The Other Side of this Adventure

Well this is my real honest blog about how I’m feeling and what I’m seeing. We are REALLY enjoying ourselves, we are seeing beautiful things, and we are enjoying time with each other in India, BUT… there is another side to this adventure. (That’s just a disclaimer cause what follows is only one side of my thoughts and emotions – I’m really not down or sad – just being honest. Sorry for the lack of pics in this one, just wanted to share thoughts.)

Every day we face things in India (and in Kenya) that make it difficult to be away from home and from what’s familiar. We count this life as a gift from God and count this journey as a great opportunity to see more of the world He created and to learn how it is we are to interact with it. We are open to how we are to grow and learn in relation to what we see and experience. I invite you to know some of the inner dialogue I’m experiencing.

I don’t want to have to live in a place where I smell garbage burning everyday, where I have black boogers from the major pollution, where on my daily walk I have to avoid copious piles of poop. I don’t want to have to see a 4 year old taking care of a 3 months old, a mother begging in a train station so she can feed her 1 week old baby, a child walking around barefoot with ripped dirty clothes snot running down his face matted dirty hair holding out his hand for my muffin. I don’t want to be faced with poverty.

I don’t want to have the same 6 shirts to keep wearing over and over even when they are dirty and smell or have the pollution from the day all over them. I want to walk to my laundry room and pull out a fresh hoodie from the dryer with the wonderful smell of laundry detergent and dryer sheets. I want to put on clean socks. I want to be warm in my room. I don’t want to see kids and adults with a polio effected bodies walking around on there hands on the sides of busy streets because their legs are unusable.  I don’t want to see old ladies and men completely hunched over like a table top using a thin stick to stabilize themselves as they walk. I don’t want to see people carrying heavy propane tanks in bags that lie on their backs and strap over their foreheads as they walk the polluted streets with crazy terrain back to their homes. I don’t want to see people pooping next to the train tracks as I travel by staring out my window. I don't want to see guys peeing on public streets and building. I don’t want to think about kids having no place to go the bathroom or wash their hands. I don't want to see streets covered in trash.

Check out the motorcycle passing by the cow... there's NEVER enough room to get by.

This is a common view - animals eating trash in the road. Sadly, there's more animals than there
is trash to feed them so some animals aren't quite as healthy as this one looks. 

This is not snow, this is pollution in the air. On Christmas night the traffic was crazy
on the way back from our Varanasi - Ganges River ghats visit.

I don’t want to have to negotiate the price for everything because of my skin color. I don’t want to have to avoid getting spit on by camels, kicked or hit by cows, bit by monkeys or dogs, all while I walk down the street. I don’t want to ride on a road that doesn’t have lines marking the lanes, or rules enforced for people who speed, follow to close, don’t have lights, pass when they’re not supposed to – it really is dangerous.

I don’t want to witness all the damage and danger people cause themselves due to their jobs and not having the proper prevention practices in place – like the people who fix the roads who are crouched on the road with no protective eyewear, mask, colored vest, marking cones, nothing – while fast cars swerve past them. Or the man who’s welding with nothing over his eyes. Or the lady making cow patties for fuel sitting alone in the dark by they side of the train tracks with nothing on her hands as she pounds the patties on the side of the city wall to dry. (I don’t care how poor people are in the US, I don’t think we’d ever see someone hand making cow patties to sell for fuel.)

I’m trying to reconcile these feelings – like because of all these things above, I just want to go back to the US, where it isn’t like that.  But is that the response God would want from me. Yes, he’s given me the ability to choose where I want to live, and choose how I want to live - some basic things – a toilet, soap, but some extravagant things (not necessary) dryer for my clothes, hangers for each of my shirts (i.e. not cramming 5 shirts on one hanger), having more than one hoodie, etc.  But is that what I should choose?  Is that how I should live? It’s so sad to me that so many people live without these things – and I mean the basics – that for me to think, “Well, I’ll just go back to a place that does have those things, and not have to think about it.” That's sooooo wrong! It’s pompos and rude and surely not Christ-like at all. I think my thoughts of “Well, when I have a house I want it to have x,y, z.” I mean surely God is happy to hear my wants and desires, but am I really glorifying God with that? Or am I turning a blind eye to the way the people of the world are forced to live.

