I will be honest; it was a long plane ride! The total trip from Seattle to Nairobi took about 22 hours and 15 minuets, but fortunately Jeanna and I had each other for good company. We were easily entertained by the in-flight monitors mounted on the back of each seat and took ample time to rest and prepare for the coming days of work. The pictures below do not do the sunrise we experienced from the plane any justice. We saw the very top of Mt. Kenya and were amazed at the rich red and orange of the rising sun.
Upon arrival to Nairobi we discovered it takes almost 3 hours to get through the Visa line, and that our ride was not there. Disappointed and tired we hired a matatu to take us to our guest house. A word of caution for those thinking of traveling to Kenya 1) get your Visa ahead of time by visiting the Kenya Visa website and 2) ALWAYS set a price for any cab/private matatu before you get in – also, pay the driver at the end of the ride.
As a reminder we stayed in Nairobi due to the country’s earlier political troubles, however, the people we were working with are from Kodera; a town near Lake Victoria. Below there is a picture of a map of Kenya with three areas indicated 1) Nairobi, 2) Kodera and 3) Karare (the place Andrea traveled in 2007).
The guest house, F.P.F.K. (Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya) was more than we could have asked for. The rooms were clean, the staff was exceptionally friendly and Jeanna made friends with all the compound cats (The orange one we named Simba; he was very friendly)! We shared a room with ample storage and an in-room bathroom (a luxury normally not afforded to people visiting Kenya). The bathroom was outfitted with a flushing toilet and a wonderfully warm shower! We had to get creative with laundry and finally resorted to buying a hair blow dryer as the weather was less than warm and our clothes were just not drying on their own. (Yes, Nairobi has cold weather during the winter months of June-August).
The guest house provided traditional Kenyan meals with the exception of a few things. We were offered cereal at breakfast and many choices of meat throughout the week. The average diet consists of primarily ugali (corn meal mush), giari (beans and corn), chipates (like crapes but different), spaghetti noodles with stew, rice, vegetables, chi and oranges. Very rarely do people have meat. Our cooks (featured in the slide show below) did a wonderful job keeping us nourished throughout the week. We would also come to appreciate the guest house guard, the nice waiter and Nora, F.P.F.K’s on site manager.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Getting There and Settling In
Teaching Others
Our mission from God was to Teach Others to teach others. As it says in Timothy 2:2 – And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
While the Bible is specifically referring to the Good News, we too are capable of sharing our resources and knowledge as it benefits others lives. We did exactly this, shared the Good News with many new friends and shared our personal knowledge to help them help themselves.
As Priscilla, our team leader recently wrote, it is customary to end a story with the “bottom line"; but because we are so excited to tell you about the success of the Kodera Adventure we will start with the bottom line and then tell you how we got there!
Bottom Line: 27 of Kodera’s primary leaders were given the opportunity to dream audacious goals for their community. Through the training, they were able to instigate changes in strategic areas they determined must be changed. Additionally, they did not ask for one penny to accomplish any of their goals. 12 of the leaders also spent at least 5 hours a day dedicated to computer skills training. Many of leaders had never used a computer before the training began. The rapid skills uptake was amazing. They came away from the computer training with the knowledge of how to utilize the computer to help accomplish their goals. All the participants graduated after the training and are now ready to teach their fellow community members back in Kodera.
How it Happened: Brad Board of the Pacific Institute taught the “21 Keys for Higher Performance Teaching and Learning”. The curriculum is designed to help the student learn how their brain works and why it works that way. They also learn to release themselves; to dream big and not let the “how” get in the way. Our team included scripture verses to show how God really is the instigator of Truth, which helped to illuminate the main concepts of the teachings and to provide the reason for “why” they were learning the material.
Conversations began slowly, as this was a new way of thinking for the leaders of Kodera. However, by Saturday when Christopher took over leading, the Koderan team was ready to run with their new found knowledge. Challenged with the question “what are we dreaming for Kodera?” as posed by Christopher, they began to assimilate the information into constructive pathways for Kodera. The leaders identified all the large areas in their community they felt had major problems that needed to be addressed. They then broke into smaller groups to set the specific goals they wanted to achieve. (Below in the slide show you will see their actual work in progress).
The leaders left the conference empowered to change their community by their actions, attitudes, habit patterns and discretion. We as a team can’t wait to see the positive changes that will take place over the next year!
Not So Typical Days
The typical day started about 5.30am for us. Andrea would wake up and turn on the hot water for the shower. We would then rise about 6am get ready for the day and have breakfast. Mornings were filled with many greetings and inquiry as to how everyone slept. After breakfast the hard work began. Usually two lessons were covered during each period of instruction, after which we would break out for computer instruction and engineering lessons. (Be sure to read about those adventures in the “break out” blog). The primary 21 Keys lessons were taught using a DVD, instruction manual and small group sessions. In the pictures below you will see all the wonderful work that took place. Andrea’s favorite time was the small group discussion. During these times we learned a great deal about Luo culture. For example, it is Luo custom to wait for the elders to begin a project. If the elder is out of town, the project does not commence until the elder returns. Therefore, if it is time to plant crops and the elder was not present, the crops would go unplanted. This was one specific area the Koderan leaders wanted to target. The want to train the younger generations on planning techniques and get the crops in the ground when planting is optimal.
The day was also scattered with tea time (a favorite of both Andrea and Jeanna). Kenyan chi is so wonderful. It tastes different than the chi we think of in the states. We also took time to sing and dance during the day; Luo culture is full of fun songs. A few of our favorites were the Mosquito Dance and the We Thank You Jesus song which is sung in English, Kiswahili and Luo. We also learned the Doxology in Luo!
We also had a few celebrations during our time in Kenya! First Jeanna celebrated her birthday on the 6th of August. The whole group surprised her by singing Happy Birthday that morning. She was really surprised! MJ also told of a birthday celebration. She had a birthday state side and requested no presents but announced donations could be made for the purchase of bikes for the medical staff. Pictured below MJ presented the medical staff with a check to buy 5 new bikes!!
Break Out!
breakout sessions were by far the most exciting! The Jeanna and I focused on teaching computer skills and Eric focused on creative engineering projects like the bamboo cart and a simple water purifying system. While we were not able to see Eric in action, the pictures below tell many stories. What we can tell you is the bamboo cart was very important as the sick people of Kodera used to be transported in wheelbarrows. This type of transportation was slow and many lost their lives just trying to get to the clinic. With a lightweight cart that attaches to the back of a bike, transportation to the clinic will be much faster!
Computer training did not go anything like we thought it would – but this was a good thing! Jeanna and I were truly amazed at the rapid uptake of information. I was asked at one point how did I know all this? I thought for a minuet and responded I just learned by practice. For the younger generations we take for granted the skills we are exposed to at an early age. We never had to consciously learn the computer - the skills just came. Jeanna and I could not have asked for anything more. All 12 participants put their heart into learning and were very excited when they mastered a skill.
Many people ask us what is the point of their learning the computer when they have no electricity and no email. Well, they do have these things to some degree. A generator was purchased to help charge the computer batteries and we provided 8 memory sticks to facilitate the email process. To send an email the composer would need to type their thoughts, save them to the memory stick and when in Kisii or Kisumu find an internet café to send the email. This may sound cumbersome but when this is your only option its not so bad! Think of all the wonderful things that have come from us being able to communicate quickly with others. Do they not deserve the same?
Thanks be to God that we only had one accident with a computer. One of the monitors suffered an impact on the plane ride over to Kenya. Fortunately we were able to find an external monitor – making the computer completely usable again! We were so thankful! We were also thankful for Damaris and Caleb who had prior computer skills. These wonderful people helped us out as extra teachers providing a wonderful experienced working environment for everyone! As we left Kenya we were confident that all our students could turn on and off the computer, navigate into different applications, save their publications and use a wonderful Bible reference program. With these skills the sky is the limit! Jeanna and I are eager to return to Kenya to see the progress of our students as well as bring typing programs and more in-depth instruction in Word, Excel and PowerPoint!
Fun Times!
When you work as hard as we did a little fun is in order. Fun times promote communication and allow lasting bonds to be made. Jeanna started out the evening with a modern dance, a form of dance the Koderans had never seen before. Shortly after Jeanna finished we all tried some salsa and traditional Luo dancing! Following the dance session the women retreated for ladies time and the men watched the Olympics! The women on the team, Priscilla, MJ, Andrea and Jeanna treated all the Koderan women to a pedicure and presented them with a few take home gifts. All of us that night had a great time laughing and learning about each other! Jeanna and I also had the chance to see Nairobi’s Safari Walk. Here we got to see many indigenous animals such as the giraffe, rhino and hippo.
