the joys and challenges of working with refugees, part two
Over the past year, as I’ve had a crash course in refugee resettlement, I’ve learned so much. I am grateful every day for the stories I’ve heard and the facts I’ve gleaned about this vulnerable, misunderstood, and often forgotten population. I’ve learned: That only one percent of the 14 million-plus refugees in the world will ever be [...]
[the africa diaries] day nine: headed to kampala
![[the africa diaries] day nine: headed to kampala](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/sunrise-over-kampala-100x100.jpg)
Leaving Kenya and flying to Uganda was the biggest thing on our agenda for this day. I have to admit that it was tough leaving my new friends in Kenya. Because of the great distance, I knew that it wasn’t likely that I’d see most (if any) of them again. Yet, their impact on my life is etched on [...]
[photo journal] everyday life in kenya
![[photo journal] everyday life in kenya](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/kenya-women-thumb.png)
[the africa diaries]. You can also check out the complete set of everyday life in Kenya on Flickr.
[the africa diaries] day eight: a retreat to remember
![[the africa diaries] day eight: a retreat to remember](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/lion-thumb.png)
Good morning Mount Kenya! The picture above was the view through the front door of my tent as I woke up in the morning. As the sun was rising enough to light up the sky, it still had not risen enough to creep over the top of Africa’s second highest peak. We got up early so that we [...]
[photo journal] children of africa
![[photo journal] children of africa](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/kasese-children-thumb.png)
[the africa diaries]. You can also check out the complete set of children of Kenya and Uganda on Flickr.
![[photo journal] churches of africa](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/uganda-church-thumb.png)
[the africa diaries] day seven: wrapping up business in kenya
![[the africa diaries] day seven: wrapping up business in kenya](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/alice-kairi.png)
She walked up to me as I was setting up for my morning session, shook my hand, and simply stated, “I am Alice.” We laughed about that for a moment, but I never realized that this was about to be one of the most powerful moments of this trip for me. In order to understand [...]
[the africa diaries] day six: starting with the next group
![[the africa diaries] day six: starting with the next group](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/africa-day6-thumb.png)
I was finally an accomplished missionary! Well, at least in my mind I was. After all, I had just finished my first full sessions with one of the churches in Kenya, and now I was off to another. I knew that this next group that we were about to work with would be different, I just [...]
[the africa diaries] day five: finishing with our first group
![[the africa diaries] day five: finishing with our first group](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/teaching-makogeni-thumb.png)
Finally! Today is my day to teach! Well, at least for half of it… Day two of our lesson plan calls for two important subjects. First up was the financial session. In this session we covered such basic, yet critically important, topics like keeping your business and personal money separate, and how to create a budget. [...]
[the africa diaries] day four: first day of teaching
![[the africa diaries] day four: first day of teaching](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/makogeni-thumb.png)
Here we go… This is what we came for! Our first day of teaching has arrived! And one of the first things that I learned today was that schedules (time) in Africa are very different than they are back in the States. I think that our start time was supposed to be 9:00 AM, but it [...]
[the africa diaries] day three: visiting the clients
![[the africa diaries] day three: visiting the clients](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/african-kitchen-thumb.png)
This was the big day that I had been waiting for! Today our plan was to meet with the people at the offices of Thika Community Development Trust (TCDT). They are the Five Talents partner that runs the local microfinance program. After that, we were going to go out and meet some of the existing program clients… [...]
[the africa diaries] day two: the road to thika
![[the africa diaries] day two: the road to thika](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/road-to-thika-thumb.gif)
My first morning in Africa! I could not wait to look out my window to finally see what Africa looked like! But I had no idea how quickly this trip would start impacting me. The place that we stayed that first night was actually a really nice guest house that was run by the local Anglican church. [...]
[the africa diaries] day one: arriving in nairobi
![[the africa diaries] day one: arriving in nairobi](http://bibledude.net/wp-content/uploads/british-airways-thumb.gif)
I was only at the airport before this trip started to impact me. As I sat there waiting to board my first flight, I couldn’t help but to wonder what this mission trip was going to do to me. Would I come home a different person? How would my heart and my mind be affected? The [...]
too much to process
I’ve been home from my mission trip to Kenya and Uganda for several days now, and I am still struggling to fully process everything that I’ve experienced over there. So many memories. So many emotions. So many ideas. So many questions. First of all, I want you to know that I think that Kenya and [...]
live online q+a: fighting poverty in africa
Lately I’ve really been trying to step up my game with using new tools to develop the community here. I’ve created the BibleDude.net group on Facebook, which is now over 720 members strong. I’ve also recently started using Twitter to connect with people, and have discovered many new frieds there as well. But now I plan [...]
poverty mission to africa '09
*** IMPORTANT UPDATE *** Since returning from this amazing trip, I have been sharing my journals and other thoughts in a new series called the africa diaries. Check it out and share your thoughts! Over a year ago, God starting doing some amazing work in my heart. Through some studies with the young adults ministry [...]
