Fabricated Trees and "The Run"

Today was a wonderful way to spend a Saturday. Although there was nothing especially Kenyan about today, we girls enjoyed the opportunity to get out of the house. After packing our lunches, Leann, Tahia, Justine, Leann's friend Brenda and I all headed out to a nearby forest area in Nairobi. We hiked through some beautiful wooded areas and had a great time navigating the trails! Here is a picture of the five of us (I think I look like an elf from Lord of the Rings though. What do you think? Haha). From left to right it's Brenda, Tahia (back), Justine below her, Leann and then me. But we saw lots of monkeys and a couple of these huge rabbit-looking things, although I never got a closer look at them except their butts since they would always scurry off really quickly.

So after walking along the trails for awhile we noticed that the giant, straight pine trees seemed to be equally distanced apart. Tahia was off a few feet away taking pictures and the rest of us actually had a short conversation about this observation and eventually moved onto another subject. Then probably 20 minutes later we are all walking together and Tahia stops short and exclaims in her Chilean accent, "These trees are fabricated!" In other words, they were manually planted haha. We cracked up about that little comment for awhile.

After our hike we stopped to get some ice cream, dropped Brenda off, and then made our way back to the Kamau's house. Leann and I have been running together since I've been here and we decided to make the most of the rest of our daylight and take a jog. Oh and by the way, it is perfectly safe in our neighborhood to do this. Anyway, we ran pretty hard and on the way back my stomach started to hurt a little bit, but I kept going thinking it would go away. But the pain kept coming back and then all of sudden I knew I wasn't going to make it back to the house. So I veered off the side of the road, quickly found a bush, had Leann stand guard, and...exploded! I didn't throw up...no it was definitely the other end. I barely made it back to the house, and I have been exploding ever since lol! There is usually always a point in one's travelling experience when their body finally adjusts to the food and environment, and today was my day. It was a blessing in disguise though since I hadn't been feeling well for a couple of days. It was quite hilarious!

So maybe too much information for some of you, but I thought I would include it just so you could get a feel for what happens to many people when they travel. Some of you might even be able to relate ;)

Well I should probably get to bed since we have church in the morning. But many of you are in my prayers, and if there is anything specific that you would like for me to pray for I would be more than happy to go to God for you! Much love to all of you straight from Kenya!

The Future Generations

Being a missionary, or really just being apart of a ministry in general, plans always seem to change. For instance, today we were planning on going to another center and passing out the multi-vitamins we packed yesterday. But instead, Tahia and I needed to finish our orientation and still had one department left to visit and experience. So we made our way to the education office to meet with the head teacher, Teacher Stanley.

As I have already mentioned before, I am apprehensive about doing any activities with kids mainly because, well its not my strong point. But Teacher Stanley is so high-spirited and energetic, that just following him around all day seemed like it would be quite entertaining! So I sat in on a science lesson with Teacher Stanley and then a Math lesson with another teacher. I even got to grade answers when the kids would come up to the desk to have them checked!

Once lunch came around, another teacher walked in to teach Social Studies and she asked me if I would like to teach a lesson later in the day. I gave her a shocked look and then answered, "Well, I will think about it!" After seeing her teach and making up my mind that I wouldn't want to miss out on this opportunity I told her I would. So she gave me the outline of what would be expected and I prepared a lesson for their Christian Religions Education course. I was given a lesson on Mark 9:14-29 and needed to focus on how everything is possible for those who have faith in Jesus. I taught the kids a song and then asked questions like I saw the other teachers doing earlier in the day. Here is a picture of the students I taught. They ranged from age 8-13 and were an awesome and patient group of kids haha!

I really enjoyed myself though and I think the kids learned at least one thing today, or maybe they were just being nice! Anyway, I thought that I would share a little more about the culture here; a few little interesting facts. First of all, it is extremely hard to find a trashcan anywhere! People will just throw things on the ground or find a place to keep it until later. I have also not seen one fast food restaurant which is surprising since Nairobi is so big. You would think there would be at least a Macdonald's, but no. Men hold hands with other men as a sign of friendship (so do women, but the man-love was more shocking when I first saw it). And there is almost no processed food here which is soooo awesome! I pretty much eat fresh mangoes and other fruits everyday...

