Well my friends, in less than 8 hours, I will be off on another international adventure! I must admit this trip kind of snuck up on me....arriving in the middle of a busy season of life. Perhaps God knows I could use the break, and the change of pace. The trip will not be a vacation, but getting away from my usual responsibilities, constantly switching from days to nights and back again, and the stress and emotions of working in pediatric oncology will be good for the soul. Many people have asked questions in regards to this trip, what I will be doing, what Kenya is like, etc., so this blog will an attempt to answer some of those curiosities, and hopefully provide some insight into how you can be praying for me and my time in Nairobi.
Where are you going?
Nairobi, Kenya. Nairobi is the Capitol of Kenya, and one of the largest cities in the African continent.
How long does it take to get there?
As I am flying out of Fresno, I will have quite a few flight segments and layovers. On the way there, I will be in the air for about 22 hours, with a total travel time of about 26 hours. Kenya is 10 hours ahead, so I will not arrive until Friday evening. The trip back is similar, though my total travel time is a bit longer. Although it is a rather long journey, I tend to enjoy myself. Lots of time to read, to explore the airports, to plan and pray on the way there, and to debrief on the way back. I have met some interesting travelers, one of whom I still keep in touch with almost 3 years later.
Where do you stay when you are there?
I will be staying with Peter and Francisca, the couple who started and run Imara Healthcare Centre, the clinic we currently partner with. I stayed with them last year, and they were gracious hosts, and treated me as if I were family. They do not live in the actual slum, but are within walking distance or a short drive. I believe their two younger sons will be away at school, so I will most likely stay in their room. I do sleep in a bed and under a mosquito net. Generally, I will have running water from a tank that is outside of the house. Sometimes there is warm water, sometimes not. Compared to some other trips I have taken, the living arrangements are quite nice.
What do you eat? What is their food like?
I eat whatever the people I am with are eating. It tends to be a lot of rice, beans, ugali (maize powder mixed with water to form a sort of paste, not my favorite!), cabbage, some chicken or goat. I really enjoy the fresh mangoes, chapati (the delicious flat bread), chai tea, and scuma (similar to spinach) with rice and broth. The cuisine is not one that I tend to crave here in the U.S., but you also have to remember that having variety, having meat, and having foods from all over the world are luxuries of wealth. Rarely is there a lot of choice when it comes to food and eating, and choices are often made on what will fill you up and keep you feeling full for as long as possible.
What will you be doing when you are there? Do you just work the whole time?
The concept of time in the Kenyan culture (and many other cultures) is very different than we are use to. Here if we plan to meet someone for coffee at 8:30, we expect the person to arrive within several minutes of the agreed upon time. Should we know we will be late, we typically let the other person know, as they might be wondering where we are. In Kenya, you might decide that you will pay someone a visit around noon, and you may not actually arrive until the evening or even the next day. In fact, you may not even specify a time of day in the first place. No one is upset if someone is "late" because the time is not important. It is more important to spend time with whoever you are currently with or finish the tasks you are currently doing. There typically is not a strong sense of urgency.
I share this because my tendency to want to make plans and meet objectives does not mesh well culturally, and I have had to learn to not get too attached to any planned event, as it may or may not happen. It is a challenge, because I am so use to following a rather strict schedule. I try not to have too many expectations for what will be done in a day or to assume that just because we had discussed doing something that we are actually going to do it. It takes some getting use to. So I am not sure what my days will look like. My best guess would be that I will spend quite a bit of time with Peter and Francisca doing every day activities...cooking, washing clothes, going to the market, watching Kenyan news and sports, catching up with each other, going to church. I will likely accompany them to the clinic the majority of the days I am there. I may help give immunization or take vital signs. I may get to assist with a delivery or suturing a wound. I might assist in preparing medications. Or I may just talk to the people who come by, hold their babies, play with the children, or try and glean some wisdom and knowledge from the staff who work there.
I do not go to Kenya because I am a nurse. I do not go spend time at this clinic because I feel I have skills or expertise to share. This really gets into the heart and the mission of Imani, and where I believe we are different than many other aid organizations. I do not speak Swahili, nor do I speak any of the numerous tribal languages. I am not well versed in the tropical diseases and illnesses common to that part of the world. I am not use to acting independently (most of the nurses do far more than a nurse would ever do here), and my experience and knowledge is in pediatric oncology....which is completely irrelevant. No, the reason I go is to encourage the people who live and work at that clinic every day. I go to tell the nurse that she is doing a great job, is incredibly intelligent, and actively involved in saving lives. I go to witness the challenges of delivering that healthcare, due to lack of supplies, lack of personnel, lack of pay, to name a few. I go to see where we can make a lasting difference. I go to hear people's stories. I go to bridge the gap between worlds. I go because Christ told us to go out, to love our neighbor, to care for the children, the sick, the poor, the orphans, the widows. I go to be able to be an ambassador for all those of you who support Imani, to tell you about what is going on, to share the pictures and the stories, and to advocate for those living in the slums. Being a nurse does give me a certain point of reference, but really when I am there I am a sister, a friend, and a tangible example of Christ.
Are you scared?
Short answer, no. I believe that this is somewhere God has called me to go and invest my life in, and I cannot really imagine not going. Is it a bit scary to hear about bombings and terrorist attacks? Yes, of course, but I know there is no where in the world free from that threat. God will be with me, and if something dies happen to me, I will be in the place I was supposed to be, doing what I love doing. Not much more I could hope for than that. But friends, I fully intend to come home, and I believe that Nairobi is generally a safe place to live and travel.
Are you excited?
Yes, but probably not as much as I will be when I actually arrive. The thing that excites me about this trip is seeing what God has for Imani in the months and years to come. I am asking for a glimpse of that vision and for doors to be opened into other slum areas, other clinics. I am expectant that I will meet all the people I am supposed to meet, and that it will be a fruitful and encouraging trip. I cannot wait to see how the clinic looks after all of the renovation, and I am excited to get to share part of the trip with my sister who will join me around the 14 or 15. And I am excited to have a new camera :)
Thank you for your love, your concern, your encouragement, your support, and your prayers.
I will have limited internet and computer access, but please continue to pray and know I will be happy to share and update when I am home.
And so the adventure continues....
