June 1 is Madaraka day here in Kenya.  It commemorates internal self-rule from the British, preceding full independence.  I took advantage of the afternoon to go on a ride.  I took some video to help share with you what it is like here.

This is going through a part of Kawangware, a slum area heading out of Nairobi.  The video is double speed (to scare my mother).

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A little while back, I posted some zebra, this video is a sampling of some of the domesticated animals I  passed on this single ride, and there were a lot more after the battery ran out.  It is interesting because you can clearly see when I move from donkey carts to grazing herds, Kikuyu land to Masai land.  I got to shift my greeting from “We mwega” to “Supa.”  Near the end of the clip there is a sheep.  Every time I interact with sheep, I feel ashamed that is the animal God so often used to describe us.  They are really stupid and have no motivation to do anything on their own except eat. *looks in the mirror and sighs*

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One more short clip of a guy on a motorcycle out in the middle of no where.  This is very common, as these motorcycles are a main form of transportation.  They move people and goods.  Sometimes they are so loaded you would not believe it.  When we were down in Lukenya we came across a guy who had over 130kgs (290lbs) of cargo, mostly unga (ground maize flour).  He had put the bike down and unsurprisingly could not get it back up.  We helped him.  We thought about splitting up his load on the quads, but especially in Ukambani, you never know how far “just here” is.

I pulled up alongside this guy just to say “Hi.”  He is doing the same road I am, on an air-cooled 125cc with about 3 inches of travel in the suspension and probably twice the weight I have.  He is my hero.

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Near the end of the ride, at a place called Kimuka below the Ngong Hills, I ran into Joel and David.  Two Masai brothers who were looking for something to do on the holiday with no school.  We talked for about 30 minutes as I tried to understand their life down there.  They were quick to note they were half brothers.  Their father had 5 wives, a sign of great wealth and status.

Here is the track from the ride.  I finished by avoiding Ngong Road through the worst part of traffic, and instead went through Kibera.  This is not recommended for cars.

One of the things I find very entertaining is all the different things you see on people’s clothes.  A large amount of the clothing that middle class and below people wear comes from shipping containers full of things thrift stores in the US cannot sell.  Since there is a disconnect between the US culture and the culture here, you find odd combination.  I saw a really fit guy wearing a nice “Curves” t-shirt.  Yesterday was a holiday and I went for a ride with my camera.  I saw this guy on the left.  I bet he feels really nice, because he has no idea what it means.

Sunday I preached at Kabete.  Cammy had a sore throat, so she and the boys stayed home.

I taught from Hebrews 11 and the start of 12, and was really convicted myself.  I told them a story about when I was learning to drive.  I was going to Forest Home with my sister and her husband.  They asked if I would drive some of it.  So there I was, 16 at the wheel of a large van driving up the highway full of those very dear to me.  I spent so much effort trying to keep the van in my lane.  I kept adjusting the wheel this way and that, bouncing from one side of the lane to the other.  Then my sister said, “Do not look right in front of the van, look ahead where you are going.   Your hands will follow your eyes.”  Good advice, and not just for driving.  We spend way to much time adjusting the here and now, and we fail to “fix our eyes on Jesus,” and focus on where we are going.

I really love Kabete, I even told them it was “mahali ya moyo wangu” – the place of my heart.  (They are trying to teach me Kikuyu, but that is going very slow.)  There is something really different there.  It helps that it is outside the city, so on Sundays they go to church, that is the only plan.  In fact, just as we were all preparing to leave the church, the pastor’s daughter asked me if I was leaving.  I replied that I was “free” for the afternoon.  So completely on the spot, lunch at the pastor’s house was organized.  They roped in some ladies to cook and a couple of the elders to be guests.  It was good food too.

At the Wild Animal Park.  Zebra!

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I met some friends down in Lukenya.  There is a place that rents quads, so they went down to use them and Caleb, Taylor and I rode down to meet them.

Unfortunately I did not get it on video, but later I chased wildebeest, impala, Thompson’s gazelle, and even found a jackal.  There were some giraffe too, but I have heard they can throw a lion 8 feet in the air with their neck, and can kick, and throw rocks…

We did not see the warthog, but Taylor found a hole…

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Everyone seems to ask if we have big bugs and creepy crawlers around here….

