02-01-08 maybe that's why we always wear our hats

02-01-08
Fri
00:23

“Maybe that’s why we always wear our hats”.
Tevye said this when he was given 3 days to pack his things and leave his home. Well, I have three days to pack my things and leave Kenya.
Bob and LuAnn shared their hearts with me, and they want me there, and they believe God wants me there. So…they told me tonight, and tonight my dad booked my ticket for leaving Monday with Aly and Amanda. I would nbe a pitiful mess right now if I wasn’t completely sure that this was God’s will. Unlike Tevye, I am leaving for the ones I love. God has taught me so much , an dnone of the lessons are stuck in Kenya. They are for every day of all my days.
I was looking into extending my stay beyond March 5th, but God gives me 3 days. Again, He does things opposite of what I expect. Although, now I understand why there are so few pages left in this journal. –Lord, encourage and strengthen the heart of Daniel while he is alone for this time-

01-30-08 wow

01-30-08
Wed
03:09

Well, I am up @3:AM cuz I want to call my family who are living life in the past (8 hours ago to be exact). And I have been e-mailing these journals to people back in the U.S., so I want to keep my journals relatively up to date.
Anyway…let me explain, no its too long, let me sum up… Jared and Meredith returned to Canada (they are both good friends who I have been living with). Amanda and Aly have booked their tickets to head home on Monday. But wait there’s more…
On Sunday I was hanging out with Wycliffe as he was visiting some people in the hospital and running back and forth buying medicine, etc… he was telling me that that is what shepherds do: run around helping sheep when they are in the hospital, etc… he also added that that past night (Saturday nigh) @ about 11:pm, between 100-200 Kikuyu (a tribe) men banged on his door, and questioned him and told him to arm himself and join them. He overheard them saying that if he resisted, they could kill him as an example, and so they would be taken more seriously. So, while they were taking him, Wycliffe of course prayed for them, and told them that they were like the Israelites, having enemies and oppressors all around, but that they needed to trust the Lord for justice, not the machetes and guns that they were carrying. (P.S. of the whole group, Wycliffe was the only one who wasn’t Kikuyu, and the Kikuyus were all wearing masks as to not be recognized)… so, one of the group proposed that Wycliffe’s words were good enough, so they should let him return home. So they released him @ about 2:am (3 hrs later).
That was a very summarized retelling of the story, but I’m not quite finished yet. –please protect Wycliffe and his entire family from any harm or evil. Your strength is greater; spare none of it-
Wycliffe’s response to this all was to join with his wife, Susan, and praise and thank God for sparing his life. He told me that because God gave his life back to him, and extended his time on earth, he sees clearly that he must work to help people, even more than before. He quoted Ecclesiastes, saying that there is no more work after death, so do it with all your might now Ecclesiastes 9:10. God has given us life now, so we shouldn’t worry about anything else. Use our lives now. We all will die, so let us use our short time to love and help. What could be a sweeter way to spend the rest of our minutes?
Praise God! (I have been learning more and more about praising Him… what question, answer, problem, solution, confusion, clarity, plan, vexation, trial, oppression, blessing, rest, relief, or freedom can be responded to in a better way than praising God? Beyond that, He is really good at handling the rest.)
In summary… praise God, and Wycliffe is more of a man than William Wallace.
I’m gunna try to call my parents again, cuz it’s 4:10 am.

01-29-08 Life eh?

