Hey Friends,
First of all, I need to wish you all a Merry (late) Christmas. I hope you had a great holiday and enjoyed some time off. I enjoyed my Christmas out here with friends and good food...although it's hard to get into the Christmas mood when it's summer time in a new country. I definitely missed being with my family in Colorado and the snow that they got there.
My time in South Africa has been great so far. I feel a calm here, like this is really where I am called to be right now...and at times I feel completely overwhelmed with thinking that I'm living here for a year. Chris and I are temporarily staying at the YWCA - yes, that's right, the Young Women's Christian Association. Kind of funny, but the owner is a friend of a friend and they had some extra rooms in the back....so we'll take whatever lodging we can get for now. I'm still settling in and trying to get used to the surroundings as well as looking for a car that I need to help me get around to different ministry sites.
Our time leading up to Christmas was busy. We have been working a lot with the directors and other staff to prepare for our big event of the year....a camp for teenagers from Jan. 7-11. I volunteered at this camp last year and am very excited to be back. The camp brings these teens of different races from divided neighborhoods together for the week. It is a week for the kids to get away from home, have fun, play games, build diverse friendships, learn life skills (HIV education, communication skills, teamwork, etc.), and learn that they have great value and purpose in life because there is a God who loves them and cares for them. So my work with the youth directly has not come too often yet, but will begin heavily at camp and beyond. I'm excited also because my friends Taylor, Jenny, and Julie will be coming from the States to help out at camp.
I know it was awhile ago now, but I compiled picture albums from Kenya and Uganda, as well as a few from Cape Town. I posted the link next to the link for this blog site. I hope it gives you all a better picture to some of the words I have shared, but I have to say it's not the whole picture. There were many, many times when we would be in neighborhoods, homes, places where I would want to take pictures, but it just wasn't appropriate and I didn't want anyone to feel as if I was making a spectacle of their lives...so, many of the pictures may be of nature or of the 2 day safari we had a chance to take. Just know that it can't show everything, but I hope that it helps some.
Please pray for 1) More permanent housing arrangements to be secured as well as to find a reliable and cheap car 2) Everyone who comes to camp to be touched and find their worth in Christ's love
Thanks and I hope you all have an amazing new year. Peace
Ryan
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Lukaya, Uganda
Hey Friends and Family,
The last two weeks have flown by. So here's what went down. Chris and I made our way to a town called Lukaya to stay with a Christian organization called HDCC. They work mostly with street children in this area, most who've been orphaned by parents with AIDS. We had a hard time adjusting at first, getting discontent with traveling and living out of a backpack for so long. Missing Thanksgiving and eating eggs for dinner that night was not easy either.
But we adjusted and realized how grateful we were for our trip and that we have everything we need. As we traveled around we began to see the work of this organization by visiting some of the kids on the street and seeing how many are taken into various schools and families in the communities. We were also able to see their secondary and vocational schools as well as teach some computer training ourselves.
The ministry connected to the organization was actually hard to connect with. Even though I am a Christian, I had a hard time dealing with some of the perspectives and teaching of what I would call a fundamentalist Pentecostal church. I had several conversations where I would speak with someone who did not want to hear what I had to say as the planned their next "Well the Bible says...." statement. Funny enough though they asked Chris or I to give a sermon at their Sunday service....so I did. I was able to speak about John 15 in the Bible and how Christian's lives are supposed to bear fruit (kindness, love, humility, etc) through receiving from the unconditional love of Jesus. I ended up having a great time speaking and they received the message well.
By the end of our time, I was really encouraged. As I got to know some of the people more there I saw that even though I may disagree with their ideas and theology some, they were still people bearing fruit in their lives. And the organization was still doing great things in bringing kids off the street. So now I just arrived back in Cape Town, South Africa last night ready to start my year of work here. I'm thankful for our two months in East Africa and learned much, but am ready to be here.
Please pray for 1) Provision of housing and the right place to stay as I search for that. 2) To adjust quickly and jump fully into my work here.
