Kenya || Part 2

The next two days in Kenya were very similar to the first, in that we were still breaking off into teams, building houses, meeting new people, and sampling new food. One of the girls on our team got to kill her first chicken for lunch one day. Not gonna lie- I am not envious at all. Not even a little. 

Every day we had at least an hour drive from where we were staying to where we were working, so I had lots of time to think and process, and digest everything I was seeing and feeling and experiencing. One of the biggest things that stuck out to me was the difference between my growing up years compared to that of the children I was meeting. I know, you're thinking, "No duh. Of course it's different!" And yes, there are many differences, but the one that stuck out to me the most has to do with dreams. 

Remember when you were 7 and people asked you all the time, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" If you were anything like me, you had a long and varied list- an actress, a singer, a waitress, a mom, a dancer... I thought I could be whatever I wanted. As I grew up, the question changed a little- "What are you doing after high school? What do you want to study?", and my answers changed too, but I've still always thought that I could pretty much do and be whatever I wanted if I was willing to work for it. Dreaming big has been encouraged in my life. That question alone seems to instill a sense of confidence. It's not multiple choice- you get to answer whatever you want! What do you want to be? In this country, if you work hard enough you can be just about whatever you want. That's an amazing gift we have being citizens of the United States- we have so many opportunities to make our dreams into realities. Seeing all those beautiful little children in Kenya, I wondered, "Does anyone ask them what they want to be when they grow up?"

There is so much corruption in the Kenyan government, and the people are so, so oppressed. There basically is no economy, and many survive on just $3 a day. I met people there who were forced to drop out of high school in order to help feed their family, and others who, although they were able to overcome many obstacles and managed to get a college degree, still aren't able to find work at all. There is no getting ahead. I journaled, "I feel like if you're stuck in a cycle of just surviving, there's no room for dreaming. Just thinking about a life like that makes me want to cry. It doesn't seem fair. Why have I had so many opportunities, while people here are telling me they're just stuck?" Obviously, this situation is not unique to Kenya, but after seeing it firsthand, and meeting people who have been affected by it, it has been on my heart a lot. Honestly, it's hard not to get completely overwhelmed when you see all the poverty, and the way that corruption has hurt so many people, but these verses from John 10, and Psalm 9 have been a comfort and encouragement to me. 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

"The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble... For He who avenges blood remembers; He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted."

I don't understand everything I saw in Kenya. I have only a very basic understanding of economics, and how it affects life. I don't have a good grasp at all on how to combat poverty. I get angry at injustice, and the way it hurts people. I sometimes feel helpless when people talk about corruption as "just the way it is". I don't know why I've had so many opportunities, while others have not. But I know that God is good, and that knowledge allows me to view hard situations with hope. Do I know how He will bring change and justice? No. It seems to me, an insurmountable task. But I know He can do it. Please pray with me that justice would roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! (Amos 5:24) 




More soon, friends! For now, a few more pics of beautiful children, lovely landscapes, and my fun team members...

~jazzy

.

Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do 

than by the ones you did do. 

So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. 

Catch the trade winds in your sails.

Explore. Dream. Discover.

Mark Twain

Today I'm thankful... travel and pain

On Friday I was going to write a post on how sometimes I remember to be thankful for pain, because it reminds me that I am just a traveler here, and am still on my way to my permanent home. But that day turned out to be the most painful travel day of my life and the irony was just a little to much for me to handle. It's a long story, but it involved a canceled flight at 5:30am and arriving at my destination over 12 hours late, so it hurt a little too much for me to write that post. Thanks to some California sunshine, and the beautiful Pacific though, I think I've recovered enough to talk about it again. So what follows is what I had originally intended to write, until the sting of irony made it a little too difficult.

Today, I'm thankful for pain. This is very much not always the case, but when I woke up with a back ache this morning, I immediately thought about how good it is for me to not get too comfortable here. That kink in my back that insists on returning far too often- that reminds me that I wasn't made to settle here forever. It was a small thing that gave me a broader perspective for today. My mom and I were talking the other day about different things that just make this life difficult. Injustice makes me crazy. Loss and heartache are hard to bear. Monotony that sneaks into our day-to-day and is forever trying to discourage us is a difficult beast to battle. The physical breakdown of our bodies (yes, I notice this, even at 23) seems to be, at times, a constant reminder that things are not working their way toward perfection. Weird concept right? Isn't that against Darwinian theory? Hmmmm.

Anyway... all of these things can serve either to discourage us and make us feel that life is just a downer and completely lacking in hope... or we can use the harshness of life here on earth to remind us that we were not made to be satisfied here. I'm just a traveler, and the difficulties can help me remember that, and keep me from getting too comfortable. I'm not often thankful for the cracks and pops that my back makes every morning, but today I was able to see them for the blessings that they can be. Today, I can be thankful for the pain.

"If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world"
~ C.S. Lewis

Oxford

Oxford... that sweet city with her dreaming spires -Matthew Arnold

Oh Oxford, how you stole my heart! What a sweet city, steeped in scholastic tradition!

What a grand day trip that was- spending my time wandering the streets where C.S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, and countless other greats used to walk. Home of the oldest university in the English speaking world, a trip to Oxford means you are in for a treat. It's beautiful, and thoughtful, and reflective. It's a place where people think deeply, and challenge themselves academically. A place where students wear tuxedos to class, and eat their meals in grand banquet halls. A place whose motto is, Dominus illuminate mea which means, "The Lord is my light." A place where even the architecture is meant to draw the eye, and the thoughts up to God. Needless to say- I loved it! 