01-29-08
Tue
15:40

Where to begin? I think that most of the time we live as if we don’t believe in Life, and we work as if we don’t believe in death…”an hour and 47 min. later”…Ah, praise God. He is always doing what I least expect. Animals have nests, hives, and holes, but Jesus doesn’t rest His head in one spot. He is not predictable or consistent, so how can those who follow Him expect to live steady, regular, comfortable, consistent lives?
Mat 8:18-22

01-23-08 me and Aly and the Israelites and Aly and I

01-23-08
Wed
18:44

Holy amazing cow! God has been blessing us so frequently that I hardly have a chance to recover from the previous before we are bestowed with the next. He has been giving me exciting and adventurous days, filled with quality time with friends, hanging out with kids, walking and talking with a crazy Kenyan who thinks he is in the Israeli armed forces and that his father bought him every house and shop on the street (he also asked me for ten /= (shillings) and then demanded that I give him 1 million /=), and talking with a deaf lady living in Tuwani, and other such sweet things.
God has been working out all our needs and tasks in beautiful ways. He provides based on his endless resources and His perfect timing.
After all of this, when a new struggle comes my way, I am tempted to say “have you brought us out of Egypt, through the Red Sea, so we would starve to death in the wilderness?” How stupid I can be when I fear the stormy waves, and forget the Love and Wisdom and Power of the Maker of the waves.
And he forgives again and sends quail and manna.

01-22-08 no title can describe this

01-22-08
Tue
08:40

-Father, thank You. My heart has been broken. and if it hadn’t been, it would have hardened the more, dried out, and died. Thank You. I have been setting my eyes on things below. I started and continued to care about what every one else thought. I wanted to be accepted by people more than anything else. I would not have been willing to give up any friend for a friendship with You. I was the prodigal son, poisoning myself on pig slop, but when you opened my eyes, I saw Your arms opened wide. When You opened the depths of my heart, I felt Your Love shining on me. My condition brought me to tears of sorrow. Your Love brought me to tears of Joy-
in the end, there were many tears. As soon as I stopped caring about what people thought, etc…, and cared only of God’s thoughts, person after person was put on my heart so strongly to pray for and care about, and Love. I didn’t expect that. My attention was redirected from people to God, and then God transformed my Love for Him into Love for people, without redirecting my eyes from Him or diminishing my Love for Him
-Father, let me never exchange this Love for another-
Luke 6:20-26-36

01-17-08 God works in funny ways

01-17-08

Thu

18:15

Well well well, isn’t this a work of art.

On Tuesday Caleb and Eva Joy left for America. God led them back (fear had no hand in the matter). Though I miss seeing and talking to them here, I am full of peace about God bringing them there and holding Aly and I here. I love them and my heart has been knit to theirs.

It feels good to pick up the work where they left off. Its nice to have a specific goal and to keep mostly busy working towards it.

You want to see a funny picture?... take a look at Aly and me as making up a team…ha…it just now made me laugh thinking about it. We are opposite in nearly every way. We speak different languages and are slowly getting faster and smoother with the translating. Our trains of thought rarely travel the same length of track (my train generally follows the path of the autumn leaf on a windy day). We see life’s adventures, vexations, and blessings from perpendicular vantage points. Having said this, I must add that I am superthankful for every odd time we spend trying to do stuff together. I value her friendship more than my left kidney. It seems that God is always teaching me a lesson through her. She is an example to me and I wouldn’t trade a single other person for her as a team mate for these months, no matter how much easier it would be (God knows it would be easier for her if I was a little less of her antithesis). One last thing that makes things cooler for us is that we were both very candid that neither of us is at all romantically interested in the other (which is sweet!).

01-12-08_if i ever stop learning i will know nothing

01-12-08

Sat

12:04

God doesn’t seem to be too heavily swayed by our plans. Maybe we shouldn’t hold too much stock in them ourselves.

Yesterday, me and Caleb were going to go to Eldoret, but God told him to cancel the trip. So we spent yesterday celebrating Aly’s 25^th birthday.

I was reading the Bible today, and I get the impression that God wants to encourage and assure us that we need only to trust and follow Him. There are many things to fear, but we need not fear them. (this includes physical fears, emotional fears, fear of doing the wrong thing, or of missing the right thing, of what people think, of hurting people, etc, etc, etc…)…Deuteronomy 31:6-8 “be strong and of good courage…the Lord goes before you He will be with you…do not fear or be dismayed” …Psalm 139 “if I say ‘surely darkness shall fall on me,’ even the night shall be light around me…” even [in the depths of the sea] Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me” John 14:27 “Peace…let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”

One last thing: I am learning to pray about things I think that I already know the answers to. This is a good lesson for me to learn.

