Safe arrival in Kenya!
Well this is our first post from Kenya. We had an uneventful trip out - no problems with customs etc. All credit to Kenya Airways for a great trip and very good service - they came back so many times to check if we needed anything that it was hard to get a moments peace (",). Unfortunately neither of us slept on the plane so we're a bit dead at the moment but hope to sleep it off tonight. We met the Underhills at the airport and then went to their house. We were able to have breakfast, have a rest and then we came out to the Internet cafe. The weather is quite sticky at the moment but reasonable.
I should stop and explain who the Underhills are. They are missionaries that have been out here in Kenya for at least 30 years. Keith pastors a church in Nairobi as well as various other duties such as pastoral training and evangelism to the tribes. Our church has been supporting them for a long time and as we were in Nairobi we asked if we could visit them before heading up to Catherine and David's (our hosts for the rest of the trip).
Anyway what you most probably want to hear is our first impressions of Kenya. Well shock is probably the word we would use. I know everyone told us it would be that way but nothing prepares you for it. Once we got out of the airport we headed up the equivalent of Nairobi's M25 in rush hour. And the road was a sight! The informal sector is big here, there are many piles of stone and rubble, unfinished houses due to lack of mone, rivers polluted with sewage and we also passed a shanty town that houses 100,000 people and is currently experiencing an outbreak of cholera (don't worry we only passed it). The roads were dust tracks with many pot holes, there were pavements that the vans would simply use to drive on, and people going to work in their thousands for a pittance a day because they are unskilled. They were all walking because they can't afford the bus. Everything you could possibly want to buy would soon be on the side of the road but sometimes mercilessly demolished by the government (there were many buildings even marked out with a fateful X to indicate thier eventual fate). The corruption of the govenment was pointed out in that they didn't finish the roads and infrastructure. And you felt out of place because you were the only white faces in a sea of black ones. it sounds perhaps a bit negative and sad but it is actually fascinating to observe and draw lessons from.
You soon realised the vast contrast between developed countries and lesser developed countries. Our heart goes out to the people. However we were reminded by Keith Underhill that poverty for them does not necessarily mean misery. He said that there are many that do not have the material possessions of the west but are happier for it and lead very contented lives. We shouldn't think that with more money and development the nation is going to be happier as a result. This is never the way. I was reminded of the verse in the Bible in Proverbs where it says that better a dry crust and peace than to have a house of feasting and strife. That is so often what materialism brings out in us - greed, selfishness and not being content but always wanting more. I think this is what the Kenyan "M25" taught me - to realise how priveledged and blessed I am to live in the West and to not take it so much for granted as others in the world have nothing .But also to try to fully and more deeply learn the lesson of true contentment (as the apostle Paul did)- which a western, materialistic lifestyle does not guarantee and is a gift that can be seen in any situation.
Well this is a bit deep for the first blog I know and it was simply from our first drive down the road. it proves that this trip is certainly going to be one big learning curve , teaching all us many things which we hope we can share with you as we grow.
Anyway its been fantastic so far and we've also been able to share great fellowship with the Underhills. They have been very good to us. We're heading to their prayer meeing tonight. Tomorow we have a day planned to go and see Giraffes and Elephants so that is going to be great. We also have a member of the church coming with us so that we are kept safe.
And........despite enjoying it here we are also missing everyone back home. Take care of yourselves.
I should stop and explain who the Underhills are. They are missionaries that have been out here in Kenya for at least 30 years. Keith pastors a church in Nairobi as well as various other duties such as pastoral training and evangelism to the tribes. Our church has been supporting them for a long time and as we were in Nairobi we asked if we could visit them before heading up to Catherine and David's (our hosts for the rest of the trip).
Anyway what you most probably want to hear is our first impressions of Kenya. Well shock is probably the word we would use. I know everyone told us it would be that way but nothing prepares you for it. Once we got out of the airport we headed up the equivalent of Nairobi's M25 in rush hour. And the road was a sight! The informal sector is big here, there are many piles of stone and rubble, unfinished houses due to lack of mone, rivers polluted with sewage and we also passed a shanty town that houses 100,000 people and is currently experiencing an outbreak of cholera (don't worry we only passed it). The roads were dust tracks with many pot holes, there were pavements that the vans would simply use to drive on, and people going to work in their thousands for a pittance a day because they are unskilled. They were all walking because they can't afford the bus. Everything you could possibly want to buy would soon be on the side of the road but sometimes mercilessly demolished by the government (there were many buildings even marked out with a fateful X to indicate thier eventual fate). The corruption of the govenment was pointed out in that they didn't finish the roads and infrastructure. And you felt out of place because you were the only white faces in a sea of black ones. it sounds perhaps a bit negative and sad but it is actually fascinating to observe and draw lessons from.
You soon realised the vast contrast between developed countries and lesser developed countries. Our heart goes out to the people. However we were reminded by Keith Underhill that poverty for them does not necessarily mean misery. He said that there are many that do not have the material possessions of the west but are happier for it and lead very contented lives. We shouldn't think that with more money and development the nation is going to be happier as a result. This is never the way. I was reminded of the verse in the Bible in Proverbs where it says that better a dry crust and peace than to have a house of feasting and strife. That is so often what materialism brings out in us - greed, selfishness and not being content but always wanting more. I think this is what the Kenyan "M25" taught me - to realise how priveledged and blessed I am to live in the West and to not take it so much for granted as others in the world have nothing .But also to try to fully and more deeply learn the lesson of true contentment (as the apostle Paul did)- which a western, materialistic lifestyle does not guarantee and is a gift that can be seen in any situation.
Well this is a bit deep for the first blog I know and it was simply from our first drive down the road. it proves that this trip is certainly going to be one big learning curve , teaching all us many things which we hope we can share with you as we grow.
Anyway its been fantastic so far and we've also been able to share great fellowship with the Underhills. They have been very good to us. We're heading to their prayer meeing tonight. Tomorow we have a day planned to go and see Giraffes and Elephants so that is going to be great. We also have a member of the church coming with us so that we are kept safe.
And........despite enjoying it here we are also missing everyone back home. Take care of yourselves.
posted by Unknown | 1:18 pm
2 Comments:
Glad to hear you have arrived safely and that you're able to share your travels with us. Looking forward to being there.
you've learnt alot in your first day. I hope the rest of the holiday will prove as beneficial. Looking forward to arriving.
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