finito
This blog is finished. I'm switching back to Xanga--more of the folks I need to be building relationships with are there, and I've figured out how to put external links onto it, so ya'll will still have a place!
I'm at the old xanga place... www.xanga.com/soulful_sallie
Come visit me!
Adios, Blog!
Christmas List 2005
-Good followup for the 75 new Christians I met in Kenya.
-Get closer to God, thus closer to holiness.
-Healing for my friend Johny's grandma-she's 81yrs old and has thrush...she's beautiful.
-More rain in Ukambani, Kenya--to end this long drought.
-Favor on the newly formed divisional psychosocial support team in Kangundo Division, Kenya.
-$5000 to buy a van for my friends in Shigomere, Kenya, so that they can do more home visits, see more people, and win more souls to Christ.
-Experience revival in the souls of every soldier and officer in the Salvation Army.
-walk in agape.
I'm learning a lot about my calling in life. God is making a lot of things clear to me that He wants me to do. It's exciting. This Christmas (and everyday) I'm asking God to make me a faithful servant--willing to do whatever He asks of me.
.........
Another thought--I love the Salvation Army. I love Booth's vision. I love the vision we have now. I don't like so much the fact that a lot of people "talk" vision without "doing" vision. We're called to be mission-minded people-not a loud talkative people who gets nothing done.
I want to see a holy Salvation Army....starting with myself.
If ya'll are in on this vision...lemme know. We can build a whole network around the people who are living for Jesus' vision of a pure bride. C'mon, ya'll...let's give Jesus a LOUD invitation to come back.
Chaos in Kenya
I hope you're keeping up with the world around you, but if you're not, here's a bit of an update. The normally peaceful Kenya is undergoing some serious violence problems right now due to the fact that they are voting for their first constitution since they got independence from Great Britain in 1963. This may een result in Civil War at some point. This fact alone is important because Kenya has never had any type of civil war. There have already been several deaths associated with political rallies. Even so, being in Kenya when there is violence around is kind of like being in America on 9/11, right?
There is a big rally in Kakamega today (22kms or about 13 miles away) and Pres. Kibaki is there...lots of violence is expected. Some MPs have been summonned by the Attorney General for court because they've been training 600 youth in the bush and 200 in Nairobi to cause trouble in certain places on the 20th...the MPs aren't going. They're refusing. All "No" campaigns in Western Province (where I am now) have been cancelled because Kibaki (who is for yes) is touring here...that's the root of much of the violence.
The guys we were supposed to be with in the community today have bailed on us because they're voting yes, so they're in Kakamega... Politics is ruling the mission right now.... They even lied to us about changing the schedule...gave us some crap-o reason for cancelling today's activities. So right now--today is a free day and tomorrow is a free day...too much idleness! It's horrible! But I'll live. I'm washing more clothes (dirty or not) to keep myself busy.
Prayers readily accepted.
News from Kenya - -and Things I'm Missing!
i've taken over 300 pictures...they're pretty funny.
I'm getting my hair braided on the 17th. woohoo! (i'm almost out of shampoo!)
can i cook sukuma wiki (like greens), kachumbari (like pico de gallo, but without the peppers) and chapati (like fat tortillias) at thanksgiving? they're good!!! ya'll will love them!
That j-poff kid is going to do something big with his life-I'm so proud of him.
what I'm missing (it's random...so just bear with me.)
