Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
MISSIONS
Many a times Americans tend to send a lot of missionaries overseas,which is a good idea.When the American christians do this I see a lot into their mentality,'They are the only people who can save the world!'We see this everytime we have political differences in other countries,they always think of how to intervene into wars.The mentality behind this kind of thinking is that,they are the only people who can help other people!
While I get confused when people tell me,"Before I became a christian!" To me christianity means more than "just" believeing in God but having a personal relationship with Christ.
Many a times I see missionaries in Kenya coming from America,they try to do good things in those regions but I tend to think that they should shift their focus to eliminate the meantality of planting their churches in those regions and focus on strengthening the existing congregations by training stewards but not doings things for them.
I have also realized during my time of service in the USA that America needs more Missionaries than they send!
These missionaries MUST come from Africa!
While I get confused when people tell me,"Before I became a christian!" To me christianity means more than "just" believeing in God but having a personal relationship with Christ.
Many a times I see missionaries in Kenya coming from America,they try to do good things in those regions but I tend to think that they should shift their focus to eliminate the meantality of planting their churches in those regions and focus on strengthening the existing congregations by training stewards but not doings things for them.
I have also realized during my time of service in the USA that America needs more Missionaries than they send!
These missionaries MUST come from Africa!
Monday, April 4, 2011
PICTURES
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| Halloween |
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| Taking a break for lunch from Youth Activity in New York-Clifton Springs |
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| One of the convenient fast food restaurants |
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| At my work place-Transition House,left is Aftercare Administrator,Joe Vangeli, right,Jim Artz-staff looks on as I help develop an Evaluation checklist for the former inmates |
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| Horse and Buggy in Virginia,what a ride! |
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| On the banks of Susquehanna River-Harrisburg,Pa |
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| Gene,my host brother and Noah his son sleeping on the back after hiking the hill,we are at the peak!I wonder how much energy little Noah expended as we hiked! |
MORE FUN PICTURES
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| I am seriously enjoying playing in the leaves after I had raked them,with my host brother and her lovely daughter Aria who want to marry me,I will make sure I keep the promise! |
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| Trying my riffle to shoot for the first time,I don't remember killing a deer though |
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| Waiting for some General TSOs chicken at a Japaneese/Chinese Restaurant. Looking on is,left Susan,next is Ressler and my fellow friend Kimsophat from Cambodia-This was taken in Philadelphia |
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| IVEP peers visiting in Virginia |
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| Fishing before the pond was frozen |
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| WITNESS Gospel Music artist in Pocono's |
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| In the middle of nowhere-Klingerstown,Pa |
QUESTIONS!!!
I was asked very funny questions:
"Do you have ice cream in Kenya?"
"Do you have apples and bananas in Kenya?"
"Do you have cookies in Kenya?"
"Do you have tables in Kenya?" "How big are your tables?"
"Do you have Mc'Donalds in Kenya?"
"Do you live in houses?"
"Do you know computer?"
"Do you have trash cans in Kenya?"
Whenever I would ask to befriend somebody on facebook,they would ask me,"You know facebook!" "Did you launch it when you were already here?" "So you mean you have computers in Kenya?"
Do you know French fries,crackers etc questions.
These were very intersting times and I enjoyed answering the questions and I still do.I have been able to enlighten friends across the board.
"Do you have ice cream in Kenya?"
"Do you have apples and bananas in Kenya?"
"Do you have cookies in Kenya?"
"Do you have tables in Kenya?" "How big are your tables?"
"Do you have Mc'Donalds in Kenya?"
"Do you live in houses?"
"Do you know computer?"
"Do you have trash cans in Kenya?"
Whenever I would ask to befriend somebody on facebook,they would ask me,"You know facebook!" "Did you launch it when you were already here?" "So you mean you have computers in Kenya?"
Do you know French fries,crackers etc questions.
These were very intersting times and I enjoyed answering the questions and I still do.I have been able to enlighten friends across the board.
FOOD
As always food is one of the most challenging things people find challenging to adapting to if they visit another culture.
