Korr: The Stories

This is a collection of some of the encouraging stories we heard or encountered during our time in Northern Kenya.

Indubayo and her cutie son Emmanuel

Indubayo

This woman became a Christian through the literacy program that is in effect for the mamas from villages surrounding the Korr area. Many of these women do not know how to read or write in their own language (Rendille) so these classes were put in place in order for them to gain this basic education. The gospel is also shared with them at these classes held under the trees in their villages. Indubayo sincerely understood the meaning of Christ's death on her behalf and this caused her to make a radical life change. 

The Evangelists!

In Rendille culture, their traditional religion is monotheistic and is similar in many ways to Judaism. One important aspect of their religion is the act of performing sacrifices in order to be cleansed from sin. They would slaughter a goat and bathe in its blood to be purified. This practice no longer sat right with Indubayo and she asked her husband if she could stop participating in it. She explained to him that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice and that all of her sins have been paid for my Christ's death on the cross. Seeing a change in his wife, her husband agreed. The people in her village threatened to beat her for this, but her husband was very supportive of her decision and protected her. Indubayo has now brought her husband to church and he is learning about the Bible and Christ's love. She is so rich in faith and is now one of the women who share about Christ at the literacy classes. She and three other women are known as the "evangelists" and they rock.

Literacy Class

Indubayos's Mom

Circumcision of women is a practice in Rendille culture that occurs the night before a girl's wedding. A missionary staying in Korr really felt the Spirit lead her to hold a conference with the woman about this tradition. With many of the Rendille women in attendance, this missionary spoke, giving medical and biblical reasons against this practice. The next day of the conference Indubayo's mom shared with the rest of the group. She explained how furious she was after hearing this woman speak, how this had been a part of their culture for hundreds of years. This mom would hold down the girls are they were being circumcised, so she was very involved and for this. She went on to share that in her anger, the Holy Spirit touched her and left her feeling convicted about her part in this tradition. She realized how the lives of there girls were being harmed and no longer wished to participate. She also told the group that she would speak out against the ritual.

Ndoto

This man named Ndoto is one of the pastors at the Africa Inland Church in Korr and the missionaries that we stayed with shared his story with us.

At age 11, Ndoto and his brother were sent away from home to herd livestock because their family could no longer provide for them. One night, while they were out with the warriors tending to the animals, a lion jumped the thorn fence that was set up and instead of grabbing one of the goats, it snatched Ndoto by the torso and ran off with him! The warriors chased the lion for 2km trying to spear the creature, but all of their attempts failed. Fortunately the small dog that they kept back at their camp chased the lion as well, running inbetween its legs and barking wildly. The lion was eventually so fed up that is dropped Ndoto, took the dog, and sprinted away. Talk about man's best friend! The warriors quickly picked up and carried the bleeding boy back to their camp, desperately trying to figure out what they would do. Trucks were rarely seen in the region they were in. They had not seen a vehicle for months, yet by God's grace a truck passed by that very moment. It was able to transport Ndoto to the nearest hospital (still 7 hours away) and he lived to tell the tale. It took him months to recover and his journey back home was very difficult, but he survived the jaws of the king of the jungle! So incredible! This proves that life is a serious gift.

School Buses!

Trucks and buses

Samaritan's Purse raised money for trucks and school buses and presented them to the missionaries in Korr to use for their ministry. The school buses were a real blessing for the children and the teachers. There have been Christian schools put in place (started by these missionaries I believe) for nursery kids all the way up to secondary. A lot of the Muslim community in Korr send their children to the Christian schools since that would be their only option. When the school buses were announced to be arriving, the Muslim mamas were REJOICING! They were praising God and had such thankful hearts. 

A Giving Culture

So when my mom, three of the four evangelist women, and I were walking through the town centre (really just a middle section of a goob with families selling certain goods like sugar, flour, and pop) a Muslim women saw us and called us other. She talked with one of the evangelists and then she translated for us. The Muslim mama was saying how grateful they were for Samaritan's Purse (SP) and how now they didn't have to fear for their kids in the early morning walk to school since hyenas were out then. She and her mother gave us HUGE bear hugs and were so sweet. She then walked inside her little shop and handed us two cans of Sprite. Coming from a family with very little, I was really honoured. Who would've thought that a can of pop would mean so much. Judy (the evangelist who spoke English) told us that gifts are a big deal in Rendille culture. You never refuse a gift. 

