First Impressions

I land, wait in the customs line, queue for my visa, stand again at the customs window to have my passport checked with my visa, walk through the barrier, load my luggage on a cart and head to the arrival area. The customs area, baggage pick up, and arrival area only make up three large rooms, so I figure I must be in the right place. It has taken me over an hour to go through the lines and I expect my ride to be there. I gaze around the room, but no sign of anyone who looks even remotely like the person picking me up. I double check the e-mail I printed off and am confident that I am in the right place. It's past eleven o'clock at night and I'm assuming someone would not be a couple of hours late except if they had encountered an unexpected event, but maybe it is just a culturally acceptable to be late.

I keep telling the taxi drivers that no I do not want a ride. I eventually go outside to make sure no one is waiting for me out there. No. No one. I have a number to call, but don't want to give an appearance that I'm impatient for having waited a while. I go back in and sit down, then decide to buy a snack. As I am exchanging money my colleague, who is coming to pick me up walks in with a policeman and another local. A band-aid is on his arm and the three men are all walking rather quickly towards me and discussing something, seemingly important, in the local language. In a few brief words I am greeted and informed the car is in a ditch and my colleague needs to take cash out of the ATM machine before we leave.

We walk out with my cart of luggage and an entourage of locals offering their assistance as we choose our driver and negotiate the price. I don't even know the numbers in the local currency to try to follow the conversations. After we take off my colleague tells me he has to arrange for his car to be towed and I will head to a hotel to meet his wife. He spells out the name of the hotel and says not to get out unless I'm sure I am at the right place.

The highway is surprisingly nice with sound barriers and lights. I realize I am use to the dimly lit highways in West Africa with people walking along the side and taxis discombobulated with cracked wind shields and broken doors. The taxi is not new by any standard, but in tact. We drive by walled subdivisions which look like upper-middle class gated communities in the US - must be oil money. As we make our way in the city the buildings are grey and unattractive, but not dilapidated or half built. The taxi driver does not know exactly where he is going and stops for directions. We pass along a park lined with benches and trees and turn around a couple of times and stop at the hotel. The right one. Good. The plan was for me to stay with my colleagues, but I wasn't sure if things had changed.

While the driver is helping me out with my luggage into the hotel, the wife of my colleague steps out to meet me. We let the driver leave - of course he asks her for more than the agreed upon price - and then we pick up my four bags and walk through the ally and up two flights of stairs to their apartment. An hour or two later my colleague comes back having towed his car, caught a bus at 2 a.m. and walked home. Welcome to a far away place.

Almost April...the time is flying by...

It's been a while since I posted. The end of my time here is creeping up on me and makes me excited for my future, although unknown at the moment, but also uncertain in how to bring closure on my work. In a least developed country, I am realizing there will always be more that I could do, yet hopefully, I have helped people along in the process of their development. Although, I have written out goals for the remainder of my time, I am having trouble finding the motivation and insight to know how to accomplish them well.  

This past month I have made several trips out to the villages for a naming ceremony, women's meetings, tie dying and beading.  Above are the pics. 

The Role of the Church in Economic Development

Last week I organized a seminar with World Vision staff on the role of the church and economic development for twenty-eight church leaders from four West African countries. The participants came from fourteen different denominations and each brought his or her unique perspective to the topics and discussions. It was encouraging to see the leaders’ unity and concern for the development of their communities. Please be in prayer for future seminars we are planning in other regions. 

Top to bottom:  Pic 1: Joseph, facilitator, presenting our wonderful cooks Cecile, Clarice and Agnes Pic 2: Daniel, facilitator Pic 3: Eric, WV country director Pic 4: Group pic

A New Year in a New Apartment

I returned Tuesday from cloudy weather and snow at home to the endless sun and dust of West Africa. After a few hours sleep, I packed up my things from the room I was renting and moved into a new apartment to be used as the mission's office/a student hang out/a few girl's living quarters. For the last several months my teammate has been looking and finally found a place that fits what she needed! We finished moving the office today, so with jet lag, New Year's day and unpacking boxes my first week back has flown by quickly. 

It's hard to believe that my time is over half-way done and I will be leaving before I know it. I pray that this new year will be a time of resting in God and finding my peace in His work in my life. Many unknowns lay before me, but God is faithful and good. 

Bonne Année 2009!!!!

November Snapshots: Pictures tell what words may leave out.

A view from my new apartment

Ndombyout Church Dedication 

Fish Market

Tie Dye Workshop for Women in the Church 

Prayer Request: Pierre's Landlord

Pierre (church-planter) called me this morning and updated me on his landlord who has liver cancer.  Two weeks ago I visited Pierre and one of the men in the room with us was his landlord. At the time I did not know who he was and as we discussed issues related to community development his landlord listened attentively and added in helpful observations.  Later Pierre explained to me that he has liver cancer and does not have much hope for recovery.  

Today Pierre told me that he has been at a hospital for a week and a half and can only drink liquids now.  He needs to come to Dakar to be treated but does not have the means to do this.  He asked Pierre if I could help him with the cost - close to 600 USD.  I didn't know what to say, but I said I would pray for him. It's not the first time I've been asked to help someone out with medical expenses and I know it will not be the last time.  

Please pray for Pierre's landlord as he faces the reality of suffering and sickness; ask that God would give him the strength and faith to put his trust in Jesus. Pray that God would not only provide for his financial needs, but for his physical, spiritual, and emotional health. Please pray for wisdom and encouragement for Pierre as he seeks to minister to him and his family.  Thank you. 

 

Today 

Amani Ya Juu

Today is my last day in Kenya before I travel 10 hours on a plane back to Dakar. I've loved my time here, but I am ready to go back to my life in West Africa.  This morning I visited Amani Ya Juu (Peace from Above), started twelve years ago by a missionary who desired to help refugees with work.  The founder began by helping 3 women with a sewing income generating project and today there are around 60 women who work with Amani Ya Juu.  These women are uplifted through their work and encouraged daily in their walk with God through devotions and prayers. It's a beautiful testimony of God's work in and through the lives of women. 

Charity gave us a tour of the sewing workshop and office; as we walked in one of the sewing rooms the women stopped their work and began welcoming us with a song of praise to God - it was beautiful.  On the back wall they have a mosaic that each one of the ladies of the center added a tile as a symbol of their unity in their work. Below it is written 'Pamoja Tunaba Dilishiwa' (together we are changed). 

After the tour Hayden and I looked around the shop and talked to Maggi who sews in between helping customers. Her face brightened as we told her we are working with women in other countries of Africa and always are interested in learning new ideas.  She said she loved ideas and started talking about the different products and ideas she has seen being at Amani.  It was encouraging to see her enthusiasm and excitement for the work we desire to do where we live. 

The shop has beautiful handcrafts - quilts, table linens, jewelry, clothes, etc. and their outside cafe is nice with wonderful coffee and snacks.  It is definitely a place I would go to often if I lived in Nairobi:)

 http://www.amaniafrica.org/