Wednesday, March 3, 2010
February Newsletter
Follow this link to view my Newsletter for February:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/27755418/February-Newsletter-3
Enjoy!
New
Webster’s Dictionary defines “New” as: “discovered recently; already existing but seen, experienced or acquired recently or for the first time; just beginning and regarded as better than what went before.” “New” is a good word to describe my day-to-day existence. My life now seems like a series of “news”... new friends, new language, new culture, new food, new surroundings, new job...
Some days, as I go about my day, my “new life” seems so foreign. I’ll think to myself incredulously, “I live in Africa” and am sure it couldn’t possibly be true. But it is. Things that, at home, I took for granted, suddenly are things that I have to learn to adjust to. Like planning ahead when grocery shopping--there’s not a Publix just around the corner that I can run in to if I find myself out of milk. I can’t just stop by the produce section and pick up some apples--I have to go to the market with a friend and do the shopping, because if I go alone, I’ll be grossly overcharged. Everything from the menial tasks to really important decisions have to be handled with care. Things I wouldn’t have even given thought to now must be analyzed and prayed through. This “new” thing isn’t for those who hate change, that’s for sure.
But there are equally as many days in which this “new life” seems like I’ve been living it all along. I feel comfortable, at home, at ease with new surroundings and friends. Some days I walk through town and don’t even think about the fact that this looks so very different than what I’ve know for the past 24 years. I don’t even realize people are starring at me as I pass by. I don’t notice that I stand out until I see another white person in a crowd of dark faces.
I think what I failed to realize when I was preparing to come was that I had a couple major “news” that coincided, further complicating my adjustment. Not only do I have a new job, in an organization that I have basic knowledge of, I also live in a completely new place. Yes, I’ve been here before, but once again, that understanding only extends so far. I have to think long term in things that I do here. I must think in terms of doing only that which is sustainable, and not setting precedents that I can’t uphold long term. I can no longer assume that people understand my actions, because really, I’m quite an oddity here. The burden of adjustment is on me--and while I have many good friends here, I still have to work hard to maintain those friendships.
On a lighter note, I have started learning Kiswahili, and am pretty pleased with my progress. I have a tutor who is the Kiswahili teacher at the school on our compound. I’m settling into my job, and we’ve just had our first team. It was a learning curve, but I feel much more confident in my ability to successfully manage the next team that comes in April. I’m working on several important document issues, like applying for an international drivers license and a work permit. I’ve begun shopping around for vehicles, trying to find the best option for me.
Thank you so much for reading this, and for your prayers...keep you posted!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Ladies and Gentleman, Please Fasten Your Seatbelts for Take-Off
Happy New Year! I still find it hard to believe that it's 2010!
I am leaving soon--just 8 days! Amidst the overwhelming task of packing and the endless to-do list of little details, I've felt God's hand of joy and comfort. While I'm hardly looking forward to saying goodbye, I have said a few already, and truly, they've been a blessing. I've been so touched by God's provision of people that love him and love me--their conversations and prayers have encouraged me beyond measure.
I've been thinking a lot about missionaries that traveled 100 years ago and when they left, they knew they would never return. That makes saying goodbye for a year at a time a little easier to bear--still not easy, but not as difficult. I've also spent many hours lying awake at night, trying to get it all to sink in. It's seems so very surreal and utterly impossible. It's been a long, tough road. So many things have changed, God has provided and encouraged in miraculous ways, and it's actually happening! I must admit that some nights, I lie awake for hours, paralyzed in fear. I'm resting in the truth that God didn't bring me this far to quit now! And, I'm starting to believe the many people who say over and over, "You're so brave. I could never do that." The reality and immensity is starting to sink in. I am still so excited and looking forward to getting there, settling in and getting to work!
Thank you for reading my blog...I love getting your comments. I'm leaving a little of my contact information. Please be advised that any packages you mail to Kenya will be pretty pricey...flat-rate boxes with the USPS are the best way to go. A regular letter will cost just shy of $1, and I'd love to hear from you!
My skype name is: britm427
My mailing address in Kenya is:
Brittany Clark
c/o Kids Alive International Kenya
PO Box 212
Kiganjo, Kenya 10102
East Africa
I am leaving soon--just 8 days! Amidst the overwhelming task of packing and the endless to-do list of little details, I've felt God's hand of joy and comfort. While I'm hardly looking forward to saying goodbye, I have said a few already, and truly, they've been a blessing. I've been so touched by God's provision of people that love him and love me--their conversations and prayers have encouraged me beyond measure.
I've been thinking a lot about missionaries that traveled 100 years ago and when they left, they knew they would never return. That makes saying goodbye for a year at a time a little easier to bear--still not easy, but not as difficult. I've also spent many hours lying awake at night, trying to get it all to sink in. It's seems so very surreal and utterly impossible. It's been a long, tough road. So many things have changed, God has provided and encouraged in miraculous ways, and it's actually happening! I must admit that some nights, I lie awake for hours, paralyzed in fear. I'm resting in the truth that God didn't bring me this far to quit now! And, I'm starting to believe the many people who say over and over, "You're so brave. I could never do that." The reality and immensity is starting to sink in. I am still so excited and looking forward to getting there, settling in and getting to work!