An outdoor classroom under the shade of a tree

Their kindness was astounding. And the Christian schools here are such a good ministry to these families, as well as the work that SP, a Christian organization, is doing. 

Our time in Korr was short, but the experiences felt like they had years of depth added to them. While I was there I could barely remember what we had done the day before because each moment was jam-packed with places to go and people to meet. Every moment was an encouragement and a blessing. I'm certain that my fam can vouch for that statement. The people we met inspired us to reevaluate how we view life, love, and our faith; this is why I tell you their stories. And when lines as cheesy as that make it in my blog (I'm not a huge fan of the cheese), you've got to know that they're true! :)

Rolling across the dessert with some incredible women!

Korr: The Rendille Tribe

I want to begin by saying that Kenya is BEAUTIFUL: its people, landscape, and wildlife.  I recommend a visit to this country for people everywhere! The locals are genuinely friendly so waving has become an every day occurrence. I'd be seen as a weirdo back in Canada if I waved at everyone I saw... but here the gesture is returned! I feel very at peace in this place.

So Korr: Our journey there was beautiful in itself. We flew on a Cessna 206 (for all you plane lovers our there), which is a tiny 6 seater plane. The view was spectacular, sailing over waterfalls, lush green mountains,  and dusty barren deserts. It was so fascinating to get a bird's eye view of northern Kenya. Upon arrival we had a huge group of school children (nursery and elementary aged) singing songs to greet us. And believe me, we heard and participated in a lot of singing in Korr, as my good friend Josiah predicted after hearing that I would be in Kenya. They are certainly a singing culture! Mamas, warriors, children... everyone uses their voices here, and most of the songs we listened to, if not all, were songs dedicated to praising God. Our ears were treated with traditional Rendille worship, merrying vocals and hand gestures, every bus or truck ride we would take. These people blessed us throughout the entire trip. Getting a glimpse into their lives and building relationships with them was ultimate highlight of the trip for me. Their lifestyle is so vastly different from my own. I know that each culture is different, but these people really intrigued me.

Here are some cool facts about this phenomenal tribe:

- The village they live in is known as a 'goob' (pronounced gobe) which is comprised of many 'mins', which is their home essentially. A min is made out of sticks and covered in hides, furs, cardboard, and whatever else can be found to block the constant winds in Korr.

- Camel are the prized possessions of the Rendille. They drink their blood, collect their milk, and base their wealth on the amount they have. They do not slaughter them because they are very precious. Camels are how these people survive because there is little to no vegetation and water is scarce.

- Males go through 3 stages in Rendille culture: boyhood, warriorhood, and elder. The transition to a warrior requires the circumcision of a boy. After this is done, the new man must move out of his family's min and go out with the other warriors to tend to the camels and other livestock since there is usually no grazing grounds where they live. After warriorhood for 14 years and some killing of lions and other wild animals (these dudes are TOUGH), they marry and become an elder. Consenus decision making is used among the elders.

- Females are not thought to have an identity until they are married. Before marriage however, women are circumcised. Unbeknownst to me, this practice is carried out all over the world. I was astounded. After being wed, they are seen as a woman and they receive a red and white beaded necklace that has the same meaning as our wedding ring. They are then part of their husband's clan, which is the bases of identity for a Rendille; knowing the clan is more important than knowing one's name when making first introductions.

- Duties: Men are the protecters, shepherds, and decisionmakers while women are responsible for the children, homebuilding, cooking, firewood collecting, and water fetching. Children do a lot of firewood and water collecting, helps their moms with the workload.

- Dress: Kids wear whatever can be found if they were anything at all. Mamas (which is a name that encompasses all married women with children) and adolescent girls wear skirts with a bare torso or long dresses paired with intriquite beaded necklaces and a headdress. Warriors wear long skirts and feathered headdresses. They each carry a spear, a beaded staff, and birlep which is essentially a long knife with a handle. Women have short hair and warriors have long hair, so in some of the goobs we visited the girls would laugh me and be touching my hair since it was so strange for them to see!

