Meeting with the University Students

Continuing Wednesday June 11th, 2008

2 Corinthians 3:13-15
We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to keep the Israelites from gazing at it while the radiance was fading away. But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts.

After experiencing Mathare Valley, we met with several Journey students who were from various universities. Each of us paired up with someone from the Journey and took a tour of a Kenyan university to see what they were like. I was paired with Grace who was by far one of the most incredible individuals I've ever met. She quite possibly had the best first impression I have ever seen. When asked what she did for the Journey, she said that what she did was so important because she was the one who made the tea. At home, if someone said all they did for a campus ministry was make tea, people would look at them funny, but she saw a much greater and more humbling reason for her importance in the ministry: she saw how she brought people together by making them comfortable. She completely understood her purpose in ministry and it was impressive to see.

While we walked around the campus we talked about the similarities and differences in our countries. She was amazed that we had four full seasons since their seasons are more like dry and rainy. Their winter was only 70-80 degrees! The university housing was our first stop-- which they called hostels. Since in America we call our housing dormitories I was confused when first asked if we had any hostels. I hadn't heard that word in so long and my first thought was hostages.

Unlike the dorms I've had, the building was much more open and less secure. It was almost more apartment style because you could just walk up the stairs that were outside and it would directly lead to your hall. However, the rooms were identical to ours. I would say it was about the size of my room in Wells. They had the same set-up: two beds, two dressers, two desks, and a window. Grace's roommate was currently working on a paper for psychology. They were in the thick of finals. I was impressed that Grace took time from finals week to help out with the Journey. I know when finals week comes for me that I tend to hide in a bat's cave while I cram eight chapters of unwanted material into my brain.

The campus was huge. I'm not sure if we covered the whole ground, but the more we walked around the campus the more I was amazed. It was definitely bigger than Missouri State. The buildings were much farther apart than at home and they were all similar looking-- opposed to the myriad of architectural trends spanning decades at my campus. Grace was proud of her school and every department, which I thought was cool. In America the majority of us go to college just because we see it as something that has to be done. Even more people don't even value their education or even attempt to expand their mind. In fact, once a person graduates from either high school or college and begins to work that's considered the real world. But in Kenya, I could tell they cared about their education and they sought hard for a degree because they wanted to make a difference. To care about departments that you are not even involved with is so awesome considering how in America our programs compete with each other to get more students and a lot of times they reject other schools of thought.

They had computer labs, recreational areas, a giant football field (soccer), and all the normal necessities you would find at a normal school in the States. Grace talked about how the government issues out money for students that do well in their secondary education so they can go to college. I asked her if there was a difference in people if they were from the city or not and she basically said, "I always thought people from the city were spoiled. And now I'm here, and I am so spoiled."

That night we ate at the Java House again. Actually, the point of going to Java House was to have a debriefing session, but unfortunately it was way too loud to hear anything anyone was saying. I was starving. We hadn't eaten for hours. If there's anything I learned: sleep and food keep me sane. I couldn't help but be mad at myself either;I had just eaten a few hours ago and I knew food would be on the table. But what about the kids in Mathare? Were they just scrounging around the slums looking for food? What a horrible thought; one that continues to bother me into the night.

1 Corinthians 4:10-12
We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ! We are weak, but you are strong! You are honored, we are dishonored! To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it.