Rain.... Part II

The rain held off! Yay!  It's raining now, but we had beautiful blue skies for all of Youth Group!

Thanks for praying!

Rain ...

Weather is just weird this year. No one can figure it out. It is not Rainy Season yet, but we are getting pounded with tons and tons of rain. So its chilly and muddy, but that's not the problem. The problem is the Youth have no where to go when it rains during Youth Group. Its been raining every day for over a week and we meet under a tree. We are working on different plans for keeping the Youth dry on Saturdays but nothing is working out so far. We've been trying to find a solution to this problem for months but in all honesty there just aren't a lot of options.

Last Saturday as it POURED, we were all huddled under a small porch - we were getting soaked and rain was coming in on all sides, so we moved to my boss's van. It was the only remotely dry option for us. Anyone ever try to lead a youth group meeting in a van full of cold, wet teens? A van that is too small for everyone to fit?? Didn't work so well. We were semi-dry so that was a start but not a great location for TEACHING or accomplishing anything!

So please, please, please, please pray for the rains to hold back during Youth group (and even before youth group b/c the mud makes things impossible!) It can rain all it wants AFTER Youth!

We are currently looking into different semi-permanent options but so far we don't have any alternatives except praying for the rain to stop during our meetings.

St. Paddy's Day!

I love the random shamrocks that grow outside my office. The gardener keeps pulling them out, apparently its a weed here. But I like 'em!

Happy Day Light Savings Night!!!

For all of you who have to remember to Spring Forward and loose an entire hour of your well-deserved sleep, HHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA!! We don't do that here! I get to keep ALL my hours! Sorry for you and your lack of sleep! This is just one of the joys of living on the Equator (well no Daylight Savings and fairly warm and consistent weather).

However, I also don't get a whole free hour in the Fall. I guess it all evens out in the end.

Anybody Want A Shoe???

Random Event of the Day:

My friend Kimberly and I were driving to church this morning in some stop and go traffic. We're chatting away when all of a sudden this guy runs up beside her window (she is driving so he is jogging in the middle of the road in crazy traffic) and throws a woman's dress shoe through the half open window.

We have absolutely no idea why.

My first thought was that he was trying to grab her purse (guys grab purses through open windows in slow traffic all the time) but then the shoe came in the window.

Maybe he was trying to sell it to us?

Maybe he thought we lost it?

Maybe he just likes to throw shoes in the windows of random girls?

Or maybe, as one friend suggested, he was Prince Charming and he just couldn't quite catch up to us?

So we kept driving with the random brown high heal in the car for a few minutes while we tried to stop laughing hysterically and tried to figure out what in the world we were supposed to DO with the shoe. Who needs 1 random shoe? What if he WAS trying to sell it to us- we just took it! We don't want it! I ended up tossing it out the window a ways down the road. If the dude wants it back he can find it there.

I love Nairobi. You can live here for years and still have the most random experiences!!!! And some days you get a free shoe.

Homemade Ice Cream!

Ok, to be fair, you CAN buy ice cream here. But its crazy expensive and it isn't that wonderful. I mean it's ice cream, so it works but its nothing to write home about. I used to make a fake ice cream from scratch using whole milk, sugar and cocoa but that was always an "interesting" desert.

However, I found an easy homemade ice cream recipe online- all you need is cream, sweetened condensed milk and vanilla (and I added cocoa b/c why make vanilla ice cream when you can make CHOCOLATE???) Its easy, yummy, and it makes some of the richest, smoothest ice cream I've ever had!

Now it's time to experiment! A friend told me that her mother-in-law in the Caribbean uses the same basic idea to make coconut ice cream- gonna try that one next!

I love finding new, random recipes!

"Comments" Tutorial

ok my family has asked how to actually use the comments section- so if anyone else has questions about it, here's how.

At the bottom of every post, there is a 'comments' button- it will say how many other comments have been added (0 comments, 1 comment, etc). Click on that.

That will take you to a new page. Any previous comment added to the post will be listed on the left and there will be an empty box on the right- that's where you write your comment.

Below the box that you wrote your comment in, you have to choose your identity. If you are signed into any google program (gmail, blogger, etc) it will give you the option of signing in as "Your Name (Google Account)". Choose that one if you are signed in to Google. Otherwise, choose "anonymous"- just make sure to type your name at the end of the comment if you want me to know who wrote it.

Blogger, then saves and sends the submitted comments to me- they won't appear on the blog until I accept them (I get to choose whether or not they are posted).

And that's it!

Question of the Day

Ok, so if "a dream is a wish your heart makes when your fast asleep" as Disney and Cinderella have taught us, what is a nightmare? Its certainly not a wish your heart makes!!

My roommate has been waltzing through the house singing this song and it got me thinking.

Now anyone have a song to get this one out of my head?!?!?!?!?!? Please?!?!?!

