Goodbye Kenya, Hello Uganda!

 

"I hear the drums echoing tonight 
But she hears only whispers of some quiet conversation 
She's coming in 12:30 flight 
The moonlit wings reflect the stars that guide me towards salvation 
I stopped an old man along the way, 
Hoping to find some old forgotten words or ancient melodies 
He turned to me as if to say, Hurry boy, It's waiting there for you 

CHORUS: 
It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you 
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do 
I bless the rains down in Africa 
Gonna take some time to do the things we never have 

The wild dogs cry out in the night 
As they grow restless longing for some solitary company 
I know that I must do what's right 
As sure as Kilimanjaro rises like Olympus above the Serengeti 
I seek to cure what's deep inside, frightened of this thing that I've become 

Hurry boy, she's waiting there for you 

It's gonna take a lot to take me away from you 
There's nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do 
I bless the rains down in Africa, I bless the rains down in Africa 
I bless the rains down in Africa, I bless the rains down in Africa 
I bless the rains down in Africa 
Gonna take some time to do the things we never have"
(Toto - Africa)

So yes, I am getting nostalgic as I have one more sleep until I leave my beautiful Kenya and head into the slightly unknown country of Uganda. This is my next chapter into what God wants for me, and I appreciate every one of you, helping me be a part of Kenya for the time I was given. So as I head off tomorrow night (Sunday 29th Sep), I will miss Kenya. This country has made a deep impact on my life. I love the people, their beautiful smiles, their caring hearts and blessings such as Kibera slums. I have loved being immersed in there, from the colourful people and their stories we talk about, to the smells, to the dirt and grime, the hurt and the healed. This year abd last year has been a time of blessings to being able to impact people and wonderful children in Kibera. I thank Haki Group for having me and God has been able to use me in so many ways. I will miss Haki, but I do feel it is the right time to move on. Do I have a full answer in Uganda? Nope, but I do know I need to follow where the door is wide open and this is it! I am spending the last months of this year to experience the organistion of New Hope Uganda. To meet the children and visit their school. To immerse myself in Uganda and the beautiful children there. To meet the boss man and see if they want me there next year. 

Many have asked about the Westgate attack here; I was not near there. The repercussions tho are quite heavy tho. You always feel like you are living on the edge, watching people on the bus, only going to the local mall if you have to, fear lurks around, But after being at a church planned memorial (which I think is excellent, churches stepping up) I realised that God is still around. Just no answers as to why. But in life, things may not get answers. So basically, I am alright and thank you for so much interest in me and if I was ok. I felt real special and loved :)

So, I pack down my laptop down for the last time in Kenya and thank you all for your constant love and support for what I am called to do. I love you all (and that's true, not a pop star "I love you all" nonsense) and I will send out a newsletter when I have settled in Uganda. And then only a few more months and I will be back for a visit. I pray you are all well, and know I am praying for the ones I know of who are in need of it. Stay away from electric eels and never play soccer with a hedgehog.

May God's grace and peace rule over Kenya 

Night all

G-man. The intrepid umzungu missioning to see God's Kingdom come to earth. One life at a time, one country at  a time :)

P.S. I finished my final project for Haki Group - have a look at it. This is leaving a legacy from all of us!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIgxeiiHZKA

The Permit (almost like a movie but really a newsletter)

Greetings one and all :)

I hope you have all managed to get through the winter period. Here, well the cold drop has come and we have lows of 13. Yes, that is right. Extra cold ;) I think I shocked my friends at Haki when I arrived at work wearing my jeans and a jacket. Even tho yes, its not 2 or 3 degrees. Anyhoodle, weather aside, let's move on :)

So things between our last newsletters have changed slightly, in one main sense. Is this the house I am supposed to be inviting people over to? The question arises out of the question; why did the umzungu cross the road so many times? Answer; to try and get to a permit to stay in Kenya. This has been an ongoing procedure since last year, and I have been trying other ways or different types of permits to stay and sadly I have reached dead ends with all my attempts. That is unless someone feels like giving R20,000 every year for me to be here....anyone? Kenyan immigration has moved the volunteer permit underneath one work permit because it seems that people have used the original volunteer permit to get into the country and then either worked or stayed illegally. So this a no go.

