Teaching in Kibera

Huge praise everyone--I finally slept most of the night. Such a relief. I think my body is finally adjusting to African time. Today we went to the slums again, I've been there the last 3 days. We got to teach there in the schools. First I taught a math lesson with some of the other MSTs. Yes, me the art teacher, was teaching about area of a triangle. It's difficult b/c the wall separating each class is not really an entire wall. And so you have to shout at the top of your lungs when you ask the kids anything. Instead of raising their hands they snap at you and say teacher. i also got to teach part of the Christian education class. We taught about prayer. Everything is very last minute. you don't know what you'll be doing until right before it starts. and usually there is no other teacher in the room. i was so humbled today b/c i was giving out pencils to the kids who gave an answer, and i had one left. The teacher asked if she could have it. seriously, they have nothing here. it's a bit tricky giving out stuff though. we are told by are leaders that we have to give things out more as an incentive for answering questions. otherwise, people will constantly harass you and ask for money. especially since i'll be here a while. we went to a kindergarten school after this, and it seemed a little bit nicer. they actually had the ABC's sewn onto burlap and hanging on the wall and other such "posters" like that. and we fed the kids rice and beans, which i think is a huge meal for them. everytime you walk through the slums the kids say how are you? and their voice goes up at the end. i truly feel like a celebrity.

i had ethiopian food for lunch. it comes on this huge tray. there is injera on the bottom, which looks like a thin sponge, the thickness of tortillas. maybe it's made with eggs and flour? and then all these meat and vegetable topping sit on it. you share it with everyone and rip off the injera and dip it in the toppings. very good. and speaking of food, i forgot to mention that there's a chicken living in our kitchen at the house. yes, it's true. i guess most weekends we run out of water in the sink and toilet. so you have to take a pan and dip it out of the extra water supply outside. but no worries it is back on again. it is truly amazing how much people really rely on God here to take care of them because they have few material possessions.

yesterday we went to church. it was 3 hours long, as i heard it would be. one person spoke in swahili and the other would say the same thing in english. they shout the message, which is very hard to get used to. the team has gotten to lead some worship songs several times now. i think the kenyans crack up seeing these americans jump around on the stage and try to dance. i love that their worship is so dance oriented too. they really know how to have fun and are so genuinely nice. after church there was another service for young adults about dating. they are really targeting this i think b/c of the aids problem here. but a bunch of little kids came to and i entertained them by giving them paper and crayons. it was so cool watching them draw. and their motor skills are actually pretty good considering. one boy drew an amazing picture of one of the buses here. i took a photo to show you all. i'm so excited that God is giving me a few opportunities to use my art background here.

so much more to tell but must go. i'll be on safari from wednesday until friday. can't wait to tell you about it.

I'm Here

So this is my 2nd full day here, and it has been quite an overload. Not bad, just a lot to take in. I'm living with a family and they have a son, Baraka. There are about 10 MSTs (ministry support team...people like me) that are also living there and sometimes other kenyas too, so i'd so there are about 15 people in a very small town house. there are 5 beds in my room, about the size of my room in my harrison apartment. the food has been good, and so far i don't feel sick. so some culture shock: first the shower situation. There is a large bucket and a pitcher to pour water on your head. apparently other MSTs wash their hair about twice a week. so a little like camping. other crazy hilarious thing are the mitatus (buses). they have american singer stickers all over them and play very very loud rap music. there are about 16 people in a mini sized van. yesterday i got in one and kent (another MST) and I got to hear some song that went i am a fat boy but i can move like mariah carey. fa, fa, fa, fat. so yes it was slightly disturbing but very hilarious. and there was a music video screen directly in front of my face. i could not stop laughing.

today we went to kibera slum. the kids there are so cute but have nothing. most are barefoot and there clothes are all torn. it's sad to see but you mostly accept the poverty because it is so common. even away from the slums it is extremely dirty and trash everywhere. i blew my nose last night and the snot was black from all the filthy air. gross yes but true. the dirtiness isn't really bothering me that much now though b/c everyone else is living in such bad conditions that i can't complain. we fed the kids bread and butter sandwiches and sang worship songs to them.

i am on information overload from learning swahili. i'm going to try to keep a notebook b/c it is good to know basic things to talk to people. most know english, but they switch back and forth as they talk. half the time we are in the schools or churches i have no idea what is going on.

i know there is so much more to tell, but i'm exhausted and it's probably 8 p.m. and i have not had dinner. we eat late here. keep the prayers coming. for the people and strength and encouragement for me. the msts here are very nice but most are leaving in a few weeks and more will come, so that will be a challenge constantly building relationships.

Only 2 More Days!

Yes, that's right...2 days! I have become famous recently after a long article about me in the Brookville paper. I like to joke that nothing happens in B-ville, so they write about the people who leave. Although, this has been a pretty exciting week around here with the Bicentennial. The entire street was closed off on Friday, with a stage built across it. Pretty fun, and Kutless will be here tomorrow.

Julie (all dressed up in her hoop skirt)
and I at Bicentennial

I have been cramming everything into my suitcases in the last few days. I really think if they open them in airport security, they won't get them closed again. Weighing them is always tricky (I like the stand on the scale method with the suitcase and subtract your weight--is that accurate?), and I had to do some rearranging because one was at least 85 lbs! But 1 bag is clothes and the rest is cool stuff for the kids.

I have begun to get very excited. And finally a little nervous too. I have become very antsy and unable to sleep in the morning. I'm ready to just get on that plane. I'm sitting here listening to an old Hope College Chapel CD, and it reminds me of the places I've been and things that are to come, much of which were dreams planted in my heart back in the Hope days. Tim Brown is telling me to "Get up, get outta here, and go be a Gospel...you may be the only Bible that some people ever read, the only Gospel that some people ever experience. So let your text be read well and your Gospel experienced deeply." Great words to live by. And speaking of Hope, I had a wonderful 4 days seeing college friends in Michigan last week. Even though we are spread out, I am always grateful for their continued friendship, love, and support.

Me, Vic, Jen, and Heather at a cottage in Northern Michigan

Saying Good Bye

Wow...I can't believe I've been a real teacher now for 2 years and am having to say goodbye to a school full of wonderful students and staff. Yesterday was a bittersweet day. Check out all these messages on my board from my students. I am so excited for this next step in my life and can't wait to see God mold and use me for his glory. But I know it will be hard too, to not come back to such a supportive school. I really haven't cried yet. I think it hasn't hit me that this is permanent, or maybe that's just a sign that I'm really taking the leap in the right direction.