Thanks for everything, I miss you all. Peace
Ryan
The last two weeks have flown by. So here's what went down. Chris and I made our way to a town called Lukaya to stay with a Christian organization called HDCC. They work mostly with street children in this area, most who've been orphaned by parents with AIDS. We had a hard time adjusting at first, getting discontent with traveling and living out of a backpack for so long. Missing Thanksgiving and eating eggs for dinner that night was not easy either.
But we adjusted and realized how grateful we were for our trip and that we have everything we need. As we traveled around we began to see the work of this organization by visiting some of the kids on the street and seeing how many are taken into various schools and families in the communities. We were also able to see their secondary and vocational schools as well as teach some computer training ourselves.
The ministry connected to the organization was actually hard to connect with. Even though I am a Christian, I had a hard time dealing with some of the perspectives and teaching of what I would call a fundamentalist Pentecostal church. I had several conversations where I would speak with someone who did not want to hear what I had to say as the planned their next "Well the Bible says...." statement. Funny enough though they asked Chris or I to give a sermon at their Sunday service....so I did. I was able to speak about John 15 in the Bible and how Christian's lives are supposed to bear fruit (kindness, love, humility, etc) through receiving from the unconditional love of Jesus. I ended up having a great time speaking and they received the message well.
By the end of our time, I was really encouraged. As I got to know some of the people more there I saw that even though I may disagree with their ideas and theology some, they were still people bearing fruit in their lives. And the organization was still doing great things in bringing kids off the street. So now I just arrived back in Cape Town, South Africa last night ready to start my year of work here. I'm thankful for our two months in East Africa and learned much, but am ready to be here.
Please pray for 1) Provision of housing and the right place to stay as I search for that. 2) To adjust quickly and jump fully into my work here.
Thanks for everything, I miss you all. Peace
Ryan
Friday, November 16, 2007
Northern Uganda
Hello Everybody,
I'm hanging out right now in Kampala, Uganda before heading south to a town called Masaka. We arrived in Kampala on the 4th of Nov and stayed for a couple of nights before heading up to a place called Bweyale in the Northern part of Uganda. Our friend Ali from USD is studying in Uganda and was spending some time there at a school called Hope North. Bweyale is a tiny bus stop town where Chris and I were definitely the only white people for miles.
It was in Bweyale that I was deeply saddened and troubled to find out that two of the main musical artists in Uganda are Celine Dion and Michael Bolton. How Michael Bolton ever made it to Uganda still blows my mind. But anyways, we spent time in Bweyale traveling out to the school to see Ali and spend time with the kids at this secondary and vocational school. Most of the kids here came from IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camps throughout the North.
We spent time with them and also helped out with an HIV/AIDS testing clinic for all the people in the surrounding villages. It was pretty intense to be there and to see all that goes into these people being tested and discovering whether or not they have the virus.
From here we moved further north for a few days to Gulu. We were able to make some connections here and spend a short while at the Invisible Children organizaiton's office and see more of what they are doing in Northern Uganda. We were impressed at what a well run organization they are. But our last day in Gulu was the most impactful. We went out with the UN's World Food Program to distribute food in an IDP camp called Anaka. Basically this is a tiny refugee camp for 14-18,000 people who were forced out of their homes by civil war. Being there and seeing the masses of people seeking their month's rations of food was hard and hopeful at the same time. Seeing that they are being provided for even in small ways was somehow reasurring.
So we are still seeing, experiencing, learning much. Thank you all for this opportunity because I would not be able to be here without all of your support, encouragement, prayers, etc. Please pray that God would continue to teach us what He cares about and what is worth working for in this world. Thanks and I miss you all....keep sending your updates my way too!
I'm hanging out right now in Kampala, Uganda before heading south to a town called Masaka. We arrived in Kampala on the 4th of Nov and stayed for a couple of nights before heading up to a place called Bweyale in the Northern part of Uganda. Our friend Ali from USD is studying in Uganda and was spending some time there at a school called Hope North. Bweyale is a tiny bus stop town where Chris and I were definitely the only white people for miles.
