Airport Security: No bringing spoons into the Nairobi airport, ya hear?
Friday, July 31, 2009
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
My Favorite Thing (Today)
The Cake Cutting Ceremony
There's this funny tradition all over East Africa where if you are a guest, they have a cake cutting ceremony to welcome you. I felt like we were getting married every few days!
Ethiopia
Entoto is a mountain in Ethiopia where there is supposedly holy water that heals those with AIDS. The church there does not allow those on the mountain to use helpful drugs to treat HIV/AIDS saying they should instead have faith to be healed, and they do nothing to educate those living there about their disease. Most come there on their own or are dropped off by family members and left to die. It is a dark place of hopelessness as no one is ever healed. BEZA has been going to the mountain to educate the women there, get them the HIV/AIDS treatment that they need, and provide them with work through their jewelry making, chocolate, and yarn spinning programs. Being with the women it was easy to forget the hardships they suffer because they were so beautiful, lively, and full of hope. It is an honor to partner with them.
One of the women hard at work!
A women in the Entoto Project Program modeling one of our designs that she was crafting.
Kirsten and I working with the women to finalize the designs.
Sophi and Emily at BEZA International. Sophi and her husband started BEZA.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
PACWA/WOGA Women's Centre
Everyone here has an unbelievable and miracle story of survival. Our host Peace began this project after she had fled to Canada during the genocide with her kids. After rebuilding her life there, and after her children were adults, she felt God tell her to return to Burundi to help the women there. This program was the result. It was this program that pulled on my heart the most, causing me to want to come on this trip. I have met Peace twice as she has come to speak to our Women of Global Action group in Los Angeles. She is the strongest women I have ever met. Two days before we arrived here another tragedy struck her life. For security reasons I won't say much, but one of her family members was murdered, and they believe it was politically motivated.
As I sat in this sewing room and salon with all these women they began to tell us there stories. All of them have either been raped, widowed, starving, HIV/AIDS +, or all the above. Yet there is a fierce hope and peace like I have never seen before. It is the Gospel in action. Alive. Transforming. Even now I am crying as I write this. They have touched me deeply by their faith. They are roll models to me. And their Joy is contagious.
Monday, July 27, 2009
My Favorite TWO Things (Today)
African Crane Bird, in the wild, at the pool. SO BEAUTIFUL! (this place is wild.)
Kirsten under the Novotel hotel pool-side umbrella
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Burundi Market
This was the primary market in Bujumbura. Westerners never go here. Some of the local's don't even come here. Our host Peace apologized for bringing us here but said this was the best place to buy fabric. Before we stepped out of the car she made us empty everything we had on us into her bag. When we got out, something told me to "hold on tight." The streets were crowded and all eyes were on us. When we walked into the market, a large, sprawling awning with make-shift stalls as "stores", Kirsten had something thrown at her face, and I had my pockets patted down. The dirt on the floor created a permanent dust cloud in the air. We waded through the haze until the fabric stalls began to appear.
Most of the people looked like the guy in the photo to the right. Beady eyes full of darkness, hopelessness, and survival. It's impossible not to feel the tension in the air. Two genocides have left this country socially, economically, and tribally unstable. Anyone could "snap" at anytime and there is nothing to protect you. Don't tell my mom, but it's a little scary being here. There are no safety nets only survival of the fittest. This morning before we came here we attended a church service. The message was from the Old Testament: The story of Amos raping his sister. My first thought was, "Where is he going with this?". My second thought was, "...We're not in Kansas anymore." The entire sermon was on rape and murder. That if you have been raped God still values you. You are pure in His site and He still has a plan for you. If you have raped someone you need to repent and turn from your wicked ways and accept Christ's forgiveness. You are a new creation in Him. Also if you have murdered someone or plan to murder someone you also need to repent. It was a heavy and intense message. Many people came forward afterwards for prayer. It was very sobering to see these tough issues that Burundians face on a daily basis.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Jet Lag
ps- my staying up late jet-lag experiment worked!
Normally when I travel East I arrive at my destination in the morning. I sleep on the plane as much as possible so by the time I get there I am ready to go. This time we arrived at night so I had to reconfigure my plan. I stayed up all night the night before. Flew from Los Angeles-DC with no sleep, then from DC- Switzerland slept as much as I could. From Switzerland to Kenya tried not to sleep though narcolepsy kicked in a few times. It worked. Totally. Loads of water too. And Swiss Chocolate. All secrets to success.
Beautiful Burundi
One of the women making a children's soft toy block
Kirsten and Lori working on a purse pattern
Showing the leaders how we want the baby bib to look...
Today we went with Peace to meet the women at the sewing cooperative that we will be working with. They welcomed us in song and dance and then introduced themselves to us. Even now as I type it brings tears to my eyes to think about all their stories of how this program has completely changed their lives. They are all so talented and full of potential and just need the opportunity to grow. Nobel Peace Prize Winner Muhammed Yunus said,
"Poor people are a like bonsai tree, a little tree. You pick the seed of the tallest tree in the forest and take the best seed out of it, and plant it in a flower pot. You get a tiny little tree, we call it a bonsai. Nothing wrong with the seed, you've got the best seed possible. Nothing wrong with the tree, because you actually picked the tallest tree in the forest. But actually it grows [small]... why? Because we put them in the flower pot. The base. Society is the base. And society is so stingy it doesn't give the poor ppl the space to grow..."