In a time when I have the ability to teach someone how to build a latrine, why that’s important, how it improves theirs’ and their communities’ health – shouldn’t I? Or should I just give the country my tourist dollars and head back to the US with lots of pictures of the gorgeous things and the pictures of the not so great or “yeah, isn’t that crazy, that’s how they live” kinda stuff. It’s disgusting to me that my heart is so ugly – why would I even want to go back to a place where I don’t have to think about this way of life? A life lived in poverty. If I just go back home, I don’t have to be involved. I don’t have to do anything. I just have to figure out what meal I’ll make for the party I want to have where maybe I’ll show the people some pictures of my trip to India. Gross! I’m gross!! And I’m sorry. I am “on the adventure of a lifetime” as many have told me, but it’s hard to reconcile all the thoughts I have when I see poverty, lack, disease, distress, idol worship, misspent effort and money, hurting families, kids without, parents without, ugh… It’s tough. It’s beautiful don’t get me wrong, in fact we’re about to go on safaris where we’ll surely see amazing animals, but that’s not all that is going on while we travel.

We’re faced everyday with people asking for our money. I don’t want to be targeted by every panhandler on the street because of my skin color. I want to be anonymous and left alone. I don’t want to be asked for my shoes, my clothes, my hat, my glasses, my food, my money. Oh but wait, none of that is mine. It’s all God’s. And what should my response be? I don’t think handouts work in the long run, so what do I do?

We have to constantly check for people who might try to take advantage of us, steal from us, put us in a compromising situation. We have to talk to family and friends over skype – we don’t get the personal connection of real face to face. We miss Christmas, New Years, birthdays, and other memorable events with family and friends. We have the real danger of having a crazy accident anytime we’re on the road (I know that’s the same everywhere – but there are added obstacles and lack of regulations here that make this statement a bit different). We have to juggle thoughts of moving back to the US with thoughts of not “turning a blind eye” to all we’re seeing. We’re responsible ya know? We should be at least. To do something to better the world – to bring more of God’s Kingdom here. And to whom much is given, much is required  (Luke 12:48 "Everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more." ESV) We were given 5 weeks in India (and 9 months in Kenya)– what’s required of us? We’re seeking God to know the answer to that. But we ask you to pray with us and for us to know how we are to live out our lives in light of so many living in poverty and need. What is our role?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Varanasi, India!  Janine and I are definitely missing celebrating with our families and the people we love, but we are happy to be here so that we can spread the love of Jesus, and bless some people's lives.

 This is up sporting our Elf t-shirts in front of the Ganges River in Varanasi, India.  We were the only elves on the Ghat believe it or not.

 This is sunrise on the 3rd largest mountain in the world.  Khangchendzonga mountain in the Himalaya.

 This is a goat wearing a little kids shirt.  This isn't the first time we have seen this actually.  I'm wondering if that Island that Fox took Pinocchio to is actually located somewhere here in India.

 Janine and I in a Catholic Church on Christmas Day.  There was a HUGE celebration going on there, complete with a carnival roller coaster and just about anything else you can imagine.

 Janine and I watching the sunrise from Tiger Hill, the guy behind me is not as happy to be there as J9 and I were.

 This was a ceremony they perform each night on the Ganges to put the river gods to sleep.  It was quite the scene.  The people in the background are actually sitting on boats in the river.

 Taking tea on the train.  We have taken two train rides, one lasting 28 hours, the other lasting 12.

 This is the same compartment just looking in J9's direction.  It was a pretty small space to sit in for so long, we had another bunk to sleep in above us.

I'm smelling some of the best tea money can buy.  We are in Darjeeling which is world famous for the tea they grow.  The tea in the jar is actually dried a special way.  The leaves are not shredded, instead they are balled up and actually open when introduced to hot water.  Pretty cool!

Hope you all are doing great, please leave a comment and say hello if you have time!
Love you all,
D

INDIA!!!

