Men Can Wear Skirts, So Get Over It!

([{This is a blog about what it’s like to live in the contacts that I am living in}])

p.S: It may sound that I am against how people in America live during this blog, I am not against it at all. And I am NOT discriminating against this culture or there beliefs. 

I just want to confess before I start that I really like wearing man skirts.
(Which is called a Kikoy)

The Culture I live in is almost a complete opposite of how American’s live, minus some of the culture in the South, lol. The culture is based off relationships, talking and spending time with people, its more important than doing things and getting thinks done.  It really kind of cool, they value family so much, and people are more important than anything. Its okay to be late, in fact its implied that you be late, when they say be there at 4:00pm people probably wont show up until 5:00pm or 6:00pm. I like that! :D The culture is also very hospitable and they respect elderly people way more than we do in the states.
I honestly think we in the states could really learn from this culture.
The temperature here is hotter than most parts of the states, very dry and not a lot of wild life that you would typically think of when thinking of Africa. I have seen giraffes, wort hogs, crocodile or alligator (i can never remember the difference) [dont tell my dad he might disown me, lol haha jk], hippos, lots of donkeys*, lots of goats*, camels*, chickens*, cows* and different types of monkeys. (The ones with stars on them are the animals I see daily)
The basis of what I eat is rice, beans, wheat/starch, and some meat.
I live in a concrete house with 3 other men; Nate Hadravah, Tim Kopylov, and Harrison Akubala (he teaches us Swahili and works for BCOM [the college I am in])
I walk almost everywhere, which is great.
There are many different tribes that live here, all with their own way of living and traditions. They all have a basis thats the same but not all are alike. I mostly live among Salamis, Kikuyu, Kambas, Bantus, Ormas and some others that I cannot remember.
There are three main religions that are followed/practiced here:

1. Islam= The study/practice of the Quran and Hadith, believing in Allah (God) and his last prophet Mohammed.
2. African Traditional Religion (ATR)= There is no specific name for it because in different tribes there are different ways of practicing and believing. Most of them have a basis of witchcraft, ancestral worship, and believing in a spirit world; all of some type.
3. Christianity= The study/practice of the Bible, believing in Jesus Christ who came from the creator of all, God.

Some times all three of these beliefs are combined in a way. If ones does not work they might go try another. For example: if someone goes to the doctor in town and does not get better, they will go to the witchdoctor and if that does not work, then they will pray to Mohammed and might do some ritual, and then if that does not work they will pray to Jesus Christ. (Just an example does not always happen)
Last P.S.:
Not all of Kenya or all of Africa is like this, these cultures and beliefs are just are in the area were I live!
Tty when I wright again!

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Bound by 5 inches

([{To fully understand this picture you need to fathom that on marking your property here in Kenya is a wall that is about 6-10 feet high and around 5 inches think, that is was marks your land, keeps your privacy, and helps with random people coming in.}])

So this past week we were helping to do some improvements on a school that we have taught at and played with the kids. A one of the things we were doing was putting three new tire swings up for the kids so they can play on. I got the privilege (it was flipping awesome) to climb the trees that the tire swings were going to be on. [This was probably the coolest thing because, A. I felt like a kid cause I was climbing something and B. I also felt like a man cause I was doing labor with my hands that I new how to do, plus I got nicked and scratched from the trees! :D] The last tree I got the climb was a tree that branched out enough that I could see outside the school compound and got to see the world go on doing it’s business.
A thought came to my head when I saw these two totally different worlds, that were 5 inches away from each other. The thought was “WOW, look how much 6 inches can determine on how you look at the world.” (I thought it was 6 inches until I measured it)
Immediately after that I saw two totally different worlds, a world of Bondage that was bound by fear of the truth but at the same time it was curious what was on the other side. Also I saw a world that was full of Freedom going any direction the land can take it. The Bound world knew that if they tasted or experiences the Freedom that was just 5 inches away they would never want to go back into a world surrounded by walls. They could even hear people laughing, loud music, and movements of motion. At the same time they are thinking, “Why leave? We have everything we need here and we don’t know whats really out there, were safe here.” Still the curiosity of wanting to know “What is out there?” and to see what they hear everyday. The world of Freedom is so welcoming to share its liberty and joy.
He has his arm’s wide open, waiting for your arrive to the land of liberation.
Freedom is that close all you need to do is to step 5 inches from the Bondage.

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Darkness Will Be Lost & Forgotten

As the sun is awakening from his sleep, it starts to shine his light on the darkness. Things become visible, sin is left to creep back into the sewers where it belongs. People want to be in the light where they can see but really, what is their heart crying out to do? It is torn between wanting to see, so it's able to do things of the day and getting in the darkness so it may do what it fills without exposing it's self. Even though the sun will begone and come back the next day, it wants to be in the dark. Thinking it will be satisfied, the longer in the dark the more it depends and gets held down by the heavy burden, craving a need for more and more. Just as it has had enough and can't take the height of the darkness, dawn starts to brake along the horizon, and it sees hope and redemption coming out of the valley. Once it catches the rays of the sun, it's restored, redeemed, cleansed, and a new. As it soaks up the radiant light its gets distracted by the thought of "night is coming" and it cannot stop it. Panicking frantically, running around not knowing what to do. Peace hit him and came over him saying "The dark will come, temptation will be knocking, creatures will be around the corner wanting and waiting to devour you. But, YOU MUST HOLD FAST and grip strongly to the truth and satisfaction of the coming light, for it is coming and we cannot stop. Even now in the darkness seems never-ending, painful, heavy, and thirsting. You have been restored, redeemed, cleansed, and made a new by the light. Again hold fast and push through for the sun will come again and utterly destroy the darkness. When it has devoured the darkness, the darkness will be obliterated. If ever in doubt look up to the moon is shows the coming of the light. The sun is coming quickly its just beyond the horizon, when it comes it will never leave. Darkness will be no more and light will prevail, no more suffering and torment for it is lost and forgotten. When in doubt look the the moon."

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BE READY FOR WAR AT ALL TIMES!!!

So I read this passage out of Nehemiah about a month ago and the Lord has really pressed on my heart to share about it. I dont know why but He is!
So let me set up the background of the story Nehemiah got told by his brother Hanani and people from Judah (Ch.1:2-3) that, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Through this Nehemiah gets a bunch of people to go with him to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. This may not sound exciting but this hit me. (what i am fixin to tell you)
So while they were rebuilding the wall the people were getting discourage from people feeding lies down their backs. (Ch.4:2-3) But then Nehemiah gets up to alert the people and to encourage the people he says (vs14) “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your house.” After the enemy herd that they knew what was going on and that God destroyed their plan they returned to the wall but they were ready for war at any moment. (vs.16-) “From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shield, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.”
I am stressing the bolded parts because they were ready for battle at any moment ready to go to war!
We need to be ready for war at anytime, even when we are busy, think we are busy, or when we get lazy. We need to be flexible, alert, and ready to what God is going to call us to do, what He has called us to do, or what He will call us to do.  
BE READY FOR WAR AT ALL TIMES!
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

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