01-11-08_squirls in winter

01-11-08

Fri

10:03

The sweetest thing about Kenya is the people who don’t know that you are supposed to be sad or something when you are poor. I have not seen the same level happiness in children in America, even though they have much more than they need. The kids here aren’t bought any toys, but they create cars out of garbage metal pieces and old plastic containers, and balls out of string and plastic bags. They have fun with old bike tires and sticks. It is not their entertainment that amazes me most, but their smiles and laughter. They are like beautiful songbirds who live in the desert.

Though many people have next to nothing, they are eager to welcome you into their homes, and blessed to feed you.

I want so much to learn from the adults and children. Their simple happiness and their selfless service and hospitality

I don’t want to be misleading: selflessness is by no means a common trait among all Kenyans, but I see it manifested in beautiful ways.

01-11-08-_walking eating and working

01-11-08

Fri

09:47

Just a quick backtrack.

This last Sunday me and Jared (very cool rocker that I live with, and he has a sweet gift of talking with ppl, and he visits/interrupts me more than anyone else here (which I am superthankful to him for)) walked to Tuwani and all around within Tuwani. Because it was a Sunday morning, there were a ton of churches in session. Some buildings resounded with celebratory Swahili praise dance inspiring songs. Some echoed with some man or woman all out yelling at the congregation (I couldn’t understand what was being said, but it was discouraging to listen for any length of time.). some buildings housed people dressed completely in white, with red crosses on their shirts, others were led by people dressed in colorful garb that crossed catholic bishop’s with circus performer’s attire.

I enjoy walking with people. And eating with people. And working with people.

When I do these, I feel like I get a taste of communion: fellowship, humanity, comradery, friendship, and Love. I think that you can learn alot about people by the time you spend walking, eating, and working with them.

01-11-08

01-11-08

Fri

06:30ish

Good morning, the sun is just rising now, I just finished a cup of tea and a piece of burnt toast, I think that Daniel and I are the only two ones awake, (and Daniel went out for a morning run), today is Aly’s birthday, and Caleb and I (I always think it sounds so awkward to say “X and I ” it flows so much better to say “me and X”, I always wonder whether I am saying it right or not) are leaving for Eldoret thismorning to go back to the giant open market to buy shoes for the girls at the Tuwani school, Daniel just came back and did backflips for his abb excercize, and I probably should have used periods or something to keep this from being an unjustifiably long sentence. Hang on a sec……ok, I’m back, I had to help a weak wasp get out the window (wasps are always bad mannered. This one stung my journal multiple times while I was helping him)

I don’t remember if I wrote this before, but, although I don’t miss America in the least, I more and more wish that some of the people who are there were here with me. At the same time, I could easily see myself living here for the rest of my life (God hasn’t told me to live here necessarily, but if He does, I won’t put up much of a fight.)

Alot of times, it is really obvious what it means, and how, to be a man of God, a friend, a neighbor, a son, a brother, etc, etc, etc… but sometimes I just don’t know.

As someone once sung, “life is a polka; you’ve got to dance dance dance”

title explanation

hey, this isn't a journal, but i figured i would explain the sketchy title of my Blog "burned beyond recognition". it was a prase that keith green used in a prayer that he journaled i think. he was asking God to burn him beyond recognition in the same heart as the dross and gold are put in the furnace to burn away the dross and purify the gold. it is a really good prase to describe what my desire is too. i want God to put me through anything that will make the old me unrecognizable, and the new me a reflection of Him. so yeah....thats about it.

01-05-08

01-05-08

Sat

11:45

Is there any more welcome sight than the bare feet of close friends?

Is there anything that makes a place home more than the bare honest eyes of those who love you?