Andrea also had the opportunity to reconnect with her wonderful friend Thomas from Karare (up north). Bless his heart – he was such a wonderful sight to see!!
Lastly we were able to take a few trips in and around Nairobi. We visited Mana Bible Institute – a facility that educates local pastors in effective ways to pastor to their communities. This is a wonderful facility with great programming. We will have more on Mana on the Sister Missions site in the future.
We also visited Kenyatta Hospital. This trip was very difficult for both Andrea and Jeanna. We were not allowed to take pictures at the hospital, but believe us, be VERY thankful for what we have in N. America. We are so very lucky.
We also had the opportunity to visit a local school. Upaco school is the home to 43 orphans and 125 regular students. We were able to provide the school with many needed supplies. All the supplies were donated by people like you back in the states! Interacting with the kids always fills my heart, and I think Jeanna was overjoyed with all their smiling faces. They honored us with many poems and songs – many dealing with HIV/AIDS. It was a very moving experience. We also learned that the school added an entire row of classrooms and was able to build a security fence. (You will see both in the pictures below). You will also see a picture of a card. These cards were handmade by the orphans at the school. The paper is made from the cardboard the orphans slept on before they were able to purchase mattresses. These cards represent hope and accomplishment for the children. No longer do they have to sleep on the cold cement floors. Now they can raise additional funds by selling the cards. If you are interested in buying a few and supporting a group of children that need help let Sister Missions know and we will provide you with more details.
By traveling outside of the compound we were able to put our mission into context. Knowing a people is so very important when doing mission work. Plus you never know what you will learn in return!
Sunday, August 3, 2008
This is Africa!
Hello everyone! I imagine you are wondering where the blog entries for the last couple of days are.....well, we were hoping to have internet access at the guest house and as it turns out, it is quite difficult (and a bit of a walk) to get to. We are here in Nairobi - safe and sound getting ready for the conference attendees to arrive tomorrow. We will be posting more in future days - as often as we can get access. Thank you for understanding - this is Africa!
Love Always,
Andrea & Jeanna
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Kodera Update Part 4 of 4
Here is the last edition (part 4 of 4) of Christopher’s beautiful report on Kodera. We have gotten to know the people of Kodera a little more by learning the impact of the medical clinic, the affects of the church and the transformation through the school. Today experience the joy the caregiver program has provided as well as a brief look at the general political state of Kenya. Please enjoy!
THE KODERA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
By Christopher Sure
July 2008
(post 4 out of 4)
CAREGIVERS PROGRAM
The caregivers program has been a big blessing to the people who have received such care as a manifestation of the love of God. The caregivers walked the paths that others dreaded and would not go. There are people who got ill for such a long time that their family members had to abandon them and only wished that death would come quickly and take them away. Their condition was so horrible that even their own sons and daughters feared getting close to them.
A man like the very old Peter, whose condition was so bad that he was hoping to die, received so much love and attention that he regained strength and longed for life rather than death. He was full of hate, curing and bitter even as he waited for his death. When the curtain finally fell on him, he was happy, smiling and thankful to God who gave him such care and a new life. The caregivers themselves are forever thankful to God for a unique opportunity of service to the people.
Emily: “My experience in the Care giving Program is very humbling. I did not know that some people I lived next to were in so much need for help until I offered myself for this service. I feel like I am fully participating in the great commission given to the disciples.”
Milka: “We see and get to know families more through this interaction. I am so very humbled by my experiences that I keep on reflecting in my own family and pray that we will remain a united, loving and caring family.”
Rose: “Some of the cases we meet remind me of the Biblical story of Lazarus and the rich man. People need to hear the voice of God now and not after death.”
POLITICAL TURMOIL IN KENYA
After the general elections towards the end of the year 2007, the country went into a crisis following the dispute of the presidential results. The crisis saw the price of the basic commodities sky rocket and hunger and starvation quickly settle on the people everywhere in the republic. This came in after a drought that has already gravely affected the harvest. Everything looked horrible as everyone faced starvation and death.
Thanks to Pine Lake Covenant Church and sponsors of the kids at PLA the fertilizer that was sent brought lost of smiles to our people. Many people are waiting for quite a good harvest because they planted well with fertilizer. The crops are already ripe, (most of them), and the farmers are just waiting for them to dry so that they can harvest.
Daniel remarked that he is expecting a very good harvest this year because of the fertilizer gift: “Surely God lives. It is only that we abandon God and go away from Him. Then our lives become wretched and waste away. I did not know I would ever plant with fertilizer. Now I am going to get a very good harvest, all because of God. Surely God provides and He dwells in our church.”
Our people are full of praise and thankfulness to God and to the people of God in America who tirelessly sacrifice and watch out for their brothers and sisters in Kodera, Kenya to see that they are not harmed and lost.
You might remember the October/November 2007 caregiver kit drive. PLCC and surrounding organizations in the area pledged to fill a crate (over 7,500 kits) with caregiver kits to send to Africa. As you can see from Christopher, the kits and the training provided to the caregivers most certainly change lives. I am sure that Sister Missions will participate in the next caregiver Kit event…keep checking in for news on that.
Thank you Christopher for sharing such inspiring words with us so that we know just how much every little bit of help donated has assisted in creating such great change. For more information on any part of Christopher’s update, please contact Jeanna or Andrea. We would love to talk with you. Donations are welcome at any time. For more information on donating, please click here or contact us at SisterMissions@gmail.com.
Our next posting will be on Wednesday! Until then…
Friday, July 25, 2008
Kodera Update Part 3 of 4
Here is Friday’s section (part 3 of 4) of Christopher’s beautiful report on Kodera. Previously we covered the impact of the medical clinic on Wednesday and the affect and effects of the church on Thursday. Today we visit the school to see the transformation of the future generation. Please enjoy!
THE KODERA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
By Christopher Sure
July 2008
(post 3 out of 4)
PINE LAKE ACADEMY
At every beginning of the school term the children all gather at the church for a special dedication service where we send them off to school. We have seen God’s hand working through this to bless our children with their studies. In the last two years, the children from our church have performed in exams better than other kids community. The girls who participated and remained true to the shared promises they made, came out with very good results. There are uncountable things that God is doing in our midst.
If anything, it has made a dreamer perfect the art of dreaming, it’s the school; Pine Lake Academy, The school has tremendously transformed the lives of the kids, their parents, and the teachers in an amazing way. To begin with , the school has kids from three different tribes so the kids grow up and learn to speak different languages. These languages are Luo, Luyia and Kisii. In the Kenya curriculum for education, rural schools begin teaching in the dominant mother tongue as a medium for instruction to all kids from preschool to the third grade. Then in 4th grade, the instructions are given in English. At Pine Lake Academy, we have cared for other who do not speak the Luo language by giving instructions in English from the very start. The kids at Pine Lake Academy find their learning enjoyable because they learn to effectively communicate in the very language they will do all their tests in, i.e. English. Parents who have more than one kid at PLA are always impressed that when their kids are home they only speak to each other in English and Swahili, the official languages.
Learning has been made more enjoyable and easy by the school supplies that came from America. These were learning tools that had never been seen before. The teachers have found their work very rewarding in the sense of the joy and satisfaction brought about by the learning aids that excite the kids and makes them learn faster.
The children, who used to eat at home every meal without even thanking the God who provides, now would never allow their parents to attack their food without giving thanks to God for the provision. The kids have taken the good news back home. The breakfast (porridge) and the lunch provided at school have transformed the lives of the once frail and gloomy kids to robust, sparkling, very active, (some hyper) bouncy kids. The nutritious supplement of Amaranth flour in their porridge and Ugali plus the Moringa supplement in their everyday lunch just worked a miracle. At the academy they do not just get teaching, they also get the right diet that their body needs and shapes their health to what it was meant to be. Even their parents have said that in the first month of attending PLA, the health of their children improved greatly.
Secondly, the schools around us fear to allow our kids to take a joint test with them. One time last year, grade three kids at PLA did take a test these grade three kids of the Mititi School. The results were: 1-9 PLA, then position ten was taken by best kid from the Mititi School. Then positions 11-19 were taken again by the PLA students. Since then we have asked for joint tests with Mititi and other schools but they are very reluctant to accept us. Lastly, those parents who in the past never use to bother about what goes on with their kids at school, now must always know what is going on. We ask the kids to report their daily work to their parents and that they do faithfully. Occasionally we invite parents to discuss the progress of their children at school. We are driven by the principles of collective responsibility where parents and teachers join hands and effort to shape the life of the child. Up to 10 kids who left to join other schools at the beginning of the year have come back. “PINE LAKE ACADEMY IS WHERE WE BELONG.”
