Labor Day

I have so much to write about, but in order to not overwhelm you I'll just focus on the biggest news!

The Andersen's had their baby yesterday -- on labor day! How ironic! Ezra was born at about 6:30 yesterday and weighed in at about 9lb 4 oz. I have never been this close to a woman in labor before! Other than possibly when my dear little brother was born, but that doesn't count! Rachel is such a steady, easy going mom. I hardly knew she was having big contractions other than for the fact that she finally decided to go to the hospital. Emma and I were completely in charge of the older 5 kids for all of yesterday and most of the morning today. The kids were all very excited to see their younger brother this morning! Even the youngest, Silas, was actually beginning to understand the concept of being a 'big brother'. And then he saw him! Yay!

About half a day before Ezra arrived, two missionaries who were also midwives came to town to help out. The doctor Rachel thought she was going to have wasn't available when the time came, but these 2 midwives were readily available! They handled the minor complications Ezra had (umbilical cord was wrapped twice) with great ease. How perfect did God time that! Those 2 ladies left about a day later too! CRAZY!

Now that Ezra is here it will be 2 weeks before going to Kalacha. I can't wait to meet the people and interact with the culture I keep hearing so much about!

Kibera

Last week Friday we went to Kibera Slum. Kibera is the largest slum in the world. It's population is said to be about 1 million people, but nobody really knows. We went there with Mika who has started his own project there with AIM. I didn't always understand what was being said about his project but it is definitely focusing on children's education. There is also some sport leagues that have been started that go along with motivating the educational side. The kids are really excited about it!

Most of the time I was intrigued by a boy named Meshach. He is absolutely adorable as you can tell! He started following us far before we entered the secondary school tower (our first stop) and continued with us all the way through the slum. We walked the long way out which followed the train tracks through the 'city'. There were many sightings along the way including several kids playing with a soccer ball stuffed with shopping bags and tied together with twine. I actually had a chance to kick it once! The kids will play with anything. Meshach and I kicked around a bottle cap for quite a while.

As we were walking along the railroad tracks, I asked one of our 'guides' about how the kids seem to go wherever they want. He said they know all the paths better than anyone. This slum of a million people and they know it like the neighborhood park! But of course, these kids don't always get back home. I can't imagine what atrocities are around the corner for any one of those kids I just met.

At the end Meshach and Nicholas nearly tried to climb on the matatu (bus) with us. We had to physically hold them back. A ways down the road, as Emma and I were speechlessly processing our experience, the next thing I know is there is a boy beneath my window on the bus. It was Meshach! He had followed the bus down the road and was yelling to us to find out if we'd be back. My hear was broken in that moment for sure. All we could do was shrug our shoulders in reply. However, Emma and i will have some time in December, and we do plan to return. i definitely hope to see my friend Meshach again. I think I will, one way or another... he told me he loves Jesus!

A Squash Banana

Sorry for my delay in posting. The internet is very poor in Kijabe. I have a few things to tell you all, but I shall space it out a bit. The topic for today is language learning. The first thing I learned to say was 'asante sana' (thank you very much) and I was promptly told to leave the 'squash banana' off the end! Language learning is very tough, especially when trying to do so properly instead of just a pigeon version of it. But it is very important: Language learning IS ministry. I have to remind myself of that when I feel stupid or want to give up. They've given us a great method for learning it, which essentially involves finding a tutor, learning a phrase or two a day and going and applying it immediately. Everyone seems to laugh at us and all our stumbles over words but I've learned to just laugh right along with them. It seems laughter is never derogatory here. In that sense, its been more fun to learn the cultural cues than anything else at this point. I even asked if it would be ok to outright laugh when we get the inevitable marriage proposals. They told me it was and also to tell them "you don't have enough cows for me"

I've found that a good talking point for a lot of Kenyans is politics. When I tell them I'm from America (something I can say in Swahili) they all want to know about Obama and what I think about him. They all say they are related to Obama because he is Kenyan. One even told me that I was Kenyan because he was my president! Big laughs at that! In most of the world its a bad thing to be American, but not here!
They also are very into their own politics as they have just instated a new constitution. I am here at the dawn of the Second Republic of Kenya. I bought a paper today just to commemorate my being here. Everyone is very excited about it here. I hope it does the country even half as much good as they expect it to.

Pictures in the next post, I promise!

Address

Sorry this has taken so long to post. There is really no excuse for the delay. Things will take about 3 weeks to get here.

Rebecca Postma

AIC Kalacha

PO Box 21028

Nairobi, Kenya 00505

East Africa

Also, I'm at 32 Loginye Road Nairobi Kenya right now if you want to give Google Earth a try. Apparently you can see the entire house very clearly including the yard where we just played some football (that's soccer for you American folks!)

