A lazy Kenyan Sunday afternoon

Since the craziness of the all our American visitors subsided last Monday, this past week has been one of catching up, putting things in order, and figuring out a plan for the next few months. The first part of my time here in Kenya was really focused on preparing for both the vision trip and mission trip (described in previous posts), so it feels like now the real work begins! It's a little bit daunting, because there are a lot of things that will be happening with CARE for AIDS over the next few months, but it's also really exciting. Seeing this ministry grow and transform more and more lives is part of the reason that I felt called to come here, so the feeling of potential and the promise of future growth is a great inspiration for pushing hard every day!

In the midst of all this potential are a lot of things that I am going to really need prayer for during the next few weeks and months. Up to this point, much of what CARE for AIDS has done has been a process of trial and error, discovering what works and what doesn't work. Now we are at a point where we know what works and we must figure out how to standardize our whole process and take it to a greater scope. Along with that comes a lot of preparing documents, writing contracts, developing policies and systems, and meeting with government officials. I am really excited about helping to make all these things happen, but I also know that I am going to need God to fill in the gaps of my experience and knowledge in all of these areas. I would love prayer for guidance and wisdom, for contacts with all of the right people for advice and direction, and for discernment in knowing who to trust. I would also love prayer for patience - everything in Kenya is more complicated or slower than things in America, especially when dealing with the government, and I'm having to find a delicate balance between promoting efficiency and driving myself crazy!

Apart from the long list of "action items" that Justin left me with, I have been finding time to relax a little bit and hang out with some good friends here in the Limuru area. It's really cool to see how God has built a network of western missionaries in this area and how He has brought me into contact with people who can provide much-needed "American-style" fellowship. I've gotten to know a group of guys working for a ministry called Global Connections who live in a house just a few minutes down the road from mine. Their house is a little more technologically equipped than ours, and we've managed to get a satellite TV service that carries a precious few American football games - this tuesday afternoon we've got plans to watch the Monday Night Football game between the Panthers and the Cowboys, which I am so excited about (just don't tell me who wins)! For someone who has been quite addicted to football for the past few years, I am incredibly thankful for the small, but meaningful, blessing of a football game every now and then!

Another big part of my social life revolves around eating. Kenyans always make fun of Americans for caring so much about food, but I've realized that meals are a huge part of life in America and are a great opportunity for fellowship and quality time. One of our favorite meals around here happens at a place called Diamond Plaza - I might have mentioned it before on this blog, but its an amazing place. Going to eat at "DP" is really more of an adventure than a meal.
First it involves driving into the heart of Nairobi from Limuru - especially exciting on a weekend night battling traffic in the city and on the twisty country roads. Then, after fighting for a place to park, you walk into a covered area full of picnic tables and surrounded by 20 or so small Indian restaurants. The minute you sit down, swarms of waiters literally run to get your business, throwing menus into your hands and yelling in broken English for you to try their chicken masala or paneer - this picture shows a little bit of the anxious waiters and the overwhelming amount of menus. You sort out a few things that you want - inevitably ordering more than you need in the pressure of the moment - and then enjoy an amazing dinner. Most of the food is eaten by tearing off a piece of buttered na'an (a tortilla-like flat bread) and scooping up a handful of saucy chicken or cheese. Its impossible to eat without making a mess of your hands and face, but the food is delicious so its totally worth it! I'm a strong believer in the fact that the messier a food is, the better - and it doesn't get much better OR messier than this. After eating, then comes the challenge of sorting out several different bills - one from the na'an guy, one from the chicken guy, one from the cheese guy, etc. I'm never sure if I actually paid the right amount, but its all cheap by American standards so "hakuna matata!"

A night at DP isn't complete without a trip to the bootleg DVD store. The shop is run by two Pakistanis, and for some reason they start blasting Akon's "Beautiful" over loudspeakers the moment an American enters the store. Once you get past the knock-off electronics, jewelry and hair products, you can find almost any DVD ever made (or movie still in theaters) for about 5 bucks. Now, the $5 versions are the quality copies, but if you're willing to sacrifice a little clarity you can get a "16 in 1," "60 in 1," or even "148 in 1" DVD disk for the same price! Oh, the things we miss out on in America with all of our intellectual property laws!

This about sums up my Saturday night last night, leaving me both full and full of crazy stories! There will definitely be more to come - as I start to get to know people, branch out, and explore more of this place, Kenya just gets crazier and crazier. Thank you again for your prayers and for all of your encouragement - its always great to hear a word from people back in the states, and it helps me from becoming TOO Kenyan!

God Bless...