so here we go. ive been on the move lately. new city, new country, new language. i left nairobe early early wednessday morning. the sun started rising on the way into town. my first african sunrise, and the start of something new. the roads are sleepy so early, a far sight from the usual shouts of matatu drivers and the weaving in and out of the bodas. not so much deisel fumes to breath it. somehow nice.
i spent my last few days in kenya taking it easy. we had taken care of everything we could in terms of construction, now all that was left was saying goodbye. it was bitter sweet for me. even though i had only been there for two weeks, i know ill miss the people i met there. they were so warm and open with me, opening their homes, sharing their food, their lives. for me at least, i know ill see them again before i leave. my flight home is out of nairobe. ill probably spend christmas with my kenyan friends. i look forward to seeing them again, and seeing the completed roof on the childrens home. its awe inspiring to see all that God has done on that plot of land in just over a month, four to five months sooner than we had even hoped for. God is good, and works in far grander ways than we dare dream.
the bus ride to uganda was long, a minimum of 12 hours to kampala. we planned to stop in jinja for the night, as i have connections there, and its only 10 hours (yeah right, only 10 hours). the day started out alright, although it reminded me a bit too much of my 24 hour day of travelling, just two weeks prior. only three hours in, we were stopped at a police checkpoint, which actually isnt unusual. there is a lot of corruption here, and the cops will stop most larger vehicles, make up some bogus claim, and wait for a bribe. we had already been stopped two other times, like i said, not unusual. what made this particular stop bad, was that they came on board, and pulled off four pasangers for not having their seatbelts on. tyler and i didnt have ours on either, but i guess we were lucky, or else, used our skin power ; )
all in all, we waited for three hours for the four guys to get money to pay the ticket ( a trumped up charge from 500 shillings to 3000 shillings). other than that, the ride was pretty smooth. i saw some wildlife along the side of the road: baboons, zebra, antelope, and warthog. zebra are so beautiful in person. it was like a little mini safari. pretty awesome.
we finally arrived in jinja and took some motorcycles to the Ligh Gives Heat house. Light Gives Heat is the organization that put us up for a few days. i have volunteered with them for some festivals back in the states, and was planning on spending a while with them out here, although God changed my plans. jinja is cool because its where the source of the nile is, there are a stretch of waterfall/rapids, and a variety of adrenaline sports to have your fill. tyler and i found a guy who would take us in kayaks over the rapids for half of what anyone else was charging, so we took him up on it. along with a few of the LGH volunteers, i learned to kayak, somewhat, and paddled my little raft through the rapids....somewhat. awesome experience nonetheless.
the time in jinja was very refreshing and much needed. a nice break for tyler before he goes home in a week. finally, on friday, we arrived in kampala. we are staying at a friends house, ronnie, with his "mom". im glad that ill be living with ugandans. like i said, its a totally new language, and his mom only speaks lugandan. but, that will help me to adjust to it faster, learn the culture and the city, and all that goes with it.
im very excited about being in kampala. where kenya was slow, focused on a goal, and ver quickly, uganda will be non of those things. my aim here is service. it will take many forms, span many people, and may last the rest of my three plus months here. i just dont know, its completely open to the people and opportunities God brings into my path.
i am excited because what i have heard from tyler and seen for myself in my few days here points me to believe that this is exactly the place which will allow me serve as i hope to. there is a kids home down the road from us, a legit non profit(come lets dance) doign many of the thnis God has lain on myheart over the past few months, and a stron church community to link it all together. on top of that, it seems like every way i turn, there are ngo's and non profits helping this person or that person. i know God is going to open some pretty awesome doors for service here. i cant wait to see what they are.
for now though, i will continue as i have; building relationships, investing in people, and stepping through the doors God opens, serving as His hands as best i can along the way.
phew, that was a long one. thanks for reading.
in His hands
jon
Monday, September 28
Sunday, September 20
day eleven: grace and longing
im already wrapping up my time in kenya, at least for now. i will have been here for two weeks exactly, and then, off to uganda. that means, come wednessday, tyler and i are embarking on the long, arduous journey to uganda.
