October 7, 2006 – Kenya -  The Hard Way

     As I have come to understand it, there are 3 basic guides to keep on us on the path.  The primary, and perfect guide, are the words God left with us to provide us with direction.  The Bible is a perfect instruction manual for maintaining the course we were intended for.  If we follow this manual to the letter, we are guaranteed never to leave the path.  Because so few, if any are able to consistently follow these instructions, we have been given a few back up plans. 

September 29, 2006 – Kenya – The Path

     I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but I always been one to wander off the path.  As in my September 3^rd entry, I explained how easy it is for me to lose my way.  I’m walking on the path, then I see a butterfly.  I wander off to see the butterfly, and see some flowers, as I get close to the flowers I see an overlook with a breathtaking view.  Before I know it – these distractions have led me far from the path, and I find myself lost – unable to locate the path.  This is a very simple and literal example, but our spiritual life is so similar to this path.  We are put on the path and have a clear sense of direction.  The view ahead is clear.  There are no boulders or brush to obstruct our travel.  The distractions we experience in real life are often much more attractive than butterflies and flowers – and their lure much more powerful.   We are distracted from the path by the likes of money, success, power, sex, drugs & alcohol and people, to name a few.  I think all of these things, and many more fit under one category – my will.  If I have money, all of my problems will be solved.  If I can find success in business, my life will be so much better.  If I can win the love of this person, I will find true contentment.  There are countless addictions we may use to escape our reality, fill a void or simply relieve the pain of our human condition.  Whatever the distraction, we wander off to pursue and experience these things and soon find ourselves far from the path.  We reach the point of realizing we are lost – and are unable to find our way back. 

September 19, 2006 – Wajir, Kenya - Merlin

     I saw much in Wajir and Western Somalia.  Many are things I can’t tell you about yet – partially for personal security and partially I just need some time to process.  In the meantime – this was the “good news”.

      The residents of Wajir are extremely poor.  This has been by far the greatest area of need I have seen so far.  On the “Hunger Assessment” scale, these kids are mostly between 6 and 8, compared to 1’s or 2’s across Tanzania and the rest of Kenya.  In addition to being witness to the greatest need, I have also witnessed some very well managed relief.  I have spent most of my time here with an organization called Merlin.  Merlin is an acronym for “Medical Emergency Relief International” and they have programs like this in several countries.  Projects are “need specific”, sometimes water, sometimes nutrition, sometimes pandemic disease and usually a combination of all.  The program here in Wajir is primarily nutrition and health.  They employ 12 teams that spend Monday through Friday making the rounds of villages in their respective regions.  Community volunteers within each village first communicate through village leaders or churches who they are, and set-up mass nutritional screenings for children.  Children who are determined to be malnourished are referred to one of three levels of care:

September 16, 2006 – Wajir, Kenya

     Wajir is probably one of the places you cross off the “have to see” list.  Wajir occupies the northeast portion of Kenya bordering Somalia.  The Wajir ‘district” is about the size of Minnesota and broken into 12 regions.  It’s very hot (104 F as I write) and arid – similar in climate to Mesa Arizona (sans air-conditioning).  The residents are primarily Somali pastoralists – the soil is almost all sand – no tillable soil to speak of – so instead of farming, they raise livestock – goats, sheep and cattle.  They are nomadic - constantly moving around within the region looking for grazing and water for their animals.   Their homes are dome shaped huts made primarily from grass and whatever else they can get their hands on.  I have seen building materials such as burlap and plastic bags, cardboard and even newspaper.

September 7, 2006 – “Little ones to Him belong”

     I met Sarah on the evening of September 5 when was brought into the emergency room of the Kijabe Hospital.  She was unresponsive, had a high fever, was breathing very rapidly and had a pulse rate of over 160 beats per minute (for reference, yours pulse is probably about 60 now).  Her grandmother, whom she had been living with since her parents divorced, brought her in.  When they separated, the father took the 5 older children and the mother had taken the remaining 6.  When the mother couldn’t raise enough support to feed her children, she left for the city to work, and was to send back money.  She hadn’t been heard from in some time.  The grandmother wasn’t sure how long Sarah had been sick – but recalled she had been given some TB medication a few months ago, and that “this one” coughed a lot.

September 3, 2006 - Kijabe, Kenya

     I left Kissi on 8/27 and took a bus to Kijabe – well actually 4 buses. I had a wonderful visit with both Chris and Irene’s families and was also able to meet John’s (Masonic Home) son Darius and his mother. It was a lot of ground to cover in a few days, but I think I met and photographed every living relative. Many thanks to Chris and Irene for all of the travel arrangements and accommodations.

     I am staying at the Kijabe Motel – which by the way, if you’re ever in the area, I highly recommend. For 400 Ksh ($5.50 USD) it can’t be beat. The town of Kijabe is about 1.5 hours east of Nairobi and consists of the hotel, the Rift Valley Academy (a boarding school for missionary kids), the Moffat Bible College, the Kijabe Hospital and a string of small dukas (shops). I have been spending most of my time at the hospital shadowing Dr. Thor Swanson. Pastors Jim and Sandy Rothschiller – who I know from the Prior Lake Waterski Team, introduced me to Dr. Swanson and suggested I visit. Dr. Swanson is an amazing physician, working in nearly every discipline of medicine, but specializing in HIV/AIDS and teaching. He is mentoring several residents – and did I mention he is an ordained Pastor? His wife Karin and their 3 beautiful daughters have been very hospitable and welcoming.

August 25, 2006 - Thika, Kenya

      I’ll be leaving the Kangari area today, and my host family for the past several weeks. Chris and Irene are wonderful people and took very good care of me – constantly going out of their way to help me get around and make connections. If I didn’t mention it in the gallery, Irene’s brother John works at Masonic Home in Bloomington, MN and cares for my Grandma. He is an incredibly kind, compassionate and patient man – and takes very good care of my Grandma. When he heard I was going to Africa, he told me he was from Kenya and asked if I would visit his family. Tomorrow we will leave here for Usenge – Chris’ home village. We will spend a few days in Usenge, travel as far as Kisumu, spend the night in Kisumu then on to Kisii to visit and spend a few days with John and Irene’s family.

August 21, 2006

Emmanuel’s Story

      This is the abbreviated life story of Dr Emmanuel Mbennah. Emmanuel is currently the Country Director for Compassion International, Tanzania.  Emmanuel has also started another NGO – HATUA (meaning steps), which is reaching aid and development programs to the most remote areas of Tanzania.  More information on these organizations is available at the end of this article.  Knowing only who Emmanuel is, and what he does now – is in itself impressive. Hearing the story of where he came from is absolutely awe-inspiring.

August 17, 2006  Thika - Kenya

     I have been in Kenya for a little over 2 weeks now.  For as close as these countries are – literally sharing borders, there are some remarkable differences between them.  The first difference I noticed was lights.  I arrived in Nairobi by bus, about midnight (was scheduled to arrive at 8pm, so right on time).  I couldn’t believe the lights in downtown Nairobi – fluorescent, neon, everything was lit.  In Dar es Salaam most of the lights at night are either candles or kerosene lanterns.  I spent the night in Nairobi and when I awoke the next morning and walked outside – I could have been in New York City. 

August 4, 2006 - Kangari, Kenya

     The most common question I still get is “what are you doing there?”  Very good question – in fact I had to give it some thought.  I came here to serve.  God told me to go to Africa – unfortunately he wasn’t more specific - and Africa is really big.  Until I find the “place” that I’m supposed to be I’m doing by best to serve where I am.  Although day-to-day activities vary greatly depending on where I am, it all kind of boils down to 3 tasks:  Listen, Learn and Love.