Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
Interesting fact: Did you know that they color the Chicago River green every year for St. Patrick’s Day???
I discovered this when I was there over New Year’s with my friends Catherine, Tim, and Jackie.
It was COLD.
Here I am in Africa!
I haven’t really posted many pictures from Africa, so over the next week or so I’m planning on putting up just a few. We’ll start with some of me…
Spending time with some Maasai and showing them how the camera works.
Riding in our van in Kenya…always ready to film something!
In a boat on Lake Victoria with Jackie. This was during our time in Uganda.
Self-portrait in Kenya with Jamie, Jackson, Jackie, and Dusty’s arm in the background.
Signs are funny.
And here are a couple good ones from Zimbabwe.
This first one was a sign for Crocodile Creek…..I don’t know about you, but I think I’ll skip fishing there.
And this was a sign in front of a church. I’m assuming that the women have an assembly on Thursdays and Saturdays. That, or the church doubles as a strip club. Ha.
Top questions I was asked while in Africa:
Where are you from? I guess it was obvious that I wasn’t a local.
Are you married? Follow-up question: Why not?!?
What do you do? I make videos. Have you ever had anything on TV? Um, no.
Do you like _____ (insert name of current location in Africa)?
How is it in the States? How is WHAT in the States? Not really knowing what was being asked exactly, I always answered “Good.” And then I started talking about the weather. Not even kidding.
Are you recording? (referring to the camera I was almost constantly holding throughout the trip)
And the winner: Do you know Chuck Norris? I wish. Sidekick was like my favorite movie EVER. I was also asked if I knew Arnold Schwarzenegger. Who knew Republicans were so famous in Africa?
Top questions I asked while in Africa:
What am I eating?
Where am I?
What is happening right now?
Is this water safe to drink?
How do you say “toilet?” Oh, it’s just “toilet?”
Is it okay to film here?
Will you repeat that once I turn on the camera?
Coming home…
It’s been a good month in Africa. But alas, all journeys come to end. I fly out of Zimbabwe tomorrow morning and, after a rather ridiculous flight schedule, land in Fort Myers on Sunday evening.
I’m planning on enjoying a nice long sleep in my own bed. And after that I might let you know how the flights went.
Catch ya on the flip side.
Snippets from Zim
Here are some more random snippets from Zimbabwe…
Traffic lights here are called “robots.” And sometimes the robots don’t work, so it makes for some exciting intersection crossings!
I got to see firsthand how to hotwire a car. I was with Emmanuel Zihove about an hour outside of town visiting one of his ministry locations. Everything went fine on the way there and while we were there. But as we got back into the car to head back to Harare, the ignition wouldn’t work. The key would go in, but wouldn’t turn all the way. After trying everything we could think of, one of the guys ran off to find someone who knew how to fix our problem. He came back with a guy who began to immediately pull out the wires underneath the steering wheel. We all watched as he used a spare piece of wire to connect different things, testing what did what. After a couple minutes, he had the engine running. It was AWESOME. Thinking we had solved all the problems, we head off for town. But, since the keys weren’t turned in the ignition, the steering wheel locked the first time we turned. Emmanuel and I just looked at each other with an are you kidding me expression. But luckily we found out that if he just rattled the keys a little, it would be enough to unlock it. So he would just rattle the keys enough to unlock the steering wheel every time we turned. It was quite the adventure.
Dan and Mary have a cat, Mambokadzi, whose name means queen in Shona. The other night, Mambokadzi caught a rat outside and devoured the entire thing. NOTHING was left. Needless to say, Dan and Mary were very proud.
While we’re on the topic of animals, I was in my room a couple nights ago and a huge Gecko crawled across the wall. Seriously, it was HUGE. I may or may not have made a sound that resembled a frightened little girl. Dan and Mary reassured me that it was a good thing to have in my room because it eats all the bugs. I’m not so sure. I might just rather have the bugs.
Being in Zimbabwe = being around a lot of farmers, for me anyway. My knowledge of farming has probably more than tripled since getting here. It almost makes me want to start my own garden. Almost.
