My Final Thoughts

The Lord is faithful. He does what he says he'll do.

This was hammered home throughout the week. Bob and Julie's story is one of waiting and relying on the Lord's faithfulness. The way they trust Him to fulfill what he's said He will do is something entirely different than what I've seen. I hope the Lord will give me that kind of faith.

__

The team I went with is like family. It's amazing how quickly we went from "I don't know them" to "I would die for them." We blended as a team so smoothly and so quickly. There are only a handful of them that I just can't stand. Kidding. I guess one of the benefits of spending every waking hour with someone for thirteen consecutive days is getting to know them well. It's amazing that we didn't have any significant personality clashes. This was my first trip, so I don't have a point of reference, but I heard that we were an exceptional team. It must have gone well, we already have our dates picked out to return next year.

__ 

Naomi's Village and Cornerstone Preparatory Academy are the starting points for changing Kenya. This can't be overstated. The Lord is raising up leaders at Naomi's Village that will alter the course of history in Kenya. These kids who have experienced more heartache and tragedy than most of us EVER will, are going to be the future teachers, preachers, policy makers, and presidents of this nation. Cornerstone is absolutely going to change the climate of education in Kenya. In five years, they're going to be the example to which the surrounding district looks. In ten years, they'll be the example to which the entire nation looks. In fifty years, people will know that CPA was the spark that ignited a cultural shift in education that swept the nation. I truly believe that in the next fifty years, Kenya will be an example to developing nations worldwide. Maybe I am overstating what they're capable of, but I don't think so. The entire time I was there I got the impression (from the Holy Spirit?) that I was getting to play a tiny role in something that is going to huge. I hope that's true.

__

About six years ago, I listened to a CD of a sermon in which the preacher suggested that mission trips might be less about doing something for the Lord and more about the Lord doing something in you. I didn't understand that then. Now, I do. Anyone could have gone and done what we did. The Lord didn't need us. But, the shift in my own heart was something that couldn't have happened in Denton, Texas.

__

My perspective has changed. I pray it doesn't go back to what it was.

Day 11 - Goodbyes

During morning devotions, the kids and staff thanked us and prayed for us. Some people cried. Not me. I'm tough.

Then we all lined up outside the play room and got a hug from each kid. I felt bad for the younger ones who don't quite understand yet why people come to visit for a couple weeks then leave. The older ones understand a little better and don't get quite as attached. It was still a bittersweet time, though.

After that, we all said goodbye to the Mendonsas and Englemans and loaded up to head to Nairobi.

Another stop at Java House, then a trip to the Maasai Market.

Oh, the market. I thought I was prepared for what this market was going to be, but no. Nothing can prepare you. This was like a flea market on crack. As soon as you walk into the market, people touch you. They do the move where they shake your hand, but don't let go. Instead, they pull you over to their stall and show you their "handmade" items.

Here's what a typical exchange looked like:

"I saw you glance in my general direction. That can only mean that you want to spend all of your American money at my stall."

"No, I'm okay, thanks."

"Friend! Friend! What is your name? We are friends, no?"

"Um..."

"Have a look at my wares? They are nice?"

"They're nice."

"You want a t-shirt, no? It is beautiful. I will let it go for, ah, $100."

"No, thank you."

"Okay, okay. Because we are friends, I will give you a (looks around) special price. $85, but tell no one!"

"I've got to go."

I had that conversation a dozen times at least. At the end of the day, I only got ripped off on one purchase. Not bad.

Things I Learned at the Maasai Market

1. The actual value of the item is generally 1/10th of their initial price. Seriously.

2. Everyone lies. Everyone.

3. Don't shake anyone's hand.

4. Eyes down. EYES. DOWN.

5. Pick a price, and don't go above it.

6. When all else fails, stick with J'Layne.



TOMORROW: Final thoughts

Day 10 - Hungry Hungry Hippos

Today was a scheduled relaxation day.