Be Amazed at what happens through love and compassion! A little direct love and attention has helped to show these children and the community around them how to turn their views on life around from apologizing to exclaiming that they are children of Kodera and God! Sister Missions will be sharing knowledge in computer skills, Word, Excel, Power Point and Publisher with a group of Pine Lake Academy teachers so they will be better equipped to organize and create grade sheets, lesson plans, teaching tools, communication (with other teachers, the government, students and parents) and more. These teachers will then take the knowledge and pass it on to other teachers and students. Also, by learning and passing this knowledge on, teachers will begin their journey to fulfill the government mandate that all teachers be computer literate in 4 years. Thank you for helping make the teacher’s goal a reality with your donation. See what great things can happen when we all work together?! If you have not already, join in the adventure and donate today!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Kodera Update Part 2 of 4
Here is Thursday’s (part 2 of 4) section of Christopher’s beautiful report on Kodera. Where yesterday’s post focused on the impact of the medical clinic, today’s selection shares the affect and effects the church continues to have and what it means to the people of Kodera. Please enjoy!
THE KODERA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
By Christopher Sure
July 2008
(post 2 out of 4)
THE CHURCH
The founding of this new Church has brought more gospel light for the community. The church has, over the past three years of its existence, grown tremendously in number. From a mere 15 members at its launch, to an average of 150 attending every Sunday service. To date, our church as seen up to 10 people being baptized in the Lord’s name while they are in their 60s and above. These people had never attended any church in their lifetime. They may not know what God had planned and never attended any church if it were not for this new church planted in Kodera. Many people have come to personally relate with God through the teachings and gospel message at our church.
Daniel: “So this is what a church is meant to be. For all the years of my life I have been attending churches for the sake of it. I merely presented my body and my joy lay in meeting and greeting friends after the church service. Now it is different with me. If I miss a Sunday service, I feel as if I have been deserted by everyone. I feel lonely and I only retain myself after I gather at a prayer meeting or on another Sunday service. The message of the Lord appealed to me directly and I meditate it on my own time. The church has impacted me and my family in a very special way.”
Michael: “I have been out in the cold for a long, long period of time. Now I dedicate the remainder of my life to the church.”
This year, 2008, we have seen eight families join our church. At the church conference last year, we resolved that we will take the lead in being light and salt to the Kodera community and its neighbors. We said to ourselves that we must be relevant to our community and so we resolve to respond to the various needs of the people within our means.
1) We visit the sick and pray for them in their homes and in hospitals, not minding whether they belong to our church or not.
2) We make contributions of grains and money to our members who need assistance.
3) We have bought uniforms for girls from various schools whose uniforms are torn after we have established that they cannot afford new ones.
4) Towards the end of last year, during our yearly program of prayer for the dedication of families to the Lord, the people responded by giving an offering of $750.00. That was God’s spirit working in our midst.
5) A visiting pastor at the close of our dedication service said “What I see is a great revival and it has begun here. I pray that this revival moves on to our other churches so that we will all rejoice at a great awakening.”
Other churches in our community have lamented that somehow we (our church) have become a threat to them. The threat is that they are losing their membership and the people they lose join us. But since we have not made a campaign for membership, those who join us come because they have seen something good in us and that is being the light and salt of the world. Dismas, a member of the Roman Catholic Church, and also an official in his church, is the one person who has stated that he has a big challenge in his house. His children have asked to be allowed to be members of our church. It has been months but he is still struggling to find the right answer for them since we have a great program for our adult Sunday school, middle level kids and High School kids.
Praise God! It is a beautiful thing to see a church grow. Please pray that the surrounding churches view change as an opportunity and not as a threat. Together, far more can be accomplished than alone. Sister Missions is truly blessed for the opportunity to work side by side with the community and church leaders. Not only will the computer skills help for 5 and 10 year community strategy planning, it will also help with budgets, donations, visiting (the sick) schedules, and more. This group of people will also learn PowerPoint enabling them to share more effectively with larger groups. Just imagine what the update will be next year! Your donations are assisting in the creation of a brighter future. Thank you so much for all your support. It is not too late to donate…
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Kodera Update Part 1 of 4
Next week we are off on our adventure to Africa! Time has flown by very quickly. Thank you so much to those that have contributed physically, financially, mentally and spiritually. YOU are what makes this adventure possible! It is not too late to donate! We are still accepting donations. Please make your tax deductible check out to PLCC with J&A Kodera 2008 in the Memo line and mail to our address below.
For this week we have something very special to share. Christopher Sure (our team member in Kodera) has sent a beautiful report filled with updates on the projects going on in the village. There is too many wonderful activates to share in one blog so for the next 4 days (Wed, Thurs, Fri and Sat) we have split the update report into smaller chunks to post while still keeping the letter as Christopher wrote. Please enjoy!
THE KODERA DEVELOPMENT AGENDA
By Christopher Sure
July 2008
(post 1 of 4)
“Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe even if you were told” Habakkuk 1:5.
The words of the prophet stated above cannot be bypassed when one is brining up or rather putting the Kodera community into the picture. I personally find the words very real and relevant to Kodera and to my work in Kodera through the partnership with Pine Lake Covenant Church. Over the past many years of partnership, God has done great things among the rural poor people of Kodera, Kenya that word of mouth cannot satisfacotily describe. Thus, we can only discern spiritually that it is God who is doing a new thing in our day! WHO IS LIKE THE LORD?
THE ST. JOHN’S CLINIC-KARABACH
The very first short term missionaries set foot on Kodera soil in December 1999. These pioneers were: Doug Holderman (team leader), Todd and Lourie Anderson, and TJ. At a meeting with opinion leaders and stake holders of the Kodera community, the missionaries were asked if there was anything in particular that the community would wish that they as Pine Lake Covenant Church, could assist with to help improve the lives of the people. The response was a big YES. There was no mincing of words and the people of Kodera, through the few leaders who spoke, stated very clearly that what we needed most was assistance in the line of health care for; “we are a dying community”. The infant mortality rate was way above 50% at that time; a situation that cast a very dark shadow on the future generation of the Kodera people. That people lived in fear of death and hopelessness was evident in their lives and could be seen in their faces. It was easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than to successfully present a case on responsible parenthood, family planning, and birth control. Parents needed many children and depended on good luck for those of their children who would survive and grow up into adulthood. Lack of any health care facility accessible to the people of Kodera also contributed to the many deaths of infants and their mothers during child birth. Giving birth to so many children was a reason for another grave problem, causing starvation. There were many mouths to feed, few hands and less energy to produce the food, leading to malnutrition and multiple diseases.
Today, the story is different, completely different. There has been an unbelievable about turn! In the year 2007 about 200 expectant mothers gave birth safely at the clinic (ANC), to healthy and bouncing babies. In the same year a total of 560 kids attended the regular child welfare clinic, and a total of 180 couples have voluntarily entered into the Family Planning program. The most popular birth control method is Depo-Provera injections. In the year 2008, Jan-June, 163 mothers and 270 children have attended the ANC clinic. One hundred and forty seven parents are on Family Planning. In 2008, the clinic has seen 21 babies born safely, one being a twin birth.
The curse of death has been lifted! Praise the Lord! There have hardly been any childhood deaths in Kodera and its immediate neighborhood served by the clinic since it began operation in August of 2004. It is a new dawn. It is a light shinning in a place once engulfed in deep darkness. Parents are now more concerned about the education of their children and dreaming of what their children will grow up to be, rather than watching in fear as death claimed them one after another. The more than 50% child mortality rate has been completely erased! If anything, we could talk of 0.01%. I wish therefore, with courage and boldness, to say that the people of Kodera do not have cases of childhood deaths anymore. Thanks to all and praise to God who is doing something new in our times!
Many mothers and parents whose children are born at St. John’s clinic have named their children after the short term missionaries. Priscilla is a leading name among the girls and also among the people of Kodera and the Kissii community that borders Kodera. Other names include Mary Jane, Zack, Larry, Gretchen, Melissa, Cindy, Ralph, Kathy and many more. In the near future, there will be many similar names to those of the people on the Sammamish hills. It is important to note that in the Luo culture, naming your child or bull, etc… after someone means that the person is greatly esteemed, respected and honored. What would Kodera give in appreciation for the hearts of love that has flowed like water that quenches every thirst? Let the names to this.
Isn't God Wonderful! Sister Missions is so grateful to have the opportunity to with the Koderans and participate in this awesome change. We will be teaching Word and Excel to the clinic workers to help them keep client files, supply inventory records, work schedules, and much more. Please keep us in your thoughts.
