My three years in a foreign land!

Daniel Towner in an evangelistic meeting held by Dwight L. Moody heard a young say,".....I'm not quite sure. But I'm going to trust, and I'm going to obey." He would later compose the following song... 

When we walk with the Lord in the light of his Word

What a glory he sheds on our way!

While we do his good will, he abides with us still,

And with all who will trust and obey. 

This song carries the story of my life and especially the part of being away from home.

Foreignness may manifest itself through the divergence from homogeneities distinctiveness of a place.  A foreigner can be defined through the prism of one who speaks and acts differently and in most cases one who looks different. It is therefore not hard to identify a foreigner!

My travelling out of my homeland Country Kenya opened a floodgate of experiences that would be hard to document in a single blog. These experiences have helped me to experience foreignness in its integrity, to interpret it not merely as other but in such a way to bring to light what constitutes it in its otherness. 

Over the last couple of months I have made calls, sent out letters and emails to my friends and family chronicling my experience in a foreign land; I must admit though that they are my own person's limited perception and experience and they could be one sided.

These experiences range from cultural shock to an exciting adventure.

I doubt students and people relocating from Africa to the West take time to think of where they are heading to. Rarely would anyone be bothered to ask anything about where they are going and those who do few are interested to practically reflect on it. Everyone seems excited and ready to leave. I have met few of those and their stories are those of pain and anguish.

Having worked as a cross-cultural worker for few years and making a visit to this land prior to my three year of study I had a picture of what to expect. Although I knew things were not going to be the same, like having different food, mingling with different kind of people, operating in different situations from what I’m used to, I still feel some aspects of cultural shock.

Rockets, the mint, red and yellow pepper were some of the food that was strange to me,  I had never seen them before. I would walk into restaurants and take longer than anyone in making my order. I just could not understand what to call what! One type of a dish could be served in ten or more different forms and pizza in particular would have different types which I never bothered to learn for it would only give me headache.

Accents- I mean Irish accent was a killer. First few weeks I wished I never came. I wondered whether my English teacher taught me wrongly or was someone else missing something.

 I could not understand how one car-yes- the only car on the road would wait for traffic lights to change. Back home few would wait for the lights to change; it is chaos and chaos-everyone for himself. I think traffic lights should be abolished in Nairobi!  

The social system really confused me. While here I would find more focus on the nuclear family, back home, you have the extended family with you too. In Africa, when you come into a community, you find people are very open. They come to you, they ask you who you are and they take to you automatically so much so that, sometimes, there is even the danger of their invading your territory, my new experience was totally different. People take time to warm up to you!

I struggled-yes I still do struggle to call my elders by their first name.  For example, teachers are placed on a certain pedestal in my community and any reference made to them by a student must always show some degree of respect.  Whether a nursery school teacher or a don this principle applies to all! The same applies to the normal community life elders are never referred by their first name. I must admit though that this trend is rapidly changing.

Coming from a society where freedom and justice is in most cases a prerogative of the executive, who dictates the definitions, to a society where freedom and justice is always at the interest of the public was an eye-opener.

Looking back I can admittedly say that it has been a good experience. My theology about the world has been challenged, my stereotypes put to test and in most cases found wanting and better still my faith to trust in God for food and all other essential provisions in a foreign land increased.  

Daniel Towner ends his lovely song with these words........

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at his feet,

Or we will walk by his side in the way;

What he says we will do, where he sends we will go,

Never fear, only trust and obey.

The day I fell in the hands of conmen!

For the last couple of months I have adopted the norm of perusing my home country newspapers every morning to see what’s new. I am always eager to read about how things are going. Some of the areas that interest me a great deal are those that cover personal experiences. 

Yesterday Kenya Daily Nation carried one of those stories. The article, “Day a fake lottery card landed me in deep trouble with the law,” by Murithi Mutiga was one that made me laugh all the way till the end.  It is a story that I clearly and vividly resonates with. I have been a victim too and most probably by the very same boys.

  Mutiga tells of a story of his talkative and humorous cousin “De” who almost got him into trouble for coming to his rescue. In a nutshell the long story goes like this, “De” had on the previous night prior to meeting Mutiga at his work place, been approached by two young men who purportedly had won a lottery of Ksh. 100,000 and were looking for how he would help them claim it. 

“De”  knowing he had a ‘well-connected’ cousin then sort the help of  Mutiga who would take him to claim it from the Charity Sweepstake office. Mutiga then decided to ask one of his friends to accompany them to fulfill the Kikuyu proverb that goes mundu umwe ndeheragirwo njira (two are better than one-paraphrased). What happened after was to be a shock for everyone!

Without any doubt or qualms I am convinced that I fell under the traps of the same boys. If they happened to be different bunch of boys , then it is a well organised cartel out to swindle unsuspecting public of their hard earned money. The way they orchestrated and executed their plan against me and Mutiga and “De” sounds similar.

Here is the reconstruction of my story!

