seeing both sides

"To travel is to live" - Hans Christian Andersen

It is hard to believe that in a matter of weeks I will be getting on a plane to begin my journey to Israel/Palestine. Though, really, this journey began months ago through the Understanding Phase of The Global Immersion Project. My knowledge of this conflict was fairly limited coming into this experience. I knew and understood the Israeli side of the conflict, my heart breaking for these people with no home, no safe place to go after the Holocaust. But I had somehow disregarded the Palestinians, without even realizing it. In preparing for this trip, I have been studying this conflict through a brand new perspective: one that includes both sides. Throughout the Understanding Phase, we have read books, seen documentaries, and heard stories told by both Israelis and Palestinians.

As if my heart didn't break enough for the people in that region of the world before, it began to feel crushed with the pain of these Palestinians who had been kicked out of their land so that the Jews could have a place to call home. For the first time, I saw that the people of Palestine, who had once lived in peace with their Jewish neighbors, as victims of this same conflict. The documentaries showed children growing up on either side of the walls that have been built to separate Israel from Palestinian territories. These children are being raised in the midst of this violent conflict, quite possibly with no real escape. It pains me to think that they may never know or experience peace in their lifetimes.

And yet, I find hope in the knowledge that there are everyday peacemakers in both Israel and Palestine seeking the common good. Through understanding both sides of the conflict, my eyes have been opened to the great importance of pursuing a peaceful solution to this conflict. There are many different ways to go about this, as I am learning through some of our texts and lectures about peacemaking and conflict resolution, and I look forward to meeting and talking with some of the peacemakers on the ground in Israel/Palestine.

Processing this conflict has not been an easy journey, but it has been incredibly necessary, useful and insightful. I feel like I have already shifted my perspective on how I approach conflict in my own life; I can only imagine how much more my heart will be impacted and changed by spending time with the people living in the midst of this conflict.

Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I continue this journey of becoming more knowledgeable, compassionate, and humble, that I might be refined into an everyday peacemaker.

♥ mk

new eyes

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes” - Marcel Proust

Israel/Palestine (the Holy Land) is a place of great interest where history unfolded and where it continues to unfold today. It is a place of great hope and expectation as well as a place of injustice and pain for Jews, Muslims, and Christians worldwide. It is the place where an ancient conflict plays out: the conflict between Abraham's children.

As mentioned in my previous blog post, I've been invited to join a unique learning community made up of men and women from all different professional backgrounds to travel to the Holy Land this June. The experience is being guided by The Global Immersion Project (TGIP), a Christian humanitarian organization that seeks to develop peacemakers through immersion in global conflict. TGIP so believes that conflict is the best classroom for peace – and that those engaged in the work of peacemaking are the best instructors – that the organization has carefully developed a network of Israeli & Palestinian friends who will help train us for the work of peacemaking. Ultimately, TGIP takes seriously Jesus’ call to everyday peacemaking and believes in the local and global impact that North Americans can make as we learn to live in Way of Jesus.

As you know, I am someone who longs to participate, both locally and globally, in God's work of restoration & reconciliation. I view this experience as an environment in which God's cultivation of me will further focus and fuel His just and compassionate reach to others through me. Would you please consider financially investing in my cultivation in this way?

The entire cost of the experience is $2750 + flight ($1375 is DUE May 1; the rest is DUE June 1). All donations are tax-deductible and will be processed through a California registered 501(c)3  organization called “Rama de Olivo Ministries” (TGIP’s affiliated non-profit host).

To contribute financially:

1.  Please write a check made out to “RAMA”.

2.  Write my account number (NOT my name) in the memo: 2002

3.  Mail your contribution directly to Rama de Olivo Ministries:

255 20th Street

San Diego, CA 92102

4.  Upon reception of your contribution of $250 or more, a receipt will be mailed directly to your mailing address. (For contributions under $250, a copy of your check will serve as a receipt for tax purposes.)

Please feel free to contact me directly through email or phone if you have any questions. Thank you in advance for your consideration and your partnership - I am excited for you take part in this journey with me!

♥ mk

plans

"a good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving" - Lao Tzu

It turns out that the second year of this graduate program can be just as time-consuming as the first... I've managed to go nearly an entire school year without writing a single blog! Oops.

But guess what. I am DONE with school in under 2 months! And that means a new season of adventures filled with travel :) To catch you up, this year has been jam-packed with 4 to 5 classes each quarter, an internship on campus, volunteering twice a month at my home church (Flood), visiting friends for weddings, hosting several other friends in sunny San Diego, and the ever-present job search... Needless to say, I'll be grateful to have a bit more time on my plate once classes are over.

