Getting Back to Normal

The Kenya Diaries (vol. 22)

July 10, 2006

Fr. Ted went back to Nairobi two days ago, and it has been quiet here without him. The kids have been playing a lot with the boys. They are really developing strong friendships with many of them. Andy has been teaching his chemistry class, and Kevin even sat in on one of his classes.

Today we went for a walk out to the soccer field, and some of the brothers were having a game. Andy, Ania and Philip stayed to join in, but Kevin, Lucia and I decided to keep walking. We found Rex, the sisters' dog, out chasing some sort of African rodent. He seemed happy to see us. We also came to a cluster of acacia trees that were very beautiful.

Everything is so lush and green now, unlike the dry, brown landscape when we first arrived. We've been getting a lot of rain lately, which has kept things quite cool and comfortable.




July 12, 2006

Lucia's Turn

Today we went to Nakuru in the seminary van. It was nicer than a matatu, and not so crowded. Fr. Callistus was our driver. We had to stop for gas on the way.

Mama said this: As we pulled up to the pump, we saw a pick up truck with three little white girls sitting in the back. I grabbed my camera and announced, "Look kids, white people!" The priest and brothers who were in the van with us started to laugh out loud. I thought about it for a moment and realized how silly I sounded. Hey, we have been in Kenya for six weeks and white people are very scarce! Even the girls' mother was tickled by my reaction.

Mama took me and Kevin and Ania to Ukwala to buy groceries, and Daddy took Philip to the cyber cafe to e-mail people. Mama bought us ice cream cones with nuts on top and chocolate syrup in the bottom. They were so yummy!

Then we went to Gilani's and I found a garlic smasher made of wood. I asked Mama to buy it. First she said "no," but then she did. It cost 75 shillings. I knew it was a garlic smasher because it had a handle just like the one I used at Fr. Zak's house in Amagoro.

Then we met Daddy and Philip at the Nakuru Sweet Shoppe and had cheeseburgers, fries and cokes. Daddy bought eight choc balls. We ate two there, and brought the rest home to be  Ania's birthday cake tomorrow night. They were too sweet for me, so I didn't finish my piece.

At Gilani's we each picked a post card. Mine is a herd of elephants at a water hole. Ania's is two cheetahs, and Kevin and Philip's are of lions.

When we got home we spent the afternoon playing in the trees while the boys did their laundry. It was fun!

Mama washed our hair and then braided it. Then Daddy read Tom Sawyer while me and Ania brushed Mama's hair. Thank you, Jesus for a fun day! Amina.

In the Distressing Disguise of the Poorest of the Poor

Be with us Mary along the way, guide every step we take. Lead us to Jesus, your loving Son, come with us Mary come. No man can live as an island, journeying through life alone, since we're most loved by a Mother, Jesus gave us His own.

Oh most pure and loving heart, of my Mother and my Queen, grant that I may love Thee, love Thee daily more and more. Grant that I may love Thee, love Thee daily more and more.

Oh, the familiar songs of the Missionaries of Charity is like a homecoming to me. There is something so peaceful, so joyful, so welcoming in the heart of every Sister that I have met from Appalachia to Moscow, from Atlanta to Nairobi. And that something is actually a Someone...Jesus.

Everyone knows Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She recognized Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, and it was her desire to give every human being the love and dignity in death that is their God given right as a soul made in His image and likeness. Her Sisters continue to minister to the least in God's kingdom. It takes enormous amounts of Grace to reach out, to touch, to embrace, to love the ones that repulse our human nature. It is only through emptying oneself and becoming filled with the Holy Spirit that we are even capable of such love.

These Sisters have done this.

And these Sisters continue to ask for this Grace daily, lest they fall back on human strength - strength that is feeble, weak, inadequate. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus, is their daily prayer.


Ania and I were given the opportunity to serve Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor at bible camp in Atlanta this week. These children may not appear to many to be the poorest of the poor. They have their physical needs met, but not all poverty is physical. In fact, spiritual poverty is more devastating because there are eternal consequences, and the decay of one's soul is not so obvious as a physical wasting away. Our mission is to know, love and serve Jesus who is present in each of these children. We are praying for the Grace. It is only by this same Grace that any of us have become spiritually rich.

Bible camp is long. It is hot. It is loud. The children challenge us to rely on the Grace. The closer we get to the children, however, the better we can see Jesus, and friendships begin to form.

