Recent news from my life in Kenya

This was just sent out this week to my network of supporters on email. If you would like to be added to that list (I send something about once every other month or so) please let me know in a comment, along with your email.

OK, so this e-news is about much more than safari like you think of safari at home. However, ‘safari’ means ‘journey’ and I am on quite the journey! I’m traveling all over the country and learning so much. Hopefully I’m teaching a bit as well.

I hope to have a newsletter out by the end of the month with more specific work here. If you are not on the snail mail list and would like to be please let me know what your snail mail address is and I’ll get you on the list.

Much thanks and many blessings to each of you.

Godspeed, Amy Achieng Mwende (my two most used Kenyan names)


----------------------------------


Figure 1: Amy and Alice trying to dance with Maasai women from the boma we visited at the Maasai Mara in September.

Greetings from Maasailand!

I haven’t sent out an email since my return to Kenya in July. It has been crazy-busy and great, but that is no excuse for not updating you on the work and my life here in Kenya. Please allow me a few minutes to try and do so. I should also have a newsletter coming out this month for more information (and there’s always my blog at www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com! Don’t forget to leave me a note, too.)

I have had several visitors and volunteers since my return. Last month there was a volunteer here working on writing stories for the Embrace AIDS campaign. Watch for stories coming from East Africa written by Kristen Nowicki. She’s had some great experiences and will have a variety of things to share. You can read her blog at www.kristennowicki.blogspot.com. At the same time one of my colleagues, Alice, from the Burlington, Ontario, office was here so we headed out to the Maasai Mara for a quick safari. If you get a chance to come, please plan for a bare minimum of two nights and a week if you can afford it. AMAZING!


Figure 2: A Maasai woman bargaining with me for a fair price on these bracelets for the Southlawn third graders. The table is made from manure, just like their homes.

Figure 3: Within the first thirty minutes of our plane landing on the Mara we saw our first lion pride. This cub just ignored us, and I was OK with that.

Figure 4: The Wildebeest Migration is one of the Eight Wonders of the New World. We were on the Mara during the migration but not the right side of the reserve (which is huge), so this giant train of zebras was really as close as we got to see the great migration.

Figure 5: It was amazing to see God's creatures so close to us and we prayed that they didn't get hungry.

Figure 6: The Maasai are known for their nomadic life, following the grazing land for their cattle; for keeping many of their traditions, including their clothing whether they are in the boma or downtown Nairobi; and for the men's awesome standing vertical jump.

Figure 7: Many people in African countries that are born with a disability are ignored and shunned by their culture. I was encouraged and blessed to see this young man on the far left openly welcomed and encouraged to be an active part of the daily life that we saw during our visit.


Figure 8: Kenyan and American friends playing Kumiliki on my floor. I lost big-time, but learned where several areas of Nairobi are located and what they are called.

I finally broke down and bought a game I’ve had my eye on for the last six months. I realized it was never going to go on sale and the people that would most appreciate and enjoy it are living here with me. It’s called Kumiliki and is a Nairobi version of Monopoly. It is great fun! I’ve played it several times. This past week I even played with a friend and her eleven-year-old. It’s a cultural lesson as you realize not everyone knows what it means to ‘roll the dice.’ It’s ‘toss’ or ‘throw’ the dice. It’s not ‘minus’ but ‘take-away’ when you are subtracting for change with a child.




Figure 9: Many areas outside of Nairobi are considered malaria-zone. My policy is if there is a net provided I sleep under it. It can get warm, but it's better to have a restless night than malaria.

Before Alice, Kristen and I headed to the Mara we were in Western Region visiting one of our partners. It was a good trip but also quite difficult. I have a posting on my blog regarding the difficulties and encourage you to read it – “They’re Out.” The morning of our departure we drove straight into a riot in Kisumu town. We were fine but it was definitely unnerving. It was strange to have made it through the post-election violence and then be involved in a riot eight months later. Please, check my blog and feel free to ask any questions you may have. I want to thank Andy Ryskamp, the US CRWRC Director, who God placed in Kenya at the same time as this event. Andy debriefed the three of us and was a blessing to each of us. Just another example of how God provides. I am ever-humbled by His provision for me.

