June 25 Adam and John will begin the 1450 km Alberta Cycle for Life trip, cycling from La Crete to Edmonton, and then up from Coaldale to Sherwood Park, ending at the opening of the MCCA Relief Sale, July 8. Cindy Klassen and many others will join them on the final day of cycling, culminating at the Sale as it begins. Our hope is to raise a minumum of $200,000 (we hope more) to support the work of Partner organizations in 27 countries, who work with orphaned children, provide basic medications to those infected with HIV, and do vigorous prevention education work. Over the past 10 years the work of MCC Partners in prevention education has impacted over 18,000,000 people, many of them young adults.
Along the way we hope to meet members of the media, some church groups, community groups and individuals who support and have interest in this urgent ministry. Youth and Young adults in La Crete are hoping to accompany John and Adam down the road a while, June 25 in the afternoon. And on Sunday, June 26, there will likely be a brief commissioning service and send-off at La Crete Christian Fellowship. Kenya invited us to join them in giving visibility to Peace Work and AIDS work. Many, many in Kenya sent greetings and warm wishes and thank yous to the people of Alberta, to the cyclists, to the Relief Sale organizers ... they are now part of what happens here and Alberta is part of what happens in Kenya. We will continue to post photos and stories from both Kenya and Alberta as Cycle for Life Continues.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Some random pictures from Cycle for Life
Picture 2: Spontaneous presentation to a group in Burned Forest.
Picture 3: A sheep getting a lift on a motorcycle.
Picture 4: Waihenya and his lovely wife, Lucy. Waihenya was the genius behind Cycle for Life Kenya.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Nashipae and Eunice...Najile Girl's Secondary School
Monday, May 16, 2011
Home
Hi all! We are home. Abe, John, Adam, Leon, Byron and me arrived in Calgary on Saturday afternoon, and have been trying to recover from jet lag, and missing good friends in Kenya. What a fabulous two weeks! It all went by very quickly. Too quickly.
There were so many highlights of our time in Kenya. And visiting Najile during the second week was so great, particularly connecting with friends we met when we were there in 2009. Included in the Take Your Place cd is a dvd with a few videos of our time in Najile. At the end of one of the shorter pieces is a clip of Darryl and Krista's daughter, Natasha, playing a hand game with a young girl named Priscilla, who is HIV+, and who spent part of an afternoon with us, sharing her story. Last week we had the great privilege of meeting Priscilla again at Najile Primary School. She has grown taller, put on some weight, and looks great! She was very shy, but at the end of our visit she came up to me and handed me a note and a bracelet for Natasha. So sweet. Both of her parents died of AIDS. She is being raised by her grandmother. She is excelling at school, and lives with such courage.
The second meeting that was a highlight for us was to see Eunice again. Eunice is a young woman from the Ewaso area. When we met her in 2009, she was 16 and in grade 7. Her father, when she was 12, was going to marry her to a friend of his who was 63 years old. Eunice ran away, and was found by a teacher at Ewaso Primary School, who took her in, got her into school, and provided her with the love and support she needed to succeed. Eunice completed grade 8, wrote her national exam, and was put through to secondary school. Unfortunately, before the school year began...just a month ago...her father again tried to marry her off, and sent her to a remote village. Teacher and mentor, Timothy Tanin, found her two weeks after school began. He made arrangements with the Najile Girl's Secondary School, and got Eunice there two weeks late. She is thriving. And she too has grown taller, looking healthier, happy. What a gift to meet her again and to see her in school, working toward a brighter future.
It is a bit surreal to be home. We had so many wonderful experiences over the past two weeks. Being home makes it all feel like none of it actually happened. But receiving text messages, emails and phone calls from friends in Kenya keeps us connected, and so very grateful for the experiences we had and new friendships that were formed.
There were so many highlights of our time in Kenya. And visiting Najile during the second week was so great, particularly connecting with friends we met when we were there in 2009. Included in the Take Your Place cd is a dvd with a few videos of our time in Najile. At the end of one of the shorter pieces is a clip of Darryl and Krista's daughter, Natasha, playing a hand game with a young girl named Priscilla, who is HIV+, and who spent part of an afternoon with us, sharing her story. Last week we had the great privilege of meeting Priscilla again at Najile Primary School. She has grown taller, put on some weight, and looks great! She was very shy, but at the end of our visit she came up to me and handed me a note and a bracelet for Natasha. So sweet. Both of her parents died of AIDS. She is being raised by her grandmother. She is excelling at school, and lives with such courage.
The second meeting that was a highlight for us was to see Eunice again. Eunice is a young woman from the Ewaso area. When we met her in 2009, she was 16 and in grade 7. Her father, when she was 12, was going to marry her to a friend of his who was 63 years old. Eunice ran away, and was found by a teacher at Ewaso Primary School, who took her in, got her into school, and provided her with the love and support she needed to succeed. Eunice completed grade 8, wrote her national exam, and was put through to secondary school. Unfortunately, before the school year began...just a month ago...her father again tried to marry her off, and sent her to a remote village. Teacher and mentor, Timothy Tanin, found her two weeks after school began. He made arrangements with the Najile Girl's Secondary School, and got Eunice there two weeks late. She is thriving. And she too has grown taller, looking healthier, happy. What a gift to meet her again and to see her in school, working toward a brighter future.
It is a bit surreal to be home. We had so many wonderful experiences over the past two weeks. Being home makes it all feel like none of it actually happened. But receiving text messages, emails and phone calls from friends in Kenya keeps us connected, and so very grateful for the experiences we had and new friendships that were formed.
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Day 9 Continued.. in the Park
We spent 2 hours "out there". Saw Water Buffalo. Hundreds. Gazelles. Tipos (like deer only a bit more sturdy with stunning colors.) Elephants. Lions. (they were sleeping mostly.) Giiraffes. And we began the trip with a leopard in a tree. The driver said he has not seen a Leopard anywhere in 7 or 8 months. Oh, and Warthogs. Emus or Ostrich. We go out again tomorrow ... we hope to see the Hippos. What a place this is.
