Farewell Kenya...for now

Jan 1st 2014 Diary entry on flight to Kenya: "Previously I have just been thinking about how to get my luggage there and get organised etc and haven't really though about it all much. But I tell you what, right now it hurts, a year feels like forever and my eyes keep welling up!"

I have lived in Kenya for a year.

I have been called madam, I have been called mum, I have had my phone stolen, my passport stolen, my wallet stolen, I have had students ask me to leave the classroom because I am laughing too loud, I have had a completely sleepless night, I have ran a half marathon, I have carried buckets of water from the well on my head, I have held the hand of a dying girl as we race to hospital, I have seen a fatal hit and run, I have been rammed by a cow, attacked by a chicken, bitten by a dog, I have been guest of honour at many events, I have danced for hours with the kids, I have milked a cow, I have cleaned the inside of rainwater tanks, I have had policemen attempt to arrest me, I have driven a car with no brakes, I have won a running race, I have smeared a whole house floor with cow dung, I have taken minutes in meetings that last an entire day, I have coached a football team, ran a library, taught an unfamiliar curriculum, I have treated over 1400 first aid cases, I have been to hospitals, I have been to funerals, I have eaten roasted maize, boiled maize, maize flour, maize porridge, I have seen children be beaten, I have first aided children who have been beaten, I have made nutrition drink for malnourished children, I have danced with widows, I have been kissed by a giraffe, I have swung off a vine, swum in a waterfall, climbed a mountain, come within two metres of a lion, I have played football, I have dug trenches, I have visited hot springs, I have cried, I have laughed until I cried, I have repaired countless desks, filled countless drinkbottles, issued countless textbooks, said 'I am fine' countless times, I have had malaria, I have had kids throw up on me, I have had bugs make a home in my feet...

But I havn't had enough.

Kenya....Nitarudi! (I will return!)

 

Technology

Despite many Kenyans having phones and most being aware of TV and the internet even if they don't have it personally many 'everyday' appliances from back home are simply unheard of here. The house I have lived in all year is well equipped for Westerners with toaster, kettles and fridge, however items like these are very rare in other homes. 
One particularly chilly night I went out to night time bible studies with my hot water bottle under my jacket. I pulled it out to show one of my students when he asked what I was holding. I gave it to him to feel and as soon as he touched it he recoiled 'Madam! Did you put fire inside?'

A forty minute drive away is Kitale town, which has very recently been equipped with a two story supermarket with an escalator, I went there with one of my 20 year old students and knowing he would have never experienced one before I pretended I needed to go upstairs so he could have a ride. I could see the apprehension on his face but he tried to maintain calm, whispering to me 'do I walk or stand still'. I assured him he could do either but it didn't prevent the lurch and almost falling flat on his backside as he stepped on. 

On a quiet Saturday in the holidays I rounded up some of the boys to give them a driving lesson around the sports field- they had been asking for a long time and considering there wasn't many people around I figured they could give it a shot. One lad in particular was intent on maintaining eye contact with me while I was instructing, even when my instructions consisted of 'Andrew- you need to look where you are driving!' completely oblivious to where he was heading and giggling away in nervous excitement the whole time.

Sometimes, however the students surprise me with their knowledge of technology. When I had my computer and external hard drive in the library one day a student came in and pointed at it quizzically  'madam what is that?' I tried to think of a good way to explain it simply, considering most students know about USBs I decide on that 'it's like a flash drive, except a big one' I explain. My student has another look.. 'oh really?, it looks like an external hard drive!' 

Imagine being a celebrity

When I was younger I used to imagine what it would be like to be a celebrity. Imagine having more money than anyone around you. Imagine everywhere you go people recognising you and greeting you. Imagine everyone wanting to be your friend and spend time with you. Imagine people wanting your photo. Wanting to touch you. Wanting to hear you say hello to them. Crowds gathering around you just looking at you.

In Kenya I have more money than anyone around me. Everywhere I go around here people recognise me and greet me. People want to be my friend and spend time with me. People want to take my photo. Want to touch me, want me to say hello to them, want me to give them things. When in a new place, crowds gather around and stare.

What as a child sounds like the most amazing thing in the world is actually something that is really difficult to deal with in everyday life. 
Sure the hellos and the smiles and friendliness I wouldn't change for the world.  But there are other aspects that aren't so great.

Seeing so much need and being asked for things so often and yet in reality I can't always give. I want to but I know that giving can actually create more problems then it solves. Once you start randomly giving it is very difficult to stop, or to explain why you gave to some and not others. I will never have enough money to give to all the needs I see. 

For people in Kenya, muzungu = money. Muzungus carry bags, they have nice clothes, they drink out of bottles and they have cars and phones. There is constantly a niggle in the back of the mind reminding that this is one of the main reasons why I get so much attention. Even for people who I am genuinely good friends with there is an obvious difference between us.  

I think the celebrity fantasy is exactly that. It brings a great deal of responsibility and unsurity. It makes you wonder regularly if you are doing the right thing and continually ask the question 'why me',  'why not them!?'

Humans are selfish and we don't do the fundamental things that God asks of us. These problems, this unfairness that I see is not something that can be fully resolved in todays world. 
We can and we should take as many steps as we can to help out and to give. We can provide some solutions to many of the problems here.

But in reality the real lasting solution to these problems, to this unfairness will be the return of Jesus.

Rev 21:4 ' He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the former things have passed away".