Tuesday, June 7 - Day 2, travel to Karen
Themes from Pope Francis include protecting the poor, the orphaned and the earth. Arthur, one of the trip leaders, suggested in our morning prayer that we are all orphaned from our Heavenly Father while here on earth. How might we see this land we inhabit, or those abandoned because of disease? Today we drove through massive traffic to visit the Giraffe Center and Nyumbani. Both places are in Karen, a wealthy area in Nairobi. It was important for the leaders to introduce all parts of Kenya to receive a complete picture of this land.
To ease all of us into our busy schedules, we had a later start this morning. The first notable observation was the traffic and all that is going on on the streets and side of the road. I though how entrepreneurial everyone is, selling items even in the middle of the Super Highway. Everyone seemed to be out and about, which may be the case as our driver mentioned that at the beginning of the month, more people will drive as many will have the money fuel their cars.
We visited The Giraffe Center, which rescues and breeds a once endangered species of giraffe. The Rothschild Giraffe was killed because people were moving into its home. This center educates the youth to not only protect this species, but to protect all animals and the earth. I appreciated the artwork by school children that displayed on the education center.
-- Anna
What did I expect? Expectations are everything and for 6 months, I have been counting down to the day I would land in Nairobi for this trip. Though the realization has yet to hit me that we are on the other side of the world, even as we drive through the town. Watching the Kenyans, busy about their day. Nothing unsual at all to them. Wallking long distances while carrying large sacks on their backs through the heat, crossing the streets, not fearful of the passing cars darting toward them, the lack of side walks and kids running around practically barefoot, the burning piles of trash, the cattle walking along side them in the chaos, the makeshift store fronts selling anything from metal, to fruit, to clothing, and wood. Then this fact hits me:This is their reality. This is their regular day. Their every day..So different from my own.
I begin to wonder: How did we end up on 2 different sides of the world? Them and me. What determined the life I have and the life they were given? What makes me so different from them? Why do we want so much back home and the Kenyans look content with what they have.
It all comes from God. Blessings we cannot begin to understand or answer. I guess that is why I am here. And with each day, I will continue to be blessed by what I am able to learn from the people here. I have to share and yet, I know there is so much for me to learn and gain in return.
-- MaryJane
