Time out - Mombasa baby!

This morning is the last day I will be in the office, for now. On January 4th I will be back and also then able to post more of the happenings around here.
The rest of this week I will be working on some more stories and seeing friends. I notice some stories take time and though first before I feel I can peacefully post them.
During the weekend, right after Christmas, I will travel to the coast: Mombasa baby!
Together with some bodyguards I met along the way ;-) - I am hoping to take a few jumps in the clear blue Indian ocean, hug palmtrees, eat some more rice, ugali or chapati (he he) and overall exploring the area and spending quality time with my sweet friends. Stay tuned, I'll be back.

I love love love this guy!

Earlier I wrote a little blog about the amazing young man I am able to sponsor: Melvin. Here are just a few photo's of out day together, hosted by my good good friend Silas.

Me, Melvin and Silas.

Instant love

IKEA spider and the sweetest face.

Boyz like soccer, right?

Second mom for SURE!

Only dad missing here, he had to work...

HOME

Walking the slum-streets with my buddy.

Wanting to know what goes through her mind...

Natural talent

A slightly different way of saying 'Cheese'. :-D

Lunch at 'The Village Market'.

This guy will go places, if not with this hummer...then whatever else.

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the white Santa in Kenya behind us.

Snapshots

Meet Rachael

Tuesday December 14th 2009.

Rachael is 15. She is one of the 11 kids I correspond with. Me and Rachael have known each other for a year now, but through our letters there was a special connection. She's honest and very sweet. Also in her letters. They are long and she expresses well on paper. In reallife Rachael was rather shy but I could tell throughout the whole day she was comfortable and enjoyed every minute of being together. So did I.
Pamela, the health worker at the project joined us during the visit and while Rachael was getting her facial mask Pamela told me: "One thing I can tell you for sure Stef, is that Rachael is a very honest girl". Pamela was calm and serious but shared with me some parts of Rachael's story which hit my heart and swirled my gut. Up to this point today I don't know what to do with the emotions it brings to me when I think about 'it' for too long;
Rachael is an orphan. She came from loving parents and seemed to be tight with her dad. Her father passed away in 2001 and her mom in 2003 (if I remember correctly). Her dad owned a nice motorbike where he would take people around and earn a living like that. Since the death of her parents, Rachael has been living with her aunt and uncle.
..."Rachael is very honest"...Pamela told me again. "She came to the project one day about a month ago telling me her uncle did something to her which isn't right"...
I made sure I understood Pamela correctly...
Sexual abuse.
This beautiful young woman, right here by my side...having her facial mask...
I didn't want to cry there but I could have. It disgusts me and anger boils up inside of me which I didn't know I had in me. Instantly, my love for Rachael grew even more. I wonder so often these days what I have to give. I raise questions to God asking in what way He means to use me?
Rachael is one of the many. One of the many girls who have to deal with sick minded men like her uncle. One of the many girls who have to grow up too fast.
But, unfortunately, she is one of the few who dares to speak and trust someone well enough to inform them what was done to her.
I ask you to take today, to pray for these girls. They are countless. Pray for their dignity, selfrespect and selfesteem. God heals.

Meet Melvin

Friday December 11th 2009.

Melvin..melvin..melvin. Where will I even start. Melvin is the 8 year old crazy man that I started sponsoring since last July '09. He lives in the slums of Mathare-valley in Nairobi, Kenya. As much as I can explain of why I believe this young man was 'given' to me as a blessing to my life...I'm going to have to ask you to just take my word for it.
All children are special, really - they are...but there are just some children that seemed to be placed in my life that bring meaning to my life. Melvin is very very bright. And, for people who know me a little? You know how I LOVE imagination! Melvin has it. He has his own mind and world inside of him. I treasure that in people and respect it to the fullest. Because, exactly that is what I believe God meant when He tried to get through to us that we have to remain child and take them as an example. Melvin is a child and I thank God he has a place like Compassion where he can explore himself, learn about life and there's no DOUBT in my mind this guy will go places.
Thank God, Melvin comes from a loving and warm home. A little slum-hut called home, but God is present.
As I've come to know God; He is Mighty and Great. Holy and beyond words to really describe well...A God to honour and kneel for. Though, on the other side, God has great scences of humor, loves craziness...and let there JUST be this person named Melvin, together with his family - connect to Stef's craziness.
I can tell you all about the activities of the day during the visit - but to me, more important is to remember that God works in wonderful ways. (*sigh* - How do I explain this without sounding cheezy?) I cannot put it any different than that I believe God had our ways cross. That I can be a blessing to his life, to his family...and that he and his family are a blessing to my life. Blessing....
It's a word we might have used too much. But if you understand the joy and butterflies you feel sometimes when you meet someone exceptional - you know it's a blessing. To say the least; That's Melvin to me.