And when we return to the Sisters' home at the end of the day, we come to the chapel to spend time with Jesus in the quieter moments. We cannot serve Jesus from our depletion. We must come and be refilled daily.

Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to go beyond ourselves, and to learn to recognize you in those around us. Amen

If You Give a Teacher a Summer Vacation...

Seven Quick Takes (vol. 15)

How does it always happen? I leave the school year behind with plans to NOT plan out my summer. I have to start out this way, because I know that it is just a matter of time before my "no plans" approach turns into a wild roller coaster ride. I'm not complaining, mind you. It is all good. Let me try to explain in this brief window of respite I have found.

1. Common Core - the new standards for Georgia educators. Attending the three day math conference July 10 -12, was very worth my while, and I feel quite confident that my students will come away from fourth grade with a much better grasp on the process that will lead them to the right answer.

2. Charism School - the three days immediately following the math conference took me through last weekend. Damian Stayne is an anointed speaker on the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and his Charism School is a hands-on approach to learning how to use these gifts, with an emphasis on the need to deepen your prayer life. My teenagers were especially held captive by his personal testimonies and charismatic personality. What a blessing to attend such a life-changing conference!

3. New Family - came to visit Alleluia Community the day after Damian Stayne left. This delightful family pulled up on Monday afternoon, their Suburban packed to the hilt with their seven children and a week's worth of belongings. Our family was asked to host them, which we were so happy to do. Needless to say, their children and our children have hit it off very well, and it has been a high octane kind of week!

4. Unexpected Trip - out of town on Wednesday to get a trailer load of things from Grandma's house. We are attempting to raise money for World Youth Day 2013, with various types of fundraisers. One was a yard sale this weekend, and people have been so generous donating items for our cause.

5. Unexpected Phone Call - from Andy's sister who's friend has a consignment store that was going out of business. We would be welcome to whatever we would like to put in our yard sale. We just needed to be there Friday afternoon with a truck to pick it up. Wow! We just more than doubled the size of our yard sale!

6. Yard Sale - of enormous proportions was held TODAY! We had a very successful day, and God blessed us with clouds, but no rain, which kept things cool. The new family that is visiting pitched right in and assisted with our fundraiser. It was an all day event, ending with dinner at the local Mexican restaurant. My feet are killing me, and I am ready to fall into bed.

7. Missionaries of Charity (MC's) - will be receiving Ania and I tomorrow in Atlanta to assist with a summer bible camp for five days. (The rest of the family will be staying home). I am looking forward to working with these holy women again. I have served the MC's many times in the past, and I am always blessed by their holiness.

Lord, help me get the laundry done tonight and the grocery shopping done tomorrow so that everyone will have a peaceful start to their week!

So, if you give a teacher a summer vacation, you can bet that they will be looking forward to slowing back down to normal speed on that first day of school.

Hope your summer is going at just the right speed! Now hop on over to Conversion Diary and add your own Seven Quick Takes.

Every Bit a Princess

Today Ania celebrates her fourteenth birthday, and I can't begin to tell you how honored I am to be her mother.

A word of wisdom to parents of young children -- don't blink! They grow up so fast, and you don't want to miss a moment!

A is for ACTIVE, you can't keep her down!







N is for NOBLE, she wears the King's crown!








I is for INFECTIOUS, her exuberance spreads,






A is for ALWAYS, reaching out to new friends.




 Ania, you are such a gem! You sparkle and shine wherever you go, and the many friendships that you've made both far and near attest to that. "Let your light shine before all, that they may see the good that you do and give glory to God the Father." (Matt: 5:16) You do this naturally, with such ease. Recognize it as a gift from God, and always use it to build His kingdom.






























I am so proud of you, and I love you dearly!

Happy birthday, Ia. (Ee - ya)!

Love,
Mama

A Letter Home

The Kenya Diaries (vol. 21)

July 10, 2006

Hello everyone! It is July 10th, and we will be home exactly one month from today!!! We have lots of things scheduled to do between now and then, so time sure is flying!

We gauge our time here by when we take our mefloquine (malaria prophylactic). We have to take it once a week, and we have chosen Sunday evening at dinner. Whenever I announce that it is "Mefloquine Day" the kids can't believe it. They say that they just took it a few days ago. That's how fast  our weeks go by.