Day 9 ... Maasai Mara National Park ....
Hello all ... we left Najile at about 7:30 this morning. It began rainiing at 5 am, so we wondered if we would actually leave. But we did. Arrived 4 or 5 hours later at Maasai Mara Park. Amazingly beautiful country driving here. The driver told us that most of the road was a nightmare. And the first part was ... ashphalt with potholes everywhere. But the last 2 hours took us through vast, really vast plains ... dotted with Maasai shepherds ... looking after hundreds of goats. It is mesmerizing to travel through there ... knowing now a little bit of the culture and traditions within which the Maasai live, and also the history, and that against the vast almost emptiness of the plains on which they live. At the Game Park, the dancers were Maasai today, and at the end, their leader spoke briefly about themselves .... and mentioned that the Maasai marry many wives, as if it is mostly just a reality now to engage tourism. It is also known that polygamy causes problems amongst the Maasai, including the rate of AIDS Infection. We visited the AIDs Clinic in Ewuasu two days ago and were told that if a man has several wives, he will likely favor one of them. The other wives may find affection elsewhere, as a result, and that can lead to infection. It's a bit surreal to have just lived in homes, in a quite traditional Maasai Community for 3 days, eaten their food, washed up in a basin in the morning and evening cause their isn't any running water, gone to bed by lamp and flash light ... tried to speak a few phrases of Maa ... sung with them, exchanged gifts with them, drunk chai with them several times each day ... and then to enter the Park, suddenly as tourists, visiting Maasai land.
Joseph and Elizabeth are with us. They are Maasai. Not sure if the Maasai get revenues from the many lodges that host tourists visiting here now. It's a national park and that may mean the Government gets the revenues. It is formerly Maasai land. We also wondered why the govenment doesn't resurface the pot-holed asphalt leading to the vast open plains as we approach Maasai Mara. Someone wondered if it has to do with a private an airline that flies people in ... and needs to make sure that most people don't drive, but fly.
If pressed to name "the stories" from the last two weeks in Kenya, my list would include: 1) The Cycling for Life Event. So many things could have gone badly. So many went well. And it is about "showing up" and promoting Peace and AIDS. 2) The 4th CD... "Take your Place" and the quite amazing story of how it happened, both in Kenya and what led to that recording and the living in the community for nearly three weeks. Really quite a unique way of working. 3) The Challenges of Making Peace in Kenya... because the distrust of the dominate groups runs pretty deep amongst the Maasai and others of the smaller groups. 4) Some of the traditions of Maasai that inadvertently seem to place them at high risk for HIV Infections.
Joseph and Elizabeth are with us. They are Maasai. Not sure if the Maasai get revenues from the many lodges that host tourists visiting here now. It's a national park and that may mean the Government gets the revenues. It is formerly Maasai land. We also wondered why the govenment doesn't resurface the pot-holed asphalt leading to the vast open plains as we approach Maasai Mara. Someone wondered if it has to do with a private an airline that flies people in ... and needs to make sure that most people don't drive, but fly.
If pressed to name "the stories" from the last two weeks in Kenya, my list would include: 1) The Cycling for Life Event. So many things could have gone badly. So many went well. And it is about "showing up" and promoting Peace and AIDS. 2) The 4th CD... "Take your Place" and the quite amazing story of how it happened, both in Kenya and what led to that recording and the living in the community for nearly three weeks. Really quite a unique way of working. 3) The Challenges of Making Peace in Kenya... because the distrust of the dominate groups runs pretty deep amongst the Maasai and others of the smaller groups. 4) Some of the traditions of Maasai that inadvertently seem to place them at high risk for HIV Infections.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Day 8, Najile, Continued
Najile is about 2 hours South West of Nairobi. We met a farmer today, whose son, Simon works at the Edmonton Thrift Shop, as part of the MCC IVEP program. His dad told us a lot about their farm. And about the area and the presence of MCC amongst them. He gives MCC a lot of credit for changes adopted by the Maasai in farming, and for the commitment to AID and the families affected.
In the homes where we are staying we have zero or almost no access to wireless or any carriers. I have managed to be able to blog each evening, but very briefly. Kim and Byron have had the same problem, only moreso, as have Adam and Leon. We are sorry about this. Soon as we get closer to Carrier Services that are less intermittent, more photos and blogs will be posted. Thanks all for reading the blog as Cycle of Life worked its way through the cities and roads of Kenya.
In the homes where we are staying we have zero or almost no access to wireless or any carriers. I have managed to be able to blog each evening, but very briefly. Kim and Byron have had the same problem, only moreso, as have Adam and Leon. We are sorry about this. Soon as we get closer to Carrier Services that are less intermittent, more photos and blogs will be posted. Thanks all for reading the blog as Cycle of Life worked its way through the cities and roads of Kenya.
Day 8 ... Najile Continued ... in Kenya
We hope to leave Najile in the morning and spend some down time looking at animals in the Maasai Mara National Game Park. We are all looking forward to this. Leaving at 7 am, we hope.
Did some walking around the area of Nagile this morning. Then, Byron was asked to kill the goat for the noon meal, which he did. We visited a Christian School for children being sponsored by Compassion Canada, and then drove to meet Magdalena, a woman with AIDS now for 7 or 8 years ... and because she has th ARVs and reasonable nutrition, she is managing, at an age of over 65, to look really healthy. Then we returned the homes of the Kiranto family to eat a bit of the goat. Apparently, the Maasai really don't like killing any cattle, including goats. The animals are a gift from God to them and they prefer to use them for milk, and the drinking of small amounts of blood sometimes. (they drain the blood off a cow ... by poking a primary artery somewhere.) The cow barely knows this was poked, apparently. They prefer to buy their meat from the butcher in town; maybe that makes them feel more distant from the killing that happens when they do it at home.
