tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46786031233216141612024-03-14T02:07:09.482-04:00radishes & rutabagasthoughts & happeningsSarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-13939338208786399372013-02-10T14:24:00.003-04:002013-02-10T15:17:22.687-04:00That Full Feeling<style>
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It was Thanksgiving that my thoughts last made it here. I
have had no earthly idea how to update my “goings on” through this means these
past few months…and haven’t necessarily had any problem with that. They have seemed too big
to be shared in this way. But, as I sat on my porch today and watched
a lizard flex its crazy, red gobbler (technical term, obviously) & do
her/his lizard thing, I thought differently for the first time. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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There are everyday experiences where I have been floored by
the love I am shown—where tears have been brought to my eyes by the words and
actions of others, where I have wanted to jump and shake and run because of how others
step into my life to show their love for me. But that becomes exponentially present
on those not-so-everyday days. Those days where the unexpected happens and the extra
doses of love need to fill the empty and confusing spaces—and there are friends,
family, even people whom you don’t know, who so strongly desire to step in and
do just that for you. I think this post is me wanting to update all of you about
the presence of that in my life recently. I am wanting to let these thankful (I
wish there was a stronger word) thoughts that have been swimming in my head and
in my heart to gather together and have a way to pour out for other eyes and
ears and heads and hearts. Because they have been keeping me going…and
sometimes it does something unpredicted and wonderful in our lives when we hear
about how others have been touched. Maybe this compilation of letters and words
and paragraphs can be that for someone outside of myself. </div>
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I knew I’d be experiencing new things in this time of my
life. I knew it would be unknown and scary and exciting and wonderful and crazy
all at the same time. I really did. I never considered though, that the first
handful of months into my US-2 experience would forever be marked by the
passing of a parent. There is no need to elaborate on the known fact that that
is hard and that that is painful. That isn’t what this is for. The
transparency about what has occurred, does however, speak important insight into
the remainder of these thoughts. I’ve mentioned here how I’ve been shaken by
the love I’ve been shown, both by those who know me best and by those who have
never even met me. I have been supported and loved in ways that I cannot use the
term thankful for, simply because it does not encompass my true meaning of it.
I am consistently encouraged by how powerful and overwhelming love can be and
how it can move each person differently when they see a space where more is
needed.<br />
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This is not to say that loneliness has not been felt. Boy, has it. There are times when I feel as though I have a small understanding of what contributes to that. And the reason is that situations like these are uncomfortable for all people. It creates a fear for those around you of not knowing how to ask about it, of not wanting to bring it up for fear of upsetting those directly affected by it, or of waiting for that affected individual to come to you...but I have found that those are the worst for me. I believe that being there for someone does not mean knowing what to say, but rather making yourself available to them in the time where all involved don't know what to do or say. But the simple acts of that care, regardless of all else...that's the good stuff. These moments I'm attempting to share about & highlight here rock that sticky and stubborn foundation of those lonely feelings. It's these moments I'm celebrating here that remind me when it's most needed that while I may be the one who is actually going through this time, that there exists that genuine, genuine handful of individuals who act to remind me that I am anything but alone. </div>
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I had a friend write to me in December and tell me that there
are times when we need to let those who love us be strong for us. And while I
have recently felt so stretched in the “strength” I feel I am capable of mustering,
there has been a long line of individuals who have stepped up to give strength
that really could not come from me most of the time. I have had the hardest,
hardest time trying to express my thanks for the ways this has been manifested.
This feeling comes often for me & I try to describe it sometimes as when my
lungs feel so full that it’s as if words just want to come pouring out, but
there are too many that are fighting to go first, so they just create a swirly,
big, full feeling. But, really, none of those words can even come out anyways…they’re
not enough. And thank goodness there are gestures and words and actions and
thoughtful responses that are too dang big to allow a response. Thank goodness
those full lung feelings exist and we can sometimes feel helpless in our
gratefulness, that we are shown so much love and understanding that all we can
do is sit in the big, swirling wonder that has been poured out on us and
try—just try to understand that it’s real. Try to understand that others’ love
for us exists in such big ways that even when you can’t see beyond your own
pain, sadness, and confusion, that they remind you otherwise. They remind you,
not only that more exists, but that you are more. They help you find it and
they celebrate with you along the way when you rediscover those genuine smiles,
those belly laughs, and those happy tears, and are not fazed amongst the other honest and real times
of the opposite. </div>
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One of the cards I’ve received during this time was amongst
a pile from, wonderfully enough, children I don't know who wanted to
show me their care & thoughts. It’s when a little girl writes on a popsicle stick to “feel so
much better in life” and “Sarah’s missing a piece of her heart so we gave her
ours”, that you have to try to understand what I mean by all of this. </div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-44576587062134917822012-11-24T21:14:00.000-04:002012-11-24T21:14:50.600-04:00A New Kind of Thanks, a New Kind of Thanksgiving<style>
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I spent Thanksgiving here in Miami this year & was able to have an entirely new kind of celebration. </div>
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Wednesday night I was able to attend an Interfaith Thanksgiving service at my church, where a number of congregations, from different religious traditions, came together for worship. I was so happy to be a part of it and to have the chance to be thankful for congregations who are seeking to come together in respect and celebration of one another during this time of recognizing thanks. This service was like nothing I had ever been a part of. We had a Native American call to worship, an opening prayer by a local Rabbi, a reading from the Quran on gratitude, as well as songs and messages from various religions and denominations. I loved it. Here is the benediction we shared: </div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">"May an abundance of gratitude burst forth as you reflect upon what you have received. May thanksgiving overflow in your heart, and often be proclaimed in your prayer. May you gather around the table of your heart the ardent faithfulness, kindness, and goodness of each person who is true to you. May the harvest of good actions bring forth plentiful fruit each day. May you discover a cache of hidden wisdom among the people and events that have brought you distress and sorrow. May your basket of blessings surprise you with its rich diversity of gifts and its opportunities for growth. May all that nourishes and resources your life bring you daily satisfaction and renewed hope. May you slow your hurried pace of life so you can be aware of, and enjoy, what you too easily take for granted. May you always be open, willing, and ready to share your blessings with others. May you never forget the Generous One who loves you lavishly."</span></div>
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An organization here in Miami, called South Florida Urban Ministries, holds a Thanksgiving outreach each year that is able to serve over 6,000 families. (Woah, right?) There are a number of locations spread out across the area where people from all over South Florida come to help prepare & deliver meals to families who may not otherwise be able to celebrate Thanksgiving dinner together. I was in awe of how many people came out to help on Thursday morning (and I only saw one of the sites!). There were so many people, that I ended up coloring cards alongside an elderly couple for them to deliver to the families on their list. I think it’s a pretty great problem to have when there are too many people wanting to serve. It was inspiring to me to see that so many wanted to give their time on this day to recognize their ability to serve, and to place their focus on creating opportunities for others to be thankful as well. </div>
