It's simple, but that's good with me.

I have a video uploading. Hopefully it'll work before I have to leave!

It's day 3 in Kenya (second full day). Some highlights:

• Every night we watch this Spanish soap opera that's dubbed over in English-- it's called the Abyss of Passion. The story line has been pretty easy to catch onto.
• I hardly slept last night after being so confident that I never get jet lagged. I got a couple hours, but was awake at 2am and didn't fall back asleep. The Muslim call to prayer this morning, however, was gorgeous. 
• I made a list while I was sleep deprived in the Zurich airport of things airports should do to improve travel. A few good ones include adding a gym, having a place where people with long layovers can curl up in a bundle of blankets, pillows, and possibly puppies, having free wifi, and making everything cheaper. Tell someone to get right on that please. By my flights back I expect at least 2 of those implemented in the Belgium and Newark airports. 
• I am familiar with most of the food I've eaten so far. I've had matooke, rice, mango, cabbage, and meals very similar to Uganda. I'm still waiting for chapatti, though. I know they eat it-- Emily said it was one of her favorites. 
• I'm headed to an all-night worship session tonight. I know, it's a really good idea to help with my jetlag, but it's for God. That counts for something, right? Eh, I'll sleep when I'm in America. (lies, bloody lies.)
• I haven't started work yet-- the school day today was short, so I'll begin on Monday. I'll start off at Logos school, a private Christian school in Nairobi, that works directly with the chapel.

Ok, my laptop is dying and I don't have a converter to charge it with-- there's one at the Chapel, but I'm at a coffee shop. I don't think the video is going to make it onto this post. I'll get some photos up and will try to have the video ASAP.

EDIT: Here's the video! Sorry for the not so great quality-- internet. 

EEEEEK

Sitting in the airport. Another hour before we leave for Toronto, then an 8 hr flight to Zurich, then another 8 hours to Nairobi! A mere 24 hours from now I will be landing in Kenya!!

Yesterday I had a simmering level of nerves that I kept just below the surface as I went out to lunch with my brother, got coffee with my Camp BFF, then went on a hike at Minniehaha falls (yes, that's a real name). I had a last supper of pizza, ice cream, and cookies, and spent my last night in America watching the Bachelorette.

Then I tried to go to bed.

The moment I shut off the lights, my mind nudged me and went "Hey. Are you sure you have your passport? What about cash? Is your camera battery charged? Are you sure you can do this? Kenya. You're going to Kenya. By yourself. How does that make you feel? Don't sleep in too late." I got up a couple times to check my bags. I eventually fell asleep, only to be wide awake by 6am, which gave me enough time to be completely ready long before I needed to be.

Now, sitting in the airport, I'm doing my best to stay calm. Breath in, breath out. Lather, rinse, repeat. Don't watch the news about the Boston Bombers that's on the TV. Listen to music. Get ready to go to Canada for a few hours. Remember to fill your water bottle.

Boarding soon. Kenya, here I come.



(p.s. I never said that these would all be coherent or constructive. Some of them might end up stream of consciousness entries).

Hopes and Fears

T- 48 hours!

I fly out for Kenya in almost exactly 2 days. I'll land there in 3 days (yes, it's about 24 hours on planes and in airports YAY!).

I'm all packed up, I've said goodbye to my family (except Jon, who I'm staying with until I leave), and I sorta wish I was leaving today. These next two days playing the waiting game are gonna be hard. But they're good for sorting out my mind and last minute details. (I've learned that I'm going to stay in the home of someone who works at Nairobi Chapel, that she has a 24 year old daughter, and that another intern [Canadian!] will be living with us!)

When I was at this point last year with Uganda, our team did hopes and fears for the trips, which we then did again as we were leaving. I think that's a good process so here we go.

Fears: I'm scared of getting homesick or culture shocked and not having people to turn to like I did in Uganda. I'm afraid that I won't have the right words, the right lessons, that I won't live up to their expectations. I'm slightly nervous about my health. I haven't done anything like this since my arthritis came back. Though it's under control, I'm nervous that I won't be able to take care of myself in the same way over there. I'm afraid that once I get there I'll never want to leave.

Hopes: I hope that I can learn a ton about the school systems of Nairobi and how the Nairobi systems differ from those of the slums. I hope I can make long term connections and longer term friends. I hope they have Chapatti (flatbread) and that Mango season lasts all summer. I hope that the kids are incredible and that I cry when I leave each school that I'll work at. I hope that I'll be able to live fully and wholeheartedly in the culture. I hope there's tea. I hope that I can meet my brothers and sisters in Kenya and can learn deeply from them. I hope what I learn will not be solely head-knowledge, but that I will learn about love and commitment, about contentment and joy in all circumstances. And I hope that I won't only learn about these things, but that I will implement them in my life in years to come.


So there you go. Some hopes and fears. I'll do this again on the return journey-- hopes and fears of returning home, as well as how these hopes and fears have either been recognized or dismissed completely. But for now, I'll talk to you later.

For those who are interested.

Hey all! If you’re here, you probably want to hear about my trip to Kenya this upcoming summer. If not, venture elsewhere, dear traveler. 

This summer I’m working with Nairobi Chapel and three schools in the area. I’ll be working in Nairobi, in Kawangware, and in Kibera. 

Kawangware and Kibera are slums in the outskirts of Nairobi, the capitol city. Nairobi Chapel runs a school in Nairobi and has many connections outside of the city. I’ll be working in those schools— through the chapel.

I’ll be there a total of 8 weeks— from May 28-July 24. During that time I’ll be observing in the schools, talking with principals and leaders of schools, and teaching. I want to find the strengths and weaknesses of the education system in Nairobi and the surrounding areas to possibly work with them in the future. At the very least, I want to be able to take what I’m learning from the slums of Kenya and implement it when I teach (wherever that is)

Disclaimer: once I get to Kenya, I probably won’t be updating much. I will try to when I can, but don’t wait with baited breath!

I am on a scholarship to do this, so I don’t need financial support. I would, however, ask for support in the prayer realm. If you would be willing to pray for me as I travel and interact, I would be so grateful! 

Also, let me know if there are any questions you want me to address (either about the trip or school systems or if there’s a question you want me to ask while I’m over there)?