Thank you for reading my blog...I love getting your comments. I'm leaving a little of my contact information. Please be advised that any packages you mail to Kenya will be pretty pricey...flat-rate boxes with the USPS are the best way to go. A regular letter will cost just shy of $1, and I'd love to hear from you!
My skype name is: britm427
My mailing address in Kenya is:
Brittany Clark
c/o Kids Alive International Kenya
PO Box 212
Kiganjo, Kenya 10102
East Africa
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Tying Up Loose Ends
Everyone who knows me knows that I live by lists. My sisters tease me incessantly about the fact that I have so many lists for everything. I have lists of people to call, emails to write, things to buy, things to pack, little tasks to accomplish, big projects to take on, books to read, movies to watch, ideas to look into, questions to ask, and the “list” goes on…
But the truth is, there’s so much going on in my head at any given time, I have to be able to write it down, or it may just slip off, never to return. So, here’s my little list of the things I wanted to tell you, my dear reader:
The Coin Drive results are in. 1st-6th graders tallied in at $553.06, while the 7th-12th followed with $260.23. That’s a grand total of $813.29! But more is still trickling in, so I’m hoping to hit $900
I’m attaching my Winter/Departure Newsletter. Use the link below to access the Newsletter at another website.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23992515/Final-Winter-Newsletter
My departure date is fast approaching. As I write this, I’m working my last week at my job, and then it’ll really get interesting. There are several things I’ve saved for when I’m no longer working full time, so now I have to really do those things.
But the truth is, there’s so much going on in my head at any given time, I have to be able to write it down, or it may just slip off, never to return. So, here’s my little list of the things I wanted to tell you, my dear reader:
The Coin Drive results are in. 1st-6th graders tallied in at $553.06, while the 7th-12th followed with $260.23. That’s a grand total of $813.29! But more is still trickling in, so I’m hoping to hit $900
I’m attaching my Winter/Departure Newsletter. Use the link below to access the Newsletter at another website.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/23992515/Final-Winter-Newsletter
My departure date is fast approaching. As I write this, I’m working my last week at my job, and then it’ll really get interesting. There are several things I’ve saved for when I’m no longer working full time, so now I have to really do those things.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
The Latest...
Thanks again to all of you who regularly read my blog. It’s funny, writing for the world to see, but not really knowing if anyone reads it. If nothing else, it’s a good way to process—putting things down on paper.
The penny drive is going really well. The kids at church that are participating seem pretty excited. I’ve given out around 125 bottles. It’s especially cool when kids come in on Sunday morning, bursting at the seams with excitement, and pumped to announce the total amount they raised that week. So far, the winner comes in at $69! Some are even canvassing their neighborhoods asking for change! It’s neat to see how involved they are getting and connected they feel. The innocence reflected in their questions and the awe in their eyes is beautiful.
Because my departure date is fast approaching, there are lots of little things on the list that have to get done. Changing banks, renewing passports, lining up medications and vaccinations, airfare and packing, just to name a few. I’m trying to learn to just write it down on the list and then not carry it on my shoulders until it’s crossed off. While I am so thankful for my job, and the income and experience it’s providing me, that is just another hurdle that must be overcome, as it takes up 4 full days of the week.
Taking it to a more emotional level, I’ve been a little discouraged lately. God is providing the financial support I need. He’s paving the way in so many other important areas. My church family is rallying behind me and showing great enthusiasm and support. But this is a very lonely road. I think back to all the friends I made at “Missionary Training International”—a school that provides 3-week-long training courses for missionaries from all organizations. There were so many couples and whole families that had each other to walk with down this new, scary, difficult and exciting road. While I do have a great support network of family and friends, and many friends from college in the same situation, when it’s boiled down, I’m (humanly-speaking) in this alone. I don’t have a family member traveling with me. I can’t pass half the “to-be-written” thank-you’s to anyone. I can’t delegate researching International ATM withdrawal fees to my husband or friend. The burden of networking and communication rests on me alone. I have chosen to take this adventure on, and have to stand strong under the resulting pressure of responsibility and change.