Please check back tomorrow for the second section of Christopher’s Kodera update.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Time Flies with Preparations!
My goodness! Time flies when there are a lot of important things to do as you can see by the tardiness of this week’s blog. Today, we decided to do a quick information blog about what has been happening on the back end here at Sister Missions!
Lesson plans are coming along nicely for the whole team. Materials have all been purchased and I think we are ready to pack! (Packing day is July 29th!) We have 6 computers to take over and have our computer orientation lessons and word lessons done. Only a few other program lessons to go! Yeah! Other team member lessons include how to build a bamboo and resin bike, trailer wagon for the bike, ceramic stove, and possibly even a water filter. The self-efficacy and strategy resources have arrived and the medical supplies are ready to pack.
We are still in need of more donations.
Please help!
As many of you know, Andrea was away all week as a leader for the PLCC Youth mission to the Wapato Indian reservation in Eastern Washington (near Yakima). She will report back on her adventures as soon as she returns and takes a breath! Jeanna will post the link to the information here, on Sister Missions and send out an email.
Jeanna has been busy getting things in order in Detroit so she can fly back to Seattle to finish preparations! Lots of traveling! She has been searching for information and writing the daily blog entries that will be posting throughout our time away (so please read them!) as well as refining the mailing list properties so a newsletter can be sent out without sharing everyone’s email with everyone else! (So please sign up for the mailing list at: http://sistersforkodera2008.blogspot.com/2008/05/join-our-kodera-mailing-list.html).
A small note on the mailing list signup: We do not want our emails to be considered spam. So we have a double opt in process. After you submit your name and address, you will receive an email welcoming you and asking for you to confirm your subscription by clicking on the link. You have 6 days before your subscription expires and you are erased from the list – so click ASAP! AFTER you confirm, you will hopefully be redirected to our blog main page…although I have been working on this code and am not sure I got it right yet… in the past it has been going elsewhere. That is it! We will send a few updates (no loading up your inbox…).
Please be looking out for a couple emails from Sister Missions! We will be sending one to let you know about this blog in an HTML format and one inviting you to join our mailing list. Let me know if you did not receive them by emailing SisterMissions@gmail.com!
I think that is it for now! Must get back to work!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
It’s Not Too Late to BE amazed!
BE amazed…at what happens through love & compassion
Thank you very much to everyone who has given such generous donations! We are forever grateful and appreciative. Take a look at the ways you, our supporters, have shown your love and compassion for this mission trip and the people of Kodera:
Donation Gifts to Date: $ 2,760
Computers Donated: 6
Prayer Partners: 20
It’s not too late to share a gift with Kodera! Yes, our posted deadline has past, but we are still very short of our goal of $7,500. Never has the need been greater. Please do not be offended by the directness; we are down to the last 27 days before departure and we have reached less than half our goal. We incurred many expenses, some of which we have already paid out of pocket (this is no free vacation…see below) and the remainder of the bill is due. We can not do this alone. Please share this adventure with your friends and family (If you prefer, contact us and we can share with them).
Lately, we have been answering many questions about what the larger picture/goal of the missions is, why Africa, why Kodera, why only 2 weeks, why the same village year after year, why such expense, is this a vacation, etc? First a word on the vacation issue and then a Koderan Story of Change…..
To set the record straight – this is in no way a vacation! Will we have fun? Yes; bonding, sharing, and learning with our Koderan friends. Will we see and experience new things? Yes. Will we be out and about being served the equivalent of Kenyan Mai Thais as we relax in the sun after dropping off a computer? No. We will be up before 6am to give additional computer help, attend the group sessions on strategy, self efficacy, and the book of Ruth. We will teach our own 2-3 (1.5 hour) blocks of lessons everyday, share meals, share of ourselves emotionally and spiritually and prepare for the next day’s lessons after closing around 11pm. We hope to be in bed asleep by 1am so we can rise before 6 and do it again. Are we complaining? NO! (Anyone that knows a Kiehle Sister knows we strive for packing the most into any experience). Be assured this is not a vacation! Now onto the story to explain the rest of the questions we have been answering as of late……a story of hope, a story of belief, a story of CHANGE……
25 years ago the people of Kodera were struck with a disease that caused blindness. Word spread around Kenya and quickly all Koderans’ were feared, shunned and the town was actually removed from the Kenyan map. Over time, the disease lifted and the people of Kodera were seeing again, but they were not seeing the same Kodera. Once a prosperous town, full of pride, Kodera was now seeing a town full of damaged people. Others laughed when Koderan children came around – they jeered and teased the children saying they could not pass the national exams and that they did poorly in school. These things damaged all of Kodera’s people, their self image and self worth. Koderans’ were no longer proud to be Koderan – they actually apologized for being Koderan, reinforcing the negative words of others.
Christopher (a Koderan) knew Koderans’ were just as good as everyone else – the children could make the same marks and the people could create an environment in which they were proud to live and be Koderan. Christopher came to the USA to be schooled and make connections to help his community be self sufficient. He saw the potential and believed. Seven years later, the Koderan Health Clinic and the PLCC Primary School are the best in the country! Today, Koderans lift their heads with pride and are excited to be Koderan!!
Christopher along with the other leaders in Kodera strive to keep the positive momentum rolling. Part of their plan for the future is to develop 5 and 10 year strategies for the community focusing on self efficacy to create a stable, advanced community that can provide for themselves, and create a healthy environment for future generations. On this trip the skills needed to develop community strategies for advancement, knowledge of the importance of self-speak/self efficacy (for themselves as well as the children) and specific skills in computers will be shared and put into action. The goal is to Teach Others, to Teach Others to Teach Others – to help spark a community into action and involvement so they may prosper on their own.
By sharing a donation gift with Kodera you are not just providing a “handout” you are effectively changing the lives of others in a very real way. Your love & compassion is very real, and will allow a community to continue to feel proud of the good work they do for themselves and others.
BE amazed…at what happens through love & compassion
Sister Missions chooses to live in this manner believing in the many deep, multifaceted ways love and compassion can touch many hearts and lives around the world. Unlike empathy, (unidirectional), Love and Compassion can flow between two people or between many people at the same time. Love and Compassion does flow both ways. To get your weekly and later daily “fill” from Kodera and the mission team, be sure to check back every Wednesday (for 4 more weeks) to read our newest post. While we are gone, we will post a thought everyday (Beginning July 30) and conclude this adventure for this year with our journal writings, pictures and stories when we return. Our hope is to share through our pictures and stories, the love and compassion that flows freely from the Koderans.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Children are the Future
7 Ways to Pray for the Children of Kodera (and all children around the world)
We often say “the children are the future”, but not all children in the US or around the world are privileged to have access to even the most basic necessities like clean water, the love of a parent or a safe, warm home.
It only takes a moment to pray; to be thankful for the resources we have available to us, for the life that we were given and the life we are able to give our children. We challenge you to take a moment to think of your life differently – to write down 5 things that you are truly thankful for and relate them to everyday occurrences. Learn to change the way you think of your life, and to be thankful even for the most simple of things.
Below is an article from World Vision to help you get started.
1) Shower Time = Clean Water
Nearly 1.1 billion people are without access to clean water – that’s more than the combined populations of North America and the European Union. Without access to clean drinking water, children are at a much higher risk for life-threatening diseases like diarrhea, intestinal worms and cholera.
2) Off to Work = Child Labor
The U.S. national minimum wage is $5.85 per hour. Many children worldwide earn less than $1 a day, if they are even paid at all. About 126 million children work in ways that are likely to harm their health, safety, or moral development.
3) Lunch Time = Hungry Kids
McDonald’s serves 47 million people worldwide each day. Nearly three times that number of children are underweight, leaving them undernourished, vulnerable to disease, and prone to stunted growth.
4) News Break = Education
There are 72 million children worldwide not attending primary school. In comparison, 40 million Americans have a four-year college degree. Without education, children will struggle to provide for themselves and their families.
5) Heading Home = Displaced Children
More than 34 million people – mostly women and children – have been forced to leave their homes by violence or disaster. That’s nearly 10 times the number of homeless people in the United States.
6) Take a Vitamin = Medical Access
Every year, nearly 15 times the number of children die of readily preventable diseases than Americans who are killed by heart disease (the leading cause of death in the U.S.). Many children lack access to health care simply because they are poor.
7) Bed Time = Orphans
There are more than 6 times the number of orphans in the world than children under the age of 5 in the U.S. The prevalence of orphans is increasing in Africa, largely due to the AIDS pandemic.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
TEACH OTHERS (double feature).....