i have really enjoyed my time here. hopefully you can tell that by the stories ive told, but maybe not. this place has quickly become comfortable here, i feel that i have begun to sink into my skin. im using that expression as a good thing, again, maybe you couldnt tell : ). the people here have been great, especially tyler and irene. i have spent just about every day with them, and although we are leaving irene for a while, i feel like we have made a lasting connection. i look forward to the time when i come back here and meet with her again.
this was a great place for me to start my journey. and although it really started weeks ago with prayer and planning, physically, my short time here has been invaluable. most of our time in kenya has centered around construction, whether buying materials, balancing accounts, or running around looking for rules and regulations to abide by, and the occasional manual labor to boot. things are slowing down now, soon the building will be complete, at least as far as our funds will take us. the whole time here has felt slow, but it has been good for me. maybe i expected a wave of opportunity the moment i stepped off the plane, but the time ive had here to settle in to everything has left me a lot more prepared than i would have been.
i am learning more and more to listen- to people, to God, to myself. i am learning to take the time and be still, to wait for direction and not proceed head first into uncertainty. i am learning, slowly by slowly, but learning.
yesterday, tyler and i rented two bodas (motorcycles) for the day. we took our friends irene and damareise to mount Ngong, about two and a half hours away. it was a great day of resting, reflection, and just spending time as friends, all work aside. God really protected us, as neither tyler or i are very experienced at driving, but we made it there and back unharmed, through some pretty rough climbs. friday, we bought the timber for the roof, that will start on monday. all that is left now is the tin slabs that will go over the wooden frame. we are hoping that construction will be finished in less that two weeks- perfect timing as the rains are about to come.
unfortunately, tyler is going to leave before he can see the finished building, or, as i specified before, finished to this point. ill be in uganda when it is finished, but ill be able to come back, and i plan to, some time in november. if you want to read about the childrens home we are building, and its construction, from start to finish, check out tyler's blog and the childrens home website at kjcm.org. ill leave you with that. thank you for your thoughts and/or prayers. you are a blessing to me. also, let me apologize to those who comment on these, i dont have the time to respond, as i am kept pretty busy with writing and updating, but know that i read them all, and they encourage me and warm my heart. my thoughts and prayers are with you as well
grace and longing
jon
i have really enjoyed my time here. hopefully you can tell that by the stories ive told, but maybe not. this place has quickly become comfortable here, i feel that i have begun to sink into my skin. im using that expression as a good thing, again, maybe you couldnt tell : ). the people here have been great, especially tyler and irene. i have spent just about every day with them, and although we are leaving irene for a while, i feel like we have made a lasting connection. i look forward to the time when i come back here and meet with her again.
this was a great place for me to start my journey. and although it really started weeks ago with prayer and planning, physically, my short time here has been invaluable. most of our time in kenya has centered around construction, whether buying materials, balancing accounts, or running around looking for rules and regulations to abide by, and the occasional manual labor to boot. things are slowing down now, soon the building will be complete, at least as far as our funds will take us. the whole time here has felt slow, but it has been good for me. maybe i expected a wave of opportunity the moment i stepped off the plane, but the time ive had here to settle in to everything has left me a lot more prepared than i would have been.
i am learning more and more to listen- to people, to God, to myself. i am learning to take the time and be still, to wait for direction and not proceed head first into uncertainty. i am learning, slowly by slowly, but learning.
yesterday, tyler and i rented two bodas (motorcycles) for the day. we took our friends irene and damareise to mount Ngong, about two and a half hours away. it was a great day of resting, reflection, and just spending time as friends, all work aside. God really protected us, as neither tyler or i are very experienced at driving, but we made it there and back unharmed, through some pretty rough climbs. friday, we bought the timber for the roof, that will start on monday. all that is left now is the tin slabs that will go over the wooden frame. we are hoping that construction will be finished in less that two weeks- perfect timing as the rains are about to come.
