some of my favorite clips!
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Out of Africa
who's seen "Out of Africa?" great movie, totally recommend it! (especially for all the ladies out there, Robert Redford is a STUD!!! Meryl Streep (karen) is pretty great too!) Anyways, for those that have seen it...you know how Karen goes to this exotic place and has adventure upon adventure. And while she's galavanting through the country breaks all social norms of what a woman should and ought to do (a woman after my own heart-you know, the Jane Eyres, Anne Shirley's, and the Elizabeth Bennet's!) AND while she's doing this she finds the love of her life, who not only happens to be one of the best looking men on the planet, but has the heart of a lion!
WELL my time in Africa has been nothing like that! haha! It has been more like madagascar 2 (which we just watched the other night) where theres a lot of chaos and confusion...a lot of hilarity and a lot of animals! haha!
BUT, there are pieces of my trip that are similar to Out of Africa in the sense that, I, like Karen, will return home after a long journey in an unfamiliar place...but not empty handed and not less in spirit. I have not had an sultry, steamy affair, but i have fallen in love with parts of African culture and my heart has expanded to embrace parts of myself that i hadn't discovered until coming here.
And im not sure if thats Africa's doing, or if thats just what happens when you decide to let go of control in your life and hop on a plane to a strange land. Either way im glad i came...struggles, rashes, bug bites, obesity and all! it has continued to teach me that not only are there other ways of life out there, but their is beauty and value in those differences!
Im not sure what it means to bring parts of Africa home with me...and i dont necessarily think it will always be noticeable or tangible (i may not wear african garb or eat ugali on a regular basis, i may not get rid of my TV or live in a mud hut) but i am thankful for the perspective, the broadening of my horizons, the pictures engrained in my brain that remind me I AM BLESSED! i am thankful for a deeper sense of who God is as i meet and see more of his people.
So while im kinda jealous that meryl streep gets to MACK with Robert Redford..."Out of Africa" doesn't got anything on my story here...its been one for the books!
WELL my time in Africa has been nothing like that! haha! It has been more like madagascar 2 (which we just watched the other night) where theres a lot of chaos and confusion...a lot of hilarity and a lot of animals! haha!
BUT, there are pieces of my trip that are similar to Out of Africa in the sense that, I, like Karen, will return home after a long journey in an unfamiliar place...but not empty handed and not less in spirit. I have not had an sultry, steamy affair, but i have fallen in love with parts of African culture and my heart has expanded to embrace parts of myself that i hadn't discovered until coming here.
And im not sure if thats Africa's doing, or if thats just what happens when you decide to let go of control in your life and hop on a plane to a strange land. Either way im glad i came...struggles, rashes, bug bites, obesity and all! it has continued to teach me that not only are there other ways of life out there, but their is beauty and value in those differences!
Im not sure what it means to bring parts of Africa home with me...and i dont necessarily think it will always be noticeable or tangible (i may not wear african garb or eat ugali on a regular basis, i may not get rid of my TV or live in a mud hut) but i am thankful for the perspective, the broadening of my horizons, the pictures engrained in my brain that remind me I AM BLESSED! i am thankful for a deeper sense of who God is as i meet and see more of his people.
So while im kinda jealous that meryl streep gets to MACK with Robert Redford..."Out of Africa" doesn't got anything on my story here...its been one for the books!
Sunday, August 5, 2012
chick-fil-a
the world is SO small!!!
last night our team got into a good conversation about whats been going on in the news with
chick-fil-a! and what do you know...i wake up and go to church with one of the staff here
and Dan Cathy, chick-fil-a presidente is giving the sermon! haha
for those of you who dont know...chick-fil-a is a christian company (amongst its many policies, its stores close on sundays) and early last week Dan apparently made a statement about his beliefs on marriage and how it affects the hiring process for his chains. Im not writing to discuss his beliefs...thats a whole nother story, but i am constantly surprised at who God uses to spread his word.
After reading and hearing some stuff on Dans beliefs i feel that i kinda dismissed him altogether (although i do believe his restaurants are super tasty and also serve a great purpose and have been a model to a lot of people of the love of christ) BUT, like i said,i initially wrote him off. and then was forced to listen to what he had to say today at church which sucked because i was set on hearing something i hated so that i could further criticize him and feel justified in my opinions of him...but he was actually quite good! Not only was he amazingly articulate, his message was convicting and full of hope!