Well that is all I can think of right now. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment and I will be sure to find out for you when I get the chance!

This morning I was reading Ephesians 1 and I had to stop and really think about all that God has already equipped me with. We have been given all spiritual blessings in Christ! What does that mean for us? It means that everything is possible for those who have faith in Christ Jesus. We are not expected to do life on our own, especially the impossible tasks like raising kids or bringing hope to a slum full of 800,000 people. We worship an amazing God! Bwana Safiwe?

The Many Adventures of Life...

Well it has definitely been an interesting few days here in Kenya. Yesterday, I got the chance to visit one of the other ministries of Missions of Hope. It is a boarding school named Joska, which is about an hour outside Nairobi. Leann, Tahia, and I were heading out there to help Timothy (the CHE worker) with an AIDS education presentation and then spend some time with the kids. We three girls were also planning on spending the night and then returning to the Pangani center sometime today.

So on the way to Joska we made a quick pit-stop because Peter, the driver of the van, was hearing a weird noise. We came to find out that one of the belts was broken, so we sat there in the heat of the day for 3 hours waiting on the mechanics to fix it! Timothy and Leann had to catch a mutatu in order to make their presentation on time, but we caught up with them about 2 hours later.

Finally we made it to the camp and got some really late lunch ;) but the beauty of the place definitely made up for it. I wish I had pictures! But of course, my camera's batteries were dead right when I wanted to capture a moment! And when I say beautiful, I mean more of a 'peaceful'. There are almost no trees or grass, just dust, wind, and metal buildings. But the children and their smiles is what makes it all worthwhile. I plan on going back there soon so I will be sure to take pictures then.

They took such good care of us there and the children just loved having new people to play with and talk to. I am pretty certain we will be going back though to teach more lessons on AIDS education and other hygiene topics. Soon enough our time had ended and we made our way back to Pangani to pick up the van. We got back around 1 and headed to the clinic to help sort multi-vitamins for the kids. Well, Leann and I sorted them as we watched Tahia teach Lillian and Martha how to salsa ;) Finally we were on our way home!

But that was not the end of our adventures. We got home to find that we were locked out of the house! We had to climb the gate and walk around to see if any of the windows or doors were opened, but of course none were! Some of the windows were open but they have bars across them so only a small child would be able to fit through. So we decided to walk down the drive to pick up little David Kamau from school and have him climb through the window! We eventually found the keys to unlock the door and rushed to get ready for a dinner across town. We were planning on meeting one of the visiting groups for an Ethiopian meal, but inevitably our plans were changed when the spare tire rack under the car came loose and started making a horrible noise each time we went over a speed bump. After about an hour of rigging it up, we were on our way.

And that was the end of our adventures, for now. Although nothing seemed to be going right, I have to admit I enjoy the aversions because it keeps life interesting. And here in Kenya, one is never late! There is no pressure, and I have come to love that. Why do we run around so much anyway?

I will be honest though, I am beginning to miss the ways and routines of home. As would be expected, Kenyans do things much differently here and there have been times when my patience is tested. So please keep praying for me regarding humility, insight, and patience. I am so extremely thankful that God has placed a burden on your hearts to support me in this awesome opportunity. I hope you are enjoying my blogs and please let me know if there are any questions you have or things you would like me to ask the people here. Love you all! Bwana Safiwe?

Rain? and Grace

Yesterday was quite bizarre in Nairobi. First of all, it was very cold and secondly it was pouring almost the whole day! This is unusual because it is not the rainy season and January is actually supposed to be the hottest month of the year. So on our way to work, we were stuck in traffic for about two hours since everyone was using cars instead of walking. It was absolute mayhem! But it made for some great conversation time with Mary Kamau again. I asked her more about the ministry and the struggles they have faced. I learned that people in Kenya have no problem bad-mouthing people in authority. I guess that even if people do not get their way, they make sure to talk down the person to other people. This really surprised me because I know in America, one does not openly badmouth someone in authority for fear of losing their job. Not smart!