The trip was so much more than just that riot though. God showed us some awesome things about our work, culture and agriculture – amaranth, honey and sugar cane.



Figure 10: A trailer filled with sugar cane on its way to the factory. Much is lost along the way and the farmer is paid by weight that is measured only once the trailer arrives at the factory.

Figure 11: One of the communities that we visited was utilizing the reeds growing nearby as an IGA (Income Generating Activity). This man is making a table that our partner staff purchased for his home.

Figure 12: These pins are made by many of our partners. Everywhere you travel in Kenya you will find people who are infected or affected by HIV and AIDS. This is a reminder to break the stigma and embrace with love and help all of God's children.

Figure 13: This woman was eager to share her story of how CRWRC, through our partner, was helping not only her, but her children and community. It’s humbling to hear such stories. You can read her story on my blog under “Sex vs. Agriculture.”

Figure 14: Chai, or tea, is an important part of Kenyan culture and you are often offered chai wherever you go. It is part milk and part water boiled and steeped with tea. Sugar is added, one or two spoons, to the steaming hot mixture and then everyone enjoys time together in fellowship.

Figure 15: This Muslim man was the only man present in one of our meetings. As the women talked of the men's behaviors he sat quietly until we asked him to respond. He agreed and talked of the pressures that are prevalent in the culture for men.


Figure 16: Recycling hits a high point. This purse is made from recycled bottle tops and wire. Kevin makes all sorts of great things while trying to protect the earth and recycling. The purses are common but he added the fabric so that they are easier to use without losing things through the holes. He has also taken old newspapers and made them into awesome gift bags of all sizes.

September brought the annual EAMT (East Africa Ministry Team) meeting. Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya staff gathered for a couple of days of meetings. We were then joined for the latter part of the week for some great environmental training, lead by a local NGO, one of our consultants from CRWRC – Tanzania and a staff member from the Burlington office. If you are interested in some of the things we discussed, I encourage you to talk with any of the staff in this region that you may know. You can also look up Care of Creation Kenya that led part of our training. One of the consultants led a discussion of what Scripture says about stewardship of the land God has given to us. It was awesome and such a blessing!

Some of us were so excited and talking about all of the ways that we can individually help our offices and partners make improvements, and we started talking about all sorts of IGAs. Our conversation continued as we walked into a mall on our way home and into a fair trade shop. That’s where we saw these awesome gift bags made from old newspapers and where I started a relationship with Kevin, the creator. It’s amazing how God brings people and ideas together.

This is only a small look into my work and life here in Kenya since July. I will try and keep in better touch.

I’d love to hear from all of you. Have a great fall!

Rejoice in the Lord, Amy in Africa

www.rubyslipperlady.wordpress.com

PO BOX 66490
Westlands
00800 Nairobi
Kenya

blog updates

I try to go through here periodically and shake things up a bit. You know, check to make sure all the links are still working, etc. So I've moved things around, added a slide show and other such funness. (funness?)

Have a great day my friends! I bought four Kenyan films today and that's instore for this weekend. WE'll see. this weekend is actually the third annual KIFF - Kenyan International Film Festival. This is how I may celebrate since I can't find a schedule anywhere. bummer.

SHOPPING!

As the holidays are approaching I wanted to share two of my fave places to shop.

The first is my sis, RubesDesigns. She makes everything herself and rocks the planet. She even has some fun jewelry made from beads that I have sent her from Kenya. Look under the Kitengela section for most of those. Fun, huh!

The second is my friend, Jackie, and her Gifts on a Mission. She lives in Atlanta and travels to Kenya to get to know artisans and pay them a fair wage for their product. She then gives a portion of her profits to a children’s home in Lodwar, which is in northern Kenya. She has beautiful things and I’ve also met some of her vendors.