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Thursday afternoon & evening were spent preparing and partaking in our campus ministry’s international student Thanksgiving celebration. FIU is an international university, so we have a number of students associated with us that were away from family during this break & some who also were able to celebrate Thanksgiving for the first time. We set up the backyard of one of our Wesley houses with a long line of tables and chairs, hung lights all around the house & tree, and finished preparing all of the food. I had about forty people to celebrate Thanksgiving with this year. Gosh. Friends from Nepal, Saudi Arabia, China, Argentina, India, Japan, Brazil, Ecuador, Libya, Venezuela, Ghana, South Korea, Nigeria, and more. Along with our traditional Thanksgiving foods, we also were able to share Arabic coffee & dates, Indian samosas along with mint rice with curry sauce, and Argentinean empanadas that were shared by our friends. We ate, talked, gathered around the fire in the backyard, and even did some dancing! (Introduced the wobble & Cleveland Shuffle to the group, and it was quite an enjoyable time. I know I loved it!)</div>
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Never have I had a Thanksgiving like this one. I continue to be so thankful for the new experiences and new friends that Miami is able to provide. I missed being with my family on this day, but am so glad to have been able to spend the holiday having new experiences, meeting new friends, sharing in new cultures & traditions, and embracing one another as family when ours were far away. I am genuinely thankful for this Thanksgiving and all that came along with it. I hope you were as well!</div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-57452127171567864882012-11-15T16:56:00.001-04:002012-11-15T17:26:53.481-04:00Passionate People<style>
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Passionate people are something to be celebrated. We should
celebrate ourselves, celebrate one another, and celebrate the fact that
somewhere, in some way, we all care. I’ve been realizing this a great deal
lately in various ways, but I’d like to share a bit more about a more specific
instance. The Wesley Foundation at FIU has now put on two incredibly powerful
weeks, one last spring and one this October, to bring about awareness of human
trafficking (sex trafficking, specifically) to the students on our campus. </div>
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I had the privilege this year of being a part of the Freedom
Campaign—seeing it come to be through planning, preparation, and through the
actual week itself and all that it entailed. It was a week of creativity,
newfound realizations, indignant responses to such a harsh reality, and hopeful
pursuits of wanting change. This week entailed so much. We had artwork put up
around campus to both draw in attention, as well as inform about the reality of
human trafficking. We had speakers come in to talk about what trafficking
looked like specifically in Miami, considering it is in the top 3 cities in the
United States where sex trafficking occurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition, these women talked extensively on the
psychological manipulation associated with trafficking. There was a panel
discussion where various individuals (from a representative from the Department
of Homeland Security to workers from organizations that work with recovery for
survivors) from the Miami community came to share their knowledge and
experience about their personal relation to trafficking. There was a day when a
survivor came in to share about her personal story of being trafficked in Miami
and what she is now doing with her life in response to that. There was a
documentary, Nefarious: Merchant of Souls, screened to give a more
comprehensive understanding of the issue of trafficking itself and what it
looks like around the world. There was also an outreach event in which the
students were able to gather for a training on what trafficking may look like
in relation to prostitution. We were able to go out to various hotels and
motels in the area and educate the establishments on what to look for and on
how to respond. </div>
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The week was chalk full of opportunity for learning and for
providing an opportunity for the desire for change to grow. Regan, a woman I
work with at FIU-MDC Wesley and the one who had the vision for this week last
spring, and I just got back from Imagine What’s Next in St. Louis, which is a
conference for young adults involved in collegiate ministries. We were asked to
come and speak about the Freedom Campaign and share with all present how we
both came to be passionate about this issue and the lives behind it, how the
week came to be, as well as the influence that it produced on our campus. It
was incredible to be able to share about such a powerful week & to seek to
recognize that all of us have our own passions, opportunities, and spheres of
influence. We were able to share about our particular experience with the
intended purpose of inviting others to call to the forefront their own
passions, and to evaluate how those excitements could and should be encouraged.
We were able to get excited about the fact that caring about something matters,
that recognizing that that care exists matters, and that figuring out what to do
with that care matters. Passionate people are something to be celebrated.
Something that I tell myself so very often is that simply trying is worth so
much. I hope that we can all continue to allow ourselves room to care with intensity
and to allow ourselves room to figure out what that can encourage us to try. </div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-30140775481025994132012-10-15T15:36:00.001-04:002012-10-15T15:57:41.369-04:00Realizing Difference in New Ways<style>
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Something I’m not sure I’ve elaborated upon about my time in
Miami has been the excitement I have towards the culture and the people here.
We need to first sit and recognize that Miami in & of itself is a diverse
place. We then need to recall that my placement is with a ministry at an
international university where a significant number of students are here from
other countries. Lastly we need to remember that my housemates & I are
living within the area of Little Havana in Miami, a historically Cuban area and
an area with the largest Hispanic population in Miami. </div>
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Never in my life have I been able to have so many new
friends from all over the world. From my roommates, to the staff I work with,
to the students that I meet, to the people I interact with at the store, I am
surrounded by difference and uniqueness of background, experience, and
understanding in a new way. It’s wonderful, people! Wonderful! Sometimes I feel
like an overexcited animal or something when I am talking with some of these
people…just calm it down, Sarah. Act cool. But really, it is just a refreshing
thing to build relationships in a way that I have never before experienced and
be able to learn in a such a new way. </div>
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I took a class last semester at App called Race &
Minority Relations. We talked a lot about privilege and what that looks like,
especially the seemingly unnoticeable instances of privilege. I remember coming
to the realization one day that I have never had to wake up and consciously be
aware of my race. I have never walked around thinking, “I’m white. I’m white,
I’m white, I’m white.” And that in and of itself is privilege. When you are in
a place where you have the ability to go around without that subconscious
thought constantly reminding you of your difference, that’s huge. </div>
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There is a grocery store down the street from us called El
Presidente, and I walk to it every now and again to get groceries. If you’ll
remember that I live in Little Havana amongst a primarily Hispanic population,
you can also take a gander that this grocery store also falls into this. Now, even
though I am trying to brush up on my Spanish skills, I have sadly realized that
I am unable to brush up on my “I am not going to stick out” skills quite as
easily. I go into El Presidente and literally feel eyes on me. I am unable to
communicate as effectively as I desire, I am painfully aware sometimes of
wishing I wasn’t white, and I feel an overwhelming feeling of self
consciousness. I’ve had a startling realization that I have never, never had to
feel this way before (minus my mzungu days in Kenya). And that is an example of
privilege. </div>
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I will never try to compare a feeling of slight
self-consciousness at a silly grocery store to the feelings of prejudice,
judgment, and discrimination that so many have faced and face because of
something as inherent as race. Never. Because I will never be able to do more
than attempt to learn about being a minority in that way. I do write about this
realization, though, because it really is the first time that I’ve been aware
of my “whiteness” and even wished that I could tone down the amount I stick out
because of something such as my race. It has been a strange and important
recognition for me that I am not only thankful for, but strongly hope I can
continue experiencing and learning from. </div>
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I think it’s important to take a step back and recognize our
privilege—recognize the things that we do not need to think of each and every
day. “I just woke up from a bed.” “If my family is hungry I can hop in my car
and purchase food without the blink of an eye.” “I am going to college right
now.” “I have a skewed power that others do not because of my gender or my
race.” Gosh, how easy to forget how big those are. I never want to become numb
to those things. I am honestly scared of how easy it is to dwell in power and
privilege and simply forget that anything else exists. </div>
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I think I’ll end this puppy with a quote from a Rob Bell
book that I came across about a month ago that I’ve been pretty fond of lately.