Exchanged gifts with the extended Kiranto family this evening, did some singing with them, and some praying. Wonderfully gentle people. I don't know if I have met a culture that speaks English so delicately and so eloquently.
Did some walking around the area of Nagile this morning. Then, Byron was asked to kill the goat for the noon meal, which he did. We visited a Christian School for children being sponsored by Compassion Canada, and then drove to meet Magdalena, a woman with AIDS now for 7 or 8 years ... and because she has th ARVs and reasonable nutrition, she is managing, at an age of over 65, to look really healthy. Then we returned the homes of the Kiranto family to eat a bit of the goat. Apparently, the Maasai really don't like killing any cattle, including goats. The animals are a gift from God to them and they prefer to use them for milk, and the drinking of small amounts of blood sometimes. (they drain the blood off a cow ... by poking a primary artery somewhere.) The cow barely knows this was poked, apparently. They prefer to buy their meat from the butcher in town; maybe that makes them feel more distant from the killing that happens when they do it at home.
Exchanged gifts with the extended Kiranto family this evening, did some singing with them, and some praying. Wonderfully gentle people. I don't know if I have met a culture that speaks English so delicately and so eloquently.
Monday, May 9, 2011
Day 7 Continued
We keep hearing about the dominance of the Kikuyu group here. Cycle for Life was organized by Lari Peace Program, with MCC Kenya. They did an amazing job. But there were also comments from some in the various audiences that if the Kikuyu run the country (they historically have had a lot of power, politically and economically) they become a little suspicious of them also being such strong advocates now for Peace. The trust is not there ... . When we were cycling, we should have had more local speakers on the loudspeakers ... so that people could hear their own accent more often. Joseph assures us that most people thought very highly of the Cycling Event, and that a lesser number will be troubled by the Kikuyu presence in the event.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Day 7 .. Monday ... in Najile
We spent the day in this very interesting world of the Maasai. Visited the AIDS Clinic of POMC in Ewuasu, with Joseph, Esther, Isaac, their three staff. Heard that the local infection rate is about 4.7 percent. At the same time, Joseph says that the Maasai have a very, very high risk of infection. The reasons are cultural, mostly, including such practices (now disappearing) as Female Circumcision. Marrying your Age group... which means a couple get married, but it means the wife is shared with the other men in their age group ... by some sort of "arrangement". Joseph says this practise, fortunately, is disappearing .... but it, and other behaviours make this a high risk population. That they do not in fact have a high rate of infection speaks, as Joseph says, to the Maasai also being a very supporting and caring community, so that they don't easily move outside of their own community, and even within their own community many will not engage in sexual behavior that is not safe. It is a culture of discretion ... from everything I have seen these past two days.
Visited three schools, of which have students supported by MCC Generations Program.
Visited three schools, of which have students supported by MCC Generations Program.
Day 6 (post Cycle for Life ... now in Najile ... Maasailand
Michael and Lisa left for Cambodia today. Cindy Klassen left for Canada last night. We hope they all travel safely. They have been enormously good to work with and MCC is so fortunate to have people like them, working with us. Kim and Byron, John and Adam, Leon and I are now in Najile, where we arrived around 4 pm after having lunch with Waihenya and his family in Kimende. This is a very different part of Kenya from what we cycled through. Dryish... though it is quite green now and the goats and cattle are fat. And there are hundreds of goats, everywhere. At one point we spotted a Giraffe. We stopped, got out, walked towards him, and by the time we were within 200 meters, we could see 7 of them. What beautiful animals. In Ewuaso we had a flat tire. It was fixed by a tire shop that has no walls, in the middle of the town. Basic tools... but he got it down very quickly.
After supper with Joseph, Elizabeth and other members of their extended family, people started to drop by. Apparently sitting around in the evening, visiting, singing .. is quite common. A young man named Daniel came. He is aspiring to national leadership in Youth Programming and has worked recently with the National Truth and Reconcilation Commission, trying to sort of the messy and tragic situations that are the result of the 2007 post election violence. The Kikuyus are the dominant group in the country, and they acquired a lot of land and influence. And when it looked like their President, Ibaki, might have claim a victory in the election that was perhaps won by someone else, all hell broke loose. Over 1500 people killed. 640,000 became IDPs. Internally Displaced People. Many families were split because they were cross-tribal marriages. The children normally "become" the tribe of the father. But the mother would take the children when the marriage splits, usually. So, the children are now living in a community that may think they should not be there... but the mother should. So complicated. And the victims, as so often, are innocent children. People sold land to Kikuyus, and after the election, they tried to claim the land back. So far, only 100,000 have returned to their homes and lands. Very often, there is no home left. It was burned or otherwise destroyed. The Commission meets with anyone who wants to ... trying to help them sort out their lives ... so thay come out of the tragedy that has taken them over since the violence errupted.
We are in Najile for two days and then we hope to travel to the Maasai Mara Park for two nights.
After supper with Joseph, Elizabeth and other members of their extended family, people started to drop by. Apparently sitting around in the evening, visiting, singing .. is quite common. A young man named Daniel came. He is aspiring to national leadership in Youth Programming and has worked recently with the National Truth and Reconcilation Commission, trying to sort of the messy and tragic situations that are the result of the 2007 post election violence. The Kikuyus are the dominant group in the country, and they acquired a lot of land and influence. And when it looked like their President, Ibaki, might have claim a victory in the election that was perhaps won by someone else, all hell broke loose. Over 1500 people killed. 640,000 became IDPs. Internally Displaced People. Many families were split because they were cross-tribal marriages. The children normally "become" the tribe of the father. But the mother would take the children when the marriage splits, usually. So, the children are now living in a community that may think they should not be there... but the mother should. So complicated. And the victims, as so often, are innocent children. People sold land to Kikuyus, and after the election, they tried to claim the land back. So far, only 100,000 have returned to their homes and lands. Very often, there is no home left. It was burned or otherwise destroyed. The Commission meets with anyone who wants to ... trying to help them sort out their lives ... so thay come out of the tragedy that has taken them over since the violence errupted.