It was in Bweyale that I was deeply saddened and troubled to find out that two of the main musical artists in Uganda are Celine Dion and Michael Bolton. How Michael Bolton ever made it to Uganda still blows my mind. But anyways, we spent time in Bweyale traveling out to the school to see Ali and spend time with the kids at this secondary and vocational school. Most of the kids here came from IDP (Internally Displaced Peoples) Camps throughout the North.
We spent time with them and also helped out with an HIV/AIDS testing clinic for all the people in the surrounding villages. It was pretty intense to be there and to see all that goes into these people being tested and discovering whether or not they have the virus.
From here we moved further north for a few days to Gulu. We were able to make some connections here and spend a short while at the Invisible Children organizaiton's office and see more of what they are doing in Northern Uganda. We were impressed at what a well run organization they are. But our last day in Gulu was the most impactful. We went out with the UN's World Food Program to distribute food in an IDP camp called Anaka. Basically this is a tiny refugee camp for 14-18,000 people who were forced out of their homes by civil war. Being there and seeing the masses of people seeking their month's rations of food was hard and hopeful at the same time. Seeing that they are being provided for even in small ways was somehow reasurring.
So we are still seeing, experiencing, learning much. Thank you all for this opportunity because I would not be able to be here without all of your support, encouragement, prayers, etc. Please pray that God would continue to teach us what He cares about and what is worth working for in this world. Thanks and I miss you all....keep sending your updates my way too!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Kapsowar, Kenya
Hey Friends,
I am currently writing on my second to last day in Kenya, as we leave for Uganda by bus tomorrow. Chris and I have spent the last 2 and a half weeks in an amazing place called Kapsowar. It is in the highlands of Kenya at about 7,500 ft and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. This place of sharp peaks and valleys of brilliant colors, steep farms that look like checkerboards on the hillside, and a tropical climate is home to where most of the amazing marathon runners come from. So Chris and I definitely spent some time running and exploring the scenery. And some of my favorite memories are running down red dirt roads with Kenyan children coming alongside to run with us.
Beyond the scenery we were staying at a compound that houses doctors and nurses for the mission hopsital here. This hospital is the only in the area serving over 1/4 of a million people. So as we visited the hospital we saw the huge need for better health care in the area. There were many patients there who could not afford proper care, but the hospital would front much of the bill. We had the chance to go with the chaplains to visit these patients, to talk with them, pray with them, encourage them. As we did all of this we were faced once again with the contrast of harsh realities such as death, disease, HIV, poverty and the light of hope of people who are caring for and mending these people. We saw again some of the broken places of this world and some of the amazing ways God is using people to meet these needs.
We were also able to help out in various ways, since we have absolutely no medical expertise, such as painting, taking inventory, any way we could help out really. But the highlight of our trip may have been the friendship Chris and I developed with 2 Kenyan medical students who were living next to us. We ate every meal together and were able to share life, learn from each other, encourage each other. It was definitely hard to say goodbye but we feel that we will see them again.
This is getting long enough, but I do love hearing from you all and your emails and prayers are really appreciated. Even if I cant respond to the emails, I do read them all and will respond when internet is available. Please pray for 1) Chris and I continue to learn what's worth working for in this world 2) Us to be able to serve in the best ways that show God's love.
Thanks and I love you all. Talk to you soon!
I am currently writing on my second to last day in Kenya, as we leave for Uganda by bus tomorrow. Chris and I have spent the last 2 and a half weeks in an amazing place called Kapsowar. It is in the highlands of Kenya at about 7,500 ft and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. This place of sharp peaks and valleys of brilliant colors, steep farms that look like checkerboards on the hillside, and a tropical climate is home to where most of the amazing marathon runners come from. So Chris and I definitely spent some time running and exploring the scenery. And some of my favorite memories are running down red dirt roads with Kenyan children coming alongside to run with us.
