In Ethiopia, Christmas is celebrated at the beginning of January, because of the Orthodox Calendar. While Steph and I could have had two Christmases, we took a trip to Mombasa, Kenya to take advantage of our extended holiday. I’m not really the spontaneous type – but it was a worthwhile and refreshing trip. We planned it pretty last minute, but in the end, everything worked out and we had many good memories.
Mombasa is a coastal city on the Indian Ocean and is the second largest city in Kenya. Historically it was a vital port city for trade. We had to adjust quickly to a new language (Swahili), currency (Kenyan Shillings), transportation (Kenyans drive on the other side of the road) and so on.
Our first time in one of the grocery stores was eye-opening. There was much more variety and selection compared to what’s available in Addis. We were also very excited about the nice cafes, restaurants, and the mall in Nyali.
From a development perspective, I began to notice quickly the differences between Ethiopia and Kenya. Ethiopia follows a state-led development model, and the government protects the economy from foreign franchises. Kenya, on the other hand, has scaled back the role of the state, liberalized markets and embraced a Western model of development.
Our time in Mombasa was short and sweet. We didn’t travel around too much, but mainly relaxed by the beach, ate food we can’t find in Addis, and spent time getting to know the guests at our hostel. Our stay at the hostel was pretty unique. The owner recently moved into the current house a few months ago, so it didn’t feel like home yet and was missing her personal touches. We were there when artwork, curtains, and the like were being put up. To see her and express that she was comingalive again, was something that excited me. I’m all for pursuing things, opportunities and people in life that make you come alive. Of course we all go through different seasons, some much more difficult than others. But ensuring that there’s life in what you do, is vital.
During our trip, I was reading a book called “The Me I Want To Be” by John Ortberg. It’s a timely read, because I’ve experienced many challenges, opportunities to grow and self-discover throughout this internship. If there’s one thing that I realized recently, it’s this: for some time I got lost in questions and uncertainty about the future, which made me doubt my dreams, passions and capabilities. It’s a downward spiral if you don’t quickly realize there’s a process to figuring it all out. And answers don’t always come quickly or conveniently. Being confident and certain in who I am in my faith in the Lord, regardless of circumstances, is what will keep me grounded. A quote from the book that I love is this, “life is not about any particular achievement or experience. The most important task of your life is not what you do, but who you become.”
It’s already nearing the end of January, which means I have less than two months left. It feels like there isn’t enough time to get everything done, so it’s crunch time! I’m excited to go to the field next week and spend time collecting most significant change (MSC) stories from our clients. My sister wrote in her Christmas card to me: “There’s no CAP to what you can learn there.” I want to hold onto this. Each day, there are new things to learn from different people, opportunities, and situations. There is no cap!