I really encourage you to check out each of these sites and make some purchases. Look for something unique to give this holiday – you, and those you give to, will not be disappointed, I promise.

The move

Well, the move is bigger than anticipated. I will not be moving into this great apt closer to all of my life. Instead, I, ummm, well, I uh, I am moving to . . .





Africa.


Yup, found out yesterday. I don't have all the answers by any stretch and will fill you in as I get more info but this is what I know, my FAQ if you will (thanks for that idea, Carrie!).


Amy's Africa FAQ

1. WHAT?!!?
I know, I've said this numerous times myself. I've always had a part of my heart desiring to serve God in ministry overseas, I just never expected that it would be in Africa. I don't know anything about Africa really. Serious. Nothing.

2. Um, then why are you going?
Valid question that I have asked myself more than once. Two main reasons. Amazing position and more importantly, God said to Go.

3. So what's this 'amazing position' of which you speak?
Thanks for asking, friends and neighbors. I will be working with Christian Reformed World Relief Committee - CRWRC - (from my church denomination). I'm going to be what they call a bridger and it couldn't be a more perfect job for me. I will be working with the home office here in the States to help them better prepare the volunteers that will be coming to Kenya. I will work with the partner organizations where the volunteers will be places upon their arrival. I will also work with the volunteers upon their arrival for some final orientation and then follow-up with the partner organizations once the volunteers leave. It's a hope that this hwill help eliminate some cultural problems that have been happening over the last couple of years.

4. You say you're going with your church denomination, does this gig pay or do you have to raise your own financial support?
Funny you should ask. CRWRC is providing a match for what I raise. I will need to raise 10-15k. They are providing fabo training (3 months prior to arrival at my destination along with housing me with a local family until I figure things out there) and other things. If you would like to be a part of my support team, just let me know and I'll get you the details.

5. You keep saying Africa but you can't honestly be going to live everywhere, it's a big continent, not like, oh, say Austrailia.
You are right. I will be based out of Nairobi, Kenya and should arrive there around September.

6. When do you leave then?
I will leave in late June or early July to start three weeks of training at Echo ( I think this is the correct site) in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. I then head to Senegal and Mali before heading over to Kenya. It is a 12-month assignment from the time I leave for training.

5. Are you excited or scared?
I want to jump for joy and throw up all at the same time. It's awesome in so many different ways but terrifying, too. It's a long way from everything and everyone that I know and love and yet, what I believe I'm supposed to do now.

6. Where will you lay your pretty little head to sleep until you desert us all?
I have confirmed that I can stay in my current apt. until the end of April when my lease ends. After that I have at least one friend who will let me dwell in her basement for a wee bit. The place I was going to move into will refund most of my deposit if they can rent the place out by the end of the month. Yea! (They are showing it tonight!)

7. Didn't you just start a new job? What about that?
I have been in my current position almost three weeks as of today. I took this job for a few reasons: like the people, the job and there's the large factor that no other job had been offered to me in my year-and-a-half of searching. The Africa conversation began in Nov. and just didn't seem to me to be solidifying at all. When I accepted this position I made no commitment, verbal or written, as to how long I would stay.

8. Wait a minute. Are you an addict? What are you going to do about all that fabo scrapbooking stuff that you sell?
You are right. I love to scrapbook and I hope to get a whole lot done prior to my departure. I will also be trying to sell my stock and will make one final huge order. I will be ordering several digital packages for the Storybook for myself to do while I'm in Africa. That will be the easiest way to make those albums. I may need to make one upon my return for the memorabilia, we'll see.

9. What will we do without your amazing, although lately quite spotty, blog entries?
Never fear, I will have regular acess and a digital camera.


I know that there are more questions and more things to tell, but I'm at work and really must do some work now.

Sometimes I just have to say to myself, "Africa? Really, God? Wow. OK."