We are in INDIA!  We have been traveling for 6 days so far, and have been to Delhi, Jaipur, and Agra.  It's been a very busy trip, but we have been really enjoying it.  India is definitely unlike any other place I've been.  Janine and I seem to compare things here more to Kenya more than we do the US, funnily enough.

So I just want to let the pictures do the talking.

Us at The Taj Mahal.  It was a "foggy" day.  The fog is actually really awful air pollution.  Because of winter, and the cold air sinking, it creates an inversion layer, trapping all the nasty smog at ground level.  Didn't know you were getting and environmental science lesson today, did you?

This is from Keoladeo National Park.  It's a bird sanctuary.  Janine and I got some awesome pics here, as it was nesting time for all the stork chicks.  We took a 2 hour long tour through the park via rickshaw.

This is Janine and I in the inner part of a Masque.  I always feel weird going deep inside the temples and especially the Masques, but Janine leads the charge into the places.  She got a $10 dollar offer on her bandanna from some guy.  We declined.

This elephant is 1 of 90 that makes 4 trips up and down the road to Amber Fort each day.  You can take the short ride and it'll only set you back about $18 US dollars.  Janine and I opted to walk the short 10 minute walk, and cost us $0.  Clark Howard would be proud.

This is the lake palace in Jaipur.  Super beautiful!  We heard they are planning on making a restaurant on it sometime in the upcoming year.

This is me trading hats with a snake charmer.  Snake charming is actually really sad, and definitely animal cruelty.  They remove the cobras fangs, and he lives his life, cooped up in this little basket.

Just 10 rupees (20 cents) got us this behind the scenes tour of a Garden Palace that was lived in by the actual Maharaja of Rajastan.  We even got to sit on his throne!  Like they say, the early bird gets to see old, dead, rich people's stuff.  (I can't decide if I think that's a funny joke.)

We miss you all, and we will try and post again before Christmas.  We start a 20 hr. long train journey tomorrow, bound for Darjeeling.  It's a very famous place for tea.  It's also in the Himalayas, which I'm super excited about, but it's gonna be cold.  I'll be snuggling my wife extra close!

Love and miss you all!

D

My boda was late because he was watching a "Witchman" witch some people!

Yep, that's right. That's the reason my boda was late to pick me up today. Alex is a super nice guy - never cheats us - very safe (slow even) driver - great English - talks as we ride... and usually never late. So, the fact that today he was late, was strange. I called, and he came right away and explained as we rode..."you know, something happened to make me forget." I asked what... and the story he gave was ....

A: "You know this balloon they are using to build the road."
J: "the balloon?"
A: "Yes, the balloon the construction workers use."
J: "Oh that, yes." (Still no idea, but wanted to hear more of what happened."
A: "Well, some people stole it."
J: "Oh, so were they trying to get it back today."
A: "They called the witchman to come."
J: "OH. Ok, so what happened."
A: "You know, he had them drink some potion - some water with some magic in"
J:" Ok, so what happened?"
A: "Well, the people who were the thieves they are just sitting still."
J: "What? they can't move."
A: "They're sitting, not moving, not talking. You know if they don't pay the witchman, they will surely die."
J: "What - they're dying?"
A: "Ah... you know they have to pay, and then they will be given the potion to reverse it, but if they don't pay, if their families don't get there in time, ah, they will surely die."
J: "WOW! really."
A: "Yes, you know this magic is strong."
J: "Yes."
A: "But you know it's very bad to steal. It's better to sweat than to steal."
J: "You mean it's better to work and sweat than to steal?"
A: "Yes, it's better to sweat than to steal."

So, as we passed by the area where this was happening, there was a HUGE crowd walking on the path to and from where it was happening. He said that many people had come to watch. I asked why the thieves would drink it if they knew they were guilty. He said, they were just thinking nothing would happen. Wow... interesting story.

Ok, night everyone. ~ Janine

Welp it's December.... How did that happen?




Here's a look back on a few fantastic events! THANKSGIVING in Kenya!!!!

Remember those turkeys from the other blog... well, this is them ;) Delicious!
Rebecca crafted this spit and commissioned it to be built especially for this task.

4 hours on the spit... Mateo and Thomas kept the turkeys lookin so right!
Of course it threatened rain all day, so the tarp was a must. (The gray bag is the Kenyan charcoal bag.)

