A Paradox

"God is the only one we can surrender to without losing ourselves. It's a paradox.

When Jesus says those who lose their life will find their life and those who let go of their life will discover their life, obviously he's talking about life in a different way than you and I experience it.

We think life is the thing that we've got to protect. He's saying, No, the true self needs no protection: It just is." ROHR

I have been trying to lose myself - and at the same time find myself in the giving it all away. Now that there are not all that many possessions remaining for me, now it is a question of giving ME, my time, my energy, my love and my will. It is a paradox - that in the giving it away, I am filled and continue to have an abundance. We cannot be outdone in generosity and mercy - I've tried.

Sunday Treasure

Today we had a mass at the Nyumbani Children's Home. It was a great celebration as usual but the songs made me long for the Village. The readings were those about the Kingdom and treasure. Ah yes, I remember - the kingdom. The Kingdom is the reason for it all - to experience life in the Kingdom - now, but not yet . . . . here but not here yet. That is what I want, I remind myself. The Kingdom, as I was taught, is where God is King - not me. So I try today to relinquish control of my need to be in control, to be god, to be king. It's not that easy. I want quick answers, quick fixes. But I look again, around me, inside of me and realize I am close to the Kingdom and I renew my desire for it, for God.

I went to a very nice brunch with the WorldTeach folks as well as a friend Thomas who works in international development and with the UN. He is wise and has lived in Kenya for about 5 years. He has a ton of knowledge and experience in Africa - knowledgeable of Somalia, Tanzania, Kenya. It was a great meal in a beautiful British homestead.

Tomorrow, the WorldTeach guys go to the US Embassy to hear information on security and safety in the country. They'll talk with a guy from USAID, one of the funding mechanisms for the Children's Home and the Village. I think I will stay back and prepare to return to the Village on Tuesday. I may take a trip with George and Philip to the border of Kenya and Tanzania on Friday and Saturday. I'll head to the Village with Pascal and work on computers and setting up the lab for the school. Pascal is the IT guy for the Children's Home and Village. He hopes to network the computers (7 of them) at the Village. It is always a good time when Pascal comes to visit.

That's is about it for this trip to Nairobi. The visit was worth the rough ride here and I think it was wise to welcome the new volunteers, make some connections and bring them personally to the Village. They have no idea what awaits them - the lifestyle, the difficulties, the lack of water and sanitation but also they have no idea of the joy associated with the children and the grandparents. I can't wait to see how they react. It could be a long year for them or the best year of their lives. More to come!

Traveling a lot to Nairobi

After a great week at the Village I traveled back by Matatu to Nairobi to meet the three volunteers arriving at the airport on the 24th. They are from various parts of the U.S.and will work for one year at the Village. We are doing an orientation program that included teaching methods, Swahili, HIV/AIDS education and an orientation to Kenyan security and safety. Eric is doing the classes, I am observing and joining in when I can provide a context from the Village. I had originally thought of spending the entire week here in Karen but will probably head to the Village on Tuesday. The new volunteers will come next Sunday, the 3rd.

Back at the Village we have had many visitors which have become my responsibility. A group of students from the US came for a day and a night. Sleeping arrangements, food and connecting them to the appropriate people to talk and learn from was my job. I think things went well but I am exhausted. I had/have a bit of a bug we couldn't get a handle on but since I have been in Nairobi, I received some antibiotics and feel much better. Part of the problem is that Nairobi is very cold and damp these days. My ailments felt like strep. Who knows but I am feeling much better now and have just a little cold.

There have been some vehicle accidents, not involving me but involving my friends at the Village and the Children's Home.
one of the trucks rolled recently on a dirt road. No one hurt but the truck damaged. Two friends on the back of a motorbike went down on a dirt road. A head gash and some scrapes were all the resulted. The driver, a friend was hurt a little worse but will recover. Thirdly, a mom from the cottages who I befriended last year was in a matatu accident with her daughter. She has a bad head injury and a dislocation but three others in the matatu, including the driver, were killed. Travel in Nairobi can be hazardous.