unfortunately, tyler is going to leave before he can see the finished building, or, as i specified before, finished to this point. ill be in uganda when it is finished, but ill be able to come back, and i plan to, some time in november. if you want to read about the childrens home we are building, and its construction, from start to finish, check out tyler's blog and the childrens home website at kjcm.org. ill leave you with that. thank you for your thoughts and/or prayers. you are a blessing to me. also, let me apologize to those who comment on these, i dont have the time to respond, as i am kept pretty busy with writing and updating, but know that i read them all, and they encourage me and warm my heart. my thoughts and prayers are with you as well
grace and longing
jon
Monday, September 14
day five: dust and thirst
i guess you could call this my first impressions, although this is my fifth full day here. its amazing to think its almost been a week already, the days seem to be flying by. there is always something to do here, always an errand to run, or an opportunity to catch (also called a matatu). on top of the everyday business, jetlag is still kicking my butt. i think ive fallen asleep on every bus weve taken thus far. my favorite was being woken by a kenyan man behind me shaking the brim of my hat, while he and the others sitting around me laughed, quietly amused.
this morning, irene and i moved a pile of bricks from one side of the construction zone to their permanent home on the other. doesnt sound like much, but just as the nights here are cold, the days here can be pretty scourching. we succeeded in moving half of one of four piles. maybe two hundred bricks. i guess we'll have another go tomorrow.
saturday, we hired a truck and a driver and went through kamba land to buy more bricks. there is more required to finish the walls of the childrens home, and then we will have more for future projects. the brick place is a good 70 kilometers away. i dont know how many miles that is, but it was at least three hours away. as you could imagine, i slept for much of it : ). but cramming into a truck cab with six people, sitting crosslegged isnt much fun, and i was mostly numb by the time we got there.
the bricks we are using are made from the earth here. they are a mixture of sand, clay, and a firing process that makes them suitable for building with. we bought 4000 or so, and it took most of the day to load them. btw, we werent swinging the bricks, although tyler and i had come expecting to. a crew of kenyans were more than eager to work, and there were enough that we probably would have just gotten in the way.
kamba land looks like a desert, just sand and dust as far as the eye can see, like something out of an apocalyptic movie. while the truck was being loaded, we took a boda(motorcycle) to the top of the mountain and hiked out to a plateue overlooking kenya, a great stretching landscape, all dust and ashes. it was quite an awe inspiring sight. it is said that the mountains in this part of the world are the oldest anywhere. i believe it. things here have a feeling like a pendulum, they have been going on forever, and will continue in their own way. any change here will happen slowly, with great patience, like a grain of grass that lies dormant until it has enough strenghth to sprout.
there is a drought here, in more ways than one. it hasnt rained in months. but you still see the small stream trickling against all odds. still, the storm brews over head, even if the rain hasnt come. they called this the dark continent for a reason. in many places, there is a tangeable presence of evil. but still, love shines through. things are changing. there is hope, and revival, and song. but this land thirsts. God, let it rain.
grace and peace
jon
this morning, irene and i moved a pile of bricks from one side of the construction zone to their permanent home on the other. doesnt sound like much, but just as the nights here are cold, the days here can be pretty scourching. we succeeded in moving half of one of four piles. maybe two hundred bricks. i guess we'll have another go tomorrow.
saturday, we hired a truck and a driver and went through kamba land to buy more bricks. there is more required to finish the walls of the childrens home, and then we will have more for future projects. the brick place is a good 70 kilometers away. i dont know how many miles that is, but it was at least three hours away. as you could imagine, i slept for much of it : ). but cramming into a truck cab with six people, sitting crosslegged isnt much fun, and i was mostly numb by the time we got there.
the bricks we are using are made from the earth here. they are a mixture of sand, clay, and a firing process that makes them suitable for building with. we bought 4000 or so, and it took most of the day to load them. btw, we werent swinging the bricks, although tyler and i had come expecting to. a crew of kenyans were more than eager to work, and there were enough that we probably would have just gotten in the way.
kamba land looks like a desert, just sand and dust as far as the eye can see, like something out of an apocalyptic movie. while the truck was being loaded, we took a boda(motorcycle) to the top of the mountain and hiked out to a plateue overlooking kenya, a great stretching landscape, all dust and ashes. it was quite an awe inspiring sight. it is said that the mountains in this part of the world are the oldest anywhere. i believe it. things here have a feeling like a pendulum, they have been going on forever, and will continue in their own way. any change here will happen slowly, with great patience, like a grain of grass that lies dormant until it has enough strenghth to sprout.