Last evening, I went on a walk with Leann and we were talking about life and how so many things seem to be expected of us. We were wondering what we would do as a career if there was no pressure. So we dreamed for a little bit, and as you all know I have been thinking a lot about my future and whether nursing is something God is calling me to. Through talking it out, I came up with an idea regarding AIDS patients and hospice care. I got really excited about this prospect and was determined to ask Mary if Missions of Hope did anything like that. I was surprised to find out that they do! And so today I asked Timothy, a CHE (Community Health Evangelism) worker if he might be able to show me that section of the department sometime and he said, "Sure! How about today at 10:30?" !!!!!! So, almost with uncontrollable joy I followed Timothy all around  different parts of Mathare.

As we walked, Timothy was informing me about the areas and told me that people with HIV/AIDS do not like talking about their condition mainly because of the stigma that comes with it. But the only way to get through to them is to mention God. Kenyans revere God whether they live for Him or not. So when a CHE worker like Timothy comes into someone's home and listens to their concerns and worries then asks if he can pray with them, people are willing to trust in his suggestions for help. We met up with a woman named Pamela who showed us around to a few houses of people with HIV who expressed an interest in joining a Missions of Hope support group.

The second house we went to was Milicent's house. We were greeted by her on the road and then led to her small 10x10 apartment where she promptly motioned for us to sit down on a bench. After making sure we were comfortable she smiled, sat down, and lifted a small little girl into her lap. She and Timothy talked in Swahili for awhile before he translated for me. He said Milicent has had a hard time these past few years. The little girl in her lap, named Ruth, was actually her niece whose parents both died of HIV. Ruth's parents refused to take ARV's (anti-retrovirals) for their HIV because another religious group told them that if they truly believed in God then he would heal them and they would not need to take the medicine. Ruth's mother quickly deteriorated and died soon after giving birth to her. Ruth was given to Milicent by the little girl's grandma after telling Milicent that Ruth was worthless and weak and would die soon anyway. They do not know if Ruth is HIV positive yet. But to Milicent, Ruth is a blessing and a joy. She calls her Grace. After a little more conversation in Swahili, Timothy asked me to pray for Ruth and Milicent. I was overjoyed and prayed silently that Milicent would be able to feel the peace of my prayer even if she could not understand what I was saying. I prayed that God's grace would rain on this family and that his hope would continually enrich their lives. I am so thankful to have had that opportunity!

Well we walked probably 2 more miles around Mathere visiting some of the smaller Missions of Hope centers. Of course, children were constantly calling out to me, "How are you? How are you?" I even heard, "Oh Muzungu (white person)!!" Some man on the street even gave me a Kenyan name 'Wanjiro', at least I think thats how you spell it. Timothy didn't know what it meant though because it is in a different dialect. I told him hopefully it doesn't mean 'Stupid White Person' haha. He said, "Oh, no! It does not mean that." Hmm...

Overall, today was extremely exciting and fulfilling! I could not believe that my prayers were answered regarding God's guidance on this new idea I have about AIDS patients. Even if this door eventually closes, I am encouraged by God's leading. Thank you again for your many prayers. And please keep praying for the people of Mathare and especially Ruth and her family. Blessings on your day!

Bwana Sifiwe? Amen!

Today was my first Sunday here in Kenya and I was invited to go to the Kosovo church which was started in Mathare simultaneously with Missions of Hope in 2000. The people were very friendly of course and the service actually didn't last as long as I was expecting but three hours is still longer than in the US. We had a good deal of praise and worship which was so good! People were dancing and shouting praises to God for his providence and sovereignty. Most of the songs were in Swahili, but some of the verses they would sing in English. I took a video, but for some reason it is not uploading so I will have to try again another time!

After a few long songs, there was a time of testimony were people would come up to the front and share how God had worked in their lives that week. They didn't translate this part which was very disappointing but after every couple sentences or so the person would ask, "Bwana Sifiwe?" or "Praise God?" and the crowd would answer, "Amen!" I was happy to at least take part in that!

