Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Happy Anniversary, Kenya

Two years ago today, I arrived in Kenya. I remember the tearful goodbye with my parents in Chicago, reading the entire 7th Harry Potter book on the way here, and being surprisingly cold when I got off the plane. I remember being exhausted the next day trying to set up my household, and I distinctly recall the frustration of "not feeling like I'm in Africa" within the bubble of the school grounds. Fresh friendships went through their normal fits and starts, as did my involvement in new activities. I was confused, disconnected, and struggling (and probably not a whole lot of fun to be around). I knew God had brought me here clearly, but now that I'd arrived, I wondered about His reasons.

School started, bringing a little routine and predictability, but I hadn't realized what a huge role reputation plays in being a teacher; my students had no idea what to expect from me, so even my job felt shaky. Friends from other seasons of my life came through on visits, and that added a little stability. They suggested I visit Karura Community Chapel, which I'm still grateful for. However, when I joined a small group there, I caught the mumps at the first meeting.

That was the real low of that first semester- housebound, feeling crummy, then feeling fine but still housebound, then feeling much worse and in and out of the hospital. God used it on lots of levels, of course, but the most significant was this: I had written off the Rosslyn community as isolationist expats, but they loved me and cared for me and sacrificed for me when I was sick. I had to recognize their kindness and genuine Christian character; it made me a little more willing to be like these people.

I got to go back to the US for the end of my recovery, and that reaffirmed the truth that I belong in Kenya. "The trouble"- the postelection violence- happened while I was in DC with my parents, and I was anxious to return and be present to my students and the new friends I had made. Karura pulled an IDP camp out of thin air, taking care of hundreds of displaced people and eventually helping them resettle in new homes. God blessed Karura to do that well, and He continues to show favor to us as we care for our neighborhood.

Slowly I adjusted, building relationships with Kenyans through Karura, adapting my teaching to the context of Rosslyn, buying a car, choosing to stay in Africa for the summer. Climbing Kilimanjaro was a HUGE highlight and the accomplishment of a life dream. And by the time my second year started, I was ready to be a host, be a welcomer, be a bridge for the newcomers. God kindly gave me many likeminded friends in that group of new teachers, and I started to settle back into who I know myself to be.

So now it's been 2 years. I've gotten to travel to phenomenal places, and I can honestly say that I like living here. My Swahili is rudimentary at best, and I still struggle with the balance of being called to this expat community and to the much larger country outside of it. But it's good to be challenged to live well, to continually seek God on what He wants your life to look like that day. I take comfort in the idea that it's not a mistake that I'm here, with all my history and personality and quirks and opinions. He's shaping me by this place and using me to shape this place. He's the craftsman, and I am confident in His work.

So happy anniversary, Kenya. I'm glad I'm in this relationship with this place. It's been an eventful and intense few years, and I can't say I'm sad things have leveled out a bit (though it makes for more boring blogging- sorry, readers). I'm looking forward to the adventures the future holds, and I trust the Hand that brought me here.

Saturday, July 18, 2009

What does that MEAN?

In an attempt to communicate well with my church back in Los Alamos, I submitted an online prayer request before the medical clinic, asking folks to pray for the day. And when the event went well (which I am able to recognize now that I'm less exhausted), I wrote an update.

So the church sent out my message to hundreds of people, supportive folks that they are. But I had made a rather embarrassing typo... I was trying to say that we had extracted 200 TEETH.

I left off the H.

Monday, July 13, 2009

Karura Medical Clinic

Once a year in July, my church here in Kenya hosts a free medical clinic for folks who live in the surrounding slums. This year I got to serve on the organizing committee, so some of my days post-Europe have been spent in meetings, in prayer, packaging donated medications, and running around doing whatever needs to be done. It's a good use for my seasonal unemployment.

The clinic works like this: we use our contacts to get medical professionals to volunteer for the day- doctors, nurses, medical students, pharmacists. We politely harangue businesses to donate money to buy medications and other supplies. (Boy, I've learned a lot about Kenyan persuasion tactics on this committee...) A local public elementary school lets us use their grounds in exchange for improvements we make each year- recently we hung doors on the classrooms and got electricity installed. We provide transportation for patients to and from the school, and the congregation of Karura Community Chapel provides the hundreds of non-medical volunteers needed to make this event run smoothly.

Why hundreds of volunteers, you ask? Well, we treat a lot of people. Two-thousand-one-hundred-eleven this year, to be exact. Think about that! Over two thousand people came through this little elementary school in a day, talking with nurses, doctors, getting teeth extracted, being evaluated for further care (like cataract surgery or venereal disease followup), and receiving free medication prescribed by the doctors.
The inside of the pharmacy, where most of my preparation work was focused
The outside of the pharmacy, where my friend Scott is helping someone find their way
The line for the pharmacy- believe me, this is a LOT more organized than last year.
The day is overwhelming. Appropriately so, I think. It's intense to see the great need of thousands of people in one place. On the other hand, it's beautiful to witness willing and thoughtful service on the part of this church. Because of my development work training, I have issues with the once-a-year blitz. Is this one day more about feeling like we've done something? Are there more lasting methods? On the other hand, we can get these doctors to volunteer for a day, and there are good things that happen in that day. Christ's love is shown tangibly, and there are some great stories to be told. But we had to turn away at least 30 children who wanted to come in without adults; we won't give them medicine without adult supervision. It's an appropriate decision, but it's heartbreaking to tell these children no. It might not be their fault they don't have a grownup with them. This year we did make arrangements to have a local nurse receive the medication for some of the unaccompanied children, but she could only do it for the ones she knows. Always, the scope is limited. We have a social justice pastor on staff, and the church runs a variety of programs all year long. But are we doing what we're called to? Is it effective?

I could go on and on with the pros and cons, the list of things that are clearly good and the issues I question and am challenged by. Both this year and last year, I've been exhausted afterwards and not quite sure how to process this experience. I don't know if that's what you want from your missionaries- it would be simpler to say, "It was good! Medical Clinic! Go team!" And there's an aspect where that's true: I'm blessed to go to a church that runs this event as a way to reach out to the poor in our area. I know that's important; I know that pleases God.

Maybe my heart just breaks alongside His at the suffering that still remains.

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Lazy Days of Summer

It's quiet on Rosslyn campus. The morning joggers have made 7:00 the new 5:00. It's that July cold: wool socks on tile floors, fleece all day long, down comforter on the bed, chai at 10 and 4 for the warmth. A day might be crazy busy with visits, church stuff, errands. Or it could be a vast empty space to be filled with reading, watching movies, napping.

Just like to say, life is pretty pleasant right now.