An African child is expected after people have invested on your education that you will be able to stand on your own feet and probably, if possible be able to give back to your community. Having acquired a university certificate in Information Technology I felt it was now time to go out as well and look for employment like any one else.

It was one hot afternoon coming from Mathare North to city centre headed Equity Bank Community Branch at the end of Haile Selassie Avenue. As a fresh graduate I did not have a lot of money and that meant spending the meager resources with prudence. Every coin mattered a great deal.

To minimise my expenditure for that day I decided to walk from city center towards ‘community’. I was smartly dressed with a well iron shirt, trouser and a tie that seemed to suggest I was employable. I carried a document folder which added to an outside confidence that I have been to school and if anyone hired me they will not be disappointed whatsoever. 

That confidence would be put to test in few hours.

As I walked up the hill towards Equity Bank I saw two young men walking down to my direction. As they approached me I could hear they were speaking in Kimeru.  Suddenly they stopped and seemed stranded. Reaching where they were they stopped me and asked if I could help.  No bother at all I thought to myself and stopped to listen to their woes. I heard them asking each other, which was Jubilee House. The hill on Haile Selassie Avenue offers a panoramic view of Nairobi City. It is possible to identify many buildings from that position and perhaps they thought it would be a good starting point to engage me.

The building in question was relatively shorter building which was hidden beyond so many others. Their problem was that they had won a lottery of Ksh. 200,000 and they need to locate the building in which the offices to claim the prizes were housed. The building was Jubilee House.

The two boys were dressed rough, unpolished shoes and their chests were both half open. They both chewed khat and hardly spoke any English word. Their Swahili was broken and their accent heavily influenced by their Meru language.  When they opened their mouth to talk green stuff would be coming from their mouth flying all over the place. What a scene! Quite disgusting!

I was later to learn it was a show to make me believe that they were country folks and vulnerable and that they did not know their way round the busy city.

“We come from Meru”, one said, “and we have won a lottery worth Ksh. 200,000 but a traffic police officer attempted to steal it from us when we asked him the way we could claim it, so we ran away from him”, the second fellow added. “We are wondering whether we can trust you to direct us to the place”, the first gentleman went on in a well rehearsed style.

Anytime anyone has seemed to question my trust I have come out ‘ferociously‘ to defend myself against anything that would put that to doubt. 

To them they had half won because I was going to make sure they got help within the shortest time possible because the normal office working hours was coming to an end.

With pity I looked at the helpless boys and told them I needed to drop my CV and I was to join them shortly. Before I could finish my statement one of them intercepted and said they are going to walk up with me. “Don’t worry we will be patient with you, in fact we ready to walk you there”, he added.

All of us went in and I dropped my CV and hurriedly went out to sort their problem.  I did not want anything that would hinder me doing what I thought was right thing to do-help the strangers! Down we walked towards city center. On the way they started telling me how good I was and suspected I was a Christian-to my delight. “Christians are good people; they will always go out of their way to help a friend in need.” Oh yeah- affirmatively I answered.

Just few meters to the building I met a friend who I had not seen for years but we were running out of time so we just said hey and each went different ways. 

I could see the building was getting closer and closer so I showed them but they were not going to let me go yet! With skills and persuasion they asked me to go and claim the money for them. They made the promise that they would give me part of the reward and a payment for helping them out to which I rejected. 

I told them that if I was going to help them, it was going to be for free. Well- to do so they asked me to leave some sort of security with them as an assurance that I was going back. I offered my document folder which they flipped through. One gentleman looked up and said, “you are highly educated and it would be good if you kept your documents.” I had a phone in my pocket so I offered it to them because I wanted to finish the whole business as quickly as possible and go home.

We agreed that I would meet them at the same point after receiving the cash prize. Up I went, right into the lottery office. I forwarded the lottery card and said I was there to claim the prize. Looking at the amount the gentleman asked me where I bought it and like I had been told by the boys I told him Nanyuki.

Please go and bring whoever sold the card to you. Disappointed I walked out to let the two young men know. As I walked out of the building and turned right I could not see the boys where I had left them. 

After looking around and not finding them I decided to call my phone through a public booth. When my call was transferred to the answering machine I felt a cold chill run through my body.Yes I had been conned! Jackson I know I have never told you but that is how I lost the phone you had given me as a gift!!

Kenya-a country where tribe is valued more than integrity

Patriotism means love of country. But when people think of the love of country they think of something else that is aggressive, something aimed at keeping others out, something about superiority of one's country. 

Raphael Samuel in his book, Patriotism: The Making and Unmaking of British National Identity refers to Samuel Johnson who argues that patriotism was the last refuge of the scoundrel.  When politicians are in difficulties, to beat the jingo drum, to conquer a small island, will - with media help win short-term popularity.