- Food: Unfortunately, food is scarce in the desert. That is why there SP is providing a feeding program for the children. They drink a lot of camel and goat milk and sometimes add camel's blood for nutrients. They eat beans and maize, usually made into a watery drinkable porridge. They drink a lot of tea with an incredible amount of sugar. Tea is a staple in their diet. For instance, if a child has had tea in the morning, they can go to school. That is a sufficient breakfast. Fat is also a big need for Rendille. They require the energy found in fat since they do not find vegetables and fruits, so if they have slaughtered an animal (which is rare), they will cover the meat in fat. Niriniri was a very greasy dish of goat's meat... not sure if I liked it.

These are only the basics, but it gives you an idea of the way in which these people live. They are truly one of a kind.

From the Nomadic North to the Southern Savannah

We are alive!

No, we haven't been gobbled up by lions, speared by Rendille warriors, or swept away by a dust devil in the desert. The lack of Internet access and the fatigue have dictated whether I could blog or not. according to my recent posts (...none) you can see how strict thhis dictatorship was! We are currently in the Amboseli National Game Park and tomorrow we will be embarking on our journey home. :(

These past four or five days have been earth-shattering. I have never experienced or heard such things in my life. The way God is working amongst the Rendille people was so encouraging to witness during our time in Korr. Those who hear about the gospel there gain a new found joy in life and are so in awe of Christ's sacrifice on their behalf. I will be doing some major recapping in the next couple of days, since time is running out for our trip.

Be ready for the CUTEST KIDS, incredible stories and testimonies, and some insane facts about one of the world's most unreached people groups. Also count on some tales of our animal friends at Amboseli (hint: one of them may have had a leading role in a certain Disney movie... along with a huge mane!!!) Please keep checking for updates!

I promise that you will be intrigued.

Up Close and Personal

Today was our chance to snuggle with some African creatures! ...well not snuggle really, but it's as close as we've ever been! Our first stop was at The David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage. And yes, it was as cute as it sounds. If you're interested in learning more about the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust and what they're doing to protect and preserve African wildlife, check out the website!

http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

So, back to the orphaned cuties. There are 3 stages in the elephants' lives once they are taken into this program. First they stay in the Nursery in which they are called 'infants'. Then they are known as 'juniors' once they get older. The goal of this orphanage is to reintegrate these intelligent beasts into the wild. They are known as 'ex-orphans' if this process is successful.

The caretakers of the elephants led the first troupe (the nursery elephants) into this rope enclosed space outside, where a large bottle of what looked like milk was awaiting them. The caregivers told the stories of the elephants. Many of them stay in the orphanage because their mothers were killed by poachers. We watched them bury themselves in mud, play soccer (no joke!), and simply fool around. One of the elephants was so MINI. He (or she) was about a third of the size of the other infants! My family and I just gushed over that little one.

The juniors made quite the entrance as they exchanged places with the infants in a full out charge. It was obvious that they had more energy because of their rough-housing and their friendliness with all of the visitors. They are hairy animals, and their eyelashes are so thick and long! But by the time that they wandered over to let us pet them, they were all covered in a layer of mud to shield then from the hot sun, so it wasn't as easy to tell. At one point, at least 5 or so were participating in a doggy pile, or rather 'elephant pile', at the mud hole. Everyone watching thought it was the sweetest thing, until one of the elephants trumpeted out in agony. He was being pushed and trampled on under all of his buddies. It took another shout from him to finally get the rest of the group moving. I guess bullying happens in the animal kingdom too! But it was really intriguing to see how playful and affectionate these elephants were towards each other. They are very community-oriented creatures.

The Giraffe Centre was the next animal destination. We were up in a building of sorts surrounded by a balcony, and with small pellets in our hands we fed the giraffes! Their tongues curl around the treat, licking your hand in the process. One of them wrapped their tongue all the way around my hand in search of the food. Slimy and a dark dark shade of purple, their tongues are probably as long as my forearm.. maybe longer if they tried! These guys were different from the elephants though. They aren't as friendly. Petting them was challenging and they would normally jerk their heads away if someone tried. But when someone had food, oh man, best friend forever... until your food ran out and then they'd make a beeline for the next eager tourist. It was cool to be so up close to them however. Their eyes are enormous!

Now the rest of the day consisted of encounters with human beings! We met with many of the Kenyans working at the SP office here. They were very welcoming and lovable people, catching up with my Dad and smiling alot at my mom, brother, and I. The Kenyans we've met so far are all so kind! After meeting with them, we stopped at a street vendor's fruit and vegetable stand to buy 2 crates full for the missionaries that are hosting us in Korr these next . And how much did all of these fresh groceries cost? About 30 bucks! I'm sorry, but the rollbacks in the grocery aisle at Walmart do not compare! It was interesting to observe the locals that came by for their purchases. Life has a much slower pace here, so the culture seems far more laid back then Canadian culture back home. We haven't had much concept of time and it's been wonderful.

