Melissa's Kibera

Kijabe AIDSRelief Project

2008-06-18T15:53:00.002-05:00

I found this link for a video about AIDSRelief that I was involved in the last three months in Kenya. It's maybe 10 minutes...enjoy!
http://www.streamakaci.com/ondemand/msdidea/Kijabe_Hospital.asx
Beware, you need Windows Media Player. Okay, to tell you the truth, I didn't try another one. Just let me know if it doesn't work and I"ll email it to you if you want.

Home Again Home Again

2008-06-13T09:43:00.002-05:00

I broke my toe about two hours before I left. My little pinky toe. Just hooked it on my suitcase and Voila! broken toe. So the trip home was interesting, though not as painful as I expected, praise the Lord. SIM treated me well as I stayed there for a day. And it was surprising for me when I remembered I don't need to grab toilet paper on my way out because here, they all have toilet paper in the bathrooms.
Since I arrived in NJ yesterday, it's been good to see my family again. I got to meet my huge nephew and see my two little nieces now so big! But the thing about these past two days is that outside of the changes in the kids, everything feels the same, normal. It's not some crazy shock, and I'm not slipping into life perfectly here yet, but still, in a way, it's like I've never been gone.
This has me nervous because I think that in the next month it will set in just how much has changed, and this "normalcy" will only accentuate that.
Until that time, I'm going to sip coffee, sing songs, play with kids, and enjoy everyone like not a day has passed.
Thanks for your prayers, everyone! Come back to see how my adjustment is going in returning home.
Ps 84:10 says, "A day in your courts [in your will, where you want me] is better than a thousand outside [going where I want, staying where I want]."

One Week

2008-06-03T05:57:00.002-05:00

I have one week until departure.
I'm buying my souvenirs, I'm getting business finished, I'm saying goodbye.
Then next Monday I leave.
My itinerary is as follows.
Monday-- Depart Kenya, 11pm
Tuesday- Arrive NC, SIM-USA 10pm
Wed'day- SIM debrief, Depart NC 5pm, arrive Philly 11:30 pm
Thursday Arrive NJ around 1am.
I know, it's pretty late for a ticker tape parade, but maybe we can just have it on Sunday. See you there!

June

2008-06-02T01:06:00.002-05:00

It's June, everyone. June 2008. Do you know what happens in June? I finish my term; I leave Africa; I come home.
June.
June...

Tiny

2008-05-26T14:07:00.000-05:00

My best friend for the past year has been a Kenyan man who lives in the slum. He makes in a month what I spend on dinner out. He has scars on his body from pangas; I’ve never been in a fight. He speaks three languages, and interprets for me, Miss Monolingual. But he is my best friend. Despite the differences, we’re tighter than brothers. Our favorite verse that we tell each other is Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, but a brother was born for adversity.” And most of the time, he is kind enough to let me believe that we are the same. I can easily forget that I’m white, that I’m rich, that I’m more educated. Though this is one of the parts I treasure most about our relationship, it’s a sham. I am different from him. Every now and then, I get a glimpse of it.
Due to careful handling, it’s only happened two or three times before. But the biggest kick was just a few weeks ago, and I stepped right into it.
We were talking about what it would be like if he came to visit me in America. I told him I’d set him up and take care of his room and board. I laughed as I remembered what my budget will be when I get back and said, “In my tiny apartment.” And then it happened. The veil lifted and we were divided.
He said, “You mean as small as mine?” It was an innocent question, I’m sure of it. Still, it hit me like a brick wall. His house is as big as most of your living rooms. It is probably as big as my “tiny” apartment’s living room will be. There’s no carpet, there’s no light, TV, or computer. He doesn’t have a separate room to sleep or cook in. He doesn’t even have a toilet to call his own.
And I said, “Tiny apartment.”
A big question for people going back to the States after an extensive stay in a third world country is whether their values will change. Will they still see the same things as “necessary?” I’m not even home yet and I’m saying things like this. What an eye-opener.
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?” (Matthew 6:25)
“Ndiyo maana nawaamieni, msiwe na wasiwasi juu ya chakula na kinywaji mnavyohitaji ili kuishi, wala juu ya mavazi mnayohitaji kwa ajili ya miili yenu. Je, maisha ni chakula tu au zaidi? Na mwili, je, si zaidi ya mavazi?” (Mathayo 6:25)

Again and Forever

2008-05-24T08:12:00.002-05:00

Let's imagine (as I'm in the habit of doing) that Heaven is real. It's a real place, and one day it will really exist in the physical form and will never die away. All inhabitants of it will never die away, and they will be in perfect harmony together.
Imagine that everyone who loves God on earth will go to this place.
This is my solace and my hope while preparing to leave here. I have three weekends left on this continent and there are so many people that I want to spend all my time with. Since this is impossible, chances are, I'll see most people only a few more times before going. And chances are, they will be the last.
I really don't like relationships because they constantly need to come to an end. But if Heaven is real, if everyone who loves God on earth will love Him forever in a place, then it need not be the end. That means that I may say goodbye to Ebby here, but I'll be able to ask her about her baby one day when all is finished. That means that I'll see how many lives Hyda touched here on earth, or that I'll be able to talk to Genesis all day every day for 10,000 years. What is the biggest joy, which also will produce the biggest pain for now, is that I'll see Arthur again. I trusted my life to him (truly was that tested in January) and he has become closer than a brother to me. If we don't get the chance to see each other here again (something I will actively fight against) it's okay. Because Heaven is real. Eternity is real. And one day, I'll see my brethren there, gathered around the throne, and we will talk endlessly and there will be no more goodbyes.
Hallelujah.

One time I split my thumb

2008-05-18T03:06:00.000-05:00

One time I split my thumb open. Right at the top, where it opens again every time you move it. I busted it while carrying a bucket of chai into the church and ran into the doorway. I cut it on the iron sheet. Clean cut, too.
No, I did not cry, despite what Hyda will tell you.

Hillary or Obama?

2008-05-18T03:05:00.000-05:00

I’m not making an opinion on the guy or not, but every Kenyan asks me about Obama. Since June 25, I get asked all the time if I’m voting for Obama or Hillary. It’s big news over here, a half-Kenyan with a shot for the President’s seat. They think that if he takes office, suddenly Kenya will be taken care of and the US and Kenya will be tight like brothers. I try to tell them that Obama hasn’t mentioned anything about taking care of his father’s country but in vain. I don’t mention the fact that Obama probably doesn’t have particularly strong ties to anything related to the father who abandoned him, but I do tell them that I’m voting for Obama…the time when McCain ain’t running.
McCain 2008. ;-)

Friday Nights Out

2008-05-18T03:03:00.001-05:00

What does a young missionary girl do on a Friday night? The hottest thing around: she does her food shopping.
Every Friday night, my housemates and I went food shopping at a nearby supermarket which had a plaza you could eat at, too. So this was our big plan. And remember, we looked forward to this.
Since curfew was at 6 at night the rule was that you couldn’t be out or on public transportation after 6. Being in a well known place like Prestige Plaza is okay because it’s a public place and you’re inside, so long as you don’t walk home but take a taxi instead. So we would time our walk to get us to Prestige precisely at six. Then we’d take our time and get dinner. It’s never good to go food shopping on an empty stomach, you know. After dinner, we’d go downstairs to the supermarket and do our shopping for the week. We’d get a taxi home for a small amount, and have our faces pressed to the window to see Nairobi in the dark, a sight seldom seen. Finally, we’d pull into our compound and relish the fact that we’ve been out late. Late being 8:00 pm.
Honestly, we considered this the highlight of our week. Take pity.

Cleaning the Building

2008-05-18T03:01:00.000-05:00

One of my fondest memories in Kenya is when my project in Kibera cleaned up before we moved into our new building. It still had a lot of work to be done, but with all the dusty mess, the workers couldn’t see what needed to be repaired or filled in. So the project got its youth members to come and clean the building one Saturday. We rolled up our trousers and began sweeping out all the rooms. This created a cloud of dust from the whole place, I tell you. After minor asthmatic attacks, we resumed our work. The real fun (and what a sight) is when they began washing the floors. Their method was to shake detergent powder all over the floor of one room, then pour water from the jugs they kept retrieving on top, and take the local broom, which looks like bundles of twigs, and mix it all up. It made so many suds that you just had to take your shoes off because soap bubbles were everywhere. Then each room poured out into the hallways, and from the hallways, the soap streamed onto the porches and into the ditches outside used for water removal. It was pouring out of every cavity, wave after wave. All the houses were out, taking their first look at their new neighbors, pushing and playing in a massive amount of suds! It may not have given them the best first impression of us, but it gave me a great first impression of the building.

Burning Boat

2008-05-18T02:53:00.000-05:00

Of course there’s a burning boat in the middle of the road.
Of course the reason why we can’t get our bus back to Nairobi is because it can’t even get out of Busia because of the FLAMING BOAT the size of a small van.
It’s January 1, 2008, and I am in Busia, tired and hopeless, looking at this boat barrier, and waiting to hear the verdict on how much more I’ll have to pay for a taxi to take me out of here.
It’s here when Adam takes out his camera for a picture. I tell him to be careful, and he slyly takes it out, keeps the camera at his side, and snaps a photo. He doesn’t pause to check if the picture is good, but quickly returns it to his backpack. Within 20 minutes, it’s gone from his bag and our last chance at bringing home any tangible memories is gone with it.
So instead of uploading a picture of this, you’ll just have to close your eyes and imagine the flames.

Packages and Teeth

2008-04-26T14:00:00.000-05:00

Here in Africa, they say, “Hurry hurry gets you no blessing.”
They must have had the postal service in mind.
There are girls whose packages were sent as they were leaving on their six-month term and after they went home, still no mail. Of course, there are the people who get their package just in the knick of time to pack it up and take it home. Let me not forget those packages that had gotten sucked up into a black hole, never to be heard from again.
My packages did arrive, only two to three months after they were sent. Of course, those ugly little clashes didn’t expedite the delivery. But it was exciting to see the first manila envelope waiting for me. I had saved it because it was right before Christmas, so I didn’t open it until my house celebrated. I remembered being excited as I pulled out food of all sorts (since people love me and read my blog), especially chocolate. But I saw how some chocolate got on everything in the bag. I kept pulling more things out until my friend pointed out that the corner of the bag was ripped. Alas, it wasn’t ripped. Some rat had gnawed at the bag and ate some of the chocolate in it! We took pictures of the “evidence” so people would believe us. It was a real laugh!
So imagine how funny it was when the next package came in and had similar holes and teeth marks. But the next two?? I’m not sure if it was the Kenyan side or NJ side, but every package I got, a rat had eaten a corner off and helped itself to whatever rested there.
Welcome to missionary life.

Where?

2008-04-26T13:56:00.000-05:00

SIM allows some days away from work where you can check out other ministries. So I used the opportunity to see another HIV/AIDS ministry across town. I was going to meet the missionary I would be staying with downtown at the Hilton Hotel. (Yes, they’re everywhere.) I knew that a couple buses went into town, but I wasn’t sure if it would pass the hotel. So I hailed a bus down, and as I was getting on, I asked the conductor in my Jersey accent, “Does this go to the Hilton?”
“What?” the man replied.
I remembered that we swallow our ‘t’s, so I said again, “Does this go to the Hilton?” this time stressing the ‘t’.
He still looked confused. “Where?”
Finally someone overhearing our conversation chimed in and said to the conductor, “The Heel-Ton.”
“Oh, the Heel-Ton. Yeah, this goes to the Heel-Ton.”
I would like to thank America for teaching me to not pronounce ‘t’s, and to Kenya for being completely phonetic and pronounce the ‘i’ as “ee”, even on an American word.

Keeping Their Seats

2008-04-26T13:51:00.000-05:00

Upon arrival in Kenya, you are obviously noticed. You’re white, and everyone (for miles) sees it. Children run to get their friends to come look at the mzungu. You are invited to people’s houses on the basis of your skin, you are given the best of food, drink, transport. In fact, one time, my white friend and I were trying to leave work and it was getting late, so we were going to take transport home. A matatu (taxi van) came around the bend to stop to let a passenger out. The conductor saw us, called to the two passengers in the front, and they got out of the vehicle. The conductor told the two men to get out at the stop because we were white and he wanted to give us a ride.
I heard about the mzungu influence before I came to Africa, and the idea really bothered me. It bothered me even more once I got here, let me tell you! My first week of work clearly showed the influence. I was invited to the HIV support group where five or so people plus staff gathered in our tailoring room. Worktables and wooden benches cluttered the area. When I went in to the room, a woman got up from one of the few plastic chairs for me to sit there. A woman, who was a client, a woman, who was HIV positive, a woman, who was older, moved for me. The mzungu factor.
I told a couple long-term missionaries about this, and kept telling them, “I wish they wouldn’t move for me.” I was given hope that with time, the people I worked with and for would not see me as white, but as Melissa. Or at the very least, as white Melissa.
Some time passed, and by and by, chances occurred where people could have given me the best in sacrifice. The chances came and went. Eventually, people would make room for me not on the plastic chair, but on the wooden bench.
And I was happy to report to the missionaries that they kept their seats.

Missing Kenya

2008-04-17T07:57:00.002-05:00

In 8 weeks I’ll be home, and I am scared as anything to leave this place. I keep asking people who already have gone home what they miss most about Kenya. Why is it so special? It makes me think, too. So here’s my list of things I presume I’ll miss, certainly not exhaustive.
1) Prayer. Not like no one in America prays, but they pray different here. A leader will say, “Okay, now we’ll pray about our families,” and everyone prays at the same time, at normal level of talking, or singing, or shouting, and we’ll pray and pray and pray. Then the leader will say one culminating prayer, then say, “Let’s go to God in prayer about our country,” and it goes on from there. It doesn’t happen everywhere here, but when it does, it’s usually spontaneous leading out of singing. Oh, and I’ll just include singing here.
2) Women with head wraps and in skirts. Nothing says “Mama Africa” like a head wrap. These usually colorful cloths range from an old wrap to elegant and LARGE. Along in this category is women carrying huge loads on their heads or on their backs with a strap across their forehead.
3) Matatus. No, really, I’ll miss these public commercial vans that are pimped out. The fares can vary, the safety can vary, and the number of people it holds vary (what is supposed to be 14 people with seatbelts for all can go as high as 20). But they have a soft spot in my heart.
4) Shaking hands. So when I get home, if I shake your hand, don’t think I’m being proper. And if I continue to shake your hand for over a minute while I ask about your family, please don’t be creeped out.
5) Markets. Mostly fruit markets. It’s really a beautiful thing to see a shack with bananas, apples, avocados, and a myriad of fruit to create a rainbow of colors. Oh, and the fruit here is so much better. Something with it not being shot up with preservatives and packed on ice. Oh, and that goes for all food. Not many packaged foods here, so you actually get real nutrients from food. Imagine.
6) Keys. They have cool skeleton key looking keys here. I’ll miss them so.
7) Coke. It’s better here. Add also my favorite Kenyan food.
8) Being able to buy something under a dollar.
9) How everything is fluid. It’s not black-and-white here. You bargain for food, clothes, fare, anything. And there’s no spatial concept here, so you have no personal space, which means that neither do they. People come up with innovative solutions to problems like busted walls, hot pans on an open range, leaking roofs, and storing 10 lbs of stuff in a 5 lb bag. It’s cool to be around, unless you end up with someone practically sitting on top of you when all you want to do is breathe.
10) Compliments. It’s customary to say something nice about visitors, guests, or anyone who is in the light for a certain reason. It has given me a big ego that I expect my friends and family to maintain when I return.
11) Youth active in the church.
12) Looking out for monkeys, chameleons, geckos, antelope, and zebra.
13) Warm weather. Really. Us Bergs are allergic to the cold. I hate it with a passion.
14) Kenyan humor. They really enjoy plays on words here. Which makes me smile, and laugh genuinely.
15) How it’s perfectly normal and acceptable for people to hop in your vehicle just because you’re going in the same direction.

I’m not gone yet, so let me get on with enjoying Kenya while I can!

Grace

2008-04-17T07:54:00.000-05:00

The Kiswahili word for “pray” also means “beg.”
I had a rough week. It was full of doubt in my work, feeling useless, and that I have once again let God down. And this past week especially, I have seen how I’ve fallen.

I believe it’s all Rob’s fault. While he was here, he prayed with every person, encouraged the clients, and even was about to lead a man he met at a market to Christ. Now, in his 11 days, he clearly explained the gospel to one person, and touched others’ lives. In my 9 months, was I so bold? Did I see the Gospel as the one thing that I needed to tell people? This is increasingly easy to feel, by the way, when you are a missionary.
I guess where Rob excels is where I fall short. I often shrink back from the opportunity to share with people, to pray with people, to read some Bible to people. It made me evaluate who I am, and where my passion has gone. I was reading over my prayers before I came to Kenya and the first months I was here, and they were filled with amazement of God’s grace, humility in every area of my life, and passion for my work here.
I began fighting myself. Why couldn’t I be as excited as Rob? I know all the cliché stuff to say. But they didn’t impassion me. And as my heart felt crushed under my new revelation of myself, I decided to write again in my prayer journal, wanting to know what I was missing. The page had the verse 2 Corinthians 9:8: “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.”
I thought, “That’s it! My good work is out of, or because of, grace abounding in me.” So there was what I had lacked. I lacked humility, I lacked forgiveness (my own infliction, I’m sure), and I lacked grace.
I needed grace.
So like Jacob wrestled God for his blessing and would not let go until he received it, so also I decided to wrestle God until I received my grace. I decided to be in prayer when I should have been eating, and to mourn over my pride, strength, and everything else that had been keeping me from God and from doing His work. I told God my plan to not let go until He gave me grace.
I prayed that He would do it for His name. I told God that He would be glorified through working through me. I said that He should bring me down, and make me humble, and that He should through that lift me up. It would be in His interest to do it for me, I told Him. Still, nothing.
Then, as I prayed to God, I felt that I exhausted new words to tell Him. I still was quite adamant about holding onto God until He gave me grace. I meant it, too. I would not falter. It made me think more about why I wanted His grace. Why was it so important to me? While I could explain to God why it would be to His benefit, I had yet to consider why it would be mine. It seems like a simple “duh” moment, but I tell you, I cried to God about how His grace is my life, about how if I didn’t have His grace, I wouldn’t be able to work, I wouldn’t even be able to get out of bed. His grace was my bread. He had to give it to me for my sake. At that point, I was begging for my life in a very real sense (those who ever dealt with depression or true remorse know what I mean). It was a feeling I haven’t had for a while, to not see God as a Master I needed to please, but to see Him again as my Savior.
An hour later, we were gathered for dinner over a friend’s house, and the father of the house read a devotion about grace. I received my grace. And now I stand in it, feeling the weight off my shoulders and ready for work with a renewed strength.