Caleb, Eva Joy, and I just sat on the cement kitchen floor and drank ginger tea, listened to Derek Webb, and talked.

Yesterday, Aly and me visited Wycliffe and his family. Wycliffe thanks us for visiting and encouraging him, even though we are the ones being served, welcomed, and encouraged. Wycliffe calls it our exchange program: we are blessed to come to him and he is blessed to receive us. Another good name for this is fellowship.

01-04-08 (2)

01-04-08

Fri

10:22

P.S. I don’t realized that I didn’t mention that Eva Joy is about 5 weeks pregnant.

Her and Caleb moved back to our compound (it is supersweet to see and talk to them more often). I have been getting lonely in general lately, so having them back around has been awesome.

01-04-08

01-04-08

Fri

07:10

Yesterday, me and Caleb went to Graceway school and helped demolish the mud and stick classrooms. I enjoyed that (however, I have big old blisters, because I only had a rough, rigid pipe to use as a tool to start with). After I got back, I had a relaxed day and played coquet with Aly, Todd, and Ian.

Thismorning…was…beautiful in a completely literal way. I left the compound early to see the sunrise. It looked like a huge, blazing fire had been plated with white gold. Te clouds formed waves that rippled towards the blaze, and other clouds crisscrossed the waves in boldly defined whisps. The fire grew in size and brightness until the waves were engulfed. Finally the fire gave birth to the source of its serene fury. The morning star was exposed not as the orangish red newborn that was expected, nor as a quickly growing child. It appeared as the vibrant youth, on the edge of its noonday prime.

01-03-08

01-03-08

Thr

11:08

Ive been thinking about monks, and I have come to the conclusion (not really) that I don’t know why they have that bald spot on top of their heads… besides that, I think I can understand why they live their lifestyle. Actually, it sounds rather appealing in a lot of ways (I wonder if I am thinking about monks, cuz I am mostly stuck in a compound with some other Christians, and there isn’t all that much to do besides pray, think, read, and hang out with God.). I have the feeling though, that Monks don’t spend enough time with children (I think God uses playing and spending time with children not only to fill us with joy, but also to teach us about Himself and ourselves.)

I think that life shouldn’t be lived in seclusion, but neither should we deny its value or reject it completely.

As for me, my best choice would be seclusion, interrupted all the time by people.

12-31-07

12-31-07

Mon

17:04

Well…There has been more rioting, fighting, tribalism, killing, corruption, etc… Kenya is kind of messy in some places, Kibaki was named president, the opposing party guy is still wanting to get power, I just played a game of Draft, Les Misarables is an incredible book, and we are in one of the safest places that I know of in Kenya (kind of boring being cooped up here, but it is very safe feeling).

It is good for me to remember how unrighteous I am, because I can see more clearly the love and grace of God, and love and unity and unjudgementalism (that’s a real word, just trust me on it) for/with other people. [Deuteronomy 9:6]

12-30-07

12-30-07

Sun

8:30

Well…since I wrote last there has been voting for Kenya’s new president (along with cheating, falsification of ballots, etc, etc…), there has been a great deal of rioting throughout Kenya (we are in one of the safer places that there is right now), God has been giving me more peace as I stop seeking solutions and start seeking Him. –Father, give protection and peace to those who are traveling-

recently, there have been 2 signs that I have not been trusting God: 1. my selfish tendencies blanket everything that I see, hear, and think (until everything revolves about me and my strength {“my strength”…ha…that’s a ridiculous concept})._ 2. my violent tendencies come out (I’m very good at hiding these tendencies, but that, doesn’t help) (they mostly come out through punching trees and cement walls) –Lord, knock me awake when I start to lean on my own understanding and strength-

12-26-07

12-26-07

Wed

16:45

Yesterday was Christmas…weird, it didn’t feel like Christmas usually does. The coolest thing about it was the times that just took a metaphorical step back, and remembered the whole point of Christmas, talked with God, and thanked Him for the stuff He was blessing me with.

