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From Geoffrey to you; Hey Everyone!

Saturday, June 6th, 2009

Hey everyone,

I hope you are all doing well today. I don’t have much time to write but I wanted to touch base with you all and let you know that i am still alive and kicking.

I went to see Stacy today to see how the new wheelchair is working for her, unfortunately it still hasn’t arrived. I was a little bummed, it is already a week late. The doctors did, however, assure her mother that it would be coming within the next two weeks. I hope that isn’t like the “in a minute” I always used to tell my mom when she would ask me to take out the trash. Even though the wheelchair hasn’t made it the visit, though short, was really great. When Stacy saw William and I she was bouncing off the walls and giddy, all I can say is that her laugh is beautiful. With the help of her mother, stacy was able to stand. She told us about how much stacy has improved since she started physical therapy. Apparently her neck wasn’t strong enough to hold up her head, now it is. Stacy wasn’t able to lift up her arms when I first got here, I remember flys kept on flying onto her face and she couldn’t do anything about it, when we left she lifted her arm and waved good bye. INCREDIBLE!! Of all the people in the world I could have met, I have been fortunate enough to meet Stacy, I can’t wait to see what God does through her. I also took some picturees that I will hopefully send off tomorrow.

Today was Williams birthday, apparently they celebrate birthdays a little different then we do back home. Normally people chase you down and pour water on you, i heard that in high school the children would use dirty sewer water ha ha. When you are eating the cake someone feeds the birthday boy or girl, that happened to be me tonight, then William fed each of us. We had a HUGE feast tonight, William, Sarah, Henry, his wife Carol, his baby boy David and I. I have what you call a katumbi… a fat belly. I pigged out and don’t think I need to eat again for a week. if you are a guest in someone’s house you had better be prepared to eat, even if you are full you eat, I love food and we had GREAT food tonight. Henry”s wife Carol is a great cook, she is the only person that has made me food that I haven’t gotten sick off of.

Prayer Requests:
Janets eyes, we are taking her to the eye clinic again tuesday
I am preaching tomorrow
The medical clinic
the travels of Jason Nate

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From Geoffrey to you; What does God have up His sleeve

Thursday, June 4th, 2009

Thursday June 4, 2009

What does God have up His sleeve?

I sat down with one of the leaders of Tumaini yesterday as he voiced his concern for Masii and the ramifications of this drought. He kind of opened up to eyes to some things that I wasn’t aware of before. Apparently the rains have checked out and are no where to be found. The rains never came this past year during the rain season, and this is regularly the rainy season, but we have only experienced a few days of rain but nothing significant. This is generally the time of the year when the shambas are full of food, the vegetation is plump and succulent, rivers are flowing and food is both abundant and affordable, but that just isn’t the case here. The floodgates of heaven have opened and rains have showered numerous areas of Kenya, but not Masii; it was pouring rain the other day in when I went to Nairobi. Our riverbeds are dry and most of the farms in this area are almost completely bare.

This drought seems to have affected nearly everyone. Many people are full time farmers and others use it as an extra income to offset expenses, but there are no crops. This means that this extra income isn’t coming in and not only that but those who live off of their land are suffering from an extreme food shortage. Many people buy vegetables and fruits in other areas and bring them back here to sell so this drought impacts them as well. I think that the cattle raisers have been hit pretty dramatically.

From my understanding, it takes about two to three years for cattle to grow and develop into a good size. This is two years are spent tending to them, watching over them, giving them medicine, grazing them and taking them to water. Right now grass is a big commodity in the market because it isn’t growing anywhere, meaning that there is nowhere to graze. There are no grassy meadows and I haven’t seen to many places abundant with water, this drought has dramatically intensified the difficulty in raising cattle. Those that make their living off of raising cattle are finding that there isn’t any grass to feed their cows so most of the cattle I see are starving. When I went to Nairobi the other day I was able to see what healthy cows look like, what the cows in Masii normally look like, and the ones here aren’t anything like them. The lack of food has left many of them skin and bones; their rib cages are protruding from their sides. Today one of the workers of Tumaini asked me if I noticed a bad stench last month around where they keep the cattle in Masii, and I had but didn’t think anything of it. She told me that it was from some of the cattle dying on the way to the market; this drought is horrible. I had a friend who lost a cow a few weeks ago as well. Raising cattle is extremely difficult right now and takes not only a lot of time but also a lot of money, that people don’t have, to successfully raise them these days. The extreme difficulty and exorbitant price in raising the cattle right now has made most herders sell their cows at a very low price. A full grown cow can sell for anywhere between $100 to $250 normally, but I have heard of some being sold for as a low as $10 right now. These people are making little to no profit off of the cattle that they have invested so much time and money into.

There is an extreme food shortage right now because there is no rain. My question is what is going to happen next year when there is an abundance of rain but a shortage of cattle? If a large portion of the cattle is sold off now, what will these farmers use to plow their fields and pull their carts next year? How much are they going to cost when the demand greatly exceeds the supply?

Times are tough for a lot of people in Masii. I know that God has a plan, I can’t wait to see what is up His sleeve in this situation.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
Rain
Janets eyes
Preaching on Sunday
The travels of Jason Nate – woot woot I get to kick it with another white guy for a little while
Tumaini Medical Center
Stomach issues again

Randoms:
I was asked today if I knew any astronauts…
Someone asked me if I had ever come across Church Norris in Texas and if he really lived there
I realized why my shower floods… may hair clogs the drain
Earlier today Janet asked her daughter if she had eaten enough… Anette (who is 2) said she was so full she was stupid… little kids are awesome
In Kenya if you ask someone to go to lunch or to take something to drink that means you are paying for it. One of my friends was babysitting for a few hours today. The mother of the child asked her if she wanted to go get some soda. My friend went and bought a big soda. When it came time to pay for it the mother paid for herself and motioned for the girl to pay for her soda. She didn’t bring any money with her. The way she told us the story was HILARIOUS! We laughed so hard.