We are in Najile for two days and then we hope to travel to the Maasai Mara Park for two nights.
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Day 5 ... Finished at Noon Today
Two long, long hills (I cycled the second one) out of Naivasha on the way to Kimende, where is the Lari Peace Program. The last 20 ks was mostly downhill ... and we made really good time. The national security came out to film us ... they wanted to make sure we were doing what we said we are doing. So they jumped into our lead van, and filmed us for half and hour. We stopped at 2 places to speak about Peace and AIDS ... and then cycled into Kimende where school children and the Security Forces were waiting for us. Very warm reception. We then moved to the local Elementary school about a km away. There we planted 7 or 8 young, sibling trees one being planted by us, Canadians. Then, back to another function where we were part of a 2.5 hour program with entertainment, speeches, and handing of certificates to the riders.
For lunch today, we stopped, as usual, by the side of the road, eating bread, fruit, and drinking water or juice. Michael, (our photographer) caught all the cyclists on film shouting "thank you" in Engllsh, in Swahili. We hope to send each donor who helped make this happen, a short cd about the trip, why it happened, and how it happened.
Every stop leads to conversations, themes. Yesterday, Pablo, an artist but also a rider said ... we need peace. When there is no peace, I cannot sell my art. We have heard that in different ways during this brief stop in Kenya.
For lunch today, we stopped, as usual, by the side of the road, eating bread, fruit, and drinking water or juice. Michael, (our photographer) caught all the cyclists on film shouting "thank you" in Engllsh, in Swahili. We hope to send each donor who helped make this happen, a short cd about the trip, why it happened, and how it happened.
Every stop leads to conversations, themes. Yesterday, Pablo, an artist but also a rider said ... we need peace. When there is no peace, I cannot sell my art. We have heard that in different ways during this brief stop in Kenya.
Friday, May 6, 2011
Day 4 to Naivasha
Images of the day: the hour and a half or more at the Governor's offices in Nakuru, waiting. But during that time we were interviewed by the press, more than once, met the district Peace Cops (that is what they are called), made some short speeches, took photos of the bikers... it was a good, productive time. And the governor did show up and was very supportive in his words to us all. A crowd collects quickly here.... and that happened again this morning.
A boys school with the interaction Kim describes in the next blog down. Probably 300 young men there.
Some long hills to climb. The bikers are unfailingly gentle, helpful, and they really come together as a little community, including the Canadians. We talked today about possibly using a different model in Alberta... for the Relief Sale bike-a-thon. We could congregate the bicycles behind a leading van ... it helped a lot here for keeping the cycliists energized, talking with each other ..etc.
A little tour on cycles of part of Naivasha, once we got here. Some shopping though not much.
Giraffes near the road.
The loud speaker ... talking all along the highway, into the homes, and businesses ... about peace and aids.
A boys school with the interaction Kim describes in the next blog down. Probably 300 young men there.
Some long hills to climb. The bikers are unfailingly gentle, helpful, and they really come together as a little community, including the Canadians. We talked today about possibly using a different model in Alberta... for the Relief Sale bike-a-thon. We could congregate the bicycles behind a leading van ... it helped a lot here for keeping the cycliists energized, talking with each other ..etc.
A little tour on cycles of part of Naivasha, once we got here. Some shopping though not much.
Giraffes near the road.
The loud speaker ... talking all along the highway, into the homes, and businesses ... about peace and aids.
Nakuru to Naivasha
Hi everyone! Well, we arrived safely in the town of Naivasha at about 5 pm this evening. It was another great day of riding, getting to know the Kenyan team, and meeting folks along the way. We visited two secondary boy's schools, as well as stopped along the highway at a busy market area, and held a meeting, complete with dancing! Yes, even a few of us muzungu (white people...not sure if that is spelled correctly) danced! Quite fun. We even spotted our first giraffes of the trip.
Today we had some great interactions at the schools, with tough but excellent questions about peace and AIDS. One young man said, "Not long ago a group of Ethiopian people came to a village not far away and killed a lot of people. What are you going to do to tell the Ethiopian people to not kill Kenyans?" His second question was, "You tell us to abstain, to "chill", and to focus on our studies and not on sex, but what about those women who dress provocatively and 'invite' sex?" Wow. Pretty loaded questions. Kate Mansfield, MCC Kenya's Peace Coordinator, handled them well, and talked about the peace work also happening in Ethiopia, and how important it is for everyone to do their part. She also emphasized that each person needs to take responsibility for their own actions, and not put blame on others for decisions that we might make. Chill. A message to the youth to abstain, to focus on their studies, to focus on their future, the future of their communities and of Kenya.
Today we had some great interactions at the schools, with tough but excellent questions about peace and AIDS. One young man said, "Not long ago a group of Ethiopian people came to a village not far away and killed a lot of people. What are you going to do to tell the Ethiopian people to not kill Kenyans?" His second question was, "You tell us to abstain, to "chill", and to focus on our studies and not on sex, but what about those women who dress provocatively and 'invite' sex?" Wow. Pretty loaded questions. Kate Mansfield, MCC Kenya's Peace Coordinator, handled them well, and talked about the peace work also happening in Ethiopia, and how important it is for everyone to do their part. She also emphasized that each person needs to take responsibility for their own actions, and not put blame on others for decisions that we might make. Chill. A message to the youth to abstain, to focus on their studies, to focus on their future, the future of their communities and of Kenya.