One of the visiting teams had someone preach today and there was a translator for the congregation. He preached on hope and made a heartfelt connection with how even though we as Muzugus' (white people) are different from Africans, we still go through hardships and need the hope that Jesus brings. It was an uplifting message based on Mark 5.

An interesting thing happened during the service though. The main pastor, Pastor Joseph, came up to the front and called up another man to stand next to him. The young man was given the microphone and then proceeded to speak about a sin that he had committed and was confessing to. Pastor Joseph made it clear to the congregation that this was a serious subject and that they do not condone it at all, but he made a point to say that the church still welcomed this man to stay in the congregation offering forgiveness. We later found out this man was confessing to having an affair. I was a little surprised but then thankful for having the opportunity to experience what a biblical congregation looks like, not that mine at home is not haha. But confession is a discipline not practiced very often in the States which is sad because it strengthens and unifies the Body. Maybe that is why our churches are falling apart so often...hmm.

Well Kosovo is also a school, so I explored a little bit and went upstairs. This allowed me to get a good view of Mathare, at least in that area. Here are some photos showing the shanty houses.

I have a few more days of orientation before I get to settle into some specific department, so we will see how all that goes! I hope you all enjoy the rest of your Sunday, and I am praying it is a relaxing one for you. God is so good to give us rest :)                    

                                                      

Hygiene and Downtown Excursions

I was really looking forward to today because Leann had asked me if I would like to help her present a personal hygiene powerpoint to three different classes of kids this morning! I have never done anything like that before and I was excited for the new experience. The kids were so great and patient as I made a fool of myself trying to explain to them why we need to use both water and soap to stay clean!

 Leann presented to the first class and I did the second, so I was glad to get some ideas from her before I got up in front of them. We did it in the library and had an interesting time trying to make the room dark but we eventually made it work. Tahia presented to the third class and it was super hilarious because she doesn't know English very well. She used this puppet though and all the kids loved it. She is sooo creative and funny!

Oh! And...I got to drive the KBG for the first time this morning!!!! It was so much fun :) A little nerve-racking just getting used to driving on the other side of the road and trying not to hit people walking, but other than that I had a great time! I got to drive a couple of round-a-bouts too which was a challenge since people are crazy drivers here, but it was good practice. Leann took this photo as we were driving away from the Kamau's house.

But that was not the end of my vehicle adventures today. After Leann, Tahia, and I finished presenting to the kids, we met two other interns at the center so that we could go downtown to explore and eat lunch. We left the van at the center and walked to catch a mutatu which is like a 15 passenger van or sometimes its a larger bus. Public transportation in Kenya can be dangerous, but you just have to watch which one you get in and make sure you get off at the right spot and you should be fine ;) So we made it downtown and looked at some souvenir shops then got some coffee. I had pure mango juice though....which was awesome!! We walked around a little more but then caught another mutatu to be back before dark. Here is a picture of the five of us in the back of one today.

I am still asking many questions and trying to figure out what God is guiding me towards next. I hope to be working in the CHE department this upcoming week so that I can experience what all they do in the community. God is faithful though and shows me things right when I need them. Thank you again for all your prayers and I hope you have a great Saturday!

It Finally Happened...

Well, I honestly should not be surprised. I am a product of my race, generation, and being just plain American. I was reading in one of my books entitled Walking with the Poor by Bryant L. Myers, and I came across a section that slapped me directly in the face.

The section was on capitalism and its affect on the world but the quote goes something like this, "What is wealth for? What are we if we do not have wealth? Who are we if we do not have wealth?" (22). Right when I read these questions my mind jumped to an instance earlier in the day when I was helping Anne (one of the Spiritual Development directors) count Bibles. I seriously remember thinking to myself, "She is probably not as smart as she could be since she is from Africa." WHAT?! Did I really make that prejudicial comment in my head? Thinking back on it, I am pretty embarrassed.

First of all, who am I to judge someone's worth by the place they come from and their background? I recall learning about this in many of my missions classes. Missionaries in the past, and still today, would come into countries believing that they were superior to the people because of their education or wealth or status. I never thought that it would happen to me. But it did, and God has revealed something that many white, middle-class Americans struggle with and don't even realize.