Word of the day

Taka taka
Taw-cuh taw-cuh
trash

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From Geoffrey to you; History repeats itself

Wednesday, June 3rd, 2009

Wednesday June 3, 2009

History Repeats Itself

I think that there is a stigma and a bad vibe in regards to homelessness. The most common understanding is that they are either addicted to drugs, alcohol or are a few eggs short of a dozen. We assume that they want to be there and let them be. When they are walking down one side of the street people make their way to the opposite side of the street to avoid them. When we see them asking for money at a freeway exit we fixate our eyes in front of us and pray that they don’t tap on our window and force us to make eye contact with them. When we walk down the street we look right past them; avoiding them at all cost. I would argue that most people consider them an inferior citizen, unworthy of our time and efforts, lost causes; I say this because I used to think the same thing. I used to assume they were all alcoholics, drug addicts, crazy and that they wanted to be on the streets. I used to cross to the other side of the street or go out of a different exit of a store to avoid them. I used to pray that they didn’t tap on my window at the freeway exit. I used to look right past them as if they were inferior. Thankfully that is in the past now.

One day I met a man named Matt who was homeless. It was raining so I gave him my jacket and I gave him an umbrella. He was hungry so I gave him some food. I took a step past every preconceived notion I had developed, everything I knew to be true, and all of the negative connotations I put with homelessness and I spoke with him. I didn’t take long for me to discover that he lived on the side of the freeway with about thirty other people. I went down there one day to see it for myself and I felt as though I couldn’t just leave and do nothing about this situation. I ended up arranging for them to meet me at a specific place that Sunday for some food and anything else I could get my hands on. I showed up with a few friends, some day old bagels, a pot of coffee, and some clothes. I think five people showed up, I told them that we would be back the next Sunday at the same time. That next Sunday a few more people showed up, and then it just snowballed. Now we have three different locations serving made-to-order omelets, washing the feet of the homeless, cutting hair, distributing clothing and holding church services. Literally hundreds upon hundreds of lives have been touched, stomachs have been filled and hearts have been mended. We never planned on becoming a non-profit organization, we never intended to get as big as we have, we never thought it would turn into what it has become we simply saw a group of forgotten, invisible, unworthy and unwanted people and figured that if Christ was here those are the people he would have reached out to so we should too.

William and I have gone to Kosovo about three times now. This is the place where it seems like no Christian dares to enter. For those of you who have forgotten, Kosovo is where you go to get drunk off of the local brew, which smells bad and looks like dirty water. Each time we have visited Kosovo we have gone around nine in the morning and each time, by nine, we find dozens and dozens of people already drunk or on their way to getting drunk. Just like an alcoholic in America, for some of these people the consumption of alcohol is more of a priority than working or providing for their families. They say that they go there to get rid of their problems but I don’t think they realize how many problems their addiction causes. The times are already rough, these guys definitely aren’t rolling in the dough, and instead of paying for school fees, food and other necessities their money feeds this addiction. From my understanding this is the place that is cursed, judged and condemned. These people are the forgotten, invisible, unworthy and unwanted people in Masii. Churches don’t reach out to them because they figure it is a waste. I asked today how many pastors and Christians have made there way to Kosovo and I think for the most part that William and I are the first in a long time. The thing that blows my mind is the fact that sometimes we are met with a little tension (they are always curious as to why in the world we would go into Kosovo) but by the time we are done talking everyone is pleading for us to return, asking for us to pray for them, asking for directions to our church and repeatedly thanking us for our visit.

William and I have decided to come to Kosovo every Wednesday morning and to hold a very small, informal and simple church service for them. When we mentioned it to a few of the regulars they were ecstatic and told us they would gather everyone to come and listen. I can’t help but think about how H.A.N.D.S. got started and think about Kosovo. I can’t help but think about the preconceived notions that most people, especially churches, hold about those who go to Kosovo and relate that to how most people feel about homelessness in America. I can’t help but think about how this is starting simply by realizing that these people have been overlooked and need God as much as the next person and taking that initial step past our preconceived notions and the stereotypes to step foot in Kosovo. It is true that history does repeat itself.

Jesus always seemed to hang out with the forgotten, invisible, unwanted and unworthy. You could find him with the sinners and lowlifes. He brought the gospel to them instead of waiting for them to come get it. That seems like a pretty good model for us to follow.

Asante Sana

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
Stacy’s wheelchair… still waiting… now they say it will be here Friday
Funds for Tumaini’s generator and projects
We are doing a big three-day evangelism in August
I just found out that I am preaching Sunday
Janet’s eyes

Randoms:
We found one of our church-goes walking into Kosovo… not sure if he was just going there to say hello to friends or if we caught him red handed lol
I went to Nairobi last night, which is why I didn’t send an email yesterday, and it began to rain. Have you ever noticed that people seem to forget to know how to drive when you add in rain? Well it is the same in Nairobi. The instant the rain started our van stopped… we literally we sitting still for an hour. On our way back it took about an hour and a half to go a mile… it was a LONG trip, but I enjoyed it. Two Americans from Chicago ended up coming to Masii for the day so I got to talk with them, hang out with them and we were just taking them back to Nairobi.
We went to the home of a guy who is a regular at Kosovo. He was drunk when he took us to his house. He led us to his house and literally went the opposite direction and we took the VERY long way to get there. William and I were cracking up because the direction he told us it was it really wasn’t… it was in the opposite direction.
When I was talking to one of the guys from Kosovo he kept on wiggling his tooth with his tongue… he was missing some teeth and I think that this one was about to fall out too
I posted pics of me and some of the Tumaini kids, one of me and one of the local kids, one of janet and her daughter (the blind girl) and another rrandom one.

