My Own Little World with Lyrics - Matthew West

Home

I'm home, but my mind often wonders to Kenya. I was told before I left that once I'd seen Africa, I'd fall in love and nothing would be the same. I thought at the time how could that happen, it's just a place. But I stand corrected. Africa has a hold on me.
Everywhere you look you see poverty, and I mean everywhere. There can be a multi-million dollar building standing tall and proud, but right beside it is a wreck of a shop:  tin roof, dirt floor, garbage. But the land is free. It's so hard to explain. The people really don't have anything, yet they have more then I do. They have a freedom that I long to have. Social stigma is almost non-existent. Everyone is on the same level; all long for clean bodies, more food to eat, money for education, shoes and clothes that don't have holes in them and the opportunity to choose a future. Yet they're happy. The children play, dream, and share what little they have.
Can I say the same for myself? Am I happy with what I have. Am I willing to share the 'lots' that I have. No, I worry. Worry about the 'Jonses'. Worry about money. Worry about the future.
When I arrived in Kenya I felt sorry for the people I seen, even had my nose out of joint thinking my life was better then theirs. I leave Kenya jealous of their faith. Every day they rely on God for everything. The gap between them and God is so small, sometime you feel like you could reach out and touch Him. I long for that. I  have insulated myself with money, education, things, self-fulfillment and the mind set that I don't need anyone. That to 'need' someone is what failures do when they're weak. I have learned that it takes more strength to need someone then to try and do it all on my own.
I thank God for grace. Grace that allows me to screw up, yet still feel loved. I think the grace of God is what keeps us going in life. The children of Kenya live 'by the grace of God' everyday.
There is a song on the radio that says:

Take a look at the mountains
Stretching a mile high
Take a look at the ocean
Far as your eye can see
And think of Me

Take a look at the desert
Do you feel like a grain of sand?
I am with you wherever
Where you go is where I am

And I'm always thinking of you
Take a look around you
I'm spelling it out one by one

(Chorus)
I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today
And tomorrow, I'll say it again and again
I love you more

Just a face in the city
Just a tear on a crowded street
But you are one in a million
And you belong to Me

And I want you to know
That I'm not letting go
Even when you come undone

(Mathew West)


PS Jesus, if I haven't said it recently,... thank you.

 Notice Victoria's t-shirt!! I think she would be happy to know they are clothing children that have very little.

 Compass School, around 300 total. Assembly they did for us the last day we were there. This room is a total of 3 classrooms.

 Lunch at the school. Stickers were a huge success.

 A boy that didn't get enough to eat. He asked the other boy for some and he shared the little that he did have.

 My favorite boy from Somalia. He spoke 3 languages and helped us interpret for the other Somalian refugees that were new at the school. Most of the Somalian kids that came to the school had escaped the genocide in their home land. When asked about their family, many replied they were all dead.

 Masai women lined up to receive food: some kind of green vegetable,  millet flour, lard, something else I can't remember.

 Beautiful baby girl in a Lamu school. She is too young for school but notice the colouring job. I can't colour in the lines as good as she can!

Lunch simmering on the stove: beans, beans, beans.

The costrast of Kenya

 Here are some picutre of the amazing flowers around campus and the area. The hybiscus grow WILD and HUGE.

 Not sure what this flower is but it smells like heaven.

 This is the enterance to the little cafe that we eat most of our meals at. For breakfast you will find eggs, either scambled or fried/scambled and toast, or something you could call the hardest toast you've ever eaten. And dinner that is always rice, green stuff and mystery meat in sauce. Not my favorite but you can't say we're starving.

 Sorry I didn't get this one turned before posting it. This is the name of the cafe.

 Example of some of the house on campus and in the area.

 A favorite!

 And know for the other side of Kenya. This is an enterance to a local slum called Bul Bul. That is garbage with goats eating it. When they say a goat will eat anything they weren't kidding (kidding, haha, parden the pun!). Goats are what we would call Seagull's. Oh and by the way, those are upper class housing your looking at.

And then there's the school washrooms. Code name, longdrop. Do I have to explain?

 Charts in the classroom. Poor quality but atleast they're accurate.

 I think this was Class 1? Notice the little man in the front row sleeping. Who know's what he had to endure just to get there that day.I tried to upload a video and it didn't seem to want to do that, and I'm tired, so I will try again tomorrow and see what happens.