It said, “Central to the way of Jesus is serving, which is the loving use of
whatever power we possess for the good of another.” I am repeatedly hopeful in
the realization that we are all able to both serve and be served despite the
sometimes unchosen privilege (or lack thereof) we posses. I am hopeful in the words of the quote
because I am reminded that there are some forms of power I hold, some forms of power
others hold, and we are able to serve one another, this world, and the people
in it regardless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-23254794420065732382012-09-15T20:46:00.002-04:002012-09-18T14:36:25.395-04:00South Beach Teachings<style>
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My roommates and I went to see a friend’s band play in a
hotel lobby down on South Beach this weekend. I’ve never quite been anywhere
like South Beach. It brought on an onslaught of thoughts and feelings for me.
As I sat outside with my housemates, waiting for another friend who had the car
to take us home, I witnessed a handful of moments that simultaneously turned my
stomach and put me into a very specific “Sarah mode”. </div>
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Last night, in such a new way, I was witnessing women
being approached and exploited because of physical and sexual intentions, with
men feeling confident in their position to do so, and with the women in a mindset
to accept it. It was a very confusing place for me to be. The emotions that I
can associate with last night are of simply of utmost concern and sadness. Last
night I was reminded in a new and scary way of something that instantly makes
my heart race, and one in which I believe I will be living the rest of my life
trying to counter. What a sick and infuriating view of masculinity and
femininity we hold onto in our society. What a manipulative power struggle and
perception of worth that exists. </div>
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It becomes alarming and honestly terrifying when we start to
deconstruct and manipulate an understanding of one another into what is “right”,
“normal”, “expected”, or “natural”. When a decision is made that women need to
be this and men need to be that. That women are frail, needing to be led, are
naïve or lack wisdom and ability, are approached first and foremost for their
physical nature, that they can be seen as lesser, as well as greater in varying
circumstances. That men must be defined by strength and power, that they are
less loving and compassionate, that they are seen as domineering, that they
must lead, that they also can be seen as lesser, as well as greater in varying
circumstances. That there can be no overlap, interconnections, or spilling over
into allowing people to be people…into allow them the opportunity to live out
and bless the world with who they are and what they have to offer, without
being limited to how they may have been gendered. </div>
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All of these limiting, and many times incorrect,
understandings are hurtful and restricting. These understandings of power and
worth that exist between men and women have serious, dangerous, harmful flaws.
Men and women are not the same…because people are not the same. It isn’t about your
gender. It isn’t about your sex. It isn’t about the genitals you were born
with. Each person on this earth is capable of buckets more than what fits into what
it “acceptable” and “understood” by gendered norms. Each person comes to be
themselves in so many ways…by who they are, which of course <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">includes</i> their gender, but who they are
and who they are capable of being is not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">confined</i>
to an understanding of gender. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Men and women. People. Individuals who are equally capable
of having a capacity for wisdom, compassion, insight, kindness, strength,
humor, empathy, power, love, initiative. Individuals who all carry a story.
Individuals who are all seeking love and goodness in some way. Individuals who
love and are loved. </div>
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Last night I sat, dumbstruck and hurting, as I watched the
interactions between the women servicing themselves on the street and the men
who were seeking to be serviced. What is the perception these people have for
themselves? What is their perception of one another? I saw a man screaming at a
woman as he was trying to drag her down the street, threats spilling all over,
false understandings of power being used to scare and dominate as well as
oppress and belittle. As they were walking by, I lost it. This human being
speaking to another human being as though they were nothing…as though they were
so deserving of the way they were being treated. Without even thinking I began
to stand up and go towards them, wanting with all that I was to stop what I was
seeing. It was panic mode. It was an automatic response. It was me not being
able to stomach this treatment, the sick and terrifying understandings that people can hold for one another. </div>
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I don’t know what I was planning to do, really. It didn’t matter
to me. It just couldn’t be left there as if it were nothing…or worse, as if it
were normal or acceptable. As I shot up out of my seat to walk towards them, my
roommate grabbed my arm and didn’t let go. She firmly said over and over to sit
down, that it was dangerous, that the police were walking over at that moment
to deal with it, that I couldn’t do anything about it. What a terrifying
realization. I couldn’t do anything about it? But what can be done about it?
Because it is not okay. Because it cannot be seen as normal. This isn’t something that can be defined or understood simply. It is
big. It is the perception we hold for one another. It is the way we assume what
we are each capable of, unfortunately and infuriatingly, simply on the
recognition of something such as gender, which easily becomes definitive. </div>
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This issue, along with so many others, is big. They’re big
& they cause us to feel as though we can’t do a darn thing. But we can try,
can we not? We can make changes in our lives that affect our thoughts,
interactions, perceptions of those around us. We can recognize the inherent worth that we all hold, especially, for the love of goodness, regardless of our gender. To believe in that for ourselves and for others. We can be responsible for
ourselves to vow to try to change these things that exploit, demean, oppress,
or lessen people, in whatever way we are able. There is worth in that. I am
going to keep trying…and I want us to try together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-31920934385487353602012-09-03T15:22:00.001-04:002012-09-03T15:22:36.736-04:00Good Feelings Some good things to share in bullet form: <br />
<br />
-The other week I mentioned that I was going to venture out, brush up
on some Spanish, and go meet some of my neighbors. It went so well!
People are so patient and understanding with my Spanish and it was such a
great feeling to be so accepted when I was putting myself out there,
unsure of how it was going to go. We have a lovely older couple that
lives behind out house named Teresita and Juan who invited me into their
house and we chatted for a good while. Teresita speaks no English &
Juan speaks only a little, so he was able to help me with some words
when I wasn't sure if I was remembering them correctly. I just loved it.