Day 4 Continued
A policeman is riding with us. Another is in the lead van. they are looking after us really well. Simon asked if he could come to AB to help us in Cycle for Life in June. But he makes only 312.00 per month, before taxes. He would sacrifice two years of his salary, he thinks, to fly to Alberta and back. What is tragic is that he is making a reasonable living in Kenya, and has a stable job (though they are transferred every 6 months). But the cost of a liter of gasoline here is 117 cents. How they eat at all! What sobers is that we, Canadians, relatively wealthily, are here encouraging peace to and with people who have so little that it is hardly surprising that the violence erupts. Joseph asked this morning ... "who implements peace??". In the end, it is the people of Kenya to implement it, in the midst of AIDS, relentless poverty. But we are players, we are present, we cannot, as Christians anywhere pretend that we cannot or should not find ways, always, to participate with each other in the building of God's kingdom, in the saving of lives, in the hopeful improvement of how people live with each other.
Just left Nakuru. A good send off ceremony at the governors office again. The press was there doing interviews. The Peace Cops (who have the two reps riding with us) were there. They have people all over Kenya working at monitoring situations that may erupt. They welcome the participation of MCC and Lari and any peace building organization.
Just left Nakuru. A good send off ceremony at the governors office again. The press was there doing interviews. The Peace Cops (who have the two reps riding with us) were there. They have people all over Kenya working at monitoring situations that may erupt. They welcome the participation of MCC and Lari and any peace building organization.
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Day 4... Nakuru to Naivasha
We were in Luhya and other communities areas yesterday. One of the places we stopped was Burnt Forest. A place where, after the elections in 2007, a group of about 40 people went inside a church thinking they would be safer there. Others barricaded the building and turned it on fire and they all died. They said to us that they don't have peace there yet. They want help. But from what we see, and probably what we know in our own lives, the wounds may not heal for a very long time. There is some fear here that the memories, still so fresh, will erupt into more violence unless the next elections in 2012 are really carefully and transparently managed.
In the area we passed through, there is a lot of poverty. Extreme. The Kikuyu are the largest population in Kenya and many of them had, over recent years, moved into the Burnt Forest areas and bought up large pieces of land. They were in territory that historically, was not where they lived, and so, when they, the Kikuyus "won" the election, even though many thought the opposition had won it, the others in this area started to attack the Kikuyus. They had land and power and influence. Many were killed. Houses were burnt. massacres happened.
That is the area we biked thought. People are welcoming, Quick to come to open air meeetings. Quick to welcome us. The local speakers in turn, are very bold with a message that peace is urgent, that violence has not worked, that all are needing to make this happen.
In the area we passed through, there is a lot of poverty. Extreme. The Kikuyu are the largest population in Kenya and many of them had, over recent years, moved into the Burnt Forest areas and bought up large pieces of land. They were in territory that historically, was not where they lived, and so, when they, the Kikuyus "won" the election, even though many thought the opposition had won it, the others in this area started to attack the Kikuyus. They had land and power and influence. Many were killed. Houses were burnt. massacres happened.
That is the area we biked thought. People are welcoming, Quick to come to open air meeetings. Quick to welcome us. The local speakers in turn, are very bold with a message that peace is urgent, that violence has not worked, that all are needing to make this happen.
Day 3 Images
We left Eldoret this morning, cycling with a police motorcycle leading us. The press met us about 3 km out of town, did some interviews ... and we continued on. Before leaving Eldoret, we stopped, as we have each day, at the Governors Offices. Today, they took the ceremony and the speeches right out on the street. At least 300 people gathered quickly.... listened to Lari, MCC, others talk about AIDS and Peace. Amazing images. A Video clip will be out before end of today.
We are all of us doing what we can to get images and notes out to those who are reading, watching, praying, supporting. It's a big deal. Takes so so much attention ... Leon is a wizard on making the equipment work. Adam is too. Adam is making sure we get stuff on the web and twitter. Michael is filming and editing and interviewing. Kim is the chief blogger and also photographer and becoming a tweeter. Lisa is taking notes for Michael so he can work and stay focused on what he needs to do. Byron brought his lap top which it turns out we really need. I know this is the paragraph of a lay person ... but I am amazed at the community it takes to get notes, photos, verbal and all images out. To listen, to see, to catch what may connect with those in many countries who support and engage the work of MCC, and who are committed to AIDS, Peace, Development, and mostly, to be present in the event, the visits, the conversations that are taking place.
We are all of us doing what we can to get images and notes out to those who are reading, watching, praying, supporting. It's a big deal. Takes so so much attention ... Leon is a wizard on making the equipment work. Adam is too. Adam is making sure we get stuff on the web and twitter. Michael is filming and editing and interviewing. Kim is the chief blogger and also photographer and becoming a tweeter. Lisa is taking notes for Michael so he can work and stay focused on what he needs to do. Byron brought his lap top which it turns out we really need. I know this is the paragraph of a lay person ... but I am amazed at the community it takes to get notes, photos, verbal and all images out. To listen, to see, to catch what may connect with those in many countries who support and engage the work of MCC, and who are committed to AIDS, Peace, Development, and mostly, to be present in the event, the visits, the conversations that are taking place.
Day 3...on the road from Eldoret to Nakuru...150 kms
Hi everyone! It has been an exciting few days on the road, meeting lots of people, school groups, and seeing some amazing countryside. We are all struck by the beauty of the country, the people, and also struggle with the poverty that we see. It is difficult to know how to respond sometimes. This morning a young man, maybe 15 or 16 years old, approached me in Eldoret, no shoes, pretty tattered clothing, and looked at me and said, "I need money. I need shoes." And then waited. Watched me. And I apologized, gave him nothing. And now I sit in the van, laptop out, typing an update, and struggle with what my response should have been. I understand that the scope and complexity of poverty, hunger, all the issues that impact people's daily lives, are much broader than me trying to help one young man. But still, he is one, and he is worth my attention. There are no easy answers. The guilt sits a bit heavy, and that is good. I pray that it teaches me to pay attention, to respond, to feel things.