Pictures of the safari

 so here are the jeeps we rode in all around the safari, wide open, nice breeze and easy to take pictures from

 If you reseaching here is the name of the resort we stayed at. Mind blowing and worth every penny.

 This picture doesn't do justice to the sun rise on the Sarengeti. Maybe those is Sasketchewan will know what I mean, the land is just as flat.

 This photo was taken on the way to the plane on the last day. Not sure if it's called a herd or not, there were alot of them.

 Here's a moma and two babies. One is a little older then the other.

 On the second day we were taken to a river for 'Breakfast with the Hippo's" and I mean with the hippo's. We were on the river bank drinking champange and eating fresh fruit, omlettes, bacon, anything you want, with the hippo's in the background. those are not rocks but instead hippo ears and noses. There was of course the guy with the big gun close by.

 Here is mister man himselft, can you see the meal beside him. Think in was a Toppi.

 And know its mom's turn, she favor's the zebra!! This took place about 5 feet away from us.

And then this guy is waiting for his turn at breakfast.

Hope these pictures are fun to look at, I have a ton but no time to post them all.  Talk tp you soon.

Mara Serena

Good morning from Kenya! I have just returned from the Serengeti, yes never in a million years would I have imagined myself saying those words. Not sure if it's spelled right though! We left for the Masi Mara on Saturday and spent 3 days driving around looking for wild animals. And we found them, lots of them. They call it the Big 5: Lion, Elephant, Rhino, Buffalo and Leopard. We were successful in seeing all but the Leopard. The land is amazing, so flat and hot. You can see for miles. I know this doesn't mean much becasue you can't see the picturs but it's very hard here to download stuff. The computers at the University aren't very good and the one I'm on know isn't very big. But regarless, the trip was amazing. We seen Giraffes, Gazells, Hyena' s, Impala's, worthogs, Cheeta's, Topi's, Waterbucks, African Buffalo's, Zera's, Crocodiles, Hippo's , Black Mamba and various birds. Hopfully I can get pictures downloaded tonight.
All in all it was an amazing trip, something I will never forget. We were even able to go to a working Masi village and barter with the women for thier goods, something I'm quit good at. So, I will write more tonight.  Love you all.

Compass School, 280 children

Class 3 (grade 3)

Class 4 (grade 4)

The school is in rought shape and has no money to pay their teacher or feel the children. Many teacher stay because they beleive in the kids. What they do feed them for lunch is beans and a thick biscuit kind of thing, trust me when I say we wouldn't eat it. Some only receive 5 beans in their bowls. After examining half of them malnutrition is the leading cause of their pains. It costs $300 dollars US to feed all these kids for one month. The money that was given to me from family and friends is going to this school. I will take pictures of how much food that money can buy. It's the least and I mean the least I can do for them. I want to thank everyone who is reading this, praying for me, who have given me money and to those that feel the pull in your heart. If you respond to that pull, I personally know 280 kids plus teacher who would thank you.

Victoria's Passion

Lastnight I was asked to speak about Victoria and explain why the trip was named after her. I decided to read her testimony because it's her story in her words. I honestly thought I could read it without crying, never happened. I blubbered like an idiot, not because I was sad for her but becasue the last year and a half had finally come together on that day. I was reading her story to ladies in Africa, speaking about His love. I was blown away with the fact that even from death, He can still use you. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, Jesus was definetly in the room. It was because of Him this story was able to be told. I'm crying now as I write this because my deepest desire in life is to be His servant. From the day I met Vic, He had this all planned which makes me very excited for the future. For the first time in my life I have no plans past today. He has totaly control and He hasn't let me down, the fact that I'm sitting in the hot sun of Kenya is a testiment to that!
Psalms 42:1 As a deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soal thirsts for God, for the living God.

Wow, who knew I'd be doing this!!

This picture was taken at a giraffe sanctuary. Her name is Kelly and she's very fond of people.