So what does this mean for this umzungu who has been hit from side to side of the road? I am seeing this as a "what next God?" time, and I feel that he is calling me to stay in East Africa and to make more impact with the children in Africa He has placed on my heart. I love Kenya, love the people and the environment but for whatever reasons a new avenue must be taken. Things have been going well with Haki, but it also feels it will be the right timing when I move on. I have worked well with them, loved Kibera (of which I will miss so much, Kibera will always be a part of me, the people, the environment, the place) and ofcourse will really miss the children (that over the past month sadly have been less involved in the plans due to finances, and other reasons.) . In the sadness, I am excited about the future, scared about it, but all in all looking forward to a new chapter in my life that you have all so graciously allowed me to live. I was speaking to my mom a few days ago and I said to her that I am one of the luckiest/blessed people around, because I can go to African countries and touch other people's lives, meet amazing children, keeping on praying to see God's Kingdom come to wherever I am, and all of this solely because people like all of you believe in God's calling on my life. And you are a amazing in doing this. Thank You!

So, logistics. Basically I am exploring opportunities. I have to leave Kenya by the 8th of October, but I plan on leaving slightly earlier to give me some space between border crossings. There is a thing called a transit visa that Kenya will let me come back on to catch my plane, which is booked for December. So I am aiming to explore other organisations that I believe are right, and to place myself in one of them (October to December +-)  until I come back to see you all at the year end with the knowledge that I will be coming back to the new organisation by end of January. So its all exciting things happening over here. And if anyone wants to see Haki, the work we do in Kibera and the amazing place it is, I will be here til end of next month :) I will still have my couch free til then so please come over if you want. Otherwise next year there will be somewhere fresh and exciting and God planned for you to support me in and to come and visit.

I will keep you all up to date once I am more aware. I know this does not give a lot of news from the past month but I felt this was probably the biggest news to share. Please please keep me in your prayers as I pray into my next direction, and all I know is (in the words of Jesus Culture....I felt this was God to me while I was away this past weekend on a retreat praying into this next direction of life) -

"I have a plan for you, it's gonna be wild, it's gonna be great, it's gonna be full of me!" 

God has only begun his plans for all of us here in East Africa; stay tuned for the next step we will all embrace and get huge excitement from.

Love you all!!!!

Gareth
(The intrepid umzungu missioning to see God's Kingdom come to earth)

JUNE 2013 - The firefly and the house You built

This month has already gone so quickly and I have not managed to sent out a newsletter up til now. The one big reason was I was held up around a week ago while walking up to the main road,  just a few minutes away from where I stay. I have never had a gun waved in my face, and I would not recommend it. Its a bit surreal, time slows down and you just stand there with hands waving in the air like you just dont care. It's an invasion of space, dignity and plain old robbery of my way of living. Thankfully I only had my house keys on me, so the thugs left with a bit of anger that I did not have anything as the european they thought I was. So after some counselling and time off from work, I am doing much better. Having to be home by 7 is a bit of lockdown, but then again life is worth more than a dark road with a torch bobbing up and down. I must look like a drunk firefly...

When I was here in Kibera last year I met a wonderful girl and her mother, the child who has cerebal palsy. We (Haki and you, my sponsors) managed to send Judy to have her hearing tested and finding out she was not deaf at all, this was an amazing thing that we can speak about for years to come! We are now into phase 2, which is trying to get her into a good school and to allow her mother less stress of having Judy at home. I went with her mom and the OVC head to a school about 30mins away from Kibera and it is a lovely school, great specialised workers and a hostel there too. So, if Judy's mom goes once a week to a training class on how to work with Judy, by year end she will be allowed to have Judy into the school and to stay in hostel with a home visit between terms. Judy's mother, Mama Mtundi looked so relieved after we left the meeting and if all goes well, she will be in the new school by beginning of 2014.

Another exciting thing we did in July was based around the Sharpeville attacks of July 16th. It is comemorated as Day of African Child, and its all based towards the needs, rights and love for the children. We planned a full day of events for the kids, as well as a great amount of food and t-shirts thanks to our main sponsor. We did things such as puppet shows, dance competitions, drumming entertainment and edutainment. Very rewarding seeing over 500 children!! This is an all time high for us, and it was really exciting seeing the children's excitement :) It was also a great opportunity for me to tell staff about what the original day was about.

