Work, music, parades, and Obama bubble gum

Hello Internet,
It has been two weeks since I have updated and many things have happened. (However, I am a horrible photographer due to the fact that I hardly ever remember to carry around my camera. So, many of the things I will talk about have no pictures, for that I am sorry).

I am currently the only person in the youth department. The TYS is on leave, so right now I am the Kenya West Youth Department. I have been learning what it means to work in an office and am starting to understand it. It is a lot different than the jobs I have had before, but I am enjoying it. Also, I can now tell you exactly what my job is, since I now know. The job I am doing is pretty much the Assistant Territorial Youth Secretary. I plan and run territorial and divisional events for youth, training sessions, work with our youth who will be doing missions in different capacities, teach leaders, teach and grade corps cadets, teach music, and many other tasks. It is a big job, but one that I am very happy with. I see the good that it will do, with God’s help.

Two Saturdays ago I went to a Salvation Army funeral for an officer (pastor). She died from a heart attack due to complications from diabetes. The funeral was held at her family's home and it was amazing to see the amount of officers and soldiers (laity) who came out to support the family and pay respects to the Major. The service was a little over three hours long, which apparently is very short compared to most West Kenyan funerals, and was filled with a surprising amount of joy. We celebrated her life and thanked God for her life.

The following weekend, I spent time working on my shamba, which means land, where I have been given space to grow vegetables and beans. The family that I share the shamba with had me plant about 200 seeds of corn. We will definitely not run out of corn.


I am also now a member of two Salvation Army brass bands, playing the baritone. I am a member of the Kakamega corps brass band and the United Band, which has members from all over the territory. The United band has about 50 members but, since they pay for their own travel and expenses, many do not make it to all of the practices. Yesterday, I had a chance to march in the opening ceremony for the Physically Disabled Sports Competition which is taking place in Kakamega. The Salvation Army band led the procession through the town to the soccer stadium where the competition was held. It was wonderful to watch young children with disabilities have a chance to compete and be encouraged. My favorite event was when young children with Down Syndrome ran the 100 meters. The referee yelled “twende” (go) and then the children ran while their coaches ran along side them smiling and clapping, telling them what a good job they were doing.

I am currently working on a lot of different seminars and teaching sessions that are coming up. This weekend I have a territorial youth seminar, the following weekend I have a Division Youth Officers (DYS) seminar and a Territorial Self-Denial meeting, followed by a week of Vacation Bible School, divisional music meetings, and a youth weekend in a city called Bungoma. I have a busy time coming up, but I know God will use me and has a plan for it all.

Yesterday, I saw a semi stacked with speakers playing incredibly loud rap music. When they reached my window I saw a giant banner of Obama’s face. Later I found out that this was a marketing campaign for Obama brand Bubble Gum.

this is my house

This is a baboon.

Please pray for:
- Learning Kiswahili
- Patience and understanding with cultural differences and misunderstandings
- Strength to fully commit to all that God has planned for me

Much love,
Justin

Youth, Open-Airs, and Bags of Chicken

Greetings from Kenya! My first full week was filled with office work. I needed to acquaint myself with the Territory, its procedures, the youth, and prepare for a divisional youth weekend which was held in the Eldoret Division. This was a youth weekend which consisted of youth leader training on Friday, youth seminars and an open air on Saturday, and an open air and worship service on Sunday.















I must admit that being in the office all week was kind of getting me down. I am not much of an “office” kind of guy and I was really questioning why I was here and why God would bring me across the world just to sit in an office. But then I was able to go out and meet the youth and I knew it was all worth it. I was encouraged that my office work was for a purpose and I gained energy from being with the youth. The youth openly welcomed me as there own and made me feel at home (the TYS always tells them that I am now a Kenyan and should be treated as one).

There has been very little leadership development or seminars in this Territory and it was amazing to see so many leaders eager and willing to grow in their knowledge of leading youth.

The open air meetings that we had were like none I have ever been a part of. We marched through the entire town of Turbo for about an hour and then held an open air meeting in the city center. The meeting was about an hour long and consisted almost entirely of singing and dancing. Everyone was dancing and having a good time (I was dancing too, but I know my white boy moves are much different then they are used to. I don't quite have the hip movements down yet.) Turbo is a town with a lot of drunkenness and prostitution and just by dancing with these people we were able to meet and encourage many. Many of the drunkards marched with us back to the corps (church) building and one, Emmanuel, gave his life to Christ and attended church the next morning.

I was in charge of co-leading the leadership training where we taught about leading good and attractive meetings, what are the qualities of a good leader, and what purity in our lives looks like as leaders. For the youth seminars, I taught one on abstinence and one on praise and worship. Our teachings were received well and we were already invited back to the division to teach more sessions to the youth and leaders. The young are hungry for more events, knowledge, and materials and we will do our best to meet the need of the youth.

I now feel more African. I am picking up some kiswahili, i am eating Kenyan foods (like ugali, sukumawiki, and kuku), and I am starting to get used to the way of life here. Praise God that, so far, the language barrier has not been a problem (I spoke without translation to the youth) and that I am feeling more comfortable and "at home", except for when I am stared at as I walk down the street and called "Muzungu", which means European.