Oh, it’s not real!!!  Andrej found this remote control spider at a garage sale.  He has had fun “spooking” people with it, especially me!  No, I have not seen a REAL spider this big around here.  Thankfully!  However, one of our friends did find a tarantula last year under their dining table on Easter Day!!! Yikes!!!

Some of the members of Calvary Chapel Amarillo, TX were out for the dedication of the new children’s home.  However because of the bus accident the actual moving in has been delayed.  Stephen let me know they were going to be out there for prayers, so I jumped on my bike and headed over.  It was really muddy, but I made it there.  The kids were all there too, so we had a great time.  I asked the older boys, “Kiwanja ya mpira iko wapi? Niko tayari kucheza.”  (Where is the ball field? I am ready to play.)

I found Petr boxing at the wall the other day….turns out he was boxing his shadow!

The boys with boxes from all those wonderful packages people send us.  They painted them and set them up as a horse drawn carriage – with no prompting from me!  I love Andrej’s addition of his bike helmet.

I very rarely post about politics, and this post is only tangent to a political discussion.  This observation has application to life anywhere.

When I was attending UCSD with my cousin, we used to play pick up basketball on Friday afternoons.  We would form a team of 5 from the people waiting to play.  When the game on the court finished, the winning team would then play us.  If we won, we played again, if we lost we left the court, and another team played against the winners.

The process that any organization goes through depends on the structures that are set up to control it.  However, those structures are less and less meaningful if they are not enforced.  Think of it like a game, two teams competing to win.  If there is no referee around to punish infractions against the rules, or the referee is too weak, the game gets out of hand.  The rules get broken and nothing happens.  This leads to more rules being broken.  In the minds of the players, they are doing whatever it takes to win, and that goal, above all, directs their actions.  Sports are not really about winning.  They are about competing.  By losing the structure, they have lost all the meaning of the game.

This is exactly what happened in Jesus day.  The Pharisees had learned to play the game.  They bent the rules to their advantage to such a degree that it put them in power.  Then the rules had no other meaning other than keeping them in power.  When someone came on the scene to challenge them, they killed him.  We all know about Jesus, but he was not the only one they destroyed (just the most important).

The purpose, the vision, the constitution of any organization is the structure.  If those rules are not adhered to, the organization will fail in its purpose.  It will no longer be about the vision of the organization, it will be about empowering a group of people.  Those people will do whatever it takes to “win.”  They will bend the rules, reinterpret them to their advantage.  They will learn how to use every loophole.  They will resist any changes to the rules as they have reformed and learned to use.  When someone comes along challenging their way, they will be destroyed.

Winner stays.

We had an Easter lily on Easter Day!  (Thanks to Grandma for giving us money to plant some beautiful flowers after our yard was torn up from the back wall falling down)

I wanted to share more pictures from our trip to the States so here are the ones that capture some of our family traditions

The Living Nativity at Horizon North County:

We have enjoyed attending the Living Nativity with Paul’s family for many years.

During the time of Christmas when our focus may be on other things, it is good to SEE the reason for the season

Prime Rib at my Dad’s house:

Some years back my father got a huge slab of prime rib and called it “Prime-icis Rib-icis”.

It  has become the special occasion meal at the Idler house.  It was so nice to have some tender meat.

Christmas Eve at Paul’s parents:

On Christmas Eve, before opening presents, Paul’s dad has the tradition of reading Luke 2 with the youngest children sitting on his lap.

Petr and Andrej had the honors.

And then came the unwrapping of the presents – always a special time of Grandpa reading his gift tags that are hidden codes.  Only he knows who the gift belongs to.  We have fun trying to guess.

Paul and his Grandmom (This is one of my favorite pictures from Christmas – they look so joyful!)

The “Sisters” on Paul’s side of the family.  I am so blessed to have married into a family where the sister-in-laws are my close friends.  Growing up with two brothers (who I love and adore), I always wanted to know what it was like to have a sister. Some of you know that I do have a sister in Heaven, who I am named after, but I didn’t have the chance to know her.  She would have been forty years old this month.  I thank God that He has provided other means of having sisters.  I am blessed with one on my side of the family and three on Paul’s side of the family.