I spent some time with Sean Callaghan about a week ago when he did he a quick stop in Nairobi. It was really awesome seeing him and spending some time with him. Amongst topics, he told me about a couple he knew who were away 6 months of the year and they would leave their house key with a friend for missionaries, volunteers, friends, family and other travelling weary people ;) They would use the house as if it was their own, and their was a piggy bank for people to put in some form of donation towards the water, power etc. So this gave me the great idea to do that here. Altho I am not planning in leaving for 6 months and let people use my/MJ place. So here is is; if you ever are in the area of Nairobi be it on business, pleasure or just a need for a place to stay for a night or two, my place is officially open to all. Even yoyur friends. Well, debrief me on them just so I know that they wont eat all my noodles and then kidnap me for R100. The great thing is that there is a full set of plates etc. as well as cutlery and cups, and gas to cook with so basically there is no reason not to come. And hey, I will be here :) The piggy bank will be somewhere for a shilling or two, but there is no pressure at all for money. Just come! And you can see Kibera, be immersed in it all. And I still do make for good company

So there it is people, my past month albeit 2 weeks late. Thank you all for your timely sponsorship, and for still remembering me up here. I always remember you all, especially the scary parts and my email door is always open :) MJ is always part of me no matter where I am, and you all are awesome!! Keep loving and laughing in the good that is around us, even tho the bad tries to munch it. I am learning more and more, God's light is way brighter than the evil that tries to bring me down.

Finally, more news to follow but a quick update - thanks to all of you I have been able to upgrade where I am staying into a liveable place for visitors. From plates to crockery to even a movie or two, (I will hopefully get a spare bed month end) - my place is your place. Come on over!! Your friends are welcome too. Grace and Peace to you all lovely people!! (I so love that blessing - may you all find God's Grace and Peace throughout this month.) As D-dawg might say....for shizzle :)

Kwaheru

Gareth the Intrepid Umzungu :)

May 2013

Welcome to my life again, albeit a bit later planned in sending this to you. I thought I would start with a photograph proving that indeed I can look smart, even verging on the business look. This was not staged as you may think, but I was actually have a meeting with another liked minded organisation in the Kibera area. The number of like minded organisations from ngo's, npo's, cbo's and other 3 lettered organisations is reasonably large as I found out over May. With so many like minded organisations in Kibera, you would think that all the problems would be sorted out by now. But firstly, there are never enough organisations and secondly we are not living in Utopia. Actually as if you did not know by now, I am living in Kenya. And God rocks the party over it all.

May has been a busy month, with my combined work of trying to keep up to date with all the social media, local media such as the press and at the same keeping in touch with the ovc (yes another 3 lettered word) i.e. Orphans and Vulnerable Children department. I am working with a new staff member for 2013, Millicent, helping plan events and see various sponsorship coming through. As always, sponsorship is a difficult thing to approach and that is one of my difficulties I am facing, knowing who to approach and how to facilitate any form of meeting that arises. So far nothing has come through, but on the positive, I have managed to start relationships with those three lettered organisations. This is very exciting because it is great to be able to hear about the good that is happening in Kibera. That it is not just us trying to make in roads but in fact one block up there are two organisations embracing this beautiful area. And that we are like Roswell in a way...we are not alone.

This month we targeted two Saturdays to address the issues with the children we work with, in the way of a fun day with a much needed healthy and filling meal afterwards. These times are very special to me because as you will know I love being with children, and it makes a rough week seem alright again. I managed to get myself roped into a tug of war, and then by the end of it I was doing my utmost to drag about 30 children around the field as they held onto the rope. Ok, maybe it was 20. Speaking of kids, I have a little 4 year old friend from across my flat who when around gives me a big wave as I come home from work. Very cool way to end the day.

Church here is going great (obviously not as cool as MJ but close); KVC....dang, another 3 letter one. Sorry, Karen Vineyard Church. They are now allowing me more on the stage, which has caused a lot of intercessory prayer growth in the church. I am leading worship for the 2nd time in a row on Tuesday, and I am learning what words I should not use when praying (yes, you know who you are, laugh :) I am also continuing my mentorship, now Kenyan side, from this week, so I have to say my week is looking good for my God growth which is what I need to keep above things here sometimes. I am still fighting for my work permit, check that...I have given it to God while still trying not to fight but to smile and wave. The person helping me, via my boss, is not giving me clear answers besides what I read into it...I have had nothing for over a month, and I have only 3 weeks left in Kenya. I can apply for 90 more days, but I believe that God wants me here for way way longer than that. Please pray for God to create a miracle because I will struggle with hope if things go the same way they did last year. Other than that, I am doing ok. Some bad days here and there but in general fine. I am missing MJ lately, mostly my family and ofcourse you motly crew :) Keep on growing, keep on being passionate inside and outside of church and above it all - gooi some hope to the world :)

Oh, I may be able to buy a bed for the spare room by the end of the month. It definitely has some of your names on it (no I have not carved names persay.) Thank you all for keeping me going, loving me and supporting me in finances and emails and facebook stuff. You all are a huge blessing to me.

