A welcome breakfast treat!

It never seems to fail we always crave what we cannot have. A couple of weeks ago I celebrated my birthday and really had a craving for some good pancakes. I knowing that I would probably be unable to find a mix emailed my good friend Heather Hoover, who is a fantastic cook, to get her scratch pancake recipe. One of my cooking secrets is to figure out what Heather does and simply copy it. I in this case figured I could find all the ingredients and just make it here. Her recipe included flour, sugar, baking soda and power, salt, an egg and some buttermilk.

It had been a couple of weeks since that craving and still haven’t made my pancakes. Yesterday in trying to describe how to make a taco we decided to postpone that recipe but Jaclyn one of our cooks asked if I could teach her how to make something different for breakfast. It was then that I realized I had a chance to try the pancakes. I went to the store an purchased the ingredients that we were missing and this morning we learned how to make banana pancakes. I wasn’t able to find syrup but will maybe make some next time. It was amazing we had all the ingredients minus the buttermilk, I had to use powdered milk and it worked great. We mixed the batter and poured the first pancake of batter on the skillet placed the bananas and flipped. They smelled wonderful. I added some butter on top and took a taste. They were amazing, a welcome treat from half a world away. I shared with the night guards and other staff around and they all seemed to enjoy I think this will be a great addition to the menu here at Moucecore.

Some tips for other developing world travelers. Make sure you have plenty of oil in your pan so it doesn’t stick. Non-stick pans aren’t necessarily that common. Also, if you are cooking over charcoal like I was this morning a small fire will do, it will get really hot and you don’t want your pancakes to burn. Now just mix together your ingredients and start cooking you will be amazed at how great they will taste!

This is just the beginning

I have been in Rwanda for a little over two weeks. It is hard to imagine that much time has gone. I have only learned a few words of Kinyarwanda but hope that I will begin to better pick up the language. For those that don’t know I work for an organization called Moucecore which was founded 17 years ago by an Anglican Bishop, with the goal of bringing about spiritual and social transformation. Rwanda after having experienced genocide in 1994 needs transformation. They are in need of and desiring to turn a new leaf and become a nation united as one people.

My day-to-day work as I reflect back is often a random combination of tasks and thoughts put together to help the organization complete their mission. My official title is Director of Information and Program Development. That said I often start my day reading the news, checking Facebook, Twitter, and email. If you are thinking this isn’t very different from your day you are right.

It is funny how much my day resembles a typical day in the office for most people working in the west. I have slower internet, less time conscious co-workers, and I get to wear Chaco’s but all in all I am often thinking about projects ideas, reading about development work around the world, and brainstorming ways we can develop projects, grow funding and further extend the impact of Moucecore in Rwanda.

For those who want to know how I am doing as a person, more than what the organization is and what I spend my workdays doing, I am doing well. It is a unique place to settle in to. Kigali is not dangerous, disorganized or unwelcoming in fact quite the opposite. The people are very friendly. It has been a wonderful time to begin my journey as a development worker. As of today I officially have a local bank account and will have driven some new expats to enjoy a pizza. This is becoming my home for at least the next several months. I hope all is well at home and in the lives of those reading this. It is a good time in life, with many more stories to come.

A day in Gulu…

I traveled with Jocelyn to Gulu about 5 hours north of Kampala. It was there that I would spend the week enjoying my time with Jocelyn in her small town home. Jocelyn works with an organization called Krochet Kids (KK). KK manufactures crochet hats, scarves and laptop cases, sells them in the US and provides much needed employment, training and even a savings program to Acholi women in Gulu. Jocelyn spends most of her days doing quality control checking the items and giving feedback to the ladies.

While Jocelyn was working during the day I had plenty of time to visit KK as well as explore Gulu. This is a city located perfectly for those who would like to be tourists in the north, those headed to Sudan or those who are expats doing development or aid work. As a consequence there are several wonderful restaurants available in and around Gulu. We enjoyed the fantastic pizza and burgers of Sankofa as well as the many options offered at Coffee Hut the closest thing to a Starbucks in that part of the country.

After enjoying a morning checking emails and catching up on the news at Coffee Hut I began walking home by way of the local market. I was surprised to see and hear a marching band. They were playing their horns marching along. I followed

behind only to find out they were celebrating world tourism day. They and other groups had gathered for a parade that began at the market and ventured through town.