Christmas morning:

Doughnuts!  My mom always made these doughnuts on Christmas morning.  Yummy!!

“like father, like son” – Paul reads the Christmas story to the boys before opening Christmas presents

Christmas stockings by the fire!

Andrej with his guitar!

Petr displaying the visual for the “No whining” sign.

I think he’s had practice…looks like he’s got the whining thing down.

Decorating the Birthday Cake for Jesus!

Singing to Jesus

New Traditions that will continue when we visit the States (I’m pretty sure):

Buying the Boys a Root Beer at the mall

(we can’t get root beer in Kenya).

The boys were strutting with their “big boy” sodas.  They were shocked when we ordered them a large!

Chuck E. Cheese

We went with my parents and my brother’s family.  I’m sure the boys will try to make it a family tradition!   Grandpop and Uncle Brandon watch as the boys drive a boat on a simulated screen of Lake Powell – our family’s vacation spot!  It was so cool.  Petr hit the “jack pot” with the tickets.  Andrej looks like he is used to crazy driving in Nairobi….

I don’t have a picture for the next tradition so I used this one because it sums up the “end product” of the tradition…..drum roll please….SLEEP OVER AT GRANDMAS WITH ALL THE GRANDCHILDREN – or as many as can make it!!!  Paul’s mom loves to have all of her grandchildren under one roof, sharing together in life’s experiences.  Our little Andrej makes a baker’s dozen – 13 grandchildren in all!  So much fun:)

The Childrens Museum with Nonni

there were many activities to keep my boys interested!

Missing the 70′s, anyone?

Yes, I jumped too!  Nonni, thanks for treating us to the museum.

SEA PORT Village

We used to take the trolley down to seaport village and walk around, mostly on Saturdays.  Sometimes we would go with the grandparents and buy ice cream at Ben & Jerry’s.  My Mom and I took the boys after The Childrens Museum.  We were prepared with a football.  After the boys ran around with the ball we got the traditional ice cream!

McDonald’s!!!

The boys were given gift cards for Christmas from our dear friend Joan Chaffin.  Thanks Joan! They enjoyed their Happy Meals.

Those of you who know my Dad will understand these pictures.  My Dad loves to dress as a cowboy.  He loves horses, but mostly likes wearing his cowboy boots and hat.  And I have seen him wear those boots to church…hello El Cajon!  He takes advantage of any excuse to dress up like a cowboy (since he doesn’t have a horse).   I used to have a horse and did some horse shows.  When I won a fancy silver belt buckle, he would ask to borrow it!  My winning worked out pretty well for him.  He would be dressed in Cowboy attire from head to toe.   Anyways, back to the pictures:  My Dad has a friend named Gary who is the care taker of their property (he lives in a trailer on the property).  Gary wanted to do something special for my boys for Christmas so he hired a lady that brings horses for rides.  She even brought her brother to do some circus juggling! My Dad told me to invite my friends and their kids to join the fun.  We had one BIG playdate.  My Dad took the opportunity to give the kids golf cart rides, cowboy hat and all!

Here are the rest of the pictures:

Thanks, Gary, for a wonderful time!  And a “Hee Ha” to the Cowboy whom I am proud to call my “Daddy”:)

These pictures are symbolic of the growth of my boys.   They used to be scared of the Star Wars mask.  We went to Aunt Julie’s house and they went to the closet (remembering where the mask  was) and surprised us by putting it on!  The first picture is of Petr with his cousin, Mark.  The second picture is Andrej.  We had some good laughs.

Planting Pine Trees with Grandpop in his yard.

When I was growing up we had pine trees (old Christmas trees from our house) that my Dad planted.  It was fun to watch them grow through the years.  Well, my Dad surprised us with having the same idea for Petr and Andrej to plant some with him this year.

Paul and I had a tradition of taking the boys to Denny’s on Sundays after church.  Petr kept mentioning this fact during our visit, but we didn’t make it to Denny’s until the morning of our departure.  We met family for breakfast to say our good byes.  It was rough, but there was comfort in knowing we will see them all again when we come back in August!