WORD OF THE DAY
Asante Sana Kwa Ukarimu Wako
Uh-son-tay sauna qua oo-car-emu wa-co
Thank you very much for the hospitality

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From Geoffrey to you; took my breath away, He is my prince of peace and I will live for Him

Monday, June 1st, 2009

He’s my prince of peace and I will live my life for him

Monday June 1, 2009

Took my breath away

Have you ever heard someone express their passion and dreams in such a fervent way that they clung onto and melted your heart? Like a small spark, the expression of the deepest desires of our heart can spread enthusiasm and ambition throughout the hearts of others like a wildfire. I love it when people transition from simply uttering words in a monotone fashion to speaking with such intensity that it seems like the words are spilling out of your mouth. Do you know what I am talking about? Have you ever been overtaken by the never-quitting ardent tenacity in which someone grips their dreams? I know I have rambled on, but I was completely overtaken with the words of someone earlier today and am still left with this joyful buzz.

When it is hot and I’m tired I do the “ugh walk.” The one where you are somewhat slumped over and are looking at the ground, you may be passing people but you are too exhausted or cooked to look at their faces or to notice who they are, you simply want to get from point A to point B. You are generally saying, “UGH” to yourself as you stumble around. Do you know what I am talking about? Well today was a sweltering hot day and the past few nights I haven’t gotten much sleep so I was definitely doing the “ugh” walk. As I strolled around in my zombie-state I was stopped by one of my friends. She is a young woman who volunteers at Tumaini, goes to my church and is also sponsored by Tumaini. Ever since our initial introduction she continually blows me away by her servant hood and passion for helping others.

We said the typical “hello” and “how are you,” and then she told me about something that she has been wanting to do. She had visited Janet, the blind girl, not too long ago and realized that she didn’t have a radio and she wanted to do something about it. Janet spends the majority of her time within the safety of her home, sometimes she has her young daughter guide her through the market or to the home of a friend, but she spends most of her time in her home. She loves music and loves to sing, but she doesn’t have a radio. She spends a lot of time in silence. This girl desperately wants to buy Janet a radio, she told me that she is planning on going to a bunch of people and collecting money to buy one (it costs about $2.50). We talked about it and decided to go fifty-fifty on it and we are going to buy it tomorrow. So cool! This girl really doesn’t have much money, she lives with her mother and brother and they definitely aren’t raking in the dough. She was so passionate about raising the money and wanting to help, the truth is that I could have coughed up enough to buy it and almost did but it would have robbed her of the joy from giving.

This was kind of a stepping-stone into the next part of our conversation. She plays a big role in the Tumaini Alumni Alliance (the group of older kids that were sponsored buy Tumaini and are now giving back to the community) and started telling me about the plans she has. With more passion than ten pages of my writing could even come close to articulating, she started telling me her dreams and her desires for the T.A.A. and for life. She is working on finding the poorest of the poor and wants to meet whatever needs she finds. She acknowledges that she is poor, but she started telling me that she ate today and there are so many people living in Masii that haven’t, she has so much more than quite a few people even though her family struggles. Something that she is on the edge of her seating waiting for is a job, not to get nice things but she desperately wants to sponsor a child through Tumaini. With whatever salary she gets, the amount of money it would take to sponsor a child through Tumaini would be a pretty big chunk, especially with the famine and drought scourging up prices for basic necessities. This girl is completely poor by our standards and the standards of Masii, but she is more than rich in compassion for others and benevolence. I wish you could have heard her words, I almost cried as she unfolded her desires and passions for life. If I weren’t already pumped up for loving on others this, without a doubt, jump-started it.

When I asked her why she wanted to help others she simply said, “because I was helped and now it is my turn to help.” Wow. Wow. Wow. Sometimes the words someone speaks take your breath away… this was one of those moments… I’m still gasping for air.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
RAIN
Stacy’s wheelchair… I was told it will be here tomorrow… I am going to head over tomorrow night and hopefully snag some pictures
Mama Carro and her families living situation… lots of obstacles
The woman Beth who I wrote about last week
Tumaini Projects and funds for them

RANDOMS:
The wine in our church for communion taste like burning… horrible burning
I met this little girl named Angel. She is just about the cutest thing that you ever laid eyes on. She looks SOOO innocent… but it is a lie. It was totally like the incredible Hulk. She transformed into a little demon, I nearly did an exorcism lol. She is the posterchild for abstinence.
I dig Jadon Lavik’s music… it’s pretty rad
When I fed those two boys yesterday I made sure they got their food and told the staff to put it on my tab (yeah how cool is it that I get to say that now… RAD). Apparently someone overheard me and after I left they ended up telling the staff to put their meal on my tab too… so I ended up buying some guy food… I’m not really mad it cost me less than a dollar… I thought it was kind of funny though. I thought that only happened in moives. What I thought was even funnier was that the staff still made me pay for it even though I didn’t give them the okay ha ha
I met Mutuko’s wife… she is rad
I have little candies in my room and Mutuko and the other worker here stop by my room all the time and say “HEEEYYYY, how are you? (do the small talk and then get right to business) do you have any sweets?” The only reason I bought them was to give to them ha ha.
This drought is pretty intense still. A lot of people have cows but there isn’t any grass to feed them and it is difficult to get them water sometimes. Most of the cows I see are like walking skeletons. They used to cost between fifty dollars to buy a small one… now you can buy one for less than ten bucks… there are a TON of people trying to sell their cows for anything they can get them for because the cows are dying off… really sad

WORD OF THE DAY
Kuna joto
Coo-nuh joe-toe
IT IS HOT!!! Like today

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From Geoffrey to you; I almost missed it

Sunday, May 31st, 2009

Sunday May 31, 2009

I almost missed it

My body was pretty exhausted today. I was sick on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, which always seems to take its toll on your body and I am still feeling it. I went to kasha Friday night, I left my house about six at night and got home just about six in the morning and for whatever reason I didn’t fall asleep until about eight. I woke up three hours later and didn’t fall asleep until late last night. I woke up around five this morning and was at church until four thirty or so. My body = zonked! I tell you all this because my dreary state almost caused me to miss something so crucial.