It reminded me that God does not use perfect people...he does not call the equipped, he equips the called! Dan is not perfect (nor am i) but his words reached the hearts of many and to me that is a stronger testament to Gods ability to redeem people and situations than anything else. (however my changed perspective may be biased because Dan did give me a coupon for a free burger after the service, haha!)
last night our team got into a good conversation about whats been going on in the news with
chick-fil-a! and what do you know...i wake up and go to church with one of the staff here
and Dan Cathy, chick-fil-a presidente is giving the sermon! haha
for those of you who dont know...chick-fil-a is a christian company (amongst its many policies, its stores close on sundays) and early last week Dan apparently made a statement about his beliefs on marriage and how it affects the hiring process for his chains. Im not writing to discuss his beliefs...thats a whole nother story, but i am constantly surprised at who God uses to spread his word.
After reading and hearing some stuff on Dans beliefs i feel that i kinda dismissed him altogether (although i do believe his restaurants are super tasty and also serve a great purpose and have been a model to a lot of people of the love of christ) BUT, like i said,i initially wrote him off. and then was forced to listen to what he had to say today at church which sucked because i was set on hearing something i hated so that i could further criticize him and feel justified in my opinions of him...but he was actually quite good! Not only was he amazingly articulate, his message was convicting and full of hope!
It reminded me that God does not use perfect people...he does not call the equipped, he equips the called! Dan is not perfect (nor am i) but his words reached the hearts of many and to me that is a stronger testament to Gods ability to redeem people and situations than anything else. (however my changed perspective may be biased because Dan did give me a coupon for a free burger after the service, haha!)
Saturday, August 4, 2012
kibera
well its been awhile now since i went to the Kibera slums...thought it might be time to put up some pictures and do some explaining!
I thought it would have been easier to see Kibera since we had already been to the Mathare slums. i guess i thought the shock factor would have dissipated and i wouldn't have had such a strong reaction to the sights, smells and circumstances.
But, as usual, i was wrong. In fact if anything i felt more repulsed by the situation there.
Two years ago i read something while i was in Jackson that changed my life. (for those who have heard me say it over and over again, i apologize) but this circumstance requires me to quote the incredible Mrs. Flannery O'Connor once more, who wrote:
"those who see by the light of their christian faith will have the sharpest eye for the grotesque, for the perverse and for the unacceptable."
and as i see more and more of the world, and specifically, as i walked through Kibera, i saw all that is wrong in the world. it is simply unacceptable! the only problem is that i dont have the answers to know how to fix it....so what do i do?!?
is it enough to just see it (which i believe holds great value...but is it enough?) is it enough to write about it and tell others about it? is it enough to send checks? is it enough to experience it? when is it enough? when will i fulfill the requirement, when will i meet a need?
questions i may never have an answer to...but am grateful to have seen and experienced it, and as it has seared an impression into my heart and mind, i pray an equally deep impression is made on how i should respond! so pray for clarity and peace,pray for Kenya, pray for Kibera...pray for our world!
I thought it would have been easier to see Kibera since we had already been to the Mathare slums. i guess i thought the shock factor would have dissipated and i wouldn't have had such a strong reaction to the sights, smells and circumstances.
But, as usual, i was wrong. In fact if anything i felt more repulsed by the situation there.
Two years ago i read something while i was in Jackson that changed my life. (for those who have heard me say it over and over again, i apologize) but this circumstance requires me to quote the incredible Mrs. Flannery O'Connor once more, who wrote:
"those who see by the light of their christian faith will have the sharpest eye for the grotesque, for the perverse and for the unacceptable."
and as i see more and more of the world, and specifically, as i walked through Kibera, i saw all that is wrong in the world. it is simply unacceptable! the only problem is that i dont have the answers to know how to fix it....so what do i do?!?
is it enough to just see it (which i believe holds great value...but is it enough?) is it enough to write about it and tell others about it? is it enough to send checks? is it enough to experience it? when is it enough? when will i fulfill the requirement, when will i meet a need?
questions i may never have an answer to...but am grateful to have seen and experienced it, and as it has seared an impression into my heart and mind, i pray an equally deep impression is made on how i should respond! so pray for clarity and peace,pray for Kenya, pray for Kibera...pray for our world!
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
GUILT TRIP
So, i've come to realize why people go to africa (or other 3rd world countries) and then come back home and get rid of EVERYTHING! give their clothes to the goodwill, eat macaroni for months, sell their apartment and move into a cardboard box...its that DAMN thing called GUILT!
my most recent bout of guilt was today at dinner when the kids ask me a jillion questions (as usual) and they wanted to know what we've done the past couple of weekends! As i went back and explained safari, and the market, tea farm, the malls etc...they looked at me with curiosity as they havent been able to experience these aspects of kenya for themselves. So as i told them about the greatest things Kenya has to offer i became saddened by the fact that i'v seen more in 6 and a half weeks then they've seen in their lifetime here. i became angry!
