Reflects on Kenyan Spirituality: Fasting

“Fasting deals with the two great barriers to the Holy Spirit that are erected by man’s carnal nature. These are the stubborn self-will of the soul and the insistent self-gratifying appetites of the body.” -Derek Prince

Today marks Eid, a Muslim celebration that concludes the month of fasting, Ramadan. 

Henna done for Eid celebration 

This marks the perfect day to reflect and investigate the role that fasting plays in religious practice. To fast is to abstain from food, or certain types of food especially for religious purposes. From a Muslim prospective fasting is “abstaining from food, drink, and sexual intercourse from dawn until sunset with explicit intention of doing so for the sake of Allah” (Sakah-ud-Din, 2011). It was interesting seeing this practiced first hand in Kenya, as I have in Canada. Each meal time my Muslim friends would have to explain why they were not eating anything, opening up conversation about religion. In the Christian context fasting is similar, where fasting is done to build reliance on God, rather than our human selves. Many religions regard starvation and meditation necessary for spiritual growth (Sakah-ud-Din, 2011).

I attended a Christian fellowship meeting at JKUAT, where the students were studying a book called Ombi, (Swahili for prayer) a devotional book written by a local. I enjoyed reading the chapter on fasting, as the spiritual importance of food is quite fascinating to me. This chapter described how fasting can deliver more than just spiritual growth, it is also used as a means of intervention when seeking answer to prayer. In 2000 the president of Kenya, Daniel Moi called for a 3 day fast and prayer to ask God for rains after a prolonged drought. As people gathered at a stadium to pray and fast together heavy rains drenched the crowds (Mbevi, 2009).

In reflection on the concept of fasting, I can see how self-discipline plays in integral role in spiritual growth. Our desire to eat is physiological, emotional and social, thus multiple aspects of desire are being suppressed while fasting. If we can resist the physical and worldly desires that fasting denies, than that reflects our dependence on God. The celebration of Ramadan in Kenya, is not as private as Western parts of the world. TV stations will display local Ramadan fasting schedules, and local feast. Eid is also celebrated as a national holiday, which gives many workers the day off, including myself!

I also find fasting a reminder of how blessed I am to be hungry by choice, and for spiritual reasons rather than true starvation. Being in a country where 33% of people do not have access to adequate nutrition, it’s a scary reality that is now close to home (IFPRI,2012). Food even in its absence can have a role in spiritual growth, intercession, and even as a reminder of poverty. I believe each of these results of fasting can be co-related; we can grow our spiritual connection to the world and others, which guides us to intercede for those that need support. Overall fasting is yet another illustration of how fundamental food is to culture and spirituality.

Let’s Celebrate, But Remember Those That Can't

The past 2 weeks have been full of celebrations! Last week I had the honour of being a guest at a friend’s graduation party. Kenyan’s sure know how to party! The whole community, extended family and friends were all under one tent sharing in the proud moment of a grad! I am sure it took all morning to prepare the multitude of food that we had, as my portion was a bit too generous (including the piece of cow intestine). The 60 of us ate our food while listening to the grads speech, and the Muzungus introduction. Because we were unknown it was customary for us to introduce our self’s, which is much nicer then the Canadian way of just thinking what the heck are these strangers doing here! At these grad parties they even take up an offering to assist the grad in finding a job. So my plan now is to say because I lived in Kenya I would like a Kenyan grad party….! In my family a grad party is simply a dinner with immediate family at a nice restaurant.

The next celebration in Kenya was hosted by moi, Canada Day! It was my first time celebrating Canada day in another country. With the recent issues of terrorism, I figured it was best to skip the fireworks, and just indulge in poutine! I didn’t notice how strange this French Canadian dish looked until my international friends started commenting! It is so interesting how food can be used to distinguish a country. Fun facts of the night: no I don’t live in an igloo and Justine Bieber was born in the same hospital as me!

My final celebration for this week was United States Independence Day party at the US embassy. I was honoured to be invited to this special event, among ambassadors, high commissioners and representatives from around the globe. Our group even had our own military escorts (with large guns!) to insure we were safe.To give a true American feel at the event, there were mini burgers, hot dogs and Subway for the guest to enjoy.

As special as I felt at this swanky even, I couldn’t help but remember what I saw on my way there. As we traveled passed a major overpass several children holding bottles to their noises approached our vehicle with glazed eyes. In Nairobi there are about 50,000 street children and 300,000 in Kenya. Of these children many sniff glue to cope with their situation. Children as young as 5 years old are addicted to glue (Voice of America, 2009). My heart broke as I rolled up my window on a young boy, I couldn’t image the feeling of rejection this child feels, at a time in his life he should be tenderly loved and embraced not ignored like a nuisance.

It was a good reminder to me as I go about this internship and daily life that there are so many things to be done no matter where in the world you are. We need to be active citizens not by standards. Let’s work together to be world changers!  
     

We All Have a Story

  
"Future Hope and Baby Centre was started on February 5th, 2006. Jane, the Director of the home, liked to visit Children's Garden, an orphanage within the District where she worked as a teacher. The director of the home was a friend who was struggling to raise abandoned children. On the material day, an officer visited the orphanage to seek help with two abandoned children in need of shelter. Jane accompanied the director to the nearby slum where the little girls were left alone. The younger baby 1 1/2 years old, was too young for the orphanage. They took the 4 year old girl. Jane was saddened by the fact that the younger baby was remaining alone in the one roomed house without any relative to take care of her. After much discussion, Jane offered to take care of Hope, as the baby was later called, on behalf of the orphanage and until the mother was found. She never turned up. The children's officer visited Jane and her family and was happy with the way Hope was being taken care of.