Such an awesome meal! Everyone helped to serve each other. 

Delicious meal complete with fun Thanksgiving napkins thanks to mom and dad's box!

Rebecca spearheaded our Thanksgiving celebration - complete with deep dish pumpkin pie! We had a cooking schedule for all our food - Rebecca mapped it all out - which burner to use (only 4) and only one make shift oven (made out of pots and rocks and water).

We made turkeys for everyone and we wrote what we were thankful for about each other. 

The day after thanksgiving equals CHRISTMAS TIME!!! :) these shirts were also in the box mom and dad sent. We set up the projector and watched Christmas movies and ate Thanksgiving leftovers. It was a GREAT weekend!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. And we've been enjoying the upcoming Christmas season with Christmas movies ;) There was another great thing to celebrate - Nelly (the Program Leader for Healthcare) delivered a healthy baby boy on Nov. 23rd.

This is Nelly and Maroa - Maroa is Nelly's son. Here he is less than a day old.

Mom, these are the Christmas booties ;) 

Nelly is a PROUD mother of 4 - Maroa, Enid & Cheril (her 2 daughters), and Larry (her first born son)!

It was SUCH a blessing to visit Nelly and Maroa on Thanksgiving Day - the day after Maroa was born! SUCH a cutie! I loved visiting her, praying over her, & praising God with her for her Son. That morning she had sent me a text saying that she delivered a son - and how God had given her the desire of her heart. 


We are doing great here. We are getting ready for a 5 week break from Kenya. We'll be in India - and are really excited for that journey and opportunity. We will be on vacation for 3 weeks, and working from there our last 2 weeks before we return to Kenya. 


I have a birthday coming up - next weekend - Dirty Thirty ;) hahaha. Actually, I'm thrilled to be in Kenya for my 30th. It's a blessing to be doing a job that I'm passionate about and feel called to do, and to do it all alongside my husband. Amazing really! ;) The weekend will be a welcome change as this week will be CRAZY. It's our last 5 days of work with our Kenyan staff. LOTS to do! 

Mabera Circumcision Parade

The thing I missing most right about now is The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  I know it seems silly, but I really like parades.  I like getting up early on Thanksgiving and Christmas and watching the Parades on TV.  I like watching them when we go to Disney World, and I liked watching them roll down Jackson Street in Downtown Newnan.

So today I witnessed a surprise replacement parade, only one day before Thanksgiving.  I went to a town called Mabera this morning not to far from our town of Isibania.  Now there are basically no Muzungus (white folks) in Isibania, and there are even less in Mabera, so I get noticed, alot.

I was accompanied by my Kenyan-counterpart Rogonga Augustine.  So as we were in the cab on our way.  By the way a cab here is a toyota station wagon, and it will usually hold about 12 people, no lie.  4 up front, 2 people sit in the drivers seat, the driver actually will often sit in the lap of a passenger and drive.  5 people in the back seat, and then another 3 or maybe 4 in the cargo area along will all the bags of maize and whatever else is happening to be transported.  This morning I was up front sharing the passenger seat with a rather large man.  I noticed alot of people on the side of the road, some were dancing.  When we hit town I knew something was up.

There were alot of people and then coming down the main dirt road that we would be travelling on to go further into the bush was a parade of folks.  It was indeed a circumcision parade.  They have a circumcision season here, it will occur in a community every few years.  During that time boys and girls will be circumcised.  The have sheets rapped around them, their bodies are painted white, and there are tons of folks around them singing, and dancing and carrying weapons!  They have a weapon here called a Rungu, which is basically like a club, with something menacing attached to the end, you would see them  in Mad Max, Beyond Thunder Dome.  And some people have like shakers things all over their body like maracas making noise.

So I knew before I left this morning circumcision season was coming up.  I was actually traveling to see the Chief because 3 members of my team had been attacked by a crazy-man in the village.  None were harmed, and in the end he didn't take any of their belongings.  This was the team I traveled with last week in the same area, and on Monday I decided not to go in the field and oversee another area of the project at our HQ.  I had also been warned that during circumcision season, the clans don't allow vistiors or people from different clans into their area, because they do secretive things they don't want others to know about.