Endesha

Here's a video a friend of mine took in January driving outside Nairobi. It was actually pretty funny, because he didn't say where he took the video but as I watched, I knew EXACTLY where he was! I used to drive through this town almost every day (my old house isn't too far from there). Enjoy!

PS- I have NEVER seen such a smooth drive through this town. You have no idea. My friend said something about using a video stabilization thing or something because I have never, in my life, seen a ride that smooth through Banana.

New Teammate!

Our team has a new teammate! One of my co-workers and his wife just had a baby. He's a cutie!

I think he's going to grow up to like Star Trek one day...

Has The Best Parents EVER

Just got a package from my parents and I hit the mother load! There are at least 6lbs of chocolate in this thing! M&M's, Peanut M&M's, Peanut Butter M&M's!!!!! All in time for Fat Tuesday! You guys are great! And CHOCOLATE CHIPS!!! I soooo miss chocolate chips! The other stuff in the box is great too! But I'm really loving all this chocolate! Good thing I'm not giving that up for Lent!

Thanks guys!

And the post office being what it is, changed the system AGAIN on me! I'm beginning to think there is no system- because each time there are different steps (if you've forgotten my other post office adventures check here and here). But today, these changes actually worked out in my favor! I still had to do the whole leave the post office and run halfway across downtown during rush hour to pay the customs duty, but they cut out a few of the people I had to stop at to determine the fees. Not a clue why. Maybe they were just gone for the day? But I'll take a simpler trip to the post office any day!

I even got to help guide someone through the insanity this time! There was a guy in front of me who was thoroughly confused. Some how I got ahead of him in line at one of these stops and helped show him the ropes. They really need a tutorial session or maybe a map of how and where you are supposed to go to get all this figured out!

My New, Modified, Theft-Deterrent Purse

So after my latest robbery, as with all my robberies, I went to go find a new purse. Something more theft-deterrent. I'm always on the lookout for a better purse then what I currently have. But this time I came up with the answer- a new purse might help, but a few modifications are the real answer.

First you need a sturdy, tough looking bag. A bag that says "Don't mess with the girl wearing me!" This one works out pretty well. Its sturdy, thick straps, top zip, big, messenger bag style so you can just pull it off my arm. So its a good start.

The Tools:
- needle
- thread
-scissors
- 1 "Army of One" caribbeaner that I may or may not have stolen from my brother
- the belt loop off an old pair of holey jeans.


The Modifications: I sewed the belt loop into the inside side of purse, put the carribeaner on it and hooked my phone and my wallet to the carribeaner. Now if you want my phone or wallet you have to mess with unclipping them. Plus I won't loose my phone in the bottom of my purse anymore! We'll see how this works out now!

Happy V Day

The cookies for Youth Group didn't turn out half bad! Still can't figure out how the icing was salty though- I think it was the food coloring I used (because the powdered sugar was fine and so was the milk- all that's left is the weird dry food dye). But they still tasted good!

Phones and Phone Numbers

It's a record! I went a whole 7 months without a robbery! Unfortunately that came to an end yesterday when my phone was snatched. grrrrr. But 7 months is a robbery free record for me! That's good! At least this one was just a snatch and grab- I'm fine- just annoyed.

Today's adventure, in the aftermath of said robbery, was tons of fun. Or maybe it was just tons of work. As is the procedure, after my phone is snatched, I have to call the company and put a stop on my SIM card. Done. Of course you have to actually know your own number and 2 other numbers you often call (which is funny b/c who actually dials the numbers anymore?) but that was out of the way. My remaining credit and my phone numbers that I saved to the SIM are safe. Step 2 is going to the Safaricom Care Center to get a new SIM card and recover my old number. Seems straight forward. I went to Safaricom House (the big building named for the company). That wasn't it. But some friendly escaris (guards) told me to go to the old Safaricom building near Sarit Center. So off I go. This one's even named "Safaricom Care Center" so being the direction follower that I am, I went in- through all the crazy security. Nope not it. The lady at the desk sends me TO Sarit Center. Lower Ground Floor. Ok. Went to Sarit, lower ground floor, Safricom store. STILL not the one. They said "Same floor, just across". FINALLY get to the right store, get a replacement SIM, recover my number, find out I can't actually recover my contacts (SAD). Ok. Now time to get back to work. I get in the matatu and tried to make a call and find out that even though my number has allegedly been recovered, its still blocked from service. Nice. I finish my work, talk to a few friends who tell me I just have to add more credit. Tried it. Didn't work. I finally get through to Customer Care and a machine gives me the directions "Simply dial *180*8*yournumber*youroldpin*somethingIcouldn'tunderstand#somethingelese. " Yeah, that's not going to happen. I finally got through to an actual person who tells me that I had to call them, verify all this info again, and then he can unlock my number. So why did I have to go all the way to the Care Center if they couldn't do that for me there? And why didn't they tell me I had to do all this to get my number to work??????

