you seen?

A: The bugs actually aren’t that bad, even despite taking anti-malaria pills they aren’t so apparent in Kurungu. However, there are wasps that tend to frequently fly around (they have long legs!), but don’t sting you – they are mainly busy looking for places to build their homes. Once you realize they’re not out to sting you, you hardly notice them.

Ngota Sinapo and I making Chapatis!

Q: Can everyone run really fast, or just the ones that go to the Olympics?

A: I have not had the opportunity to foot-race a Kenyan, but if you put me in the context of foot-racing in the terrain of Kurungu, they could walk and beat me (so many thorns).

Q: How was Korr different than Kurungu?

A: The climate in Korr is way hotter and windier. Yet, the major difference that I noticed was the level of interaction. The Rendille people in Korr tend to find you and if they have a question ask it to you directly. Whereas, the Samburu in Kurungu would not seek you out for company and tend to beat-around the bush, wanting something from you, but then would end the conversation without even asking for it. 

All I can think of for a conclusion to this post is --> a smile :)
So much was learned and so much will be remembered.


* p.s. these photos were taken by Grant Swanepoel

for me, as it is for you

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my time on the mission field it’s been the need to be flexible. Of course you say, haven’t you heard that many times before? Yes, I have, but I didn’t realize the daily; hourly confrontation I would be having with it.

Many times during our orientation we were told to be flexible; to recognize that things don’t always go according to plan and we must adjust – it’s life.

Yet, circumstances do arise and we shouldn’t get discouraged when … a missionary family who owns a trailer, bought honestly and fairly, needs it for an upcoming trip but has not received the paperwork to use it; still waiting for the papers to be given, or, the plan to complete a day of school is interrupted by the need to build a protective chicken coop for the baby chicks that have been born and are being pecked by the roosters, or an evening of rest has been pushed aside as the need for cooking for an upcoming trip is required, or …. (you fill in the blank). It may not seem like a lot, but it affects us in some way or another.

Today in my devotions I was challenged in the recognition that sometimes we get so solidified in our dreams and hopes or when we become so focused on what we are planning to do, that we cannot see what God is trying to do.

Our plans and dreams are often far removed from what God has in mind for us, and a lack of flexibility may cause us to miss Him and to be broken in the missing.

This is as much a reminder for the average Joe in the city as it is for the missionary on the field, or for even me. Perhaps next time things don’t go according to plan anticipate an interruption and welcome an opportunity. 

To the Korr

For those of you who I have not made aware, the past weekend has been spent in Korr, an area 2.5-3 hours east of Kurungu. 

The opportunity to go to Korr sprouted from the encouragement of the Swanepoel's as Grant was heading down to Korr for a Pastor's conference. So off we went! 

I was able to stay in the short-termer's home and from there volunteered alongside some of the most amazing woman at a coinciding conference, Spiritual Emphasis Weekend, that was taking place at the same time as the pastor's conference. 

What a blessing it was to so easily join the conference for the secondary students (grades 9-12). Beyond just sitting in on the sessions and providing support for those in leadership, I was also able to take a hands-on leadership role and lead a discussion group after a message and also be placed on a panel to share what wisdom I had on particular topics that were asked about. 

Yet, beyond volunteering at the Spiritual Emphasis Conference, I was able to also visit a Rendille Gob (village). One of the night guards of the short-termer house, Esim Basale, welcomed us into his home, served us chai, gave me a Rendille name, played music, and danced with us. Oh what fun it was! And because of the help of a translator, Peter, who teaches nursery school for the young Rendille children in his Gob, we were able to converse too! 

My name you ask, what was it? Oh! :D It was Subdio, which means Saturday. The Rendille tend to name their children based on events of the day or the day itself. So you could say I was born a Rendille on Saturday! 

Walking back from the Rendille Gob

There were so many significant events that happened that weekend, but another unique one that I'll share with you was having the opportunity to attend a Rendille wedding, the morning of our departure. We were up before the crack of dawn, in which the ceremonies usually take place around then (however, this one was a bit later). 

Picture this with me...

Alyssa, Hannah, me, Sarah, Christina - the morning of the wedding

The sound of warriors singing their repetitive melodies as they come slowly walking towards the mother's gob where the bride is waiting. They bring 2 goats - one as a gift to the family and the other to be slaughtered. 

The warriors are met near the mother's home and two woman approach the groom and his best-man they pour milk on their heels and remove their sandals (to which the men will walk a week without footwear). They women take one of the goats and bring it inside the gob. The men then proceed to bring the other goat and (to save the details) slaughter it. The blood is collected and then mixed with milk, to which is later presented to the groom to drink. 

After the goat is skinned and the fatty portion(s) of the body is separated it is then taken by the groom and the best-man into the gob where they will present it to the bride. If the bride accepts the fat the wedding is official, if the fat is refused the wedding is called-off. But, you can breath a sigh of relief, because she accepted his gift! 

Two cuties!

Well... :) A little piece of northern Kenya culture for you.

...from Kurungu and back again...

Through this whole experience of being medi-evacuated out of Kurungu with the Callaghans, to staying in Kijabe at the Moffat Guesthouse and then with Sue Bird, to then being driven with Kevin (who I in a divine appointment met at Mayfield Guesthouse at the beginning of my trip) and his wife Linda to Nairobi, to then driving up with the Swanepoel family to Nanyuki, to being hosted at Nick and Lynn Swanepoel’s home for 5 days, and then afterwards making the 8 hour continuation trip from Nanyuki to Kurungu … *breathe …. has all been apart of Abba’s plan.

The drive back with the Swanepoel’s was eye-filling with dense and diverse greenery (many types of trees with different heights and shapes), various animals (ostriches, goats, camels, sheep, dik-diks, and various birds), and cultural differences. It has been said that you can experience two parts of Kenya: Kenya 1 (South) and Kenya 2 (north), and as you passed through these different regions, the style of dress (modern to traditional), and structure of homes (rock structures to huts) was apparent.

I also saw many school children; you could tell from their uniforms – and so young too! Many parents send their children to school as a babysitting service. I think the youngest child I saw, wandering off on their way to school alone looked to be 3 years old.

 

However… even though I got to experience much of the beautiful landscapes across central Kenya, it’s really the people that make this experience in Africa worth it. The people I have come to know on this trip; the relationships that have been built are so much more meaningful that capturing a beautiful picture on a countryside (what?! I know, huge thing for a wanna-be photographer to say). However, this post wouldn’t be as exciting without pictures, so enjoy the photos!

 

P.S. Thank you for your prayers for Jay – his testing is completed and his body is healing. His body is now recovering and is just very sore.