Jamrock: East Africa's First Indoor Rock Climbing Facility

BlueSky has been in the process of building a rock gym since I arrived here in January.  It's been the main project for the guys (Andrew, Stephen, Jason) that moved here the same time I did.  We now have a location to build the gym (which was a huge step!) and are wanting to have something up and running in the gym by September (though we are a ways away from having the entire gym completed).  This is a really great opportunity for BlueSky and a really great addition to the community.  Below is some information about the gym and design pictures.  Also below is a picture of chalk bags that we'll be selling to help fund the rock gym.  These chalk bags are made by a local Kenyan lady from kikoys (an East African material).  They are also available in Masai prints.  We're charging about $25 per bag.  Let me know if you'd like one!


You can also check out the gym's webcite for more info: http://jamrockclimbinggym.weebly.com/

Jamrock will be an asset to our student ministry, providing a place to host youth group, lock-ins and fun events. We have an area of our gym dedicated to student events, which includes stadium seating and a stage.  The gym will be the first place we are able to host events in our own facility!
The gym is located right in the heart of Nairobi's "Little India," so we will daily be interacting with the South Asian community of Nairobi. They are the shopkeepers, residents of the area, owners of the shopping center and the climbers in our gym. BlueSky has long wanted to be more involved with the Hindu and Muslim, however it can be a difficult one to break into as Christians. With the strategic location of the rock gym, we now have the opportunity be immersed in this community and share Christ with the South Asians.

Elephants, Giraffes, and a Rhino

With my time in Kenya winding down, I am trying to hit all the places I wanted to visit.  Today I went to the Elephant Orphanage and Giraffe Observatory.

Elephant Orphanage- http://www.sheldrickwildlifetrust.org/

Rescued baby elephants are brought the the orphanage and raised until they can be re-released into the wild at age 2-3 years old.  The elephants handlers bring the elephants out for their feeding from huge bottles.  You can also arrange to be there for bed time.  The orphanage runs solely on contributions.  You can adopt an elephant and come for private visits.  If I was going to be here for longer I might have done just that.

 The orphanage also takes in a few rhinos.  This little guy (or maybe not so little) is blind and was rejected by his mother because of it.  They've tried surgery, but apparently it's irreversible, so he'll stay in the orphanage.  His name's Maxwell.

Giraffe Observatory

Here you are given food to feed the giraffe or, even more special, lure the giraffe to give you a kiss by holding the food between your lips.

Staff Luncheon

Last Friday I invited the BlueSky Adventures Staff over for a long-over-due luncheon at my house.  It was a team effort in the food preparation, so we ended up with a feast of African, Indian, and American dishes :)  Never thought I'd see chicken curry, ugali, and sweet potato casserole all on the same plate, but it actually made for a really good meal!  After chai and cake (obviously a must when hosting Kenyans), I was asked to bring out my guitar.  I sang a few songs of my own, but I enjoyed the free style that followed better.  I started with a guitar rhyme, then the drum beat (made by a wooden spoon and dog bowl) joined in, followed with beat-boxing by one of the shadowers, and finally two staff members and I alternated with different melodies and lyrics.  It was really fun.  After this, I had the pleasure to listen to the "spoken word" (basically contemporary poetry) by a few talented facilitators.  Even though it was in Swahili I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I always have a blast when we're all together.  I'm really going to miss these guys!

30@30

My departure for the States is drawing closer.  I leave in less than a month!  It seems that my time here has flown by, yet when I think back on my arrival it seems forever ago.  My experience in Kenya and with BlueSky has been invaluable, and I truly appreciate all of the support from friends and family that made my move here possible.  With this said, I must be honest about something that is very hard for me to talk about.  I am short in the amount that I need to raise for my time here.  BlueSky is wonder for covering me thus far where I have lacked in finances, but I don’t want to leave Kenya without reimbursing the organization.  Support raising is a difficult thing for me to talk about for many reasons: 