This week, I’ve been able to see more of what Dan and Mary are doing here. I’ve gone with Dan to his different trainings and it’s been a lot of fun seeing the passion that he and his team have. It’s obvious that they believe strongly in the farming methods that they teach. Simply applying basic Biblical principles is changing the way farming is done in these communities. And people are seeing this….and hopefully will continue to see this all over the country.
Africa makes me sleepy. I don’t know if it’s the constant interaction with things I’m not used to or just being around people all the time, but I’m totally worn out by 9pm. Being a night owl, it’s a strange thing.
And that’s it for this post. I get back to the States on Sunday…look for another post sometime after that.
Update from Zimbabwe
Greetings from Zimbabwe! If you’ve heard anything about this country in recent years, you know that there was a time not too long ago when food could not be found on the shelves of the stores here. Inflation was out of control and the economy just couldn’t take it. But the US Dollar has been in circulation here for almost a year now and the economy seems to be doing much better. And there’s food everywhere too. Some of it’s expensive, but it’s here. I’m still surprised at how good the living conditions are here, especially when I was expecting something far worse than what I experienced in East Africa.
When I arrived, I was blown away by the infrastructure that was in place. I was expecting to have to seriously rough it here but It’s obvious to see that this was once a wealthy country. There are traces of of a very rich past. There are big houses everywhere, wide roads, tall elegant buildings….all here, but all in disrepair. It reminds me a bit of Cuba.
There’s also a sense of sadness, a longing for what used to be. People here definitely speak of Zimbabwe with pride. There was a time when they were leaps and bounds ahead of any other African country and, even while admitting that they have been going through rough times, maintain that good things are on the horizon.
There’s also the fascinating history between the white and black populations. I really need to do more research about it, but in short, the whites were once in charge of the country and then there was a big war where the blacks took over. The wealth lasted for many years, but the white farmers had their land taken away and, under poor leadership, the country began to slowly decay. Even now, there still seems to be a racist undertow. And it’s still highly segregated. Even here in Harare, the capital city, there are white parts of the city and black parts.
One of the greatest parts of being here is getting to stay with Dan & Mary, two very good friends of mine. It’s been great to catch up with them and see what all they are doing here. I follow them around as they go about their normal life and am trying to experience their life as best as I can.
Other blurbs:
I finally got sick. It was very brief and wasn’t too bad. But my stomach just reacted strongly to something (still don’t know what) and I had one of those “I have to find a toilet…now” moments. Not fun. But I’m feeling much better now.
I had a very African moment…pushing a car out of a muddy hole. Within sight of two rhinos. They were pretty close, so it was a rush of adrenaline as we were getting the car unstuck.
It’s been fun to be able to see what all Foundations for Farming (where Dan and Mary work) is doing and what a difference they’re making. We just visited a pastor who is using methods he learned from FfF and his crops are looking incredible. I could see a notable difference between his plot and the plot next to his. I’m actually beginning to understand a little of this farming stuff.
Drove 5 hours to see the Edwards Family. They help run a farm called Ebenezer where students learn how to farm and also receive training in Bible, business, economics, and more. It’s actually an incredible ministry and they’ve had great success. I was able to get interviews with several graduates of the program and it was obvious from what they said that Ebenezer has played a huge role in their lives. God has definitely been showing up in amazing ways there.
Was able to spend some time with Emmanuel Zihove. He and his wife have been doing ministry work in Zimbabwe for over 30 years and he stays busy with several different projects. I was able to see land where they are beginning to build a new church. We also went to see a program where they feed orphans and vulnerable children twice a day. The volunteers there were more than happy to show me everything they were doing. And the kids absolutely LOVE the camera. 
Two dollar bills are everywhere here (remember, they use US currency now in Zimbabwe). I’m not sure how they got so many of them, but I see them everyday. It’s strange.
At a police stop, we were asked if we were carrying any dead animals, corpses, witch doctor medicine, bones, or dangerous weapons. We laughed and said no. He seemed to accept that answer and waved us through.
Meat pies are delicious here. They make for a great cheap lunch. It makes me think of Sweeney Todd every time I eat one though.
I tried to learn some Ndebele words (one of the languages spoken in Zim) but I couldn’t get the hang of all the clicks they use. SO hard.