I really did. I am so eager to continue building my friendships with
them and hopefully being able to get better through practice at my
Spanish so we can speak more deeply. <br />
<br />
<br />
-Small groups at Wesley are starting this week & I am so
thrilled for this to begin. Part of what I am so excited about with my
position through US-2 & through Wesley is the act of simply helping
to bring about a greater awareness of social justice issues &
striving to learn alongside the students as we become more knowledgeable
about them together. This excitement also stems from the response we
got last year at the Appalachian Wesley Foundation from the start of
'Service Through Awareness'. There was a wonderful support of that
effort, recognizing that these things are important to discuss and that
it is important to try and figure out our place in how to respond,
particularly as people seeking out God. I will never forget having a
freshman coming up to me last year and saying, "What you are trying to
do through 'Service Through Awareness' is one of the main reasons I want
to be a part of this campus ministry. So many churches and people
seeking after God don't see the importance of caring about injustice and
how it affects people's lives, but I just don't understand how that is
possible. We need to care about these things." Gah. It just keeps me
excited & continues to remind me that it is good. <br />
<br />
-My car is back, fixed, & taking some time to calm down and realize we're not going to let it be stolen any time soon. I mean, it is flattered really that it is among the other Honda Accords that are number 1 on the 'car stealing Christmas wish list' here in Miami. However, it likes just being safe in the garage for now. The celebrity life really just is too much for this car. It has also been given a new gift...Chad sent a club in the mail last week. Lookin' right, Honda. Lookin' right. <br />
<br />
-FIU's Wesley puts on this incredibly brilliant event called The Exchange. It happens every other week and international students (and anyone else, really!) are invited to come enjoy lunch and get to know other students. IT IS AWESOME! I went on Thursday and had the chance to sit and talk with a number students from all over the world. I can't wait for more of these. I just wanted to sit and listen for hours!<br />
<br />
-That same day I was walking on campus & had someone call out my name to stop me and say hi. I was called by name! On a campus of 60,000 students! By someone I had only met once! You have to try and sympathize with this excitement because this has not happened yet in Miami. FIU is huge. I am still new and feel like my head is in the clouds sometimes. And I got to say hello to a new friend :) This was a concrete feeling of belonging...a reminder that I am slowly making my place here and building relationships with others outside of my co-workers, housemates, and Wesley leadership. What a fantastic feeling it was. <br />
<br />
-I excitedly posted on Facebook about Critical Mass, but goodness, what fun! I went along with some friends, borrowed a bike, and proceeded to experience downtown Miami alongside about twenty five hundred other people biking through the streets. We had families and children coming outside to wave and holler hellos at us, cars honking and smiling, etc. I just pedaled along, smiling and taking it all in. What a fun event. I can't wait to be a part of more. If you live in a big city, you need to check it out! If you don't, (or even if you do!) come to Miami and we'll go together :) <br />
<br />
-The beach happened this weekend! Wee! First experience at the beach in Miami was quite pleasant. It is so cool that I live so close. I can't wait to continue going back & hopefully trying some new things...snorkeling? Water sports? Surfing? That thing where you stand up on a board and paddle? PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING?! I just want to try it all. <br />
<br />
-Two of my great friends, Garrett & Caitlin, are getting married this weekend & I am just jumping around with excitement to celebrate with them as we all come together to celebrate this beautiful marriage that is about to begin. I am thrown on the ground sometimes just thinking about what great friendships are present in my life--about what incredibly passionate, caring, beautiful people I can call friends, who are constantly showing me love and support and care. I am just so excited for this. We get to celebrate two of our wonderful friends and the beautiful, good, inspirational lives I know they are going to live together! <br />
<br />
It is just good stuff. I just love good stuff. Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-31834473105471447622012-08-26T16:07:00.003-04:002012-08-26T16:15:29.680-04:00What a welcome!<style>
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Hurricanes, attempts to steal cars, and more support than I feel I
deserve. Let’s recap, shall we? </div>
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-Hurricane Isaac:</div>
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You see, I have no prior experience with any sort of, how
you say, hurricane, tropical storm, or anything in that region of natural
disasters. You also need to understand that my roommates & I have been
joking about the fact that we are cut off from the outside world currently. We
do not have any TV channels, we have to travel to nearby locations and steal
their Internet, and our only time listening to the radio is in our cars on the
way to campus (more about said car later in the post). This hurricane thing is
coming out of nowhere, I’m telling you! People sending out warning messages,
schools getting cancelled, hurricane safety and preparation craziness popping
up. This is the real deal, people. Our hurricane shutters are in position &
ready to roll! We’ll see how this whole thing goes down…</div>
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<br /></div>
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Right as I was leaving for the drive to Miami, I was saying
farewell to my wonderful friend Ryan & he made up a great song/rap for me.
At one point, he starts spelling out my name & when he gets to R he says “R
is for the rain…because she brings the rain”. How right he is. The rain is
a-comin’!</div>
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-Poor, poor car: </div>
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Just your normal Saturday morning—you wake up to a cancelled
beach day due to your good friend Isaac (see above), and after getting dressed
and brushing your teeth you stroll on out to the street to hop in your car and drive
to get some Internet & do some work. Harmless. Oh, but what’s that?
Registration and car papers strewn about? Arm rest console items thrown
haphazardly into the back seat? All potential hiding places for valuables left
open and empty? Woah. I thankfully realize that nothing of worth was in my car
& that nothing was taken. I mean, what’s someone to do with written out
directions from Boone to Miami, an ice scraper (there’s not even a hope for
snow here, y’all…still coming to terms with that one), and a small figurine of
a sea lion? Not a whole lot. But then you look over & realize that your
ignition is torn to shreds and sitting in pieces on the floorboards. Your car
can’t start. And you begin to realize that it wasn’t just a break in, but an
unsuccessful attempt to steal the car itself. The rest of the day becomes this
blur of phone call after phone call to the police, insurance agency, family,
boss, repeat, repeat, repeat.</div>
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A great deal of shock and fear came out of yesterday to be
honest. It’s an overwhelming day for your mind when it does not stop racing for
hours on end. However, the car has been towed to my boss’ house to take a break
from life’s excitement until Monday when hopefully I can figure out where it
needs to go to be able to work again. Things are figuring themselves out slowly
but surely. </div>
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<br /></div>
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-Shout outs: </div>
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My mother is incredible. I spoke with her more times in one
day than lizards I see scamper when I open the front door. Now that’s a lot! I
am so thankful for her & the wonderful, strong, supportive, loving woman
that she is. I have roommates that make up songs to sing and dances to dance,
who give me hugs and support and care. I have the deepest caring friends who
will sit on the phone with me for hours and listen to the craziness that has
been this transition. I even have a boss who will drive out to my house while
suffering from laryngitis, unable to speak, to help me attempt to
unsuccessfully push my car around the corner into our janky old garage. Who are
these people? Why are they so great to me? All I know is that I feel so loved,
supported, and encouraged. And what more can you hope for in such a crazy
transition…plus some unexpected dashes of additional crazy along the way?</div>
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Excuse my language…or don’t…but the people aren’t kidding when
they say that shit happens. Because wow-ee, does it! But thank good golly
goodness gracious that there is so much more that surrounds us. It really is there,
even if sometimes it is hiding under all that other stuff. </div>
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Waddup, Miami. Keep the excitement coming. Let’s do this
thing. </div>
Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-62226974611841229852012-08-22T14:11:00.000-04:002012-08-22T14:11:02.132-04:00The StartThings are a-happenin' here! I'm wrapped up in this crazy vortex of the start of the new year here at FIU, the start of this new job, being in a new home, meeting all new people...new, new, new, new! (That word looks crazy when you think about it too long. I just sat here for a second questioning whether or not it was spelled correctly.) It's a situation where I just want to learn and fit and find my place in all of this. And this is a good thing, because I am excited and eager and itching to get things rolling. At the moment, though, I think I need to give myself permission to realize that 'belonging' and 'finding your place' does not happen overnight. I'm allowed to get lost, I'm allowed to tell students that I don't know the campus when they ask me where the chemistry building is, I'm allowed to admit that I have been here less than 2 weeks and don't know how things work, I'm allowed to not know the ins and outs of the campus ministry yet. It's okay. It's allowed.<br />