Reason #1- I dislike money.  I know, I know...we need it to survive in this world and I do believe that money (used in the right way) can create great opportunities and support great organization and endeavors.  However, I hate what money does to people and to relationships.  I hate that money holds such power.  I hate that money creates such greed.  But I suppose unless we all go back to bartering with cows and cornmeal (which I think I might be okay with) or we lived in a utopian society where money wasn’t necessary (which I would definitely be okay with), then money is just a reality and asking for support is just the nature of my ministry and job. 
Reason #2- I have a difficult time depending on other people for things.  I also have a difficult time appearing vulnerable.  It is humbling for me to ask someone for something so necessary, and equally as humbling for me to admit that.  Maybe that’s the point.  Maybe that is what God wants me to learn from this experience.  Maybe that is why my total amount of support hasn’t come through yet.  Maybe I need to get rid of my pride.  So here I am, depending on the Lord and his work through other people.  Here I am, being vulnerable.
Reason #3- I don’t want people to be annoyed.  To continue on the vulnerable route, I don’t like to inconvenience or pester people.  I like to be helpful.  I like to be liked.  And I suppose my perception (however wrong it might be) is that people will be annoyed if I ask them for money; that money is a sensitive subject which no one likes to talk about, so I shouldn’t ask people for help in that way.  Again, I’m sure some of this is rooted in pride.  Pride in the way I appear towards other people.  Pride in my independence.  Even pride in thinking I know how other people are going to respond to this topic.  So here I am, asking for help.  I am still nervous that this might seem annoying, but I’m asking anyway.  I must trust that people would give in cheer and love and not in obligation or frustration. 

So here’s my proposal: 30@30.  My goal is to have 30 people donate at least $30.  At that point, I will be close enough to the total amount that I think I can cover the rest through my savings.  Will you be one of those 30 individuals?  If you can’t give, I would love if you might consider asking someone else that you think can (relative, friend, coworker).  Thank you for reading this.  Thank you for supporting me.  And thank you for accepting these words and allowing me to be vulnerable.

How to Give:
You may give online at http://www.brackenhurstministries.org or by mailing a check to Brackenhurst Ministries 900 Westpark Drive, Suite 300, Peachtree City, GA 30269.  Please include ‘for the ministry of Emily Baird’ on your check memo line or in the ‘projects’ category on the online giving option.  All contributions are tax deductible and will be receipted at the end of the year.

For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they? And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to to his life?        ~Matthew 6:25


My Daily Life Part 2

   So where did I leave off?  Oh yes, the animals.  Sometimes I forget I live in Africa, but the random appearance of animals I would normally only see in a zoo helps me remember.  I mean it’s not like people ride elephants in the streets or that I have to stop for a giraffe crossing (I live in a city much larger than anywhere I’ve lived in the States), but I’m always caught off guard by the types of animals that just show up.  I have now come across a group of monkeys on my run three times, and apparently there was a monkey in our backyard the other day.  (Seen by Lexi and the dogs.)  But when I go to Lukenya (location of our challenge course) and get away from the city the animals just appear.  Baboons have joined me rock climbing, herds of cattle have blocked my path, zebras have trotted by, and there was even a group of camels that stared me down as they feasted on the grass just opposite the feeble gate enclosing our property.  One time, while running a group on the Squirrel (a high rope’s element where the participant flies up into the air like a flying squirrel) an antelope bounded through the bushes, in-between the high element, and straight towards our group before deciding to veer back onto the path of his newly appeared friends.  There was nothing in my southern United States’ rearing that taught me the appropriate response to a charging antelope.  We all just shrugged and continued.  TIA.  Yes, this statement is actually used.  I wasn’t sure if it was some Hollywood fabrication, but TIA (this is Africa) is an African original.  I’m not sure how frequently it is used (probably more by the expats than the actual Africans), but I was glad to have my use of the phrase legitimized.  I’ve also heard TIK here (this is Kenya), but I think that might be a term only used by George, our course manager.

