Thoughts about Christmas and the IDP camp community library...

On Saturday and Tuesday, Brian and I spent time at the IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp near Maai Mahiu in the Rift Valley. We had originally visited the camp and met many wonderful people here during an ISK Habitat for Humanity build back in the fall. During that visit, we talked at great length with a young man named Eric who has taken on a leadership role among the youth of the camp. After the terrible violence that these people experienced in the post-election chaos of 2007, several hundreds of people were relocated to the Rift Valley. Almost 150 people/families are still living in tents made of wood and plastic and it has been very difficult for people to start over. They all lost everything when they fled from violence (mostly around Eldoret) and the area of the Rift Valley where they now live is a dry, dry place. It is difficult to establish gardens because the sun is so hot and direct here (the result of overgrazing and deforestation for decades before the IDP camp was established).

Yet, in the midst of such challenges and hardship, it is amazing that so many people have hope for the future. Many young people (such as Eric, Jeremiah, Nathaniel and Douglas - all pictured in the photos with this post) have stepped up and are organizing sports leagues for the youth; a tree nursery so that perhaps, with time, the area can become green again and the rains will come back; and a community library. This is why we were visiting this past week. The young men want to transform a room in one of the houses (provided by an elderly woman) into a community library. They are already planning to build shelving and they believe that literacy and education are the way forward for the young people in the IDP camp. They have a passion to help their community not only survive, but thrive; this was evident in a big celebration they organized for the 450 children of the 9 Rift Valley IDP camps last Saturday.

While establishing community libraries is a new type of project for Freedom Through Learning, we are so excited to partner with these young men. They have launched their own organization (called the Jiinue Education, Economic and Talent Empowerment Group - Jiinue means "to pull up or pull together" in Swahili) and they have a dream of opening the library on Easter weekend. They are going to provide the shelving, the librarian and the organization of the space; we are going to help provide as many books as we can.

This ties into my thoughts about Christmas in so many ways. While we were chatting with Eric on Tuesday he told us that it only costs 205 Kenyan shillings (about $2.75 US) to buy the school supplies a primary student needs for an entire school term. This ensures the ability of that student to attend school for the term - isn't that staggering? For less than the cost of a Tim Horton's coffee, a child can receive education for a whole term. Of course, given the IDP community's limited resources, it's not always possible for families to come up with this kind of money. I have been thinking about one family, in particular, in this regard: it is a family of five children, the oldest of which (a 16-year-old named Hannah) is trying to stay in school while caring for her four younger siblings. The youngest is 2. Her father did not come with the family to the Rift Valley and her mother has abandoned the family. Now the siblings are on their own in the midst of unbelievable circumstances. Many times they are given food by others, including two Kenyans who work for a charitable foundation in the nearby village.

In the face of these stories, and in the face of the optimism and hope that so many people here have for a better future, it makes me contemplate Western consumerism in the Christmas season with increasing dismay. I think that if more people from Canada, the US, Korea and other privileged nations could meet Eric, Hannah, Douglas, Jeremiah, Nathaniel and so many other people here, priorities and habits might change. My prayers are becoming more fervent for North American churches and believers to think about the distribution (and redistribution) of the world's resources. I find myself hoping this Christmas that more people (including myself) would truly believe in what love can accomplish on our planet.

What a blessing it is to be here and feel part of something bigger. God is so good.

Carols and Candlelight at the Karen Blixen Museum...

On Wednesday night we drove out to the Karen Blixen Museum (in the home where Karen Blixen, also known as Isak Dinesen, author of Out of Africa, lived while trying to establish a coffee plantation from 1914 - 1931) for an evening of carols by candlelight. Hosted by the Karen Vineyard Church, the evening has become an annual event and it was simply magical. We arrived early and had time for a tour of Blixen's home before we found a lovely spot to spread out our picnic blankets and enjoy some dinner with our friend, Margaret. Warm mulled wine was passed around as candles were lit and carols were sung. Combining a picnic with festive caroling was a new phenomenon for our family and we loved it. What a glorious, wonderful way to celebrate the Christmas message.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas...

