Zambian Days

So I got into Lusaka on Sunday afternoon. We spent the night there and then got up the next morning to eat with some friends. We went to the market and I got so many awesome gifts for you people back home. Then we took on the four hour ride home. Yesterday morning we got up and Zeria, Joy and I went to the market. We walked which took about 45 minutes, but we stopped and talked a lot along the way. I learned to say “Bwino Bwanji” which people asked me “Maouka Bwanji.” Which is asking “How did you rise?” and then the answer is Bwino Bwanji. We had to cross to the other side of the road, because there was a madman that was known to be violent sleeping right next to the road. Then when we got into the market, a man came up to Joy and asked her if she was a missionary. And then he just started mumbling, so we walked off. He was kind of following us, but nothing happened. We walked through the Nyimba hospital, where they were just installing toilets in each ward oppose to two in the very back of the hospital for everyone to share.

Then yesterday for lunch, I helped Joy make nshima with a cabbage, tomato, onion soup. It was delicious and I’m going to try making it when I get back. But it’s pretty hard, so we’ll see how it goes. Then today we went to some of Kendall and Joys friends in a village about 45 minutes away. Her house was awesome. They had goats, chickens, dove, pigs, and huge barrels of maize, peanuts, and cotton. It reminded me a lot of Mamaw’s; just the African version.

Daisy and Zeria cooked in the kitchen while Joy and I sat outside with the kids and talked and just enjoyed the stillness of everything.

 I tried sugarcane straight from the stalk for the first time. Henry, Daisy's husband cut it for me and it was delicious. It was super sweet, but delicious.

Then we ate pork, soup and nshima. It was all sooo sooo goooood.

 After lunch we went out (and mom I know you will be jealous) to picked cotton! The field was right behind their house. We got a few big white sacks and started pulling away one by one.

Then we went back to the house and pulled the dried corn off the stalks to ground. My thumbs were already getting blistery after only a few corn stalks. No wonder African are so tough and awesome. The whole experience was wonderful. 

Then we went to visit Zeria’s sister, Bertha. There we ate some more food and then I got to go fetch the water with her.

I told Joy that I wanted to carry water on my head and I got to do it today! 

My arms got pretty tired, because I couldn’t balance the water on my head, but we did have to walk too far so it was good. I got a huge taste of the culture today and absolutely loved it. Tomorrow I’m going to go with Kendall to teach which should be awesome and how knows what else will happen! 




I LOVE ZAMBIA!

GIRAFFE SANCTUARY

I KISSED A GIRAFFE... AND I LIKED IT!



Why I love me some Giraffe:

• Giraffe's don't have any bone marrow in their leg bones
•   They can kill a lion in just one kick
• Giraffe's only sleep anywhere from 5-30 minutes in a 24-hour period
• The dark their spots, the older they are
• Their pregnancies last for 15 months, but a mother cow can hold the calf for up to 18 months, until conditions are better for survival 
• A Giraffe's heart is 24 lbs and 2 feet wide
• Giraffe's only sit if they are sick or old
• They sleep as well as give birth standing
• They have awesome eye sight

 

Kibera Week 2

So much has happened since by last post. The whole second week we did a sports camp for the kids at Langata High School. Lots of soccer, along with some volleyball, netball, basketball and frisbee. All of that was good, but the last day in Kibera was the most awesome, yet it was accompanied with hardest good-byes I think I’ve ever said. All day everyone just knew that the time would come to say good-bye, which was lame. That morning we were at Langata with Class 8. Around 12 we went back to Kibera. I walked back with the kids which took about 30 minutes. As I walked back and looked around at the building, the land, the kids faces and Kibera, it was all becoming real to me that it was all happening for the last time… for a long while at least. When we got back to Kibera, we had a three hour talent show that was the bomb.com. Kids from all different classes performed and it was precious. There was singing, dancing, poems, skits, and more dancing. Those kids could get down! During the talent show I had picked up a little girl, and within two minutes she was out; drooling and all. It was cool to get to hold her and she slept and just kind of sit back and take everything in. Afterwards, we started the good-byes. I got to give away some of my shirts, shorts, tights, water bottle, and shoes to some of the kids that I really connected with and got close to. Some of them walked us out to the bus to say the final good-byes. I would be lying if I said I didn’t cry, because I did. But my heart was so sad to leave the kids I couldn’t help it; especially when they were crying. It was hard to be so sad to leave them, but to see them cry and their hurt was even harder. I got to pray over a few of them which was extremely hard, but awesome. A few of the kids I really bonded with gave me letters. And Kelvin, in Class 8, gave me his bracelet that he’d been wearing the whole time I was there. It was all super sad, but I do thank God that he gave me the opportunity to go there and meet his wonderful children. As I read their letters today on the plane to Zambia, each kids just encouraged me in Christ with words and scriptures and thanked me for coming and spending time with them. These kids were anywhere from 13 yrs-15 yrs and their faith is already so mature and strong. I pray that I would have faith like they do. I’ve learned over the course of my time in Kibera that too often, we in America trade our comfort and things for a true and refreshing joy in Christ. These kids have nothing else besides Christ. They don’t have things to keep them from seeing God in every single situation. That’s what I want.