I mean, i get it, there are 99 kids, it was be ridiculously expensive and hard to get them all to safari (or anywhere really). and i get that part of my trip isn't just being at Rafiki, its seeing the environment around me, experiencing the culture. but i still cant help but flip the situation in my head...if one of them came to visit me in Tacoma/Seattle, i'd be able to show them the coolest things, because i'v been! i guess it just sorta ruffled my feathers...and what it made me really want to do was send a video to Oprah or Bill Gates....someone with a ton of money, lol...to get these kids and mamas on a plane so they could eat dicks, and ride the duck, try some real chai, experience a blizzard,...walk around a city without garbage everywhere, see a different part of the world, expand their horizons! (whether or not that would actually be good for them, i have no idea...but i couldn't help but think about how cool it would be to see their faces as they boarded a plane! none have ever been on one!)
But then i also realized that i shouldn't get too discouraged because maybe thats part of my job...to expand their horizons to the best of my ability...to plant seeds of knowledge that there are different people and cultures out there and to encourage them, that when they are able, to explore the unknown! Maybe its my job,and my duty, to expose them to a tiny piece of "different" that they have graciously shown me!
but still...if anyone has any connections with Bill...you should hook me up! haha
anyways, here are a few photo updates:
my most recent bout of guilt was today at dinner when the kids ask me a jillion questions (as usual) and they wanted to know what we've done the past couple of weekends! As i went back and explained safari, and the market, tea farm, the malls etc...they looked at me with curiosity as they havent been able to experience these aspects of kenya for themselves. So as i told them about the greatest things Kenya has to offer i became saddened by the fact that i'v seen more in 6 and a half weeks then they've seen in their lifetime here. i became angry!
I mean, i get it, there are 99 kids, it was be ridiculously expensive and hard to get them all to safari (or anywhere really). and i get that part of my trip isn't just being at Rafiki, its seeing the environment around me, experiencing the culture. but i still cant help but flip the situation in my head...if one of them came to visit me in Tacoma/Seattle, i'd be able to show them the coolest things, because i'v been! i guess it just sorta ruffled my feathers...and what it made me really want to do was send a video to Oprah or Bill Gates....someone with a ton of money, lol...to get these kids and mamas on a plane so they could eat dicks, and ride the duck, try some real chai, experience a blizzard,...walk around a city without garbage everywhere, see a different part of the world, expand their horizons! (whether or not that would actually be good for them, i have no idea...but i couldn't help but think about how cool it would be to see their faces as they boarded a plane! none have ever been on one!)
But then i also realized that i shouldn't get too discouraged because maybe thats part of my job...to expand their horizons to the best of my ability...to plant seeds of knowledge that there are different people and cultures out there and to encourage them, that when they are able, to explore the unknown! Maybe its my job,and my duty, to expose them to a tiny piece of "different" that they have graciously shown me!
but still...if anyone has any connections with Bill...you should hook me up! haha
anyways, here are a few photo updates:
(Christopher:community student and David)
(clint with the lollipop i gave him as his reward for doing so well in tutoring...a method i got in trouble for later that day...i guess 8 year olds aren't the best at keeping secrets!)
(james...we think we could be a j.crew model or something)
Saturday, July 28, 2012
fine God, you win...
So this weekend, as i was looking forward to leavin the compound walls, seein the cites and kissin some giraffes my body decided to punish me for...well, it could be a million things (im a sinner! haha) but i woke up early friday morning not feelin my best! i missed school friday, and am now going on hour 37 of watching my mosquito net sway as i lay in my rock hard bed.
If this doesn't make someone miss home...being in a house alone, eating food that doesn't sound good anyways, let alone when your sick, no one to scratch your back (one of the favorite things my mom does!) well then i dont know what will!
and for a moment today i got down in the dumps about it...feeling sorry for myself!
my conversation with God went something a little like this:
"ummmm, God, im not really understanding why im being punished for coming to AFRICA to do your work! and now, on the rare occasions i have for fun with my team and to see the city, im SICK! YOU SUCK!"
And after another 2 or 3 mins of some real choice words, i sat and cried (which if u know me is not uncommon, haha) and then i apologized! i decided i better shape up and use what was left of the day to redeem myself...and to simply have some fun for the sake of my sanity! so after watching legally blonde (such a classic) i sat and read, did some journaling, went for a short walk in the sun,which i think actually did my body (and spirit) some good!