Wealth has absolutely nothing to do with someone's mental capacity. We are all made by the same Creator with the same materials. On the inside, there is nothing different. We each have a brain that functions quite the same as the next person, but when someone is poor, or from a poor country, then oh they must be uneducated and consequently incapable altogether. False.

I am being humbled and I am very grateful. I pray that God humbles you too and begins to crush the debilitating prejudices in your lives as well.

Singing and Dancing!

Well today was quite fun although at first I was a little unsure, mainly because I am not very good with kids, but of course God always has his surprises. One of the groups visiting this week is doing a VBS and today I got to sit in on some of their activities. We had a music time, a craft time, snacks, and games.

The kids were absolutely loving it! Their voices singing the songs were so sweet and innocent! Here is one that they were teaching us...

I counted Bibles the rest of today for the Spiritual Development department and I was glad to help get that task done for them because there was alot. Later, after leaving the center Leann, Tahia, Victory (the Kamau's son) and I went to one of the markets in town to get Tahia a chess board since she loves chess. It was a little overwhelming because you are trying to look around at all of the amazing handmade gifts and people keep coming up to you wanting to bargain and make sure you buy from them. I kept telling them I didn't have any money but I would be back soon. 

So I thought you all would like to see pictures of where I am living, so I snapped some quick photos for you today!

 This is my bedroom that I share with Tahia. I am on the bottom bunk and she is on the bed in front of the window. We have a bathroom in our room which is the door here on the right.

 This is the dining room where we eat breakfast and supper (we eat lunch at the center throughout the week). To the left is our rationing of bottled water since we cannot really drink the water here. Although I have been told I can brush my teeth with the water and it would not make me sick in such small quantities.

 This is the Kamau's house that they just moved into a couple of years ago. They need alot of space for all the people who end up staying here! It has been a blessing being in this house and they have made it very welcoming and warm.









And here is the Kamau's van that we drive everyday. I was also told that I will be expected to drive as well and I should start as soon as tomorrow!! Crazy! Oh and by the way, they call it 'the KBG' and for awhile I had to get used to that since everytime my mind would think instead 'the KGB' which was quite confusing if you know what that is :) you probably all do actually haha.

Today was fun yet tiring, and I should really go do some reading so I will leave you all with this photo that I love. Peace out everyone! :)

A Little History and the Beginning of Friendship

Oh Kenya...how I wish all of you could be experiencing all the little things I encounter and soak in throughout my days here. There is just too much and not enough time! Today was a day full of stories...incredible stories. We were stuck in traffic this morning for about 45 mins so I took the opportunity to get to know Mary Kamau (one of the founders of Missions of Hope and my house mother) by asking her questions. We chatted about many things including some girl talk about how she met her husband, Wallace ;) But what I wanted to know most was how one woman got the courage to start an organization that has grown to help over 1,000 children and their families throughout the Mathare area.

Her answers were very encouraging. She said that when she moved to the city, she saw how many children were in desperate need in Mathare so she just started getting to know the children. The children would then invite her to meet their parents and eventually she began praying with the families if someone was sick or needed money and before she knew it people were coming to Christ. She sought out a nearby church to send the people to and as time when on started a pre-school for 50 children which just grew and grew as more families became interested. The whole time, God was guiding her, providing property and teachers. Her husband, Wallace took care of the logistics and they have been expanding and touching the lives of thousands ever since!

Some of this I also heard in an orientation that I sat in on today for a visiting group. I honestly can't believe how much they are doing! They have schools, micro-finance, AIDS education, child support, and medical care. How great is our God!! And they only officially started in 2000!!!! So encouraging :)

I had no real place to go today once the orientation was over so I just hung out in the CHE office and talked with people. Some of the social workers took their turns teaching me Swahili, but I spent most of my time with Reginah. We have actually gotten really close and she is quite encouraging as well. She loves to laugh, so we laugh together and a funny thing actually happened today. I had my first little language blooper :) I was trying to say that I was going to go to the bathroom, but instead I said I wanted to go take a bath and she looked at me with a weird smile and then started cracking up. We laughed about that for a bit! Here is a quick photo of Reginah and I.

