oh kenya, oh kenya

you know you're in rural Kenya...

• when church starts 30minutes later than 'planned'...and when it can go several hours past the 'planned' end time with no complaints
• when the attending doctor meets you 2hours past a scheduled visit...leaving a Canadian medical student with his limited Swahili to 'do medicine' by himself
• when doing things 'on time' doesn't exist...have a meeting with a Kenyan at 1pm? Well, in his mind, it's ok to take a nap and meet you at 3pm instead (without a phone call or warning) because as long as you EVENTUALLY meet up then it's all good!
• when saying 'yes' to help is more acceptable than displaying independence...
• when roosters wake you up every morning; and guess what? They have NO snooze button. Every morning it makes me wonder what roosters would taste like in a stir-fry... ;-)
• when you're excited to have electricity and running water for a whole day...and although I really enjoy having the mood lighting that candles produce, sometimes the whole 'showering with 200ml of water' can be a bit challenging... and smelly for others... ;-)...I call it 'splash showers'!
• when the food menu is the same for every single day of the week:
• bread and tea for breakfast
• beans and rice for lunch
• ugali, nyama and sukuma for supper
• when your main mode of transportation are Nissan vans or pick-ups (matatus) that break every law possible by:
• driving way over the speed limit
• going over the passenger allowance per vehicle (imagine a van crammed with ~25people inside...with 10+ more people dangling from the roof or sides of the vehicle)
• providing no seat belts
• playing chicken with oncoming traffic in hopes that the other driver will veer off to the side (remember my previous post that mentions the outcome of this?)

BUT, these public transport drivers get away with breaking the law by giving the police kitu kidogo (a little something)...it's more common place to break the rules and payoff the police with some money v.s. the unthinkable method of (drum roll please...): OBEYING the rules!  Ya, sometimes I don't feel too safe taking public transportation...

• when working for $5/day is OK...
• when people you walk by actually respond to your greetings...I counted in Ottawa and the percentage of people that responded to my hellos was probably around 5% (that includes the young and old).
• when hiring people as 'house workers' is not frowned upon...yes, giving people JOBS is a good thing! It is OK! And it's OK in North America too...
• when being a white person makes you an overwhelming minority...so overwhelming that you may be the only white person a Kenyan will meet for years...or ever...
• when having white skin is the only colour you wish you weren't (for many reasons...maybe I'll touch on this later in this post)...
• when you miss home and a quick drive isn't an option anymore
• when relying and being dependent on God takes on a whole new meaning
• when someone gets an arrow through the stomach for no other reason but that he comes from a different tribal group than his shooter...
• when a mother dies giving birth; leaving 6 children to take care of themselves...the orphanage population is ever-growing and ever-evident in Africa
• when prosperity gospel is active and all-too-common...
• where many 'Christians' have done more harm than good...notice the '___'
• where cults and idols flourish...
• where JESUS must be shown...and
• where counting the costs is more than just foregoing a Tim Horton's coffee for one morning in June!!!

this isn't about making a powerpoint or having an exotic adventure

So, due to the extremely weak Internet in rural Kenya, I will be unable to post anymore pictures on this blog. Quite frankly though, I probably wouldn't have the typical 'exotic' pictures to share with you anyways. Why? Let's just say I am in Kenya for one reason: Jesus. I'm not here to fill my computer with wonderful pictures, to awe churches and friends with a beautiful powerpoint or to appease the picture-loving part of me...but I am here to
i) please Jesus,
ii) to continue to follow and learn what dying to myself is (I need as much sanctification as I can possibly get) and
iii) to love the Kenyan people as best I can. 

And how can I do all THREE of those things? By NOT carelessly taking pictures. Why? Because doing so could interfere with any of those three things above. Let me explain where I'm coming from...
 
First of all, I am NOT saying that taking pictures is wrong. Obviously it's important to take pictures and show people back home the work that is being done for the Kingdom in Africa. For supporters, friends, brothers and sisters back home, it's important to visually show them what their prayers and support are going towards. BUT, what I AM saying is walking around with a camera and the thought that you CAN take a picture of anything that delights your soul IS WRONG!

I thought I was going to come home from Kenya with 1000s of pictures to show everyone (and believe you me, I will still have MANY PICTURES to share). But after many talks with Kenyans, I have come to the conclusion that my self-indulgence and desire to please others in taking careless pictures (which is what it has come down to) is not worth jeopardizing the purpose of this trip (note the word: 'careless'). The thought of capturing 'great photos' at all costs to share with others has slowly dissipated.  The other day I had a random encounter with a Kenyan; his name was Richard.  Our conversation started in Swahili but after I could only manage two lines of Swahili, our conversation quickly turned to English.  We talked much and talked about many things. During our talk, I asked him about 'white people coming to Kenya and taking pictures'. He quickly expressed his great displeasure with people taking pictures of Kenyans without their permission (fyi: asking permission really doesn't mean anything since Kenyans will say, 'yes' to most things you ask of them anyways... they want to please you; it's part of their culture...and that includes allowing us to take pictures even if it makes them feel extremely uncomfortable...and even if it results in them losing trust in you). 

I found out that there are now tour buses that drive through the slums in Kenya for tourists to take pictures...I instantly became sick to my stomach. Not all of you may totally see eye-to-eye with me on this matter, but quite frankly, I have a hard time believing any other way is right...for me...for this situation...for a follower of Jesus.

I saw a Kenyan the other day almost sprint (which is EXTREMELY rare for Kenyans...they do everything half-the-speed of North Americans...ahh, I so fit in here!) out of the way while a white person was taking pictures of them; it made me disgusted. I looked at her and her faced appeared to say, 'you robbed me by taking that picture...you're like the rest of them!'