Love ya all

Gareth the Intrepid Umzungu

April 2013

 Good morning and Good evening wherever you are in the world :)

Dear Sponsors
This is the first monthly email to let you all know that I am still alive and loving in Kibera! I have now been in Kenya for 1 month and I decided it was about time to let you all know how I was doing. I will be sending you a monthly email letting you know what God has been doing here and how I am being used by Him. I want you to share my joys and pains, excitements and disappointments, basically life in general just in a different country :)

April has come and gone. Leaving South Africa early morning, going via Rwanda and reaching Kenya. My first week was spent at a friend's place about 20 minutes from Kibera, and that week was to find myself (which I managed to do, I realised I can't hide very well) and to start to look for place to live. By the end of the week I was in a hostel avidly searching for a long term place to live in. I went to church that Sunday and I ended up speaking to a friend of mine I made last year at Vineyard. On Monday I was put in touch with a friend of hers and we walked around the area called Jamhuri which is about 15 minutes walk away from Haki, in Kibera. I prayed that I would know when I was at the right place, and the first place I saw sat right on my heart (I took it off because it was giving me a heart attack), and after seeing a second place I already knew that the first place was right. Also which was great was that it was not too far from my newly made friend, Lox. He and Ruth (who was from the UK) had been married for just over 3 months and had recently come back from the UK. They are a really fun young couple and it was great being able to touch base with them. I am hoping our friendship grows, as we work around out time schedules. They are both involved in humanitarian work, and when I have been able to it has been uplifting being around them.

My house is a complete blessing. It fitted well into my budget, has 2 bedrooms, bathroom, lounge and kitchen. (Photos will come with the next email.) It is on the top floor of an apartment building, and it is not too far away from Kibera but just far enough to separate work from coming home. Speaking of a second room - no one now has any excuse not to come and visit me! I think in all of my life I have not had space of my own like this, and I am so blessed and do not take it lightly. Bit by bit it is filling with needed furniture and electrical goodies.

What has amazed me is that people still remember me from last year. From the local sugar cane seller, the fruit and veggie lady, the metal worker, the 2nd hand shirt salesman, even my soccer shabeen friends. God is good in keeping these relationships fresh. It felt as if I had not been away for as long as I had been. Haki is beautiful, the hearts of my boss Charles and the staff who serve their community so much. All the staff are the same except for two,  one being Milli (Millicent) who is in charge of the OVC's (Orphans and Vulnerable Children) and I am working a lot with her due to the OVC program being a big part of my portfolio and passion. I was re introduced to the staff as the Communications Officer and it has put things down strongly as my identity within the staff. They have accepted me and respect my position which is awesome. I am going out with all of the field workers to see what they are doing and to immerse myself in their program so that I can write up reports and share this with Charles and then onto other NGO's and potential donors. I am happy to say that my first report has been done; a report on the first quarter of the whole of Haki. Busy work, and I feel a huge achievement in my first month :)

I met with all the children, linked with the old faces and was blessed being around them. Our first big program within April was to get all the children from the area and put them into a fun day that ended up with serving them a full meal. For so many of them it was their first meal in a long time. People were surprised that I was helping serve the kids, but I think it's an Umzungu fall out view. Love the people as if you are being loved by them. That's it really.

So as May begins, I look back into my first few weeks with Haki, meeting absolutely sick bed ridden people and hearing of how Haki's assistance helps them get stronger and leave their bed, seeing children colouring in with donated crayons and colouring in books, and being able to just sit with the local Kiberan people and just being God in who I am. What an honour this is, and I am seeing slowly how Jesus might have been when he was on earth. Being with the people and letting his life talk the truth. I want that, and when I need to talk more about Him, I believe I will have the right words to say. I have found already that as people are hungry for food, bthey are hungrier for the one thing that is not always available. Human contact, a listening ear, and an obvious heart of love that will stay with them no matter when they leave the conversation.

And this is why I love being here.

"Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words." Francis Assisi

Grace and Peace

Your friend. Gareth