But I had no idea when I got out of the cab, I was going to be in the middle of the Circumcision Parade.  I was on edge a bit going back and fourth from the Chiefs office.  I prayed alot, and tried to go unnoticed, well as unnoticed as I could be, being a Muzungu whipping by crowds of people on the back of a motorcycle.

So in the end, I was ok and I got to watch a parade.  I'll be honest and say that if they were streaming the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, I'd be trying to find a way to watch.  But they are not, so the Mabera Circumcision Parade will have to do for this year. I hope all of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving back home, and you all enjoy the Parade.

Photo Journal

So just a few photos in this addition, because they are worth a thousand words, right?

This lizard fears nothing! Enough said.

This is what Toto was referring to in the song "Africa."  This is a giant rainstorm rolling in right around sunset.  This happens just about everyday around the same time.  Pretty incredible. 

This is Janine and I enjoying dessert!  It just happened to be homemade mint chocolate-chip ice cream that night!  Amazing things can happen when you have a freezer!  So exciting because you can't just walk down the street to the Dairy Queen here, like we did back in Newnan.

Hope you all enjoy, and we will write more soon!

Breakfast and Dogs

Hi Everyone!

So I had a moment before we do "movie night" and thought I'd check in with all of you.  Things are going well here.  Tonight was mine and Janine's night to cook.  We had been doing breakfast for everybody on the weekend, but we switched back to Friday night, as per group request.  So tonight we had breakfast for dinner.  The menu included pumpkin pancakes (made from butternut squash), cheese eggs (the cheese was mailed from the US) skillet potatoes with peppers, onion and garlic, and fresh sliced pineapple.  Janine also made chai which is local hot tea with milk and sugar.  Our meal was a big hit!

Janine and I got to take a really great walk the other day, and found this sweet little spot beside a little stream, with a big rock that we could both sit on, so we sat and prayed for a bit.  There is this dog that lives by our compound, she is named "Chewy."  I believe this is because she likes to chew on people, but I'm not sure.  Anywho, she gets beat by her owner like everyday (not uncommon for dogs around here).  She looks alot like "Santa's Little Helper" from the Simpsons.  So this dog loves the Mzungus (swahili for white people).  She accompanied Janine and I on our entire walk.  During the walk she was attacked by several dogs, as always seems to be the case with her.  She also fought a goat, and was beaten and started to whimper when the goat rammed her in the chest with its horns.  She also just hung out and ran around in the stream while we prayed.

Well, thats about all the time I have for now.  I'll write again soon, and will try to keep y'all more updated on the events and life here.

Finally a Post from Janine

So I live in Africa. Isebania, Kenya. It’s really close to the Tanzanian boarder, in fact a few weeks ago I went on a girls day out with the 3 other ladies here on my team (Rebecca, Jessica, and Jennifer) and we went for brunch and then crossed the border to buy fabric. Tanzanian fabric is better quality and different prints than Kenyan fabrics, we all bought fabric to have clothes made while we’re here.

When we crossed we walk thru the customs area, “no man’s land” is what we call it, and then we pass a lot of big cargo trucks and tourist buses. We had split up into 2 groups in the attempt to cross without being stopped. This usually works, but not that day. Jessica and I were walking and were literally 15 feet from the Tanzanian side, and we got stopped. Praise God it was a really nice customs officer – and we were respectful and apologetic. He walked us all the way back to the customs office, and there explained that we are supposed to bring our passport (we didn’t on purpose) and LEAVE it there, and then get it on the way back. WHAT?! Why would anyone ever do that? They could charge ANYTHING for us to get it back, or it could go missing. Seriously… why would anyone ever do that. Anyways, he was nice and let us go across to buy our fabric and said “next time” to bring our passport. So that was an adventure ;)

How about we have purchased turkeys for Thanksgiving dinner – as in living breathing turkeys – we met ‘em. One of the Nuru employees who is awesome had us to his house and shamba last weekend. It was SO relaxing. It was honestly one of the only times I’ve just been able to sit outside in the beautiful creation here and not be yelled at “Mzungu”. We had a potluck – delicious food. And we played wiffle ball and ultimate frisbee. It was such a relaxing day. The house that we live in doesn’t have trees or shade on the compound – luckily we do have some plants – but no trees. So, it was sooooooo nice just to lay under the shade of a big mango tree and just relax!