I am always bombarded with little kids. They used to fear my skin, now it seems to be a magnet and they gravitate around me. I can’t remember the last time I walked down the street without a child yelling out my name and running to me or having one of them run up, grab my hand and walk with me. These kids have grown to love me and I them. There are two boys that I see all the time, these two are instigators, which is probably why I like them so much, I used to be one, heck I still am one. I love messing with them, chasing them, tickling them, scaring them and just being around them. I don’t know if it is their gleeful joy or sinister grins, but not once have I stopped to think about their living conditions or the difficulties they face.

Today, though busy, was one of those extraordinary days, a day of reflection and thanksgiving. I reminisced the empowerment I felt from the kasha, the lessons I have learned this week (one of which being to be more careful with what I eat) and just soaking up what life has to offer. I walked through the day in this blissful state, counting each smile as a blessing and every warm Kenyan welcome as a gift from God. My cloud nine strut came to an abrupt halt when I was called over by one of the instigators.

The eyes that I had only seen filled with mischief were now focused on the ground and his head was held low. This boy who had been the culprit of so many shenanigans and blared witty remarks that only come out of the unfiltered mouths of little trouble-makers like me, now mumbled his shame. He didn’t need to say a word, I knew what his body language was saying, the fact that he was nearly in tears gave away the fact that something was wrong. He started to describe the type of hunger he had. He started telling me about how bad his stomach hurts because he hasn’t had anything to eat for a while. He kept at the pain in his stomach, simply from now eating.

How could I be so foolish? How could I just overlook this child and his cousin? I had seen these boys more times than I can count and interacted with him and his cousin on a regular basis, how could I be so blind as to not even think about how I can help or if there is even a problem to help with? I fell for the clever smile and the jovial laughs. I felt horrible, I still do, here two little innocent children, though not so innocent when it comes to mischief, that I have had the power to help and yet I haven’t.

I took these boys to the place where I normally eat (hopefully they wont get sick like I did, I’m sure they are used to the food in this area). They each got a soda, Fanta is a big hit with these kids especially when they don’t get to drink them often, and ate a feast. They ate more food than I normally do in a day; they plowed through it and hardly breathed between bites; the way any guy would eat. In between their huge gulps of food, I was able to hear more about their story and lives. Every word they said struck my heart… here they were suffering so much, under my watch, and I was completely oblivious… talk about feeling cruddy.

I don’t really know what I learned from this experience. I know I can’t read minds and I don’t know everyone’s situation, but I just can’t shake the fact that this hunger was advancing under my watch. Maybe I need to open my eyes a little wider. Perhaps I need to look past the smiles and grins and really dig deep. I should possibly stop assuming and find out for myself… I really don’t know. This is one of those times when I wished that I had a fat billfold and could write a check to feed these kids for their entire life…

I know there are going to be plenty of more incidences where these children go to bed hungry. I know that for such a long time they have been malnourished and have been deprived of good hearty meals, but I also know that today they feasted. I can’t write a check that will feed them for the rest of their lives, but I sure as heck hope that this small feast, this small act of kindness, will shine compassion in their heart for the rest of their days. I know I can’t meet all of the needs; I can only hope to plant seeds and touch hearts.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
Janet’s eyes
Generator funds
Medical center (I attached a photo)

RANDOMS:
I took medicine that is made to force the farts out of you…. It works..
Tires are as big with these children as legos are with our kids… I ended up stacking about six tires on each other and putting a kid in the stack… Ill attach a picture
There is little boy that attaches himself to my hip every time he sees me… he is always holding my hand… I attached a picture of the two of us
I have big ear lobes and if I flick them they make a popping noise… I showed this to the kids and they went nuts. None of them can do it… woot woot
Kids go CRAZY for stickers
I also put some pictures of Carro and the back of her head… you can see the shunt put in her head….

Word of the day:
Una Miaka Ngapi
Una me-ah-cuh nnn-gap-pee

What grade are you in?

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From Geoffrey to you; Without a paddle

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

Thursday May 28. 2009

Without a paddle

I am concerned for Mama Carro. She has three beautiful daughters, one of whom is Carro the girl with hydrocephalus. This woman has been tossed a few good times by life: being left by her husband, prostitution, alcoholism, judgment and condemnation from others. Despite these overwhelming obstacles, this family has been blessed beyond comprehension. They were over two months over due for rent and now, because of a generous friend, their rent is paid for an entire year. Benevolent members of the church have donated food and other goods to their home in times when they hadn’t eaten for a day or two. Carro, the charismatic and captivating young girl has lived life, without the use of her legs, by crawling and being carried everywhere and now because of a few compassionate people she has a wheelchair and can be taken anywhere she desires with ease. The dangerous build up of water in Carro’s head was drained because of generous and caring people. Friends and fellow churchgoers have been kind enough to pay Mama Carro for small tasks such as washing clothes or cooking. Whenever an obstacle has developed it seems as though God heard the prayers of this woman and delivered her and her children, another obstacle has arrived and I am hoping and praying that God will deliver this small family once again.

