What a day!! Today was planned to be pretty calm, and that
it was. I started my day as I do every other day running. Or I guess I should
clarify- trying to run. The altitude here is the same as Colorado which is hard
enough, but on top of that it is rainy season now and it gets humid every other
hour. So it just so happens when I try to run I’m getting a smaller amount of
oxygen and I’m breathing in a lot of water molecules in the air. This is no
excuse though! I am in Kenya, the country of runners. Seriously, look at the
past few White Rock Marathon winners in Dallas… you will see a big group of
Kenyan’s at the top of the list. It is pretty cool though, I see competitive
runners running up and down highways here in Kenya. I like to see these
Africans using their God-given running abilities and getting rewarded for it.
But man, do I wish I had the body type that they did!!!
Anyway, I ran about 2 miles. I had been running 3 in Dallas,
so I’d say I’m getting better. But the thing is in Dallas the runs are pretty
easy. Here they’re SO hard and I have to walk a few steps on the corners of the
circular route and sometimes stop to breathe. But, I’m building up. I can’t
expect my body to function in a different environment the same as it does
somewhere else. I’ve also been enjoying asking God for strength during my runs.
Every time I get super exhausted (not huffing and puffing exhausted, but about
to fall over exhausted) I ask God to get me to a certain corner or spot, and
each time my pace picks up and I am able to get there quickly. It’s kinda like
playtime with God :)
So, that was great! Starts my day off well and is followed
by a hot shower. Then we did our classes starting at 7 and ending at 1. Today
for our Romans study we actually got to discuss our time at Kenyatta University
yesterday. This led to a long discussion about culture differences. For
example, when I was talking with students yesterday I found myself talking AT
them a lot and not with them. That, or they just looked at me after I asked a
question for some time before answering. We discussed how Kenyans are generally
quiet, in that they enter friendships with no trust and then build trust.
Americans enter friendships with trust until that trust is broken. It’s so
different and hard to understand each side for each group, but it was cool to
see the reactions of how we do things and how Kenya does things. We also talked
about male-female relationships. Deborah, one of the Kenyan interns, said ‘In a
marriage men are the dominant ones and are leaders. Women attend the functions
the men do, but they are not allowed to speak. Their voice isn’t heard or
respected, and it is disrespectful to speak in public with your husband with
you’. How sad…. Women here are so low on the priority list. I was told that
even the women going to school are doing it to get a job, yes, but after you
get married you do as the husband does. So if his job is in one city and yours
is in another, you move to his job and you travel to your own. The majority of
women, though, go to school and get a job, but once they’re married they’re in
the kitchen and are providing for the husbands. Despite their hard work and
effort into becoming educated, they’re forced into the ‘wife’ role. I was also
told that Kenya is stuck in the 1950’s version of America, aka they’re 60 years
behind us. So when you think about relational things between cultures, women
and men, kids… think 60’s and you got it. So we went over all of that today and
I learned tons about the culture here, which was awesome. I don’t understand it
but I will respect it.
I feel like in the past I’ve been shielded from the real
stuff about countries, especially ones in Africa. This stuff is real life to
these people and what’s shown is the tribes and lions. Life is happening here,
people’s careers are happening here. PEOPLE ARE HERE! They work hard if not
harder than we do to survive and be successful. That, and they learn how to
drive a car like a mad person. Two important things in life ;)
So today was pool day. There is a local resort called Safari
Hotel & Casino. You can use the pool and slides for about 300 shillings a
person, so about $4 per person. It is just what I said, a resort, so the pool
is more like a bunch of gorgeous pools connected with rock slides and tons of
trees and birds… just gorgeous!! I was going to get in the water but decided to
stay out after the other girls left, and ended up getting the wonderful
opportunity to talk with Kerry Stickney. I really enjoyed this, every minute of
this. It helps that Kerry is personable, but even moreso that she is genuinely
interested in what you have to say, what you are thinking, and how you
interpret things. Everything we have discussed is always followed up with the
question of what God convicts you of. There isn’t any reason to do anything
unless it’s of the Lord or it glorifies Him. I have really learned this truth
from Kerry and I’m so grateful for it!! So we had some good girl time and then
it started raining, so we ended up under an umbrella table with the other 3
girls and Kerry’s kids. This was also fun, and really just nice to relax and be
calm. We left with no tan lines, but we had a good time despite it.
Tonight was game night and pizza! It was epic. We had 4 game
stations going, and you had one member of your team at each one and you
rotated. Judging on how many games each person won, each team added up their
points and the winners got the best prize ever: ICE CREAM!!! Well not tonight,
but for Sunday night. The losers had to clean dishes. Long story short, my team
got 50 points. The other teams were in the 300s. Woops. My hands are nice and
soft from the water J
It was a really fun time filled with laughter and just fun between two
completely different groups of people. I feel like I really was able to just
relax and be my ridiculously-competitive-but-humble self. Plus, we got pizza
and my favorite: BLACK CURRANT FANTA!! These aren’t available in the states…
which is a sin… but if you ever get to try one, DO IT. Jesus drinks it.
Now it’s bed time! Tomorrow will be ridiculous- will consist
of going to a Kenyan museum, feeding giraffes, and playing with orphaned baby
elephants. SO. COOL! Expect tons of photos. Oh, and as for those videos I
promised you… follow these links!
Saturday
Oh my goodness. Today rocked!!! We started the morning with the Karen Blixen museum which was really interesting. Then we did the super cool stuffs like hang out with giraffes and elephants. No joke! We went to a giraffe conservation place where you can feed them, and yes, I did put a piece of food in my lips and yes, I did kiss the giraffe. I will post a link to the photos asap!! It was so awesome seeing God's creation up close and personally, and was just in awe of how amazing it is. We have been studying Romans and God's creation being proof of His existence. Seeing twisted trees that are 95 years old, or seeing flowers that are only able to grow in Kenya. It was gorgeous and it also was just eye opening to the rest of the world and what we appreciate where we live. This was great, and then we went to the elephant orphanage.
This place was so cool! Your entry fee allows you to 'adopt' an elephant for $50. American money converts really well currently, so $50 is a good amount for elephant care. The cool part was each elephant has their own worker that lives in the stall with them. Their beds are lofted of course, but these workers stay with the elephants their entire lifetime. It is really cool to see how the elephants attach themselves to the workers and are really very skiddish. I didn't know such a large animal would be so timid, but apparently that's the case. The babies are attached to a 'blanket' that is hanging, because it reminds them of their mother. That was very sweet. After you would stay at the stall for a while, they would come up to the doors to sniff you and let you rub their trunks, etc. That was super awesome and really eye opening to the trust issues that we as humans have and how it is the same with some animals. The workers there told us how 'human-like' the elephants are in their personalities and emotions. It was strange how you could look in the eyes of an elephant and see that they were looking right back at you, observing you, deciding if they wanted to trust you.
Today was just wonderful. I really got some good time with the American girls that I haven't gotten to have, and was able to see God over come exhaustion, fear, and even intestinal issues (go accidentally eating a cm-long piece of turkey). I am learning, and observing, full reliance on Him in every aspect. I can't do it without Him!!!
I will post a link to the photos ASAP! I need to go thru and delete some bad ones before I post them :)
Kwa heri!!
Molly
Molly I loved the comments about your trip and the photos except for the kissing of the giraffe and elephant. Not sure about that. Keep posting. Love hearing from you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Daddy