So here's the deal, if I usually call you or you happen to call me or if you just want me to have your number, give me a call or SMS me your number. Mine is still the same... I think.

The Net- part 2

There has been a request to see what the dreaded mosquito net looks like. Here you go, Lyss- just enough mosquito net-i-ness to strangle someone!

Invictus

I went to see Invictus last night- great movie! The movie follows Nelson Mandela and how he used the national rugby team to help unite the country after the end of apartheid. I was still kinda young when all this went down but I do remember some of it (not the rugby part). But it was defiantly worth seeing if you get a chance.

Mosquito Nets ... grrrrrr

Ok, in all my travel's I've never been able to master the art of the mosquito net. You'd think I would have. I've had a lot of practice in a lot of places: in New Guinea when the mosquitoes and centipedes were out, in India where the cockroaches climbing on you at night were worse then the mosquitoes, and other places. I always START OUT under the mosquito net- I just don't stay there. Inevitably, at least half of me will no longer be under the mosquito net when I wake up- and at that point what's the point? Half of my body has been exposed to malaria-carrying mosquitoes all night. Why even bother?

At my old place outside of town, we rarely had to worry about mosquitoes- so I was saved. That's not the case at my current house. We are in town (but still above the malaria line (malarial mosquitoes don't live higher then 8000ft- and Nairobi is malaria free! yay!)) and we have a ton of mosquitoes- especially this time of year. The rains of December and January created a ton of stagnant water- so tons of mosquitoes. After a few nights of being completely eaten alive, I finally caved and got a mosquito net. I actually left it hanging but tied up for a few weeks before it became imparative that I try to use it again.

I just don't like mosquito nets. For all those girls who always dreamed of having a princess bed with fluffy curtains/canopy things, this might be a dream come true. I was not one of those girls. I just feel claustrophobic and keep fighting with the net all night long. However, since my landlord got a new bed for my room, this is actually easier. Since the bed is huge, I don't end up in knock down drag out brawls with the net every night (although my roommate did a compete nose dive out of bed a few mornings ago when she got caught in her mosquito net!)

So I seem to have mastered the art of the mosquito net. But I keep finding mosquitoes INSIDE the net when I wake up (ok, I've only found 3 but that's beside the point- the point of the net is to keep all mosquitoes out!) How are they getting in? I'm careful to tuck the net in all around the mattress! Sneaky buggers!

Appropriate Response to Disaster

I’m sure by now everyone has heard about a group of American Christians who are being held in Haiti after attempting to take 33 children across the border without papers. Things like this just infuriate me. It’s incredibly possible that their hearts truly were in the right place, but their actions were completely inappropriate and in fact dangerous for the children they were trying to protect. This is only one of several stories I’ve heard over the past few weeks of good hearts doing the wrong thing.

This story is particularly troubling because this involved trafficking children. Even if their intent wasn’t to traffic children, they were attempting to transport children across international borders without any paperwork. That’s trafficking. Especially when the Haitian Government has made it very clear that no new adoptions will be processed until things are on more stable ground. It’s also troubling that none of these Americans appear to have any connection to Haiti or these children (some of whom claim to have living parents). They aren’t working there. They aren’t living there. They don’t actually know what’s going on or what is best for these children. After a massive crisis like what has happened in Haiti, families are separated. There is no way to know yet WHO is orphaned and who has living family elsewhere in the country. To just take children away is BREAKING UP families. Imagine if this were your family. You were separated, searching for one another, only to find months later that your niece or nephew or son or daughter was taken to another country? I am ALL for adoption- just not of children who already have families.

So after being given a pretty good example of what NOT to do, what is the appropriate response? Here's my 2 cents:

1. Prayer- always the first step. Pray for those who are suffering, pray for those who are serving in the disaster. Pray for wisdom and what your role is.

2. Consider giving- there are many reputable charities who are poised and ready to jump in after a disaster (Red Cross, Lutheran World Relief , etc) These groups are trained to actually assist in the rescue and clean up. When untrained people try to go and help, they get in the way and can easily get hurt. Trained volunteers are the ones who should go.

3. Bad Idea- trafficking children. Good Idea- finding ways to provide for them (food, shelter, clothing, water) while their country is rebuilt. Another Good Idea- reuniting families. Find and support charities or NGO’s that are doing that.

4. Bad Idea- mounting impromptu rescue efforts. Good Idea- assisting trained volunteers (financially, practically, etc). More people on the ground doesn’t mean more work is accomplished- often it just means more chaos.

If there is one thing I have learned while watching and being involved in international aid it’s this- just because your intentions are good doesn’t mean that the outcome is good. You may have a big heart but you need to listen to the people who are on the ground- THEY have a much better idea of what can and should be done to actually help.

It's important that we see that we all do have roles to play after a tragedy, we just have to be smart about it. Check out this article on Relevant- it talks about myths that surround disaster response.

So that's what I think.