Strength and Weakness. Among the many lessons I’ve learned in Kenya, none have been as profound as the lesson of strength and weakness. After comparing my personal lifestyle – access to education and healthcare, the ability to earn a quality living, and friends and associates with like capabilities – to the lifestyle of many Kenyans, I have had to reassess my understanding of strength and weakness.
When I returned back to Rosalia’s from the rainforest one of her nieces had come to visit for the weekend. She grew up in Nairobi, and is fairly “westernized.” It felt odd to hear talking about the new movie “Angels and Deamons” and going to the mall. However, she was quick to inform me that she still enjoys the traditions of her culture.
After about 2.5 weeks in Kenya we moved in with families in the Chulaimbo area. I live with a very big family on a compound in the village. By compound, I mean a fenced in area with five houses. “Mama Rhoda” is the mama of the house. She lives in the house at the top of the hill and everyone living in the other houses are in and out of her house for breakfast and dinner. There are about 10-15 people coming and going from her house each day. Included in that number are two adorable kids,
So it has been two weeks, four days, and give or take a couple hours since I arrived in Kenya. The weeks have blurred by, and now the experience has turned into travelers bliss, that disconnected feeling of not feeling at home, but not feeling like home is home either.
At home, Mondays during the school year seem to be everyone’s least favorite day of the week — the first day of school after the weekend and the promise of 5 whole days in school before Friday night rolls around again. In Kenya, some of the feelings are the same and some are different. For students, it is different here — school is a privilege, not a dreaded task.
As it turns out, Lydia and Caroline also stayed in Kenya with Ellen and Callie at Joseph’s home. After we said our goodbyes to the group Friday morning, we journeyed to Kakamega, Kenya where Joseph lives. We were greeted by his family (His wife, Anneh, his two sons, Chesil (6) and Tanzy (2), and his two nieces, Lucy and Yvonne) and were immediately immersed in daily Kenyan life.
I am not quite sure how, but after two weeks this is my first time writing in the blog. I have attempted many times to start a post but have failed every time. Though some of these times were because of distractions, others were because I was simply at a loss for words.
In the past 2 weeks I’ve experienced the amazing and life-changing. When reflecting over the ups and downs of the trip, I realized the similar ebb and flow of perspective I received.
The grail I was searching for was not a golden chalice. It is rather a group of lay women in the Catholic church, who desire to serve the community in which they live. This past week I have been staying with a lady named Rosalia, who is a member of this grail society.