<br />
The Wesley Foundation has immersed itself in all of the start of the year hullabaloo at Florida International University. We helped out with freshman move in day on Friday, have been 'tabling' on campus providing information to students who are interested in the campus ministry, talking to other clubs and organizations about some of the stuff we do, etc. There has been a club/student organization fair the past few days & a co-worker and I have been raising awareness about two awesome aspects of the Wesley Foundation. Starting last year, Wesley began a campaign to raise awareness of human trafficking to the campus and students here and had an amazing response! This year, The Freedom Campaign will occur again in October and she went around telling other clubs about it and gaining a lot of support. It's really awesome! I also went around to various clubs who focus on service, social justice, work in the community/abroad and told them about Wesley's grant program. It's a really cool initiative to provide funding to students or student organizations who are passionate about making a difference and encouraging change for the better. I am so excited about this & am thrilled to have this under my wing...I can't wait to see the applications and the creativity that will come from these students and organizations in order to bring about good in situations that need good.<br />
<br />
We also had our first worship, or Community Night, on Monday. Again, it is so interesting to be involved in a new and unfamiliar campus ministry and learn the ropes of how they do their thing here. We are having a glow in the dark ultimate frisbee game in the housing quad tonight (wee!!!) and will be taking a trip to the beach on Saturday for anyone who is either new to Miami & wants to experience the area more (raises hand) or simply wants to go with some new friends to the ocean and play (raises other hand). <br />
<br />
In other news, this past Sunday proved to be an amazing experience. I was borrowing internet from a nearby restaurant (hush hush) and realized that I wanted to try out some churches in the area. Having no prior knowledge, no awareness of the area, really, I typed in "progressive churches in the Miami area" and came upon a very cool place. I went by myself and tried it Sunday morning & was immediately thrown into such a warm welcome. What a passionate group of people who are really seeking to love, to include, to seek out good. I liked it so much. I am excited to go back this weekend and continue learning more and more about what they do and what they're about.<br />
<br />
I am about to wrap this thing up. My goal for this evening before glow in the dark ultimate frisbee is to walk around and hopefully meet some neighbors. This also means speaking all Spanish. I hear people around 'Little Havana' where we live are quite gracious towards trying...I am already quite appreciative of this.Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-54274865949359666842012-08-15T19:02:00.001-04:002012-08-15T19:02:12.943-04:00Welcome to Miami! Bienvenido a Miami! I'm here! After a couple days of driving, a sleepover with a wonderful family and their dogs, some bitter first run ins with an extravagant presence of toll roads in this city, getting a tad turned around, and realizing just how much Spanish I really need to brush up on, Miami is where I am. This is my new home, people.<br />
<br />
Something that is important for everyone to know right off the bat: there are more lizards here than you can even understand. Please join me in imagining a large amount of these small reptiles running around in your yard, on the walls, behind all things, etc. Yes, okay, good try...but you have underestimated. They are taking over. But I like them. I also saw some iguanas! Yeah!<br />
<br />
After a couple days of driving, Jeff & I arrived in Miami to warm greetings & hospitality from my new housemates and friends. The next morning, after Mr. Verner was dropped off to continue another trek of bus traveling that would lead back to NC, I met up with the rest of the Wesley staff & leadership to drive to Key West for their leadership retreat. I am so thankful to have been a part of that. What a great time to get to know other new friends, while also getting the low down on this new campus ministry that I am now a part of. These people are so cool...and from everywhere! I just want to sit and listen to everyone and learn about their lives and cultures and experiences. It is going to be so exciting to find my place here and really figure out how to bring these passions for social justice and service into this new group of people. Adventures! <br />
<br />
Upon returning to Miami, the next day was moving day and it was in full force. The Wesley Foundation has intentional living communities that they call the Wesley houses. Yesterday the mission was to completely move out all of the things in the old Wesley house into two new Wesley houses...one of which I am a resident. What a crazy day, but golly it feels so good to be in a permanent residence. I am in "The Blue House" with 4 other women. My roommates are wonderful. I am so excited to share life with these friends and make this house such a fun and great place to be. After proudly arranging our living room, putting together some bed frames, and admitting complete and utter exhaustion, we went to our first ever "family dinner" and it was so pleasant. I like these people. <br />
<br />
I also saw FIU for the first time today! I've admitted to feeling like a freshman, coming for the first time and feeling a bit helpless, lost, and scared. I'll fit right in next week when all of the students start classes. But you better believe that I am going to conquer this campus and these crazy streets of Miami one of these days and it is going to be glorious...even if there will be a couple turn arounds along the way. <br />
<br />
Now, I am going to journey for my first trip to the grocery store. And guess what? I'm not even going to get lost. (We'll see.) Maybe I can even practice some Spanish along the way. Thanks to everyone for all of the support, encouragement, and thoughts that have been sent my way through this transition. I am so very grateful!<br />
<br />
<br />Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-65184685038509396132012-07-31T14:50:00.001-04:002012-07-31T14:50:13.441-04:00New adventures to be had!It's time to brush the dust off of this blog and start documenting a new adventure! This was such a wonderful way to share with supporting friends and family what I was learning and how I was spending my time on my trip to Kenya last summer (already a year ago?!). Now we've been encouraged to use blogs in the same way to share our experiences, adventures, and what we're learning in this new adventure I am about to embark on. Our large class of US-2's and Global Mission Interns are completing our last days of training, preparing for our commissioning ceremony, and will then be on our (very) separate ways and move to serve in our placement sites domestically within the United States, as well as around the world.<br />
<br />
So here we are! Let's just do a little recap of what I'm mumbling about, shall we? After completing the application and interview process throughout spring of this year, I was accepted to serve in the US-2 program, which is through the overlying organization of the General Board of Global Ministries through the United Methodist Church. It is this incredible program that focuses on young adults being placed in various locations around the country for two years to focus on service, social justice, and addressing various systemic issues within the United States. Pretty amazing, yeah? I sure do think so. <br />
<br />
I found out in late May that I'll be placed in Miami, Florida with the Florida International University/Miami-Dade College Wesley Foundation. My fancy title is campus & community liaison for missions and social justice. But more understandably, I will be placed on staff at this campus ministry to bring awareness of and hopefully excitement towards social justice to the students, the broader campus, and to connect both with organizations around the Miami area that are already working to address injustices. It's wonderful! I am thrilled about this! I have been so greatly impacted by campus ministry throughout college and am eager to see it played out in the lives of students in another context. I am so excited to integrate social justice and service into this Wesley Foundation's pursuit of God and faith and to learn & grow along with them. <br />
<br />
So for the past 3 weeks I have been in New York training alongside about 40 other individuals (both from the United States, as well as a variety of other countries!) who will either be within the US-2 program as well, or serving abroad in the Global Mission Intern program. We have been having a lovely jumble of discussions, lectures, sessions, activities, and lots and lots of thinking about what we may encounter in the next few years. We've been addressing issues such as cross-cultural ministry, interfaith cooperation & celebration, racism, sexism, class distinctions, LGBT, worker's rights, mass incarceration, poverty, and so, so much more. It has been overwhelming in such a good way. I am so thankful for the discussions we have been having and feel a wave of relief at the fact that so many other people care about these things. It gives me so much hope! <br />
<br />