In the midst of the chaos of this year, I was presented with the opportunity to join a cause that cultivates everyday peacemakers through immersion in global conflict, specifically in Israel/Palestine. The Global Immersion Project (TGIP) is a non-profit organization started by a couple of friends of mine that "curates four-month long, experiential Learning Labs that culminate in two-week immersion experiences into the classrooms of global conflict. They do this because they want to see a global generation equipped for everyday peacemaking." They believe that everyday peacemakers are men and women who are equipped & released for conflict resolution and transformation within the spaces of family, neighborhood, local context, & global context.

About a month ago, I began the first phase of the learning lab, which has involved an extensive historical background on the conflict in Israel/Palestine, the diverse theological frameworks of the people living in that area, international politics, and peacemaking practices. This phase is intended to equip us to enter into relationships more intelligently and into the conflict more compassionately. I will continue this phase of the Global Immersion Project through the end of June, when we will leave for our two-week stay in Israel/Palestine. That phase of the learning lab will allow us to experience, first-hand, the tension and trauma of conflict, the contributions of slanted theologies and rigid nationalism to conflict, and the tangible impact that the peace-making Way of Jesus has on conflict.

I am beyond excited for this trip! :) It has been incredible to see the way in which my perspective on conflict has shifted in the short time since beginning the learning lab - I'm looking forward to how my heart will change after spending time with those directly involved in the Israel/Palestine conflict.

I will update my blog with more updates about this experience as I continue in the learning lab... Can't believe we'll be heading to the Middle East in just two months!

♥ mk

lost in the moment

I've been back in the States for almost a month now, which is hard to believe! What an emotional roller coaster it was saying goodbye to the children at the Village (not without my fair share of tears), exploring London (during the Olypmics!!) on our 17-hour layover, arriving at LAX, driving down to San Diego to stay the night with a couple of friends before getting on another plane (guess I can't get enough travel, haha) to head up to Seattle. I got to spend a couple of weeks there with family and some friends, which was a huge blessing! 

I think the best way to share this summer might be through pictures, so here you go:

Hanging out with kids during their lunch break

Mama Sara working in our kitchen - she prepared some of the most delicious rice & beans I've ever had!!

Treating the mamas to a spa day

Skipping and dancing through the field on Center Day

Feeding 500 children and parents on Center Day

Face painting on Center Day

Helping with sponsorship photos - making sure everyone gets their picture :)

Sometimes it's hard not to get lost in the moment when I look at these pictures. I loved telling stories from this summer and sharing pictures that allowed them to put faces to names they were hearing. The children I met, lived with, helped teach, and loved this summer forever changed my heart. I miss them all so much! I hope and pray that the moments I experienced this summer can help me continue to change my perspective on life.

The girls in Mama Noreen's house - love them and their SMILES!

I am so grateful to have such supportive friends and family who have really been there for me throughout my life. Thank you all for your thoughts & prayers throughout the summer - I can only begin to tell you the kind of experience I had, the change that has taken place in my heart. The people I met and the experiences I had this summer will never be forgotten. 

♥ mk

muno, bye!

Our last week in the Village seems to have snuck up on us! It’s hard to believe we only have three more days here before we begin the journey back home – stopping for a safari first :) The time we have gotten to spend pouring into these orphaned and destitute children has really been life-giving and life-changing. It will be so sad to say goodbye to the children in a few days, but I am so grateful for the time we have left with them! Most of the younger children have been out of school this week, so we’ve had a lot more time to help them with their chores, read books and play games with them. We’ve also been going into the classes that are still in session (Primary 5 and Primary 6) to work on math skills.

Helping Mama Norine mop the floors

I feel like we’ve made the most of our last days in the Village this week, taking time to appreciate the mamas for all they do to love on and take care of these children, spend an afternoon at the home of a staff member to learn more about Ugandan culture, and go visit the sick and injured in the hospital.

We’ve actually had the opportunity to go to the hospital on two occasions during our time here and it has been very eye-opening. When most people hear about diseases in Africa they probably think of AIDS, but it was so sad to see the hospital full of children and adults suffering from so many different sicknesses, most of which were actually Malaria – a preventable disease! There are several organizations in Africa helping with the prevention of diseases like Malaria, Typhoid and AIDS, which is great, but I don’t think I realized just how big of a battle it is to overcome those diseases here. Looking into the eyes of some of those children who are starving to death because Malaria is preventing them from being able to keep anything in their system, or meeting a 7-year old girl suffering from AIDS who has been living at the hospital for the last month – though progress has been made in Africa, this is still happening. I know it won’t be fixed overnight, but meeting those who are suffering put a sense of urgency on my heart. There are ways to prevent this: buying mosquito nets, sending over anti-Malaria medication, etc.… I know the task at hand seems more than I can bear at times, but if we all come together to help fight this battle, I believe we can make a change for the better.

