Whiplash
Heather Zempel
May 29, 2007 · 8:59 AMNathan just gave you the rundown on yesterday, and I thought I’d throw in a couple of personal reflections. I suppose the primary feeling I experienced yesterday can be characterized by the word whiplash. I realize now that Nathan just used that word to describe the day, as well. Twelve of us dug ourselves out of bed before the break of day to hang out with some professionals—businessmen and women, engineers, accountants, entrepreneurs, etc. Brian Hill knocked it out of the park with his reflections on being an influential businessman and Christ-follower in the marketplace. It felt just like we were hanging out with NCCers—people with similar backgrounds, experiences, and dreams. We met Kenyans who had friends and family in DC.
From there, we went directly to the Eastleigh slums, where we saw poverty that went beyond anything I can possibly begin to describe. It seems trite and cliché to even try to wrap words around the mess that we saw. We held orphans and made them laugh. We prayed with children who are HIV positive. We listened to children living in complete squalor sing with a joy I’ve rarely seen.
Whiplash. From one end of the economic and sociological spectrum to the extreme opposite end. Two worlds co-existing in the same small space near Nairobi.
And yeah, it was also whiplash to try to stand in front of the young professionals breakfast with any credibility after spewing my Pop-tart out the window of the bus on the drive there.
Joel Schmidgall
May 29, 2007 · 11:52 AM
What an incredible array of experiences! It’s neat that you’re getting to see the whole picture of Kenya, especially within different social and economic classes. And God has enabled you to minister in each environment! Tell the team that many NCCers are praying for them. Keep up the great work!