Lights go down but arms wide open - Arrival

I have arrived!
Last wednesday I departed for an 8 hour flight to Nairobi. It all turned out to go a little different due to runway lights at the airport not working correctly. Quite a lot of hassle really, but it ended up working out sawa (okay). I completely try to adapt to the "Kenyan Hakuna Matata pole pole" attitude. It's positive and brings you to places. So what, if I needed to sleep in an airplane for a whole night, stuck at Kilamanjaro aiport in Tanzania? So what, if I would be put in some hotel in Mombasa with a complete stranger because accomodation in Arusha Tanzania wouldn't be possible?
I did not expect in any way that Anthony would have been there still, 6 hours later in the middle of the night.
It was amazing to see him again. There's nothing better than a familair face is nothing better after a long trip of strangers and unexpected happenings. We had some tea and left for the Guesthouse where I would be staying for 2 nights.

Now, it's monday December 14th. 5 days later. It feels as if I have been here for over 3 weeks already. Imagine what else to come. Though, things are starting to settle. I had a terrible cold, completely lost my voice over the weekend and so while people take care of me here - I had time to adapt, adjust and find myself again in the middle of all the foreign.
There's obviously a lot to write about and I just decided to take the blogging in snapshots. I need to prioritize what I share because there's simply already too much that happened and has hit my retina.

Through it all - I feel most welcome. Karibu oooh so sana. (Welcome very much). :)
The warmth, the hugging, the smiles, the little sticky hand of the cutest children "HAWWAYOE?!...and...so...on!
More to come...

Gifts have entered Kenya

In colsultation with the Management Team of Compassion NL we have yet decided to transfer the total risen amount through Compassion’s official route.
The total risen amount has reached the Compassion Projects!
What will be realized with your money?
• Fixing one existing water tank
• Purchasing three new water tanks
• Fixing roofs for classrooms in one project
• Purchasing stationary for two projects, one with 340 children and one with 300 children.

I have been standing in awe of all the responses, enthusiasm and encouragements and all I can say I am so grateful for God answering my prayers. My prayer has been and will be that God moves you and me; touches us in His way only so we grow more conscious and insightful on the need in this world. That God will give you and me wisdom in how to meet that need or help in the best and most effective ways.

Compassion’s integrity commitment:
We commit to being financially accountable. We take our role as stewards of resources very seriously. We regularly perform audits to ensure that our programs are being well managed and that funds are being properly disbursed and applied. (Source: www.compassion.com)
STAY TUNED! :-)

Entrance coming near

Today and yesterday I had multiple moments where I thought about where I could be a week from now. Right now, in a week from now - I will have experienced my first full day in Kenya. Tomorrow in a week from now I will meet the lovely boy I sponsor: Melvin. And so forth...

Through those realisations the whole reality of me actually going to Kenya comes nearer.
Nervous for the unknown or to step out of my comfortzones. Anxious and eager to learn from the 'different'. Insecure or wondering if I will meet my own or the other ones expectations. Extremely excited to see those ones again I've missed for so long. Craving for freedom of mind so God and inspiration can make home.

My mind...
My head...my thoughts... *Sigh*
Some of them turn into emotions and all that mixed and broiled together, past week of final preps were more than a whirlwind.
Winding myself down...taking a seat and a moment to reflect, I question:
Why again did I do this? Why again do I go back?
Oh right...to explain in plain words something that beats in my heart. Nah, not just a beat. A colourful, dynamic melody!
Or does that sound too complicated already?
Bouncing back and forth from hardrock banging to classical tunes, from improvised jazz to obvious lovesongs...
How do I explain anything of MY melody that I hear in MY heart to you? :-)
Well, I guess we'll just have to experience and see don't we?

The Perfectionist's Prayer

Dear God,

Help me not be a perfectionist. (Did I spell that correctly?)
Help me to relax about insignificant details, beginning tomorrow at 7:41:23 a.m. EST.
Help me to not try to run everything -- but, if You need some help, please feel free to ask me.
Help me to consider people's feelings, even if most of them are hypersensitive.
Help me to take responsibility for the consequences of my actions, even though they're usually not my fault.
Help me to be more laid back, and help me to do it exactly right.
Help me to take things more seriously -- especially laughter, parties, and dancing.
Give me patience, and I mean right now!
Help me to finish everything I sta
Help me to keep my mind on one thing -- oh, look, a bird -- at a time.
Help me to do only what I can, and trust for the rest. And could I get that in writing?
Keep me open to others' ideas, misguided though they may be.
Help me follow established procedures. Hey, wait -- this is wrong ...
Help me slow down andnotrushthroughwhatido.
Thank you. Amen

Author Unknown