It has been a great time to prepare for the transition we are all about to make. We are now hopefully feeling more prepared than when we started, we are excited to find our place in addressing systemic injustices, as well as completely unsure about what this will all look like! I am also confident in saying that we all have more questions than answers about the majority of topics discussed...but that's the good stuff. So much more room to learn and grow & that is something to celebrate in and of itself.<br />
<br />
We travel tomorrow from New York City to DC to participate in our commissioning ceremony for the next few days & I will be heading back to North Carolina on the 5th of August to say farewell (buh!) to friends and family before I am on my way to sunny Florida. I'll be meeting a wonderful pile of new people, hopefully orienting myself somewhat in the city, and finding a way to call it all home. Once I arrive, I'll head with the rest of the Wesley leadership team on their leadership retreat to Key West (woah buddy!) to get ready for the upcoming year. I'm about to dive right into this thing & I'm so eager to see what it will all look like!<br />
<br />
Until next time, friends.Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-84186141660975879882011-07-22T09:19:00.001-04:002011-07-22T09:19:48.549-04:00Tutaonana Kenya!Welp folks, I believe this will be my final Kenya update. My team has about one week left in this crazy fantastic place before we fly on home. We have started saying goodbye to some of our friends here and it is beyond weird to me to think it is already time to leave them. <br />
-Last Sunday was incredible. The church in Kijabe held an event called Cultural Sunday. Six different tribes were represented and they all performed songs and dances representative of their community and culture, while completely decked out in their tribal clothing. Awesome? Yes. After all of the performances and speakers and sharing, we were able to go around to each represented tribe and they shared some of their traditional food. Not only is the culture of Kenya itself so beautiful and different from anything I have ever before witnessed, but the variety and distinctness of each tribe and people group within the Kenyan culture is incredible. <br />
-This Tuesday a couple of us from my team spent time in the kitchen at the hospital in Kijabe. We were able to build friendships with the cooks there as we helped them prepare meals, as well as went along with them to the various wards serving tea and meals to the patients. It was really neat seeing that side of the hospital and getting to interact with the patients simply through serving them lunch or pouring them a mug of tea. I will also note that I received a marriage proposal from a man with a broken leg while we were collecting dishes one day...flattering, but the communication barrier would make things a tad bit difficult, I believe. We were all also given pretend Kikuyu names by our kitchen friends. I am now answering to Sarah Shiko. <br />
-That day before we left the hospital, our new friend Justina insisted we stay so that she could serve us milk and bread. Sounded harmless. We were given cups of hot, boiled, whole milk from an enormous vat with foam and other questionable collected films on top. One very serious thing we have learned here is that you must, must, must eat or drink whatever is served to you. It is beyond rude and insulting to decline or even not finish what is served. The four of us downed that milk-ish substance like champs, trying so very hard not to smell or taste as much as possible in the process. I very soon regretted that decision to be polite and thankful for that thick, warm nastiness when I proceeded to be sick to my stomach for the next twenty four hours. I am forever indebted to Pepto Bismol tablets and Cipro. <br />
-Yesterday was our last day hiking to Kijabe town. We had been going to see a family ever week: Sarah was the mother, Uticus her mentally handicapped 13 year old son, and Sarah's 82 year old mother in law who was bedridden from meningitis. We had visited with this family for weeks now and just Monday found out that Sarah's mother had passed away. Yesterday, when we were in town, we joined in with not only her family, but entire town and community, as they made preparations for her burial. The guys were busy joining in with the men as they dug the grave and constructed the coffin, while the ladies joined with the women preparing the oodles of food for after the funeral. Similar to the funeral we experienced in Rare, the people we were surrounded by were so joyful. They were celebrating the life this woman lived, and they were doing it as a community. <br />
-Something I am realizing each day as we get closer and closer to leaving is how much my team means to me. When you spend every hour of every day with 15 incredible people, it is dang hard to imagine saying goodbye to them. We have all grown so close, experienced so much together, and learned so much from one another that it hurts my heart to realize that they will not be right by my side whenever I want them after we all return home. Lifelong friends have been made on this crazy and wonderful Kenyan adventure, that is for sure. I am so thankful. <br />
-So on the 31st (Happy Birthday Mommy!) we will all make our way back home. It is difficult for me to even begin processing what these last two months consisted of. It was such a ridiculous mixture of joy, learning, new experiences, awkward tan lines, questionable squatty potties, crazy amounts of love, laughter, eye-opening experiences, new friendships and stories, and overall thankfulness. I am so grateful for having the opportunity to be here, to learn from and to share life with these people. I have seen a new passion for life, for love, for God, in the hearts of these people and it is something unforgettable. I will carry these experiences and these people & their stories with me for the rest of my life. It is an incredible place, Kenya. It has opened my mind, eyes, and heart in new ways...and I so desperately hope that it continues to wow me even as I sadly leave it. <br />
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Here I come, America...see you soon!<br />
Much love,<br />
Sarah Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-60259736066739074822011-07-15T15:07:00.000-04:002011-07-15T15:07:10.577-04:00Loopty DooptyTime has literally been flying by here...I look at my calendar and realize that we only have a little more than 2 weeks in Kenya, and I cannot even believe it. Lots has happened in our time in Kijabe since coming back from the Masaai village. We are spending our time at the Kijabe Hospital, a local school, a nearby town, and the IDP camp. A little overview of them all:<br />
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-Hospital: I had the blessing of spending two days with two of the most incredible people I have ever met. Their names are Wilson and Veronica, a wonderful couple who was involved in a car accident with their family. Wilson was preparing for surgery when I was spending time with him and they were both there waiting for their 6 year old son, Daniel, to have surgery on his lungs, which were affected by the crash. I have never been in an accident and have no idea what it is like to see both yourself and your family injured and shaken as a result, but this family was so full of hope and joy...it was confusing in the greatest of ways. The amount of time we spent talking about each of our lives, passions, interests, etc. was such a blessing. They shared so much of their faith with me and I was encouraged in so many ways. I look at my time with them and just smile at the friendships we made. If anyone is trying to come to Kenya,Wilson and Veronica have (multiple times) offered up their home to friends :) <br />
-School: One of my team members, Mariah, and I have been helping out with a 5th grade class at a nearby primary school. There are 7 students, 2 boys and 5 girls, and they are incredible! First of all, they are incredibly smart. We get to help them with their schoolwork, play with them outside, sing with them, la la la it is so wonderful. I love it there.<br />
(Everything that I am trying to explain is a pathetic excuse for what I am actually experiencing, just so everyone is aware. I am sitting here thinking about how much I love all of these people and places and just cannot even begin to explain their impact on me, the stories we've shared, etc through a blog...but I sure will try. And then I can just tell more in person! Woot!)<br />
-Kijabe town: This is a nearby town that we go to every Thursday. I love this most because it is about an hour hike to get there and it is absolutely gorgeous! Random little tidbit: my leaders were hiking it the other day and were definitely chased...yes, chased...by a family of baboons. Brett kicked one in the face out of self defense. In short, the wildlife is thriving.<br />
-IDP camp: This is the same camp that we did our week-long medical mission. We spent time here going to different homes (some houses, some tents) and just listened to what the families had to share with us. If I haven't explained this before, the people here in Kenya are some of the most welcoming people I can imagine. If I saw a bunch of weird white people walk up to my door trying to talk, I would be skeptical...but these people treat us like family. We had the chance to speak with families and hear their stories about how they came to be in the camp. Their being there is as a result of the political elections that took place a couple years ago. A quick explanation: there are many tribes in Kenya and along with them comes a lot of conflict. The man that is currently the president is part of the Kukuyu (spelling?) tribe and many other tribes were upset at his being elected, and in turn began persecuting the Kukuyu people. There were families that we spoke with that had their homes burned to the ground, family members killed, jobs abandoned, all possessions lost. They are in these camps trying to rebuild their lives. Having lost everything, they are starting from nothing. It is so hard for me to understand being persecuted for who you were born to be...based on such things as tribe, race, gender, class, etc. I hear these stories and it just hurts. How do we shift the mindset to recognizing the differences between all of us, but seeing them as beautiful?<br />