We had an incredible hail storm here! I mean TONS of HAIL! It was unreal! Our plants that we do have are honestly riddled with holes. It was insane. It was a constant downpour of hail for like 10-15 minutes. CRAZY! And even crazier 2 of our team mates (Matt Lee and Matt Lineal) were coming home from the market and got caught in it! They made a run for it, and showed up at the house just when the hail finished. They were DRENCHED and had gotten some hits to the head, but were fine.

We eat SOOO well here! We had a delicious chocolate cake with coffee flavored icing the other night. We had a mango cobbler, banana cake, popcorn with truffle salt, ice cream, frozen chocolate covered banana bites, popsicles, and that’s just the dessert! We eat amazing dinners too. We have team meals, and every night another person cooks. It’s a big task – at least 2 hrs – and we only have 2 burners in one house and 2 in the other. And there is no oven – but they’ve figured out how to make one out of suferias (what we cook in), rocks, more suferias, and water. A cake can take 4 hrs to bake. Lot of effort, but so worth it. ;) David and I cook one night a week, and it’s our signature to do breakfast for dinner. Everybody likes it – I hope to make a hashbrown casserole one of these days. Wish me luck.

David and I are doing well, we were just reflecting this morning that it’s been 6 weeks since we got here, and we only have 6 more weeks left before we go to India for our 3 week break. We’ll be in India for a total of 5 weeks- we’ll work from there for 2 weeks due to visa dates and us having to come back to Kenya exactly 3 months before we leave in April. We hope to spend some time today planning our itinerary more.

Well, this is some of our life. Please write us and tell us what’s going on with you and your families! We’d love to keep up with you too! Grace and Peace to you!

The Transition

So I startred a post over a week ago and never got back to finishing it.  This is not it.  However, I will continue to tell you about life in Kenya.


So not sure if I have mentioned it yet, but right now, Nuru has 17 western staff on the ground here.  That is made up of FT6 and FT7.  FT stands for foundation team.  We are on FT7.  We spend a month transitioning in our positions with the other team, while they intern transition out.  FT7 is made up of 9 individuals.  This is the last week of transition.
This week FT7 took over running the show.  Our counterparts just sit back, watch, and give a correcting hand if needed, and will soon give a wave as they sporadically head off to Nairobi in the very wee hours of the morning.  I won't lie, being responsible as a program manager, which Janine and I both are is kind of a big deal.  A big deal in the sense that there is so much responsibility  so much to do, and so small of an amount of time to do it in.  We've laid in bed at night and talked about the pressures of it all.  


I keep talking so much about Nuru and what's going on, but I just haven't said much about how we are doing.  Janine and I are doing well.  Janine was sick for a bit, but nothing serious and she has seemed to kick it.  I haven't felt sick at all, praise!


Mentally, we are both well but the work here is stressful.  There is just so much work to do, and even though half a year seems like a long time, its not when you have so much to do.  


We have had church every Sunday here.  We get together with 4 other people right now and listen to a sermon via computer, and then talk about God and pray together.  Sunday we also usually take a walk, which has always been so great.  


This past Sunday we were walking after church and walked to a lake.  It's the only one I know about around here.  There was a baptism going on.  We stood on hill overlooking the lake and watched God's called walk one by one into the water, they were buried in the water, and then rose with Christ.  After each person rose from the water, the group of people gathered on the side of the lake would start to sing.  They were singing in swahili, but I could pick up on words, and I knew they were praising God.  It was such an amazing sight to wonder upon.

It made it a bit easier to think what baptism must have been like a couple thousand years ago.  One thing that I think hasn't changed a bit, is the amount of Joy that is created by one of God's people turning to him, and embracing him.  


Sorry it took a while to find some time to write.  I'll write again soon and we love you all and hope each of you is doing fantastic.