Mama Carro has been able to conceal this little secret for a long time but her protruding stomach has let the cat out of the bag; she is pregnant. I think she truly loves her children and does all that she can for them, but she seems to be stuck. As she walked away from prostitution and brewing alcohol her income ceased to exist. This mother is tenaciously trying to better the life for her children but by doing so it seems like she has become trapped. Jobs openings are far and few between, leaving this woman in a situation where affording food and providing for her children is incredibly difficult.

You see, this famine and drought seems to have condemned this place and these people to having few job opportunities and ever-increasing needs. The gap between the amount of job openings and people seeking work is immense; there is 60% unemployment here, which leaves struggles mothers like Mama Carro stuck between a rock and a hard place; stuck without a paddle. I can’t even tell you how many times hunger has forced her to come to William and I for help to buy food… it breaks my heart.

If times weren’t tough enough, even though this child is a blessing, the situation just got more difficult. Between hospital bills, infant necessities and having to constantly be with this child, life just got a little tougher. I am so concerned for this woman and these children, how will they eat and survive? Without a skill or a trade how is this mother going to find a good and constant source of income? We can give her some food and maybe pay for a medical bill or two, but what happens when the food runs out and another medical need arises? A few of us have been trying to come up with some sort of a plan to help this mother for the long run.

What I know is that God doesn’t pick us out of the dirt to throw us in the mud, I have faith and believe that God is going to do something in this family.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Mama Carro, her baby, the family and a job opportunity
Stacy’s wheelchair – it should be here tomorrow
The medical center
Funds for a generator
Janet and the continual progression of her eye sight
Esther, found out that she has pneumonia and malaria

Randoms:
I put my new sewing skills to the test today and ended up making a African dress thing… I was kind of shocked that I made it
I let two friends try oatmeal with honey and they both almost threw up
I was in the shop of a friend today, I pulled out an umbrella and started dancing… she just kind of stared
If you get fired and I guess they want everyone to know it for safety reasons and such they put your picture in the news paper and say this person is no longer affiliated with our organization
Matuko and Dorro (the two custodians of my hotel) come to my room almost everyday and tell me that they are in need of sweets… so awesome!

WORD OF THE DAY
Mwende atta
m-wen-day ah-tah
how have you been since we last met?

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From Geoffrey to you; three seconds later

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Tuesday May 26, 2009

Three seconds later

A friend and I spent a good amount of time at Tumaini’s new medical center taking pictures. We were meandering on back, I say meandering because that is just what guys do, and talking about random, useless, and yet entertaining nothings. Instead of taking the short cut through the cow infested lot we decided to avoid their rancid smell and just walk up the main road. We turned the corner as the unexpected happened. A woman driving a small car sped through the corner and crashed into a wall. Anyone within the audible range of the crunch of this small car swarmed the area. My friend and I rushed to the scene to see if she was okay. Within moments a few men grabbed the driver and shoved her into a matatu (bus) and sped away to the hospital. I couldn’t believe it, only a few moments before my friend and I were standing where the car had crashed and it could have been us.

If we had left literally three seconds later than we did we would have been dead. Right about now my parents would be receiving a phone call about the accident and my death. Knowing my parents, they would pack thier bags and take the next flight to come get my body. Within a few days an email would be sent out to you all about the accident. Three seconds is all that it would have taken for me to be dead. Not by malaria, AIDS, a mob, but death as a car accidents collateral damage. I was a little shaken up because it happened right behind us, I kept on thinking that it could have been us and that all of my plans and ideas would be no more.

Most people, when having a near death experience, write about how we need to cherish each day and would probably quote scripture talking about how tomorrow isn’t promised. I do believe and understand that, but I have come to realize something else of great importance.

In the first chapter of Job the devil is talking to God about his servant Job and mentions that God has put a hedge of protection around Job. I realize that I need to cease the day and understand that tomorrow isn’t promised, but just as important is the idea of being in God’s will. Today’s incident opened my eyes to the fact that I am right where I am supposed to be. Three seconds is all that it would have taken for my body to be spread across the street, but I feel like God has put his hedge of protection around me. “Not quite yet Geoffrey, I have more work for you to do before you go.”

For most people they at this and see it as a coincidence, but not me. Whether I die later tonight, tomorrow or sixty years from today, I know that God’s hand is on my life, that he has a plan for me and that he is using me. There are people I will be used to speak to, lives I will be used to impact, the broken that I will be used to fix and those with despair that I will be used to bring encouragement and to restore. There are a few more chapters in my books of life that I still need to write.

I value each day, I know tomorrow isn’t promised, but I also understand that right here and right now is just where I am to be. Remember to cease the day, but also make sure that where you are right here and right now is where you are supposed to be.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
The woman Esther I wrote about who is very giving and benevolent. She got malaria a few days ago and got an allergic reaction to her medication. She has been in horrible shape and was taken to the hospital a few hours ago.
Janet’s eye sight continues to strengthen and improve, but that is keeps on.
The medical center

RANDOMS:
There is this little girl I pass by a few times each day. Each time she yells out to me and makes the home alone face, you know the one where his mouth is open really big
Drunks love me
I was watching Underworld with a friend today… she got SOOO scared of the vampires and were wolfs. A few times I jumped at her and screamed to freak her out
My hair is getting long… I feel like a beetle or a hippie
No one seems to know what Oat Meal is

WORD OF THE DAY
Nime-nunua pajero
Ni-may new-new-uh puh-jer-oh
I drove a car
AND
This is what you say when you get diarrhea… one of my very common expressions when I first got here, but it has been about two weeks since I drove a car : )

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From Geoffrey to you; Green Thumbs in Kosovo

Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

Wednesday May 27, 2009

Green Thumbs In Kosovo

One of my sisters and I were obsessed with gardening when we were younger. My parents used to manage apartments and would often make trips to Home Depot; each and every time I went along I ambushed the gardening section, particularly the wall covered with seeds. The idea that flowers, vegetables, fruits and shrugs simply blew my sisters and my mind. We both had a section in our yard for our gardens. We planted corn, tomatoes, carrots and anything else we could manage to get the seeds for. Our neighbor had a rabbit and used to feed it tomatoes, its waste was the PERFECT fertilizer and already had the seeds in it. A heap of rabbit waste seemed to produce the largest and most plump tomatoes in Bellflower. The whole idea that something so large and delicious came from such a small seed mystified me.