It has gotten quite chilly here. July is the dead of winter in Kenya! We wear our long pants and sweatshirts every morning. One morning the thermometer read 49 degrees F. The days warm up quite nicely, though, and it is probably in the mid 70s, but very dry and the sun is very intense. The people here don't seem to realize that it has warmed up during the day. When we walk into town, we see winter jackets and knit ski hats on just about everybody.

At night we hear all kinds of birds and insects outside. The crows seem to come alive at night and I think their favorite tree is right outside our window. There is also some sort of insect that makes a noise like the blip of a radar screen in a submarine. The first time I heard it I had to ask Andy if it was coming from his computer. It was keeping perfect rhythm, too. There are all sorts of whooping, chirping, clicking, buzzing and whatever other noise you can think of at night. I thought some sounds were monkeys or baboons, but I've been told they aren't around here. So, they are just creatures of the African night of one sort or another.

Last night I actually heard something on our roof that was bigger than a cat. It had toenails and seemed heavy on its feet. The boys said that a mongoose has been getting into the chickens, so maybe it was one of those. That is actually good news, right? Mongooses eat snakes...poisonous ones. So I'll take a mongoose any day around here!

I am keeping a journal for each of the kids so they will be able to remember their time in Kenya (especially Lucia who is only three). Last night I asked them to make a list of things they like and things they don't like about Kenya. Here are some of their responses:

Kevin

Likes: 
1.  Farm animals everywhere, (in the streets, towns, and shops).
2.  Chipati (Kenyan flat bread), fresh mangoes, pineapple and bananas.
3.  Cement houses like Fr. Zak's and the school.

Dislikes:
1.  Bumpy roads - sometimes it is smoother to drive OFF the road.
2.  Malaria medicine and mosquito nets!!
3.  Needing to boil the water and washing all fruits and veggies in bleach water.









Ania

Likes:
1.  The boys at the school - they play with us all the time.
2.  Seeing Fr. Ted - he taught us how to be better clothes-ringer-outers.
3.  The banana trees are weird but BEAUTIFUL!!!

Dislikes:
1.  Boda-boda rides!!
2.  Taking a bath in a bucket - to get hot water you have to cook it.
3.  Mosquitoes and mosquito nets.









Philip

Likes:
1.  Seeing LIONS!! Especially the big man lion!
2.  Boda-boda rides!!
3.  The huge flying termites that came into our room one night.

Dislikes:
1.  Children touching my hair all the time to see if it is real.
2.  Sharing a bed with Kevin and the mosquito nets.
3.  Bumpy rides in matatus (taxi vans) -- the roads are very bumpy!









Lucia

Likes:
1.  ELEPHANTS!!!
2.  Princess beds (mosquito nets)!
3.  Matatu rides on bumpy roads!

Dislikes:
1.  Everybody asks, "What's your name?" and wants to shake my hand.
2.  Bathrooms with only a hole in the ground -- too stinky!
3.  Mefloquine and Dramamine!










So you can see that each child has a different view of Kenya. Lucia seems to like all the things that the older kids don't like. She does get a lot of attention wherever we go, because no one here has ever seen a white baby, and she is the closest we have to a baby. Everyone wants to get a good square look at her, and her response is to hide her face in my shoulder. We are, however, becoming a familiar sight in Rongai, and don't earn as many "looks" as we used to. At the school she loves the attention!

I have been rethinking some of our American sayings, such as "variety is the spice of life." Here there is not much variety, especially in the area of food. We have the same three or four things alternately through the week, and if we do happen to go out to a Kenyan style restaurant, the menu is always the same: buffet of chicken, beef, goat, chipati, ugali, rice and sukuma wiki. I think that we, as Americans, put too much emphasis on food options; we live to eat. Here people eat to live.

But, let me tell you, we have plenty of spice in our life! We can find adventure in any given daily chore, whether it is running out of propane in the middle of bath time, or finding huge flying termites in your bedroom during bedtime story time.

So, I think the "spice of life" comes not from variety, but rather from an inner quality that is the ability to laugh at life's adventures, and to find wonder in God's creation. All the way from the awesome elephants and big man lions down to the termites that sneak through holes in your screen. (Let me tell you these are pretty big holes for these bugs to get through). When we become too big to wonder about what God has created, we lose our "spice." And, we become too big by focusing on ourselves rather than on those around us, making us the center of our own universe. Isn't it ironic that when we become too big in our own minds, we are diminished in others'? Hmmmm......there is time here to contemplate such things.