Beyond the scenery we were staying at a compound that houses doctors and nurses for the mission hopsital here. This hospital is the only in the area serving over 1/4 of a million people. So as we visited the hospital we saw the huge need for better health care in the area. There were many patients there who could not afford proper care, but the hospital would front much of the bill. We had the chance to go with the chaplains to visit these patients, to talk with them, pray with them, encourage them. As we did all of this we were faced once again with the contrast of harsh realities such as death, disease, HIV, poverty and the light of hope of people who are caring for and mending these people. We saw again some of the broken places of this world and some of the amazing ways God is using people to meet these needs.
We were also able to help out in various ways, since we have absolutely no medical expertise, such as painting, taking inventory, any way we could help out really. But the highlight of our trip may have been the friendship Chris and I developed with 2 Kenyan medical students who were living next to us. We ate every meal together and were able to share life, learn from each other, encourage each other. It was definitely hard to say goodbye but we feel that we will see them again.
This is getting long enough, but I do love hearing from you all and your emails and prayers are really appreciated. Even if I cant respond to the emails, I do read them all and will respond when internet is available. Please pray for 1) Chris and I continue to learn what's worth working for in this world 2) Us to be able to serve in the best ways that show God's love.
Thanks and I love you all. Talk to you soon!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Nakuru, Kenya
Hello All,
As you all know Chris and I arrived safely on the 3rd in Nakuru, Kenya. We have been here since with a Christian organization named Rohi. They mainly work with orphans and street children. The organization has some Americans involved (like the Huebners who we are stayig with), but is mainly a Kenyan operation. We have seen many of the places they work and the things they do, which have given us such hope for the things going on here.
Their main focus is a school and a rescue center. All of the kids in the rescue center and school were either orphans or just living on the street. We also went along for several home visits to some of the slum areas and the dump area in town to bring some food and encourage the people. We have seen the ways that this organization, their commitment, and the love of God is changing the lives of the kids and the people in this community. Chris and I are so thankful to be here and be seeing all that is going on here.
We are learning so much and yet feeling kind of overwhelmed by the mysteries of God, life, and our world. Kenya is a beautiful place, both the landscape and the hearts of many of the people we've met. We've been faced with many of the problematic areas of this place which many of us Americans think of as associated with Africa. But we are also seeing that side that the media hardly speaks of. The incredible lives, character, and faith of the people here. And the hope of people, like those involved with Rohi who are changing and healing their community.
I will be in touch soon. I miss you all. I really appreciate all of your responses, your encouragment, and your prayers. I do not know what the internet connections will be like as we move onto Kapsowar and Nyeri, but I will do my best to keep in touch.
As you all know Chris and I arrived safely on the 3rd in Nakuru, Kenya. We have been here since with a Christian organization named Rohi. They mainly work with orphans and street children. The organization has some Americans involved (like the Huebners who we are stayig with), but is mainly a Kenyan operation. We have seen many of the places they work and the things they do, which have given us such hope for the things going on here.
Their main focus is a school and a rescue center. All of the kids in the rescue center and school were either orphans or just living on the street. We also went along for several home visits to some of the slum areas and the dump area in town to bring some food and encourage the people. We have seen the ways that this organization, their commitment, and the love of God is changing the lives of the kids and the people in this community. Chris and I are so thankful to be here and be seeing all that is going on here.
We are learning so much and yet feeling kind of overwhelmed by the mysteries of God, life, and our world. Kenya is a beautiful place, both the landscape and the hearts of many of the people we've met. We've been faced with many of the problematic areas of this place which many of us Americans think of as associated with Africa. But we are also seeing that side that the media hardly speaks of. The incredible lives, character, and faith of the people here. And the hope of people, like those involved with Rohi who are changing and healing their community.
I will be in touch soon. I miss you all. I really appreciate all of your responses, your encouragment, and your prayers. I do not know what the internet connections will be like as we move onto Kapsowar and Nyeri, but I will do my best to keep in touch.
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