Dear Readers,
I am sorry for the lack of blog posts recently! I have been very busy between work and family coming to visit. If you are interested on what events and happenings I have been up to recently please see the website oaic.org for recent events that have taken place in our organization. Hopefully in the next week I will have some time to post pictures and a bit more of what I have been up to. Hope you are well!
Have a great day!

It has been too long

The combination of my sensitive stomach, love of fruit and adventurous behavior recently have made me an excellent target to get some random stomach infection that left me in the hospital vomiting for two days straight. Thank goodness for my host parents who live just up the street from me and the fact that my host dad is a doctor also helped quite a bit. I am happy to say I was taken care of very well for a fraction of what it would have cost in the states. Every time I gagged the first night I was in the hospital there was a nurse that followed me around and said sorry which was possibly like 40 times. 

I am sure you have heard enough of the gruesome details of my hospital experience so I would like to continue with apologizing for my lack of postings recently. The holidays were quite a busy time, we traveled for a retreat to mount Kenya for a safari, I showed a fellow YAV around Nairobi and ate so much food at our site coordinators house. I also have some great news about a new job that I have recently taken on at a local public school in downtown Nairobi. I have begun swim coaching part time along with my position a the OAIC. I absolutely love working with the kids and I can't wait to get to know the teachers at the school better! The whole school seems like one Giant family and it truly helps make the experience worth while. We will soon be going to galas (swim meets) in the area and I will be sure to inform you of the latest news from our program.  

I have literally had the best week ever. Pastor Edward from Family TV (he also put me in connection with the swimming gig) who I connected with before invited me to church at St. Andrews this morning. I spent like five hours in church and in the end of it came out with two new group memberships. One call Friends of God which is a group of youth that sing gospel for churches in the area they were so great to invite me in. I also will start the praise team for the youth church at St. Andrews this coming week. I am so excited about all of it. Not only that but pastor Edward Introduced me to his lovely wife who I am so thankful to have met. We had a great conversation and it was so nice to have another connection in such a great church community here. I cannot wait to continue to worship here! 

Earlier this week on the way home from coaching I took the matatu home then caught a motor bike back to street where I live I ran into a lovely woman named Sara. We started talking and she told me about her family and she taught me some Swahili as we walked. She asked if I was a Christian and I said yes we talked about how God has blessed her. She asked me if I had a husband I said no and she said you are just looking for the right one. She told me make sure he is strong and faithful so he doesn't leave you for another woman like mine did. She then said she would pray for me that I find a good husband. Now I'm not looking at the moment it just struck me how kind a stranger on the street could be, I just home that we can run into one another soon. 

Hello Family!

I hope all are well! I just wanted to update you on a few of my most recent experiences since it has been a while.

Yesterday I escorted a Professor and husband to an African Independent Church called the Holy Spirit Church of East Africa. It was a very interesting experience that I wish all of you could be apart of, it will truly open your eyes to a new type of worship and praise. We started the five to six hour service at 11am and began with singing and dancing. Yes people dance, drum and even clap in their all white robes marked with a red cross. The white robes represent purity and the red crosses stand for the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The women and children sit on one side of the church and the men on another. As the worshipers enter the church, they take off their shoes and come to praise God as themselves in this most simplistic manner.

I got responses from Steve, the former Baptist Preacher and Researcher currently and his wife Professor Karen immediately following the service. I could not agree more with what they said.  Steve said, ' It is a great blessing to visit African Churches, whichever church I visit I am blessed so much. I have visited many churches in the U.S.A. and have to say that the African Churches are more joyous. To see the amount of joy these people get from Jesus is inspirational. I wish every American could visit and African Church. Being able to visit an African Church might be the best reason for me to come to Africa. Regardless of the denomination of church here in Africa, there is a strong sense that we are brothers and sisters in Christ. No matter the worship style or language, it is clear that we are one in Spirit.'

An interesting part of worship was the fact that visions were talked about by members of the congregation and were interpreted by a profit. One vision for example seen by a man who saw an avocado tree with red berries. The profit would say how this related to what God was doing in their lives at the time. Seeing peoples visions be interpreted might sound ridiculous to us at home, but it is something that we have to respect as apart of their culture and worship. Worshiping here in Kenya is not a task but a lifestyle and fun at that. It is something I look forward to going to where I can feel free to be myself. I truly wish all of you could experience a worship service here in Kenya it would truly open your eyes.