    If you haven’t noticed by my recent lack of blog postings, things have been very busy this past month.  It’s camp season, and though I don’t work for BlueSky Camp directly, there is a lot going on with my roommates and coworkers.  Some new full time staff arrived in the middle of May, followed soon after by the summer camp staff.  There is a lot of energy surrounding my job and BlueSky Adventures right now as well.  I have been spending time focusing on leadership development with two of our lead facilitators.  On May 1st, Njoki stepped up to a full-time position as Programming Manager and Sandhia came on part-time as Training Coordinator.  The three of us ran a low training for 12 applicants and picked 6 people to hire as new facilitators.  These facilitators went through high training with us and have been attending weekly Staff Mentor and Development meetings (SMDs) with Sandhia and I.  Njoki (who has really become a dear friend) is an answer to something I wanted to see happen even before I moved to Kenya.  I wanted to see a Kenyan in my position and wondered why that wasn’t the case.  Though another American will be taking over as ‘Managing Director’ (and will do a great job), Njoki will be running everything from the actual Challenge Course Programming/Facilitator side.  She is going to do wonderfully.  And I’m really excited about the stability this is going to give the Kenyan facilitators.  I’m sure it has been hard to change bosses so often, and this will fix that!  It’s been great having Njoki and Sandhia (as well as George) around in the office more.  Also, during the month of May, Kim (director of Brackenhurst Ministries), Dave (new staff, Director of Operations), Tom (director of BlueSky Adventures), Greg (new staff, incoming Managing Director after I leave), Stephen, Njoki, and I went on a BlueSky Adventures Vision Retreat.  We nailed down four broad goals for the end of the year, how to accomplish them, and assigned a committee to each goal.  And I am trying to wrap up things here so that the transition after I leave is a smooth as possible.  (I’m working on things like writing a Training Manuel, better customer follow-up, better defined and structured programs, etc.)  Oh yeah, and we’ve been holding interviews to hire a Client Relations Manager, who is due to start July 1st.  Wow, sorry for all the information, but that’s what happens when I try to summarize such a busy month.

    I was home for a week at the end of May for my brother’s wedding.  It was a crazy, jet-lagged week, but incredible to see my family and share in that special day.  I’m really happy for my brother and new sister-in-law.  I brought a little of Africa with me in the form of a specially made dress (compliments of my friend Anna’s sewing ministry in one of the Nairobi slums).  Pictures below of the process and final product! 

 Don’t worry, the whole bottle of Champaign wasn’t for me...I helped serve at the rehearsal dinner :)

    It’s good to be back in Kenya.  I missed everyone here, and I seemed to have been missed (even by the parking attendant and guard at my work who asked where I had been). 
    Since my return from the States, I have started thinking about my transition back in July.  Though I am excited about the next stage in my life (I’ll be starting graduate school at Vanderbilt in the fall), I am very sad to be leaving Kenya.  I will probably reflect on what I’ll miss the most later, but I don’t want to get ahead of myself.  I am still present here, and I am going to be very busy during the next 6 weeks.  However, I thought I might start to reflect on the things that I’ve learned so far, and things that could only happen in Africa.  Here’s my personal TIA Tips:

A pineapple tastes better when you cut it yourself.
The only right away in traffic is your own.  But matatus trump all.  They’re annoying, but I rarely challenge them in traffic.
Don’t ask for a napkin at the dinner table or you’ll get a diaper.  Serviette is the correct term. (It’s a British thing apparently.)
Tea time is amazing!  Why don’t we do this in America?

I’ll save the rest for another time.  Kwaheri (Goodbye)

The Secret of Laughter

I find myself at the top of a ladder trying to to unwrap a stringer that has tangled around the pole (one of our high elements).  I’m slightly frustrated that my lack of height and the wind is not making the task easy.  But then I hear the groups in the background and I remember where I am.  I remember how blessed I am.  I remember how joyous this life is.  I love the sound of laughter.  It’s the sound of hope.  Not just any laughter, but the kind that starts deep down inside of you and emits joy.  It reminds us that we are working towards a better future.  That throughout all of the brokenness that exists, we have the choice to be joyful.  We have the choice to see life in a positive light.  We have the choice to open ourselves up to love.  I close my eyes and listen to the group laugh together.  To know that if nothing else, laughter is making a difference.  We are bringing joy to people.  And hopefully, through that joy and this experience, they can walk away changed.  I know I will.  A smile creeps onto my face.  I’m sure it’s the kind that makes it look like I’m holding a secret.  And maybe I am.

As much as I like being in the office, and love the staff that I work with, my favorite part of work is being out at the challenge course with participants.  I love the scene that surrounds me, the blue sky above me, and the sun shinning down on me (even if it is ridiculously hot sometimes).  When I work with groups, I am reminded of why I am here.  I am reminded of how influential this type of experience can be for an individual.  I am reminded that we are making a difference.  I see that difference in the face of a high school student who is called upon to be a leader for the first time and earns the trust of his peers.  I see that difference in the smile of a business woman who never thought she would have the courage to jump off a 10-meter pole and grab a trapeze bar.  I see that difference in the hand that stretches out to help a teammate reach their goal.  Experience Changes.  That’s BlueSky Adventures’ motto.  This experience is changing me.  And I can only hope, in some small way, that my experience is changing others as well.