Raphael further refers to  Sir Keith Joseph and Mrs Thatcher's Lord Hugh Thomas and their idea of inculcating patriotism in school history teaching, we should welcome their interest but be wary of their intentions. He further asks,  are we going back to 'My country, right or wrong', a narrow nationalism smugly satisfied with the unique virtues of the Kenyan?"- (Kenyan being a substitute for British) 

Albert Einstein calls patriotism, "the measles of the mankind." The best kind of patriotism best for us is about improving my country. When one loves a country one want to contribute to the traditions while at times means being quite critical of what the country does and what is being done in the name of your country." It is a critical temperament, the ability to criticise yourself and your fellow citizens which is very important.

Yesterday Transparency International published their corruption perceptions index and Kenya has once again come out with flying colours as usual. We were ranked 139th most corrupt country in the world. Yes we need a pat on the back-yes we beat usual suspects like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, DRC and the likes. No never we need no commendation but in fact we need to do some soul searching and find where we lost our credibility. 

Soon after the reports were published the patriots and nationalists have come out up in arms in protest and open display of disgust to the owner of these reports. As usual there is a claim that they do not know the parameters used to arrive to these conclusions. In most cases they argue these reports are geared towards painting Kenya and Africans as most corrupt on the human planet. Well, I do not understand how they arrive to these results and as it is commonly understood statistics are always wrong but the fact is Kenya is a corrupt nation.

There are of course clear examples of Patriotism gone wrong and of national pride turning into jingoism but this should be more reason to take this subject very seriously.

In his book Out of Comfort Zone, asking the question, “Is your God too nice?”  Former Westminster Chapel Minister R.T. Kendall while making reference to 1 Peter 4:17 argues that, if we cannot criticise ourselves we are very insecure indeed.

Looking back on our history there lies loads of quotable examples where tribe took over the value of life and human dignity. We are shy to call corruption by its name if men and women implicated are fellow tribesmen. We do not, and of course I’m talking generally, care about people’s integrity if we share the same tongue. 

Last election is a good example; those who were defeated were told to be mindful of the nation and soldier on. Any time they have attempted to raise their voice they are scoffed at and called enemies of the state.  We hate people who look and sound indifferent; we detest people who hold a different opinion even if it is the right one.

From Mandera to Bondo, Lodwar to Mombasa we are all equal and we should treat each other as so. The sooner we understand this better for our nation and for the generations to come. Like Luther would say, Let us judge others by their character. If the politicians are corrupt, if any public official's integrity is in question we need to shout it regardless of their tribe. That will be the true patriotism- one that holds integrity and accountability with high esteem and completely detaches itself from negative ethnicity!

Patriotism need not be an aggressive love of a country, beating your chest and tell people they do not belong but it should be more generous and inclusive.  Let us remember the nineteenth century German-American Carl Schurz, "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.

Is David Livingstone the greatest missionary as many would like us to believe?

2013 marks 200 years since the birth of David Livingstone. Born in Blantyre Scotland and died in Africa where he spent most of his last 30 years of his life, but doing what?  His favourite name for himself was missionary-explorer(as a hyphenated word). He is remembered as the great missionary but in fact he did very little in the way of conversion. He is accused of compromising his message  in a sense by collaborating with slave traders and slave owners to get around.  He spent his last years searching successfully for the source of river Nile. He was apparently an inept leader. A contemporary writing of Livingstone willingness to listen to other people wrote,'I can come to no other conclusion than Dr. Livingstone is out of his mind and the most unsafe leader." But he was great Victorian hero and his body is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

So what is the truth about Livingstone and what is his lasting achievement. In the early years of 21st century Livingstone was named as one of the 100 greatest in Britain.   David went to Africa in 1840, he was allegedly the first white man to see Victoria falls. He journeyed across Africa. He preached a christian message but he did not force it on reluctant ears. he searched for the source of River Nile and during that search he lost contact with his homeland for six years before he was discovered by Stanley and he died from Malaria and internal breeding in 1873. 

Reading good chunk of Livingstone letters and books about him I wonder whether we should rewrite his history. Does he deserve this high reputation? Should we rewrite his history? From a Christian perspective he remains one of the greatest missionary of all time but from a more secular perspective and particularly from a post-modern western perspective a lot of things have been put into the mix. For instance, the way he neglected his father, family and kids. The fact that his Zambezi expedition geographically was not a great success. the fact that some more critics of his work in Africa argues that he was a precursor of colonialism means that the balance of his reputation has gone down considerably. 

David Livingstone is said that he was not good at converting people. I totally disagree with this view. A lot of people think missionary work is purely geographical and he did that. He pushed doors, opened opportunities in Africa but also as Jesus said, ‘I am with you to the end of the world’, means it is generational. David Livingstone because of what he did, he may not have converted great waves of population but he opened doors for later people to go in and become more successful.

In conclusion, though David Livingstone had his many short-comings but Africa will always see him as a John the Baptist-figure. He prepared the way for other people and Africa is forever grateful that at last the Christian message reached to us too! Though Livingstone body rests in Peace at the center of London his heart is still with us in Africa! Thanks Scotland for giving us such a gift!