We headed to Enashipai Resort in Naivasha for lunch with the CPA staff. This was a western-style resort that is as nice as any other resort I've seen. It was a strange juxtaposition to see so much abject poverty right outside the ten foot gates, then drive inside and see a huge infinity pool wedged between a work out center/playground and beautiful dining room.

We're just as guilty of this in Dallas, though. Drive down Walnut Hill a few miles and it goes from strip clubs and liquor stores to private schools and 10,000 square foot mansions within a couple blocks.

The menu at the restaurant had all sorts of food that we could get at home. Megan got a Hawaiian pizza that was hands down the BEST Hawaiian pizza I have ever tasted. Go figure. Anyway, I wanted something a bit more authentic. So, I sprung for the nyama choma (and no, I still can't pronounce it.) Basically, it's barbecue. On my plate, there was goat, beef, and chicken. I also ordered it with the ugali to make it even more authentic. Ugali is a maize flour mixture cooked to a doughy consistency. It had zero flavor. Not good, not bad. It was just there. I heard it's high in calories and is a staple of nearly every household because it's cheap. I'm glad I tried it, but it was just a filler. The goat wasn't bad, just tough. The chicken was really good, and the beef was meh. The presentation was nice though.

By the way, the shot glass in that picture was simple syrup for my lemonade. Just throwing that out there.

Dessert was black forest cake (eh) and coffee (yes). When I ordered the coffee, he asked me if I wanted black or white coffee. Well, I wanted it with cream so I ordered white coffee. Then, he listed a bunch of different flavors. Naturally, I chose chocolate thinking it was going to be some Coffeemate type of creamer. Wrong. So wrong. He brought me my coffee. Two minutes later he brings me a gravy boat FILLED with melted chocolate. Of course I poured all of it in my coffee. It was the absolute best mocha I have ever had.

All together, our lunch took about three hours. Yeah, they move at a different pace here. But it was relaxing and enjoyable.

After lunch, we walked down to the lake. There were a few guys about waist deep fishing with a net. A few minutes later we noticed that a couple of the CPA staff had walked out onto this small peninsula and were looking at something. We walked out to join them and HIPPOS! There were hippos swimming around out there! They would go under for a few seconds and then come up and blow air out through their nostrils. It was awesome. Their heads had to have been at least three feet long. We spotted four and they were colored pink, green, yellow, and blue. And they were eating these small, white plastic marbles. It was weird.

We headed back to a well-manicured lawn, circled up, and talked about our highs and lows for the week. It was cool to see the teachers, who we were afraid wouldn't open up at all, expressing gratitude for the time we took to work with them. In the middle of our talk, a security guard walked up and whispered something in Dedan's ear. I thought, oh man, they're going to make us get off their well-manicured lawn, but no. THE HIPPOS HAD COME OUT OF THE WATER AND WERE GRAZING ON THE BANK AND DID I WANT TO SEE THEM? Opportunity of a lifetime? Yes, please. I did a speedwalk/jog down to the lake and there they were. The hippo family was just chilling, eating the grass/plant/thing. Now, I'm pretty sure that hippos will charge if you get to close. In fact, oh dear lord, this video confirms it:

As more of our team came to see the hippos. Some people (I'm looking at you, Brittany Kulick) decided to inch forward until they were closer. You know, ONLY 30 FEET AWAY. It was at this point that the hippos started making this face:

To me, that face says, "Hey you. Back the (heck) up." But to everyone else, it said "Hey, I'm posing! Take a picture with me in the background!"

So, everyone's taking these fantastic pictures that look so natural and beautiful and I'm all like, we're going to die. But if I'm going to die, I'm getting a picture next to hippos they can show at the funeral. And this is what I got:

No, Ryan smile more! Act less terrified! Stand closer.

Okay...

How's this?

Uh, it's great. Just great.

TOMORROW: Our final day in Kenya

Day 9 - Kijabe

Today we headed up the mountain to Kijabe to visit with the Mendonsas and take a tour of Rift Valley Academy, a missionary school that serves missionaries’ children from all over Africa.