The questions she asks me are quite hilarious though. Like today I told her that I have three dogs and she asked me if I bathe them. I said yes. She looked at me surprised and coolly asked, "Oh so everyday? Like morning and evening?" I said, "Oh no." "Then just once a day?" "No, maybe once every couple of weeks." "Ohhh, naona (I see). Here in Kenya, we do not have dogs as pets. They are dirty. One of the worst insults you can give a person is to call them a dog...so don't call anyone a dog!" And then she started laughing again haha. Her fiance called at that time and she got all giggly, and I poked at her laughing as she blushed. She asked me if I had someone and I blushed so she poked me back...I guess I deserved it. But that is how my afternoon went, just going back and forth laughing. Oh, it was wonderful!

The downtime has been a blessing though like I have said before. It has really given me time to contemplate and think about God's purpose for me and maybe what I have been hindering him from doing in my life. Mary's story really encouraged me, because I feel like I have not dived into any project because of fear. I do not know how I am going to accomplish something and that is what overwhelms me. But I forget that God is on my side and he will lead me to help and provide ways for his work to be done. I do not have to do it all by myself. I am looking forward to getting started on my apprentice project which is something I budgeted for in my find-raising. Each apprentice or intern raises an amount and gets the chance to start a project here that will hopefully be self-sustaining. I have been praying that God sheds light on something for me.

Well that is enough for now. Thank you so much for all your prayers and your comments! I have read the comments and I am glad that you are excited as well :) Love you all!

First Day as a Missionary?

I have been told many times that being a missionary consists of alot of downtime and rushing to get somewhere then waiting for hours. Well I definitely experienced that today. Things were kind of crazy at the center because some groups were visiting and were going through orientation. So most of the day I felt like I was just in the way sitting in the office as women scrambled around me talking quickly in Swahili. It was good though because it gave me time to think and time to build relationships. I definitely have to push myself here to be social and be intentional with people because the language barrier makes things a great deal more difficult. It makes me want to know more Swahili though and I am learning new phrases everyday.

For a couple of hours today my roommate and I helped out in the library at the school. It is very impressive with 8,000 books collected and in use! Phoebe is the librarian and she started the library 3 years ago all by herself. She is very fun! We helped her catalog new textbooks for the children and then put them up on the shelf so they could be used.

After lunch, which was delicious today (we had githeri - that potato/bean stew), Tahia and I had nothing to do so we went to a classroom and Tahia taught them Spanish :) The teacher's name is Josphat and I talked with him about the educational system of both America and Kenya. I really enjoyed it, and the kids totally loved Tahia!

The picture below is of a class on their break time and they are dancing around in a circle. I don't know the name of the song they were singing but there was definitely some sassy little booty shaking going on! It was super cute!                                                        
So although the day was up and down with activity, I did experience new things which is always a blessing. I get time to read and write in my journal occasionally and I was struck by something I found both in a missionary biography I am reading and a passage in Luke 6. I read about Hudson Taylor, a famous missionary to China, being in a sticky situation when God asked him to give the rest of the money left in his name to a sick family. The family asked him for it, and Taylor was reminded of a passage saying, "give to everyone who asks you." Later that day, as I was reading through Luke I came across that very passage, Luke 6:30. I asked myself if I could do that. What are the things in my life that I would not be able to give up? Is it money? Possessions? People I love? What on this earth is worth anything anyway without the hope brought through Jesus? I invite you to think about that too...

The First Mathare Experience

Yesterday was quite an extraordinary experience. I spent most of my time getting to know some of the social workers at the center, and I stayed with one in particular, Reginah. She is responsible for making sure the children are being watched and improving in their schoolwork. If they are having trouble, she makes a visit to the home of the student and yesterday she took me along with her.

