Jumbled thoughts

7.9.09 4:30pm

We left this morning for an hour and a half drive through Northwestern Kenya to Kakuma. The trip was to see the Refugee Camp laced there in Kakuma filled with 45000 displaced people from Ethiopia, Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Congo and Somalia. Most of the people came here because of conflicts and fighting in their own countries. We were a but uncertain abut our trip this morning because we all felt lackluster about viewing more desolation and anguish. But Jenn convinced us of the reason to go... seeing new landscape, viewing the conditions because its a direct correlation to Lodwar conditions... so we went. When we arrived and began to see for ourselves the state the camp was in we were surprisingly shocked. The refugees get food twice a month, have much commerce, good medical care, schools work and materials to make houses. They also have water tanks and security. It was almost sad to see that these people are much more cared for by the UN than the people in the interior of Kenya, where they lack water food and clothing. The IDP camps in Napetet were made up Kenyans who were sent back home from Nairobi during the post election violence...but because they were one of the last camps they were placed on a lot and forgotten about. Thanks to the IRC they were given a water well but no food so it was a shock to see the Refugees living in a better situation. It also made us question how much truth we were really receiving... because of the way were were toured around, the way they answered our questions and the fact that journalists aren't allowed in. But refugee camps in Rwanda, Congo, Uganda and Sudan are much worse off, very unsafe and poorly put together because of the rate they go up to house the immense homelessness that springs up so fast. This camp seems like a well oiled machine, having been put up 18 years ago and having worked out its initial kinks. It feels like a large village as opposed to a camp. There is limited violence in this area of Africa right now. The Somalians fill the camp because of the strife going on back home between the Bantu's and the Kushites.

I feel safe here in Kenya, surrounded by thousands of people who had to flee here because of the neighboring countries where safety isn't so easily found. What I found most interesting was the way that the camp segregated the refugees into their different areas according to their country of origin. Each culture went on with life in their own way as if they never had to assimilate. Their is little Ethiopia which is the most advanced because they have been here the longest. That is where we decided to eat lunch for the day. The food was amazing and it was quite evident that just because they were refugees here didn't mean they were lacking money. A lot of them put their money away in banks and got it out when they got to the camp, so they could start their business up. These people are very adept at creating a business and making a living. The Somalia tribes continue to practice Polygamy in the camp so their compounds are much larger. Polygamy is still occurring in the interior of Kenya as well but the religious groups are slowly reaching out to stop that custom... which for no other reason I feel it would largely help the financial problems and the starvation aspect for families if the husbands wouldn't take on so many wives and have so many children.

We headed back to Lodwar around 3 after we took a tour of the churches there in Kakuma and walked around the town. I'm seriously uncertain of my feelings toward the pastors and their churches in the Pentecostal Faith. As a liberal christian I am disheartened by their interest in building bigger and flashier buildings, and asking the poor congregation to aid them in that venture. The congregation doesn't even have the money to survive and the parishioners are telling them they have a financial responsibility to the church. I am willing to admit I don't have all the information to completely have an opinion on this, but right now I can't fight the feeling of being appalled. I am also struggling with those who ask us for individual sponsorships, extra money and help for their businesses any chance they get. They will single us out any time we are hanging around to ask us these questions, and as uncomfortable as I feel I also can't say that I wouldn't do that if I was in their position. Their taking their opportunity at being sponsored any way they can.

I'm so confused and sad. And tired.