First of all, it was drizzling the entire day, so the roads were slick. Remember, where we were the roads were dirt the whole way. This turned into mud. This was some of the most harrowing driving I experienced in Kenya. We weren’t going fast, but the road conditions and the steep drop offs made up for it. We had to completely trust John and Elisha, our drivers. At one point, we reached a hill that was just too steep to go up in a straight line. I’m convinced what happened next was intentional. John started off traveling up the incline at an angle, made a sharp turn to the right and broke the rear tires loose. Then he made a sharp turn to the left to swing the rear end around to the right, all while moving forward and up the hill. Then he did it one more time. He put the van into a controlled fish tail to get up the hill. I felt pretty comfortable in the van after that. We were with a pro.

We arrived at the Mendonsas around 11:00 and hung out for a couple hours waiting for the weather to let up a bit. We got to spend time talking about Naomi’s Village and some of the children’s stories. I had completely forgotten during the course of the week that these kids come from pasts more horrible than I can imagine. Seriously. If you think you’ve had a tough shake in life, listen to some of their stories and talk to me. You’ve had it easy in comparison. The point is, despite what they’ve been through, they’re normal kids. They laugh and cry and play just like any other kid. They obey and disobey, succeed and struggle like any other student I’ve had. I’m sure behind the scenes there’s a lot of junk they’re working through with care staff and counselors. But in my interactions with them, there isn’t a huge difference between them and any other American kid I know. The one difference I noticed was they were generally more grateful.

One of the things that left the biggest impact on me was just listening to Bob and Julie talk about Naomi’s Village. I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone as passionate as these two. Surely, they’ve given these spiels to countless others, but when they were talking to us it was like we were the first people they were telling. Conversations with them were some of the most convicting times. The general challenge was this: If you feel the Lord pressing on your heart to do something, do it. Don’t pray for the Lord to send someone else to work out his calling for your life. Speaking specifically to the situation in Kenya, they said if we feel called to do something we can’t just throw money at it and hope it changes. We need to do the leg work ourselves. I don’t know if the Lord has specifically called me to Kenya (but who knows?), however hearing this convicted me of a lot of laziness in my own life and a general unwillingness to step out of what’s comfortable.

We headed up to Rift Valley Academy (RVA) to tour the grounds. I wish I could move here. It was the most beautiful location for a school that I’ve seen. Everything was maintained so well and the facilities were incredible. I won’t waste much time describing it here, but it was awesome. And the cornerstone for the original school building was laid by Teddy Roosevelt!

After touring the school, we did a little shopping. Then we headed back down the mountain.

TOMORROW: One of the best, longest lunches I've ever had

Day 8 - When All Else Fails...

This morning, I helped lead devotions. We talked about how God provided for the Israelites in the desert even when they grumbled and complained. It was just another way we got to talk about God’s faithfulness in the midst of our faithlessness.

Today was our final day of teacher training, and we used our time to model lessons for the CPA staff in their own classrooms. I had the privilege of sitting and observing Carrie teach in the ECD (Kindergarten) class.

There’s proof that everyone on our team brought their A-game. See that calendar, hundreds chart, and place value chart? All hand made the night before. Janna did the same thing for her lesson. These teachers know what they’re doing.

It was great watching Carrie teach a calendar lesson in Kinder. I’ve observed younger classes before and know how this time works, but it was the kids first time to participate in this type of lesson. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the first time most of them had ever seen a calendar.

After Carrie finished, Anne taught a short number recognition and addition lesson. It was cool to see her incorporate some of the strategies they had learned in the math session with our teachers.

After chai, the CPA staff and some of our teachers went up to the guest house to debrief while a few of us watched the kids. We only had to watch twenty kids for forty-five minutes. How hard could that be? I’ll just read them a book in the dining hall. Oh, no no no.

I nearly lost my mind.

It’s impossible for me to read aloud or even speak loudly in that dining hall the way the echoes come back at you. I got through about two chapters of Junie B. Jones and could tell the kids weren’t feeling it. On top of that, I couldn’t even hear myself talking over the sound of chairs scraping around on the floor.

