Love the unlovable??

Who is that? Who are the unlovable?

I've just finished a book (I highly recommend reading it): "Same kind of different as me" by Denver Moore and Ron Hall. Its about how God gets into the hearts of a couple of white folks and a homeless black man who end up becoming great friends, how He changes them, how they learn to love , and how God uses that to bring fruitful relationships and healing.

So at the start of the story, the white guy finds it really hard to love a homeless person. The homeless are dirty, stinky, and criminal in his mind.

Who are the unlovable for you?

I can say that I love the homeless, or the refugees at the IDP camp just down the hill, but do I really? I don't usually try to make friends with homeless people. I also find the IDP camp a difficult place to be. There is so much need there, and it does smell.

But God does not call us to make friends out of all the homeless people, or all the people in the IDP camp, or every single person who is in real poverty. In that book, there was one man (two actually) whom God had called into a deeper friendship, and He used that friendship to change the lives of many. (You gotta read that book).

Here in Kenya, my missionary friends (white folks) have made friends with one couple in that IDP camp. The IDP couple, who I wish I knew better, believe that God has called them to that place and that they are blessed to live there. Blessed! To live in utter poverty and social stigmatization. Blessed to serve God in that place!! Who knew?? That a couple of people with literally nothing but a tent and some chickens could live so outright and committed to love others and loving God. I want to be their friend too.

We have to reach out, people. You can't stay in your house or neighborhood. Go to the place where the people are different, where they smell funny or look weird, where they have a 'record' or whatever. Look for something beautiful there that you know you can love, because it is there. I believe God is calling people in every setting--Like the couple in the IDP camp, like the black homeless man in that book- there is something beautiful there. Go find it, and love it. Throw your heart into it and see what God does. You may just end up touching a whole bunch of people without even knowing it.

You can't be afraid of rejection. You will be rejected. Because if you think those people smell funny or have bad habits, what do they think of you? But you got to go, because if you don't that wall will never come down, those people will never be free, and neither will you.

Referendum

August 4th is the day: Kenyans are voting yay or nay for the new constitution. http://kenyareferendum2010.com/

This means no traveling during that week. Pray for Kenya, for good outcomes for the people, and for peace.

This is funny!

What does it mean????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OQSNhk5ICTI

I wish you could all see just how incredibly beautiful it is in Kijabe. This picture is a view from the walk down to the IDP camp. There are flowers everywhere, I don't think the picture really does it justice. Kijabe hospital is about 8,000 ft up, and the mountain side is just covered with vegetation, flowers, and all kinds of colorful birds. It is the winter time here, so when I can I try to warm up with hot tea and to sit next to the fire in the living room. Nights are especially cold, I were a lot of layers to bed!

IDP

IDP: Internally Displaced People

You may remember the post election violence of 2007. The whole world was surprised when tribalism reared its ugly head in Kenya- one of the most stable countries of Sub Sarahan Africa. It was a bloody period and many people were chased from their homes, their stuff burned, and family members beaten or killed. So what happend next? Well, they formed IDP camps and live there still today. We visited one near Kijabe Hospital today, and played with the kids. Great time. In a discussion with a friend in Peru, we decided that poverty is more about disparity than lack of resources. It is true here today. For some reason, in a country as rich as Kenya, these people have been living in tents for over 2 years now. The kids are dirty, runny noses, no shoes, with big bellies indicative of intestinal parasites and ring worm and other fungal infections. But we had a lot of fun and made friends. I hope to go back to the IDP camp and screen for TB, time and resources allowing. One of the camp leaders said this has not been done before and a lot of people suffer from cough.

Peru

My first trip to south America! Details?

Week 1: Spanish language study with Miles in Arequipa, followed by trecking the Inca Trail for 3 days and visiting Macchu Picchu!

Week 2: Lima for start of the International Institute of Field Epidemiology, then on to Tumbes. Activities: Epi survey for febrile cases, hunt for mosquito larvae and adults, and lab time.

Week 3: Animal studies (how to catch a rat, mouse, or bat, and slaughter a pig for cystercercosis), visit to mangroove reserve, and farewell.

Other than the 4:30 AM mornings and 10:00PM dinners, it was an incredible time. Our hotel was on the Pacific (we only had one day at the beach!) Our team of 9 UTMB students bonded well and learned a lot about epidemiology on the field. My spanish also improved dramatically (but still needs a lot of work). We ate seafood at least twice a day and drank a lot of Pisco.