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There is a lot here that is hard to see, hard to hear about. I see the pain and the confusion and it strikes me so deep. It is their lives and the way they live and what they've had to deal with...but it is their hope and their joy that continues to floor me. We have so much to learn from these people! I have so much to learn from these people! I have realized that it is so easy to pretend that poverty and oppression don't exist because we (I) am not directly affected by it. But at the same time, so many of us have so much power to enact change in so many ways. We can step out of our selfish bubble and recognize the potential we have to make things different...and in the same breath, the potential that these people have to change our hearts. We have to constantly be looking at service to one another as both giving and receiving...it can't be a superiority thing. I may have been born into a society where money and material possessions and access to healthcare and education, etc are right at my fingertips...and in those ways I can try to provide for people who are without in those areas. But in the same sense, the people who may not have shoes and a high school education can teach me more about the worth of life than I could have ever imagined. Sheesh...I don't even know. This place, this experience, these people...my world is being rocked. <br />
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Until next time...Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-17219735248955986072011-07-05T10:20:00.000-04:002011-07-05T10:20:51.567-04:00Masaai Madnesswell hey there! we have returned from the masaai tribe and wowza it was a wonderful week...in so many ways.<br />
-we saw so many animals on our way there/during our time there. giraffes, zebras, warthogs, antelope, and even the top of a hippo's head that was poking out of the water at lake naivasha! there was also a day that i saw a monkey climb down from a tree and actually steal a banana from a fruit stand...it made my day to see that!<br />
-i have never seen so many flies in my entire life...i also didn't realize how quickly they can make you go insane. one afternoon some of us just couldn't take it any longer and we all huddled under my mosquito net (megg, a zillion and one thanks to you for that thing) just to have a couple minutes without flies constantly landing on us. it was a good life decision.<br />
-we got to, yet again, experience the wonders of killing & cooking another sheep friend with some of the local people. this little trooper's name was stanley.<br />
-these people had the biggest hearts for worship that i have ever seen! it was the epitome of african singing & dancing and it was glorious! ever evening (for a good couple hours) people from all around would come to our campsite, gather around the fire, and sing swahili praise songs and listen to stories. every song was so energetic and so full of joy & excitement!<br />
-i went to a kenyan funeral one afternoon, which was incredibly interesting. a lady that we met invited some of my team to attend and it was unlike anything i had experienced before. the entire community was there and it was literally a celebration of this woman's life...lots of singing, energetic preaching, happy faces, etc. we were also given the biggest plates of food that i have ever seen...and very much so expected to eat it all. it was a great afternoon & it was also the first of many days of rain for their community, which is something to be celebrated in & of itself. african storms are incredible! i am a fan!<br />
-i held a little lamb!<br />
-a big source of laughter for our team came from the pastor who was with us the whole week...he was a big fan of songs (as earlier described) but also had a thing for the most random songs in english. one morning during worship he asked us to do a couple rounds of row, row, row your boat and then proceeded to change the words to row, row jesus' name all around the world...and then we sang it practically every day. it cracked us all up every time!<br />
-one day we met a woman named grace and i will remember her for the rest of my life. she invited us into her hut and then shared so much of her life with us. she has 7 young children and she raises them all by herself. in the masaai culture it is acceptable for the men to have multiple wives & her husband married another woman. she told us that he doesn't help support his children and only comes around to use her to bear more children. in all that she was telling us, it was evident that so much of what she experiences everyday practically shouts to her that she is worthless. it absolutely broke my heart. but then she began telling us that she is so full of hope in knowing god...she told us that it is in her pursuit of faith that she finds joy & worth & peace. it is astounding to me the faith that these people hold...their trust and joy is something so incredible and also so hard for me to wrap my mind around. grace was incredible. these people are INCREDIBLE. and they are teaching me so much.<br />
-we just got back to kijabe yesterday afternoon, which was the 4th of july. our team searched high & low to find ingredients to make an american meal to share with pastor simon & mama margaret, our contacts. we ended up finding the stuff to make hamburgers, mac & cheese, and fries. all homemade, all delicious. it was a blast!<br />
-one last thing before i wrap this thing up...our team has shown both interest & skill in rapping while in kenya, periodically throwing out rhymes, etc. well, one night in our tent, my friend emily and i made up a kenya rap for the rest of our team. laura robinson, this one is dedicated to you.<br />
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OKAY! this is mad em and mckay-bay-bay<br />
spittin those rhymes from kijabe<br />
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we in kenya, yo<br />
we don't got no hygiene<br />
we just lovin on some people<br />
we don't need to be clean<br />
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struttin down the street with our greasy hair<br />
mzungus in the house, all the little kids stare<br />
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hi! how are you?!<br />
they shout from their does (doors)<br />
cuz erryday we be in the same clothes<br />
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wake up in our tents in the middle of the night<br />
runnin to the squatty with our little flashlights<br />
<br />
(pause for dramatic effect)<br />
<br />
AND IN THE SQUATTY<br />
there are no rules<br />
all you gotta do is drop dem stools<br />
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what you need is some TP or some baby wipes<br />
then go on witchya bad self and drain them pipes<br />
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lookin at the view and drinking some tea<br />
doing feedback with my team & my ugali<br />
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shoutout to lucas & our homeboy stanley<br />
may they rest in peace, but you sure were tasty<br />
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now listen up, every boy & girl<br />
we gonna row, row jesus' name all around the world (reference found above)<br />
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YEAH!<br />
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well there you go. so much love from kenya!<br />
-sarah :)Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-57577415032880037502011-06-24T05:20:00.001-04:002011-06-24T05:20:59.297-04:00De-worming galore!Greetings! This past week has been wonderful. Our team worked alongside a medical missions team from Texas. We stayed at the church in Kijabe and took a mutatu (bus) into one of the nearby IDP camps every morning. Throughout the week we were able to see over 1000 people...it was incredible! I primarily helped out in the pharmacy tent filling prescriptions and giving instructions on how they should take their medicine. None of us have studied medicine, so it was kind of funny acting like we held any authority in what we were doing. But now we are all pretty much qualified medical practitioners...no big deal. I witnessed a woman pulling out her own tooth one day...that was insane.<br />
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My favorite day was when some of us went to a nearby school with one of the doctors and helped give out worm medication. It was so great because I ended up talking with this big group of girls who knew a great deal of English so the communication barrier was practically non-existent. They kept talking about my skin and hair, asking me about home and what it is like there, telling me jokes, etc. One girl told me she was going to marry my brother...so Jack, there is a very nice girl named Emily who is eager to come to America some day to meet you. I got a picture of her too, so no worries. <br />
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OH! To all you Wesley friends...one day at the IDP camp I heard someone shout my name & it was Henry Prevette! It was the craziest thing running into him...at an IDP camp...in Kenya!<br />
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I absolutely love my team and am having so much fun experiencing this with all of them. There are days when I feel so overwhelmed with the burdens these people in Kenya experience and it is easy to become frustrated in not knowing how to lift them. But at the same time, the joy that comes from them is something that I cannot wrap my mind around. I am learning so much from their lives and am so extremely grateful for that. <br />
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It is crazy to think that it is almost July...I'm so eager for what the rest of the summer will bring. Starting Monday we will be in "the bush" spending our week with a Maasai tribe and I am so pumped for what we will experience there! <br />
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Kwaheri! (goodbye)<br />