At first, I could only eat bread with peanut butter applied on it,that was the most comfortable food to it at that time.Fish did not look like fish, chicken was even different,mackeroni cheese,bologna,salads-eating raw vegetables!Chicken noodle soups,meat loaf,losagna,cauliflower,Jambalaya,Broccoli,brown rice,shrimps,etc.It took me time to be able to get acquainted with these new tastes.
Iced tea to me was not tea rather I perceived it as a drink/juice.
Cheese burgers,skimmed milk,how could I drink this!
Back at home,I don't read food contents like how much calories/fat/sugar etc does food or drink have,I just ate.
You can imagine what I do now,I still don't care how much calories,fat,sugar is in my food.
My favorite meal has become smoked turkey meat-very big for the Thanksgiving in North America.
MC'Donald's,Wendys,Sub Way,Papa Johns,Taco Bells,Kenturkey Fried Chicken (KFC) Burger Kings, Friendly's etc make it easy to get fast foods if one is tired of making meals.They are very convenient,just go through a drive through and there you go.But how do I go to a drive through walking?I think I should try this.
At first, I could only eat bread with peanut butter applied on it,that was the most comfortable food to it at that time.Fish did not look like fish, chicken was even different,mackeroni cheese,bologna,salads-eating raw vegetables!Chicken noodle soups,meat loaf,losagna,cauliflower,Jambalaya,Broccoli,brown rice,shrimps,etc.It took me time to be able to get acquainted with these new tastes.
Iced tea to me was not tea rather I perceived it as a drink/juice.
Cheese burgers,skimmed milk,how could I drink this!
Back at home,I don't read food contents like how much calories/fat/sugar etc does food or drink have,I just ate.
You can imagine what I do now,I still don't care how much calories,fat,sugar is in my food.
My favorite meal has become smoked turkey meat-very big for the Thanksgiving in North America.
MC'Donald's,Wendys,Sub Way,Papa Johns,Taco Bells,Kenturkey Fried Chicken (KFC) Burger Kings, Friendly's etc make it easy to get fast foods if one is tired of making meals.They are very convenient,just go through a drive through and there you go.But how do I go to a drive through walking?I think I should try this.
KENYA-USA RELATIONS.
The United States and Kenya have enjoyed cordial relations since Kenya's independence in 1963.
Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in civil liberties
More than 9,000 USA citizens are registered with US Embassy as residents of Kenya. In 2007 about 116,800 Americans visited Kenya, up to 18% from 2006, but the number dipped to 89,400 in 2008 after our post election violence.About two thirds of this population are missionaries and their families.
Al Qaeda terrorists bombed the US Embassy in Nairobi on August 7, 1998 taking hundreds of lives and maiming thousands more. Since that event, the Kenyan and US Governments have intensified cooperation to address all forms of insecurity in Kenya, including terrorism.
US assistnace to Kenya is substantial and we greatly appreciate that. It promotes broad-based economic development as the basis of continued progress in political, social, and related areas of national life. The US assistance is built around 5 broad objectives:Fighting disease and improving healthcare; fighting poverty and promoting private sector-led prosperity; advancing shared democratic values, human rights and good governance; cooperating to fight insecurity and terrorism; and collaborating to foster peace and stability in East Africa.
We also have United States International University based in Nairobi,Voice of America (VOA) radio station in Kenya.
These ties grew even to a great level when America voted my cousin-Barack Obama into power.
So we are friends.
Relations became even closer after Kenya's democratic transition of 2002 and subsequent improvements in civil liberties
More than 9,000 USA citizens are registered with US Embassy as residents of Kenya. In 2007 about 116,800 Americans visited Kenya, up to 18% from 2006, but the number dipped to 89,400 in 2008 after our post election violence.About two thirds of this population are missionaries and their families.
Al Qaeda terrorists bombed the US Embassy in Nairobi on August 7, 1998 taking hundreds of lives and maiming thousands more. Since that event, the Kenyan and US Governments have intensified cooperation to address all forms of insecurity in Kenya, including terrorism.