Today I spent the day with a few pastors making our rounds to different areas, praying for the sick and visiting with the destitute. We went to a place that I mentioned in an earlier blog called Kosovo, which is where they brew beer illegally. There are many alcoholics in Masii, people who feed into their addiction before nourishing their bodies or caring for their families. The regulars wake up early in the morning from a drunken slumber and instantly make their way to Kosovo. We were there at about nine this morning and there were already dozens of men and women too inebriated to stand.

This is one of those places that pastors seem to avoid. We were told that we would probably get beat up by the drunkards and were advised not to go, that didn’t stop us from coming before. The last time we went a few dozen intoxicated men and women warmly welcomed us. We stayed there for a few hours just bonding and getting to know the crowd. We got them all to gather around as we started telling them about the God of compassion and love, not judgment and condemnation. Most of them had been chased away from churches because of this addiction; we told them about how we would welcome them with arms wide open and that if M.C.C. was a perfect church that we would all get kicked out. We told them that they needed to cut the drinking though, not for church but for the sake of their families and their body’s health. We left that day knowing that we had done a good thing and that we had reached out to those that no one else wants, but we figured that God never gave up on us so who are we to give up on these fellas.

Today we ventured all around Kosovo. We visited nearly every home and ended up kicking back at Mecca of all of Kosovo, the part of Kosovo where being drunk was a given and life wasn’t being lived without a cup of the local brew clenched in your hand. We walked around and made friends with the locals and surprisingly MANY of them remembered us from a few weeks ago. The large amount of people seemed to engulf us and they all were asking for prayers and gratefully thanking us for being willing to come talk with them. The coolest part of today was when one of the guys staggered up to me and started reciting everything I had said on my last visit; he even remembered the scripture I had spoken to him (John 3:17). He and his friends started pleading with us to pray for them and this addiction and earnestly wanted to change.

As futile as scattering seeds on the pavement, is visiting Kosovo and attempting to make a difference. It has been deemed as a worthless and useless place where nothing of worth will ever grow and any seed you sow will only wither and die. This is why pastors and Christians don’t dare step foot in Kosovo because it is fruitless.

Today I saw a seed that I planted a few weeks ago bear fruit. It amazes me how planting such a small seed, a friendly hello and God loves you, can turn into something so great and amazing. We shouldn’t cram these men and women into a box, assuming that they are only drunks and will never be anything but drunks, that doesn’t have to be their future. No one is doomed to live a life a certain way and certainly shouldn’t be deemed as fruitless or as a waste of time. With a little T.L.C. even the most barren of places can yield a crop.

I continue to be mystified by how planting a seed can yield something so beautiful

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

Prayer Requests:
Janet and the continual progression of her eyes
Funds for a Generator
The Medical Center
Stacy’s Wheelchair… we should get it in two days woot woot

Randoms:
When we had our gardens I used to put soap in my sisters garden whenever she got me mad…. Just to kill her plants
All Star United is pretty rad! Props to Brandi for hooking me up with some of their music
We need to take notes on how the hospitality of the Kenyans
When In Kosovo we stumbled on a few guys who were digging a well… it was sixty feet deep…. INSANE is all I have to say about the guys who dig wells
When we first got to Kosovo a lad offered to give us porridge. It was sour and I am pretty sure it is on my top worst foods list…. My friend found grass in hers… EWW. We couldn’t say “No thank you” or else they wouldn’t want to hear what we had to say
I am getting pretty talented on the foot-peddle-powered sewing machine
My bathroom floods about every three days

WORD OF THE DAY
Nataka hospitali
Naw-tak-cuh haw-spit-olie

I NEED A HOSPITAL

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From Geoffrey to you; I am a lousy poker player

Monday, May 25th, 2009

Monday May 25, 2009

I am a lousy poker player

JANET SEES MORE TODAY THAN SHE DID YESTERDAY. MORE YESTERDAY THAN SHE DID THE PREVIOUS DAY. MORE THE PREVIOUS DAY THAN SHE DID THE PRIOR DAY. AND MORE THE PRIOR DAY THEN SHE DID THE DAY BEFORE!

A few friends and myself really like playing Texas hold em, not as some futile attempt to get rich quick we just like the game. We used to plop into a booth at our local Norms and play for pennies, dimes and nickels for hours. We got to the point when we used to play every hand (that is how you know we weren’t really serious) and just try to bluff out the other players. We would raise, re-raise and lastly, with a smug look, utter those sink or float words “all in.” I think that I was cursed, every time I actually had a good hand and went all in no one seemed to take the bate. Nine times out of ten I put all of my trust and hope in my bluffing skills and nine times out of ten my skills let me down and I lose the whopping seventy-five cent pot.

There is a woman here named Beth. She has a three beautiful young daughters, two of them being twins. She leads a small group and is very active in our church as well as in the community. She owns a small dress shop and is one of the very few people in Masii that actually owns a car. During my entire stay here in Masii I can only recall two times that Beth didn’t have a grin so big you could see her back teeth; when she was tending to a sick woman and had the “concerned mother” look that all moms seem to get when someone is ill and when her daughter was sick that she kept on passing out. This woman is always smiling, hugging, and greeting others. It is amazing how the masks that we wear can actually fool people into believing that all is well in your life when the crude reality is that you feel so suffocated and trapped by life that you can hardly breath and desperately want to give up. I even took the bait and feed into the lie that the front she put on was the real her… how I wish it were so.