Joseph Kiranto is cycling with us, as well as his brother Sam. They are two remarkable young men. Sam is running for public office in the Kajiado District, representing youth and young adults. Joseph continues his work with HIV/AIDS through the Presbyterian Outreach Mission Church. People have been asking us about why we are connecting peace and AIDS on this trip. Joseph had a good response. Whenever there is conflict, the result is a rise in the incidence of HIV/AIDS. Certainly sexual assault, rape, as a weapon of conflict and war is a very real and awful reality. But there are other reasons as well. The example he gave was of the post election violence in 2007 in Kenya. Thousands of people were on the run from the violence, most of them having to leave everything behind. For those that were HIV+ and on ARVs the medication was lost, burned, and they found themselves not only homeless and facing a very uncertain future, but also knowing that no longer having access to the drugs they were taking, puts their lives at risk. Four years later, many people still live in Internally Displaced People camps, and are afraid to go home, but are trying to find some sense of normal, and are remarrying, hoping to create new and hopeful futures for themselves and their children. This also creates problems. Many do not know their status, and so unknowingly spread the virus to spouses and children.
If there is no functional harmony in a community, then nothing else works.
Joseph Kiranto is cycling with us, as well as his brother Sam. They are two remarkable young men. Sam is running for public office in the Kajiado District, representing youth and young adults. Joseph continues his work with HIV/AIDS through the Presbyterian Outreach Mission Church. People have been asking us about why we are connecting peace and AIDS on this trip. Joseph had a good response. Whenever there is conflict, the result is a rise in the incidence of HIV/AIDS. Certainly sexual assault, rape, as a weapon of conflict and war is a very real and awful reality. But there are other reasons as well. The example he gave was of the post election violence in 2007 in Kenya. Thousands of people were on the run from the violence, most of them having to leave everything behind. For those that were HIV+ and on ARVs the medication was lost, burned, and they found themselves not only homeless and facing a very uncertain future, but also knowing that no longer having access to the drugs they were taking, puts their lives at risk. Four years later, many people still live in Internally Displaced People camps, and are afraid to go home, but are trying to find some sense of normal, and are remarrying, hoping to create new and hopeful futures for themselves and their children. This also creates problems. Many do not know their status, and so unknowingly spread the virus to spouses and children.
If there is no functional harmony in a community, then nothing else works.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Kakamega to Eldoret ... Cycle for Life
Mostly sunny, quite hot day. Lots of gentle hills ...lush, lush green. Immense poverty. People everywhere. They wave at us. They make eye contact easily. The odd person shouts something like ... what are you white people doing here. But most people are friendly, curious. They shout "hellos" (jambo) from the roadside and wave, and when we stop, the collect quickly around us and then, quite often, a Peace and AIDS Awareness Raising event begins. Today, at the Matete Center, a market place by the side of the road, as soon as the loudspeakers came on, people began to gather. We and the leaders of Lari Peace and AIDS Programs and others spoke, a small group improvised a skit about anger and violence ... at least 150 people surrounded us. In the middle of the circle we had surrounded a table full of tomatoes being sold. They threw none of them at us. Very receptive, affirming audience, even through translation.
The big truck they are using to transport the cycles also follows the last cyclist (me, most of today) closely and with the amps, they talk about Peace, AIDS, MCC, Lari, and intersperse this with loud, loud music. But then suddenly "Take Your Place" came ... it followed me up yet another hill, but what a lovely, powerful set of songs that CD is, and hearing it sung on these giant amps today, while trying to keep up with the cyclists that had left me behind... was wonderful.
At the school we visited after lunch, about 200 high school students listened and sent a "wave" to Canada and Canadians. Nice. This school has one of the peace clubs formed by Lari, and they have 8 of the computers sent by donors from N America a couple of years back. They are being used to connect with young people in neighboring communities. Social Networking. And when we hear about the things that provoke violence and killing, we are hopeful that young people who meet and get to know each other, will find ways to stop the intertribal distrust and will change history. The students wanted to serve us drinks but had not had time to get them, so they gave us cash... asking us to use the cash to purchase soft drinks for ourselves.
Images from the day: Sunny. Hot. Green. Hilly roads. Mostly good roads. Cyclists behind the lead van. Half a dozen Cyclists, at a stop, dancing beautifully to the local radio music. They can't help themselves. (So wish I could move like that.) Faces. Rain at the end. More faces. People walking. Dangerous traffic. The Governor talking and waving his flag, welcoming us and officially launching day 2. Several local media at the opening event, interviewing cyclists and others. And the story of the erupting violence that happened here in 2007.
The big truck they are using to transport the cycles also follows the last cyclist (me, most of today) closely and with the amps, they talk about Peace, AIDS, MCC, Lari, and intersperse this with loud, loud music. But then suddenly "Take Your Place" came ... it followed me up yet another hill, but what a lovely, powerful set of songs that CD is, and hearing it sung on these giant amps today, while trying to keep up with the cyclists that had left me behind... was wonderful.
At the school we visited after lunch, about 200 high school students listened and sent a "wave" to Canada and Canadians. Nice. This school has one of the peace clubs formed by Lari, and they have 8 of the computers sent by donors from N America a couple of years back. They are being used to connect with young people in neighboring communities. Social Networking. And when we hear about the things that provoke violence and killing, we are hopeful that young people who meet and get to know each other, will find ways to stop the intertribal distrust and will change history. The students wanted to serve us drinks but had not had time to get them, so they gave us cash... asking us to use the cash to purchase soft drinks for ourselves.
Images from the day: Sunny. Hot. Green. Hilly roads. Mostly good roads. Cyclists behind the lead van. Half a dozen Cyclists, at a stop, dancing beautifully to the local radio music. They can't help themselves. (So wish I could move like that.) Faces. Rain at the end. More faces. People walking. Dangerous traffic. The Governor talking and waving his flag, welcoming us and officially launching day 2. Several local media at the opening event, interviewing cyclists and others. And the story of the erupting violence that happened here in 2007.