Boy has He blessed us. And boy is He patient and boy are we dumb, forgetful, and faithless. Aly and I were talking about God’s relentless patience, forgiveness, and love just this morning, while taking tea. God has put Aly in my heart as a sister. I am blessed more and more as we become brother and sister more and more.

Caleb and Eva Joy are experiencing God working in them through eachother. I look up to both of them (not as superiors or authorities, but as family and comrades that I am honored to stand beside). Again, God has been working in mine and Caleb’s hearts, bringing us closer together. I am excited to see where God brings us and how He will use us.

Eva Joy inspires my heart. Caleb offers me a firm hand to help bear my burdens and he challenges me to lift my eyes up to the heavens. Aly wakes me up when my heart begins to atrophy, and she gives me the gift of laughter. The others in the house (Daniel, Meredith, Jared, Amanda) are also family to me. (God was not daydreaming when He decided who would e here and when. He planned it very deliberately.)

Random side note = 2 interesting things I learned about myself: 1. my laughter can be confusing to the outsider, because it is often unclear what prompted it, and why it prompted it. I won’t suppress my desire to laugh. So I will instead try to explain its origin and direction (or not, and just let ppl wonder) _2. I really like to be visited (meaning…) I sometimes go off by myself, but I am so happy when someone joins me. I love to be interrupted when I am alone. Whether I am reading, writing, singing, walking, sitting, or even praying or even sleeping, I love to be interrupted to visit or talk or listen or see a friend.

12-25-07

12-25-07

Tue

21:02

Its quazi-funny how trivial some things are. For instance I am drawn to tell about how I saw Kibaki (the president of Kenya) as he was slowly driven by me, with his upper body sticking out of his SUV’s sun roof, while he was waving to and greeting the people he passed. Of all the days for Kibaki to drive right by me and see me, I was wearing my bright orange t-shirt (orange is the color and symbol of Kibaki’s opposing party) about a week before election day…

… Good story? Sure, but it’s not that big a deal when I think about even the little things that God has been doing in and out of our hearts. Sometimes I wish there was a Stoney Tangawizi for the heart (Stoneys are a ginger soda out here, and they are both delicious, refreshing, and great for settling your stomach) (sorry for the bad grammar with “both”). My heart has sometimes been getting motion sickness from the freefalls, skyward climbs, double loops, corkscrew spins, and whipping left and right turns that it has been experiencing these past weeks. The song “Get Down” by Audio Adrenalin is a very accurate picture of how things have been for me lately… I like that song.

Wycliffe is always an encouragement for me. A couple of mornings ago, I was having a rough morning, so I walked. I didn’t know where I was walking, but I ended up at Wycliffe’s house. He welcomed me with excitement, a great big smile, and a hug that left no doubt that we were family. When Wycliffe speaks, it is as if I am getting food and rest from his words. And as if that wasn’t enough, he always offers us home made meals, and a seat in his house. God used him to restore me (yet again). I shed tears as Wycliffe spoke to my heart.

12-20-07

12-20-07

Thr

10:25

Well… God still hasn’t supernaturally taken away the “thorn in my flesh” (idontknow if that phrase is being used theologically correct, but whatever it is, it is definitely in my flesh (sin nature) and it sure hurts like a Kitale thorn (“Kitale” means “white thorn” and the white thorns are needle sharp and very long)).

Oh, but wait, it gets worce… I’ve been talking to God and sleeping outside lately (I didn’t realize before how cold it gets at nights) –Lord, protect the street kids- … and a couple of nights ago, while I was talking with God, I discovered something that brought me peace and disturbedness in matching portions … God set me up… He made sure that this thorn found its way to lodge itself ideep in my sinful heart. And why, one may ask, has God blessed me so plentifully with this gift?... to crush me of course. It has ripped away my pride, crumbled the foundation beneath my feet, it has pummeled me and left me lying on the dirt, weak and foolish. The only thing sturdy enough to support my weight is my fiath in God.