So I will preface this entry because I know once you look down the page, you will be wondering why there are 2 “TEACH OTHERS” blog entries for today. A learning experience is around every corner…… Andrea and I work together to create these entries and so we both were working off our original draft from yesterday. I flat out did not look until just now and saw that there was already a post up. So you get both our versions this time; which actually illustrates one point in this posting…..same material, different takes (this is why we want your comments!). Enjoy this double feature!
TEACH OTHERS, To Teach Others, to teach others…
People teaching others, who in turn teach others, who also teach others. What a beautiful image! Think for a moment of something you learned from someone and then taught to someone else. Can you see the passing of the torch from one to another; the spark that starts a chain reaction? This is the central mission theme for our trip to Africa. We are not brilliant in a given field or by any means authorities on the subjects we teach. Instead, we have knowledge and skills learned from someone to share with another who will share with still another. And the chain continues. And the knowledge spreads. And change occurs.
The Bible says “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”. (Timothy 2:2 NIV)
We all are teachers in some way; reading a book to a child, showing teens how to cook, being an example by opening a door for another. We teach through what we say, what we do, what we write, how we act, how we react…we teach all that are listening, watching, reading, experiencing. Do we really know the full impact of our words and actions on others? When was the last time you thanked someone for teaching you something….even if they did not even realize you were aware of their lesson?
The Koderans are very aware and ready to learn. We are blessed with the opportunity to provide lessons and resources to equip a small group of Koderans with the knowledge of computers, goal setting and strategizing. The workshop participants will then return home to teach others in their community who will then teach others, starting a chain reaction of knowledge.
We are all students also. When was the last time you opened your eyes and ears to become aware of what lessons are being shared around you? Last week in the blog entry “A Priceless Lesson," we mentioned two little girls who gave all they had from their piggy banks – little do they know they gave more than the rich man, because their giving came from the heart. It all begins in the heart – what a powerful lesson. We all know this lesson…isn’t it wonderful to be reminded by such a pure and innocent example?
This week we again experience a wonderful lesson by example. We received this email from Andrea’s good friends in Canada.
Hello Andrea and Jeanna:
Just wanted to let you to know that we have sent a donation to Sisters Missions by
mail.
We believe that the work you are doing and plan to do in Kodera, Kenya, Africa is very important, and hope that you will receive enough funding to pursue your goals. You are both to be commended for pursuing your dream to help others in need. Because of your talent and skills, and your attitude, love, and compassion towards Kenya's people, you will be helping future generations lead a better life. By providing today's learners in Kodera with hands on experiences leading to skill development and knowledge, better jobs and opportunities WILL become a reality for some.
Think of how wonderful that will be! I being a teacher myself, was quite moved by your pictures of, and anecdotes about the African children. As a mom, teacher, and a human being I am thankful that you will be making a difference in some child's future there, no matter how big or small.
I presently and happily sponsor an 8 year old girl, MusKhan, in India - my way to light a wee candle for a family's future there.
Please accept our donation as one more step closer to the realization of your dream.
YOU GO KIEHLE SISTERS!!!!
Look out Kodera folks -- here they come.
God Bless.
Thank you L&M for your beautiful, inspiring words. Your support, encouragement and understanding are so very much appreciated! Again, this is a lesson we all know: One grain of sand can turn the tide. When Sister Missions first made the decision to be a part of this adventure, we were not thinking of the larger, continuing impact of our part. We were only thinking that we have a skill, they have an immediate need to know this skill, we would share, end of story. But that is NOT the end of the story…..the story continues, the knowledge continues to flow, change occurs and the tide begins to turn. One act, one word, one bit of knowledge, one thought of hope is a grain of sand that will begin to turn the tide for change.
One of our first blog entries “The Power of One,” includes the lyrics and a video for the POWERFUL song by Bomshel titled “The Power of One.” Take a moment to click here, listen to the song, and read the lyrics with the following in mind (don’t forget to come back to this window to finish!):
With all the little things we do everyday...how often do we pause to see how the smallest step can bring on a change? Is the tide turning....is the night illuminated...if not - How can you share a dream, a word, an act of love to spark a chain reaction for change?
To finish up and tie this entry together, one more lesson: One act of love from someone can start a chain reaction. We are amazed and our hearts are touched deeply by the stories we hear from our supporters. You are a spark for love in this world! Our supporters mean so much to us – We want to hear from you! Each person has a unique perspective and creative ideas and we want to hear them all. You never know who will learn something, see a concept from a different point of view or just be reminded of something already known. Please leave your thoughts/comments or feelings regarding the song “The Power of One” in the comment section of that blog entry. How did it move you, how did it make you feel, what ideas for change came to mind? Andrea has left her response to get you started. Actually now that I think about it….. please share your point of view at the end of EVERY blog entry! (who knows….maybe good things come from Kenya to those that share……).
Remember:
One grain of sand...can turn the tide
One single spark...can light the night
One simple dream, One gentle word
One act of love
...from someone canstart a chain reaction
It all begins in the heart
In the power of one
TEACH OTHERS, To Teach Others, to teach others...
Teachers come in all shapes and sizes and teach on a variety of subjects. Maybe you remember your awful math teacher or your wonderful science teacher? Or you might remember a college professor or a conference lecturer that really made a difference not only in what you learned but how you learned it. Often in America we say "children are our future". We spend considerable time and money educating our children so they may lead a better life and help shape America in the times to come. Every day teachers act as small grains of sand, turning the tide for each individual no matter the student’s age, skill level, or geographic location.
We, Andrea and Jeanna, are amazed and our hearts are touched deeply by the stories we hear from our supporters. Last week we mentioned two little girls who gave all they had from their piggy banks – little do they know they gave more than the rich man, because their giving came from the heart. ...It all begins in the heart...
This week we want to share an email we received from Andrea’s good friends in Canada, L&M.
Hello Andrea and Jeanna:
Just wanted to let you to know that we have sent a donation to Sisters Missions by mail.
We believe that the work you are doing and plan to do in Kodera, Kenya, Africa is very important, and hope that you will receive enough funding to pursue your goals. You are both to be commended for pursuing your dream to help others in need. Because of your talent and skills, and your attitude, love, and compassion towards Kenya's people, you will be helping future generations lead a better life. By providing today's learners in Kodera with hands on experiences leading to skill development and knowledge, better jobs and opportunities WILL become a reality for some.
Think of how wonderful that will be! I being a teacher myself, was quite moved by your pictures of, and anecdotes about the African children. As a mom, teacher, and a human being I am thankful that you will be making a difference in some child's future there, no matter how big or small.
I presently and happily sponsor an 8 year old girl, MusKhan, in India - my way to light a wee candle for a family's future there.
Please accept our donation as one more step closer to the realization of your dream.
YOU GO KIEHLE SISTERS!!!!
Look out Kodera folks -- here they come.
God Bless.
The Bible says:“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others”. (Timothy 2:2 NIV)
The PLCC team picked this verse from the Bible as our mission theme for the workshop in Nairobi. We, the team, are providing lessons and resources to equip a small group of Koderans with the knowledge of computers as well as goal setting and strategizing. The workshop participants will then return home to teach others in their community who will then teach others, starting a chain reaction of knowledge.
Listen to the song The Power of One by Bomshel. It is the theme song for this trip and really has a lot of meaning. Listen with the following in mind:
With all the little things we do everyday...how often do we pause to see how the smallest step can bring on a change? Is the tide turning....is the night illuminated...if not - How can you share a dream, a word, an act of love to spark a chain reaction for change?
We want to hear from you! Each person has a unique perspective and creative ideas and we want to hear them all. Please be sure to leave your thoughts/comments or feelings regarding the song “The Power of One”. How did it move you, how did it make you feel, what ideas for change came to mind? Andrea has left her response to get you started.
Our supporters mean so much to us – and as a thank you for responding you might just receive a special something from Kenya!
Thank you L&M for your beautiful, inspiring words. Your support, encouragement and understanding are so very much appreciated! You are a spark for love in this world! ...One act of Love...
Thursday, June 12, 2008
A Priceless Lesson
What did you think? Please let us know in the comments below or through an email. Did you recognize one of our team members, Marijanne? For those of you that were with us in October/November, did you recognize the orange kits? Yes, those are World Vision AIDS caregiver kits. For those of you that do not remember or were not around, please click hereto learn more!