So we went outside.

If teachers were pilots, going outside would be our emergency eject button.

TOMORROW: We spend the day in Kijabe.

Day 7 - Church, Chicken, Chips, and Chapati

On Sunday, we met for church in the dining hall at Naomi’s Village. Jacob was preaching the service, and I was leading the older kids’ lesson. I used some Kids’ Village curriculum that I brought to teach about God’s faithfulness to Abraham and Sarah in giving them a son. We talked about how God was faithful even when Abraham was faithless.

I love how the KV curriculum defines the attributes of God. “Faithful” is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot to describe God, but I don’t think a lot of people really grasp what it means. I know I didn’t for the longest time. In Kids’ Village, we say that faithful means God always does what He says He will do. So every promise God made to His people in Scripture He was faithful to bring to fruition. We can also trust that those promises that haven’t yet been fulfilled, He is still going to do.

It was great to have Bonface and Bob sitting in on the lesson. They were able to extend it and provide real life applications of this truth about God. Bob took this time to talk to the kids about the promises God had made to him concerning Naomi’s Village. So, these kids were hearing about the promises of God concerning their own lives. What a great application of a lesson. God does what He says He will do, and this is what He’s said concerning your life. It doesn’t get much more applicable than that.

After church, we went to Fave Grill in Maai Mahiu for chicken, chips, and chapati. I had a chicken neck. I didn’t even realize that was a part you could eat.

That night, we made nachos and brownies for the kids. After dinner, the team hung out in the guesthouse living room and we played Signs. Some of my favorite memories of our trip happened late at night just hanging out and playing games. We were lucky to have a team where all our personalities meshed well. A day didn’t go by without someone saying something that had the entire team rolling in laughter.

This is my favorite picture of our team. Notice Kathy. And the crazy huge table. Notice it!

TOMORROW: Final day of teacher training

Day 6 - Safari Day

We left Naomi’s Village at 5:30 in the morning to drive to Lake Nakuru for a safari.

All I have to say about Kenyan traffic is Kenyan traffic be cray. It took us 3.5 hours to make a 2.5 hour trip because traffic decided to stop. Traffic in Kenya isn’t like traffic in the States. In America, when traffic stops we just sit and moan. There might be an occasional jerk who tries to skirt by on the shoulder, but everyone hates that guy. Every driver in Kenya is that guy. When traffic stops in Kenya, people find a way around. At one point on our way there, the two lane highway became a four lane highway. The “shoulders” became lanes. I put shoulders in quotations because there really weren’t any actual shoulders. We were in our little van zipping between trucks and dodging motorcycles. It was quite exhilarating.

We saw a truck carrying lumber that had overturned. Now in the US of A when I see a truck overturned I think, “Oh no! What happened?” In Kenya when I see a truck overturned I think, “Of course it’s overturned. Have you seen how they drive here?” I’m really surprised we didn’t see more overturned vehicles.

The safari was fun. Although, during part of it, the rocking of the van and the warm temperatures lulled me to sleep. We saw some animals. We saw giraffes, water buffalos, wart hogs, baboons, antelope, zebras, far-away rhinos, lions’ ears, and some more baboons. One of our vans broke during the safari, and I had to keep watch for the water buffalo, which I named Mark Ruffalo because well, you know, it rhymes. I intimidated him into staying where he was and not moving at all. Looking back on it, Mark Ruffalo the Water Buffalo might have just been a log.

Lions' ears

Zebras' butts

We ate an interesting blend of western-style food at the Lake Nakuru Lodge-Resort-Thingy. They have a man whose only job is to beat away baboons with a stick when they get too close. That sounds like an awesome job.

Man with a stick

When we got back to NV, we made s’mores for the kids and everyone sat around the fire pit and sang worship songs for a long time. We seriously sang like 27 songs. They know so many songs.

TOMORROW: Church, chicken, chips, and chapati