I have attached below a letter I tried to send via email to my supporters back home. I have pasted it here for those of you who did not provide an email. Thanks so much for your help!

Dear Family and Friends,

I wanted to take this time during the holidays to thank you so much for your continuous support these past few months. I could not be here without you and I am truly grateful.

For those of you who may not ‘blog’ I have spent the past few months working at the Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC). I am in the programming and communication department where we are currently in the process of planning for youth from Nairobi informal settlements to build a peace bench here at the OAIC. The purpose is to have a visual reminder of peace as we approach the 2013 election here in Kenya.

I have had the privilege of meeting and connecting with so many different people here who have opened countless doors and helped me get involved in the community. I am hoping to start swim coaching at Nairobi Primary School in January to further my involvement.

My Kiswahili is improving slowly through the help of my ‘Kenyan Mothers’ here at the office. People here have a way of opening up their hearts to you which helps me to feel at home.

I spent last Thursday morning on a panel for a Kenyan talk show discussing the meaning of Christmas which will air December 19^th. I will be sure to pass it along to you. 

I would like to thank you once again for your support financially and through prayer. I would also like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Nairobi, Kenya.

Love,

Catherine Freeland

catherinefreeland.blogspot.com

oaic.org

Dear Readers,

I have recently learned that many of you cannot leave comments for reasons unknown. I will leave my email address if you have any questions or comments feel free. freelandc12@gmail.com

Thanksgiving in Kenya was great despite the fact that I had to work part of the day. A large group of my colleagues went to Rev. Phyllis house (our site coordinator) and had a huge lunch with turkey, sweet potatoes, veggies and three different kinds of cake. Needless to say I was completely full when I left. It was a great time to get together with my Kenyan family and remember all that we have to be thankful for.

I have been working with my colleague Will on a Peace Bench Campaign for the OAIC. The purpose is to get youth in Kenya to come together to create a bench to serve as a visible symbol of peace. Last week met with 10 youth from Nairobi informal settlements to start the process. The bench is made of plastic bottles and bags along with some cement. We are working together with the youth and local businesses to gather the recycled material.  While constructing the benches we will have discussions with the youth about barriers that prevent us from having peace and what we can do to break down those barriers. The youth are to come back on Dec. 5th to begin the construction process and I look forward to getting to know them.

See OAIC website for more information if you wish on the Peace Bench (oaic.org)

 

Above is an image of the peace bench created in Nakuru about an hour outside of Nairobi.

I have recently had a hard time dealing with something that I face on a daily basis. Just about every day while walking home or to the grocery I am asked for money or food. At first I felt compassionate and would sometimes give bread that I had in my grocery bag but as it happened more and more I began to get frustrated. I cannot really explain why exactly I got frustrated at the situation. I think it might have to do with the fact that they only ask white people for money and food. Some even sit and wait for us to walk by.  I have thought about what one is supposed to do in this situation and have realized that me giving them food does not really help them at all. It gives into the stereotype of skin color and it encourages them to continue to beg. It is definitely hard to ignore these people that come up to you, but honestly on a missionary salary cannot afford to give to all that ask. It is hard to know what to do in these situations, I guess all I can do is pray for them.

Tomorrow I am supposed to be on a Family TV show which discusses the meaning of Christmas. I am supposed to discuss how Christmas is celebrated at home. I will definitely mention the beautiful decorations, the smiles and singing Silent Night by candle light on Christmas Eve at my home church. I think the music is also something that creates comfort inside me. You cannot listen to Holly Jolly Christmas without feeling jolly!  I do however think that we have been sucked into materialism and it seems to get worse and worse each year. I think we get consumed in the gifts rather than the blessings we have right in front of us. I think it takes stepping back to be with family and friends to make memories that will last, rather than a shirt you will grow out of. That is something I am choosing to work on this year.