Everything Went Wrong

2008-04-17T07:31:00.000-05:00

This is the official update of the “Rob Time”.
It was absolutely great to have him here. I felt like a school girl when I first saw him in the airport before he saw me. Imagine, the first time I see him in 9 months. I found myself saying, “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh.” That night, instead of conking out in an hour, we stayed up until 1 am, a full 3 hours after being in the house, the longest that I have known anyone to stay up after that flight.
While in Nairobi, he stayed in the townhouse next to me, and when we were in Kijabe I booked him a room in the motel a few doors from me. We were at Kijabe for four days, and worked three of those days. The rest of the time, I took him around Nairobi, including visiting Kibera twice.
He was fantastic! He jumped right in with everyone, whether it was my friends in Nairobi, or my work at Kijabe. He loved my surrogate brother Nathan who lives on the Nairobi compound, and loved Arthur, Rob’s self-appointed brother and my best friend in Kenya. Everyone liked him and he liked everyone, much to my pleasure.
But he didn’t like everything I wanted to show him. Well, he didn’t not like it, but he wasn’t impressed with it. He didn’t like the running course I told him to run and tried his own. An hour later, I got a call from him after he borrowed someone’s phone, and had to track him down with the vague descriptions I received. I ended up running with him, which I’m sure was always his dream, when it started downpouring on the walk home. (Thanks, Bwana, for the shoes.) I tried taking him to the Arboretum, which is a fancy park with monkeys all around. So I said, great, I’ll take him there! But apparently, if you want to actually see the monkeys, they hide. Not one monkey. I even tried to take him (and 7 other people) to the Nairobi Game Park for a one-day safari. The park has every big animal except the elephant. So I thought, great! But because of some confusion with the taxi, we ended up going nowhere at 6:15 am. Praise the Lord, even this he took in stride. Me, however, I was a wreck. So, all my plans turned up bad or messed up half the time. But that’s life, especially mine.
All in all, I was inspired by him here. I can’t wait to actually marry him when I get back. He’s an easy man to love. It even took some of the sting out when he said, “I’ll see you in 9 weeks!”
1 week down, Darling.

The Eagle Has Landed

2008-03-28T16:13:00.002-05:00

Operation Fiance is in effect.
Rob arrived last night, and by the time we got back to the compound it was 10 pm. But he came intact, still with energy (surely from seeing me), and with his luggage. He just spent one whole day in Nairobi, and is now asleep again.
And me, I'm just about to be the same way.
Lala salama. Good night.

So I went to Maasai land

2008-03-27T08:53:00.002-05:00

On my community work, I went out to "Maasai Land." I have to tell you, it's a good thing I don't get paid for this or I'd feel guilty. The Maasai are the warriors who kill lions for their initiation. They have the big beaded jewelry, own lots of land, and have claim on one of the game parks for safaris. So we're in a double cab truck and I look outside my window to see the goats running out of our way, when alas, they aren't goats running--they're antelope. So I get happy as can be and cry out, "Antelope!" They (all being Kenyan) laugh and one says, "And you see there--giraffes." So I lunge to the other side of the car, squint as much as possible, and verily there are giraffes jutting out of the horizon. Five, maybe six of them. And I am in awe.
I love my work.

1 Week, 26 Emails, and 11 Days

2008-03-16T11:01:00.002-05:00

I have been at Kijabe (kee-jo-bee) for 1 week. I unpacked, taken a self-guided tour of the area and the hospital, ate at 3 people's homes, and became productive in the clinic here. It's hard for me to dive into something. I'm generally outgoing unless I don't feel comfortable. This is definately a case where I don't feel comfortable! I don't know where I am, where I fit, who I can talk to. But I made up my mind to be more outgoing right at the bat. I think that the approach, although out of my comfort zone, has helped me, along with the invaluable help of the Letchfords and Jane at work. They have taught me the workings of the area and the clinic, respectively. God is good, and after one week, I feel comfortable here. Of course, the next two weeks will be more testing while I begin going out into the community. So don't let the prayers stop now!
I told you that I wasn't sure about my internet access. Finally, on Sunday night, I get on. Waiting in my inbox is 26 messages!! I don't know whether to be overwhelmed or encouraged! Please, keep them coming, though I'm not sure how much energy I'll have to get on after my field work starts.
It's funny how I'll still be in training when Rob comes to work with me here. It will be my first week of being outside the clinics and in people's homes. So we'll learn together, which is not how I imagined it would be when he comes out, but God in His infinite humor, made it this way. Imagine, just 11 days until his arrival, and I still have to find him a bed to stay in at Kijabe...
Thanks for all your prayers, and I will try to keep you posted as I learn what my role will be here. No doubt, it will hold new challenges than my work in Kibera. I want to stay strong and persevere in them because I am sure this is where I'm supposed to be.
"Whatever my lot, thou has taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul."

More Good News

2008-03-09T05:45:00.002-05:00

So someone went to Kenya in June last year, right? And that someone was engaged. Well, now that someone's fiance is coming to visit her! I'll give you 10 Kenyan Shillings if you can guess who I'm talking about.
Okay, so this week has been amazing. First, I get a job, and a place to stay at that job. Then, I get to see a booked ticket for Rob Patterson to come to Kenya! He's coming in just a few short weeks. He arrives here the 27th of March and will be here for 10 days. We'll do some tourist stuff and some work (put him to work on his vacation, that's right). And then he'll come home with stories of the great work that's happening in Kenya.
Now I have to run. Today is busy, since I have to get everything together for my move tomorrow. It's weird to see my bedroom's walls so bare. It was covered with letters and cards from everyone back home. Now, it's stripped. What a rotten reminder that I'll be leaving here in three months. Until then, I have a new place to move into, new coworkers and roommates, new work, and if that's not enough to take my mind off things, Rob will.
Thanks, Dad, for help with the good news. And thanks Heavenly Dad, too!

Nina Fanya Kazi!

2008-03-06T05:10:00.002-05:00

That's Swahili for "I have work!" After two months of searching for another ministry, I finally have found one. I will be working at Kijabe Hospital, in Kijabe, Kenya. It's a small town an hour from where I'm currently staying. The hospital is a missionary hospital, started by Africa Inland Mission (AIM). They have an AIDS section, where they have a full clinic, pharmacy, and community work. The initiative is "Relief for AIDS." I will be involved in the community work, which looks a lot like what I was doing in Kibera. I have a chance to work in different areas around Kijabe, and visit many clients in their houses. I will give them company, pray with them, read Scripture with them, like before, and as a new aspect, will be helping medically, too, by counting pills to make sure they are on track, and asking about any opportunistic infections (since HIV lowers your immune system, you are more likely to get infections).
I'll be living on hospital grounds, with two Kenyan doctors (women, of course). I will again have my own room, which is cool to have still, and have many of the same amenities I have here (including a washing machine, praise the Lord). I probably won't have easy access to internet like I do here, but I will make it a point to try to get online when I can.
I am really excited about this chance, and about moving to a new set of friends. Not to mention, I'll be involved in a ministry that's connected to the culture again. Plus, since I'm living with Kenyans, I'll brush up on my mad ugali skills (you know, the cake-like staple made of maize flour. You know.)
Now I have to pack up my room to get ready for the move Monday!

