“The chance of a lifetime is not something to be taken lightly.” These words caught my eye as I flipped through “If you want to walk on water, you’ve got to get out of the boat” by John Ortberg. He has a few good quotes from himself and others. For example, he says, “Walking on water means facing your fears and choosing not to let fear have the last word”, “walking on water means discovering and embracing the unique calling of God on your life” and waiting is by its nature something only the humble can do with grace.” He also quotes Henri Nouwen, “Community is the place where the person you least want to live with always lives”” and Lewis Smedes, “Waiting is the hardest work of hope.”
There seems to be a recurring theme in facing fears in some of the literature I am reading. Waiting to move beyond fears can also be a work of grace but I agree with Smedes in that waiting to achieve one’s dreams and goals can be the hardest work of hope. All these quotes have relevance to my life these days, even the community one, when I meet so many people and live in close quarters with them even for just a few days as I travel.
I hope I am not taking this chance of a lifetime lightly. It is a privilege to be here and this leg of the journey will probably be less active work-wise as CAPI prepares to do the audit. I have been in the office yesterday and today, working on the preparation of the books—just making sure papers are in order basically. Tomorrow I may get out to a Hope for Kenya meeting (dealing I think with the post-election violence training sessions—I will be briefed later today) since no one else is able to go. I will also sit in on a conflict transformation class at Daystar University so I won’t be totally bound to the office.
Nairobi is a huge city. I walk to work each morning—about 25 minutes—on a fairly flat plain, amidst the backfiring, smoggy matatus (buses) and the many others who chose to walk instead of drive to work. I use my leg brace as a precautionary measure on the uneven ground so that I don't fall. I get a lot of looks of curiosity at the "disabled"muzungu. I am living with Pastor Bob, Yolande, and their three delightful children. The first night I arrived, Yolande’s parents were there. Her father is a Masaii and I am not sure how we got on the topic of dowry but we had a fascinating discussion on how dowry is NOT buying a woman (not that I brought that point up) but shows care and respect for the family. Cows mean life and the payment of cows to the family means that they will be taken care of well. He invited me to come out and visit him and his wife (an equally fascinating woman) before I depart Kenya. They live about 1.5 hours from Nairobi, I think. “Come and see the big sky,” he invited me, making me a little homesick for the open spaces of the prairies.
I have enjoyed being here. The office is close to the Nakumatt, which is like a London Drugs, or a step up from a Wal-Mart. I am going to head over there for lunch today, as there are a few other shops that will give me some good options for lunch. On Saturday and Sundays, craftspeople sell their wares so I have decided I will walk over on Saturday to do a bit of souvenir shopping.
Lastly, I have to tell ya that on my way to work, I chuckled because God loves the colour purple here in Africa. As I walk I am greeted by many purple flowers of all shades here. It is a great reminder that God is good to me. Not taking the chance of a lifetime lightly means being aware, even in the smallest of creation, that God is in all things, and that all is Gift.
Ryan, welcome aboard! Please greet your family for me.
Amani,
Suzanne
There seems to be a recurring theme in facing fears in some of the literature I am reading. Waiting to move beyond fears can also be a work of grace but I agree with Smedes in that waiting to achieve one’s dreams and goals can be the hardest work of hope. All these quotes have relevance to my life these days, even the community one, when I meet so many people and live in close quarters with them even for just a few days as I travel.
I hope I am not taking this chance of a lifetime lightly. It is a privilege to be here and this leg of the journey will probably be less active work-wise as CAPI prepares to do the audit. I have been in the office yesterday and today, working on the preparation of the books—just making sure papers are in order basically. Tomorrow I may get out to a Hope for Kenya meeting (dealing I think with the post-election violence training sessions—I will be briefed later today) since no one else is able to go. I will also sit in on a conflict transformation class at Daystar University so I won’t be totally bound to the office.
Nairobi is a huge city. I walk to work each morning—about 25 minutes—on a fairly flat plain, amidst the backfiring, smoggy matatus (buses) and the many others who chose to walk instead of drive to work. I use my leg brace as a precautionary measure on the uneven ground so that I don't fall. I get a lot of looks of curiosity at the "disabled"muzungu. I am living with Pastor Bob, Yolande, and their three delightful children. The first night I arrived, Yolande’s parents were there. Her father is a Masaii and I am not sure how we got on the topic of dowry but we had a fascinating discussion on how dowry is NOT buying a woman (not that I brought that point up) but shows care and respect for the family. Cows mean life and the payment of cows to the family means that they will be taken care of well. He invited me to come out and visit him and his wife (an equally fascinating woman) before I depart Kenya. They live about 1.5 hours from Nairobi, I think. “Come and see the big sky,” he invited me, making me a little homesick for the open spaces of the prairies.
I have enjoyed being here. The office is close to the Nakumatt, which is like a London Drugs, or a step up from a Wal-Mart. I am going to head over there for lunch today, as there are a few other shops that will give me some good options for lunch. On Saturday and Sundays, craftspeople sell their wares so I have decided I will walk over on Saturday to do a bit of souvenir shopping.
Lastly, I have to tell ya that on my way to work, I chuckled because God loves the colour purple here in Africa. As I walk I am greeted by many purple flowers of all shades here. It is a great reminder that God is good to me. Not taking the chance of a lifetime lightly means being aware, even in the smallest of creation, that God is in all things, and that all is Gift.
Ryan, welcome aboard! Please greet your family for me.
Amani,
Suzanne
3 comments:
I love the comment about community - Henri must have spent a lot of time with Jesuits ... enjoying your accounts - know that you are in our thoughts and prayers.
Yes, Henri had great wisdom. Glad you are back on board. Hope you are well. Did March come in like a lion or a lamb? I try to click on the Free Press page from time to tinme just to see what is happening at home.
Thanks for the prayers!!
Suzanne
March came in like a lamb ... but promises to change soon enough!! Eric Jensen is giving the parish mission this year - should be a good turn out. May the blessings of your journey continue to be abundant.
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