US assistnace to Kenya is substantial and we greatly appreciate that. It promotes broad-based economic development as the basis of continued progress in political, social, and related areas of national life. The US assistance is built around 5 broad objectives:Fighting disease and improving healthcare; fighting poverty and promoting private sector-led prosperity; advancing shared democratic values, human rights and good governance; cooperating to fight insecurity and terrorism; and collaborating to foster peace and stability in East Africa.
We also have United States International University based in Nairobi,Voice of America (VOA) radio station in Kenya.
These ties grew even to a great level when America voted my cousin-Barack Obama into power.
So we are friends.
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY TIES
I guess this is a very sensitive issue and I don't want to step on anybody's toe here.
But I find this intriguing.
While in Africa,most of us get married because of the conveniences that comes with marriage,many a times we feel committed to making those marriages work out for the following reasons:
1. Family ties-The African man lives for his people-family and friends,not just for himself.
2 .Due to the extended family system, our friends and family can always come in and chastise any of the married couples about their bad behaviour and they will listen.
3. Because almost everybody knows your wife or husband, there is lowered tendency to go out and cheat.
4. The chances of a woman with a baby getting married to a man without a baby is very low in my community.As a result, the woman is compelled to stay and make it work.
5. The African man realizes that this can happen to their sisters also, so morally, they stay in their relationships.
6. Very few African women try to control their household or their man no matter how much money they make above his.And those who have succeeded in getting a divorce due to the fact that they are making more money than their husbands find it difficult to re-marry, since the people see her as bossy.
FOR THESE REASONS AFRICA HAS A DIVORCE RATE OF 5-18% COMPARED TO THE USA 54%
Cohabitation is not allowed.
But it is more in the USA 8 times than it was 30 years ago.
Commitment is the essential difference between cohabitation and marriage,in marriage, the assumption is permanence while in cohabitation, couple agree to remain together "as long as it work out".
If a cohabiting relationship sours, the couple separate and tell their friends that it didn't work out.
What intrigues me the most is when I meet somebody at 40s, 50s,talking about,"My girlfriend,My boyfriend....."I expect to hear something like,"My family,my kids/children....from such people NOT my boy/girlfriend at that age!I expect them to have either established families or they don't want anything to do with relationships at all, Is this what we call cultural difference!
This leaves me mesmerized.
But I find this intriguing.
While in Africa,most of us get married because of the conveniences that comes with marriage,many a times we feel committed to making those marriages work out for the following reasons:
1. Family ties-The African man lives for his people-family and friends,not just for himself.
2 .Due to the extended family system, our friends and family can always come in and chastise any of the married couples about their bad behaviour and they will listen.
3. Because almost everybody knows your wife or husband, there is lowered tendency to go out and cheat.
4. The chances of a woman with a baby getting married to a man without a baby is very low in my community.As a result, the woman is compelled to stay and make it work.
5. The African man realizes that this can happen to their sisters also, so morally, they stay in their relationships.
6. Very few African women try to control their household or their man no matter how much money they make above his.And those who have succeeded in getting a divorce due to the fact that they are making more money than their husbands find it difficult to re-marry, since the people see her as bossy.
FOR THESE REASONS AFRICA HAS A DIVORCE RATE OF 5-18% COMPARED TO THE USA 54%
Cohabitation is not allowed.
But it is more in the USA 8 times than it was 30 years ago.
Commitment is the essential difference between cohabitation and marriage,in marriage, the assumption is permanence while in cohabitation, couple agree to remain together "as long as it work out".
If a cohabiting relationship sours, the couple separate and tell their friends that it didn't work out.
What intrigues me the most is when I meet somebody at 40s, 50s,talking about,"My girlfriend,My boyfriend....."I expect to hear something like,"My family,my kids/children....from such people NOT my boy/girlfriend at that age!I expect them to have either established families or they don't want anything to do with relationships at all, Is this what we call cultural difference!
