connie's profileNapenda Kenya - forever ...PhotosBlogListsMore  |  Tools Help |
Napenda Kenya - forever changed by grace...(this site is best viewed with Internet Explorer) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
May 08 ch...ch...changesWell it's that time again.
That time where everything is very confusing and nothing seems right side up...
You know, that time where you start to squirm but God gives you some perspective
and then when you finally open your eyes and start breathing you see that change is not scary
it's wonderful and exciting... ok, it's still scary!
Here is what is going on.
Not too long ago I found out that AIM is finding it difficult to continue sending teams to the Nairobi area.
I know I've talked about housing costs for me personally but AIM is also feeling the crunch and as a result my future here with them is uncertain.
It has been a challenging thing to think about for various reasons: moving on
and I'll admit it... I shut down any thoughts that arose of the situation for about a week
till I remembered that I'm supposed to be an adult and no one else is going to solve my problems for me.
No one but God... but thank goodness He calls us to act on our faith...
can you imagine how lazy I would be?
anyways..... ;)
down to the nitty gritty
I have been researching some other organizations that are working in Kenya and specifically the Nairobi area.
My priorities have been looking for canadian and international organizations
and as you probably all know, I love video production... so I've also been looking for any media ministry opportunities.
well, I'm praying this is where God wants me because I have found something amazing.
A brand new branch of African Inland Mission called On-Field Media
Their team is small, their office is 5 minutes from my apartment here in Nairobi and their focus is glorifying God through film, graphics, writing and web design.
not only that, but the canadian office is about 20 minutes from my mum's house
It all sounds too good and I am actively finding out more about them, even as I type this.
I'm not limiting myself however,
and will continue to look elsewhere until I have found my place and pray as I do
because I want to be sure that I am not just rushing into anything that I was not designed for.
I am certain that wherever God leads me will be the best and only place for me.
and I can't wait to find out where that is!
My time with Adventures in Missions has been great!
So great in fact that I don't want to leave Nairobi and I still feel called to full time missions.
Right now I need prayer for peace, trust in the Lord's timing and support.
If this is where I'm supposed to be, I'll need to start raising support all over again.
which is intimidating and exciting all at the same time.
I want to thank all my supporters... financial, prayer and encouraging...
I seriously would not be here without you
and I love love LOVE it here. April 10 A Poem: Africa AFRICA
Africa! Africa! Africa!
Who gave you the name Africa?
Is it God, animal or man?
Why is it you are known as a 3rd world country or developing country,
not developed country!
Is it because of poverty, war, famine or flood?
Sudan and Somalia ever fighting among themselves,
no benefit they are gaining!
Children and women are always crying with agony in their camps.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we have prostitutes
and that is why we are dying like chickens
with this killer disease known as HIV/AIDS.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we lack land!
That is why we stay like elephants in groups.
Or is it we don't know how to build, that is why we stay in slums
like Kibera and Soweto.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Or is it because we lack education?
That is why we give birth in our early ages
and increase the population hence decreasing food.
Why are we giving birth like fish in the water?
Africa, who gave you the name?
Let's stand like Africans and join our hands together
to built our continent.
What we need is peace and love.
Let's live like a family.
Africa, who gave you the name?
Written by Oliver Omondi
Age 15 Oliver ReturnsToday was a good day!
I got news that Oliver had arrived in Nairobi while I was away in Othaya so I called up his neighbor and arranged a visit.
I haven't seen Oliver since spring of 2007, though I talk to him on the phone regularly, so I was anxious to finally see him again.
 I got to the house mid morning and sat and sat and sat.
Four times, someone was sent to fetch him but still he wasn't coming.
It wasn't until I asked that I was told he refused to see me without showering first.
Kenyans love to be presentable...
He finally arrived and I was surprised to see that he is nearly as tall as me now.
15 years old and he is a handsome young man.
It took about 10 minutes for him to remember that he is indeed not shy and after the giggle subsided, the original Oliver finally emerged.
He started by asking many questions the way he does on the phone. We then talked about his writing and the newborn triplets back home.
He brought his book with him. I had asked him to bring his stories so that I could read them.
I will share one of his poems with you in the next entry.
We took some photos and he asked about Narnia.
I had sent him the first book of the Chronicles of Narnia and he finished it in about 4 days.
I mentioned that there was a movie made and he hadn't forgotten.
We will watch it together with the other boys on Monday.
Unfortunately I had to leave not long after but we walked back to the road together and said goodbye for the weekend.
It's good to see him. I'm praying that him living in the country is not hindering his education.
He has so much talent it's sad to think that it could go un-noticed, or even worse, get lost in a life spent in toil and struggle for survival. April 01 TeddyWe partner with a pre-school called Miracle and Victory Centre.
It is run by a good friend named Monica and she has been taking in small kids from the community who aren't schooled for 3 years now (since I was here last)
Lately the funding for the school has run out but Monica still does her best to provide education and one meal a day for these kids.
God has really been working in this place and we are praying for more finances, somehow.
Onto Teddy...
Teddy, or pastor Teddy as everyone calls him, is about 6 or 7 years old.
He has this larger than life personality and pushed his peers to use their manners while never being without his own.
He is gentle, unlike most of the fighters in that age group, and kind. He often shares his snacks with the other kids when he gets them.
Last week, on a Thursday, Teddy was burning up.
I brought him to the window to sit with me because there was a nice breeze coming through.
It was very evident that Teddy had a high fever.
Monica told me that he had had a fever the day before as well.
Regardless, Teddy was still encouraging the kids to share with each other and singing songs as he lounged on my lap.
Saturday I got a phone call from Monica.
She told me that on Friday she sent Teddy home because of his fever.
Teddy's mum told Monica that she couldn't afford to take him to the doctor so Teddy just stayed home.
Saturday morning Monica got some news that she was now relaying to me....
Teddy passed away.
Everyone was very shaken up by this, understandably.
No child should ever have to lose their life because of a doctors fee that would be equivalent to less than $4US.
I don't doubt for a minute that his mother really didn't have the money, but this price to pay is completely unfair.
Teddy is the second child to die in that pre-school in 3 months. The other girl, whom I did not know, I'm sure died from similar circumstances.
Poverty.
This place needs prayer.
Please remember people like Teddy in your prayers.
(I will try to find a picture of Teddy to post here.)
drip, drip, nadaThere has been a seriously long drought in Kenya.
The rainy season was supposed to start over a month ago and the land is so dry that the forests and mountains are catching on fire.
The drought affects everything here: crops, water consumption, flocks and herds, economy, real estate... you name it
When I got back from Uganda there was no water at our apartment
2 weeks went by, not a drop in the place.
At one point there was a faucet working on the ground floor so I filled up 4 buckets...
the toilet hadn't been flushed for three days.
we weren't prepared for this... silly white people.
my landlord's wife offered me one jerrycan of water.
and then one day last week the water came on in one tap for a few hours.
My roommate filled as many buckets as she could.
A few days ago it started raining... it now rains/pours pretty much every day which is awesome.
I just got a call from my roomate a few minutes ago, after 16 days we have full water back.
Even the shower is working.
Now it's time to get some serious cleaning done. |
Thanks for visiting!
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Send a private message
Subscribe to RSS feed
Tell a friend
Add to My MSN
Add to your network
Sign up for alerts
|
|