Prepositions

2008-03-02T07:59:00.002-05:00

Sometimes in Kenya, even the best English speakers confuse prepositions. They would say, "It's in the table" instead of on it, you see. So in church today, during prayer, a Kenyan man was thanking God and said in a list of things, "...great things you do to us..." I laughed a little, and was assured that God knew what he meant, "great things you do for us," not to us. But then I thought about it. "To" works. God does great things for us, yes. Isn't it Jesus who died for us? But God has done great things to us indeed, if we are His children. He has transformed hearts, minds, attitudes, our lives! And that is a work that He did to us. Now I'm not sure what preposition my clergyman intended to use, but after thinking this out, I again prayed, thanking God for the great things that He does to us.
"For He who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." (Phil 1:6)
"Mungu aliyeanza kazi hii njema ndani yenu, ataiendeleza mpaka ikamilike katika siku ile ya Kristo Yesu." (Wafilipi 1:6)

Peace in Kenya

2008-02-28T15:21:00.002-05:00

Praise the Lord that He is good! Though we cry for what seems like too long, the Lord always answers our prayers! Earlier this week, the opposition party called for more demonstrations, which would stir up trouble. But they were called off yesterday, just one day before they were supposed to happen. Then, tonight, instead of a day of demonstrations, there was a day of peace. The two leaders have come together to sign a treaty of power sharing. Though details are vague, the news is nonetheless a huge relief. Join with me and the country of Kenya with thanksgiving!
BBC News article:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7268903.stm

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

2008-02-25T13:52:00.002-05:00

I have been out of work for two months. This, as one may guess, is a bit out of my plans. However, the wait may be over. I see light at the end of the tunnel.
One option is right here in Nairobi working with a church doing social service work, including an HIV department. It is nearby, a well-run organization, and I could help their HIV ministry with my prior experience.
The other option is Kijabe Hospital, about an hour outside of Nairobi. The mission hospital has an HIV unit, which includes community work like I was doing in Kibera. I visited there today, and it is a solid organization, with a lot of experience behind it and a lot of work ahead of it. However, this would require me moving and I would have to work out housing, which is tight up there.
Join with me in prayer, as I seek the Lord with what to do. My selfishness in me says that I want to live here at home for the remaining time, but that I also want to work at Kijabe to gain some more knowledge. But I am reminded that it's not ME who has to make decisions on my own, but I have an all-knowing Father who I can ask, and who will grant me all wisdom if only I ask.

Rob's face

2008-02-17T04:29:00.002-05:00

I saw Rob yesterday! No, he didn't come to Kenya. But through the great technological advances of the 21st century, I saw Rob. I had a webcam/Skype session with Rob and some of my care team. It was wonderful to see everyone. Like I said to Jake yesterday, I can hear someone's voice, or read their emails, but seeing someone is different. The same thing happened when I saw my friends from Kibera for the first time. I knew they were okay; I talked to them. But seeing them was different. Now, my webcam didn't work, so they can't say the same thing, but I still got to see them. Praise the Lord!
And I'm marrying a good looking guy.

Christy's Gone

2008-02-13T14:49:00.002-05:00

My housemate since I've moved here, Christy, is gone. She left today, to go back home, as they all do. Kenya is taking on a new tone for this last leg. First, my ministry is delayed, then changing (slowly), then a whole new house set-up is coming. And since I still don't know where I'll be working next, the surprises are never-ending. And just as I get used to it, I'll be packing my bags and saying goodbye.
I've said before, and will remind myself now, that we all say goodbye at one stage. Just when you're a missionary you have the privelage to know, God willing, when you're saying it.
Miss you, Christy.

A Tour Through My House, Part 1

2008-02-06T09:50:00.000-05:00

First, you have to come in off the street through our main gate.

Now walk around the back of my townhouse.

Come through our back gate, where our washing machine and other stuff is.

This is first room through the door. It's called the Red Room where the computer (and refrigerator) stay. Our main hang out room.

Then after that, you come through to our kitchen.

A Tour Through My House, Part 2

2008-02-06T09:40:00.000-05:00

This is our phone/junk room. If I call you, it's from here. It used to be a prayer room...uh...

This is our cool living room (dining room to the left of where you'd be standing). Nice furniture, and if you look close, you can see our tv. Oh, and my roommates.

Go on up the stairs.

You're looking into my bathroom upstairs. Don't worry, the shower's behind the door.

The sink has two taps! Crazy!

A Tour Through My House, Part 3

2008-02-06T08:55:00.000-05:00

This is my (own!) room. Notice the mosquito net!

And this is my beloved desk...ah, the simple things in life.

Go onto my balcony, and if you look to the gate you'll see this.

And this is a straight view. Not much, eh? But it's Africa!

Long-winded and Incomplete

2008-02-06T02:35:00.000-05:00

By popular demand, my trip broken down by days.
Dec 23- left at night to border town of Busia
Dec 24- arrived at Arthur's mother's around 8 and had a bonfire to celebrate. Walked up the mountain/hills in Arthur's backyard.
Dec 25- went to church, hung around
Dec 26- went to Arthur's sister's house for lunch, then his other sister's to spend the night. Long, fun day of travel. Lots of soda.
Dec 27- Election day. We were supposed to go back to A's mom's house but stayed put because it may have been unsafe to travel. Ironic. Two armed men came to find a man came into the house "for water". He had a truck of weapons, and the police arrested him. The polling station was in the same compound as our house.
Dec 28- Went to Arthur's mom's despite suspicion we may not be able to get a vehicle. Went on the most crowded matatu of my life. I was standing for most of the trip. Booked our return tickets to Nairobi for Jan 1.
Dec 29- Planned to go to Busia, border town, to stay with another sister for the night. Took a taxi at 11 am, just for it to turn around after finding out that the town was fighting. We waited around a restaurant till we tried again to go around 4. Couldn't find a vehicle going that direction, but Arthur convinced a matatu (taxi van) to go to Busia. So we hopped on, only to be dropped off at the edge of town. We then had to walk and walk and walk in the heat for more than an hour, I bet. The town was still in disarray. They had roadblocks--piles of stones, wood, garbage, turned over cars--and some were still on fire. Burnt out buildings. Gun shots behind us to our right. I never saw anything like it. People were walking around, but it could be different if you're white. Luckily, it wasn't. We stayed at a house with a gate around it and guards, who were Maasai warriors (look them up on google images). Apparently, she has them all the time. Maasai is a tribe that is still very traditional (if not just for the tourism) and so this guy had his traditional weapons: bow and arrow, knife. And he was dressed in full Maasai gear. We had pictures but...
Dec 30- Sunday. On the way to church, we saw some that weren't open. Arthur went to the border to see if it's open, and Adam and I went to church with his sister. At about 10:30, we walked to the border with Arthur, about a 30 minute walk. We got through the border. We exchanged our money and got on a matatu to Jinja, a tourist section. We took the craziest matatu ride 2 1/2 hours to a place none of us have been to. There, a mzungu picked us up in a car with air conditioning. She is Evelyn Frost, and her and her husband were our hosts for the night. They are a friend of a friend of a friend in the mission world. We had spaghetti waiting for us, and a shower. (I was taking baths out of buckets up until then.) Us three took a walk to see Lake Victoria ahead of us. We strolled around the perimeter for a while, and tried to get a ride on a fishing boat, but to no avail. We found our way to the Source of the Nile, and it made the whole day worth it. We stayed until we had to walk back before night. It was a 20 minute walk away. When we got back, we listened to news and emailed our families. Rumor had it the border wouldn't be open the next day. This is also the day I discovered I had my camera stolen. But we still had Adam's!
Dec 31- We were supposed to go back to Kenya but for some reason which I forget (i think we heard the border was closed) we stayed. So we went to Bujangali Falls, which is an area for white water rafting, and you can go bungie jumping on the Nile. So that was so nice. Evelyn offered to drive us. We also bought souvenirs, being official tourists. A nice day. Adam and I were the only ones awake for the New Year.
Jan 1- We left for Kenya. We thought things would be okay, for real. Like the story said. We get there, and surprise, no bus. We had to pay out the butt to get a taxi back to Arthur's mom's. No vehicles moving. So instead of paying 50 shillings, we paid 1000! During that time, Adam had his camera stolen. Arthur came up with an idea that he could find his friend who may be riding in the next day. He was gone for a while, but Adam and I stayed at his mom's. Then I got a text from my director saying, "DO NOT TRAVEL BY ROAD." So we called that off. My credit was getting limited on my phone (they're prepaid), and no credit was available in the town. Both guys had no credit. In contact with him about plans for tomorrow. Decided to get up early to look for ride back to Busia to go back to Uganda and fly out. Adam called his parents and had them wire money into his acct. Between us we had enough money to get us to Entebbe the next day, but not for the border. We had just $50 between us.
Jan 2- Woke up at 5 am, Arthur went looking for a ride, and we waited. We had no credit to call him, and we were just waiting. Arthur came back and said he had a guy who would drive us if he could get gas (by this time, the road had been blocked and no gas or credit for phone was getting past Kisumu). So we sent a boy out with a jug to look for gas. Odds were against us because he first had to find a gas station with anything, then the station would probably be selling it for higher, then they weren't giving gas into jugs for fear it'd be used to set things on fire. But alas, the gas came! I grabbed my stuff, only to wait for two hours, without having credit to call Arthur who took the gas to his friend's house. Then I gave up, and just wanted to stay where we were. If so much could go wrong, then why try anymore? The fact was, we weren't sure if we could get through the border, if the matatus were running on the other side (because of the gas situation) or how much that would be, and we still had to find an ATM open on our side of the border. I asked Adam to just quit, and Adam said okay, that we'd walk to a restaurant in town and read and drink Cokes and stuff. So we're on our way, all resigned of any hope, and then it happens. Arthur comes riding up in a car with a two guys. So off we go. Turns out the first guy said he didn't want to go because he feared it--after we had bought him gas, mind you. Out of the limited resources we have. This guy wanted 2,000 shillings because he rode from Busia to Arthur's mom's, and back, to 1K each way. Okay, what choice do we have? So we go, and he has to swerve around roadblock after roadblock, and we are pulled up right to the border. No ATM is working, so no extra money, but we try. We go to the same guy who yesterday stamped our exit stamp, and we ask if he could do us a favor. He said, "I told you so, $50 a piece." So much for nice people. Since we only have one $50 bill, we ask what to do. He points us to an ATM that hands out local currency which the border accepts. Hallelujah! Arthur walks through with us (for some reason, he can???) and hooks us up with his uncle, who exchanges our money and checks for the matatu ride, which is more expensive but we can do it. We say goodbye to Arthur and go to the capitol Kampala, where we catch another matatu to Entebbe. The matatu station was crazy busy, and we had to practically throw ourselves in! We ask the driver if he knows the place we're going and he says yes, but really he doesn't. So we are desperately looking out for the place she said (we know this family through the mission world, too). We find it, get off, get picked up, and taken for supper. This is a family, with four daughters and a pilot father. So we stay there till we can find a flight out. By the time we get there, it's late and we're tired, so we crash after dinner. Oh, but the mother made me coffee icecream for my birthday that she didn't know I was having.
Jan 3- We hung around, and meandered outside. Across the street, basically their front yard, is Lake Victoria. So we sit on the private beach, wishing we could swim in it (it has a bug you can catch in it...not good). We then decide to walk to the Entebbe airport, which we figure was an hour walk. We wanted to go there to check flight info, and just wanted to get out. So off we go. No, no, at almost running speed, we make it there in an hour and a half. We are dying because of the heat. The cheapest flight we find is $168. More than we were expecting. But we saw a sign for this airline that had a special for $70 to Nairobi. Their office was closed, we race home, and have another night with our host family.
Jan 4- Call the other airline, called "Royal Daisy." They have tickets and fly out on Mondays and Fridays. Jan 4 was a Friday. So we jumped on the offer. We were packed and out the door by 3. We told our director about the flight, and it left at 7, land 1:10 later. So we were at the airport, not believing we were about to go home. This is the shadiest airline. They don't have our flight number or departure time on our tickets. Of course, it may be because it was written by hand. Yeah. Weird. Then our flight wasn't even on the departure screen. They said it was "normal." Okay. Then they call our flight to board and it's the wrong flight number (we eventually got one). But still we continue. We tell our director we're on the flight, and we'll be there. He sends the taxi. Then, after in the air, then inform us (all 12 people) that we're also landing in Eldoret. You know, one of the worst areas in Kenya at that time. Yeah, so we had a bit of a detour. Finally, we get to the airport, we don't have to pay an entry visa. (That's why I'm a Kenyan resident, not no Ugandan one.) We get picked up by a taxi, and off to the compound we go. It never looked so beautiful.