We digress…..back to Kodera. Could you see the love in their eyes even as you saw the need of their bodies? After just one look at the video, you have a clearer idea of the conditions that more than 50% of Kenyans live in. Imagine if you knew more… Digging deeper, beyond the obvious shock of visual differences, “getting to know” a country and its people, comprehending how a country “lives” everyday life and beginning to see as they see, do as they do, and love as they love, opens the door of opportunity to really understand and love the people as they really are; instead of how we think they are (through our very American lenses). We put together a few comparison facts between the United States and Kenya to help transport you from an American view of the Kenya to a Koderan view.
A fact that startled us right out of our seats is that the life expectancy difference between Kenyans and Americans is 23 years! [Makes you want to get up right now and go do something….maybe a lot of things on that list of “I will do it tomorrow or when I retire” list] Think of all the accomplishments and goals you have reached in the past 23 years! Think of all the things you will do in the NEXT 23 years. What if disease, malnutrition, clean water, and treacherous stretches of road kept you from reaching your goals? What if someone could do something…could show you how to make a change...how to change so your child would live longer to realize more of their dreams……
A lot of people ask us why we at Sister Missions are called to Kenya and not to the needy in America. We are called to needs in America (see Motor City Blight Busters when Jeanna finally gets the site up….). Really though, addressing the question…..There are MANY reasons (great blog topic for later!)
To stay focused for now, one reason is the percent of people living below poverty level. In Kenya over 4 times the number of people are living under the poverty level compared to the United States. We know there are people in America living in poverty – you can not walk around parts of Detroit or Renton for that matter without seeing this first hand. But really think about 4 times what we see here for a moment – that is 18.45 million people or HALF of the total population of Kenya. That is a lot. What would we do if half of America was living under the poverty level? Ask for help……
Taking a slightly different approach…..it all really boils down to the Annual Per Capita difference. To make life easy (no joke intended) – all the figures in the table above are in US dollars. The exchange conversion is done. We compare dollars to dollars in the US fashion.
Per year the average American makes $44,970 and the average Kenyan makes $799. [Wow. We spend that on a plane ticket.] Now, we know what you are thinking… “things cost less in Kenya!”. Yes, they do cost less….but not THAT MUCH less!
It takes far more effort and work for Kenyans to earn that tomato for dinner then for us to earn a tomato. Just a little math…not much and we ARE simplifying….so don't shoot us down with intricate tax issues, kilos vs. pounds (we converted) and the fact that we don’t really buy tomatoes but go out to eat….. .
If we make $44,970 in a year (averaging 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year) that is $22.50 per hour. A Kenyan, working the same hours would make $0.40 per hour. 2 pounds (or about 1 kilo - yes I know it is 2.2 lbs but I wanted the math easy) of tomatoes costs Kenyans $0.71 – that is 1.78 hours of work. Do you buy 2 pounds of tomatoes for $39.94? Let’s just say that toilet paper is a luxury – for guests. (For more info on prices, inflation, etc check out: http://allafrica.com/stories/200804011037.html)
Think about what you spend in one month on “necessities”. What could you live without - Three meals a day? Your car? Your bed and mattress? Bottled water? The grocery store? Your healthcare plan? Maybe... just one less latte a day?
Everyday Kenyans suffer because they do not have access to these things. Not because they don’t want them or do not need them but because they do not know a way of getting them. They need to learn, they want to learn. We want and are able to teach so that they can teach another, who teach others…….
Watch the video one more time with different lenses in your glasses. Could you REALLY see the love in their eyes even as you saw the need of their bodies? At the same time that we teach them how to improve their bodies, the Kodereans teach us a priceless lesson by example – their daily living situation may be breaking their bodies but it is not breaking their spirit.
Be AMAZED…
at what happens through Love & Compassion
Action Items for RIGHT NOW:
1. Click here to DONATE NOW to the cause and make a difference today!
2. Click here and join our mailing list (we will not mail you a million times everyday! Just to let you know we updated the blog or have something spectacular to share).
3. Open a new tab or window, log into your email account and add SisterMissions@gmail.com to your SAFE list and to your Contacts! (We don’t want to go to spam or be filtered out as junk).
4. Click the envelope at the bottom of this page and SHARE this adventure with a friend! Be that spark by spreading the news!
5. Let us know what you think – send us an email or post a comment!
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Meet Eric Morris
We have a new team member! Eric Morris will now be joining us on this year’s trip to Nairobi. Eric's knowledge of Kenya will be a huge asset on the trip.
Since retiring from Boeing 6 years ago Eric and his wife Faye have traveled to Kenya and Tanzania to work with small ministries that “can do a lot with a little”. Eric and Faye work with schools, orphanages, churches and other community based organizations and are registered with the Kenyan Government as the Eric and Morris Faye Development Group (EMFAD). Eric states “As you can see, the name got a bit tangled during registration”.
Stateside, Eric works with the University of Idaho to sponsor student engineering projects that use simple technology to improve the lives of the poor. You can see a video of their Kenya Venture 2007 on their web site, http://efmdg.org/efmdg/. In March 2007, Eric took three faculty and four students to Kenya to test and implement a simple water filtration system that uses local materials and costs about $15 to build. Way to go Eric!!
When not working in Africa, Eric and Faye stay busy with their garden, two dogs and four granddaughters. In February 2008, they returned from teaching at Shantou University in the People's Republic of China.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Welcome to the Kodera 2008 Adventure
Thank you for visiting the Sisters for Kodera 2008 Adventure Blog! Links on the left side will take you to any of the posts - or just scroll down! Click the link at the bottom of each "teaser" entry to read the full story. To get back to the main page, click home at the bottom of the entry page or hit your back button.
For those that have not heard: The Kiehle sisters have joined up with a wonderful team from PLCC to share the Love and Word of God with our friends of Kodera. We are so excited to be blessed with this opportunity.Take a few mintues to explore! Get to know the team & the Luo people, learn more about Kenya, Kodera & the mission goals & needs, and meet our supporters! Quick links are provided on the right for ease. Please comment! We would love to hear from you! Become Part of the Adventure!
Last - we can not accomplish the adventure's goals without you and those you know. Be the spark that creates a chain reaction by passing on this site and information to others you know that would be interested in participating.
Please do check out the Power of One Entry. It is the theme song for this trip and really has a lot of meaning.
Thank you! We look forwrad to hearing from you!
Andrea & Jeanna
Sister Missions
The Power of ONE
A video to move, words to inspire, a song to change your outlook. With all the little things we do everyday...how often do we pause to see how the smallest step can bring on a change? Is the tide turning....is the night illuminated...if not - How can we share a dream a word an act of love to spark a chain reaction for change?
The Power of One
One person refused to sit on the back of the bus
She changed the ride for all of us
Ohhhh that's the power of one
Her diary found a light in the dark
A young girl's hope touched millions of hearts
Ohhhh that's the power of one
One grain of sand can turn the tide
One single spark can light the night
One simple dream, One gentle word
One act of love from someone
Can start a chain reaction
It all begins in the heart
In the power of one
While the others threw stones He didn't judge
He moved the world with the strength of His love
Ohhhh that's the power of one
One grain of sand can turn the tide
One single spark can light the night
One simple dream, One gentle word
One act of love from someone
Can start a chain reaction
It all begins in the heart
In the power of one
All the little things we do everyday
The smallest step can bring on a change
Ohhhh that's the power of one'
Cause one grain of sand can turn the tide
One single spark can light the night
One simple dreamm One gentle word
One act of love from someone
Can start a chain reaction
It all begins in the heart
And the power of one
The power of one [x2]
It's the power of one
Comment below and let us know what this song means to you.....
What THIS is All About
Missions, Adventures, Journies, and more. What is all of this about anyway? What is our team going to do? The answers are below but let's start with a little over all background first.
In everyday usage missions means Christian witness in other lands. This use derives from the modern Protestant missionary movement of the past two centuries and indirectly from earlier Roman Catholic precedents.
But in recent decades the term missions has taken on additional nuances. Today some people insist that the term missions should be replaced by mission, in part because of the historical connection between missions and Western colonialism. Most often when people think of missions trips they think about the harm that was caused to some traditional African tribes by missionaries and other white settlers. In those times drastic measures were taken to make sure the “natives” forgot their complex culture to adopt a very Western/European way of life.
We are pleased to announce times have changed! Mission trips are now structured around a greater understanding of the cultures they come into contact with. Let us remember that Jesus commissioned his disciples to be “witness in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1:8). He also said the key was love: “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples – when they see the love you have for each other” (John 13:35).
Picture it this way:
The team began preparations for the 2008 Kenya short-term mission trip in April of this year. A team of 12 was gathered; and planning began. However about two weeks into planning, our trip was cancelled because of the political unrest in Kenya as a result of the December 2007 elections (see Is Kenya Safe? for more details).