Well, I must be finishing up; this letter is getting quite lengthy. By the way, Fr. Ted tells Andy and I that we both have "wonderful Kenyan accents." How fun! Hugs and kisses to everyone! We sure do miss all of you!

Love,
Janet, Andy, Kevin, Ania, Philip and Lucici Bean!

Angels at the Pinata Party

The Kenya Diaries (vol. 20)

July 7, 2006

Ania's Turn

Today we are celebrating my 8th birthday! Yippppeeee!!

We finished painting the face on the giraffe this morning. It is so cute! After the paint dried, we stuffed it FULL of candy. We thought we were going to have to find a place inside to have my party because it rained all morning, but it finally stopped raining after lunch.

Fr.Ted came over and we said a family rosary together in our dining room. When we were finished we came outside and found Ben and Joel sitting under our window with rosaries in their hands. A lot of boys came over when they saw Fr. Ted. Mama says he's like a magnet. He loves everybody and everybody loves him. Then we went to Mass that Fr. Ted offered for our family.













Next came my pinata party! All the boys in the school gathered around the tree outside our door and watched. I let Fr. Ted take the first swing. Then I took a turn, then Lucia, then Philip. Philip knocked all four legs off. The boys were laughing and cheering so hard. Mama said that they had never seen a pinata before.

Then Kevin took a turn. After that, I got to choose which boys came next. Even Fr. Johannes and Fr. Murage took turns. It was so much fun.

Mama said this: The boys had never even heard of a pinata before, and they were thoroughly enjoying the experience. At first it was just like any pinata party, lots of misses, a few good hits. I was standing on a chair videotaping the whole thing. I should have known, though, that when you give 100 boys a stick and ask them to hit a moving target blindfolded, that the testosterone levels would rise to enormous proportions.

Since it was taking so long, we decided that someone should just dump the candy out. We picked Fr. Ted to be he one to do it.

Mama said this: On the count of three Andy lowered the pinata into Fr. Ted's hands so that he could dump the candy onto the ground. What came next was pure mayhem. The boys grabbed the pinata and began to tackle each other. I saw Fr. Ted go down as all the boys converged on ground zero. From my vantage point, I saw Kevin and Ania jump out of the way, and Ben was holding Lucia. In a split second I realized I could not find Philip. I practically dropped the video camera and started screaming Philip's name. Crazy with panic I ran to the boy-pile and started grabbing boys and moving them out of the way. Fr. Ted, who miraculously managed to escape the pile up, was right beside me, grabbing boys and tossing them aside. When we got to the bottom, no Philip.

I started combing the crowd, screaming Philip's name. Andy began searching the outskirts. Ania saw my fear and began to cry. Kevin was red-eyed as he also searched for his brother.  In desperation I ran to the house, and there was Philip on his bed, in tears.

"Philip!" I cried, "You're safe!" My relief came out in a burst of tears.

Then I realized that Philip's tears were not of fear or hurt. They were angry tears. Philip was mad because someone grabbed him and pushed him out of the way so he couldn't get any candy.

I sat down next to him and gave him a huge hug. "That someone," I said, "was your guardian angel. Do you realize that you could have been crushed?"

There was one boy, Johnson, who ended up at the bottom of the pile who said he couldn't breath, but he is okay now. Fr. Johannes said that he didn't like this pinata custom. It is too dangerous to do in a country where having candy is so rare.

** Note to self: In retrospect what I created was a time bomb waiting to go off -- One hundred teenage boys, an indestructible pinata, and an issuance of a challenge that came with a sweet reward. Thank you, Jesus, for saving everyone from myself!


Then I had my birthday dinner of chipati, sukuma wiki, scrambled eggs, fruit salad and cookies for dessert. I had a candle in one of my cookies, and everyone sang "happy birthday."



Fr. Ted was there to celebrate with me. He gave me a card. I got lots of cards from the priests and boys. Daddy and Mama gave me the Kenyan uniform that we ordered on one of our first trips to Nakuru. I got to pick out the pattern. It is blue and red checked with thin yellow stripes and has seashell trim. And I got a beaded bracelet, too. Kevin, Philip and Lucia made cards for me, and Kevin made me a birthday crown out of a piece of cardboard Fr. Ted brought. He heard that we don't throw anything away that can be reused for crafts.




It was fun to celebrate my birthday today. Thank you, Jesus, for a birthday party I will never forget...my Kenyan birthday. Amina.