Thursday, September 22, 2011

Kibera

             Over the last two weeks David and have tried various times to write our experiences of Nairobi so far.  We have written blogs and then, in defeat, deleted them.  How is it possible to capture our experiences?  My only comparable experiences is to relate the poverty similar to my experiences in  Haiti, the generosity of the people to my experiences in Appalachia and the beauty cannot be even compared to top-of-the-line travel magazines. How can we do Kenya justice?
We have experienced many highs in our last two weeks.  We have some snorkeling on a beautiful reef where we saw dolphins, an eel, and hundreds of beautifully colored fish.  We have fed giraffes, monkeys, ridden camels, held baby goats seen crocodiles, baboons, zebras, buffalo, and much, much more.  We have learned so much of the history of Kenya.  We had gone to numerous lectures and our knowledge grows with everyday and every question.  The people here are amazingly friendly and generous, even when they do not have much to give.  They help me extend my little Swahili and give me thumbs up as I run past looking ridiculous in the morning. Today David and I met a bishop and I knew without a doubt that Jesus was in this man. 
            We have also had many lows; felt anger at God, government, and ourselves.  We have had so much trouble processing the misery we are seeing among the poor.  We have a lot of poverty in the USA but it is segregated into certain areas of cities or towns and therefore easier to ignore or deny.  Here poverty is inescapable.  (Maybe if it were this way in the US, we would have done more to help our brothers and sisters.) 
Today, we visited Kibera, the third largest informal settlement, (or slum) in the world and my own world was shaken.  We visited a school in the settlement.  Since I am not finding the words to describe the few hours I spent with those children, here is my journal entry for today:

I will not forget you.
I will not forget your little head peeking in at the children eating.
Or your tummy, extended in hunger,
You grasping her hand in hope of a meal.

I will not forget you.
Little eyes looking at me among the dust, waste, and darkness of your school.
Hope among hopelessness, smiles and laughter among desperation.

I will not forget you.
Jesus is in you, working though you.
I can see Him clearly through you; this is where He would choose to be.
Your hands are His.
You humble and honor me.

I will not forget you.
Voice so soft, words so slow.
Father dead, hope dwindles.
Sweet, smart, cherished child- God loves you!
I will not forget you and I will not forget your words.

The informal settlement, as I said before is the third largest in the world.  The government has no programs, schools, or charities helping the 1.3-1.6 million people who live there.  These people make an average of less than one dollar a day and some, no more than five cents a day.  Every election the government promises help, taxes the people heavily, and does nothing.  The churches, mosques, and NGOs help where they can, building schools and health centers but the life, as you can maybe imagine is very hard.  A dollar will get you a loaf a bread, not too much more. 

Today, as I saw a piece of life in the settlement I was, and am, mad.  How are we allowing people to live this way?  Are we not all children of God?  God’s children are not meant to go hungry?  More than anything- WHAT CAN I DO??? Why am I suppose to see this?  Why can I not DO anything?  In this case I conclude I CAN do something.  I will tell you what I saw as honestly as I can.  I will post pictures of what I see both good and bad.  Perhaps, together, we will at least open our eyes to the plight of people in Kenya and hopefully also much closer to home in the US. 

 
“…But the poor person does not exist as an inescapable fact of destiny.  His or her existence is not politically neutral, and it is not ethically innocent.  The poor are a by-product of the system in which we live and for which we are responsible.  They are marginalized by our social and cultural world.  They are oppressed, exploited, proletariat, robbed of the fruit of their labor and despoiled of their humanity.  Hence the poverty of the poor is not a call to generous relief action, but a demand that we go and build a different social order.”
                                                        Gustavo Gutierrez, The Power of the Poor in History

Thank you (asante sana) for reading, I promise the next post will not be of the pipeline explosion, or the informal settlements, but of something lighthearted and fun.  Perhaps we will blog of our time in Mombassa! 

Monday, September 12, 2011

Pipeline Explosion in Nairobi

Monday, September 12th, 2011
A pipeline explosion in the Kenyan capitol kills over 100 and hospitalizes more than 100 more.

Why?
A pipeline from the Kenyan coast to Nairobi, that goes through an informal settlement (Sinai), formed a leak or burst. Many flocked toward the gas, hoping to get enough to sell. A garbage fire and/or cigarette butt lit the river of gas.

Why?
Poverty/desperation led some to flock toward gas, instead of away from it. "While the burning garbage may have lit this fire, poverty seemed to be real fuse." (-Jeffrey Gettleman, NY Times)

Why?
Pipeline put in place so we can live off gas. Malfunction caused by ???

Why?
No trash pick-up (lack of infrastructure) leads to garbage fires, leads to explosion.

Why?
Why can't I do anything?

Why?
Why am I here?
Why am I called to watch?!?
I don't want to see.
I don't want to see what is happening to my brothers and sisters.

Why?
Why did I break down crying?
Why was this so hard for me?
Why did this affect me so much?

Why?
Why is this not the top story on every news website?
Why do so many of our poorest community members need to die so that we can see them?

Why?
Why is there so much disparity in Nairobi?
Why is there so much disparity in the world?
Why do so many people live off less than a dollar a day, while others live in luxury?

Why?
Why is it so easy to be distracted away from the poor?
Why is it so easy to turn our back on our family?

Why?
Why am I here to watch?
Why can't I be here to do?
Why do I have to see this?
Why do I have to feel this?

Why?
Why do we pick the cheaper option instead of the moral one?
Why don't we let ourselves see the world?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel weak?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel vulnerable?
Why do we ignore the things that make us feel afraid?

Why?
Why am I afraid to let the world see me cry?



Matthew 25: 35-45 -

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
     "Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
     "The king will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for the least of these brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me.'
     "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'
     "They will also answer, 'Lord when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
     "He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me."

                                                                                                                               
WHY?
 

We are okay.

In case you read about the pipeline fire in Nairobi today, just wanted to let you know that we are okay. The informal settlement where the fire took place was on the other side of the city from where we are staying.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Karibu Nairobi!!!

We have finally made it. After another hiccup, a mix-up with United and Swiss Air, and about 36 hours in airports and airplanes, we finally made it. Really not much more to report right now, except that Phyllis is a great cook; we started Kiswahili lessons today; and we are headed out to a homestay for the weekend.

Just so glad to be in Kenya!