2008-02-04T05:02:00.000-05:00

God is doing great things, but what He is doing, I don't know. I know that I am in His hands, but where they are pushing me, I dont' know. This week, I will be looking at where to serve the rest of my time here. Though I love Kibera, I cannot wait for it to open up for service again. Violence and unrest keeps me out of it. If it's not safe for the residents, it's certainly not safe for me, a mzungu (white) outsider. Thus this week is a week of checking out other ministries. There are a handful I'll be praying over, and please join me in prayer. I'll let you know where God takes me!

Rice-a-roni, the Cross, and Irish Mafia

2008-01-28T14:14:00.000-05:00

This can only mean one thing...I got my packages! Yes, that's right, not one package, not two, my friends. No, no, I got THREE packages! Thank you, darling Rob, and thank you care team, especially the Dybecks! I got socks! I got soup mixes! I got chocolate (including German and Lindt truffles...as if there were any other kind). I got kitchen knives! I got gummy bears! I got two Piper books, the sermon series of "The Cross", and "The Departed." Praise the Lord for the senders. It's fun and adventurous to be the "go-ers" of the mission world. But how beautiful are the senders.
Plus, I just watched three episodes of The Office. With my chocolate.

Tuombe

2008-01-24T14:39:00.000-05:00

I was flustered at first to think of an answer, "What have you seen God doing in the wake of this political unrest?" I wasn't sure. I was sure he was doing SOMETHING, just not sure what. By that time, I heard the bad stories, but not the good ones. Since then, I've had the pleasure of hearing and seeing God moving. Hearing about how a community stood up and held together--intertribal--and said no to further violence, saw how God brought rain for four days ending a drought...oh, and those four days happened to be four consecutive days of unrest, and the rain drove many numbers to stay indoors, saw how there was no scheduled rally today. I cannot nor will not shrug these off as coincidence or luck. There are no such things! There is God, mighty and able. Friday, June 25th, the nation of Kenya is called to prayer. A major political leader announced this "Day of Prayer" to lift up the country Kenya, and ask for peace, amani, and for an answer to this problem. Will you join us tomorrow?

Prisoner for Christ

2008-01-15T05:11:00.000-05:00

Well, maybe not for Christ directly, but He brought me here! I am on lockdown today, a day earlier than the demonstrations are supposed to start. Today, Parliament opened, and police in riot gear were all over the street. One slum (not Kibera) was having attacks on homes again and some of our Kenyan staff on the compound were sent home. It seems as if this stalemate between the leaders will go on for longer. Again, look to BBC News for up-to-date information. Think of me as you leave your houses to go to work, or the store, or a friend's house. And think of Kenya as we hunker down again and wait out the next political storm.
Rob, where's your package now?

And the days drag on

2008-01-14T05:49:00.000-05:00

Some are asking, "Melissa, so you're back safe...but what are you doing?" I have yet to return to my ministry. Kibera is too hostile for us white folks just yet. I have had other work to do around the compound, though, work that would help serve the administration here. I have NOT been stuck on the compound. In fact, for the past week, I've been able to travel around Nairobi as usual. However, this could all change Wednesday, which is supposed to kick off a three-day rally in Nairobi and other parts of Kenya. This can be potentially harmful. Today I went to the grocery store and stocked up on foods, as did the rest of Nairobi! It means that I will be on lockdown from Wednesday to Friday, and maybe even longer. These rallies have a making of another outburst, as police are in full force, and protesters are gearing up for a fight. Hopefully, these rallies will be cancelled like the past few attempts have been. So my status right now is that I'm doing administrative work, and allowed to roam about with the usual restrictions, but all that could change in just a couple days! Pray about this...only God is wise enough to know the answers. I'll give you an update on Wednesday, or you could look to BBC News. For now, admin calls...

I hate

2008-01-09T11:25:00.000-05:00

saying goodbye. I hate it. I thought that being a missionary for one year would avoid those goodbyes after investing in people's lives. Alas, living on a compound, you know more short term missionaries than you can count. And they all leave.
My friend, fellow traveller, and brother Adam just left. I don't like goodbyes, Sam I Am. I'd rather eat the eggs.

Let me tell you a story

2008-01-06T14:35:00.000-05:00

Let me tell you a story. My safari didn't go as expected, as everyone knows by now. While I saw beautiful sights (hills in my backyard, Lake Victoria in my front yard, and the source of the Nile), I also saw the border one too many times, really big guns whose names I don't know, and it was dark when I flew home so no beautiful sights. I had fun with my companions Adam and Arthur, but it was sad when I had to say goodbye to Arthur at the border because he shouldn't have crossed again with us (he's Kenyan). Let me tell you a story. In the past two weeks I have climbed three gorgeous hills, seen Lake Victoria 5 times, dipped my foot in the Nile River, laughed so hard it hurt, cried so hard it hurt, been in a van with 6 people over the limit twice, drank more Coke than in the two years before, paid 20 times the amount for a taxi, had 1L of petrol be the most important issue in my life, and paid for a visa to Uganda twice in 24 hours. I'm not sure how to include everything. But I want to tell you about the Maasai warrior who protected us with a poisoned bow and arrow that his hand made, I want to tell you about a bird so big it can stare you in the eyes (maribu stork), I want to tell you about my hope in God's plan and my impatience when His plan wasn't mine. I want to tell you in chronological detail about everything. But that would be a post too big to read. I hope to post little clips of my stories over the next few weeks as I unravel it for myself. Sorry for the wait. But I've learned a lot about waiting these past couple weeks, so consider it a lesson.
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Night buses, matatus, and visas, oh, my!