These women have all the brain power and will to do what needs to be done, but no where to grow. We are hoping we can make that flower pot a bit bigger by opening up a US market to them. They were very excited about the designs we showed them. We kinda are too! (-:
Friday, July 24, 2009
Burundi
BELOW: (Emily (WOGA- Colorado), Kendra (WOGA- Colorado), Brandon (Film Maker),
Kirsten (Raven + Lily), Peace (PACWA leader, Burundi), Lori Fox (Raven + Lily)
We arrived in Burundi from Kenya. It was an amazing welcome for us as we went with our host Peace to her cousin's wedding and nephew's graduation celebration. The wedding was filled with tribal dancing and drumming and singing from Burundi and Rwandan traditions.
Next we went to the grad celebration and listened to a few speeches and were able to partake in a Burundian feast! What a way to dive into the culture!! It was a day none of us will forget.
We ate potatoes, boiled bananas that tasted like more potatoes, fish, rice, kale, salad, OH MY!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Kenya Sweet Kenya
It is the dead of winter here in Kenya. Temperatures drop into the lower 60's F. Somehow we are surviving. The constant flow of coffee and chai are helping.
(Ladies Homecare Retreat Center: Karen, Nairobi)
Emily, Kendra, Kirsten, and I arrived safely to the Nairobi airport after 24 hours of economy air plane food, layovers, and verticle naps. We were taken to Ladies Home Care Retreat Center in Karen, a village just outside of Nairobi, where we met Dr. Judy (who heads the groups we will work with), Brandon (documentary film maker and mosquito dodger who has been here sice last Thursday) and the staff. Good food, warm chai, smiling faces, and (at last) a proper bed filled with horizontal sleep.
The women were so greatful and touched that we want to partner with them. They thanked us many times and shared with us that with this work they will be able to send their children to school and have food for their families. I had to keep myself from crying. It's so amazing to see first hand how something as simple as a bracelet can give so much life and dignity.
Tomorrow we will be venturing to the marketplace to gather samples and source fabrics for our time in Burundi.
From Antarctica, I mean Kenya (((bbrrrrrrr))),
lorifox
(Kendra, Rev. Dr. Judy Mbugua, Kirsten, Chai)
The sun rose at 6am right on cue with the crowing rooster and flock of birds that nested outside our windows. After a quick breakfast we met with Dr. Judy to introduce her to the vision of "Raven and Lily". She was was overwhelmed with excitement and joy at this new venture that will be such a huge and practical help to the women here. As our meeting came to a close a van pulled up in the driveway. The tribal Maasai women, covered in traditional beads and blankets, filed out and came to meet us. They brought three tables full of their traditional bead work for us to see. Many of the women have little or no education and one of the leaders pointed to the jewelry and said, "This is the only education they know." And from the looks of it they are masters. After formal introductions, hand shakes, a few songs, and Maasai dancing, Kirsten and I received our bracelet order and began working on new designs. We created some solid pieces that we can't wait to share with you!
The women were so greatful and touched that we want to partner with them. They thanked us many times and shared with us that with this work they will be able to send their children to school and have food for their families. I had to keep myself from crying. It's so amazing to see first hand how something as simple as a bracelet can give so much life and dignity.Tomorrow we will be venturing to the marketplace to gather samples and source fabrics for our time in Burundi.From Antarctica, I mean Kenya (((bbrrrrrrr))),
lorifox
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
My Favorite Thing (Today)
"Imperial Leather" Soap... for your skin or your boots.
I think they meant "Lather"
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Zurich Airport
This wall was made out of thousands of drinking straws stacked on top of each other.
It was so cool to walk through.
Me. My Passport. A maze. And an airport.
More photo fun at the airport (we had a few hours to kill)... Kirsten in front of the vine wall.
Monday, July 20, 2009
It's 2am
I'm trying to stay up all night to beat the jet-lag when I arrive in Africa. I don't have a lot to say right now, other than I'm tired and trying to stay awake! All my bags are packed, accounts paid, bed made. I leave in 2 hours for the airport. LAX makes you get there 3 hours ahead for international flights. I'm going to need some coffee soon.
I found out Kirsten and I will be on the same flight from DC to Switzerland, so that is a relief. Will be nice to have someone to talk to! When we arrive in Switzerland we meet up with Emily and Kendra who are coming from Colorado. We will all leave for Nairobi from there!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
ONE WEEK...
...before I leave for Africa. The reality is setting in. I'm packing and preparing and sewing and making patterns and I'm thinking about it now. I'm nervous. Will I be able to help these women in the way they need? What if... What if.. What if. I don't know what to expect. What I do know is I'm about to help change these women's lives, and they are about to help change mine. My heart is heavy with sorrow for their situation, but I know there is hope.
Please keep us in your prayers if your the praying type, or thoughts if your the thinking type.
~health
~smooth travel
~favor with the groups we are meeting
~creative ideas that are realistic to the women's needs and skills
~that we are able to find the best sources for materials
Here is a rough itinerary. I'm not sure that I will have reliable internet access while there. We will be on twitter from what I hear if your into that sort of thing. Under the name Raven and Lily.
MON 20 JULY Los Angeles >>Zurich
TUE 21 JULY Zurich >>Nairobi, Kenya
FRI 24 JULY Nairobi, Kenya >> Bujumbura, Burundi
MON 27 JULY Bujumbura, Burundi >>Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
FRI 31 JULY Addis Ababa, Ethiopia >>Nairobi, Kenya
WED 12 AUG Nairobi, Kenya >>Zurich
THUR 13 AUG Zurich >> DC
TUE 18 AUG DC>> Los Angeles
I have a feeling my life is never going to be the same.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Simply
by: http://www.alexhulme.com/project/pencil/
It seems that making an ordinary thing in an extra-ordinary way has produced a brilliant design.
Way to go Alex.
Stop Motion w/ Post-It Notes!
Students from the Savannah College of Art and Design created this stop motion animation with post-it notes!
This is a flippin trip, looks like a radiohead video. This architectural video installation goes out to DLC and Mamun:
Monday, July 06, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)