Jeremy Hunt, benefactor of the school in the Village will come to visit us on the 1st of August. He is a Member of Parliament in London. I have emailed a couple times but we have never met face to face.

That is all for now. I want you to know how much I am enjoying the Village these days. It feels more like home than ever. I miss the US, the family and my friends but am so happy here - thanks for your support. I am continuing to work on a list of needs. So many have asked what I would need here. I'll repeat some of the things I would like to do:

Chairs for the library
Soccer Shoes and Shin Guards
Scout Uniforms
A Block making machine
Some Essential Medications for the Village
Solar for the Administration Building
The Masai Project - See WWW.mwep.blogspot.com
Thanks for any and all donations to IHM Mission Fund. I promise to use the money wisely. E

IN NRB

I am back in the city to meet up with Eric from Worldteach. All goes well with the planning for three grads from the US to come to the Village and spend a year working with the kids and teachers. I have found plenty to do at the Village. I have been working with the Sustainability Department to chart the progress they have made, using charts and graphs and researching some past patterns and yields from the farm and animals. Nyumbani Village is an organic farm and the hope is to sell produce to local stores in Nairobi and other places. So I have set up a database the does invoicing as well as recording all the product amounts sold. To you folks from California are here for six weeks to survey the acreage at Nyumbani for increasing water flow, etc. They are out in the bush daily with a tripod and some good equipment brought from the states. The outcome will be a topographical map of the entire village with gradation etc. Very cool and I have been out helping them (holding the stick!) I have transfered the books from the "old library" now used as a classroom to a small building we are using as the library and computer room. It is a mess and hoping to get to it soon. The majority of my time is dealing with guests and volunteers coming to the Village. There are now 15 volunteers - soon to be 19. It is a juggling act trying to find places for everyone and coordinate transport. I also want to document some of the village activities by means of a video cam Rchel got me for Fathers Day. They have also asked me to update the Nyumbani Website www.nyumbani.org. You almost have to be in Nairobi to do that, although they are beginning to use a cell signal modem in the Village - slow but some are getting email. I will prob just wait til I get to the city to get news and mail.

The kids are great. some of the secondary boys came home from boarding school for a couple days and I was totally suprised and happy. Benerd, John, Charles, Erastus, Mutuo all traveled long distances and it was SO GOOD to see these good friends. They'll have a longer break soon.

George and the staff are good. I traveled with George to NRB. I went with him and Phillip to a meeting about selling produce to a local grocery chain. If that would happen it would be great for the Village. We are also planning a trip to Nakuru to see his dad and travel to his Aunties to see the property you donated to buy for her. I can't wait to see her and the rest of the family. Kathy and Karen gave me a new camera for George and he uses it everyday, documenting the work he is doing in the shamba. Kathy also gave me a used laptop to bring and he uses that daily as well. THANK YOU!

As far as needs here - make sure to look at www.mwep.blogspot.com for the Masai project needs but also I need 30 plastic patio chairs for the libray so the kids don't have to drag their chairs in each day. They will be used for other events. They are about $6.00 each from Kitui. We are also looking for money for scout uniforms for kids we want to begin a scouting program with. There are about 40 in the group - boys and girls. I am also looking into solar for the new administration building. We installed solar in the clinic (which was also the Admin Building before the contruction). Money for Maasai school uniforms and school fees are also important but separate from my work with Nyumbani Village. Remember there are still Kamba baskets made by the gandmothers and other items for sale via IHM School and Kathy N.

Thanks for the emails and well-wishes. I can't tell you how much I appreciate your care and support. I am loving it in Kenya. I feel physically very good and have kept some of the weight on so far! I hope to add pics and write some more before I return to the Village. (And - the village is cool these days. 70s during the heat of the day and overcast. Nights are cool and beautiful. Thanks again and will write again soon.