Riding
So in addition to being a wonderful way to connect with local Kenyans and promote peace and AIDS awareness, the cycling itself has been just plain fun. Today we enjoyed beautiful sunshine (until some rain at the very end of the day), beautiful scenery, and covered over 60km of highway. The roads so far have been in great shape, we haven't had nearly as many flat tires as we were anticipating in a group this large (probably only 5 or 6 so far), and not very many serious mechanical breakdowns either. The hills have been challenging and fun; after a day of getting used to the bicycles, everyone charges up those hills pretty fast. I'm very impressed with how strong all of the riders are.
And the camaraderie among riders has been wonderful, it is too bad that we only have 3 more days to spend riding with them.
And the camaraderie among riders has been wonderful, it is too bad that we only have 3 more days to spend riding with them.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Cycling to Kakamega Town
Tomorrow we reach Eldoret. Today, we travelled from Kisumu to Kakamega. A very full day. Quite amazing actually. I had thought this was not about cycling. And, as Kim says, it is. Plenty of the violence in Rwanda and here in Kenya and other places is incited by loud speakers and amps, and also by cell phones. Lari Peace Program and MCC Kenya along with us riders and others, are using loudspeakers and amplifiers and many stops that attract crowds, to talk boldly about peace making. I think we stopped 6 or 7 times today. Some were unplanned. Some were planned. Always a crowed would gather and in Swahili and English .. a bold message of peace instead of violent behavior was encouraged. Most people welcomed this. They encouraged. At the last meeting, an impromptu sesssion beside the road, a youngish man took the mic and spoke back to us from the crowd. He said, "you are doing a good thing. We need this. We support this. And the next time you do this, we want to partner with you."
The day started with Micheale and LIsa Bade joining us from Cambodia to do filming. Then to the Provincial Buildings for a ceremony conducted by another local peace group, and attended by some of the Mennonites from the Kisumu churches. Speeches and photos and we were away. Twenty minutes later, a stop in a very rough parking lot. Half an hour of speaking as people gathered. The three little boys below were photographed there. Twenty min later another stop in what Waihenya said is an area where there is most opposition to peace making and often violence. Still in the city. A good crowd gathered and listened. Off to the Burka Elementary School where we were welcomed byt over 300 children.... all dressed in green uniforms, and all very interested and curious. Next stop a brief lunch. By now it is getting very hilly and sometimes the truck had to pick up riders. I was one of them. Next stop another town and more speaking. And then the accident happened ... which frightened us all a bit. There was a speed bump and the driver of our lead van braked, not realizing there were several bikers right behind the van.
And then, about 3 pm, it began to rain and looked not to stop. We loaded all the bikes and headed for Kakamega. Ten min later the sky cleared a little, and we unloaded the bikes and off they went. But then there was a flat tire and that led to a longer stop and suddenly, we had another Peace Event. With the response mentioned at the top. The bigger truck battery died soon after that and we had to push it to restart it. It was a busy day. It is about relationships. It is about lowering and tearing down walls amongst us. And it is also about cycling. Boldly proclaiming peace making, peaceful living to their neighbors, in a country that where violence amongst some of the 42 Community Groups is and has often been the solution to resource scarcity, power, influence. Simon Sitonik, a young IVEPer from Kenya, living in Edmonton now as with IVEP, says that violence just does not lead to anything good. He has seen it many times. He is a young man.
Up early tomorrow. Thanks for reading the Cycle for Life Blog.
The day started with Micheale and LIsa Bade joining us from Cambodia to do filming. Then to the Provincial Buildings for a ceremony conducted by another local peace group, and attended by some of the Mennonites from the Kisumu churches. Speeches and photos and we were away. Twenty minutes later, a stop in a very rough parking lot. Half an hour of speaking as people gathered. The three little boys below were photographed there. Twenty min later another stop in what Waihenya said is an area where there is most opposition to peace making and often violence. Still in the city. A good crowd gathered and listened. Off to the Burka Elementary School where we were welcomed byt over 300 children.... all dressed in green uniforms, and all very interested and curious. Next stop a brief lunch. By now it is getting very hilly and sometimes the truck had to pick up riders. I was one of them. Next stop another town and more speaking. And then the accident happened ... which frightened us all a bit. There was a speed bump and the driver of our lead van braked, not realizing there were several bikers right behind the van.
And then, about 3 pm, it began to rain and looked not to stop. We loaded all the bikes and headed for Kakamega. Ten min later the sky cleared a little, and we unloaded the bikes and off they went. But then there was a flat tire and that led to a longer stop and suddenly, we had another Peace Event. With the response mentioned at the top. The bigger truck battery died soon after that and we had to push it to restart it. It was a busy day. It is about relationships. It is about lowering and tearing down walls amongst us. And it is also about cycling. Boldly proclaiming peace making, peaceful living to their neighbors, in a country that where violence amongst some of the 42 Community Groups is and has often been the solution to resource scarcity, power, influence. Simon Sitonik, a young IVEPer from Kenya, living in Edmonton now as with IVEP, says that violence just does not lead to anything good. He has seen it many times. He is a young man.
Up early tomorrow. Thanks for reading the Cycle for Life Blog.
Destination Kakamega
Hi everyone! We arrived in Kakamega about 1 hour ago. It was a great day of riding, and seeing some of the most beautiful countryside that I have ever seen! Very lush and green, lots of climbing for the cyclists, and some good down hill rides! The bikes are holding up, though there were a few incidents with chains, tires, and brakes, but a little jiggling and tightening and cajoling the bikes seemed to help. We had one unfortunate accident. Two cyclists fell and got a bit scraped up, but nothing too serious thankfully. Both were back on their bikes in no time.