It’s difficult to ward off feelings of being misunderstood. It’s also easy to see things that you already think are there. I sometimes get the impression that people see full-time international missions as a sort of cop-out. They couldn’t make it in the world, so they had to move somewhere else. Or they’re running from commitment and real life. They’re just seeking adventure. Yes, this is a narrow-minded view of missions, but the scary part is that I see it more in Christians that non-believers. The reality of my situation, and the situation of many other missionaries, single or married, is that they are making so many untold sacrifices and enduring so many “unnecessary” hardships. They work before they leave to raise their support, then work on the field to earn their support. They leave behind their families, their culture, their comfort to embrace a totally new way of life. But: with the inconveniences, there come an abundance of rewards and blessings that make it worth it. I’m reminded of the verse in Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
Don’t hear me as complaining. I’m not. But I’m also not going to go along with the stereo-type. Missionaries, just like pastors and parents, are just people too. We struggle, we don’t always “feel” like Christians, and we don’t always carry a bible in our back-pockets. We’re not running from responsibility, but rather embracing the responsibility that God has placed on our lives, and gives us the grace to bear daily.
The penny drive is going really well. The kids at church that are participating seem pretty excited. I’ve given out around 125 bottles. It’s especially cool when kids come in on Sunday morning, bursting at the seams with excitement, and pumped to announce the total amount they raised that week. So far, the winner comes in at $69! Some are even canvassing their neighborhoods asking for change! It’s neat to see how involved they are getting and connected they feel. The innocence reflected in their questions and the awe in their eyes is beautiful.
Because my departure date is fast approaching, there are lots of little things on the list that have to get done. Changing banks, renewing passports, lining up medications and vaccinations, airfare and packing, just to name a few. I’m trying to learn to just write it down on the list and then not carry it on my shoulders until it’s crossed off. While I am so thankful for my job, and the income and experience it’s providing me, that is just another hurdle that must be overcome, as it takes up 4 full days of the week.
Taking it to a more emotional level, I’ve been a little discouraged lately. God is providing the financial support I need. He’s paving the way in so many other important areas. My church family is rallying behind me and showing great enthusiasm and support. But this is a very lonely road. I think back to all the friends I made at “Missionary Training International”—a school that provides 3-week-long training courses for missionaries from all organizations. There were so many couples and whole families that had each other to walk with down this new, scary, difficult and exciting road. While I do have a great support network of family and friends, and many friends from college in the same situation, when it’s boiled down, I’m (humanly-speaking) in this alone. I don’t have a family member traveling with me. I can’t pass half the “to-be-written” thank-you’s to anyone. I can’t delegate researching International ATM withdrawal fees to my husband or friend. The burden of networking and communication rests on me alone. I have chosen to take this adventure on, and have to stand strong under the resulting pressure of responsibility and change.
It’s difficult to ward off feelings of being misunderstood. It’s also easy to see things that you already think are there. I sometimes get the impression that people see full-time international missions as a sort of cop-out. They couldn’t make it in the world, so they had to move somewhere else. Or they’re running from commitment and real life. They’re just seeking adventure. Yes, this is a narrow-minded view of missions, but the scary part is that I see it more in Christians that non-believers. The reality of my situation, and the situation of many other missionaries, single or married, is that they are making so many untold sacrifices and enduring so many “unnecessary” hardships. They work before they leave to raise their support, then work on the field to earn their support. They leave behind their families, their culture, their comfort to embrace a totally new way of life. But: with the inconveniences, there come an abundance of rewards and blessings that make it worth it. I’m reminded of the verse in Matthew 19:29 “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
Don’t hear me as complaining. I’m not. But I’m also not going to go along with the stereo-type. Missionaries, just like pastors and parents, are just people too. We struggle, we don’t always “feel” like Christians, and we don’t always carry a bible in our back-pockets. We’re not running from responsibility, but rather embracing the responsibility that God has placed on our lives, and gives us the grace to bear daily.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Penny Drive
I got the idea to do a penny drive to help raise the funds I need to go to Kenya...I thought it would be an easy, fun way to do it! But I learned quickly that in order to do it well, it would take lots of time and effort. But I'm excited to say that we had the kick-off this morning. Already, just from having a bottle at my mom's desk at work, and some bottles placed at our church's Fall Festival last night, I've received almost $100!
We're hoping for $1500, and I think we're going to get it! The kids seem pretty excited and anxious to find ways to fill their 20-oz gatorade bottle with coins each week. We're emphasizing the competition aspect between the younger and older kids, as the month's theme is "Sibling Rivalry!" Please pray that God will meet and even exceed the financial goals of this event during the next 4 weeks!
Travel Update: I've secured a one-way ticket from Miami, through London and on to Nairobi for the 12th of January. It's the perfect ticket, in terms of timing, cost and luggage allowances. Praise the Lord!
Keep praying for that last 10% and the vehicle!
We're hoping for $1500, and I think we're going to get it! The kids seem pretty excited and anxious to find ways to fill their 20-oz gatorade bottle with coins each week. We're emphasizing the competition aspect between the younger and older kids, as the month's theme is "Sibling Rivalry!" Please pray that God will meet and even exceed the financial goals of this event during the next 4 weeks!
Travel Update: I've secured a one-way ticket from Miami, through London and on to Nairobi for the 12th of January. It's the perfect ticket, in terms of timing, cost and luggage allowances. Praise the Lord!
Keep praying for that last 10% and the vehicle!
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