2007-12-22T15:48:00.000-05:00

Ladies and gentlemen, it is almost 12 in the morning, and I am still up, trying to avoid both going to bed and packing. I don't like packing, especially when I know I have to travel 8 out of the next 10 days! I'm spending Christmas and New Year's upcountry. Tomorrow night, I'm leaving on a night bus to ride to western Kenya. Ever ride on a Kenyan bus? on Kenyan roads? at night? This is NOT Greyhound. I'll arrive at Kisumu at a fresh 4 am where we'll have to catch another bus to the border town of Busia, where a coworker and I will visit my friend's family scattered around the area. The main mode of transportation will be stuffing ourselves inside a taxi van of sorts, called a "matatu," which is known for crazy driving, blaring music, and packing in their riders. We'll be going to a Christmas service, catching fish (okay, maybe just buying them) from Lake Victoria, touring Busia, and buying up tons of bananas. After that, I'll hop the border to **Uganda** and spend two days there and get my passport stamped with another country's visa (score!). I'll miss New Year's in Uganda by a day, and instead will celebrate on the other side of the border in Busia. After the official start of the new year, it's off to Nairobi again, back home, just in time to celebrate my birthday (January 2nd, tell all your friends). So no chance of hearing from me for a while. Until then, Christmas Njema na Mwaka Mpya Mwema!
Now how am I going to avoid packing?

Things You Can Only Say in Kenya

2007-12-20T00:45:00.000-05:00

There are some things I won't be able to take back home with me:
1) "Wanna go to a hotel?" Hotels here are little little restaurants, usually equipped with just a wooden table and wooden benches that serve tea and little foods. People usually go here before work, and frequent them throughout the day. Knowing this, it's still funny when you lean over to your coworker and in a whisper ask, "Wanna go to a hotel?"
2) "I need to buy a rock." Why on earth would anyone buy a rock? To eat it, of course. Yeah, they eat rocks here. Edible rocks, of course. They're so soft, you can break them, but they taste like dirt!
3) "Did we blow up the VCR?" Apparently, you need a transformer and apparently it's not the big box sitting on my floor that everything else is hooked up to.
4) "Wow, you're looking fat!" I will NEVER utter this in the States.
5) "Then the monkeys interrupted my lesson." And it was going to be a good one! We were at the park here, and I had to teach the girls just a 15 minute lesson on their worth, but the monkeys came, after our snacks, and after the third try to get back on track, I called it off. Stupid monkeys!!
6) "As long as I don't see its head." For celebrations, we usually have goat. Freshly slaughtered. So this phrase is often said here, by mzungus and Kenyans alike.
7) "My name is finished." My name, Melissa, sounds like the word meliza, which means "finished." So when I introduce myself, I say, "My name is 'finished.'"
A brief glimpse into the Kenya-restricted sayings of my life.

Winter Heat and Other Christmas Atrocities

2007-12-15T10:46:00.000-05:00

What is going on? While you are all cold, and miserable, or maybe not miserable if you're one of those Canadian or Swiss folk, I'm BAKING in the sun. Right now, it's a cool 7 at night, but got the doors and windows open, and in a minute, I'm going to get my clothes from off the line. I have been able to get a tan (working on it for the trip to the coast in January) the past couple of days, so now it actually looks like I've been in Kenya for 6 months! Still, I miss the busy holiday rush, and (imagine!) the traffic. There are a few lights strung here or there, but no constant cycle of Christmas carols. But Christmas is still coming. I feel like I'm in Whoville. Man, you would think that Christmas is more than just about the marketing!

Angels Choir

2007-12-10T00:36:00.000-05:00

It's been decided. I have heard the voice of angels. Now, since I've been here, I've heard amazing voices, which lift me to the heights of Heaven. But, yesterday at church, the Nairobi Chambers Choir sung for us. And they were amazing. Literally breath-taking. I could not believe that people could sound so sweet. From the first note till the last song, my mouth was dropped, and I was hooked. I could not stop talking about them all day long! As my friend says, I can't put it into words. So you'll have to trust me that they were beautiful.
It makes me think that if people can sound so good, then what will the angels sound like that fall before the Throne of God, exclaiming, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God almighty?" Will I ever find it ordinary? Or will the voice of angels always have such a lasting impression? If mere humans can take my breath away by the first note, how will I react to heavenly voices singing to the King?
Then that makes me think that if angels will sound more magnificent than what I heard yesterday, what will the voice of God Himself sound like? It says in Ps 33, "For the word of the Lord is right and true," which generally means the Bible and the Law. But it goes on to say, "By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry hosts by the breath of his mouth....For He spoke and it came to be." This is about God's voice. If people can sound like angels, and angels sound better than that, what does the voice that created and sustains all creation sound like? It says (somewhere) that God will sing over us. Our only response is what Ps 33 tells us to do: Worship the Lord. With our bad voices, or okay voices, or angelic human voices, we, in response to hearing God's voice, will sing back to him praises.
"Mtakatifu, mtakatifu, mtakatifu, Bwana, Mungu Mwenye Nguvu." (Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty.)

World AIDS Day

2007-12-01T10:51:00.000-05:00

Not only is it December, but it's the first day of December, and we all know that means World AIDS Day! Today, bow your head in prayer to God and plead with Him on behalf of those who are sick because of this disease, for the orphans, for the widowed, and for the grieving. Also praise Him for those who are alive and strong, who are infected but not yet dead, thanks to ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs), and pray for those who are living in such a way that they put themselves at risk. I read an article on Yahoo about how the rate of young adult infections have increased in America. We need people to know the risks, and take this disease seriously!
AIDS is an equalizer. It strikes if you are good or bad. It strikes if you are young, old, or in between. It strikes if you never put yourself at risk knowingly. It strikes mothers, fathers, children, lovers. It strikes if you are straight or gay, black or white, Indian or Asian. It strikes without discrimination. And if you aren't careful, it could strike you.
Jesus is an equalizer, too. He loves you if you are good or bad. He loves you if you're young, old, or in between. He loves you if you never let yourself know Him. He loves mothers, fathers, children, lovers. He loves you if you are straight or gay, black or white, Indian or Asian. He loves without discrimination. And if you want to, He could love you.
Psalm 27:10 Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will recieve me.
Zaburi 27: 10 Hata kama wazazi wangu wakinitupa, Mwenyezi-Mungu atanipokea kwake.

What does Melissa dancing look like?

2007-11-27T07:29:00.000-05:00

Bless that little Australian, Elf, the nurse that was working with us for four months, has posted pictures and videos since she's been home. Praise the Lord, because for me to post videos are crazy. I'm still working on it, but in the meantime, you can check out Elf's blog,
www.sister-elf.blogspot.com. Also, if you haven't, check out Shayla's blog, because she's still here and may give some good insight. www.shaylatoafrica.blogspot.com. And yes, we all love Blogger, apparently. Both girls, and another one from Germany, Eva, have worked with me at my project, but are not SIM. They are with a different mission agency, and live on the other side of Kibera. But they are like my sisters, and I wouldn't want to work without them! Keep checking these sites, too, and between three of us, we'll keep you well-informed.
Badai! Later!

Thanksgiving. And Thanksgiving...and Thanksgiving

2007-11-25T05:58:00.000-05:00

Have no fear, my American friends. Here on the little Rose Avenue compound, I had Thanksgiving. Three times. On Wednesday was my first American Thanksgiving (which is not my first Thanksgiving here, thanks to my Canadian housemates) and it was simple, just us girls in the house. Only two out of 5 of us are American, but one imparticular (not me) likes to cook. We didn't have turkey, and like the first Thanksgiving here, the power went out and we had dinner by candlelight. A Kenyan Thanksgiving tradition. But what really made it Thanksgiving was the pumpkin pie. Then Thursday, while you at home were slicing your turkey and baking your pies, I had a Kenyan meal that my friend from work came over to cook for us. My feast was pork with ugali and chipati. Not your typical holiday meal, but maybe I'll try the same meal for Thanksgiving 2008. I know you all are worried about if I got any turkey at all...or mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce. Well, on Friday, my whole compound had a complete, official Thanksgiving meal. Considering not even half the attendees were American, we had a fine Thanksgiving meal with the biggest turkey I've seen in my life! I stuffed myself like a good American glutton on all the fixin's, including more pumpkin pie. Oh, but no cranberry sauce.
Happy (belated) Thanksgiving, everyone!!