A Humbling Experience in Kisumu Town

This past weekend I traveled with Caferine my best friend here to her village for her grandma's funeral. I had the privilege of staying with her family for the weekend who taught me so much. I learned Luo greetings and now have four new Luo names (Akinyi meaning in the morning, Achien'g meaning during the day, Truphosa the name of Caferine's grandma, and Atieno). Her family despite it being a sad time for them was so grateful and kept saying how happy there were to have me there. The whole family wanted to build me a semi-permanent house out of cow dung and mud on their land to live.  I was honored to be asked back for a longer stay next time and requested by her sisters to bring chocolate.

The Funeral:
Here like church services are all day processes which start at around 10 with actual burial ending around 3. There is an introduction of family members where many close relatives talk about their lost loved one followed by the actual service lead by the preachers. During parts of the funeral around mid day I noticed people getting up and leaving and later found out they were going for lunch but would soon return. This service takes place on the grounds near the house of the love one  where they will soon be laid to rest. I had trouble understanding the service because it was in Luo so I spent much of the time helping in the kitchen prepare food for family members and guests. The most memorable part was at the actual grave site feet away from grandma's house. The singing was beautiful as family said goodbye.

Village Life:
It was definitely hot where at my new home with few trees for shade. I got to enjoy and learn more cooking of traditional Kenyan dishes over charcoal and firewood. I learned how they fry their fish, make ugali, smashed potatoes, and mandazi. One evening after visiting family we got to ride the boda boda (motorcycles) at night and I swear I have never seen so many stars in my life the sky was gorgeous. What I will take back from this experience is the simplicity in the lifestyle of the people in the village. They do not have much but what they do have they are so grateful for and make the most of it. They live wonderful lives and are true examples to follow.They took such good care of me and made sure I was always alright.

I wish I had pictures to show you of my experience and eating fish from Lake Victoria with my hands but my memory card was not working. It has since been fixed so expect more pictures soon!

Sunday Service

Since many my readers are from my home church I think that it is important to share with you what a common service is like here. I will use an example from this past weekend.  My friend Caferine took me to Thika, a town outside of Nairobi (about 36 kilometres) for a baptism. We arrived at the AIC (African Independent Church) about 10 AM to the sound of energetic singing, drumming and dancing. The singing and dancing featured children, a women’s group and elders from the church and is my favorite part of the service. I wish I could take the children back with me to share with you their beautiful music. It is not like at home where you read from the hymnals, the congregation just knows the songs and I just danced and clapped to their inspirational music.

After about an hour of singing or more then it was time for visitor’s introduction.  This time is when all visitors or friends of the church go to the front and introduce themselves. Take note that everyone but me spoke Swahili or Kikuyu so I am not even sure when I spoke the audience understood anything I said.  After, from what I understand, the church asked for offering in honor of the children being baptized to go towards the church.  Concluding the baptism (which was very similar to ours just longer) the preacher or ‘bishop’ here delivered his message. From the translator I understood that his message was simple, ‘that if you believe in God he will provide for you wealth, possibly not monetarily but through another measure.’  At churches here, an entire Sunday is spent worshiping and praising God, I admire this quality because at home if church goes five minutes over an hour then people get restless. Something after being here and experiencing these worship styles is hard to understand.The advantage is that congregations are truly family and know one another. It's like a church picnic every Sunday.

                After the actual service, there had to be food. It is a Kenyan tradition to eat and eat a lot! The entire church came for rice, chapatti, beans and potato- carrot soup. It was great, the entire day was filled with joy and celebration of the baptism. Concluding the event was tea time where the group gathered around the circle and introduced themselves and the preacher from earlier would end with prayer.  The preacher said that their church was blessed because a white (mizungu) girl was there worshiping with them.  I should tell you that I cannot go unnoticed here; all eyes were constantly on me especially by the elders and children. The people in Thika were grateful for my presence and they welcomed me with open arms as I have been everywhere I have gone. I hope this gives you a bit of insight into worship. If you have any questions please feel free to ask.  

 

 

Next weekend I am going to my friend Caferine’s grandmother’s funeral. She found out just yesterday that she was burned alive in a house fire and the causes are unknown. I hope to share this experience with you also.