She invited William and I into her home the other night for tea, which you would think meant a thirty minute stay when in actuality it means you are having dinner, tea and staying to talk after for three hours. We ate our supper and sipped our tea all the while Beth had one of the biggest smiles planted on her face. I’m not sure exactly how it happened but our conversation took a turn and Beth took off her mask and let us into the darkest and scariest chambers of her life and heart, the chambers that had been veiled and kept in secret for years.

She is married, but not happily. Her husband is an officer in the military, which isn’t an easy task in the slightest because even getting into the military requires leaps bounds and astronomical amounts of luck. To be an officer means that he is a someone in Kenya. His title may be her husband, but he is anything but. He makes his way home from Nairobi every few months just for sex. If Beth isn’t pretty enough or doesn’t satisfy this man then she is beaten severely, in fact abuse is the only thing she can count on him for and it comes regardless of if he is happy, satisfied or mad. Beth is left to pay for food, school fees and medical costs for her daughters as well as paying for rent and her other bills and this very well off husband is no where to be found. If she calls he ignores it. If she writes it gets thrown in the trash. If she visits he gets mad and beats her. He is incredibly jealous and often calls Beth accusing her of unfaithfulness with only fuels his abusive acts of rage. She can’t run because he will find her. The abuse is bad now but would only increase if she divorced him, which would only fuel his anger and fury. The mass difference between the exorbitant bills and the small profit or her business forces Beth and her daughters to reside in a tiny hole in the wall home that lacks electricity and running water but makes up for it with dirt, grim and deteriorating walls.

Throughout the entirety of her tragic story she just smiled. At the end of it all she said it is okay because my trust is in God. She says that it is a testing of her faith and that she is going to continue to praise and worship God through thick and thin and that he will deliver her from this ordeal. Lacking family to run, money to fund an escape and resources to provide for the children elsewhere, she stands firm and trusts in God. She smiles because she has hope.

Like a poor poker play, I tend to go “all in” on bluffs or ridiculous hands. Time and time again I have played the fool and trusted in some insubstantial and frivolous thing, my parents can tell you about the different ideas and schemes I have thought of and put everything I had into and failed. I need to be more like Beth. You see Beth understands 1 Peter 1:3 when they that Jesus is a living hope, something that doesn’t die or fade away. She realizes that it isn’t a bluff. Instead of chasing after the wind and putting everything she has on some insubstantial thing, she puts everything she has one something that wont let her down.

Trusting, knowing, believing Beth puts everything she has, she goes all in, on this living hope: God.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa

PRAYER REQUESTS:
Janet’s eyes
Beth’s situation
Stacy’s wheel chair (it should be here Friday woot woot)
Funds for a few different Tumaini projects

RANDOMS:
I keep on listening to “Grace like rain” by Chris Tomlin
There are some pretty bad communication problems between myself and some of the locals, but talking on the phone only makes it worse. I got a call from my friend earlier today. She said “Geoffrey, my grandma is here I want you to come meet her.” I said Okay and that I would be there in thirty minutes. “You’ll be here in five mintues?” No I said thirty. “Oh ten minutes” No thirty. “Oh fifteen?” No thirty minutes” “OH ok. Twenty?” No T-H-I-R-T-Y minutes ha ha. “OH thirty minutes. Why didn’t you say so?”

That happens like three times a day. Another person called me about some food I ordered at a restaurant and they couldn’t understand if I was going to go pick it up, if they should drop it off at my room, or if I didn’t want it anymore. I talked to them for what felt like three hours, but that whole communication thing still didn’t work out.
Does anyone have the Chronicles of Narnia movies?
My toilet does half flushes…. Maybe to conserve water… I dunno.
My shower is raised above my floor…. A few times a week it floods my bedroom floor… kind sucks… and to fix it Mutuko gets a plunger and goes at the drain like me on cake.
I really think that staying in this hotel is for the best, not just because of the safety issue but eating beans and rice twice a day everyday…. Means I shouldn’t have a roommate
Kids think it is so cool when they get a soda or some juice so sometimes they get a plastic bottle and pour it into it and only take small sips so it will last a long time.
Nothing is worse then when you go to make a PB and J and the bread is moldy
Have you ever noticed that when you eat healthy food you don’t get as full as junk food makes you? Rice and beans leaves me hungry even though I am full, but pizza, hamburgers and ice cream fill me up
Black outs happen all of the time. They wrote in the newspapers about how we were going to not have electricity today… but we did. I think they just like the feeling of taking us by surprise

WORD OF THE DAY
Maji – ma-ge
WATER

Chris Tomlin – Grace like rain

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From Geoffrey to you; When the odds are stacked up and it looks like there is no way out

Sunday, May 24th, 2009

Sunday May 24, 2009

When the odds are stacked up and it looks as though there is no way out

When I was about seven years old my mother was diagnosed with Leukemia, which, for those of you who don’t know, is cancer of the bone marrow. It made her bones very frail and they turned into mush. She was incredibly weak and found it difficult to keep down food. Her eyes were blood red from vomiting so much from the medications and chemotherapy. The disease greatly weakened her bones and even the simplest of tasks seemed impossible for her: walking, bending over, carrying things or even standing for long periods of time. Another side effect was developing numerous cataracts on her eyes, leaving her practically blind. On a side note, we used to play the “slug bug” game with her and always used to win because she couldn’t see them, what a horrible family I know ha ha. She took enough pills and syrups to appease an appetite and if she ever missed a dose her body paid the toll the following day. She was constantly sick, couldn’t walk, couldn’t see and her body was constantly in pain.