Kibera Week 1

So, I'm half way through my Kenya visit. I leave for Zambia one week from tomorrow morning to join Kendall and Joy in Zambia! The first day we were in Kibera was an intro day and extremely eye opening, but I have grown so much since then. At first these kids just looked like the pictures I've seen my whole life, but as I have gotten to know these children, I can see them for who they are- individually.They each have a story and are all so unique. Our second day in Kibera we put on a camp for all the children in New Hope Primary School. We painted their faces and ours. (I actually got a sunburn on my face that day, everywhere except where the paint was. It made for an interesting sunburn line- two lines under my eyes and one down the middle of my face...) It was the most fun I've had- maybe ever. We made chants and yelled and played games. The children were going crazy and screaming and laughing like nothing else I've ever seen. We also got to talk to the older kids in small groups which was awesome. I had five Class 6 (6th grade) girls.

That afternoon we went to the high school were the scholarship kids from Kibera go. It's Langata High School. I tutored a girl there in Form 1 (Freshman) named Ruth. She was extremely sweet. The next day we tutored some of the kids that we just below passing their Class 8 exam to get into high school. Then we did crafts with some of the Class 7 girls. In the afternoon Taylor, Abby and I did an art class. I met and fell in love with a boy named Kelvin in that class. He shared his story with me- pray for his dad. He's a drunk and doesn't know God, but the rest of his family does. The next day was a safari which was kinda cool, but pretty boring because everything was so far away. But after we went to a giraffe sanctuary were I received my first kiss. I put a pellet in my mouth, and the giraffe would take it with it's tongue! It was so awesome and I got lots of pictures! Today started with more tutoring and then we got to go to some of the kids houses.

I went to Caroline and Dennis' house. They are brother and sister. It took us about 20 minutes to walk to their house and then we went to a few other places around Kibera with them. We walked for about an hour or more throughout the whole trip. I got to see so much more of Kibera, and it's impossible to describe so I won't even try. I met their mother, Ruth, and heard her story. We got to pray for her, that God would heal her from her sickness. From what she described, it sounds like focal seizures. In the afternoon we did the art class again. We bubble lettered a part of Psalm 139 and had them color and decorate them, then hung it in their classroom. God has definitely been teaching me on this trip. Lots of things that I wasn't expecting. Things within our group that we've been working out. It's also been hard to see how God is wanting me to respond during my time in the slums with the children and what he is wanting to teach me. It is becoming more clear, but if you pray for me, please pray that I would be able to see the Holy Spirit moving and would be able to follow that leading. In my quiet time today, I read that we should be careful of building our faith on experience. So I know this is a faith builder, but not because of the experience, but because God is here and working- just like I should be able to see everyday.

If you want to read about our trip more you can check out the group blog at: kelseyinkibera.blogspot.com

I'm Here!!

I'm winding down my first full day in Kenya! The flights all went awesome and pretty much no jet lag. The van we took from the airport to the house sat about 14 and we packed in 26 people WITH all the luggage, I was buried up to my ears with bags. It was ridiculously painful but awesome! I only thought I had lost my debit card once! You'll appreciate that mom :) Everything else is safely secured. This morning we got up and ate breakfast made by our cook, Moses and the lady who runs our house, Phillis. We headed out to the slum and met the kids at the school and took a tour of Kibera. I took some pictures, but nothing compares to walking though the small, narrow and muddy walk ways of the slum. We also took a tour of the school were the high school students are going. I went into one classroom where there was no teacher and 30 Junior guys and I got asked for my e-mail address and facebook account- which they have and I found that to be interesting. Now were back at the house and about to head out to dinner. The smells here are so distinct and awesome, even the back smells! I love it so much, everything about it. And the people are so happy. Where were were walking around Kibera, all the people were outside their houses and watching us. All the children would just yell over and over, "HOW ARE YOU? HOW ARE YOU?" And they could answer "I'm Fine" if we asked them how they were doing. I learned to say how are you and i'm fine in swahili. I also learned "what's your name?" but I've already forgotten. I love y'all and can't wait to tell you everything else that happens!

Kibera Penda Project

If you are interested in knowing about the group I'm going with you can check out their website at kiberapendaproject.com

Packing up!

The best part of the trip so far...considering I am still at home, has been nursing my poor brothers neck. He slept on it wrong last night. Well all ready to go hippo hunting in Africa now! Can't wait for God's name to be glorified. I am sure that this will be the first of many trips to far off lands and adventures. Well here I come kids, Victoria Falls Swing, Joy, Kendall, Lauren, Easton, Lily, Simba, Elephants, dancing and most importantly reaching the lost with the greatest hope the world has ever known, JESUS CHRIST!

Gosh I am going to miss my brother so much!