World Tourism Day Parade Gulu

I made it home for lunch and to spend the remainder of my day playing with Jocelyn’s babies (2 kittens) and enjoying conversation with their Guard Samuel. Samuel is the oldest child in his family forced to drop out of school after only reaching the 3rd grade because his father was paralyzed in a work accident. Despite his father’s government employment no pension was paid. Samuel like many who are the oldest child had drop out of school to help provide for his family.

Samuel is one of many stories like this. He had many wonderful insights about Uganda, the government, and this world but is largely limited to simply being a day guard until he is able to save enough to finish his education. I sincerely hope Samuel is able to finish our world is a better place because of people like Samuel.

Strategic planning…parsing words in many languages

Todd a classmate of mine is spending his field practicum working with PDR, the development arm of the Church of Uganda (COU). The Church of Uganda is part of the Anglican Church and represents an incredible number of Ugandan Christians. As the development programs of the COU grew it became necessary for their department to go through a process of strategic planning. I was given the opportunity to sit in on one of their meetings. It was exciting to see a group of Ugandan leaders diligently working to understand their current context, so they might see where they want to be in the next 5, 10, and 15 years. I will be curious to see how their word by word discussions of how they described themselves will go as they extend their programing into the future. COU has much to teach those of us highly educated aid and development workers about what our desire to help the poor, broken and vulnerable.

Boda boda….

I spent my first day in Kampala embracing some R & R. Which really means that I would do some homework for a couple of hours, then sleep for a couple of hours for most of the day. Todd came home with my host for dinner we hung out and it was then that I expressed my desire to go to town and learn some of the city. I knew that if I spent another day just at the house then I wouldn’t actually get over jetlag any quicker. The trick to jetlag is forcing your body to do what the local schedule is calling for. In fact right now even after my day in the city it is midnight and I was up at 6:30 AM but my body is saying, “nope wide-awake.” So for those about to change some time zones remember that if you land at night don’t sleep on the plane and if you land during the day sleep before you get off but don’t nap or go to sleep before it is time to actually do so. I know this sounds awful and it kind of is but it is the quickest way to conquer the time change.

My journey into Kampala was not done alone or without objectives. Ivan, a cousin of my host was able to guide me around the city so I wouldn’t get ripped off too much and more importantly not get lost. It was kind of weird I am in a place where English is a national language and most people speak at least the service parts but I still found myself deferring to Ivan as if I was in a place where I couldn’t communicate. It is funny how traveling long distances cause us to have natural gut instincts.

My objectives included getting a phone and learning the city. I was pretty successful with both. I was able to purchase a phone, SIM card and airtime and I was immediately putting it to use. I honestly found it refreshing to have one of the cheapest phones available the only bell or whistle is the built in flashlight on top. The second included Ivan taking me around and teaching me about the city, everything from where to buy stuff, like souvenirs, to the different kinds of police and most importantly the boda. The boda boda is a motorcycle taxi. It is a primary way of getting around. The other alternative is a mutatu (van taxi) that is often cheaper but prone to be stuck in traffic. Throughout the day we ate some good food enjoyed lots of discussion and I was able to learn some of the central part of Kampala and how to get a boda and a mutatu.

For my first day out and about in the city I will call a success. I think one of the joys of international travel is being forced to navigate all the unknowns of a new place, a new set of rules, and all the baggage that comes with that. An exciting place to be and a wonderful place to realize how wonderful the local people are. On my first walk a guy noticed me walking in such a way where I was assumably lost and offered to help. I wasn’t I was just walking for the joy of exploring.  My hosts have shown me the most incredible hospitality that I could ever imagine or hope for.

I will end with the comedy of this quote that will make every traveler to the developing world smile and chuckle inside.

“A morbid aspect of my departure for Africa was that people began offering condolences. Say your leaving for a dangerous place. Your friends call sympathetically, as though you have caught a serious illness that might prove fatal. Yet I have found these messages unexpectedly stimulating, a heartening preview of what my own demise would be like. Lots of tears! Lots of mourners! But also, undoubtedly, many people boasting solemnly, ‘I told him not to do it. I was one of the last people to talk to him.’” (Paul Theroux, Dark Star Safari, 2003)

I am thankful for my friends and all of you who show concern and support me in my journeys in so many ways. I find this to simply be a funny reflection of the statements that nearly everyone in my position has heard or experienced.