But when the door was closed to travel to Kodera, God opened a new door. Now we are going as a small team of 6 to Nairobi to host a small scale workshop to develop the leadership of the Health Community, Church and all the teachers of Kodera.
This workshop has three goals:
1) teach goal setting and strategizing to streamline community efforts
2) teach basic computer training as required by the Kenyan teachers’ mandate
3) celebrate in the word of God with our fellow brother and sisters in Christ.
To accomplish these goals we will use The Pacific Institute’s materials on self-actualization, (setting goals, prioritizing needs, etc), from a Biblical perspective to help the group of leaders from Kodera become better equipped to help Christopher Sure (see Meet and Greet section) with plans for community development.
We will be brining laptop computers, essential applications and training materials to help the Koderan teachers fulfill the Kenyan teachers’ mandate, that all teachers are computer literate in 4 years, as well as instruction on how to utilize the computer as an awesome tool for ministry. And there will be a wonderful Biblical teaching on the Book of Ruth, as well as on Missions in Kenya as shared by the teams personal missional friends who reside in Nairobi.
The Luo People
Learning about a culture is very important when conducting a short-term mission trip and for just making friends. One reason we travel because we love to learn about other cultures –right?! We want to bring the experience of the Luo to you to provide you with a deeper, meaningful experience.
Pronunciation: luh-WO
Location: Kenya; Tanzania
Population: Over 3 million
Languages: Dholuo (also Luo); English (official); Kiswahili
Religions: Christianity combined with indigenous practices (Anglican church [CPK], Roman Catholicism, and independent Christian churches)
Introduction
Over the past 500 years, the Luo migrated from the Sudan into Western Kenya, initially settling around the eastern shore of Lake Victoria. In the 19th century, they left the lower savanna grasslands for the higher and cooler regions of Western Kenya primarily for the reliable rainfall. As a result of the migration, these nomadic pastoralists supplemented their cattle herding with farming which has led to an increase in importance of cash crops in their economy. The lowlands around the lake are dry but lush hills are to the east. The provincial capital is Kisumu. It is the third largest city in Kenya and is a major cultural center for the Luo. The area to which the Luo live in is often called Luoland.
Currently the Luo number over 3 million people, or about 13% of Kenya's total population. Along with the Luhya, the Luo are the second largest ethnic group in the country, behind the Kikuyu. Most Luo live in western Kenya in the Western province or in the adjacent Nyanza province. Some Luo live to the south of Kenya in Tanzania and many Luo live in Nairobi. Although located throughout Kenya, most Luo maintain strong economic, cultural, and social links to western Kenya, which they consider home.
Language
People in Kenya speak English, Kiswahili and one or more of many tribal languages. In Kenya, Kiswahili is the national language, but official correspondence is still conducted in English. Both English and Kiswahili are taught in primary and secondary schools. As with our language, word sharing is very common. Below are a few important words in Kiswahili and Dholuo (or Luo).
Kiswahili (the name for Swahili in the language itself) is spoken mainly by the people of eastern and central Africa (Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, eastern Zaire, northern Zaire, northern Malawi, northern Mozambique, northern Zambia and Somali Republic). Swahili is basically of Bantu (African) origin however it borrows words from other languages such as Arabic and Persian.
Kiswahili is widely used in radio (BBC, Radio Cairo, the Voice of America, Radio Moscow International, and Radio Japan International) as well as in songs, theater, movies and TV programs. For example, the well-celebrated Disney movie, "The Lion King" features several Swahili words, for example simba (lion), and rafiki (friend), as the names of the characters and hakuna matata (No troubles or no problems). Kiswahili is also promoted and incorporated into the curriculum for higher education institutions and is being taught in many parts of the world.
Here are a few common phrases to get you started. Look for other language entries as we continue our journey!
Languages in Kenya are often divided into Bantu, Nilotic, and Cushitic; Luo is in the Nilo-Saharan language family. Because Luo speakers are centered in southwest Kenya, there are significant populations of Luo speakers across the borders in both Tanzania and Uganda. Luo occasionally borrows from Kiswahili, as Kiswahili has a larger vocabulary, and is one of the official national languages of Kenya.
The indigenous language of the Luo, referred to as Dholuo, is for most people the language of preference in the home and in daily conversation. Dholuo is taught in primary schools throughout Luoland and is taught in the home by the parents. Most Luo young people are fluent in English, Kiswahili, and Dholuo. This is particularly impressive because these languages are from three very distinct language families with drastically different grammatical principles and vocabulary.
Children enjoy playing language games in Dholuo. Among these is a tongue-twister game. For example, children try to say without difficulty, Atud tond atonga, tond atonga chodi, which means, “I tie the rope of the basket, the rope of the basket breaks”. Or Acham tap chotna malando chotna cham tapa malando means, “I eat from the red dish of my lover and my lover eats from my red dish”.
Customs
Social relations among the Luo are governed by rules of kinship, gender, and age. Descent is patrilineal (traced through the male line) to determine kinship. Kin align themselves for purposes of exchanging goods, marriage, and political alliance. Names are received through the male line, and after marriage women reside in the homesteads of their husbands. A married woman builds up alliances for her husband's family by maintaining strong relationships with her brothers and sisters who live at her birthplace or elsewhere. It is expected that after marriage a woman will bear children for her husband's lineage. Bride wealth, given by her husband and his family, contributes to the woman's ability to maintain ties with her own family throughout her life.
By having children, a woman greatly enhances her power and influence within her husband’s family. As the children grow older they provide help for the family and take care of their ageing mother. Perhaps as many as 30% of Luo homesteads are polygynous (more than one wife). But often times men only have one wife because that is all they can afford to take care of. People are discouraged from commenting when a woman is pregnant for fear that problems might result from jealous ancestors or neighbors and it is seen almost as “counting your chickens before they hatch”. Although healthcare is getting better in the rural areas of Kenya, complicated births often do not result in viable babies. Older women and midwives assist the woman throughout her pregnancy and in childbirth.
Visiting and being visited is a major source of pleasure for the Luo. The social principles regarding age, kinship, and gender impose a heavy schedule of ritual obligations on Luo, regardless of their place of residence. Attendance at funerals is a significant obligation for all Luo. At funerals, Luo consume large amounts of meat, beer, and soft drinks and socialize with friends and relatives. Funerals last for four days for a male and three days for a female. After the burial and expression of grief through speeches and viewing of the body, there is a period of feasting and celebration. After the funeral of a man, a rooster (which symbolizes masculinity to the Luo) is taken from his house and eaten by his relatives. This signifies the end of his homestead. (When a new homestead is founded, a man is given a rooster from his father's home.)
Visitors for funerals gather from far and wide and are housed around the compound of the dead person, which is where he or she will be buried. This location and the duration of the ritual is an excellent opportunity for young people to meet and observe members of the opposite sex, or for elders to discuss marriage alliances that they might wish to promote. Dating may well follow initial meetings or deliberations at a funeral.
There are no formal initiation ceremonies in the earlier stages of the life cycle for Luo girls and boys. The Luo did not adopt circumcision for men as is practiced in many parts of Kenya. Adolescence is viewed as a time of preparation for marriage and family life. Traditionally, girls received tattoos on their backs and had their ears pierced. Girls spent time in peer groups where conversation centered on boys and their personal attributes. Sex education was taught by older women who gave advice in a communal sleeping hut used by teenage girls. Lovers sometimes made secret arrangements to meet near these huts, although premarital pregnancy was strictly forbidden. Nowadays neighborhood and boarding schools have replaced communal sleeping huts, where sex education is not taught. Unfortunately this has lead to an increase in teenage pregnancy which results in the girl dropping out of school and never returning.
Folklore
Stories, legends, riddles, and proverbs are an important part of Luo culture. They are traditionally recited in the siwindhe, which is the home of a (widowed) grandmother. Luo boys and girls gather there in the evenings to be taught the traditions of their culture. In the evenings, after people have returned from their gardens, they gather to tell and listen to stories. In the siwindhe, however, grandmothers preside over storytelling and verbal games. Riddles take the form of competitive exchanges where winners are rewarded by "marrying" girls in a kind of mock (pretend) marriage situation. Friendly arguments often erupt over interpretations of riddles. Proverbs are another part of the siwindhe discussions and are common in everyday use as well. In addition morality tales teach all listeners the proper way to cope with life’s circumstances. Such questions as, Why do people die?, What is the value of a deformed child?, What qualities make an appropriate spouse?, What is friendship?, Who is responsible for a bad child?, Why do some people suffer?, and many others are the subject of folklore.