This leaves me mesmerized.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
PRISON MINISTRY
While in the USA I volunteer my services with Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) in partnership with Jubilee Ministries,my major assignment has always been gravitated towards this noble task-Prison Ministry.
While many view this task as a very BIG DUTY,I view it as a calling and something I need to do for the rest of my life.
I do block visitation what we call in in layman's language,"cell visitation",I meet guys behind these walls to hear their stories,answer the questions I can answer mostly related to spiritual walk,I do one-on-one counseling.I love this job because of its very challenging nature, so normally I put all my trust in God to put words in my mouth and to be able to always say the correct things that these guys need to hear,I find this fascinating.Sometimes they ask intriguing questions that nobody a part from God in His enigmatic nature has!
I have been able to meet few sex offenders,drug addicts/dealers,highway robbers, people who possesed drug paraphenalia,people who drove under the influence( DUI),I Meet meet people who don't totally believe that God exists and if you say He exists,"Why then did God watch them falling in to drugs and eventually getting to prison!"That most of the time is their concern of who God really is."Why did God allow my two sisters to die of leukemia?"
I meet with people who are coming for the bible studies from their blocks/cells to investigate this 'man' that half of the world believes in and talks about everyday? And in the same spirit,I pray that as they investigate who God is,let Him meet them at that particular hour.
KEEP FOLLOWING THESE STORIES AND MORE,I WILL CONTINUE TO ENLIGHTEN YOU WHY CRIMINALS DO WHAT THEY DO,WHAT IS CALLED, "INSIDE THE CRIMINAL'S MIND".
While many view this task as a very BIG DUTY,I view it as a calling and something I need to do for the rest of my life.
I do block visitation what we call in in layman's language,"cell visitation",I meet guys behind these walls to hear their stories,answer the questions I can answer mostly related to spiritual walk,I do one-on-one counseling.I love this job because of its very challenging nature, so normally I put all my trust in God to put words in my mouth and to be able to always say the correct things that these guys need to hear,I find this fascinating.Sometimes they ask intriguing questions that nobody a part from God in His enigmatic nature has!
I have been able to meet few sex offenders,drug addicts/dealers,highway robbers, people who possesed drug paraphenalia,people who drove under the influence( DUI),I Meet meet people who don't totally believe that God exists and if you say He exists,"Why then did God watch them falling in to drugs and eventually getting to prison!"That most of the time is their concern of who God really is."Why did God allow my two sisters to die of leukemia?"
I meet with people who are coming for the bible studies from their blocks/cells to investigate this 'man' that half of the world believes in and talks about everyday? And in the same spirit,I pray that as they investigate who God is,let Him meet them at that particular hour.
KEEP FOLLOWING THESE STORIES AND MORE,I WILL CONTINUE TO ENLIGHTEN YOU WHY CRIMINALS DO WHAT THEY DO,WHAT IS CALLED, "INSIDE THE CRIMINAL'S MIND".
HIV/AIDS VERSES CANCER
This sounds like fun thing to talk about.
People know Africa to have been heavily devastated by HIV/AIDS scourge,I don't like rhe term scourge.
That is what people know Africa to be in the western cultures.
People know Africa to be facing a lot of catastrophies like diseases,hunger,floods,civil wars,etc.
Because people have known us that way and because that is what the Media keep advertising,it will take a very long time to change this kind of stereotype thinking.
While I agree that HIV/AIDS has affected Africa to some great extent,I equally realize that Cancer in the western culture is a very big scourge!Cancer here is like HIV/AIDS in Africa and Asia!
People know Africa to have been heavily devastated by HIV/AIDS scourge,I don't like rhe term scourge.
That is what people know Africa to be in the western cultures.
People know Africa to be facing a lot of catastrophies like diseases,hunger,floods,civil wars,etc.
Because people have known us that way and because that is what the Media keep advertising,it will take a very long time to change this kind of stereotype thinking.
While I agree that HIV/AIDS has affected Africa to some great extent,I equally realize that Cancer in the western culture is a very big scourge!Cancer here is like HIV/AIDS in Africa and Asia!
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