Mrenda by lantern

2007-11-16T07:32:00.000-05:00

I took a trip upcountry a week ago with some people from work. We had a long bus ride from Nairobi to western Kenya, near Lake Victoria. Over bumpy and broken roads, we traveled for way too long. The economy seats on airplanes have more space. From sitting next to the window, my hair was caked with smog and dust, which caused my hair to be stiffer than Aquanet could make it! But oh, once we got there, it was a whole new Kenya. It was quiet. It was dark. It was clean air. It was wonderful! I spent Friday night, Saturday, and Monday morning there. I skipped Sunday because I was sick all day in bed, which makes for fun times when it's raining out and the outhouse is more than a few yards away. Despite that, seeing upcountry was well worth it. No electricity, so we had our dinners by the glow of a lantern, which included mrenda, a most vile vegetable. It has the consistency of what runs out of children's noses, and I for one, could barely keep it down. Think slimy spinach. Even though I have a Luhya name, Mbone, I cannot nor will not ever eat mrenda again. Sorry to my faithful western brethren, but some things I physically cannot do. Sadly, I didn't get a picture of mrenda , but I did get some shots of the compound, the path to the spring to fetch water, and my friend's father's house with his niece in the forefront, in that order (if all goes well).

Kenyan Ten

2007-11-14T12:06:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure if it's the altitude, or the Kenyan food, or the Equator's gravitational pull, but there is the Kenyan Ten. Here, anyone who comes gains ten pounds, and I am more than victim. Sure, you can blame it on the chai, which is part milk, part water, part sugar. Sure, blame it on the carbohydrate diet full of chipati and ugali. But I'm not so convinced. After all, I walk ten miles a day. But whatever it is, I've had to retire a few skirts since I've been here, and when I buy more, look for elastic waist or wrap skirts, the icon of missionary fashion (see Shayla's blog, www.shaylatoafrica.blogspot.com, Signs, Phrases, Isms, and Comic Relief).

Chocolate, Soup Packets, and Pens

2007-10-22T09:12:00.000-05:00

Christmas is approaching, and everyone is asking, "Can I send you something?" Well, yes, but I'll add a warning. Here, Kenya charges for delivery too. So when you send a package, I pay for it on my side, too. Please don't ask me why. The way they charge is as follows: they see the contents of the package and total up the current cost of the items here unless stated in dollars. From that, they charge me VAT tax, and a whole lot more. So there are a few measures to take. One, don't send something expensive. Two, find a way to not state the whole price of the package, ie sale price, garage sale price, etc. Three, if you send something in a padded envelope, then it prevents them from shopping and it also will get to me faster, probably not even needed to list the price value of the contents. Sending regular postal service is fine and safe. You don't need to use DHL.
That being cleared, some things I can use around here: some good chocolate, cream soup packets, mac and cheese packets, other processed things like that, good candy, kitchen knives (the cheap kind), any movies you don't want to watch (sorry, DVD only), socks, and pens, please. A 20 pack of Bic pens can go real far in the Maasai market. And if mailing isn't your thing, but you still want to give me a Christmas present, then you can also put money into my account and label it clearly "Personal Account."
It's October and I'm talking about Christmas. Enough of this.
Mt 1:23 'Behold, the Virgin shall be with child and shall bear a son and they shall call his name Immanuel,' which translated means "God with us."
Mo 1:23 'Tazama birika atachakua mimba, naye atamzaa mtoto wa kuime nao watamwita Imanueli,' maana yake "Mungu pamoja nasi."

Emmanuel

2007-10-18T14:24:00.000-05:00

Emmanuel is one of my client's children she looks after. He is severely malnurished and often left alone for hours at a time while Rispa looks for work. For those who received an email about Emmanuel: Rispa and Emmanuel both came yesterday very late for the meeting, and also came this morning very early. Both times, things about Emmanuel were discussed, like how often she feeds him, why she leaves him alone, and what clinics he has been to. We will talk again about taking him to a cheaper, but still quality, hospital. She will need help with doctor fees, transport, and medicines, and we are willing to help where we can. She also will need help on following through with what she says. I want you to help by praying for her, Emmanuel, and my project on how much to help. It's not as simple as saying, "we will pay it." Dependency is something we don't want to encourage. Still, Emmanuel, as I was reminded, means "God with us." May I never forget that! Even though it may seem discouraging looking at that baby boy, God is with him.

Dave

2007-10-16T15:28:00.000-05:00

You know that movie, "Dave?" It's the one where a guy, Dave, looks like the president and has to be the president for a while since the real president is in a coma and the bad guy wants to take office? Okay, so basically, there's this one part where Dave is in a room with the bad guy and some other guy, and the bad guy shakes Dave's hand. Then they leave the room, and just Dave remains. I was shocked!! Here in Kenya, if each person doesn't shake the other's hand, it's a huge insult and means that they are enemies. So me, having no enemies here, I shake everyone's hand, as is custom. If I'm walking with two people down the road, and we greet two people we know, each person must shake hands. Must. Count, that's six handshakes. And Dave didn't shake the other guy's hand. The craziest thing is that it actually bothered me. Which reminds me of two things: after (almost) four months, I'm very indocrinated into this culture, and when I return to my own culture, I'll have culture shock.
Dave didn't shake everyone's hand when coming out of the office, either. Tsk.

New Building Photos

2007-10-12T12:31:00.000-05:00

Photos!!!

2007-10-12T12:25:00.001-05:00

This is from Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Sanctuary, as promised.

Giraffes, Thanksgiving, and Presidents

2007-10-10T12:07:00.000-05:00

My, I've been meaning to post, and I will just have to do without pictures for the sake of actually giving an update.
Well, I've been having many big days here. Saturday, I was a tourist to the tee. I went to the giraffe sanctuary, elephant orphanage, and the Bomas of Kenya. I have a picture of me kissing a giraffe (it was amazing, Jason) and there's a hotel where the giraffes can peek their heads inside the doors and windows for a low price of $500 USD a night. We also hit the elephant orphanage, where we saw elephants three y.o. and below and a rhino that was roaming about. The Bomas of Kenya is a tourist area where you can check out the different tribal living of the tribes in Kenya, and had AMAZING tribal dancing, where I decided that Kikuyu is a beautiful language.
Monday, we had a big Thanksgiving dinner--for Canada. No turkey, but it was still a great holiday meal.
Today, all of Kenya has off for Moi Day. Moi was the second president of Kenya and declared a day for himself. The first president, Kenyatta, also announced his own day, which is the 20th this month. Sadly, it's on a Saturday.
I promise pictures, really, honestly. Just not now.

Milestones

2007-09-27T08:11:00.000-05:00

On Monday, I have officially been out of the States for 3 months. On Tuesday, I officially have been in country for 3 months. And on Wednesday, Cameron Guy Saunders, 7 1/2 lbs, 20 in., was born.
I am adjusting to my new world here. I have a full house, with 5 girls under one roof. My project, as you can read, has moved, and yet I still know which direction to go home in in the midst of the maze of Kibera. Curfews, new foods, different currency, different humor.
My nephew, Cameron, is adjusting to a new world, too. They say that there's nothing exciting about the first few months of a baby's life, and I guess that's true. But just crying, sleeping, and pooping sounds like Heaven when you can't be there for it. He will have to adjust to his new life in New Jersey without his Aunt Sa. It's happened before. But I hear that it can cause serious problems down the line, unless there is an intervention, say, around 9 months old??
Congratulations, Lesley and Billy!! (and Angel and Erynn, big sis'!)

The Great Migration

2007-09-24T11:37:00.000-05:00

Bittersweet...
Today, our project opened its doors to the new building. We are officially operating from Mashimoni area of Kibera (instead of Railway PAG). This is 20 months in the making, a real answer to prayers! It's made of cement, not corrugated iron, and has four rooms open now, with a clinic to open soon, instead of one little "office," one little tailoring room, and a church that functioned as an all-purpose room. We have room to work, with a separate room for literacy, tailoring room, reading room, and...wait for it, wait for it...a bathroom! Like, inside the building.
The sad part is that all those kids on my picture live around my old building, and so I won't get to see them, or the mamas, or the kids walking in, or...or...oh, it's so sad.
But I do have a toilet now.
***Pictures to come***

Hail and rapids

2007-09-13T01:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday was bright, sunshining, almost hot day. After trekking through Kibera "shortcuts," we finally arrived at the school we were visiting for their Bible club. About 4:30, it started to rain. Now, let me inform you that Kenya rain is not like Jersey rain. Kenya rain has a few drops, then all-out downpour, without a moment's notice. So, under the tin roof of the school, I taught them. Screaming at the top of my lungs to be heard over the pounding rain. We watched through the windows as the dirt became wet, then muddy, then Kibera muddy (which only gumboots can save you from), then streams of water. Then, it really started raining. Hailing, actually, which almost tore off a small section of roof in the little classroom. So the staff and the students just stared out the windows, watching this incredible storm move through. The cell network went down for a while. It was crazy. In twenty minutes, we went from arid dry to flood. At 5:30, when it was still raining but no hail, my escort and I started our journey home. We had an umbrella, as if it would help any. We hiked uphill, bypassing the really flooded areas only to encounter a massive wall of water flowing downstream--while we were going up. Still trying to preserve my shoes, I hopped from one little stone to another, carefully avoided the major areas. Until...until water flowing from end to end so fast it, you could go whitewater rafting down it blocked our path. So I did what any mzungu caught in the rain of Kibera would do. I laughed so hard going through it I almost fell down!! Arthur and I grabbed hands and just ran. It was one of the craziest but most memorable experiences I've had here. So far. This isn't the rainy season.
In the Bible, rain is associated with God's blessings. His blessings certainly fell on us yesterday!