We were given a gift of a chicken, so we put it in a plastic bag and threw it in the trunk.

Please pray for:

-A learning spirit

-Wisdom in what to invest time in

-Willingness to work

-To learn Kiswahili

-For the Vacation Bible School program we are currently planning

thanks,

Much love
Justin

First Impressions

Greetings from Kakamega, Kenya. I am happy to say that I have arrived in Kenya safely, have been into the Territorial Headquarters (THQ) for Kenya West, and that I have met all of the territorial staff. Kenya West is a brand new territory (it began March 1, 2008), but it is in great hands. The staff are all wonderful, kind, and capable people.

Kenya is a very nice place. The people are all very hospitable, kind, and welcoming. The weather is much nicer than back in the states, about 85 during the day and 60 at night.

The place where I live is called Shimala Vandu, which means “finishing people”. There used to be a lot of car accidents there and were many fatalities. But The Salvation Army is now there, so we are going to rename it and “reclaim the land for Christ” (which was said by my friend Captain Felisters). I live on a complex with many of the THQ staff, where there is an apartment complex, four houses, and the guest house (my place).

The THQ, since the territory is new, is on the property of the old DHQ and the offices are small, few, and crammed. My office, which consists all of the Youth Department, is about half the size of an average American bedroom and there are three of us in the office. There are other offices in closets, old bathrooms, and one office that seven officers share. But within the next few months we will move into the new THQ building.

This is our current office, with the TYS and the Candidate Secretary and myself.

This is the big, new, unfinished THQ. Its going to be amazing.

Over the weekend, I attended a divisional event for the Kakamega Division at the Musingu Corps. This was a divisional event with about 1,000 people from the division coming together to celebrate Self-Denial Sunday. This was a time of celebration with much dancing, singing, and an Army procession of all the corps marching about one and a half miles. As we were driving to church, we saw Salvation Army soldiers in full white uniform all along the road waiting for a matatus, which are small buses, to take them to the meeting. It was wonderful to see all of the singing, dancing, and giving by the Kenyan Salvationists.

I am doing well and thank you for your prayers. I could use continued prayer for:
-Patience in the tasks set before me
-Faith that I am where I am supposed to be and that God will use me
-That Kiswahili will come easy for me and that I can speak and understand it
-Strength to pursue each day fully

If you wish to get in contant with me while I am in Kenya there are many ways.

1. Contact me through this blog

2. Email me (justinarthurrose@gmail.com)

3. I am on lotus notes (for you army folks)

4. Facebook

5. Skype (i think you can just type in my name)

6. Mail - you can mail letters and the like to me. It will cost you a dollar or so to mail a standard letter (i think). If you want my address email and ask for it.

Thanks and much love,
Justin Rose

Departure

Hello internet,

It is with great joy that I can finally say that I will be going to Kenya. God has opened the doors and I will be leaving Chicago on March 11 to arrive in Kakamega, Kenya on March 13. It will be a long flight, but i am excited to finally be able to go and start the ministry that God has in store for me there. I am excited to meet the youth of Kenya and work with their leaders.

A lot of people have asked:
1. Will I have the interent? Yes
2. What is your address? I don't know yet, but will put it up on the blog when I do.

If you do want to contact me, which i hope you do, you can email me, message me through the blog, or through facebook.

I look forward to letting you know more about Kenya once I am there. Please pray forr:
-Safe travels
-Easy transition
-Communication
-For me to be on the same page as the Officers (pastors) in Kenya
-That God would prepare me to be stretched and to grow

Thanks,
The Very Excited Justin Rose

Visa

I am currently in Omaha, which is actually further from Kenya then I was a month ago. But all is well. My departure date of January 19 does not look promising, as I am still waiting on a visa. Without that it will make it very difficult for me to get close to Kenya.

So right now I need prayer for:
-My visa to go through quickly
-Preparation

thanks a million. I just see this as more time for me to get excited about Kenya.

Justin

Kenya West

I am finally done with college. I spent my summer on a Mennonite farm living in community with other Christians. And now God has something new in store for me.

In January 2009 I will be packing up and moving to Kenya for a year. I have taken a position with the Salvation Army in the new territory of Kenya West. The position that I have taken is a territorial youth position where I will be in charge of training youth leaders. There are thousands of youth in Kenya West but very few youth leaders. I have been offered the awesome opportunity to go and help be a part of the founding of the youth in a brand new territory. I am very excited about this and I can't wait to see what God will teach me and what he has in store for me over the next year.

These are some prayer requests I have for before my arrival in Kenya:
-That God will begin to prepare my heart and mind for the task set before me
-All paper work and traveling will go smoothly
-My school bills to be finished being paid off by the end of the year
-Commissioners Roberts
-My Family and transition

During my time in Kenya I will be updating this blog two to three times a month. If you would like to be notified by email everytime a new update is added let me know and I will add you to the list.

Thanks for your prayers,

Justin Rose

Justinarthurrose@gmail.com