There's a new update on Brackenhurst Ministries blog.  Some of what I shared above is included as well as details on what I'm currently working on.  You can also check out what the other BlueSky team members are up to :)

http://www.brackenhurstministries.blogspot.com/

Mount Kenya

Here's my account of climbing Mount Kenya.  Hope you enjoy :)

Day 1

I am already tired.  I’m not sure why that is considering we haven’t even started climbing the mountain, but I feel as if I could fall asleep.  This makes me a little nervous about the trek ahead.  We arrive at the base of Mount Kenya and are greeted by a very enthusiastic climbing company.  Here we have lunch and are given the opportunity to, as the Kenyan guides say, “hire” some equipment.  I wonder, however, what would happen if you tried to fire these shoes, gloves, or pants half-way up the mountain.  Probably not recommended.  We start out with a 3 hours hike to Old Moses, our first shelter.  This hike would normally be very easy, but I can already feel the effects of high altitude on my breathing.  The air is thin here, but it’s crisp and pure.  It’s refreshing after  living in the city air of Nairobi.  We arrive at Old Moses as the cold is setting in.  Up until this point I have been able to hike in shorts and a T-shirt, but that changes quickly as the sun starts to set and I stop moving.  It becomes so cold that I drink three cups of hot chocolate and pour a fourth cup of hot water just to hold.  Tea time (yes, Kenyans even need their tea while hiking a mountain) is followed quickly by a dinner of ox tail and brown onion soup, fish (with the head still attached of course), potatoes, and vegetables.  I am so enthusiastic to eat that I fill up before the main course comes, but I stuff down most of the meal anyway.  (Not to mention that the soup came first and I wasn’t sure if there was more.  Who knew climbing a mountain would come with a three course meal!  I haven’t mentioned this yet, but the usual way to climb here is to hire porters who carry your food for the trip.  For some reason, it seemed like cheating to me at first, but it does make the hike a lot more enjoyable.  One, because you carry less weight, and two, because you don’t have to worry about cooking a meal when you arrive at night.)  For the sake of keeping warm, I surrender to my sleeping bag at 9 o’clock.  I fall asleep freezing, but wake up relatively warm during the night.  Thank goodness for 20 degree sleeping bags!  I wake up gasping for air.  Apparently some people experience sleep apnea at high altitudes.  Good thing my friend told me about this after the fact...

Day 2

Rise and Shine!  A cup of Miski (some sort of powered milk substances that we had fun pronouncing during the trip) energizes me.  I am full of vigor this morning.  (Strange considering that I woke up 3-5 times during the night, probably due to the excessive hot chocolate drinking the night before.)  My pack feels lighter this morning, even though I know it’s heavier considering I’m carrying a full supply of water and my lunch.  Today is supposed to be the longest and hardest hiking day, but it feels better than yesterday.  I get a little dizzy near lunchtime, but that is solved by plenty of water and calories (not often that I’m desiring more calories, but it apparently helps prevent altitude sickness).  We have lunch in the clouds...literally.  We arrive at the top of a peek enclosed by a eery fog.  Half-way through lunch the clouds fade a bit, and we can see the mountains that surround us and the drastic drop off we are beside.  The food is great!  (Either that or I’m so hungry that it seems great.)  The only disappointing part of lunch is a rather strange tasting chocolate bar, but I eat half of it anyway.  There is less and less vegetation as we gain altitude.  There are, however, strange plants that look like something out of Avatar.  I find myself captivated by the views that surround me.  It is ridiculously beautiful.  It starts to rain on us towards the end of the hike.  Good thing I have rain gear (thanks Amanda!).  We arrive at Shipton’s tired and wet, but the good news is that we’re in time for early tea!  I limit my intake this time.  I actually can’t wait for it to be later so I can curl up in my sleeping bag.  And I thought Old Moses was cold...