Have a peek at some of the day's snapshots.

The main thing I walked away with after walking the streets of Oxford is that I want my life to be built like this city. I want my life to draw the eyes of others up to God. Ahh! It was so inspiring! 

Had the lovely opportunity to visit Magdalen College while we were there, where C.S. Lewis was a professor. 

One of the highlights of the trip was getting to cross something off my bucket list when we had dinner at The Eagle and Child where Lewis, Tolkien, and the Inklings met together. Sitting in that pub has been on the list for several years now, and now, I can finally say I've done it! Sadly though- no pictures so you'll just have to take my word for it. 

There it is! A tiny peek into a one-day trip to a lovely city. Believe me, neither the photos, nor my description could do it justice. If you ever have the chance to visit- Do it!!

Happy weekend everyone!

~Jasmine

London

It's been nearly two months since I hopped on board a plane in Durango, Colorado, and after 5 flights, and two countries later, arrived in London for another grand adventure with the cool peeps over at IPS. Last year's adventure took me to the beautiful country of Italy which simply stole my heart. This year, however, the adventure started in a country where I understood the barista when I ordered my coffee.

London is incredible! Home to one of the world's greatest accents, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, red telephone booths, fabulous tea, fish n' chips... Watching the olympics almost nonstop the past few days has made me miss that wonderful city, and wish I was back there- walking the bustling streets, enjoying the sound of the rain on my umbrella, and sipping giant cups of the best tea ever. I rather miss the warning to "Mind the Gap" every time I stepped off the Tube. So thanks to the olympics, I'm finally getting around to posting some photos from this trip. Do enjoy a tiny glimpse of London!


This is actually the view out my plane before my layover in Iceland. I just love traveling! Peeking down on the earth from so high up is quite the exhilarating feeling!

This was my first "Oh wow! I'm actually in London" shot.

Love this clock! Kinda want one of my own...

We went to church at Westminster Abbey the day after we arrived in London. Quite spectacular to say the least. The choir was breathtaking! Every beautiful note reverberated throughout the church in delicious echoes. If you ever get a chance to go- do it! But pack your sweater. These beautiful, old churches really aren't made to hold in any heat!

Is there anything more romantic than a red telephone booth?

Standing in the very center of London in Trafalgar Square. Epic. I give everyone one guess about which feet are mine...

This is the view from on top of St. Paul's cathedral... more on this in a minute...

Millenium Bridge. Originally meant to be "open" at the start of the new millennium, this bridge wasn't actually "opened" until 2002 due to structural problems. How's that for good planning? 

This is quite near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre which is a modern reconstruction of the original Globe Theatre where Shakespeare performed. I say "modern", but it is actually operated much as it would have been back in the day. It was built without using any structural steel, they don't use any spotlights, or microphones, and the music is performed live using instruments from Shakespeare's time. 

What would life be without a little self-documentation??

Probably one of the most recognizable sights of London, this is the reflection of St. Paul's Cathedral. Reflection is actually a good word when used in reference to this beautiful church. It has quite the history. Through the years, (and when I say "years" I mean centuries) this cathedral has suffered attacks from invaders, and attacks from nature, but it has always been raised again, and has really become a symbol of strength and endurance. During the Great Fire in London, this cathedral, along with about 90% of London's citizen's houses burned down. What really struck me though, in hearing about that, was that what people were most concerned with at that time, was not about taking care of their own property. The most important thing to the people of England at that time was rebuilding their house to the Lord. A man named Christopher Wren was commissioned to rebuild it after the Great Fire, and he poured his heart and soul into the project. Wren is buried in St. Paul's, and after finding out how important this cathedral is to the city of London, I assumed that his burial site would be one of grandeur and brilliance. He did, after all rebuild the most important church in London. I was wrong. Christopher Wren has a humble tomb that you sort of have to go hunting for to even find it. It's off in a corner where it would be quite easy to walk by without noticing. What I think is so inspiring about that, is the fact that Wren obviously didn't rebuild St. Paul's as a monument to himself, or to bring any glory to his own name. This man understood that the story of his life wasn't about him. On his tomb this is written: 

Here in its foundations lies the architect of this church and city, Christopher Wren, who lived beyond ninety years, not for his own profit but for the public good. Reader, if you seek his monument - look around you.

As I wandered the halls of this great cathedral, I thought, "This is what I want for my life". I want my life to be like Christopher Wren's, whose work has been pointing people to God for centuries. If my legacy ends up in a corner somewhere, where it's easy to miss because people are distracted looking at the God that I have served... that's ok with me. 

What would a trip to London be without this famous meal?

Tower Bridge

Supposedly, it's good luck to see Tower Bridge go up. I have a friend who lived in London for a couple of years, and never saw this happen, so you can understand why many of us sort of squealed when we realized that we were going to get to see it raised. We didn't really know what we should do to ensure our good luck, so we stood on one foot, threw in pennies, and I think we may have sung or something... 

Not only did we see the bridge go up once, we saw it go up again a little later from the other side of the Thames. Luck times 1000!

One final shot of St. Paul's. 

There it is! My 27-photo peek into London! There's much more I could've shared, but that would've made for a blog post that was much too long. You'll just have to hop across the pond yourself!

 More of Europe to come soon...

j