What i was reminded of through all this is that life really is what you make it. it sounds cliche; its corny and its obvious, but sometimes i need a good slap in the face to remember the important things!
the other thing i felt really convicted of was the thought that went through my mind..that because i came to Kenya i should not only be free of pain or trouble, but that i deserve some sort of reward.
ummmm, kate, how about going to Kenya because its the right thing to do?
how about going because thats where u felt called? (yes, i actually talk to myself!)
so im having a new perspective not only on this trip...but a on this idea we call "deservedness" and after a lot of reflecting today, i was reminded (for i think i figured this same lesson out a couple years back) that i dont deserve diddly squat...in fact if i deserve anything, then i got it friday morning when i crawled to the bathroom!)
SO heres what i know: i only have 12 days left here (can you believe it!) and by golly, im gonna make them good ones...because A. i can and B. i dont deserve them but god has given them to me as a gift and i dont intend to throw that away!
p.s. for the concerned readers out there: prayers would be great, but im already feeling tons better!!!
If this doesn't make someone miss home...being in a house alone, eating food that doesn't sound good anyways, let alone when your sick, no one to scratch your back (one of the favorite things my mom does!) well then i dont know what will!
and for a moment today i got down in the dumps about it...feeling sorry for myself!
my conversation with God went something a little like this:
"ummmm, God, im not really understanding why im being punished for coming to AFRICA to do your work! and now, on the rare occasions i have for fun with my team and to see the city, im SICK! YOU SUCK!"
And after another 2 or 3 mins of some real choice words, i sat and cried (which if u know me is not uncommon, haha) and then i apologized! i decided i better shape up and use what was left of the day to redeem myself...and to simply have some fun for the sake of my sanity! so after watching legally blonde (such a classic) i sat and read, did some journaling, went for a short walk in the sun,which i think actually did my body (and spirit) some good!
What i was reminded of through all this is that life really is what you make it. it sounds cliche; its corny and its obvious, but sometimes i need a good slap in the face to remember the important things!
the other thing i felt really convicted of was the thought that went through my mind..that because i came to Kenya i should not only be free of pain or trouble, but that i deserve some sort of reward.
ummmm, kate, how about going to Kenya because its the right thing to do?
how about going because thats where u felt called? (yes, i actually talk to myself!)
so im having a new perspective not only on this trip...but a on this idea we call "deservedness" and after a lot of reflecting today, i was reminded (for i think i figured this same lesson out a couple years back) that i dont deserve diddly squat...in fact if i deserve anything, then i got it friday morning when i crawled to the bathroom!)
SO heres what i know: i only have 12 days left here (can you believe it!) and by golly, im gonna make them good ones...because A. i can and B. i dont deserve them but god has given them to me as a gift and i dont intend to throw that away!
p.s. for the concerned readers out there: prayers would be great, but im already feeling tons better!!!
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
its all fun and games...
last week i got to witness one of the funniest..most awkward experiences of my time here. it was kinda the special olympics meets cool runnings...meets "swahili for dummies"! It was employee games at Rafiki. This means school gets out early and the kids get to watch their teachers, mamas, the cooking team, the security team, the maintenance team (EVERYONE who helps run this place) participate in some very high class..high intensity games!
on the list of activities and events:
dancing chairs (musical chairs)
racing
carrott eating on a string
tug-a-war
egg balancing
shoe tying
and the list continues!
Before the games even started, one of the greatest things to witness was the reactions of the kids as everyone came out in "normal" clothes. You would have thought the men had come on the field with skirts and lipstick and the women were wearing only their underpants! The kids were hysterical! you have to understand that the kids (even the rest of the staff) only see the men in suits and the women in full length skirts and very unrevealing tops...so to see a mama or worker in tight yoga pants and a plane white tee (that didn't leave much room for imagination) may have very well been their equivalent to underpants!
The kids began to laugh harder when the staff began to engage in any of the games...they got to see mamas falling off chairs, the maintenance men push each other over in a game of tag and they got to see the kitchen staff try to scarf down carrots on a string. i still dont know which was more fun for me...watching the staff make fools of themselves or watching the kids watch the staff make fools of themselves! Either way, it was fun to have a light hearted afternoon...no tuition, no discipline, just fun and laughter...lots and lots of laughter!
The kids began to laugh harder when the staff began to engage in any of the games...they got to see mamas falling off chairs, the maintenance men push each other over in a game of tag and they got to see the kitchen staff try to scarf down carrots on a string. i still dont know which was more fun for me...watching the staff make fools of themselves or watching the kids watch the staff make fools of themselves! Either way, it was fun to have a light hearted afternoon...no tuition, no discipline, just fun and laughter...lots and lots of laughter!
(janet-our house keeper doin the egg walk!)
dancing chairs! this was one of my favorite things to watch!
auntie lydia doin work on the carrot contest!
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