The smell of kerosene

2007-09-07T12:04:00.000-05:00

I am an alien...in that good kind of way! Earlier this week, I took a trip to Immigration, where I sat, then moved and sat somewhere else, and sat some more. Then I got fingerprinted, so I'm signed, sealed, delivered. I'm now an official alien resident of Kenya. I never thought I'd be happy to get fingerprinted... Of course, here you get the ink off with "spirits," which is no more than kerosene. No one light a match!!

Two months and what am I doing?

2007-09-02T09:47:00.000-05:00

New mission: update blog...ever.
So my sister informed me that though my family knows I'm over here, they don't know what I'm doing. So here's a daily itinerary that is supposed to be my schedule. That is to say, recently it has been like so, but more often than not there has been exceptions.
7:15 - Stumble out of bed
7:30 - Get coffee or tea, breakfast, retreat to my room for devotions
8:30 - Leave for Kibera
9:00 - Arrive at the office, have devotions on Tuesdays and Fridays, pick three people to visit
10:00 - 12:30 - Visitations
1:00 - Have lunch (Mondays and Tuesdays have a literacy student for an hour first)
3:00ish - Head back home
4:00ish - Get home (**notice the time it takes to get home is twice as long as going--more people to greet)
4:30 - Check mail (hint, hint), have some tea
5:30 - Help make dinner
8:00 - Watch movie, chat with the passing short-termers, or read The Idiot
10:30 - Lights out
So this doesn't describe Saturday or Sunday, which aren't so filled and varies even more than the above time schedule. Now, consider yourselves informed.
Mark 1:40 "A man with leprosy came to [Jesus] and begged him on his knees, 'If you are willing, you can make me clean.' "
Marko 1:40 "Akaja mtu mwenye ukoma, akapiga magoti mbele ya Yesu akamsihi, 'Ukitaka, unaweza kunitakasa.' "

Whereby

2007-07-17T14:00:00.000-05:00

Funny things happen in Kenya. You get stopped by goats in the hills of Kinangop. You see rabbits hopping through churches of the slum. Christians pray by standing up and moving around, talking to the point of shouting. In one day, you can hear over 3 different languages, besides the one you can understand. You can be 8,000 ft above sea level after climbing just 2,000 ft to get there. You can be greeted, if white, by a thousand little voices chanting, "How are you?" You can be kept up at night by club music from around the world. You have to avoid stepping in flaming piles of trash. And you get introduced to "whereby" being used with the same thought the Kenyan gives to the word "the." Kenya is not at all what you would think, yet it's exactly what you want it to be.

At last

2007-07-01T13:26:00.000-05:00

Habari! Finally, Blogger is working with me today! I have not been able to get it working. This is just to say that more posts will follow, and sorry for the delay. Even now, Blogger isn't working properly. Please, look for my email updates! If you don't receive one, email me (melissa.berg@yahoo.com). Until Blogger works again!!

Earlier post I tried to post...

2007-06-26T04:49:00.000-05:00

Hey, everyone, I've made it! I'm in Kenya! I arrived last night (afternoon for you) and went to sleep! Last night, flying in was amazing. We were flying over the Lybian Desert, and it just went on for miles. Then it hit me--I've arrived in Africa. So here I am, luggage and all! After 24 hours in transit with 15 hours in the air, it's good to be on solid ground. It's good to be home.
Today, Tuesday, I have orientation, as I do for the rest of the week. Friday, I get a sneak peek at Kibera when I go to Chonesus, the program I'm working with. I found out today that most of the volunteers are Kenyans, so I'll really brush up on my Swahili!

A real day

2007-06-20T16:27:00.000-05:00

Today is a real day. Today is one of those days where I know that in just a few days, I'll be boarding an airplane and it seems real. Two days ago was a denial day. Two days ago, my mind was refusing to wrap itself around the idea of my departure. It didn't feel like I was leaving soon. And a Real Day or Denial Day, either way, I have no concept of leaving for a year. Even if I wanted to think about it, I couldn't. I honestly don't know what being gone for a year feels like. Guess I'll find out soon. Keep praying for me. I'm saying my goodbyes (Elevate people, friends,) and am making some special time for others (Derbs, EE and Angel, my fam,) so that I'll leave on good terms and won't miss anyone. I mean, won't miss saying bye to everyone. I'll actually miss you all.
I don't know if I like real days. Good thing I don't have too many left!

Living for what?

2007-06-20T00:28:00.000-05:00

Do you know about Myspace? Some of my friends tell me that it's a good place to meet up with old friends. Tonight, I spent some time looking through some of my old friends" Myspaces, and oh, MY, indeed. A few of them have seemed to find their way, but mostly, they seem to be the same frustrated teenagers from 5 years ago! I'm not really saying this to point fingers. Actually, some of the stories of what people were up to broke my heart. Repeatedly, I see "I live for me" or some variation of that, or "my life was made complete when I found ____." Is their idea of life out of sync? Yes! They are being lied to, they have the wool drawn over their eyes! Praise God that I no longer "live for myself" or for "Mr. X." I live for the One who lived and died for me--Jesus Christ.
I guess I kept thinking the whole time of what if I had a Myspace (no, Suze.) What would people say about how different my life is now? How drastically different. I could get prideful and say, look at me, Clayton kids, look what I'm doing. But what did I really do?
In church this week, we talked about the grace of God, that all the work that was done to earn me the Truth that my old friends don't have, that work was done at the cross, in one day, and not me working, no gift or talent of my own gained this knowledge, but only the work done on that beautiful Calvary Hill. What makes me so different that I know and they don't? The grace and pleasure of God. I was blind just like them. And now, thank you, Jesus, I see.
We're all missionaries to this dark world. Let your light shine.

Shifting Focus

2007-06-04T14:20:00.000-05:00

I have 20 days until I ship out of here. I have realized the pressures of seeing everyone to say goodbye, packing, and packing, and packing. Most of all, I've seen the pressure of putting my ministry out of focus, and focusing on how sad it will be to leave everyone. But there is a bigger picture here. I'm not leaving against my will to do some terrible job. No, I am leaving to have the privelage of serving my King. In a few weeks, I will be surrounded by "a great cloud of witnesses" all my own. That is, people who are missionaries too, who would leave their friends and family to minister to people in a far away land. And, most of all, I won't be "the missionary who is leaving" but rather a missionary who has just arrived.
Praise God for calling me. Praise Him for having all of time in His hands, and using it as He sees fit. And as long as I'm where He wants me to be, I won't feel the pain of the "sacrifice" I had to make to be there.

Almost There

2007-05-08T13:57:00.000-05:00

As of today, I have 100% of my support pledged, my airfare itinerary drawn up, and 47 days to go until I leave. (That means I leave June 24th.)
It's a satisfied feeling, watching God accomplish something big (like raising $2,000 in one month). Now, there's a calm before the storm. I have time to think about what this means. I have time to get scared of leaving everyone and going to where I know no one. I have time to think about how the Kenyans who live in Kibera have lived lives that I don't know about. I have time to already begin to miss being there for Rob's big races. I have time to get excited about fulfilling one of my life's biggest goals. I have time to worry about what to pack, what to leave behind. I have time to stare at my engagement ring for a little while longer until I leave it in the States. I have time to learn more Swahili. I have time to try some East African food before I have no choice but to eat East African food. I have time to pray.
This is the time that I want to be on my knees, talking to the only One who is going with me. God is simply the One that I must focus on now most of all. As much as I love my nieces, or my friends, or my fiance, I must love God more. In this time left, I have time to talk myself out of this, to remember that I am pushing aside work, money, home, marriage, all for this place that I've never gone to, to minister to people I never met. I could say, no, nevermind, it doesn't make sense after all. But I must love God more than anything else, and want to forgo it all for His sake.
My God has plans for me. Plans to prosper me, and not to harm me, plans to give me hope and a future.
I have 47 days' worth of time...

No Snow in Kenya

2007-04-16T14:03:00.000-05:00

Seeing as this is my first blog EVER, there's a lot of pressure to get this one right. I guess I'm writing this one because I want to show people my blog but there's no posts, and I really wasn't expecting to post until at least May. I'm early.
It's April, and there's snow on the ground. It's constantly cold, with only a few teasers where it got over 75. In Nairobi, I'll be expecting a temperature between 65-85 year round. I have no sorrows about missing a winter here. I have no regrets about missing a few snowfalls. Yeah, snow angels are fun, but only in theory. Really, they are cold, and I think I'm allergic to cold. Maybe that's really why I made my blog early, and I'm posting early. I'm longing for the weather of Kenya.
What God makes is good, so I can only assume that cold weather is good. But does that have to mean that it's good for everyone? There is a season for everything, indeed, but I'm a one-season girl.
So...how'd I do?