cheese
couches
hip-hop music
english
internet whenever i want it
pizza
cell phones
cell phone service
a real bed
washer and dryer
spaghetti
starbucks
ice
family
chocolate cake with fudge icing
cold milk
paved roads
driving
cars (not cows
donkeys and chickens)
mexican food
big bacon classic from wendy's
mushrooms
ice cream
diet coke
plastic bottles for soda
tap water that doesn't taste like rust
fish or blood
cooking
electricity
pop and retta's fireplace
my house
my tall uniform shoes
pants
carpet
sandwiches
cold food
ranch dressing
rainy cold weather
american movies (not nigerian ones)
adidas shoes
perfume
running water
dry cleaners
kimberly
high school students
closed showers
real toilets (not holes in the ground)
brewed coffee (not instant)
iced tea
U of A blanket
camp HOH
NLR corps and the surrounding neighborhood
grocery stores
walmart
walgreens
chick fil a
AOL instant messenger
walking the roads with people
not animals
mardel's
real batteries
not being overcharged for things just because i'm white
country accents
american music
typing
gum and breathmints
strawberry milk
ozark mountains
leftovers
wearing socks around the house
my german medic bag
planning a schedule and sticking to it
my laptop (Henryetta)
driving to ATL
not watching WWF if I don't want to.
... and that's what i'm missing! (crazy, i know) but yeah...L.G. life's good.
I'm back to the states in 14 days! WooHoo!
News from Nairobi -- and massive prayer requests for Kenya
I have little time. I'm in Nairobi still. I'm going to Shigomere on Friday--apparently, it's also in the middle of nowhere, but it's only for 15 days.
I went to pray at Parliament today--with the referendum and all (watch the news, please, Kenya's gov't might declare a state of emergency, which might require me to leave early!). I wasn't allowed to take pictures though. boo. But, lots of demonic stuff there--very icky--get people there to pray--Kenya might be headed for its' first civil war over this thing. I'll be back in Nairobi on Nov. 20-the day before the referendum. There have already been 4 people killed in the riots, and it's expected to get worse with a climax on the 21st. So be praying, and watching the news in case I need to come home. If you want to search--some Kenyan newspapers are The Nation and The Standard. Anything you read about oranges and bananas would be relevant, as they represent the no and yes vote, respectively. President is a fairly controversial man by the name of Mwai Kibaki, and his wife is...well, she's not the brightest Kenyan I've ever met...
In addition to this, I've also been getting dreams about Nairobi, and they've heightened the last 2 nights, as I'm in Nairobi surrounded by muslim mosques and it's ramadan...nearly 24-7 prayers to allah on a loudspeaker broadcast over the city.
There is so much to pray about for this country, and the demonic influences can be overwhelming. There is so much that we learned at The War College that is put into practice every day – praying the Bible, speaking in tongues, etc. Some of the people here have the gift of interpretation, and we know that this is real spiritual warfare. Help us pray for the Kenyans and especially for the Salvationists in this part of the world.
I need to run now. But, I am alive, and counting down the days until I get back (24 until ATL, 27 until LR!)
I love you!!
-Jamie Mwende Nandai Ndanu Punk Muzungu British Muthokoi (I'll explain them all later...)
Letters From War
Notes from Jamie
First, before you read any further, know that you have found Jamie’s blog, but this is Jamie’s Mamma writing! Communication between the good old US of A and a town called Kangundo ain’t what it’s cracked up to be. I received a 27 second phone call a few days ago. The next one was 3 minutes and the last one was 5 minutes. Now we haven’t spoken at all for a while, and that’s killing us! We could be like one of those funny cell phone commercials where we just shout out info to one another as fast as possible!
Even though they were short, we got an awful lot of info in those few moments that need to be passed on –and prayed about! Jamie has sent me things to post for her in the past, but she hasn’t been able to do that for some time. I won’t begin to try to sound like her, but I hope to post just enough to keep you in the loop and to keep you praying!
Our family has been offered 2 goats to keep Jamie. So far, we have declined, although her sister Kim is seriously considering the option. The people from Kithituni and Kangundo have been very good to talk with Jamie and to teach her some of their Kiswahili language. In return, she is teaching them “southern.” I believe that many of the villagers now refer to her as “what up, dawg?” Occasionally, they are able to travel to the next town and buy some fresh fruits and vegetables. I understand that she was able to make pizza on one occasion. Later she found all the right ingredients for guacamole. So the Kenyans have now been introduced to both Italian and Tex-Mex cuisine while she has been introduced to goat! I don’t think that’s a fair trade! In the first village, most of their meals were cooked over a charcoal fire, and I understand that Jamie has also helped them with their farming. I am sure that by growing up in my house, she was ill prepared for that particular job! They also have to dig for water daily since the wells are dry. There have been many days when the village ran out of water and Jamie could not bathe. We’re reminded of the Missionary’s Prayer – “Where you lead me, I will follow….what you feed me, I will swallow…..!”