So this will be somewhat of a short post since it is late and it has been a very long day.  But it gives me an opportunity to tell you a bit what a day looks like here in Kenya.

This morning the alarm went off at 6:30AM.  But I wasn't on my feet till 7.  What man can role out of bed when he has the most beautiful woman on earth laying beside him? :)  Janine was soon to follow.
Breakfast was french-pressed coffee, toast that was made on the stove, a banana, and this morning we had a treat. A pop-tart packed in from the states!

We have an 8AM team check-in every morning to talk about the happenings of the day.  From there I had a meeting here at the Nuru house at 9AM.  I then had some computer work to do, had some pasta with avocado, parmesan cheese, and siracha. Then I walked to the RTC for a 1 on 1 meeting with my Kenyan counter-part.  I was there till 3:30PM and walked the 30 mins home in a rush to beat the rain.  It started pouring not to long after I was in my room.

Here's a picture of our bedroom on the day we moved in.

Janine got home and we worked out for about 30 mins in our room and then I got a shower.  Then I started prepping for my 6PM skype call back to the states with my director, which occurs twice, weekly.  That lasted an hour, which lead right into dinner at 7PM.  We have team dinners, where we all eat together here at the house 6 times a week.  3 people help to cook each night.

I ate, did a bit more work, then we had a special team-wide call back to the states at 9PM which lasted and hour.  So at 10PM I finally was able to brush my teeth, sweep our bedroom floor, put the mosquito net around the bed, listen to PJ sing a few songs on iTunes and get ready for bed.

So that is pretty close to a typical day for us, only a bit slower than normal :)

So let me first begin by introducing ourselves and telling you just what this blog is all about!

My name is David Brown and I now live with my amazing wife Janine in Isebania, Kenya.  We are here working with Nuru International (Nuru).  The goal of Nuru International is to End Poverty in Remote, and Rural Areas.  The model Nuru uses is something totally new and different; we never give a handout, we work beside our Kenyan staff to train community members with knowledge and tools that allow them to have a choice to determine their future.  There really is nothing else like Nuru International and we fully believe in and support the goal and methodology, so we decided to give our lives, our time, and our expertise. And here we are!

I named our blog "Turning the World Upside Down" based on one of the charges against early Christian's recorded in Acts 17:6.  Janine and I hope to live in a way that we too are accused of that.  We hate the evil, death, and destruction that we see in the world, and we will continue to invest our lives in the Upside Down Kingdom, the Kingdom of God.  Nuru International is not a religious organization.  But we feel like they do the kind of work that God is involved in; redeeming, restoring, and totally changing people's lives.  We get to partner with people and turn their world upside down.

Janine is familiar with the circumstances we find ourselves in; this her fourth trip here.  She has been with Nuru since the beginning (Sept 2008).  I'm a first timer here in Kenya.  I've spent some time Africa before this, but I've never been this embedded in a community here before.  Part of Nuru's ideals, is that we become part of the community, so we live as closely as possible to how the people around us.  This isn't the norm with many African NGOs.  So we do simple actions like walk everywhere, or take motorcycles taxis (bodas) to our meetings or field visits, as opposed to having a big white Land Rover.  

The land here is beautiful and bountiful.  Most everyone is a farmer.  Here is a typical view in our area.  A maize field on rolling hills, with boulder outcroppings scattered around. BEAUTIFUL!

Nuru started by teaching farmers how to employee better farming techniques, and giving input loans of seed and fertilizer.  After the first growing season most farmers had doubled or even tripled the amount of maize per acre.  This enabled the farmers to pay back their input loans, have enough food to eat for the rest of the year, and for some to sell excess maize so they could invest in farming tools, like a plow cow or pay school fees for their children. Nuru's model is holistic and we have a foundation of servant leadership that grounds and upholds all our other program areas - Healthcare (for which Janine works), Water and Sanitation, Education, Community Economic Development, Agriculture, and Monitoring and Evaluation (making sure we are making an impact in all our program areas - this is my position while I'm here.)

So this is part of the story of Nuru, and now part of our lives.  Next, we will tell you more about why we decided to be here, what out life looks like, and maybe some of what we can can expect in the months to come.

Thanks for reading! Love and miss you all!