20 lbs to heavy is a bad way to start….

I arrived at the airport with my mom on Sunday afternoon having a good lunch in Chicago. We made our way to O’Hare Chicago’s large international airport. I drove in realizing I had missed the international terminal exit I saw signs offering parking for all terminals. I followed the signs to the lot designated for that lot. We parked and quickly removed my suitcases that felt very heavy and as I would later find out a little too heavy. We trekked into the airport a carryon on my mom’s back one over my shoulder a suitcase on my back and my mom dragging my last piece of luggage. We navigated up and down elevators back and fourth across to find the tram stop. We took the tram to terminal five, quickly found the KLM check in desk. I secured my boarding passes and waiting to drop of my luggage. What I thought would be close became was 20lbs. over. I need to lose some weight. We stepped aside and I rummaged through rearranged to add weight to one bag and take away from another. I removed clothes some snacks and my giant bottle of mouthwash. I didn’t want to throw things away but I simply tried to be reasonable and consider what I might be able to purchase upon arrival in Rwanda. After some rearranging and checking with the scales I got checked in. I used the bathroom, gave my mom a hug, and got in the long line for security. That was the beginning of this long journey the point of no return where I was about to step on a plane for a 9 month trek to a land I had never been and know very little about.

To the Land of a Thousand Hills…

Hello, I have not posted in quite a while and mostly because I haven’t had much to post about. I am sure I have had stories that were notable or experiences that might seem exciting; still I have not written a word about it. But, here is a time for a fresh start, a new journey and a new direction.

Since I wrote the last post, I have quit my restaurant job after rising to management. I have nearly completed a master’s degree and am working to do so by spending the next 9 months serving in Kigali, Rwanda.

It goes like this I have spent the last year building incredible friendships that will last forever. I have studied like mad with the very people I have grown to appreciate so much. I have learned so much, at points I thought my head would explode. We have studied, laughed, cried, partied and danced the nights away all together training for these moments when we go our separate ways, to serve people and our God, to bring the kingdom of God to earth as it is in Heaven.

That said I am here now sitting at a desk the night before I leave. I am looking back at the memories of first walking into my house on Upper Gulph. I had only spoken with Panom (Peter) a few times on the phone and only slightly more with Ryan through out the summer before our start. We showed up to orientation to meet the many new faces. Our first encounter with Todd Ferwerda little did I know what a friend he would become. I looked into the crowd knowing only my two housemates but was excited and eager with anticipation.

With classes, new friends, games, cards, parties, exploring our new city, dancing and more time with friends, it was then I knew my family had grown. I grew to know and care for these new people with whom I spent my days. There is a story for everyone. Maybe we can share some of those later. It was a year for the books. I surely won’t forget.

We all knew that the end would draw near. I never really understood how fast it would come. I never really imagined how much I would miss everyone. Yes, I sit here at a desk typing away. I am excited eagerly anticipating what the next day will hold much less the coming months. I am scared and anxious with joy all mixed together yes who knew I would feel this way.

Tomorrow will soon enough come and I will get on an airplane and be on my way. At 4:20 PM local time I will leave for Amsterdam (somebody is laughing about that coincidence I know). I will then leave a few hours after my morning arrival for Nairobi, then final destination by air is Uganda.  Thanks to Todd I will have a place to stay for my first few nights before traveling to visit Jocelyn in the north and then later to Rwanda to start my job as Director of Moucecore in Kigali.

I am so excited. I can’t wait but yet I am anxious of all the unknowns.

I will miss you all very much…keep in touch…

Own the problem…be the solution…

 

I am not an experienced aid worker or the CEO of a major NGO; although I have traveled nearly around the world. The dynamic of western relief must change. The dynamic of how we in the west look at challenges and their solutions domestically and internationally must change.

Christians must embrace a personal responsibility not rely solely on the prayers and invisible hand of God to correct all that is wrong. We must embrace people and show love as Christ loved. Christians must stand to the challenge of the prophetic voices of our time. No longer will an aid package be the answer. Well-fare is no longer the only solution.

