DAY 1

Today we arrived in Nairobi and ate at New Seoul Garden, a Korean restaurant that supports Korean missionaries in Kenya. We then drove for 6 to 7 hours westward to the mission base in Mount Elgon, which is close to the Kenya-Uganda border. The driving is nuts in Kenya — no speed limits, lots of oncoming traffic. We arrived at the mission base, where six Korean missionaries are staying long-term. As we drove up the steep, dirt road, local children ran out of homes, energetically waving their hands and calling out in cute accents, “How are you?” Kenya was colonized by the British until 1963, but the accents are not quite British.

We met Henry and Joseph, two indigenous Kenyans, who are part of the staff here. They said that they had been waiting for us. I’m not sure what we can offer. Hopefully some kind of help or service or encouragement.

DAY 3

We are in Pokot, a nearby region that is also home to a tribe of the same name. Kenya has approximately 50 different tribes, each with their own language and customs. The air is clean here, the scenery beautiful, the distractions few. We sang songs with some schoolgirls after we arrived. I like when the children sing indigenous songs. I don’t want the Pokot to become Westernized; their own culture is so rich. Now that we have begun spending time with the people of Kenya, I feel relaxed. I don’t feel like there is some great goal we need to work toward. This seems more like real life than my life back home.

DAY 4

I was upset tonight coming back to the mission base and seeing new refrigerators and washing machines. Since we’ve been here, we’ve had staff bring us water so we can wash our faces, clean our feet and do dishes. If we’re going to use the water, why don’t we get it ourselves? Our team has been made so comfortable. I am afraid of the message we are sending the Kenyans. Do we tell people that all they need is God, yet we insist on regular baths, clean food and water, refrigerators and washing machines?

DAY 5

At church a boy named Nathan asked me for my sketchbook. I told him no because I couldn’t give one to everyone. Plus, I also wanted to keep it. I’d understand if he thought I was a jerk because I felt like a jerk. A Korean missionary staying at the Mount Elgon base explained to me that, though we often want to give and love with all we’ve got, we can’t do it all. We have to be strategic. But I think we are functioning in a way where we missionaries are separate from the native people and only interact for ministry. I feel there’s very much an “us” and “them” mentality.