there is a drought here, in more ways than one. it hasnt rained in months. but you still see the small stream trickling against all odds. still, the storm brews over head, even if the rain hasnt come. they called this the dark continent for a reason. in many places, there is a tangeable presence of evil. but still, love shines through. things are changing. there is hope, and revival, and song. but this land thirsts. God, let it rain.
grace and peace
jon
Thursday, September 10
day one: safe arrival and such
after two days sitting on my butt, staring at the back of an airplane seat, i finally arrived in nairobe! i cant describe how freeing it was to walk out of the gate into the beautiful kenyan night. tyler was waiting outside, along with three others, irene, dama ris, and zach, all kenyans. all people i am very excited to share my life with.
flying was pretty uneventful. i forced myself to stay awake so i could try to conquer jet lag when i got here. i am eight hours ahead of you all, and that wont be easy. slept for a solid 10 last, night, but i woke up and was so disoriented, i could barely walk : ). good times.
we are taking today off so i can get accustomed to the culture and the people and what not. we walked up to the work site, just up the hill from the house i am living in, and i got to see all that has been accomplished. its amazing to think that that was just an empty plot of land a month ago. now, thanks to Gods grace and some determined people, the foundation and the walls are completed, and the roof will be going up soon. God is gracious and has brought in some more funds which will allow construction of the roof to be completed, and possibly more after that. we will have to see.
tyler, irene, and i are in nairobe as i write this. its about an hour away from where we are living(at irene's sisters house). we are hanging out in an internet cafe for a bit while tyler sends a file back home. we just had a meal at a local restaurant, my first venture into kenyan food- fried tilapia and chipati. pretty awesome. we'll probably just walk around nairobe today and get a feel for the city.
we are talking about the month to come, and theres some pretty exciting stuff were figuring out. a couple of trips being debated, alot of work on the orphanage, and some time in uganda. like i said, its all in the works, and we will take it as it comes. i still know very little, but ive had a huge smile on my face every time i look around. God is at work here, im stoked to be a part of it, even if its just for a little while.
ill wrap it up. thank you so much for reading, for your prayers, and for being lovely. i wasnt expecting to update, so i promise ill have better, more thought out posts in the future. i just wanted to throw out a, hey, i got here, im alive. so, thats all this is. i miss you all, in a good way. but i wouldnt trade this.
oh, by the way, its cold here at night. what the heck?
peace and joy
jon
flying was pretty uneventful. i forced myself to stay awake so i could try to conquer jet lag when i got here. i am eight hours ahead of you all, and that wont be easy. slept for a solid 10 last, night, but i woke up and was so disoriented, i could barely walk : ). good times.
we are taking today off so i can get accustomed to the culture and the people and what not. we walked up to the work site, just up the hill from the house i am living in, and i got to see all that has been accomplished. its amazing to think that that was just an empty plot of land a month ago. now, thanks to Gods grace and some determined people, the foundation and the walls are completed, and the roof will be going up soon. God is gracious and has brought in some more funds which will allow construction of the roof to be completed, and possibly more after that. we will have to see.
tyler, irene, and i are in nairobe as i write this. its about an hour away from where we are living(at irene's sisters house). we are hanging out in an internet cafe for a bit while tyler sends a file back home. we just had a meal at a local restaurant, my first venture into kenyan food- fried tilapia and chipati. pretty awesome. we'll probably just walk around nairobe today and get a feel for the city.
we are talking about the month to come, and theres some pretty exciting stuff were figuring out. a couple of trips being debated, alot of work on the orphanage, and some time in uganda. like i said, its all in the works, and we will take it as it comes. i still know very little, but ive had a huge smile on my face every time i look around. God is at work here, im stoked to be a part of it, even if its just for a little while.
ill wrap it up. thank you so much for reading, for your prayers, and for being lovely. i wasnt expecting to update, so i promise ill have better, more thought out posts in the future. i just wanted to throw out a, hey, i got here, im alive. so, thats all this is. i miss you all, in a good way. but i wouldnt trade this.
oh, by the way, its cold here at night. what the heck?
peace and joy
jon
Tuesday, September 8
the hours before: prayer requests
its nine thirty on tuesday morning. im flying in a little less than seven hours. i think im finally getting nervous. my heart feels like its full of air, and its trying it best to get all that air out. i guess thats nervous, right?
