Simon's Nairobi Diary - Archive 11

1 December 2005 7:32pm

Hebie, on my floor, was attempting to ask the cleaning lady for her phone number. He has mentioned previously that 'Simon, I am looking for a wife', and Ruth who cleans our flat must have caught his eye. Hebie is only conversational in Amaharic, a language of his native country Ethiopia. Ruth can only talk well in kiSwahili. But they both have a vague grasp on English. Hebie flirtatiously greeted her with "hello", she was able to respond "hello" back, and this began one of the most broken English conversations that I have ever heard. It took probably twenty minutes for both of them to get on the same page about her phone number, and only then was she able to inform him that she doesn't have a phone. She left, and I immediately informed him that she is married.

30 November 2005 6:44pm

I was invited by Nestaris for tea today. I was brought through his crooked door into his simple home, and was treated by him and his wife as a guest of honor. The walls were bare, except for the handout of the exam schedule taped next to the window. He sat me next to him and served me black tea and milk. Half way through, he served me a single boiled egg, and a slice of white bread with butter. We talked about nothing in particular, just enjoyed each other's company. I was just about to leave when a throng of children spilled through the doorway, laughing and holding their hands up to him. Nestaris stood up with joy, counted the children in his native Ugandan tongue, and cut up the rest of the loaf so as to give each child a half-slice of white bread. They left, we then exchanged goodbyes, and I walked back out the crooked door.

I get invited by families here to have tea often. The truth is that they want to serve me dinner, but they just can't afford it. All they have to eat is maize porridge, unservable to a guest. But its ok. That black bitter tea today was reversed from its low condition into something more than any fine wine, smoothie, or latte could get close to, because it embodied my host's heart. I begin to understand persons like him as royalty redefined.

29 November 2005 7:14pm

I wore shorts today. Sitting at a cubicle in the library, I was thick into a history of the Roman Empire, reviewing for an exam tomorrow, when this breeze blew through the library. I was sitting next to an open slatted window, and all of a sudden this gust caught my side. It sort of ruffled the edges of my history papers, but didn't blow them anywhere. The reason that I remember this breeze was because it was so good. It was, for lack of good words, just a good tropical breeze. It warmed me instantly, like a sun, except it had the ability to warp and bend, so as to envelope the chair I was sitting on. I stopped what I was doing, took my glasses off, and appreciated the chance to sit in a library that had the ability to ruffle my notes and my self by a warm equatorial breeze in December.

28 November 2005 8:20pm

Thanksgiving weekend turned out to be more than had prepared for. Since I'm the young US guy here, all these different groups of US expats make it their priority to include me in their thanksgiving celebration. The result: three Thanksgivings (thurs, fri, sat). Its interesting to watch all these American families do their best to have turkey, cranberries, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin pie. Usually they only achieve two of the four, and apologize for the rest. The first two parties were relatively low key, with families of NEGST professors, but the last one was a phenomenon. Seg's Saturday thanksgiving bash was a massive catered event for all the United Nations employees in his office. I ended up at the British table. All those words I've been used to, but through the British twist of eloquent vowels and barely seperated teeth. Finally by 10pm Seg brought everbody inside, and I just sat in awe as I witnessed these UN employees conduct an intense discussion on world affairs. It ended at 2 in the morning.

26 November 2005 11:58am

Toward what destination do we all careen for? What is the purpose for which all these humans were formed? The theological answer is 'To Glorify God', but that answer seems so dogmatic to me that I just shrug it off. I watch people after people are stumbling through this life, trying to make sense of it all, holding on to what feels good, turning away from what feels bad. Good honest people who are running in the dark, hitting walls, and terrified because of how little all this seems to be connected. Life is watery and tasteless, but its all there is, so another foot falls in front of the first.

This agony is why I seek God. I could care less about theological reasoning and hermeneutical spirals, denominational correctiveness and historical ecclesiastical heresy. My desire is for those I have met who are floundering, not in life or success or whatever, but in hope. And I join their ranks. There has got to be something more than all this. This cannot be it. Show me the way Father. Allow these clouds to part so I can see the limit beyond them, and perhaps also the sun who lives there.

I will crane my neck for that view all my life.

25 November 2005 6:17pm

Us seven white folks sat around a table, ornamented with candles, and read prayers out of this ancient prayer book. The thanksgiving meal then promptly began, and good honest conversation was said over the cranberries, chicken (not turkey), sweet potatoes, and wheat rolls. Its amazing really, the ability of a common faith to bring complete strangers together. We were from all over: Canada, US, Mali, North Carolina, and I'm from Michigan. All these random white Thanksgiving celebrants pulled from points on the earth, with no common history, yet one semester together and you've got a thanksgiving dinner where the main course is gratitude for one another. Never before have I understood the gravity of the phrase 'family of God'.

24 November 2005 6:00pm

All of the classes are over, papers and projects are being turned in, exam week is next week. History and Greek have been the favorites of this semester. Researching early monasticism and learning Greek were just awesome. In my entire Early/Medieval Church History Class, the professor was asking us what the message was from all of this. It turns out, as seen through early church history, that the followers of Jesus have always had their high points when they did not comprimise the Christ. It was only when the church became the government/institution of learning/enterprise that it became mediocre.

This is why I love thanksgiving. It is the uncomprimised holiday. It really has not been capitalized (aside from the sale of Butterballs). The family doesn't circle around chocolate eggs or toys and possessions, but around each other. Thanksgiving is the one time each year where we, in our busy lives, stop and take a step back, and actually see what we have. And we discover where our wealth really lies. Thank you family and friends for your love, and happy thanksgiving.