With time, Jane began receiving more abandoned babies in her little flat. In February 2007, Jane had received 7 young babies. There was no room. Babies slept on her dining table in their weaved baskets. A friend, Ann Bergerlind, from Sweden, helped Jane get a bigger home and rent for two months and thus, the Baby Centre was born. To this date the center is home to about 24 children. The center receives no funding from the government and relies totally on the donations of others. Any donations will go to the children's upkeep, food, rent, medical supplies, wages and transport." - Taken from the Future Hope and Baby Center Facebook page 

We all have a story…some make you smile, others bring tears. Let us take our stories of sadness and turn them into gladness!  Today I wanted to share a cluster of stories from Kenyan orphans that I had an opportunity to visit this past week.

Edward...a young autistic boy that survived extreme neglect and abandonment. 

Edward…loves to play ball and when he does, he has a smile that would brighten anyone’s day!

James…a baby that survived a late term abortion.

James…a bouncy baby that everyone has to fight over who will hold him next! 

Ann and Joy…two young girls that lost their mother to malnutrition. 

Ann and Joy…two young ladies that are the first to befriend you and sing a song for you!

Nicholas…a boy that covers his head in fear when you call his name.

Nicholas…an extremely smart boy that is the first to start his homework!

These kids now have a redefined future, one with hope and love! One woman saw a need and didn't ignore it. She took action, kept the faith, and followed her heart! This is just one or the many amazing Kenyan woman we can learn from.  

Making yogurt with the Food Science students at JKUAT

This week I had the chance to see the farm to table experience of yogurt making. Here on campus they have about 40 cows that they use for milk and meat. They also produce the grains to feed the cattle right on campus! The dairy farm is quite advanced as they have three automatic milking machines. As I watched the cows being milked, a small window in the building was being crowded with locals and students with their buckets and containers in hand waiting to receive their fresh milk rationing for the week. In Canada it’s very uncommon to sell unpasteurized milk! But here the locals know that they need to sieve and heat the milk before consuming. The following day I joined a great group of food science students that were learning how to make yogurt. It didn't take very long to heat the milk, as it was still warm from Betty’s Utters! It was good to see the care they took in ensuring proper food safety, as the products they were making would be sold later at the university.

The proctor that was instruction the students on the yogurt making was also giving them a pep talk about how if they put their minds to it they can be successful in the food industry: “Start small, and follow your dreams from there.” I found it very encouraging that the proctor was both a teacher and a mentor.

As a nutrition and dietetics student, I really appreciate how JKUAT university campus is all encompassing. It allows students to experience every aspect of nutrition, from framing and production to working in microbiology labs.

Food and Spirituality Experience:

This week I had the chance to speak with a pastor of a church that owned a butchery business. Very interesting mix of careers! We conversed about how farming and food production is done in Kenya compared to Canada. Really interesting to see the stark contrast! He discussed with me many issues that farmers in Kenya face, like drought, patented seeds and rising costs. What I found really interesting was when he described how farmers work together to find solutions to the problems they face rather than taking on the task alone. Throughout our conversation he made sure to emphasize that relying on God for provision is the key to small scale farming. I think I’ll coin this concept Faith Farming!        

Farm to table yogurt making.

Well my friends, I have been in Kenya for one week! I am finally adjusting to the new culture, and once again falling in love with this country!

My first few days were fully of many mishaps, but the pole pole (relax, take it easy) atmosphere here is starting to set in! I am still getting used to all the attention and looks that Mzungus (foreigners) get around here, and adjusting to some language barriers.

Before you continue reading, go and give your washer, dryer, internet modem, and cell phone a hug….they are underappreciated! What a painful experience to not be able to check my Facebook every five minutes! Just kidding, but seriously Canadians you have a lot that you take for granted (myself included).   

Painting the girls nails at the Ngoingwa Children's Orphanage
 in Thika Kenya

Highlights from my week would be meeting some great people, both Kenyans and international students from all over the world! I was also able to visit the orphanage that I had worked at 3 years ago. The children are still as precious as ever! They sang and danced to welcome me, and we played the afternoon away! I am looking forward to paying them regular visits while I am here.  

My food and spirituality experiences of the week:

I am this close to becoming a vegetarian after this week! It is crazy to see how disconnected our western culture is from our food! The goat I ate for lunch still had its hooves hanging from ropes near our dinning spot, and I sat beside a live kuku (chicken) in a grocery bag on the bus today. I was talking to one local, and he thought it was disgusting how we bought meat that was packaged shipped and refrigerated in our supermarkets! This is a very valid point, we really don’t have any idea where that meat has been or how it was treated before getting to the shelf.  

Food preparation and safety here is much different than in Canada, let’s just say I am still getting used to the different standards. In comparison to Canada there is much less pre-packaged and pre-prepared foods. Every city, village, and road is cluttered with an array of fresh fruit and vegetable stands, which are very affordable! The food at the university cafeteria cost less than a dollar for a meal!   

On another note, you can’t deny that Kenyans have a strong faith. Everywhere you look there is something to do with religion. Matatus (public transport vehicles) are decaled with Bible verses, and store fronts boldly display the name of Christ. Even my cell phone provider sends me daily Bible verses! It’s definitely not hard to find a church here, as they are on every block. And if you have to work at your stand that Sunday, not to worry, there is a church sermon surely playing from a speaker in the town center. There are also Christian fellowship meetings of some sort on campus at least four times a week. And of course before and after a basketball or rugby game, the team is never to miss a group prayer. 

Overall I am enjoying life in Kenya, and am excited to learn more!