It is an odd thing to thank God for the thorn, but the truth is that this white thorn may be the only lance anble to pierce the belly of the Leviathan of selfishness and pride that lives within me. [Job 41] [2Cor 12:7-9]

12-18-07

12-18-07
Tue
14:00

God knows exactly what we need when we need it. Why are we here in Kenya? Why are we here on earth? Are we here to fight injustice and poverty? Are we problem solvers sent by God? I think not. We are here to have communion with God. I don’t think that poverty and injustice are our enemies anymore than money and a good judicial system are our allies. It is truly a gift from god when He uses us to help and bless others (and this will be our desire the more we have communion with God.). He does not use us on account of our money and talent. He can’t lead us if we put Him to our left, our right, our behind us. He must be in front of us to lead us (and often He will not lead us to great and noble and valiant deeds, but only to Himself (I use the word “only” with sarcasm))
Today God gave my team/family a Sabbath. A day of rest and focus on Him.

12-17-07 (2)

12-17-07

Mon

17:27

So much happened yesterday that I forgot to mention something.

When I met up with Caleb, Eva Joy, and Aly, we visited Beatrice (little Esther’s mom). Esther is doing better, and we were so happy to see her smile and laugh. Her older sister Faith (who goes to GraceWay school) is recovering well from her broken leg (she was hit by a bicycle). Beatrice, is about 25 years old and is a single mom. While we were in her tiny house, we experienced the most amazing laughter and smiles from Beatrice and her 4 girls (she also has a baby boy). They have so little, but their happiness is contagious. It reminds me more and more of what is important in life.

12-17-07

12-17-07
Mon
13:21

Wow, I have a lot I could write… 2 nights ago (Sat. night) I slept outside under a beautiful clear night sky. The air was cold… my tears were warm. There are things in me that I don’t want to have; some that I didn’t even know I had (emotions, thoughts, desires, feelings, self pity). The weight of my sinful nature and self pity was almost suffocating. That night, I argued with God a lot while laying on top of the grass and beneath the stars. I prayed for Him to supernaturally take away the sunful and undesirable things in me. He didn’t. I fell asleep still not understanding.
The next morning (Sun. morning) I continued to argue beneath the orange-red painted, sunrise sky. Later, I went into the house, sat facing a window, and closed my eyes. I could not move from that position; the war in my heart demanded my full attention. It was almost funny to ear people talking about me while I was right there. I was wearing a hoodie, so no one could see my face. “is he sleeping?” “who is that?” “freaky” “he is in a meditating monk position” “maybe he’s not there at all but he propped his hoodie up to look like it, and he is hiding somewhere spying on us” “how can he stay so perfectly still for so long” “I think he slept like that the whole night”.
That was also the same morning that Kate (a cool friend and part of the T.I. team) was leaving for Nairobe, and then for Texas. It was hard having everything happening at once. The house is noticeably emptier without Kate here. –Father, hold her heart close to Yours, so that they beat to the same rhythm-
Later in the morning, I just knew I had to get out and run and walk and pray and listen…so I did. I didn’t know where I was going, but as I walked, I felt motivated to take the road to the hospital…so I did. I found the children’s ward, and walked around there for a while. As I was walking out of the children’s ward (ward X), Isabella comes out of another room, and calls me. I got to go in and visit her daughter Gillian. The Meningitis is still stiffening her body, but even while barely being able to move, Gillian has such an amazing smile. Isabella hasn’t been sleeping much, because she has to share the same small cot with her daughter, and there isn’t enough room to be comfortable. After saying bye to them, I went around the outside wall of ward X, sat down, and prayed for the children. God totally used that to refocus my heart, quench my self pity, and build my faith.
After leaving the hospital, I walked to (and into) Tuwani slum (Tuwani farm). I walked and walked until I was almost completely lost. I played with some kids, saw a huge variety of churches (and other assemblies), and saw a lot of neat areas. I brought no money, water, cell phone, or anything else, so I was relieved when I finally found my way out of the slums. Again God used this to further set my heart to the pulse to the True Beat.
I found my way (with the help of children) to Grace Way (the school and church on the edge of Tuwani). By the time I got there, Caleb, Eva Joy, and Aly already left, so I decided to walk home. As I was walking away, Wycliffe’s daughter Judeth called me and told me that they were at her father’s house. She led me there, and I was reunited with my family. I spent the rest of the day with the 3 of them, and that night we ate together at Karibuni Lodge (where Caleb and Eva are staying) (phenomenally amazing food). We had a great time of talking and fellowship (and food). I am soo thankful for Caleb, Eva Joy, and Aly.
At the end of the day, God still didn’t supernaturally take away my natural tendencies to make a mess and be a mess. He gave me a chance to have faith in Him instead of just solving (or feeling sorry and whining about) my own problems. He wants me to die and live with Him; He doesn’t want me to become tougher, number, and more self sufficient.
…and then He blesses me…a lot!...
As Rich Mullins once said, “it don’t do to fight with God because He always wins. He bloodies your nose and then gives you a ride home on His bicycle.”

