Settling in/El Shaddai Orphanage

Jambo! The money’s exchanged; the Kenya trip first-timers have been indoctrinated into the world of Stoneys, Krests (both ginger ale-type drinks), and pineapple Fantas; and we’ve all taken in the sounds, sights, and smells of urban Africa. Today marked our first day—an easy one—of activities. We headed with Silas and Rahab to visit friends at the El Shaddai orphanage, near Limuru.

Along the road we saw several coffee plantations. It was downright overwhelming to think how many of these plants and people it takes to produce that shiny bag of beans we see on a shelf at the store. We took apart a few Arabica coffee fruits and marveled at how much these do not smell like coffee. J We also stopped briefly to check out the plants on a tea plantation. While we were stopped, a large group of children came up over the hill on their way home from school. Fist bumps, “howahyous” all around. They were super cute. Only the first of the Kenyan children that we’ll be blessed to spend time with this week and next.

We headed on to El Shaddai, which was just past Limuru. We met the founder, Lydia, and she gave us a history of this home for 30 boys who formerly lived on the streets. Julie later explained that we get caught up in semantics sometimes in the U.S.—“orphan” in this case generally means “unwanted.” These kids might be single or double orphans (having lost one or both of their parents), but they might also simply be shrugged off by their parents and left to fend for themselves, or running wild because of dysfunctional family units who don’t stress the importance of school or responsibility. Lydia told stories of several boys at the home who have gone from displaying destructive habits to performing well in school and changing dramatically in their behavior, but she stressed the road to rehabilitation is far from easy or short.

The boys began trickling home from school as we toured the home. They immediately set to work washing their school uniforms, feeding the rabbits, etc. Then we had a chance to play with them in the courtyard. Tennis balls, bubbles, and the soccer ball we brought them were all put to good use. Hannah, Jill, Christina, and Zadie had the tennis ball games going. Charlotte was barefoot, playing soccer. Christy, Ellen, Julie, and I floated from activity to activity. Personally, I enjoyed the bubbles.

We had a time of presentation—the boys sang, danced, and performed skits. Each told his life verse and what he hopes to be when he grows up. Future engineers, an astronaut, a handful of pilots, and at least one president sat among this lively—and wicked smart—group of boys. We each spoke to the group, sharing the same information about ourselves and some words of encouragement.

After several blessings—at least one sung (Julie was requested to sing!)--and a quick song distraction :-), we settled in for a meal with our new friends before some more playtime in the courtyard and heading back to Nairobi. Navigating a traffic jam and a torrential downpour were among our evening activities, but we’re all safe and settled in this evening.

Arrived and Acclimating

After 32 hours of airports, planes, etc., we arrived in Nairobi last night around 11:30, and at the ACK Guesthouse this morning at around 12:30 a.m. A couple of the advantages of having a late plane: Most of the customs officials have gone home, and then there's the absence of Nairobi traffic jams. We were able to get home fairly quickly after a Tetris-like game of getting the suitcases in to the van (kudos to Silas and Livingstone for their skill and strength).

Stunned a little by the fact that we were back to four-wheeled transportation, I took in the bright billboards, the worn path by the highway (that seemed strangely empty--it's usually bustling with activity), and listened to Julie filling everyone in about guest house logistics and our plans for the days ahead. The team joked about how for a bit it seemed like I was driving--truthfully, it is a little odd for the first five minutes or so as a front-seat passenger in a country that drives on the left side of the road.

We dispersed to our various rooms, knowing we'd reconvene at breakfast over mango juice, eggs, and tea. Zadie and I have the front room in the guest house for the next two nights, so we hear a lot of the outside activity--footsteps, talking, cars idling, alarms sounding, and unfamiliar bird calls. Oh yes, I love me some earplugs. :-) Familiar were the sounds of crickets and some humid air.

As we turned in, the guest house light spilled in around the curtains, illuminating our mosquito nets. The reality of being in Kenya has set in.

Today we're heading out to a boys' orphanage near Nairobi. Among the things we're taking with us are a soccer ball and some scratch art supplies.

As everyone adjusts to the new time zone (and tries to remember important details such as taking malaria medication and brushing teeth with bottled water), we covet your prayers.

Two Days!

So it's two days 'till go time. It's raining here in Lexington, and according to Julie, it's been raining some in Nairobi, too! Something about the events coinciding makes the upcoming trip more real, vivid, and tactile to me. She's been nibbling on cabbage and chipati (unleavened flatbread), and in association with this experience learned the phrase, "I tamu," which means "It's delicious!"

(I'll admit that I find myself a little nervous about the food this time around, as I've become gluten-sensitive. It's sad, because I love me some chipati. I'm packing a lot of protein-packed snacks that my body is used to, and my fellow team member, Zadie, is doing the same! I know I will get some concerned Kenyan glances when skipping over the food, but I'll learn a phrase to explain why, and I'll get used to the scenario.

Julie says she's going to contact a few on the team with some packing tips after having gone through customs this time. She noted each of us might want to pack a tiny umbrella on account of the rain, which comes down hard and fast before disappearing quickly.

We found out this morning that we'll get to visit another orphanage while in Kenya, and that we'll also have an opportunity to visit the Masaii. After meeting Leah, a Masaii woman about my age on my last visit, I am looking forward to having this opportunity.

Off to church, American-style. I'll take it all in so that I can fully reflect on Kenya church next Sunday.

"Dadas" in Kenya

Our team is a week away from its departure to Nairobi. Nine strong, our team has backgrounds varying from college pupil to seminary student to marketing guru to music ministry assistant.

In the initial stages of our trip planning, we were dubbed the Good Shepherd group because the Good Shepherd orphanage in Nyaharuru is our main destination in Kenya. So, why “dadas”? Our missions pastor, Julie, explained early in the trip that dadas means “sisters” in Swahili, and as our trip formed, she started calling us dadas in our trip e-mails. The transformation made sense, because as the group got to know one another, we truly began to form a sort of sisterhood—one that I anticipate will grow as we travel together.

Here are some basics on the trip, for you who are just learning about it or for those who need a refresher:

• We depart to visit our friends in Kenya on July 28, arriving the evening of July 29. Julie will already be there, hanging out with two of our friends in Nairobi who have spent time with us at Centenary.
• After a few days settling into Nairobi and assisting our friends with their projects in Nairobi, we’ll head by van north to Nyaharuru, which is a town about three hours north.
• We’ll spend time visiting with the children of the Good Shepherd Home, their guardians, and the gentleman who oversees the orphanage, Simon.
• Activities planned for the kids include Scripture-themed crafts, singing, sports/activities, and we hope to simply express to them/remind them of their worth and God’s love for them.
• We’ll have some sessions educating the young women on health issues such as HIV prevention, and just answering questions about health that they might not feel comfortable asking. (Our nurse on the team will be helping us guide those discussions.)
• Same with the women who also care for these children: We hope to serve as encouragers for these women and several team members will be teaching some cooking classes, guiding some sessions on training in grief counseling (they deal with grief a lot, on account of the losses due to AIDS and other illness).

Ultimately, we just want to be available on this trip, for whatever God might have for us in our connections there.

The team was commissioned yesterday, we pack this week, and off we’ll go. I will try to provide as frequent updates as I’m able during this time via this blog, and we’d appreciate your prayers as we head out next week.