Day 3

It is colder in our room than it is outside.  Therefore, breakfast will be served outside this morning.  Not a bad deal considering the clouds have lifted to reveal a perfect view of Mount Kenya’s peak.  We set out for Austrian Hut.  This is a shorter hike than yesterday, but the steepest climb so far.  I enjoy the parts of this climb where we have to bound from rock to rock.  It reminds me of when I’d go hiking with my dad as a kid and my favorite part was jumping from rock to rock.  It begins to snow/sleet on us.  I much prefer this to rain because at least sleet bounces off of you.  I’m really starting to feel the effects of the altitude.  Things that might not be funny at a normal elevation appear hilarious here.  The last 400 meters of the hike pose the greatest difficulty for me thus far.  I start to feel dizzy and my face feels slightly feverish.  I force myself to drink some more water (even though I’ve gone through close to 3 liters already today) and pull a granola bar from my pocket.  We haven’t eaten enough today, and I know this is the reason I feel this way.  As soon as we arrive at the Austrian Hut I inhale a late lunch and tea and lay down.  My energy and sense of normalcy begins to return to me quickly.  Not everyone stays at the Austrian Hut because it’s so close to the peak, but I’m excited to be here.  Our guide bids as goodnight and warns us that sleep does not come easy at this high of an altitude.  At least it’s warmer here than Shiptons. 

Day 3 turning to Day 4

As our guide warned, sleep is difficult tonight.  I venture outside at one point and am almost knocked over by the shear force of a stunning view.  (Okay, so part of the sudden dizziness might have been the altitude, but mainly it was the view.)  I’m not sure I can explain or fully grasp what I saw.  It filled me with delight, reverence, and terror all at the same time.  I am in awe of God’s creation.  It is no wonder that the Kikuyu people believed God lived on Mount Kenya when he came down from the sky.  The air is so thin and pure that objects seem to radiate, without vision being hindered by smog, clouds, pollutants, or dust.  The sky seems to be encircling me, overtaking the land which I stand upon.  The stars seem close enough to touch.  The moon shines so bright that the earth appears to be glowing.  The ground is still, yet the world around me seems to be constantly moving.  Except for the howl of the wind through my jacket’s hood, the mountain is in complete silence.  I too feel the need to follow this mountain’s vow of tranquility.  There is the outline of the peak: looming in the background, beckoning all climbers that have ventured this far to call upon it at daybreak’s first light.  I return to bed anticipating the acceptance of that call.  

Day 4- Game Day  

The day starts at 4:45.  It’s summit day.  I feel pretty good and am immediately thankful for the stay at Austrian Hut and the opportunity it gave me to adjust to the altitude and ward off sickness.  I woke up several times during the night, but my reaction was actually one of excitement.  After all, waking up meant at one point I had been asleep.  The hike is steep, but short this morning.  We climb on the west side of the mountain and don’t see the streaks of sunlight until we reach the peak.  The sky is beginning to show signs that sunrise is on its way.  The icy wind howls and burns against my face, but the view makes the cold worth it.  It is beautiful.  The tip of the sun appears in the sky, as if out of nowhere.  We watch the sun rise into full view, faster than it ever appears to move during the day.  After a group picture, the need for warmth forces us back down the mountain.  We take breakfast at the Austrian Hut and begin our descent.  We must now come down the steep slopes that we ascended yesterday.  This actually turns out to be one of my favorite parts of the trip (besides summiting of course) because I simply let gravity do the work and take off running.  I speed down the mountain, bounding over rocks and watching my steps to keep my balance.  I seem to amuse the guide and porters that run beside me.  We are going back a different route than we climbed up, and I appreciate getting to see another part of the mountain.  It helps not to know how much longer we have left. :)  We stop for a snack break just as the clouds roll in.  It literally looks like we are being overtaken by some sort of smoke being.  It’s funny how fast the weather changes.  One minute, clear blue skies and the next, we are watching a storm form while we are literally in the clouds.  The thunder rolls in the background and I prepare myself for a downpour.  But our guide seems not to be worried.  He tells me that he is watching the pattern of the clouds and he thinks we can stay ahead of the storm.  He glances around and listens as if his friend is telling him a secret.  It’s like he speaks the language of the mountain.  And I suppose after 20 years of climbing this mountain close to once a week, this is more of a home than anywhere to him.  He’s right: the rain stays behind us.  We pass through what is known as the vertical bog, which basically looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss story.  We finally arrive fairly exhausted at Met Station, our final camp.  I feel accomplished, tired, and ready for a shower.  Mount Kenya is now part of my story.  It’s another part of my life here that will follow me back to the States.

Avatar plants ;)

 

Breakfast with a great view!

 Austrian Hut

 Summit Sunrise

The Vertical Bog