Sam

I feel compelled to tell you about my Kenyan friend, Sam. Sam is a graphic designer and quite talented too, but I often really struggle to figure him out. I can't ever tell if he's being serious or not. We're kind of alike in many ways, the whole art brain thing for one. And apparently, I we both have melancholic personalities, based on some philosopher's theories. I just learned this term last week but I really fit the description well. It sounds like it would mean I'm sad all the time. But actually it's more of characteristics such as: a perfectionist, moody, hard working, trustworthy, etc. Quite the good mixed with lots of not so good things. In any case, Sam needed to borrow my camera for a job he's doing. I met him this morning to give it to him. And then he tells me he knows how Americans love chocolate and that he wanted to show me this place. He took me to this little bakery a few blocks from the office. He told me this whole story about how he stopped by this shop one day and asked to taste the cake. He was dressed very "shabby" as he put it, and the lady wanted him to pay first. But he said the money will come (Um this computer, just totally logged off for a minute and I thought everything was lost. I threw my hands up to my face and all these kenyans were laughing. but everything is still here, no retyping, Hallelujah!) okay, so the money will come but he wanted to taste the cake first. so he tried about 5 pieces of cake and was telling her how it was amazing and that it melts in your mouth. and he did pay her. but then he told her that her advertising (the sign in front of her shop that another designer made) really wasn't doing justice to her business. which is really true. it's rather boring and blah. so then he is asking her all kinds of questions about the business and what else she does. and basically that he wants to offer his services for free to help get her business up and running until she could actually make money to pay him. It's so cool the way he really wants to help people succeed and doesn't expect anything in return. he always is telling me stories of how he gets to know people first and then really tries to see what their needs are and how he can help them. such a servants heart. he does everything for our organization for free and he spends hours doing it. i hope this inspires and encourages you like it does me.

i found out this weekend that a Kenyan girl that volunteers with my organization has AIDS. I was so taken aback by this. she is my age, and her mom died last year of AIDS and her dad is an alcoholic. she lives in Mithare, another slum, and has hardly anything. but i would have never known any of this because she has this unshakable faith. when we had prayers early in the morning before camp, she was always there early and praying with such fervor. i suppose she must have to trust God with all of her heart b/c she has nothing else to lean on. she also teaches preschool but i guess she doesn't even get paid for that either. she has told me how she loves to write and draw. i think she is sick a lot, but she's never said anything to me about having AIDS. I cannot believe her incredible spirit in spite of everything. i should have known that something is wrong b/c her legs are so so skinny but her stomach is bigger...i think results of being sick. Sarah said she was so surprised to see her here this summer b/c she got really sick last year and everyone thought she was going to die.

Rosie, Stewart, and I were talking about all of the underlying problems in the slums last night. Apparently, friendship and trust are virtually non existent there. No one trusts each other and therefore no one builds deep friendships. imagine not knowing how to make friends. and a lot of these people really struggle with knowing how to have a conversation. like these girls from camp that i saw yesterday. they'll call you on the phone, but they have nothing to say. or they'll say, i just wanted to tell you good morning and have a good day. i know they really want friends. i can go and spend time with them, which i'm fine with doing, but i also know that they need to learn to build friendships amongst themselves b/c i won't be here forever. it's so wierd b/c for some reason these people tend to trust us (the MSTs) coming in. i don't know if they think we can help or if it's just because there are no underlying tribal issues amongst us. i think this whole country is suffering from a lack of trust. everytime i watch the news, over half of it is about corruption issues in the government. yesterday the government came in to evict 200 families from their houses somewhere in Nairobi. their rent had been raised and they couldn't pay it. the people refused to leave, and the military were letting off tear gas (i think) everywhere. it was a horrible thing to watch on the news. but i'm also seeing that this lack of trust in people is making people more willing to trust in God b/c there is virtually nothing else. so it is true that God uses even bad situations to bring about good.

i'm now the only mst in the house. it's funny b/c victor called me this morning and said he was sending Jane, his girlfriend and a girl on our team, to go along with me this week with whatever i'm doing. victor is taking a 3 day prayer vacation with God somewhere. and he said, "i'm really worried about you. i don't want you to be all by yourself all week." i thought that was very thoughtful that people are looking out for me. and jane is a cool gal, so it'll be good.

by the way, if you're one of these people that is printing out this novel here that i've been writing the last 9 weeks, can you please save the hard copy for me. i'd like to keep it when i get home. thanks!