I wish I could show you through a picture just what I encountered, but Reginah told me not to take pictures since most of the people do not appreciate it, which is understandable. First of all, the pathways are all narrow and uneven. Most of the time there is laundry hanging right in the middle so you have to duck in order to get through. When you first enter, you pass the sewage flow which is full of trash and reeks of animal and human excrement. People are yelling and children roam around in small groups, most without shoes. Each time I would pass a child they would shout to me, "How are you? How are you?" and then smile waiting for my reply. Some would jump on me and I even had a few rub my arms and reach to touch my braces.

I went to four homes that day, each a unique case. Most of the time I did not understand what Reginah was saying to the mothers, but I could tell when she would get serious and threaten the children with being sent back to nursery if they didn't shape up. Reginah would also remind the parents that their monthly fee is due. The center decided to charge a fee in order for the parents to take part in their child's education.

The slum is not very safe and Reginah was sure to always be behind me, but I came out alive and have been contemplating things ever since. I will definitely be going back into the slum and also in different areas of it. This was only my first time and I have heard that each visits brings with it new surprises.

Day One

Well I got to the house last night about 10:30 p.m. and was offered some delicious food called 'githeri' which is sort of a stew with potatoes, beans, corn, and a floury paste. I really liked it! I met most of the people who will be staying in the house with me, two of them being Wallace and Mary Kamau, the founders of Missions of Hope. Everyone has been extremely welcoming so far and I don't expect that to change because they all seem very genuine.

My roommate, Tahia, is from Chile and actually just starting learning English six months ago! She is frantically diving into Swahili too and so on the way to Pangani where the center is located we were going over different phrases and words. Leann, another intern and I, would sometimes have to translate both in English and Swahili haha.

As we entered Pangani, I asked Leann if this was the slum, and she answered, "No, this is a middle class neighborhood." She told me I would know when I was in the slum, but if I thought Pangani was the slum I have no idea what Mathare will look like! We pulled into the center and I was given a short orientation after being introduced to pretty much everyone who worked in all the departments. Surprisingly, I got to work in the clinic today! It is smaller than I expected with just three rooms: one being the pharmacy, another the front office, and the last a consultation room. There were many points throughout the day when I was doing nothing, but at one point I got the opportunity to fill medicine bottles with antihistamines and cough expectant for the children in the schools. You can't imagine how exciting that was for me! I have been waiting to do something like that for years and I get to do it on my first day!? Crazy.

I am pretty tired and it's been hard to stay awake all day, but I am still chugging along. I have connected well with Leann, one of the other interns, and that has been really awesome. She is actually from Springfield, IL and we have a good deal in common. She is here until May and will then start studying in Chicago to be a physician's assistant in June. She also is big on running so I think we will start running everyday together in the mornings which will be a great outlet.

This is me in my room before heading out for the day. That white drapey thing behind me is a mosquito net. We get to sleep with those over us every night!

This is me with Lillian, who has been a nurse working with Missions of Hope for the past year.

I am so thankful to be able to share all of this with you guys, and I am even more grateful for your prayers! Much love to all of you from over here in Kenya!

THE big day

AHH! So excited!! It came up so quickly that I have barely had time to process it all. I am all packed up after much toil of making sure my bags weighed under the maximum. Don't worry, they are about a pound under ;). I am definitely going to have a time trying to carry it all...builds character, right?

Well the next time you hear from me will probably be in Kenya so farewell United States and hello the real world!

The day before the 'big' day...

Well it's almost 8 o'clock a.m. on the day before I head to Kenya. I still have plenty of things to do, but for some reason I am at peace about it all. Maybe it's because of the many people praying for me, or perhaps because I just woke up ;) I would say both.

I wonder what it is all going to be like. In preparation for my internship, I was mailed a packet of various articles and helpful tips regarding some of the things I will encounter while in a cross-cultural setting. The majority pretty much said that I should prepare to hate the smells, the sounds, the people, and the food at some point but that it should last only a little bit as I adjust from the culture shock. That information is nothing new thanks to Rob Maupin's helpful insights during class! Still, I will probably forget that it's normal for people to endure culture shock and instead make myself believe that I am a terrible person for condemning the rice I have to eat everyday.

Well that is all for now. I should probably finish a paper I've been working on for a week or so...yeah that would be good.

More to come!