12-15-07

12-15-07

Sat

08:35

Como se dice Wow!

-Lord, thank You for last night- [Psalm 107] Last night was awesome! I was starting to stress/worry/allow my natural stupidity/desires to take my eyes off of life. So I decided to walk outside to talk to God about stuff. I didn’t even get one whiney word out… God set up a beautiful, magnificent, clear, stary sky to meet me. All I could think was “oh my God You are awesome”.

I get distracted by the dumbest things, and I instantly resort to a form of self pity. But when I am reminded of the overpowering love and knowledge and power of God, my other cares and concerns vanish like bread crumbs in a class 5 tornado.

I stayed lying down on the grass, looking at the sparkling and shooting stars for a long time. The rest of the house was having a relaxed night, but I was only satisfied lying down outside, resting in the wonder of my Father.

Sometimes God sets apart time for us to do nothing but rest in Him.

12-14-07

12-14-07

Fri

09:28

The day we last visited Tuwani, we visited some children who go to the school. A family that we visited there had a little girl named Esther. She is 2 or 3 years old and she wouldn’t eat because she was suffering from malnutrition (she looks younger than 2 years old, because she isn’t getting the nutrition that she needs to grow) (not growing and not eating are signs of malnutrition). While we were at her house, they told us that she needed an appetizer (it is strange…that the word we use for a pre-meal snack is the word they use for a medicine that will cause a little girl to eat so she doesn’t starve to death). Eva Joy and Caleb brought Esther to the hospital, and Eva has been staying with her for much of the day for the past days. The hospital is cramped, not well organized, dirty, and ill equipped. There are IVs in children’s veins in their heads, cots sometimes must fit 2 or 3 children each, a trail of blood has shown where someone has been walking, and if you would like the doctor to use gloves, you need to bring them yourself. We are hopeful that Esther will be able to leave the hospital today, because she is doing better, and the swelling of her face has gone down (swelling is another sign of malnutrition).

In the meantime, Isabella’s little girl just was admitted to the hospital, because she has meningitis (Isabella is the woman who’s son died last month)

Prayer is more effective than the hospital out here… I realize that, in America, it is only my lack of faith and misplaced faith that makes me turn to a doctor or medicine before God.

12-13-07

12-13-07

Thu

19:17

A few days ago, my group/team (caleb, eva joy, aly, me) went into Tuwani, and I have never seen so many children in such a short period of time in my life. There were mobs of them around every corner. A big group of them followed us Mazungus all over. Because school is out, all the kids run free. Each one of them is beautiful and precious (and I am not just saying that out of principle). They are the future of Kitale, and even Kenya, but so few truly see them. They are eagles without a sky. They are the “little ones” who Jesus would receive.