it still hasnt hit me, the magnitude of this. and im not trying to say that somehow, what im doing is a big deal. its not, in the scope of things. and i firmly believe that each event and period in each persons life is just as important as the next. still ill be gone for a while, and i dont know what ill be doing, so with that in mind, im not nearly as nervous or anxious or excited as i should be. it hasnt hit me yet. but im sure it will.
goodbyes are always weird. and ive had my share of them. this weekend held more hugs and tears than i knew possible. i am grateful for each one- each embrace that will be separated by land and sea, every drop that falls from your eyes. i will miss these people more than i know, with all that i have i will miss them. i want you all to know that i love you.
before i leave i wanted to give some prayer requests. i covet your prayers.
while i am gone, pray for a receptive spirit. a big part of what i am doing is opening myself up by clearing my agenda, in hopes that God will lead me where He wants without myself getting in the way. it is easy to seek the safety of plans and organizations, and if that is where God has me then great, but i dont want to hide there. pray also for Gods guiding hand.
pray also that i would learn to abide is God. amidst the excitement and new experiences, i dont want to loose that connection with God or push Him aside. i want Him to be central, the vine from which i draw my strength. i know that without that connection, nothing i do will accomplish anything eternal.
third, pray for community, both home and abroad. i have come to appreciate and rely on Christian community to live my life. when i leave here, i leave that as well. the situation i am going to is full of new people and new situations, and in order to have that community, i have to start each relationship new. pray for me as i seek out community, and for a while, seek God without it. also pray for the community i am leaving here, that they would seek God with all their hearts, and that they would love each other fearlessly.
i will close it here. i am leaving shortly for the city and the airport. here we go.
all my love
jon
it still hasnt hit me, the magnitude of this. and im not trying to say that somehow, what im doing is a big deal. its not, in the scope of things. and i firmly believe that each event and period in each persons life is just as important as the next. still ill be gone for a while, and i dont know what ill be doing, so with that in mind, im not nearly as nervous or anxious or excited as i should be. it hasnt hit me yet. but im sure it will.
goodbyes are always weird. and ive had my share of them. this weekend held more hugs and tears than i knew possible. i am grateful for each one- each embrace that will be separated by land and sea, every drop that falls from your eyes. i will miss these people more than i know, with all that i have i will miss them. i want you all to know that i love you.
before i leave i wanted to give some prayer requests. i covet your prayers.
while i am gone, pray for a receptive spirit. a big part of what i am doing is opening myself up by clearing my agenda, in hopes that God will lead me where He wants without myself getting in the way. it is easy to seek the safety of plans and organizations, and if that is where God has me then great, but i dont want to hide there. pray also for Gods guiding hand.
pray also that i would learn to abide is God. amidst the excitement and new experiences, i dont want to loose that connection with God or push Him aside. i want Him to be central, the vine from which i draw my strength. i know that without that connection, nothing i do will accomplish anything eternal.
third, pray for community, both home and abroad. i have come to appreciate and rely on Christian community to live my life. when i leave here, i leave that as well. the situation i am going to is full of new people and new situations, and in order to have that community, i have to start each relationship new. pray for me as i seek out community, and for a while, seek God without it. also pray for the community i am leaving here, that they would seek God with all their hearts, and that they would love each other fearlessly.
i will close it here. i am leaving shortly for the city and the airport. here we go.
all my love
jon
Wednesday, September 2
down to brass tacs: logistics
my intent with this post is to give those less familiar with the details of my travels an up to date look at what im doing, and what i know. those who are familiar will realize that i dont know much, but ill do my best to paint the picture.
about a month ago, i decided to drop ties and make this dream a reality. the circumstances surrounding that decision, ill save for another time. i dont want these to be too tiresome to read. suffice it to say that its been a long time coming and the roads were open this time around. i suppose not being in school and the lack of a job will do that- open roads for dreams.
since that decision, ive been in contact with a number of non profits and organizations in northern kenya/southern uganda, trying to make connections and figure out what the next four months will look like. each connection has been profitable and given me a better idea of what to expect, but ultimately, each one was accompanied by a catch. i have yet to find someone that lines up with my goals, theology, and desire for my time. though, there are a lot of amazing things happening through those same people that i am very excited to partner with.