This trip, the group has agreed, is not about cycling. It is about bringing together people from different backgrounds, traditions, cultures and languages, and getting to know each other, breaking down stereotypes, building friendships. And yet, it is really all about the cycling in a way. The reception at each place that we stopped at was overwhelming, and even as the cyclists rode on the highway, people would wave and shout out affirmations and blessings. Seeing a group of 17 cyclists, all wearing matching jerseys, plus 3 vehicles with banners exclaiming "Cycle for Life", was a sight to see. And people gravitated to the message of building peace. The majority of the post-election violence from 2007 took place in Kisumu, Eldoret and Naivasha...all places that we will be traveling through. The wounds of violence, trauma and loss are very fresh, and so is the wish for peace.
Here are a few pictures from the day.
Kim
This trip, the group has agreed, is not about cycling. It is about bringing together people from different backgrounds, traditions, cultures and languages, and getting to know each other, breaking down stereotypes, building friendships. And yet, it is really all about the cycling in a way. The reception at each place that we stopped at was overwhelming, and even as the cyclists rode on the highway, people would wave and shout out affirmations and blessings. Seeing a group of 17 cyclists, all wearing matching jerseys, plus 3 vehicles with banners exclaiming "Cycle for Life", was a sight to see. And people gravitated to the message of building peace. The majority of the post-election violence from 2007 took place in Kisumu, Eldoret and Naivasha...all places that we will be traveling through. The wounds of violence, trauma and loss are very fresh, and so is the wish for peace.
Here are a few pictures from the day.
Kim
Monday, May 2, 2011
Kisumu
Hi everyone! This morning we left Nairobi and traveled to Kimende where we met with the Kenyan cyclists and support team. Very exciting to meet everyone, and to visit the office and museum of the Lari Peace Program. There are a total of 17 cyclists, and 10 support team members (3 drivers, a nurse, a videographer...Michael and Lisa will arrive tomorrow morning in Kisumu...two staff members from the Lari program, as well as a sargent and constable from the regional police district. Oh, and me and Abe. Tomorrow is a 52 km day, with several stops along the way to greet peace clubs and communities, beginning at 8 am and aniticipating to end our day at about 5 pm. The roads and drivers here pose a few challenges...pot holes and speed. So, pray for the cycling team and the support drivers, for safety.
Assuming we have good internet access again tomorrow, we will post pictures from day 1 of riding. Off to bed. It is 10:35 pm. Exciting day tomorrow!
Assuming we have good internet access again tomorrow, we will post pictures from day 1 of riding. Off to bed. It is 10:35 pm. Exciting day tomorrow!
Kisumu ... Cycling begins in the morning
A longish day of driving. A truck with the bikes. Two vans with bikers and others of us. A jeep with baggage and more people. And Michaell and Lisa have arrived in Nairobi and will fly to join us in the morning, here in Kisumu, to begin the "trek". We make 7 stops tomorrow. Some are at schools, some are shopping areas, and some are just brief rest stops, I believe. The distance to cover tomorrow is only 52 km, but with all the stops it will be a long day.
The area we are in is centered with a city called Eldoret. It is the area where much of the violence happened after the last election, in 2007. The next election is set for 2012 and the country is fearful. When I asked one rider, whose name is Pablo (he is also an artist) why the violence was centered in this area, he said that people know clearly with Maasai land begins and ends, and they know clearly where Kikuyu land begins and ends. And they compete for power, for influence. They are very conscious of who they are. All of the community groups seem to have a strong ethnic centeredness. The violence, said Pablo, did not have directly to do with the differences though; it had to do with the groups following the inciting "iinstructions" of their leaders, who tend, he said, to take advantage of the differences that are there. And so, they began to kill each other. We hope that with this Cycle for Life adventure, we can meet people, drop the walls between us a little bit lower, perhaps have a few less answers for each other, but a greater commitment to getting to know each other.
Went with Cindy Klassen to meet a group from a Canadian church here this evening. They are going out to evangelize tomorrow, and in the days to come. They prayed for our cyclists and we prayed for their work as well.
The area we are in is centered with a city called Eldoret. It is the area where much of the violence happened after the last election, in 2007. The next election is set for 2012 and the country is fearful. When I asked one rider, whose name is Pablo (he is also an artist) why the violence was centered in this area, he said that people know clearly with Maasai land begins and ends, and they know clearly where Kikuyu land begins and ends. And they compete for power, for influence. They are very conscious of who they are. All of the community groups seem to have a strong ethnic centeredness. The violence, said Pablo, did not have directly to do with the differences though; it had to do with the groups following the inciting "iinstructions" of their leaders, who tend, he said, to take advantage of the differences that are there. And so, they began to kill each other. We hope that with this Cycle for Life adventure, we can meet people, drop the walls between us a little bit lower, perhaps have a few less answers for each other, but a greater commitment to getting to know each other.
Went with Cindy Klassen to meet a group from a Canadian church here this evening. They are going out to evangelize tomorrow, and in the days to come. They prayed for our cyclists and we prayed for their work as well.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Arrived Kenya ... minus Michael and Lisa
Kim, Byron, Cindy, Adam, Leon, John and I all arrived safely, and even a bit early to Nairobi. Lovely lovely Mennonite Guest House here. We had pretty good flights. I bit rough here and there, but those white knuckle, praying flyers amongst us worked hard to help the pilots keep the planes up. Tomorrow we leave for Kisumu, at 8:30 am. Arrive there around 3 pm. Kisumu is the third largest city in Kenya. Nairobi, the capital has about 3 m people. Kisumu is the center of the Luo people, of whom there are about 4 million in Kenya. The Mennonite Churches of Kenya are centered in Kisumu. It is also an area of fairly high rate of AIDS infection. A few years ago, it was about 25%. We won't do any biking tomorrow. It begins on Tuesday, and Michael and Lisa arrive, we hope, tomorrow evening, then fly to Kisumu early Tuesday to join the kick off of Cycle for Life: Build Peace. Stop AIDS.
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