I also wonder how these conditions have to add to the AIDS/HIV problems. AIDS/HIV is definately everywhere. Every family seems to be affected in one way or another. No one seems to have escaped.
The past few days have been fairly difficult. Jamie learned of Matt Mockabee and a lady named “Mama Lois” (from Vancouver) at the same time. And this was after she had attended 3 funerals in a very short time. One funeral was for a man who was 122-years-old. We didn’t talk long enough to learn his story, but we were all amazed to find someone that old in that environment. Even with all this sadness, the people apparently have a very special joy.
I know that they are working hard to learn about prayer. Jamie is teaching them prayer by praying for rain. They are in a drought and it is time for the seasonal rains right now. It will also be a problem will be if they get too much rain. The roads are so poor that they will turn to mud which can damage or ruin the few vehicles that are available. So, please join us in prayer for the rains.
The other prayer request is for their country and the president. They will vote on a new constitution in November. There has already been some unrest, and there is threat of a political coup of the proposed constitution is adopted.
If you have comments, let us hear them. We try to pass them on as often as possible. Jamie goes to a new location on November 4, and I hope to have something available that she has written herself. Finally, Jamie’s biggest worry is that there is just not enough time to make an impact considering all the work that needs to be done.
Wacha? (how are you?)
I'm alive!
Kenya is great. I love it here.
I pray for you all the time!!!!!! I miss you guys!
Josh and Jenn--I'm so happy for ya'll! I'll try my hardest to be there for the ceremony!! It will be in Toronto, yeah? ;-)
I miss you guys so much...you can't imagine! I love my Kenyan friends...they're so warm and welcoming and I truly feel like I'm a part of their family. Right now I'm living in Kithituni in a community called Kasikeu. It's wonderful! So far, I've walked all over the place, dug for water, helped in a shamba (farm), and tonight I'll be helping make dinner. It's good here. I fit in--I love that!
I've had braids, but I took them out last night because my head got sunburned yesterday and it's very dusty here, so I needed desperately to wash! When I finally got them out, we were out of water, so I had to wait until this morning to wash my hair! It was so bad! But I loved it!
Seriously though--I love it here...the guys I'm working with call themselves "Chang Mei"--inspired by a community in Thailand that saw their HIV/AIDS problem and responded to it themselves, rather than waiting for the gov't or someone else to do it...they're wonderful! I feel so at home and comfortable with them. They say I'm becoming Kenyan...they will give my daddy (whom they all call "Mr. Smith") two goats as the bride price and I will become a Kikamba and live here forever....hahaha. It's quite funny.
God is doing wonderful things here in Kithituni--many people responding and even gaining understanding on the difference between what is devil worship and what is tradition--so, curses are being broken! It's wonderful!
Prayer requests--
Rain!!!!! We need it desperately--it's even getting hard for us to go dig for water because there isn't any...we're in extreme drought right now and we need God to send us rain. I've been praying 2 Chron. 6:26&27 for it.
Favor---there are still some people in the community that only care for themselves are making it difficult to promote unity.
Love--that we would all genuinely love each other with Love from Yahweh's heart and that His Spirit would dwell with us in that love.
Thanks ya'll. I miss ya. I'll update again whenever I get the chance (don't know when that will be though--the computers in Kithituni are down, so we have to take a matatu (bus) to the next town of Sultan Hamud to check e-mail...it's 50 shillings each way (almost $1), and we don't have a lot of time...but, next time I get the chance, I'll write again!
Much love!
-Jamie AKA Mwende (loved one) AKA Nandai (beautiful girl)