Christians have a concern for the state of our society and the souls of that society. It is time that we own the problems and be the solutions the answers to the prayers of the masses. The church can no longer be just interested in saving peoples souls. Nor can they be entirely interested in notching another soul onto their belt of success. The ministry that Jesus calls us to be part of is not one of getting people saved alone, but bringing people to life and one lived well.

Challenge our ideas about education and our roles in education. Running to the private schools will never be the answer to the question of salvation for the lost or of owning a problem in society while functioning as the solution.

I was once a recruiter for a missions agency. My role included but not limited to engaging college students with the world beyond their world. To tell those stories that go untold. The question is how can we be Jesus the great physician, how can we be Jesus the master chef, how can we be Jesus the teacher and mentor, how can we be pastors, finally how will we be the hands and feet of Jesus.

How can we afford to pay for things like this? Who will pay for it? All great questions, but far less important than who will go. You see for me out there where the people are, money is not the greatest need people who love and sacrifice are the greatest need.

Money can buy all kinds of things it can feed people for days. However, people you see can feed people or better yet help people to feed themselves for life. You see your checks are important the money we give is crucial, but more than money, we need people. Money does not save anybody. People led by the will of God and his compassion, acting as reconciliatory agents for His world.

The king of pop as weird or strange as he could be engages this idea with a challenging message for Christians in this world with his song, “Man in the Mirror.”  It is in that song where the true trial, what our Muslims friends call Jihad starts. I can only ask people to do so much but at some point, I have to buy what I am selling.

I am a bartender and I sell food and drink. I am there to provide an experience but the I limit myself by how well I know the very experience that I am selling. We have to start with ourselves. We have to look in the mirror and stop ignoring the problems we see and passing responsibility off on the government or the minority population of any congregation that bears majority burden.

We cannot be those who identify the problem but only complain about the jobs of those who are actively working to be the solutions. I have to challenge us with more than a thought. Our lives have more meaning than merely that which we might have thought or said. Jesus’ life was remembered as much or more by what he did as to what he said the Gospel’s are full of the things he did.

Today I challenge you to consider the problems of society, the neighborhood, the school, the … you fill in the blank. Identify the problem and seek out an opportunity to be the solution. Find those who are interested to help and rally the community to fix or improve what is not at it’s best. We might find that the very children the laborers of God might answer the prayers that people have been praying.

Matthew 9
³⁵Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Hitch-hiking through Oregon

What do you get with two socially conscious, missions minded Christian college graduates, on a road trip through a state where hitchhiking is not illegal? A great story….

I find that every trip I go on in some way brings great stories. Ranging from friends left behind in Venice, Italy, sharing a bungalow with an Australian met only 20 minutes prior or picking up some hitchhikers at a gas station in Oregon.

Starting from the beginning we flew from Indianapolis to San Francisco by way of Cincinnati (that always makes sense). Arriving at 9:30 PM local time 12:30 PM our body time. We picked up a rental car and arrived at our host’s house (whom we had never met before) by 11 PM, only to leave by 9 AM the next morning after breakfast and some conversation.

Heading out to blaze our trail along the coast, we enjoyed the endless beauty and majesty. For us as Christians it was a never-ending testament to God’s perfect creation and his mastery of creativity and balance.

We shortly realized we would spend the next 2 days on that road so we jumped to the state highway.

We saw several hitchhikers along the way. It was always a battle, when should we stop and whom should we pick up? How do we make this a question of wisdom while reaching out to those in need?

Sure enough, the necessity of gas came our way and along with 3 travelers needing a ride in the same direction.

Adam traded gas money for a couple of gemstones from a guy named Gypsy. He was on a pilgrimage of what kind I do not know. Sounded to me he was a professional groupie for various indy music artists with a special appreciation for marijuana.

All would agree the guy was a little crazy at best. “He had to be on something it couldn’t be just a little weed,” said Chris (a hitchhiker). His van that he sold once for 3 oz. of weed (marijuana), and now had back but was adding water, gas and oil almost as fast as they were leaking.

Adam offered to give them a ride to which I agreed openly. We saw the need several times that day and this one seemed to fall in our laps. I will admit it was a great experience.