Going to Africa for a summer vacation or for a short missions trip and carelessly taking pictures of everything you see is flat-out inconsiderate and WRONG!!! Kenyans were not created for our pleasure...for our pictures...

I share this in hopes that some of us will think twice about this...think twice about signing up for a 'slum tour bus'...think twice about going into rural Kenya or any other African village with the thought of, 'capturing as many awesome photos as possible'. Yes, it is true, Kenyans DO 'carry stuff on their heads', but it does not mean you have to take a thousand pictures (or even one for that matter) of them while they're doing it. Leave them alone! There have been many times on this trip when I purposely distanced myself from the white people because I'm embarrassed and want no connection to them. I don't mind pictures (if you have me on facebook, you'll know that I thoroughly enjoy taking pictures) but when we're constantly taking pictures of any random Kenyan or his home, I think it's wrong...want to take pictures? Take pictures WITH the children!!! They love it! In fact, let them have your camera and they'll have a blast of a time...many adults don't mind either, but please think before you snap a picture...take pictures of the natural beauty of Kenya...but please, watch yourself when it comes to PEOPLE and THEIR HOMES. Whether you're in Africa or some other developing country, the point still remains...be careful!

So, how can I wrap-up this thought of mine?! Well, I guess I could say that my powerpoint won't be up for any awards for the best 'missionary pictures'...but that's one recognition I'll gladly avoid. On a serious note, I'm just trying to bring to light a situation that I think should be DISCUSSED and a situation that Kenyans WANT us to discuss! We can't blindly go into cultures doing what we deem as acceptable; remember, it's a different culture we're entering so they see things differently than we do! We need to learn about the culture...ask others who have been there; who live there...then try and immerse ourselves into that new culture in the most respectable way possible.   

In a previous post, I hinted at the fact that I may not be a huge fan of short-term missions. Let me expand on that thought: I think THOUGHT OUT and RESEARCHED short-term missions have their place; no doubt about it! But those short-term missionaries that go blindly into developing world cultures to feel better about themselves are causing more harm than good. We need to do something before we start invading developing world countries-->we need to begin to learn that CULTURE!!! I wouldn't write about these things if they were moot points, but I'm afraid they're not...these things ARE HAPPENING!!!

And yes, this might mean we don't get to do what we want, but that's OK...pictures will fade, but our impact on a person may have eternal consequences...

I'll leave you with a quote from Richard, 'No, no, we don't like people taking pictures of us or our homes...when we don't know them or they don't care to listen to our story'!  

let's all be open...

I have become very open to the fact that I may be living in a developing world country for years or for the rest of my life...and in fact, I think ALL OF YOU should CONSIDER it too. Being open doesn't necessarily mean you are going, but it means you will be open to the Spirit's guiding...that you read passages like Matt.28:19 and not instantly think that since you have a family or job or aren't a doctor, that you can't contribute anything. I have already discussed my thoughts about short-term missions but I want to reiterate that SO MUCH GOOD can happen in helping out those across the ocean even if it's for a short while...but remember, we MUST help out in a thoughtful and respectable way ;-)...!

If you can read...or write...or know how to build (homes, cabinets, wells etc)...or teach...you can contribute to your brothers and sisters and the Africans overseas. It doesn't mean you have to give your whole life to overseas missions, but it DOES mean you must be WILLING to give your whole life to MISSIONS and especially, continuously be supportive of each other in spreading the Gospel. 

So yes, read the Bible...pray...be open!!! Maybe I don't come back to Kenya...and maybe you never come to Africa in your lifetime...but at least be OPEN! One thing is for sure: you better be GREATLY linked someway, somehow to the POOR AND OPPRESSED WHEREVER YOU ARE! 

I feel some more thoughts rushing  into my mind but I'm running out of internet time so it'll have to wait for another night...maybe tomorrow night if electricity and internet are both working... ;-)... but I'll try not to wish for too much! But this thought is TO BE CONTINUED... (enter in suspenseful music...)

my random thoughts continue: don't leave them dependent

I am not a fan of us coming over to third world countries for weeks or months or years and then leaving that village DEPENDENT on our help (i'll touch on this in a later post). I AM A BIG FAN of teaching and helping and disciplining (remember how I said prosperity gospel is strong over here? we need to make disciples!) our brothers in Truth. I don't think we should EVER become staples in villages to the point that when we leave them, the village crumbles. But our brothers and sisters DO need help. So come over for months...or a year...or years...and use the gifts you have to teach our friends, brothers and sisters abilities to help them thrive.  More importantly, come over and teach them Truths in the Word so that when we go, they will not only be self-sufficient in running a business/village...but they will also be God-sufficient in allowing God to run their lives in Truth...and it won't always be easy...remember, part of culture is learning the language and most people find learning new languages to be EXTREMELY frustrating! But man, do it for God and I promise you it'll be soooo good...soooo abundant!

rich getting richer, poor getting poorer


Unfortunately, just handing out money isn't solving the poverty and oppression that is all around Africa. Africa has much resources and lots of money; but tragically, it is not getting down to the roots...to the poor. Rather, the rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. Therefore, we gotta get our hands dirty and help/teach the poor (whether it be in your very own backyard or in Africa) with the MUCH we've been given in North America...

thankyou MUCH!!!

As always, I'm extremely thankful for all of you who have been continously supporting me with prayer and words of encouragement! Continuous prayer will be important. Pray that God has His way in me and in the Kenyan people. Language barriers can be so frustrating but pray that God is lifted higher and higher every day in Kapsowar...pray that He is the ONLY centre in my life...and the ONLY centre in the staff of Kapsowar ...and the ONLY centre in the patients that pour into this small village for healing; physical and spiritual.

I love you guys!
Praying for many of you specifically. 
If any of you have specifics, send them my way as we'll most definitely lift you up in Kapsowar to our listening, loving and living God!