will we see animals? and other important questions

I had lunch today with Dennis Shierman, who is CBM's Western Canada Rep. He was in town and spoke at a missions night at our church Sunday night. That was informative in itself - hearing how global discipleship and integral mission are so important to them, and seeing other ways that CBM lives that out.

Things I learned (in no particular order):

*what to wear - as representatives of CBM and Carey, to be modest and conservative, and have skirts, especially for any formal stuff, or Sunday mornings, or if we're doing a presentation or anything like that. I guess I need to check my closet and see if there are any skirts in there!

*animals - because of the strictness against combining missions work and tourism (from the auditors point of view) we won't be "going on safari," but we will have opportunities while we're there to see giraffes, elephants, zebras and the rest. One place we'll be staying at has a balcony where you can sit for an early morning coffee and watch them going by. I am really looking forward to that.

*responsibilities - I had asked about our roles on CBM's behalf once we are back, and what they might expect of us, and the answer was nothing really. They are content to educate us, and let God do the work of changing us, our perceptions, and how we live and minister in light of what we've learned and experienced.

*observation / participation - we'll be doing some of both.

Our syllabus and itinerary are still to come, so I still have things to learn before I go, but talking to Dennis was a good chance to make a more direct connection with CBM. We talked about a lot more that - I'll let you know if I think of anything else to pass on.

ouch...

I went to the Travel Health Centre for the first time today, and came out with three puncture holes and various diseases running through my blood teaching me how not to get them later. That's how it works, right? I go back in a month for more shots and to get some malaria pills to take when I'm there, and I've got a few capsules in the fridge to take in the meantime for something else. The fun part is that it's all optional. Do I want the rabies vaccine, too?

Nine weeks from today. It's coming closer! Here's a bit more of what I know itinerary wise... We'll be in based in Nairobi (staying at a retreat centre) for our first week. The second week in Kenya Aaron and Erica Kenny will be taking us to Eastleigh and Northeastern Province for us to experience Somali culture and Muslim outreach ministry. "In Garissa, we have a wonderful connection with a school for vulnerable children being run by a group of Muslim women. We hope it will be a stimulating experience for you to be a part of intergal mission in a Muslim context. At present, we are preparing an opportunity for you to enter this community that should stretch you in the practical ways that we share the way for Jesus." That's from an email from the Kenny's, who we will be working with while we're there. I should say, they'll be working with us. I'm under no delusion that we are going to help or make a difference in any way - I hope we do, but I know we are going to be stretched and learn so much more. I hope that all the cultural differences make it easier to be completely open to see Jesus and learn, not tougher to filter it all.

I have read one of the texts - Missions in the Third Millennium. I am aware of changes in approaches to missions in only a limited way - I studied it in college, but have not had too much first hand knowledge or read many books on it since. I'm more aware of changes in how church is being done and approached, and some of those changes are similar to changes in how mission is being done. It was a couple of weeks ago now that I read this, but the primary impression that is still with me is that we are not doing enough. We think sending money to 'let the nationals do it' is enough, but there is a lot more too it than that. It's messy and complex - just like all of life... I'm finishing up another course, then I can get started on the next book for this.

One goal I have for myself is to learn my African geography... I love maps, but there are a lot of countries in Africa. I'll keep you posted on my progress. Maybe.

ha ha - joke's on me!

In some of the back and forth emails the question of our books came up, and we were told we would get our texts by the end of March. Yeah, our texts. The same ones I ordered in January and have already been reading. Who's the keener?? (here's me shaking my head...) Oh well, I've got two other classes on the go right now, so I'm having to be pretty strict with my homework, and what gets done and read when - I'm glad I got them early. After I get back, I'm going to try to remember to do only one course at a time!!

The Team

More information has been trickling down...

The team from Canada will have eight people on it. Six women and two men. Carey has two students, McMaster Divinity School has three, and three are from Acadia Divinity School. We've been given each other's email addresses, and have started to introduce ourselves, but so far I've only heard from the three from McMaster.

I have heard from a couple in Africa who will be in communication with us from now till we go with all the things we need to know, and we have heard as well from the man who will be our team leader there. His email was fairly informative: he said there will be a group of Africans along with our group of Canadians, and that they are being selected as representatives from their churches. So they will not know each other either, but will be coming together for this project.

I have finished one of the three required texts - I'll write about that another day, but I will say that there was some benefit in the long drive to Montana and back! I got that done and got The Fate of Africa started. That's on the recommended list, not a required one, but it's really informative, and I hope I can get through it before we go, too.

baby steps

I have not heard back with more details yet, but the deadline to confirm participation was a couple of days ago, so hopefully we'll hear something soon.

Until then, I have called the travel clinic and made an appointment. I have told them where I am going, when and for how long, and when I go in in a month they will tell me what shots and pills I need. Fun!

And I ordered my books (online at Amazon, my number one textbook supplier!) the night I heard I got accepted. After I did, I realized the syllabus they had attached to the application said SAMPLE in big letters diagonally across the background - oops! I hope they haven't changed... There are three required books and I ordered one of the "also recommended" ones, which is a massive work called The Fate of Africa, all about the last 50 years since independence. It looks really good - I'll be taking it and one of the texts on our road trip to Montana this weekend. (Whitefish Montana has had tonnes of powder this winter, and the temperatures look great for our trip - Snowboarding for Valentine's Day!)

Maps

and the family?

This would be an amazing trip to share with Sean and Madeline, but no, they are not going along. Sean is going to hold down the fort here, and to simplify childcare every morning and after school, Madeline is going to Winnipeg to hang out with my family there. She'll be going to school with her cousins at the school I went to when I was her age! That's a fun thing to share. She is in French Immersion here and they are not, but her teacher will send some extra french work along with her.

Another fun twist is that it's payback time. My sister Jessica and her husband Dave went to Kenya for a month 3 1/2 years ago, and I looked after their 3 boys for the month. Now I get to go check out 'their' Kenya and they get to watch Madeline for me. Such a huge world - funny to share the same destination. I wonder if we'll get to Mwingi, where they went...