Things to pray for:
Dan & Mary – strength and encouragement as they continue to transition to life in Zimbabwe; for good friends/fellowship; health for Mary and their coming baby; Dan’s work as he continues to train people
Edwards Family & Ebenezer – rain for the crops at Ebenezer; rest and energy for the family…they have been busy!; the students at Ebenezer
Emmanuel & Betty Zihove – continued success in their various ministries; strength and energy to keep going
Rain for the crops of Zimbabwe
That the government and economic situation in Zim would continue to improve and that God would appoint Godly leaders here
Until next time,
Ryan
How to waste time in an airport…
That’s what I’m trying to figure out right now.
I’m in Nairobi (Kenya) right now, waiting for my flight to Harare (Zimbabwe). There’s this nice cafe at the end of the terminal that has free wifi (thanks for the tip Mary!), so here I am. My flight from Uganda was delayed about an hour and a half, so that takes up some of the 5 hours that I have here.
Here are the things I plan on doing:
-Read the magazine I took off the last flight. Kenya Airlines actually puts out a pretty interesting magazine.
-Buy the Peanut M&Ms I saw in the window of a little store across from gate 9. Yum! Haven’t seen those in a while.
-Listen to some music….Kings of Leon is what I’m feeling right now.
-Watch people. Isn’t that what airports are for?
-Use the restroom twice (I’m guessing).
-Fall asleep in a chair and wake up 30 seconds later freaking out that I missed my flight. Times fifteen.
-Write a ridiculous blog post. Check.
“Hey Muzungu!”
I’ve been in Uganda for several days now. It’s been quite an experience. First, spending time with the Atherstones, a family that I had heard a lot about but never met, has been a lot of fun. It’s been really neat to see how they have adjusted to life here in Uganda and have no problems calling it their home.
Jeff works at Gaba Bible Institute (GBI) and helps train Ugandan pastors, something that this country desperately needs. Graduates from GBI have already gone out and started to minister all across the country. There are even a few who have gone to other countries as missionaries.
Christine is a large animal veterinarian and is currently researching alternatives to the current food sources here in Uganda. Right now, she is working with rabbits, which are actually really good for you and easy to breed. They also don’t compete with other animals for food, such as grain. They can survive solely on kitchen leftovers and waste. It’s really pretty amazing how much she knows about all this stuff.
I’ve also been able to spend time with Lena, who I got to know while we were in COAT (NMSI’s training program) together. She also works at GBI developing new programs for the school. She’s also working on getting the library and IT department up and running well. It’s been a lot of fun to hang out and have a lot of laughs with her. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen someone embrace another culture and be willing to just jump out there like Lena. It’s been fun to watch.
Other blurbs:
The title of this post comes from what I hear everywhere I go here. Muzungu means “white person.” Walking through the market or down the street, I constantly hear “Hey muzungu!” It’s a mixture of odd and funny to me.
Me, Jackie, Christine, Lisa, Tim, and David in a Matoke field
We were able to ride a boat across part of Lake Victoria to go see a village (Bethany Village) where Christine has done a lot of animal and farming work. We were able to see all sorts of things there, including a matoke field (note the picture to the right…and also note all the gear I constantly have to carry around. It’s quite the exercise.). Matoke is like a mixture between a banana and a potato. They’re extremely popular here but not that nutritional. On the way back, the motor on the boat wouldn’t start and we thought we were stranded. But our boat driver ended up finding another engine and off we went!
The Atherstones have a little goat that they just got named King George. The other day, I was sitting in the living room and King George just comes walking through. I guess goats in the living room are a normal thing here.
Things to pray for:
- The Atherstones and Lena as they continue to serve here in Uganda.
-GBI…that it would continue to influence the Christian leaders here, which, in turn, will influence the rest of the country.
-For food and nurishment for the people of Uganda. This includes education about what is healthy and what isn’t…part of the problem is that people just don’t know anything about proper nutrition.
-My travels to Zimbabwe later on today. I will be flying this afternoon. Last destination before the end of the trip!
Until next time,
Ryan
Africa Update
I arrived in Uganda last night after spending 8 days in Kenya. I’m staying with Jeff and Christine Atherstone and their boys and they have been excellent hosts. I’ve also been able to spend time with Lena, a good friend I went through training with, which has been a lot of fun.