A story is told in Judges chapter six and seven reminds me that even in the worst situations there is hope. Israel was going through extremely difficult times during this recount. A group of people called the Midianites constantly abused the Israelites; beating them, stealing from them, ransacking their towns, burning down their homes and killing them. Gideon is unfortunate enough to be the leader of the Israelites at this time. These people had no hope and as a leader he had no faith that they would overcome or prevail. It seemed as though all of these people had lost their faith in God and believed that they had been abandoned; their souls were downcast within them and life had no point. What is the point in growing crops if someone will steal them? What is the point in building homes if someone will burn them down? What is the point in having children if they will be slaughtered? In the midst of this bleak and unpromising situation, an angel appeared to Gideon and told him that he would defeat the Midianites, but Gideon still had many reservations and fears. The fact that he was out numbered and out powered made him doubt that this angel was real. He asked God for a sign, to renew his faith and prove that he would really defeat the Midianites in battle. He laid a cloth on the ground and told God that if he would truly defeat the Midianites to prove it by soaking it with water while leaving the ground beneath it dry as he slept that night. When he awoke it was as he had asked; the ground was dry but he squeezed a bowlful of water out of the cloth. He made another request just to make sure, this time he asked for God to make the ground beneath this cloth soaking wet but keep the cloth dry. When he awoke the next day it was as he had asked; the ground was sopping wet at the cloth was dry. His faith was restored, the doubts were gone, and he knew that even though the situation was bad that God had not abandoned him and that there would be rejoicing the next day.

I can’t explain to you what it is like being so young and thinking my mother was going to die. The pain and sickness throughout her body was so fierce and scary, while she was in the hospital I was afraid that my germs would kill her so I would talk to her using a wakie-talkie and look at her through the window. I can’t explain to you what it is like growing up with a mother who can hardly move and having your older siblings and family friends tend and care for your needs because your mother was physically unable. I can’t tell you what it is like imagining the rest of your life without your mother. Seeing the condition she was in, I never expected her to survive and yet she did. I never through she would walk, bend over or even see, but my faith was renewed. It began with one operation, and then another and then another. She was able to walk after having a double hip replacement and was able to see after having cataract surgery. She is able to walk, bend, push and lift things that we never thought she would be able to. She isn’t taking pounds of medications every hour, her dosages have been reduced, her life has been rejuvenated and I am able to see my mother living and breathing a life I never though she would. God is good.

At times we find ourselves in situations like my mothers, Gideons and mine where we feel as though there is no hope. At times we find ourselves in a situation in which we are out numbered and out powered. But through the darkest hours of our life God shines a little glimmer of light and hope. It is times like these in which God reveals himself, just a little bit, to help us to keep on keeping on and to continue to trust and believe that there will come a day when there is no more pain, suffering, death and our tears will be wiped away. To renew our faith he does what he did for Gideon, he will give us a sign and shine a little light to let us to that things will be okay and that we will overcome and defeat the Midianites in our life.

With that being said I want to tell you more about Janet, the young woman who is blind. The doctors told her that she would NEVER see again, her optic nerves are dead and there is physically no possible way for her to see even the slightest bits of light. However, yesterday she saw. She wasn’t able to see everything, but as I was visiting with her a woman walked up wearing a red and black shirt. She saw the different colors of the shirt and then told me she can see the light outside as well. The world says no, you can’t, you will never be able to… but God says you can. At times the odds are stacked up against us, we are the Israelites outnumbered and out powered by the Midianites, we assured that our mother will never survive cancer, we think we will never overcome a situation or be brought out of the darkness… but the truth is that we can and we will. Today it may be pouring rain, but tomorrow is a new day and the sun can come out.

God reveals himself to us. He tells us that it will be okay. He tells us that our mourning will be turned into joy. Janet may be healed or she may not, what I do know is that God has revealed himself to her. By giving her even the slightest ability to see even for a moment, he told her that he was with her and that she would overcome. Even though the she has been ransacked by the Midianites, is depressed, hurt and feels as though she will never overcome he told her yesterday that she can and she will triumph over her enemy.

If you find yourself with the odds stacked up against you, where there is no way out and where you will never overcome, know that you can and will.

Asante Sana,

Mwendwa
Prayer Requests:
Carro’s Recovery
Janet’s vision
Medical facility
Funds for a generator

RANDOMS:
A woman asked me what the English word is for “poop” it was the woman named Esther who I see everyday that makes me laugh. So I told her we call it poop, poopie, poo-poo, doo-doo, number two… I named all of the ones I could… HILARIOUS
You may have the swine flu… we have the Kenyan flu… everyone seems to be getting sick
Kids made an obstacle course out of tires
All of the little five year olds kept on smacking my butt today… they were chasing me all around…. AAAAYYYYYYEEEE! Was my response…. Kenyans say AYE when they get surprise… its really funny.
Nothing here is really planned thoroughly they just kind of go with the flow…. Which is all fine and dandy except that things that are supposed to go from 7-8 go from 7-9:30… so I made it my mission to make as many schedules and help organize and plan out as many things as I can. It will take a while for people to catch onto this whole “on time” thing but I think after a while they will get the hang of it…. Hakuna matata Kenya is what most people think, but all of the leaders want me to help them implement organization woot woot… these people are so much better than us in certain areas but time management isn’t one of them, they had to bring in the mazungu to help : )

WORD OF THE DAY
Temechelewa (spelling?)
Tem-may-chay-lay-wa

WE’RE LATE…. The Kenyan way lol

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