Hey all!! so sorry for the long silence from this side of the world, but all the rest of orientation week was spent in staff meetings for me and then I was shipped out early to my ministry assignment in PORT VICTORIA!
I'm paired with a Kenyan girl named Hellen who is actually Masai and it's been so grand to learn so much about Masai culture and life from her. I'm with a lady called Mama Rosemary, she works in Nairobi but is origianlly from the very poor area of Port Victoria and has singlehandedly started a feeding program for orphans and HIV positive children in the area, it has grown into a primary school now and so my days are spent there I think the last two weeks of my life could be titled by the keywords, FISH, HOT, KIDS, CHAI, SWEAT, VISITORS....yeah just to name a few.
But yeah, it's been incredible just getting to know the area, it's a hard place to be because of all the sickness and poverty but this being my third time in Africa, i feel like the initial chock of this hard reality has already come and I've been having the mindset of seeing what I can do about it with what i have been entrusted with in this life.
THe major needs for the school are buying land for food so that they can be self-sustaining, getting a salary for the teachers (because everthing is volunteer work right now and it's hard to be able to hold high standards and make sure supplies don't get stolen). THis salary would only take someone (or a group of pplp) deciding to give 200 dollars a month to support two teachers and a cook for the school. The third is that they started a few years ago and now the orphans are beginning to age out of primary school with no where to go, Mama Rosemary is looking for sponsors to pay for school fees for the again children so they can continue on with education.
I've had the incredible oppurtunity to compile information and photos of the some 150 watoto (children) and I'll be bringing them back to the states and hopefully be an advocate for them. I'm also been able to pick out a brother and sister (Javan and Vivian) who I'm going to sponsor on to grade one. They are both sooo smart and clever and very sweet. They are living with their grandma as they are both complete orphans.
Okay, i really need to go now, but just wanted to give a quick update and urge you to think and pray about how you may be a part of bringing hope to the children of Port Victoria!
Be a part of the miracle!
-tiff
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Kenya!!!
Well, we've made it!
I'm sitting in a little cybercave off of Moi Avenue in Nairobi. We've split up into teams and have been dropped off at different spots in the city with a list of scavenger hunt tasks and items to get. It's a really fun way to have the students get a feel for urban Kenya and get more comfortable in the culture.
Whew, well we left NY around 11am, had a short layover in Dubai (which is an experience all on it's own) and approximately 24 hours later we were buying visas in the Nairobi airport, loading buses, and heading to the Watakatifu Wote Senta, about 20 km south of the city to settle in for a week of orientation.
It's just been so great to watch the students discover things and have new experiences. We've done lots of cultural training, took a walk to the nearby village of Ngong and yesterday we visited Mathare Valley (one of the largest slums in the world) and then visited a children's home called Sanctuary of Hope that houses orphan from the slum. (Try You Tube to find a sweet documentary on these homes!)
Overall, things have been going really well. Even though half of the team is from Missoula, I feel like we are mixing really well together. It's only been two days and already we feel like family just because of the intensity of the trip and the incredible range of emotions one goes thru in a single day here.
As a staff member, I'm leading a small group of students (which I was totally FREAKED OUT about) and it's going really well! So much is running thru their heads that one doesn't have to do much prodding to bring about deep, genuine, meaningful conversation. But prayers for that would be greatly appreciated!
Well, time on my computer is almost up and we've got to be about different errands! Love you all, and oh yeah! prayer for decision making regarding where the students go for ministry assignments, who they go with, and what they do, would be awesome as well! Till later,
-tiff
I'm sitting in a little cybercave off of Moi Avenue in Nairobi. We've split up into teams and have been dropped off at different spots in the city with a list of scavenger hunt tasks and items to get. It's a really fun way to have the students get a feel for urban Kenya and get more comfortable in the culture.
Whew, well we left NY around 11am, had a short layover in Dubai (which is an experience all on it's own) and approximately 24 hours later we were buying visas in the Nairobi airport, loading buses, and heading to the Watakatifu Wote Senta, about 20 km south of the city to settle in for a week of orientation.
It's just been so great to watch the students discover things and have new experiences. We've done lots of cultural training, took a walk to the nearby village of Ngong and yesterday we visited Mathare Valley (one of the largest slums in the world) and then visited a children's home called Sanctuary of Hope that houses orphan from the slum. (Try You Tube to find a sweet documentary on these homes!)
Overall, things have been going really well. Even though half of the team is from Missoula, I feel like we are mixing really well together. It's only been two days and already we feel like family just because of the intensity of the trip and the incredible range of emotions one goes thru in a single day here.
As a staff member, I'm leading a small group of students (which I was totally FREAKED OUT about) and it's going really well! So much is running thru their heads that one doesn't have to do much prodding to bring about deep, genuine, meaningful conversation. But prayers for that would be greatly appreciated!
Well, time on my computer is almost up and we've got to be about different errands! Love you all, and oh yeah! prayer for decision making regarding where the students go for ministry assignments, who they go with, and what they do, would be awesome as well! Till later,
-tiff
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Headin' Out!
Well, here we goooo!
We're off to the airport in about an hour to check in to our international Emirates flight. We'll have a lay-over in Dubai, and then hopefully arrive in Nairobi around 2PM Kenya time.