After being on the road for 15 hours, I was glad to have some extra travelers around to share stories and talk about life.

We thought it strange that somebody would rather hitch a ride than own a car or buy a plane ticket but for them the journey was worth the sacrifice.

I am not sure if they would even think it a sacrifice. Life was always lived sharing a perfect balance of dependency and generosity.

In Indiana and Tennessee the places I have lived, hitch hiking isn’t common nor is it legal. For Adam and I it was hard to know how to respond to such a request.

Our instincts and our parents often tell us to drive on it isn’t safe. What if they rob or hurt you? There is also a prison near by so they are probably criminals who wouldn’t be safe, said Shannon the bride and college friend to which we were traveling to see.

It is interesting because from a Biblical perspective I don’t know if we are given that leniency. Jesus teaches his followers to be hospitable among other things to give to the needy and show love to the lost.

As a traveler, myself I am not sure how to always extend these principles it is one thing to show these hospitable characteristics in our theoretical conversations but somehow when those situations arrive the rules seem to change.

I think as we continue to attempt to live in a way that could reach out to the lonely and lost it is often only then that we really start to understand clearly the truth of the Gospel and the heart of Christ.

Not to say that you have to pick up hitchhikers to understand the Gospel or the heart of Christ but it sure helps. There is something to the idea that people who seek and exist in that context are rewarded in much more ambiguous ways but are just as happy as anybody.

I challenge you to respond as Christ did with those in need. Respond wisely, with love and compassion to his people.

In the same way Adam and I couldn’t take these travelers to Washington state where they were headed we could only get them to Turner Oregon.

It is also very important that the LORD gives us opportunities to be confessional with our lives so that others might know the truth that is Christ through the way his people live.

The Church should show grace to the Restaurant workers

Restaurants are funny places. They happen to be a place where any array of different things may happen despite what we presume should happen. This is true often for both the team working to serve you the guest and then of course the guests.  As a restaurant worker who works hard to ensure that I give every guest my best possible service every time I want to offer a few suggestions that might aid in creating an environment for a great dining experience. Here is a thought for the day. . . We all know how much everybody hates tipping. It is important though to realize that servers don’t get paid a real wage. On average depending on the location of the restaurant they will be paid between 2 and 3 dollars an hour. While this seems terribly unfair it is the way the system controls the cost you pay for your food as well as ensuring that their staff is motivated to serve you the best they can. Church goers you should know that you are generally disliked in the restaurant business. The ones who preach grace seem to be the worst at showing grace.For the church goers in the crowd I understand your desire to enjoy a meal out after church on Sunday’s I often do myself. It is important though for the sake of the church and for the sake of being salt of the earth as we are instructed in the gospels we should tip well not just average or normal but well.We should not be known as the people whom we would rather not be served. While it seems to make sense for us that Jesus will take care of us tracks tend not to pay bills consider the people we interact with and start thinking about those we affect everyday.Consider starting your tip percentage at twenty fluctuating lower and high as you see fit but knowing that part of the cost of eating out is not the price on the tab alone but an additional 15+ percent for the server who took his sunday morning and afternoon to ensure that you had a good meal to eat. I know we have high expectations about life and we think we know how things should happen but we often don’t. It took me several months working 40 hours a week in a restaurant before I began to start to grasp all the chaos the normatively occurs. It took me that long to understand why things are easily accessible by all. Know that the way you order a steak is significant but it is also significant for you to remember that there might be as many as 25 or 30 steaks on a grill so if yours isn’t just the way you think it should be grace should abound.Know that if a server forgets a salad merely ask him don’t sit and steam because you are one of several tables and guests that he or she is attempting to please all at the same time.Don’t feel bad asking for additional condiments or food items but allow time for them to get to your table once again there are several tasks your server is systematically performing at the same time. It is important that we the church be the most understanding. It isn’t that we should have no expectations of professionalism and respect or excellence but that we take in special consideration what has happened and why that has happened. Considering who has control over those issues and remembering that these folks are doings jobs of service to us and we should be grateful for an opportunity to eat and be served.I am not wanting to speak angrily or to chastise the church for a grave injustice but to shed some light on the reality of society and my experience and embarrassment as one of those Christians who is often defending the sad truth that we in the restaurant face every Sunday.