Keep an eye out in the upcoming blogs for some exciting riddles, proverbs and morality tales!
Music
Music is very important in Luo culture. Their music reflects everyday life and serves a functional purpose. For example music is made while working, for funerals, and to keep people awake. Many instruments are used ranging from: percussion (drums, clappers, metal rings, ongeng'o or gara, shakers), strings (e.g., nyatiti, a type of lyre; orutu, a type of fiddle), wind (tung' a horn,Asili, a flute, Abu-!, a trumpet).
Currently the Luo are associated with the benga style of music. It is a lively style in which songs in Dholuo, Swahili, or English are sung to a lively guitar riff. It originated in the 1950s with Luo musicians trying to adapt their traditional tribal dance rhythms to western instruments. The guitar (acoustic, later electric) replaced the nyatiti as the string instrument. Benga has become so popular that it is played by musicians of all tribes and is no longer considered a purely Luo style. It has become Kenya 's characteristic pop sound.
The first sound clip is of a Luo singer and nyatiti player, Ayub Ogada, who received widespread exposure in 2005 when two of his songs were featured in the movie The Constant Gardener. The song you are listening to is Africa Calling.
The second sound clip is of a more modern benga style band Ogwela Collela. They use the electric guitar instead of the traditional nyatiti. The song title is Okoyo Makambo.
Enjoy!
Clothing
Traditionally, the Luo wore minimal clothing. Animal hides were used to cover private parts, but there was no shame associated with nudity. Nowadays, clothing styles are largely Western in origin. They vary according to a person's social class and lifestyle preferences. It is not uncommon to see people in remote rural areas fashionably dressed according to some of the latest tastes. Luo living in Nairobi tend to wear clothing that is cosmopolitan by rural standards.
In rural areas, most people dress according to their work routines. For example, women wear loose-fitting dresses made of solid or printed cotton fabric while farming or attending market. Wearing sandals or going barefoot are typical while working. Men wear jeans as work pants while farming. During the rainy season, the roads can become very muddy; consequently, boots and umbrellas are especially prized by both men and women. These days, there is a strong market in second-hand clothing, making slacks, dresses, coats, undergarments, sweaters, shoes, handbags, belts, and other items available to even poorer families. Luo enjoy dressing up for funerals and weddings.
Food
The staple food eaten several times a day is ugali. This is made from maize meal stirred in boiling water until it becomes a thick and smooth porridge. Ugali is always eaten with an accompaniment such as meat or stew. Greens (sukumawiki) are also frequently eaten with ugali. Maize, popular throughout Kenya, is frequently sold for money. This has led many families to sell their maize when financially pressed for money. For this reason, there is a periodic famine throughout Luoland that occurs every year during the long, dry season prior to harvest. Fish from Lake Victoria and its streams are important, especially talapia. Many foods are purchased, including sugar, bread, and butter, which are consumed with tea on a daily basis.
Look for an ugali recipe in the coming weeks!
Sports/Recreation
The Luo participate in all of the major national sports currently played in Kenya. Soccer is a particularly popular sport. Secondary schools provide an assortment of sports for young people, giving them an opportunity to engage in competitive games such as track and field and soccer. Children enjoy games in the village, such as racing, wrestling, and soccer. Some boys enjoy swimming.
Childhood play activities for girls include grinding soil on a flattened stone in imitation of adults who grind grains, playing with dolls made from clay or maize (corn) cobs or playing a gamed called kora using broken pottery or stones. In this game, stones are collected and then thrown into the air. The main purpose is to catch more than one stone on the back of the hand. Both boys and girls play hide-and-seek and pretend house. Boys and girls between the ages of six and ten do not play with the other sex. Girls spend more time at home caring for younger siblings and helping with household duties and gardening. Boys have more freedom and combine play activities with herding and care of animals.
Children and adults both play a game called bao, a board game played widely throughout Africa. This game of strategy involves trying to place stones on the opponent's side of the board and capture their stones.
Have you seen or maybe you have played this game before (Mancala)?
Virtually all homes have radios, which are a significant source of both entertainment and education. Books and printed media have now largely replaced public speaking as a form of entertainment. Nevertheless, visiting family and friends continues to be a valued aspect of Luo culture. Visits are typically very lively with lots of animated discussion. The verbally skillful person is still widely admired.
Religion
Christianity has had a major impact on Luo religious beliefs and practices. Today, religious communities draw on beliefs from both indigenous practices and from Christianity. Mainstream churches draw on a rich Luo musical and dance tradition. For many Christians, ancestors continue to play a significant role in their lives. In traditional belief, the ancestors reside in the sky or underground, from where they may be reincarnated in human or animal form. Ceremonies are sometimes performed when naming a baby to determine if a particular spirit has been reincarnated. The spirits of ancestors are believed to communicate with the living in their dreams.
In the Luo religion, troublesome spirits may cause misfortunes if they are not remembered or respected. Luo refer to spirits by the term juok, or "shadow." The Luo refer to God by many names that indicate his power. For example, Were means "one certain to grant requests"; Nyasaye, "he who is begged"; Ruoth, "the king"; Jachwech, "the molder"; Wuon koth, "the rain-giver"; and Nyakalaga, "the one who flows everywhere." Prayers and requests are addressed to God by those in need of his assistance.
Education
Kenya uses the “8-4-4 system,” modeled after the American educations system where children attend primary school for eight years, secondary school for four years, and college for four years.
After completing high school, Luo attend technical, secretarial, nursing, computer, teacher training, and business schools as alternatives to the university. Education is highly valued among the Luo, and they are well represented in the professions. Nevertheless, there still remains a high level of illiteracy, especially among females. More and more Luo are recognizing the importance of sending girls to school.
The Luo success in academic pursuits may well be related to the value given to "wisdom" in their culture. Modern philosophers have applied the term "sage philosophy" to describe individuals among the Luo who, in the past and present, excel in teachings and reflections on the human condition. Luo society is an open one. All individuals are encouraged to express themselves publicly. Truth (adier) is expressed through songs and folklore by respected elder men and women who are acknowledged as wise. Most respected, however, is the japaro, a term that translates into English as “thinker,” who is consulted on all matters of interest to community welfare. The most famous sage until his death in the mid-1990s was Oginga Odinga, a widely respected elder and former vice-president of Kenya. He spoke out publicly during colonialism and in post-colonial politics against what he considered to be injustices. In his writings, he emphasized communal welfare and concern for preservation of traditional values.
Economy
The most notable fact about the Luo economy is that women hold the primary role in farming. Before the introduction of the modern money economy, the garden was the centerpiece of the women’s world of work. Industrious women could earn considerable wealth by exchanging their garden produce for animals, handicrafts, pots, and baskets.
A young girl is expected to help her mother and her mother’s co-wives in farming land owned by her father, brothers, and paternal uncles. Even though a girl may go to school and rise to a prominent position in society, there is often still a strong association with the land and digging.
Men are preoccupied with livestock and spend a great deal of time in “social labor” concerned with placing their cattle in good contexts, such as bride wealth exchanges, trading partnerships, and commercial sales. In the modern economy, cattle and goats have a monetary value as well and men have control over animals and cash crops.
Living Conditions
There are several types of rural houses. A common house is made of mud and wattle (woven twigs) walls with a thatched roof. Another style includes mud and wattle walls, with a roof made of corrugated metal. A more elaborate, permanent house has brick walls and a roof covered with iron sheets or tiles. Bricks, iron sheets, and tiles are all items of prestige, and their ownership symbolizes success in farming, animal husbandry, or some modern occupation such as teaching, the ministry, or shop keeping. Homes vary in shape as well as size. Some homes of the old variety made of wattle and mud are circular. Those with more permanent materials tend to be rectangular. A prosperous man who is the head of a large extended family may have several wives whose homes are situated by their rank within a large circular homestead.
Malaria is a major killer in Luoland. Children's diseases, such as kwashiorkor (a form of protein malnutrition), are a threat in those families without access to a balanced diet or knowledge about nutrition and health standards. In villages, there is an emphasis on preventive medicine; most rural communities have clinics with medical workers who emphasize sanitation, prenatal care, nutrition, and other practices known to reduce the risk of disease.
Social Problems
During the colonial era and since independence, the Luo have been isolated from national leadership even though they are the second-largest ethnic group in the country. Specific social problems follow from this isolation. Economic development in western Kenya is poor, Luo roads are badly in need of repair, rates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection are comparatively high, food shortages are frequent, and infant mortality is among the highest in the country. The municipal water supply is so badly treated that residents suffer from water-borne diseases such as typhoid fever, amoebic dysentery, common dysentery, and diarrhea.