We had a really great first time together last night with staff and students. It's so great to look around and see all the students looking at each other, not knowing each other one bit and then to know that in seven short weeks they will be incredibly, unbelievably bound together.
We talked about a mix of cultural things that they would need to know in order to not make a horrible first impression. We played random get-to-know-you games and also spent time praying for one another in small groups. The general consensus is that most of us are coming very tired and overwhelmed from school/work/logistical preparations and not feeling very filled up with God. We pray to be filled to overflowing with God because it's the over-spill that splashes out on people and that's what Missions is at its core.
hmm. well I best pack up my last few things and head downstairs! Love you all, and I'll write once I get the chance to in Kenya!
We're off to the airport in about an hour to check in to our international Emirates flight. We'll have a lay-over in Dubai, and then hopefully arrive in Nairobi around 2PM Kenya time.
We had a really great first time together last night with staff and students. It's so great to look around and see all the students looking at each other, not knowing each other one bit and then to know that in seven short weeks they will be incredibly, unbelievably bound together.
We talked about a mix of cultural things that they would need to know in order to not make a horrible first impression. We played random get-to-know-you games and also spent time praying for one another in small groups. The general consensus is that most of us are coming very tired and overwhelmed from school/work/logistical preparations and not feeling very filled up with God. We pray to be filled to overflowing with God because it's the over-spill that splashes out on people and that's what Missions is at its core.
hmm. well I best pack up my last few things and head downstairs! Love you all, and I'll write once I get the chance to in Kenya!
Saturday, June 5, 2010
New York!
Whew! We board our international flight with Emirates in the morning! But for the last couple of days, I've been in New York doing some staff training and orientation. It's been a blast. I'm so excited to help students through the incredible experience that I had last summer!
One of my duties today was to go and "surprise" pick up some students at the airport. It was really fun to see their faces light up once they came out the door to baggage claim. I picked up four Montana students around 6-7 am this morning and after dropping their stuff at the hotel we caught the airtrain to the subway and walked around downtown all day. Visited Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Ground Zero, and even got a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!
It was a full day, and now we are all having dinner together for the first time downstairs in the hotel, New York Style Pizza! wooo!
more to come! Miss you all!
One of my duties today was to go and "surprise" pick up some students at the airport. It was really fun to see their faces light up once they came out the door to baggage claim. I picked up four Montana students around 6-7 am this morning and after dropping their stuff at the hotel we caught the airtrain to the subway and walked around downtown all day. Visited Times Square, Rockefeller Plaza, Ground Zero, and even got a glimpse of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island!
It was a full day, and now we are all having dinner together for the first time downstairs in the hotel, New York Style Pizza! wooo!
more to come! Miss you all!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Seattle!
Wooo! It's been so good these last two days to spend some time in Seattle with my friend/old dorm roomie Letitia.
Highlights include visiting the famous downtown two-story REI complete with walking trail and waterfall, romping around thru the rain with starbucks in hand, and hitting up many museums because of free admission!
It's been grand, but I'm very ancy to get to NYC and begin really preparing and planning with the rest of the staff team for this summer. I leave on a red eye flight around eleven o'clock tonight and arrive in NY around seven in the morning.
I hope to be able to have some downtime there before staff orientation begins. Maybe get to finish reading my latest fave, Rob Bell's "Jesus wants to save Christians." I definitely reccomend it to all!
Well, till NY. Later!
Highlights include visiting the famous downtown two-story REI complete with walking trail and waterfall, romping around thru the rain with starbucks in hand, and hitting up many museums because of free admission!
It's been grand, but I'm very ancy to get to NYC and begin really preparing and planning with the rest of the staff team for this summer. I leave on a red eye flight around eleven o'clock tonight and arrive in NY around seven in the morning.
I hope to be able to have some downtime there before staff orientation begins. Maybe get to finish reading my latest fave, Rob Bell's "Jesus wants to save Christians." I definitely reccomend it to all!
Well, till NY. Later!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Empty Central House!
Well, I'm sitting in the empty living room of the little yellow house on Central Avenue in Missoula that I've lived in for the last three years. It's the end of an era.
Whew. God has proven faithful again and again to me and most recently by all my support coming in! Bwana asifiwe! (praise the Lord) It's such a blessing, thank you to many of you who are the reason I can board a plane to Africa this coming Sunday!
I'm going over packing lists and doing many countless last minute things, getting all ready to head out to Seattle in the morning with my friend Amber, who is also going to Kenya this summer! wooo!
Only a few more days to go until I'm back in Kenya. I'm getting more excited by the hour. I hope to be able to keep you all posted. Thanks again for all of your support. Hugs sent your way!
-tiff
Whew. God has proven faithful again and again to me and most recently by all my support coming in! Bwana asifiwe! (praise the Lord) It's such a blessing, thank you to many of you who are the reason I can board a plane to Africa this coming Sunday!
I'm going over packing lists and doing many countless last minute things, getting all ready to head out to Seattle in the morning with my friend Amber, who is also going to Kenya this summer! wooo!
Only a few more days to go until I'm back in Kenya. I'm getting more excited by the hour. I hope to be able to keep you all posted. Thanks again for all of your support. Hugs sent your way!
-tiff
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