ultimately, i am going to be working with and serving along side many of those people that i have been talking to, but not exclusively. i do not want to be confined to a certain location or organization. sitting here, a few thousand miles away, it doesnt make sense to me to plan out all my time and be held to that. i would much rather figure it out day by day while i am there, relying on God to bring the people and relationships into my life that will show me what i need to see. im excited for that. i want to rely on God and His people to shape my time there, rather than hiding in the safeguards of organizations and plans.
sorry, im getting longwinded again, and my intention was to keep this short. so here is what i know.
after that point, it gets really hazy. i hope to spend some time in kampala, uganda. tyler will be flying out of that area, and we will most likely be there together for a few weeks. same deal, going on relationships. tyler has a lot of connections there, and im excited to meet them.
anyway, ill end it there. my hopes and dreams for this trip, all the might be plans, all the could be opportunities, would fill a book. so, what ive shared is what i know. or, what seems to be concrete at this point. im sure God will work as He will, and i just want to be open to that.
i will be flying home just before new years, and just in time for the most brutal part of winter. in case i forget, mom and dad, please bring me a coat! oh, and im up to date on inoculations, and im getting my visas when i get to the countries (i guess african nations are a lot more laid back with that then we are). thats it, thanks for reading, i really do appreciate it. ill be throwing up some prayer requests soon.
about a month ago, i decided to drop ties and make this dream a reality. the circumstances surrounding that decision, ill save for another time. i dont want these to be too tiresome to read. suffice it to say that its been a long time coming and the roads were open this time around. i suppose not being in school and the lack of a job will do that- open roads for dreams.
since that decision, ive been in contact with a number of non profits and organizations in northern kenya/southern uganda, trying to make connections and figure out what the next four months will look like. each connection has been profitable and given me a better idea of what to expect, but ultimately, each one was accompanied by a catch. i have yet to find someone that lines up with my goals, theology, and desire for my time. though, there are a lot of amazing things happening through those same people that i am very excited to partner with.
ultimately, i am going to be working with and serving along side many of those people that i have been talking to, but not exclusively. i do not want to be confined to a certain location or organization. sitting here, a few thousand miles away, it doesnt make sense to me to plan out all my time and be held to that. i would much rather figure it out day by day while i am there, relying on God to bring the people and relationships into my life that will show me what i need to see. im excited for that. i want to rely on God and His people to shape my time there, rather than hiding in the safeguards of organizations and plans.
sorry, im getting longwinded again, and my intention was to keep this short. so here is what i know.
i am leaving Chicago on tuesday, the eighth. thats in five days. im connecting in amsterdam, and from there, straight to nairobe, kenya. its a long flight, and i wont reach kenya till evening the next day. thats a little baffling in itself. my friend, tyler sjostrom, will be meeting me at the airport. he has been in kenya and uganda for the last few months overseeing a building project with a non profit that he and some friends started- venture corps. i will be writing a lot about them in the posts to come- theyre my main contact down there.
tyler will be taking me to building site where we will be staying with a woman named irene. she is a kenyan who will be running the orphanage(the building project is an orphange). more on irene later. we will be staying with her while in kenya. tyler will be with me for a month after i arrive, showing me the ropes, introducing me to people, seeing God's creation.
after that point, it gets really hazy. i hope to spend some time in kampala, uganda. tyler will be flying out of that area, and we will most likely be there together for a few weeks. same deal, going on relationships. tyler has a lot of connections there, and im excited to meet them.
anyway, ill end it there. my hopes and dreams for this trip, all the might be plans, all the could be opportunities, would fill a book. so, what ive shared is what i know. or, what seems to be concrete at this point. im sure God will work as He will, and i just want to be open to that.
i will be flying home just before new years, and just in time for the most brutal part of winter. in case i forget, mom and dad, please bring me a coat! oh, and im up to date on inoculations, and im getting my visas when i get to the countries (i guess african nations are a lot more laid back with that then we are). thats it, thanks for reading, i really do appreciate it. ill be throwing up some prayer requests soon.
all my love
jon
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