The time I spent in Uganda, the places I visited, the children whose faces I will never forget, the cultural experiences I had will continue to shape me as I carry on in this journey of life. Soon enough I’ll be back in San Diego to finish out the last year of my Master’s program. I hope and pray that my life will be marked by this summer in Uganda, that I will always keep things in perspective and be able to see what is really important in life.

♥ mk

'tis the season

It’s Christmas in July! I can’t believe this month is already almost over – or that I’ve been away almost 5 weeks now! It feels like home here in the Village and it will be sad when the time comes to leave… But we’ve still got a couple of weeks, so I’ll wait until then to let the waterworks begin ;)

(Our team at the Invisible Children office in Gulu)

A couple of weeks ago, we had the opportunity to take a day trip up to Gulu and visit the Invisible Children headquarters and tour one of their projects up there. It was great to hear the work they are doing in country; this office heads up all of the programs that they have going on in country, including some projects for wives of LRA soldiers to have a steady income, an education program, and a community savings account. While my only impression of Gulu had been from the original Invisible Children videos (which were filmed during the height of the rebel attacks), it appears to have improved a lot in recent years. There are so many non-profit organizations in that area that are helping those people rebuild lives and communities that were torn apart because of the LRA. It was a great visit during which I learned a lot, but I was definitely glad to come home to Lira at the end of the day.

This country is full of need, but these people have such a strong desire and drive to succeed, to transform their nation. The children at the Village are so passionate about their schooling that they will study by flashlight; they are overjoyed to learn phonics and go over sight word flashcards with us during their lunch breaks every day. These children are the future of this country, and they are the ones who can make a lasting difference. I am so humbled by their perseverance, constant smiles, and overwhelming love; living with them is such a blessing – something I know that has already changed my heart and will hopefully continue to have an impact on my life.

(Hanging out with the children at the Village during their lunch break)

♥ mk

apwoyo!

One of the best things about being in Africa is the uncertainty of everything. It has taught me to be flexible and always have a good attitude. Last week, we went to the internet café and I had intended to post a blog update about our first week and a half in country, but the internet didn’t work on my computer. So, to make up for that, I’ll post two blogs today. Here’s to hoping the picture uploads!

7.4.12

Apwoyo! Hello from Uganda!

What an amazing week and a half it’s been since we arrived in country. Every day has had its own adventure, which keeps things exciting. :) We have been staying in one of the homes at the Children’s Village, which has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Every night, two of us go into each home to pray with the children and we wake up each morning to the children singing as they do their chores. It’s a beautiful thing to be a part of; I am so grateful for this experience!

The second day we were here, we went to Barlonyo, where one of the worst rebel attacks occurred in Northern Uganda. It had been an Internal Displacement (IDP) camp, where families and children could live under the protection of government soldiers, supposedly safe from rebel attacks. On February 21, 2004, rebel soldiers came through Barlonyo and killed 17 of the 35 soldiers and headed straight for the IDP camp, where they set huts full of children on fire and shot anybody that tried running away. While it was heartbreaking to hear the stories, I saw redemption in the faces of the children we saw there. It’s been just over 8 years since the attack, and the children and families will be forever affected, but they are alive and well now. Seeing those children laughing and playing brought incredible warmth to my heart, knowing that the families are living in much more safety and peace now than they were a matter of years ago.

The story of Barlonyo is not uncommon among the children in the Children’s Village. In fact, one of the first children to come to the Village was from Barlonyo. It is such a huge blessing to be here, loving on these children and allowing them to impact our lives in such a meaningful way.                   

7.11.12

It has been such a blessing to be getting to know the children better throughout our time here. This last week, we hosted a “Center Day” at the Children’s Village. The event lasted the entire day, during which there were activities, dance & song presentations, a dance party, and a meal served to the children who live at the Village as well as all neighbors. I loved getting the chance to meet some of our neighbors that I see when we walk some of the children home from school; I can see that they really love the work that COTN is doing in the neighborhood.

We are in the process of building another school building that will make room for all 3 nursery classes and add another grade level so the older children don’t have to go to boarding school next year. I’ve also had the chance to do some work in the fields, planting and maintaining their crops. The set-up of the Village is designed to be completely sustainable, using all of the food from their crops, trees and animals to feed the children and staff. They are hoping to put solar panels on each of the homes so that the children can do their homework at night without using a kerosene lamp. The cost is $1500 per house – there are 5 houses full of children; this cost is too expensive to justify for the Nationals here, but is a feasible number for a few friends to get together and donate. I would encourage you to tell anyone you know that cares about creating sustainable environments in developing countries to consider donating to this project; it will help transform the lives of the children living here, allowing them to pursue their studies after the sun goes down.

Please keep us all in your thoughts and prayers for continued safety, health, and team unity. I am fully enjoying each and every day that I get to spend here with my Ugandan family; I can’t wait to share more stories throughout my time here and after I get home!