So tomorrow we'll be flying out to Korr (in a 4 or 5 passenger plane) and staying there for 3 nights I believe. We'll visiting the projects that SP is running in that area. I don't know the full extent of our days there, but that's were faith comes in! God is going to lead, which is the best part. Pictures of cute babies are sure to come, but probably not for a few days. I doubt that Internet is the biggest priority out in the desert, haha. Please keep us in your prayers as we leave tomorrow!

Goodnight, or good afternoon to all back home!

Karibu to Kenya

We have arrived in Nairobi and are officially in the Southern hemisphere! So weird!

After flying across the Atlantic to Amsterdam and then across the Mediterranean Sea into Africa, our travel time clocks at around 24 hours. The humidity was not surprising as we stepped off the plane, but the driving was! Kenyans drive on the left side of the road here, like the English do in the UK. On our way from the airport to the Samaritan's Purse guest house, our driver Ephantus (he works closely with SP here in Kenya) gave us a bit of a spiel on the history of the country. He is a knowledgable guy with a really big heart. I liked him right off the bat! He'll be our guide for the safari that we'll be on later in the week too.

The real fun began when we got to the guest house though. We had to do a bit of lock-picking/breaking & entering in order to get into our rooms. I'm sure the neighbours in the rest of the apartment complex thought we were crazy... So in combining Ryan's ingenius ability to figure things out and my ingenius ability to always have a bobby pin (ha), we finally got in.

Tomorrow we are going to the Elephant Orphanage and then we'll be heading out to Korr on a small plane the next day!

So it being around 1am (9 hour jet lag!) , we're all calling it a day and crawling under our mosquito nets for the night.

Lala salama! 

PS. In Swahili, karibu means 'welcome' and lala salama means 'goodnight'. :)

Companions and Confidants

DISCLOSER: Semi-sappy post coming your way
(Hope you're good with feelings and stuff...)


Lately I've been realizing what STELLAR people I have my life. You know those people that you can just rave on and on about because you love them so deeply or because you think they're the coolest ever? Yes, I'm talking about them! And I tend to overlook the lengths that these individuals go to in order to be as awesome as they are. The listeners, the time givers, the servers, and the honest whole truth-tellers: these are the people that we need in our lives. They keep us grounded and keep our sanity in tact. They are the blessings in our exhaustingly busy lives, and I thank God for that!

So... what to do? Encourage these exceptional human beings! And heck, give back to them as well. They deserve some lovin'. I feel extremely fortunate to be surrounded by people who will challenge me and build me up. I feel at my absolute best when I'm with them! And it's a good sign when they can look past my exciting combination of 'awkward and lame' in certain situations too (eehhh). 


Bottom line: 


"There are 'friends' who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24 (NLT) 


"The right word at the right time is like a custom-made piece of jewelry. And a wise friend's timely reprimand is like a gold ring slipped on your finger. Reliable friends who do what they say are like cool drinks in the sweltering heat---refreshing!"
Proverbs 25:11-13 (The Message)

Africa, here we come!

Good afternoon all!


First blog, first entry and the firsts keep on coming this year!


And speaking of firsts...


In a week's time my family and I will be leaving for Kenya, Africa. SO CRAZY. It will sure be a new experience for my brother and me. However, I don't think it has sunk in that we will be flying across the world next saturday. Nope, not yet. Our itinerary is rather amazing too, consisting of safaris, potential orphaned elephant encounters (I know!!!) and most exciting of all, meeting the Rendille people. 


My dad works for Samaritan's Purse as Regional Project Manager for Africa and Latin America. He was our connection to this opportunity! He is currently overseeing a project in a remote village called Korr (in northern Kenya) that provides food for children. The little ones need their nutrients! So we're going to check it out and help with the program if we can.

I am excited to see the faces of those beautiful people.
I am thrilled to be able to learn from and encounter them. 
I am anticipating the strong connections that will be made.
I am hopeful that God will be working in their lives.



Check out the rest of this guy's pictures. They are seriously incredible.      http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytripsmypics/