~ While Rinda and I were teaching the hygiene and diet class, we discussed the signs of dehydration and the importance of “how much water you need per day”. Rinda said some amount ( I cant’ remember exact…I should ask her hahah like 2 liters per adult and 1 per day for kids) for drinking alone. After the second class we taught, I kinda started feeling uncomfortable with that. I told Rinda “You know what? I don’t know if we should say that much because really they probably don’t have access to that each day and I bet some of them might panic thinking they can’t get enough for their kids?” Rinda, in her wisdom, said, “Yea that may be hard for them to hear, but we're still required to tell them what is healthy, and that’s what is considered healthy." Point taken! That was our job. Sometimes, admittedly, it’s hard for me to just tell it like it is if I think I might offend someone, but that was our job in this case. We weren’t trying to make them feel good or bad about their health. We were simply stating “Hey- this is what you need.” End of story. It’s pretty factual ya know? Not that someone’s going to die if they don’t have that much water every day, but to stay well hydrated and healthy, that really is a regular required amount. I reflected on that in different ways. Oh Rinda- so wise and good =)
~Heidi and I went home from the hospital one day to make everyone in the medical groups lunches (many of them didn’t have the time to come back to the school to eat so we’d make them sandwiches). We rarely went or walked anywhere alone as girls, but we’d been there a few days and knew our way and felt safe (and were so you don’t have to think that’s what this post is about). While walking three little girls starting following us. We stopped and tried to talk to them, but they’d giggle and run away. One little girl kept running up and wiggling her loose tooth at us and then running away. They didn’t actually speak to us those cute girls. Anyway, we just kept walking and they followed us in different groups etc. for a few days. Finally after a couple they just showed up at the school (still wiggling her tooth- I never got to see it fall out) and played with us. They sang and danced with us. They can dance really well too. Super cute. I thought about how little kids are so friendly, shy maybe with strangers, but just friendly. Little children seem to like people (as opposed to some adults who I wonder why they ever leave their house if they are going to interact with others the way they do). They are curious and fun. They are excited about the “little” things like a loose tooth. Just a cute memory.
~Coming home from the hospital one day, some of us stopped to get sodas (Pete treated- love that guy! He rocks and not just because he wouldn’t let me pay him back) and per usual, unless you want to pay a pretty hefty “down payment” (over twice the cost of the drink- yeah outrages though small drinks were 20 shillings which is like 3 US cents so…perepective here), you can’t take the bottle too far from the store. We stopped and had a lot of Fanta (I’ve had orange and grape in the states but never pineapple and I gotta say it’s my favorite!). Now we did look to see if they had a Diet for Sheila because we knew she was dying for one (they didn’t) and we looked for a Coke for Curtis. Well we found the mother of all Cokes- a huge glass liter bottle of Coke of awesomeness. We all instantly said “We have to get this for Curt! He’ll die”. Now, most of us don’t even drink soda on a regular basis, I certainly don’t, but here’s it’s safe to drink and usually the coldest thing you can get. Curt is the same way and allows himself to drink Coke when he’s out of the USA (he’s lived all over the world actually). We knew he would like it. We did help chip in (by paying Pete later- he let me do that) and surprised him with this Coke. Curt was really happy and in fact he hugged me even the next two days after and said, “you guys are great. Thanks so much for getting me that.” Not that he cried or was emotional about it, but I could tell he genuinely appreciated the thought and he didn’t just thank us or me once- he kept thanking us. It was a little thing, but it was a nice thing that we could do and I’m glad we did. He kept the bottle (we knew he would and we didn’t mind) so there went our deposit haha but it was well worth it!
Reed, Bill and I walked to see the “Kinango Hard of Hearing” school. One of the boys from the school took us and was our tour guide. Now on this entire trip, sometimes little kids would run up to us or follow us around etc. There’d been the little girls (mentioned above) who wouldn’t at first talk to us but just followed us. With these little boys, we’d smile and watch them and they’d watch us, but honestly I didn’t go over and speak to them. After a few minutes, Reed stopped. He turned around and walked up to them. He shook each little boys hand and asked their names and then took pictures with them (well I took the photos while he was in them with each boy). After that the boys ran away and stopped following us. I thought, “They just wanted sincere acknowledgment. They didn’t want to play. They weren’t beggars (I didn’t see any in Kinango). They just wanted to be acknowledged.” I hadn’t been mean to them. I had smiled at them. I saw them and was aware of them, but I kinda assumed they were like the little girls and would run away so I didn’t even try with these little boys. It just taught me a lesson in judging but also in just taken a few minutes to really stop and acknowledge people. I think the world of Reed for this one simple experience (for others too but this alone).
~I spent quite a bit of time talking with Angela because she slept directly to my right. She got eaten alive and looked like someone had beat her to death by the end (yes she apparently did use bug spray- she just has sugar instead of blood I don’t know). She was the youngest in our group- turned 23 while in Kingango. She was having a hard time “getting old” and knew “it’s stupid” because she was the youngest of us all, but I totally understood her! I remember leaving BYU at 22 and feeling “Oh my heavens! I’m 22 and not married! I’m old”. I really wasn’t obviously, but at that place and point in life, not having a clear cut plan of what was next, I felt it. Mainly I was nervous I think to be in the work force or go to graduate school and be a “real” adult. I’ve had several of those moments even since then (yeah- buying a house!). Anyway, I started telling her how much I loved being 23 (I wasn’t lying either- it’s a year I’d for sure repeat) and how this is a great time of life. A couple people who slept around us told me later I should be a motivational speaker, but I don’t do big group public speaking well hahah. It was great to just talk to her. I honestly do remember how that time of life felt. It was interesting being on “the other side” of that and realizing how grateful I am for the older, wiser people, who said similar things to get me at that point to help me through. It just felt like a full circle moment (circle of life…it moves us all haha) or ...a 20/20 hindsight is clearer moment for my past, and it helped me put in perspective my present a little bit more (in a more complex way). I love cute Angela. She’s seriously just the sweetest! She can rock the ukulele too.
~While teaching/ talking to the older girls, we had a break in between classes. The girls said they didn't want a break and just wanted to talk (grill/ humble) to me. They asked me about "university" and how difficult it is and about dating and life in America. They asked me about how much money I make (I told them that was rude to ask in America and their reply was, "Well we're asking you here!") ....in Kenyan shillings I'm a millionaire! That's crazy. They asked me how much my watch cost. I said, "I can't remember. It's old." I meant it was "old" as in "I bought it years ago and honestly can't remember". One girl said, "How can you say that's old?! It's all leather! It's very nice!" I clarified myself, but they seemed unsatisfied. Then one girl asked me, "What is your biggest challenge?" Well...at this point I'd been in Africa almost two weeks....I couldn't think of anything! My mind was completely blank and in that moment and even though I didn't, I really could've cried. I know I'm not the most appreciative or grateful for the blessings I have. I know I complain or get frustrated over silly and unimportant things. Here I was in a place where they don't have shoes, they don't have potable water from taps or from a drinking fountain on demand, they don't have electricity in many places. They sleep under mosquito nets and on pads the same thickness as just my 'camping' mat....and yet...they are incredibly happy and content! Thank goodness that Joanne rang the bell for classes to switch, but I was admittedly very shaken. I've thought a lot about "What's my biggest challenge" since then... answers are too personal for posting, but they have nothing to do with "things".
~ Our testimony meeting the last Sunday was amazing but I was crying to much through it to feel like I would've been coherent had I gotten up to speak. I did have a little "Mini" thought/testimony session with Rinda and Susan after. One thing I realized was that I don't know how to say "Please" in Kiswahli! Why? Well..because I never had to ask for anything. I felt like people were constantly buzzing around just giving me things and assisting me all the time. One prime example was our drive home from Kinango. I started to feel car sick. Heidi looked at me and said, "You don't look too good." I said, "I don't feel too good." She (without me saying anything) said, "Hey Ben switch Natalie places she's not feeling well." Without a word, he moved from the middle seat of the van to take my place in the back and I moved up front. A few minutes later Danielle said, "Are you doin' alright?" Me, "Ummm not really I think I'm gonna throw up". Danielle said, "George pull over!" He pulls over and Danielle jumps out. She proceeds to walk to the other vans (who had to stop for us sadly sorry guys- Reed told me after he's glad I didn't actually throw up because he didn't want that to be his last memory of me hahah) and get medication for me." I commented, "Oh shoot! I don't have any shoes" (it was muddy). What gets thrown up instantly from the back? Ben's sandals! I put those on while I'm dry heaving. Amman gets out of the front and moves to the middle seat I was in. I feel ok to get back on the road, so I get in the front passenger seat. Danielle hands me medicines and Rinda says, "Do you need some water for that?" and hands it over. No where in that entire interaction did I say much or do much. I was just taken care of. I felt like that the entire time! I am so grateful for all of them. They were all amazing examples of serving without even having to be asked. Thanks guys! I'm glad I didn't throw up as well haha.
~On the plane ride home, I spent a lot of time talking to Andy, which I wouldn’t have guess could’ve happened until it did since he’d been more shy and quiet in the group. He was sitting next to a good Christian man who was returning from Africa after having built some water systems. The guy ignored us and listened to his book and music and videos (with custom made earphones- way to go audiology!), but Andy had chatted with him a bit and he was obliging for me (not really supposed t be sitting there) getting up etc etc. Nice man. Anyway, we were discussing a variety of topics, church stuff, dating things, funny stories etc and especially Africa and life there. He made a statement, almost in passing that I thought a lot about afterwards. He said, “I’m not perfect at all and I know it, but I really want to be good." I knew he meant it. It’s in his heart to be a good person and a righteous Priesthood holder. It was humbly said and meant, but powerfully impacting on me. I cannot say enough of how I felt about all the people on this trip- the goodness I felt from all of them- guys and girls. I felt like I was in with the elite ya know? Even in their life at home we had lawyers, doctors,engineers, teachers, government people “who can’t talk about what they do (~ I know it’s a conspiracy Cammi!) and even a nuclear specialist! Sheesh ya know? We had a dentist, an optometrist, a physical therapist, a speech therapist, a recreational therapist, an occupational therapist etc etc. I mean we had people who in the USA are kinda big deal (a couple guy who work for the Federal Reserve too…I never did but occasionally I wanted to say, “Shouldn’t you guys be at home fixing things?” Hahah). But here all of us were just loving people and taking the time off of “real life” to sit and talk to the kiddos in Africa ya know? It was refreshing to do it and relaxing as well, but also, I just felt like this group of people meant it. They wanted to be here to serve. They wanted to “be good” and do good. It’s about our hearts desires and our striving for obedience and service that really matter- not whether or not we get everything right.
~I was in Africa for the 10th anniversary of the September 11th attacks. We were driving back from Kinango and on a ferry and I was leaning out the window (following the sick experience previously mentioned). The car next to us on the ferry had their windows down and it just so happened to have on a radio talk show wtih people discussing Sept.11th. Let's just say most of it was negative and anti-American/ anti-Bush. I have certainly thought about how others may see that experience, I know my view point is skewed, but I'd never heard it being "preached" that way....For me, it was a more solemn moment and once again, though I didn't, I could've cried. I still remember where I was the moment it happened and how the days and weeks were following it. It's interesting how the other side was also impacted (obviously I knew they were) and how some people can celebrate the hardships of others. I felt like that when we were celebrating Osama bin Laden's death (I had a very interesting and long discussion with Bill and Andreas, who is from Germany, about bin Laden's death...I also gained perspective from that later this same night)- not that it wasn't a good thing for a lot of people or that bad men shouldn't fall, but I don't necessarily think people should be singing in the streets like that. I think it's a more solemn occasion though perhaps necessary. I didn't feel like it was a time to rejoice because I honestly knew somewhere else in the world, someone was mourning even though lots of people were happy. I felt that way the same day. Here those people were next to a van full of people who felt exactly the opposite of what they felt... We all have our own perceptions....and thank goodness we're all still children of our Heavenly Father. He'll fix both sides in the end (and honestly- I think the 'truth' of it all is somewhere in the middle).
~I had lots of awesome conversations with people in the group- very deep ones, very funny/ silly ones and about pretty much any topic (some were unexpected haha) . I talked to several of the natives about their families and their lives. You know what? We’re all the same. I know we all say we know that, but sometimes I don’t “really” know that. I mean we really are! We all fundamentally want the same thing no matter whether we live in a dung hut or my almost 2000 square foot home. We all want to be happy, secure, and have a love with a family. And also- a connection to “something higher” or as I would say, Heavenly Father. The biggest deal to everyone was over there was our marital status and then other religious topics (do you believe in Christ- yes I do!). They are very close to their families and the Lord, and it was nice to see. It was nice to see that faith was such a part of their life! I mean even if you aren’t Muslim, the call to prayer every morning reminded us all to pray in the morning in whatever way you do it. I loved going somewhere half a world a way and really realizing that fundamentally we all really want the same things and thankfully they are the things that really matter.
~Biggest lesson- gratitude for the countless blessings I have (I do try to count them regularly- I’ve never hit a spot where I couldn’t keep going but eventually I stop) and to take time to honestly connect and love those around me. The strangers around me matter too!
So...thank you to:
Amman, Andrew, Andreas, Andy, Angela, April, Ben, Bill, Brandon, Cammi, Colleen, Curtis, Dallin, Danielle from Alaska, Danielle from California, Dave, Elizabeth, Emily, Heidi, Jane, Jeni, Jessica, Juanita, Julie, Lindsay, Lisa, Loren, Matt, Meghann, Pete, Rachel, Reed, Rinda, Sheila, Scott, Seth, Sinoui, Staci, Stephanie, Susan, Todd, Wayne all SHe members. Also thanks to Joanna, Mama Rita, Stanley, Fred, Sudi and all the drivers, cooks, headmasters, teachers and anyone who helped make this experience unforgettable for me =)
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| Joanne obviously not a SHe member but one of our CHOICE leaders =) |
i read your post. i liked it! some great memories were had in africa. thanks for sharing.
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