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So much love from Kenya,<br />
SarahSarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-84826798186808910102011-06-18T05:44:00.000-04:002011-06-18T05:44:32.748-04:00Radical Rare (Rah-ray)(Disclaimer: I haven't any idea how to spell in Swahili...however, I will be using the few words I've learned, regardless) Habariako! What a wonderful week it was in Rare. So much happened & it seemed like our time spent there was so much longer than 7 days. I'm going to try to sum up the parts of our time there that really stuck out to me:<br />
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1. Two words: squatty potty. These precious locations have become quite dear to all of our hearts. It consists of a hut and a very, very deep hole. All I'm saying is that I'm thankful my stomach only got upset once while we were there...it isn't prime location for emergencies. The most entertaining part of the squatty was the conversations and celebrations about all of the girls' aiming when we had to pee...it is quite difficult at first. But now we're all pretty much professionals. Woot woot!<br />
2. The food we've been eating is SO GOOD! There is a Kenyan staple called Oogali and it is pretty great. Along with that or rice we've been served lots of vegetables and fruits (yay!). I tried passion fruit for the first time and am a big fan. Lots of mango, pineapple, cabbage, carrots, tomatoes, very delicious breakfast pastry-type things, and Zesta, which is a type of jam. Red plum is my favorite. We also have hot tea at both breakfast and dinner, which I have come to adore.<br />
3. We walk everywhere & I love it. Hiking in Kenya is something else...so beautiful.<br />
4. We spent time between two villages: Turkana and Maasai. I didn't realize how much of a communication barrier we would experience. Swahili is an extremely beautiful language & hopefully my vocabulary can expand beyond the few basics I've picked up. We had translators come along with us and were able to communicate to all of the people we encountered. My favorite was a man named John. When we came up to his hut, he was busy sharpening and shaping arrows that he had made himself. He told us so many stories about how he uses them to protect his sheep & goats from leopards, hyenas, and lions! Ahh it was so cool! He had such a joy about him and he was so happy to spend time with us and ask about our lives and tell about his. We made many close friends this week and experienced so much kindness and appreciation.<br />
5. The children are out of this world. I'm pretty sure they think we're aliens, but it's awesome. They literally fight to hold your hand, laugh when you try to speak Swahili, find so much interest in arm hair, try to wipe the lightness off of your skin, and have the most beautiful smiles I've ever seen. We spent so much time playing with them, singing with them, etc at the schools and just throughout the villages. A running joke was that they are the "HI HOW ARE YOU FINE!" kids. They run it all together really fast whenever they see us and it's so great. I love them.<br />
6. Something incredible about this week was the rain. Everyone we spent time with made their living through farming and raising goats & sheeps. They all told us how hard the droughts are on their families and being able to provide for them. After the first day of hearing all of this, it rained every day after that. A thankfulness was just radiating through the community and it was incredible to be able to celebrate with them and share in that.<br />
7. I saw so many monkeys!<br />
8. African stars are mind-blowingly beautiful.<br />
9. Our last day in Rare, the boys went out and bought a sheep from a local family and we shared dinner with a couple families from the community. Now, I've never seen an animal from living to plate...it was definitely an experience for our team. Our translators, Samuel & Peter, are experts in preparing animals so we all looked on with interest...and a bit of disgust at times...as they did their thing. When we were taking out all of the internal organs, Samuel took the lungs, put them to his mouth, and over & over again blew them up. We were all so shocked, laughing and screaming...it was crazy. But overall, the experience with the sheep (we named it Lucas) was so cool. We were able to help support a family through purchasing it, we played a part in preparing it, and we were able to share the meal with so many others. Oh, Lucas...<br />
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These next couple days we will be traveling to an IDP camp with a medical team from the Kijabe hospital and helping them in any way we can. I'm really excited for that! And then on Thursday we leave again for a week with a different Maasai tribe.<br />
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I'm thinking so much about everyone from home...I miss & love all of you. Happy Father's Day (tomorrow) to you, Daddy & Chad! Wish I was there to tell you in person, but here is a hug from Kenya :)<br />
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Until next time,<br />
SarahSarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-71813517131155657232011-06-09T11:17:00.000-04:002011-06-09T11:17:49.782-04:00we're here!greetings from kijabe! after about two days of travel, we finally stepped foot into beautiful kenya late last night. even though we have been here for less than a day, i am in awe of the beauty of this place and these people. we took a walking tour of kijabe today and saw the town. we walked through a school at one point and there were so many young children out playing. i can't even explain the pure joy in their eyes when they see us. one young boy ran up to me and when i held out my arms to hug him, he jumped into them to have me hold him. he kept grabbing my face and pulling to to his own, smiling so big. he only spoke swahili but it is so cool because two of the girls on our team speak swahili. she asked him what his name was and his name was kevin for all of you back in boone :) for the three minutes i spent with kevin, my heart was filled. if that experience is any clue into the love and joy that will be experienced for the rest of this summer, it is sure going to be a good one. tomorrow we leave to spend a week in the valley with a tribe and i am so excited...we really are just jumping right into this! hopefully i can update soon, but until then i hope all is well back home. lots of love from me to you! oh, ps...i saw zebras today! they were just out there chilling by the side of the road! i love this place.Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-67773656887499074512011-05-18T20:21:00.000-04:002011-05-18T20:21:29.921-04:00Share & Tell!I've been finding out a lot of exciting details for my trip lately & decided that all of these things would make for a wonderful VERY FIRST REAL BLOG UPDATE. Hooty hoo! Some basics: I'm going to be in Kenya (more specifically, Kijabe) for two months this summer. I'm traveling with a team of 12 others and from the interaction and communication we've had via Internet, they all seem amazingly sick-diculous. I absolutely cannot wait to meet & adventure with all of these wonderful people.<br />
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I've already gotten all of my cheerful vaccinations (no yellow fever here!) and am counting down the days to start taking the pills for Malaria. I hear they'll come along with some pretty intense dreaming...I do love dreams!<br />
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The trip will start out in Chattanooga, TN on June 3 for a couple days of training camp. From there we'll drive to Atlanta and start our flying adventures! I just got our flight information this evening and can say with confidence that this is going to be a doozy. A wonderful and exciting doozy. WHAT UP JET LAG? Here it is:<br />
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Depart: Atlanta-June 7 - 5:30 PM<br />
Arrive: Amsterdam (THE FREAKING NETHERLANDS!)-June 8 - 8:15 AM<br />
Depart: Amsterdam-June 8 - 11:15 AM<br />
Arrive: Nairobi (KENYA KENYA KENYA!)-June 8 - 8:15 PM<br />
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Depart: Nairobi-August 1 - 8:10 AM<br />
Arrive: Amsterdam-August 1 - 3:55 PM<br />
Depart: Amsterdam-August 1 - 4:55 PM<br />
Arrive: Atlanta-August 1 - 8:20 PM<br />
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When we reach Kijabe we will be staying on the property of our contact, Pastor Simon. We are camping all throughout our trip & it is a whole lot of exciting mixed in with a little bit of "oh boy!". <br />
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At the moment I know only broad details about the work we will be doing in Kijabe, which involves work with Pastor Simon's local church, a local hospital, a local orphanage, and a nearby tribe (the Maasai tribe). Specifics aren't a concern at the moment...this entire experience is going to be so new and exciting and unfamiliar & all of it will just come how it comes. I'm peeing my pants in excitement at the thought of all that will be learned from the people we will be with all summer. My mind is going to be blown and I just can't even wait.<br />
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I'll be using this here blog to share my experiences throughout the summer & I'm excited to have it as a way to connect with everyone from home. This whole adventure is a huge, wonderful mixture of being scared/intimidated and exploding with excitement. Thank you so much to everyone who has been through this whole process to support me in every way imaginable. What a great thing it is to be reminded of how many wonderful people in your life love and support you. I'm so thankful for that.<br />
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16 days...wallah wallah!Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4678603123321614161.post-7930998549047099612011-03-07T20:37:00.001-04:002011-03-07T20:37:28.538-04:00Here we go...A way to share my thoughts & adventures while in Kenya!Sarah McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11267733165346441986noreply@blogger.com1