The shadows of missionaries linger as we remain at the centre where we have had the conference this week.
The conference finished officially on Friday night and the majority of missionaries flew or drove home early Saturday morning. There are a ‘core’ group of us who remain.
I feel as the shadows of those I have met linger so does the fellowship, laughter, stories and teaching. It is strange to meet and intensely share five days with a group of people and then part, knowing you may never cross paths again – till heaven at least.
As I absorb and reflect I try to move on while staying put. It feels like a paradigm shift.
Today we went to the cinema which was an incredible treat! Yet when we walked out of a cinemax cinema with plush chairs and aircon we walked into a bust Nairobi complex, where beggars asked you for money when going to the car. It was most odd. I guess I had a mini culture shock either way.
One of the things which happened on the conference was groups were sent out to seed projects, although sometimes not referred to as projects as that suggests they get funding in Africa and they don’t. One woman I made friends with told me they had driven from a luxurious area straight into a slum. It had shocked her; the two extremes living on each other’s doorsteps. I couldn’t imagine how I would have dealt with that...the next day I did.
We took the seven children we had in the children’s stuff to an animal orphanage. We enjoyed seeing many animals who had been orphaned and looked after. However, the whole time we were the greatest attraction for the Kenyan school children who had never seen Muzungu’s before. I empathise with those animals a little. I think it was quite hard for the kids, I tried to shield them as much as possible.
After a long but fun day we got in our dalla-dalla to take us back and the driver took us on a ‘short-cut’, you need it in Nairobi traffic. It turned out this track, for it wasn’t a road, took us through the slums. I was surprised at the kids reaction. They live in Tanzania; lots of different areas of Tanzania but still. They were fascinated by the slums, one saying “I think they are worse in India though because they don’t have toilets there.” To which I responded, neither do these people.” Surprise I was asked where they went to the toilet then. How do you explain that to 11 year olds and younger...”well, you see all that mud...and the odd areas between houses.” They got my point. However, they we shocked! Then we drove straight into luxury; my turn to deal with a paradigm shift.
How do you process that? I’m not sure I ever will as it is total injustice but I can’t change everything in the world, I can only allow God to do the best with me where I am at any given time. I pray He does. Also, Africa is moving in western ways while being in a mix of English history with other things. Some things still feel like something from the 18th century, others the 1960’s etc. I have been questioning if this is wrong, has the west had too much of an impact? But I think we were ‘brought into civilisation’ by the Romans and other groups so was that wrong? I think what concerns me is: are we influencing in the right way? I am not sure. For a city to have a shopping mall but many who have no access to water because the systems are not good is a little crazy in my opinion. Let’s hope and pray things move the right way.
Anyway, I’m not sure that amounts to much of a blog but I feel a little lost at the moment and tired after a crazy but wonderfully blessed week.
Please pray God continues to speak to me in this adventure and for all those missionaries returning ‘home’.
As always let me know of anything I can pray for you about.
Love and blessings Deborah ><>
The conference finished officially on Friday night and the majority of missionaries flew or drove home early Saturday morning. There are a ‘core’ group of us who remain.
I feel as the shadows of those I have met linger so does the fellowship, laughter, stories and teaching. It is strange to meet and intensely share five days with a group of people and then part, knowing you may never cross paths again – till heaven at least.
As I absorb and reflect I try to move on while staying put. It feels like a paradigm shift.
Today we went to the cinema which was an incredible treat! Yet when we walked out of a cinemax cinema with plush chairs and aircon we walked into a bust Nairobi complex, where beggars asked you for money when going to the car. It was most odd. I guess I had a mini culture shock either way.
One of the things which happened on the conference was groups were sent out to seed projects, although sometimes not referred to as projects as that suggests they get funding in Africa and they don’t. One woman I made friends with told me they had driven from a luxurious area straight into a slum. It had shocked her; the two extremes living on each other’s doorsteps. I couldn’t imagine how I would have dealt with that...the next day I did.
We took the seven children we had in the children’s stuff to an animal orphanage. We enjoyed seeing many animals who had been orphaned and looked after. However, the whole time we were the greatest attraction for the Kenyan school children who had never seen Muzungu’s before. I empathise with those animals a little. I think it was quite hard for the kids, I tried to shield them as much as possible.
After a long but fun day we got in our dalla-dalla to take us back and the driver took us on a ‘short-cut’, you need it in Nairobi traffic. It turned out this track, for it wasn’t a road, took us through the slums. I was surprised at the kids reaction. They live in Tanzania; lots of different areas of Tanzania but still. They were fascinated by the slums, one saying “I think they are worse in India though because they don’t have toilets there.” To which I responded, neither do these people.” Surprise I was asked where they went to the toilet then. How do you explain that to 11 year olds and younger...”well, you see all that mud...and the odd areas between houses.” They got my point. However, they we shocked! Then we drove straight into luxury; my turn to deal with a paradigm shift.
How do you process that? I’m not sure I ever will as it is total injustice but I can’t change everything in the world, I can only allow God to do the best with me where I am at any given time. I pray He does. Also, Africa is moving in western ways while being in a mix of English history with other things. Some things still feel like something from the 18th century, others the 1960’s etc. I have been questioning if this is wrong, has the west had too much of an impact? But I think we were ‘brought into civilisation’ by the Romans and other groups so was that wrong? I think what concerns me is: are we influencing in the right way? I am not sure. For a city to have a shopping mall but many who have no access to water because the systems are not good is a little crazy in my opinion. Let’s hope and pray things move the right way.
Anyway, I’m not sure that amounts to much of a blog but I feel a little lost at the moment and tired after a crazy but wonderfully blessed week.
Please pray God continues to speak to me in this adventure and for all those missionaries returning ‘home’.
As always let me know of anything I can pray for you about.
Love and blessings Deborah ><>
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