Today, we toured Gaba Bible Institute, where Jeff is the Principal. We also were able to see some other projects going on in the area. But more on that later.
I wrote an update while in Kenya a couple days ago but wasn’t able to post it until now. So here it is…
February 7th — I’m writing this from underneath my mosquito net as I’m about to go to sleep. The internet has been spotty here, so I haven’t been posting anything. Who knows if that will change in Uganda or Zimbabwe.
I have spent seven incredible days in Kenya and definitely wish I could stay just a little longer. It’s been amazing to see what God is doing here through both AfricaHope and Nasha (both ministries of NMSI). There is really some incredible stuff going on here.
The highlights of the trip have definitely been going out to the bush and spending time with the Maasai tribes. Their culture and way of life is fascinating…and I’ve never before seen such a struggle between the invading western/modern culture and the traditional pastoral culture. The Maasai are definitely caught somewhere in the middle. They seem to be grasping onto their old way of life even while western culture is beginning to pop up all around them. (Makes me reminisce on all my Intercultural Studies classes back in college.)
The work AfricaHope is doing with the Maasai is really exciting. It’s been neat to see the relationships that have been built and the trust and hope that there is for the future. I know that I have been deeply blessed by the hospitality and warmth of not only the NMSI missionaries here, but also by the Maasai I have met.
Other blurbs:
Tim Dammon (NMSI’s President) ans his wife, Lisa, received a goat from one of the Maasai communities. We aren’t really sure how we are supposed to bring that back to the States with us.
Somewhat related…I ate goat (and goat soup!) in the bush. And it was hard. Not the tastiest thing I’ve ever had. But I did it with a smile on my face.
There are animals all over the place. I know, it’s Africa. But still, I’m amazed at all the wildlife here. And I’ve decided that Zebras are funny.
I haven’t been sick at all. And hopefully I will continue to stay healthy.
Food here, in general, is pretty good. Chapati (some sort of flat bread…like tortillas) is delish.
Video stuff is going great. I’m really excited to get back to Florida and start working on all the footage.
I’ve really enjoyed getting to know the AfricaHope staff….definitely going to miss them when I leave. It’s nice to have people here that you can immediately trust and know that they’re watching out for you.
God is good. And He’s alive in Kenya.
Things to pray for:
The Maasai people….especially that God would provide their basic needs. Even food and water are things that are hard to get out here.
Rain for the dry land.
Safe travel for me and my team as we go to Uganda.
Strength and perseverance for the AfricaHope team.
Okay, I think that’s it for now. Don’t have time to upload pictures or anything. But don’t worry. There are many. And I’ll be sure to post some when I get back to the States.
Love from Kenya,
Ryan
Off to Africa
I’m leaving for Africa tomorrow morning. It seems pretty surreal right now and I’m not sure exactly when I’ll realize that I’m going to….AFRICA. I’ve never been there and I had never really thought about going before starting my work with NMSI. But I’m about to experience Kenya, Uganda, and Zimbabwe firsthand.
My reason for going is to film the various ministries and missionaries that we (NMSI) have in those countries. There are some incredible things going on over there and my goal is to, once I return, be able to show you a glimpse of it all. I’ll just be taking footage while I’m gone and then when I get back to Florida, I’ll begin editing everything and cranking out the videos. (To read more about storytelling through video, click on the “What I do” tab above.)
I’m hoping to be able to post updates on here while I’m gone….but no promises. It will depend on the internet accessibility in the different places I’ll be. I will try my darnedest though. Now….back to packing…
Back in OK
I flew home last night to join a whole slew of family members for the holiday. My dad’s side of the family AND my mom’s side are both here at the Ranch, as well as several other people who decided to join in on the fun. Right now, I think there are 36 of us here. It’s a little overwhelming.
Tomorrow morning is the 5th (I think) annual casserole Crawl, a 5k race we run, but mostly walk, every year. It’s become a New Life Ranch Thanksgiving tradition. Not only do we get to get out and experience the beautiful brisk morning, but we also have a good excuse for committing the sin of gluttony later on in the day. Perfect.