We have decorated for Christmas! As we anxiously await Rebecca's arrival in Nairobi, we've channeled our energy into adorning our apartment with lights and baubles (many of which are hanging from branches of the live Cypress tree that is our Christmas tree this year). Before decorating, Cora dismantled the enormous and creative cardboard fort that she had built in our room after our shipment arrived. Of course, the kitties have been enjoying all of this activity, and are getting into as much naughty business as possible. We also hosted a fun ISK "newbie" Christmas party on Sunday and have attended many festive get-togethers. It's been a fun season so far!

The Starehe Boys' School

On Saturday, we braved some unbelievably chaotic traffic circles in Nairobi to get to the Starehe Boys' School. Brian has been talking with Charles (the head librarian there) for weeks about getting some resources to the school (bibles from TCIS in South Korea and textbooks from Canada). This is an incredible place that, for 50 years, has been offering disadvantaged boys access to excellent education. There are now well over 800 boys enrolled at the school (which is primarily a boarding school, as boys come from all over the country); 75 per cent of the students receive scholarships that allow them to graduate with a full high school diploma. Many go on to study at Nairobi universities. In fact, on Saturday we ran into one alumnus (now a lawyer) who was getting married that afternoon in the school's chapel. You can tell this is a special place and we are excited to be able to get involved with supplying some resources. Two years ago a girls' school also opened, and there are now 350 students studying there. We can't wait to see if there are needs for resources there, and if some of our teacher-friends from around the world can find resources to match. :)

Monkey business...

While driving to meet Daniel and Supok at the Amboseli Serena Lodge, we observed lots of wildlife, including baby baboons and vervet monkeys. So cute! Driving along the road to the park we saw a gorgeous herd of giraffes, along with some zebras. And, approaching the park gate, a giraffe loped right across the road in front of our car (which didn't break down this time, by the way!). It has rained recently in the park and the swampy areas looked quite lush and wet; elephants and water buffalo were munching with wild abandon.

Taking school supplies to our Amboseli partners...

On Saturday (November 27th) Brian and I loaded up the car with school supplies and drove out to Amboseli National Park. We had met members of a Maasai community when we vacationed in the park in October, and Brian has been corresponding since then with Daniel, a teacher who runs the community school. We are really excited about the relationship and partnership that is developing between Freedom Through Learning and this particular school. There are some longer-term plans to assist with teacher training and organizing the school curriculum, and the Maasai parents are going to contribute goods that can be sold to help fund future shipments (either to their community or to other schools). We spent three hours chatting with Daniel and Supok (the village leader) on Saturday before we delivered the first batch of supplies for the school. It was a wonderful and fascinating day and God seemed to "show up" at every turn. What a blessing.

Meanderings in France...

After our visit to Ulungu, I (LeeAnne) boarded a plane and flew off to southern France to attend a teachers' conference; in particular, I went to participate in sessions related to the Global Issues Network movement. I stayed in Nice, on the shores of the Mediterranean and, when I wasn't at the conference, I wandered around the old city, the Matisse Museum, the Modern Art Museum and the nearby medieval, walled village of Eze. Of course, along the way I ate as much lovely food as I could... ahhh...

Visiting Ulungu...

On Tuesday, November 16th, we were blessed with a visit to Ulungu, a small village about four hours south-east of Nairobi. Ulungu has been linked to our home church in Peterborough for several years, and the drilling of the well here was a big part of our family's prayer life for many years when the girls were much younger. To be able to meet people from the community we have prayed for, for so many years, was a beautiful gift. We took part in a ceremony to mark the official end of the church/village partnership (which has resulted in a well, a water distribution system for the surrounding countryside, a medical clinic, and uniforms for many school-age children). Pastor Ben Mutea spoke, many people sang and gave speeches, and we were given lovely hand-made gifts by the village representatives. It was a wonderful day.