Correction:

I am jet-lagged. I thought jet lagged meant sleeping at odd hours of the day. So far that hasn't really been the case, though I did go to bed at 8 last night. My jet-lag has manifested itself mostly in my entire body just feeling 'off' I'm not all that tired, but I'm definitely not as spunky as normal and move just a bit slower in general. I'm excited for my body to adjust.

There were a few opportunities to get out and interact yesterday. Steven took us downtown on a matatu which is essentially a 15 passenger van that is jam-packed and starts moving a bit before everyone is actually sitting down. Then we walked through downtown at a decent pace and he pointed out all these government buildings including the old American embassy. There were also a few neighbor kids who came over to play with the little Scottish boys. They seemed a little hesitant around all us extra white people, but it was fun for me to help them feel more comfortable.

All systems Go!

After 18 hours of flying, 5 hours of layovers, 3 security checks and hopefully enough sleep, I've arrived in Kenya! To be honest, I don't really know how jet-lagged I am. I slept almost all of the last 8 hour flight from London to Nairobi, though I was sure to eat the meals given out on the plane! and then I slept pretty solid all night long. There was the call to prayer at 5 am that I definitely didn't sleep through, and was quite alert by 7 am this morning. I plan to stay awake all day so as to get on track with the time here. Up until about an hour ago, I wasn't quite sure of the day, much less the time!

I met Emma right before getting on the London plane. She is my teammate. She has a strong English accent, and we continually have to stop mid-conversation and explain what we are talking about. It is so wierd that we speak the same language but still have to translate! She seems very laid back and pretty mature for just coming out of secondary school. I hope we become very comfortable around eachother so that we can be an emotional and spiritual support for eachother. Pray that this happens at a natural pace.

Right now I'm staying with the hospitality missionaries here in Nairobi. Their house is essentially a constant flux of missionaries. In this house right now are Scottish, German, English, and American. Actually this house is the home of some Bolivian missionaries that are currently on furlough. So the decor is an odd mix of South American and African influences. The house is quite full right now, and their really isn't enough space to even look through my luggage. I felt a bit embarrassed last night, feeling I am the typical American with too much stuff, but this morning at breakfast, I heard of other stories that were far worse (47 bags for a family of 3!) Now that is ridiculous!

I'm anxious to learn the language and get involved! But so far all I know is Asanti (Thank you) which is to be my response to Karibu (welcome). And I've hardly talked to any Africans. Until that happens, I think I'll just feel out of place, instead of at home in God's work. Pray I get opportunities to do so soon. We will be in Nairobi till Friday or even Monday, so this time of limbo could be very long otherwise. But we are right near Kibera Slum, the largest slum in the world, so the opportunities are great if we are given the chance. Also pray for emotional strength and rejuvenation after many good-byes and getting used to not having your amazing support and encouragement so close and tangible. Thanks to all of you who continue to pray and support me from such a distance. You mean the world to me!

Orientation Week & Testimony

August 2-4 was orientation in NY. I had a very small orientation group, which threw me off a bit, but the community was awesome. I loved hearing the stories of how my fellow missionary friends came to the point where they are at now, to share our hearts for Africa with eachother and to encourage eachother in our journeys. I left the orientation feeling very blessed, prepared and excited to hit the mission field. Most people leave the orientation with a direct path to Africa. However, I am in the midst of waiting an extra 2 and half weeks. Its been somewhat awkward, but mostly a blessing to have this extra time to indulge in the fellowship and encouragement from so many people who surround my life. Please be in prayer that in 10 days, when my departure date is actually here, that I still feel the readiness (in full) that I felt last week.

During orientation, we were giving a guideline for sharing our testimonies concisely and in the African fashion. I only find it appropriate to share mine with those who will be praying for it to be delivered to and welcomed by open hearts.

My Testimony:
Greetings from Fellowship Church in Greeley Colorado! My name is Rebecca and came to know Christ when I was 16 years old. I feel very blessed to have grown up in a Christian home and to have many examples of strong faith to follow. My family had many struggles growing up, and when I was young, I chose to see those struggles more than the faithfulness that God had shown us threw all of those events. When I was older, my faith was challenged by a Mormon. I chose to face those challenges directly by seeking the truth without assistance from parents or pastors. And, indeed, the Truth of the Bible was been made evident to me! Soon after this I confronted the fact that my sin put Jesus on the cross and a new idea that he would have died even if it was just for me. Furthermore, through a song about heaven, God spoke assurance into my life that I would be with him forever. I always doubted whether my faith and God's hold on me would sustain me until my death. Since these words of comfort (nearly audibly spoken!), I do not doubt Him for a second. My biggest struggle now and throughout my life is trusting in God's provision. I love the name of God: Jehovah Jireh (the Lord provides). Clearly he has proved himself time and again but I still need the reminder. Psalm 146:3 &5 are the verses I call to mind: Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.... (but)Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob. I love that:"the God of Jacob" as this is a reference to a man who literaly struggled with God. My struggle is not in vain, God is not done with me yet!