School in Kenya

I went to a school today, Compass School. In the last few years the new government changed the constitution in Kenya and school is now free. Free if you can afford the uniform, shoes, napsack and a sweater. I never thought that would be something difficult to accomplish. I don't want to come across as a downer or someone who only sees the 'yuck' of this situration, but I want to be real. When we were at the school there were children everywhere, in class rooms, playing soccer, playing in the dirt. But there was just as many kids outside the gates, not in school. In our country when kids don't have to go to school for a day they are totally excited, 'ya no school' 'I hate school' 'why do I have to go to school anyways'. Becasue school is a right of passage in a child's life. It is an expectation, one that we will never have to live without. School is what is going to turn this country around, and only a few children have that privilage. A teacher salary here is $100 a month. AND THEY DON"T EVEN GET PAID MOST OF THE TIME. But everyday they come, because they can see the future. My job today was to help with medical assessments of the children. My partner and I were only able to see 30 kids. In that 30 I am happy to report that most ate 3 meals a day. I said 'most', did you hear that. When was the last time you went without 3 square a day? Your kids? Your neighbours? And it was quit evident who had three meals vs. who only received lunch that was given by the school. And just so you know, lunch constists of beans, soaked beans eaten with your hand...everyday. The waste of my own garbage can at home could feed more children than I want to admit. Alot of you will say, 'ya but what are we suppost to do, we can't help everyone?'. No we can't help them all, but I think if we could commit to helping one, that one has a chance. $5 a day is more than enough for them to feed and clothe their family. And maybe I'm over the top on some things, but when it stares you in face how can you look away. How can we not fall to our knees and thank God for His provision in our life. We have no idea how blessed we are. If I learn anything from this experience, it is to be greatfull for EVERYTHING I have.

Tired, that about sums it up!

Well, I'm in Africa. What an amazing part of the world!! This will be short but I'm going to try and post everynight, my time! So far I've come to realize I hate international flying, there needs to be a better way to get here, 16 hours  in the air is way too long. I've also come to find out that Canadians have alot to learn about 'life'. I'll expand later! I have however kissed a girafe, photo will follow, I have eaten meat that I don't want to know what it was, and I have seen some of the most beautiful landscape money 'can't' buy. I have lots of photo's and video but I am so tired I have to go to bed!! But just so you know, we have $6000 in cash to use on a local school, Masiland: local tibal people feeding program, and on the costal regian of Kenya. Six grand might not sound like much but here it's like a million dollars. Tomorrow we are going to a school to fix a kitchen, build a chicken (coocoo) coop and do medical assesment on the children. I will give you updates tomorrow. Until then have a good afternooon, I'm going to bed!!!
PS if you see my kids give them the biggest hug, I won't go anywhere like this again without them.

It's Time

A year and a half ago someone asked me if I wanted to go to Africa with them. I said 'sure', never believing it would happen. Well, guess what, it's here. I will not lie and say I'm totally excited to go. The thoughts of leaving my babies and my husband is the hardest thing I've had to do, in awhile. But it is short term, and I will be back. I want to thank everyone that helped make this happen. Everyone from The Summit that donated balls, blankets and teddy bears, thank you so much! And Sport Chek for making all those balls available, Dino your the best! The Red Cross for giving me all those colouring books and crayons, you almost put me over my weight limit. For the well wishes from friends and family, it means a lot. And to my family here in the Sault, thank you for giving of your self so this trip could happen. I have no doubt that things will be taken care of here at home, and that my baby's will not miss a beat. Thank you so much! So, until Kenya (Sunday sometime), have a good time in the snow and I will update you then. Ange

The Sault Greyhounds!!

So the family did a little weekend excursion and went to Runway Park to watch 'Wheels on Ice' and look who we ran into. The Sault Greyhounds! They were very good sports and let us take a picture of with the kids, and the dad! Thanks guys!

o canada - an original

Here is Ethan doing his own version of O' Canada

Needles

How many times can a person be stuck with a needle in matter of only a few weeks?! Well I'll tell ya, too many! I was going to start complain to a friend the other day about all the 'shots' I need just to go to another country when I realized that I was taking these inoculations for granted.  Yesterday I had to pay for my Hep A, $60 for the needle and $11 labour to stick me with it. This, I thought, is a little bit of money I would rather have put into something else, like new shoes. Then it donned on me that this one shot is a life saving serum in so many other countries.The $71 dollars it cost me means nothing to me, but it means a chance at life for some others in this world.  I sleep well at night knowing that my family is all 'shot up' with every vaccine made available to us in Canada. But what if they weren't. What if my son stepped on a nail while playing hockey in the driveway and ended up dieing because of Tetanus, a very preventable disease. What if...