Bangladesh recap

Bangladesh: just what the doctor ordered.

Chai and conversations

Saalam Aleikum, madam. Chai? (Hello, madam. Chai?)

Aleikum saalam. Haanji, babu. Dhonnawad. (Returns greetings. Yes, babu. thank you).

What is it about this brown milky stuff that brings so much joy to my little heart? Currently sipping a tiny cup (why..oh..why are the cups so small here?), listening to my favourite desi music, the honking of cars outside and the newspaper-wallah calling out his wares. And reflecting on the past few days of my time in Bangladesh. Wish I could show you pictorially what I've seen and experienced - but alas left my camera cord back in Washington, DC - so pictures will have wait.

The purpose of my visit was to co-facilitate a workshop to design a maternal and child health program in one of the poorest and cyclone-prone parts of Bangladesh. The workshop itself went well. Was super nervous about it (especially since i hate speaking publicly). But I've learnt a lot. What to do better next time.

Our teams here are amazing, I have to say. Our staff-members who do the bulk of the work that we in the US write up/theorize/politicize about have to get all the credit for the success of anything my organization does. Every time I visit the 'field', I am always blessed to meet some of the most down-to-earth hard-working people. With little to no sense of 'self-importance', they go about their daily lives in the bustling chaos that is Bangladesh. Such a refreshing break from Washington, DC!!

Anyways, it's been busy time. Between the hotel and the office and the hotel in preparing/leading the workshop, I haven't had much time to do much outside. But drink chai and converse with our staff to learn about Bideshi life. (insert content smile)

Here's some things I've learnt:

History of Bangladesh: I did some reading on the plane ride here to learn a bit about this country that earned its independence from Pakistan (yes, Pakistan owned this bit of the land from across India) in 1972. Lots of turmoil and restructuring has taken place since. But the spirit of the Bideshi people isn't broken.

Floods/cyclones: the country gets an annual spot in world headlines with all the natural calamities it faces. From yearly flooding via rivers from the Himalayas, and the cyclones from the Bay of Bengal to the shifting land masses whenever the flood-waters recedes. When I sympathized, 'wow - this must be difficult to face on a yearly basis', I was reminded of the positive spirit. 'No, madam. The annual flooding is a gift, otherwise without the rich silt-filled soil, how would we sustain our agricultural production?' (this coming from a man who'd lost his home in floods)

Migration: My flight from Dubai to Dhaka was one full of education for me! The flight was 98% full of casual laborers from the UAE. I was asked to assist in filling the arrival forms as they were not english-literate. Via faltering sentences (they spoke Bangla and I spoke Hindi), they explained to me, how without the benefit of natural resources, and a burgeoning population, they leave their wives and children to go find work with Chinese companies in the Middle East. 'And madam, we are the fortunate ones. Most Bideshi people in rural areas don't have that opportunity'. Becoming a rickshaw-wallah or a casual construction worker in Dhaka or Chittagong (the two largest cities) is often the next best option. As I turned the pages of countless passports, filled arrival forms for these men and asked questions about goods for the customs form, I couldn't help but notice the looks and sounds of joy as they all talked about the 'goods' they were bringing for their families and excitement at going home.

All in all, this country has captured a small piece of my heart. People are kind. They work hard. In the face of so much hustle and bustle, there's always a smile and an open heart. Such a great reminder to count my blessings. We who have much will be accountable for much.

Back on the Indian sub-continent!

Feb 5th 2010 - I left India. Feb 5th 2012 - I landed in Bangladesh. Two years is a considerable amount of time, some might say. But really it feels like yesterday.

The honking of horns. The dodging of traffic. The being woken up by the call of prayers at a nearby mosque. The countless cups of chai delivered to my desk. The are-you-married-madam-questions. Really - it feels like yesterday.

The trip to Bangladesh is very different from my trip to India two years ago. I was much younger. Much more willing to take risks. Much more scared about life and all it's uncertainties. Can't say I've grown up a ton - still a kid at heart. But things are different, for sure.

For one - I'm not fresh out of grad school at my first real-international-development job. Secondly, I'm not uprooting my whole life to move overseas - a short 2-week stint - while still nerve-racking for the accompanying deliverables - is much more doable.

Anyways - enough of the reflective-mood-type post. Below are some memorable moments during my trip and first 24 hours in Bangladesh:

• Extremely jet-lag after the first leg of flight led to my settling down into a comfy chair and falling into intermittent bouts of deep sleep while on my layover in Dubai. At one point, I dreamt that I missed my flight and had to call my friend D to come get me. Was a weird dream of half being in Mombasa with people we both know, and half being lost in the desert. Woke up just in time to see last group of people boarding. Talk about 'aiy yai yai'.
• Day 1 breakfast conversation at my hotel with server: "good morning madam". [insert small talk with server] [insert..time taken to eat breakfast] [insert time taken to walk back up to room] [insert skype conversation with family] [insert time taken to get ready for first day at work in a new country] [insert phone ringing]. "good morning, madam. I hope I not disturbing you. I vas calling because you are nice person. I am on night duty, madam. I will not be seeing you maybe so I wanted to tell you that you are nice woman] [insert awkward silence]. (thought in Devina's head: 'Is he hitting on me? the ONE man that i chose to make eye-contact with and talk to') [nervous laughter] [continued awkward silence..]. The end.
• The most interesting conversation with ex-military person whose served in the Bangladeshi army in Ethiopia, Uganda and Mozambique. Conversations and chai. Stuff that life is made of. :)
• The realization that I'm not in India: there are no COWS walking on the streets in Dhaka! Man, I miss those four-legged creatures taking up valuable road space.

More later. The adventures continue. Off to my biryani dinner. :)

Musicka - Watoto's Children's choir

So beautiful to praise God in so many languages!

Famine No More

Several thousand died ten years ago today, and our world was shaken. Today hunger is stalking 12.4 million people across the Horn of Africa.

Are we being shaken?

If I could change the world..

Every day humanitarian aid workers help millions of people around the world. The day recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of those who risk their lives to give others help and hope. It is also about inspiring the spirit of aid work in everyone.

Love is really what it's about. Showing love in tangible ways to the most vulnerable and marginalized amongst us is not easy. It requires sacrifice and getting outside our comfort zone. It can mean being misunderstood and disenfranchised. But that which we do for the least is also what we do for God.

To all the incredible people I've had the pleasure of meeting since starting on this journey, happy humanitarian day! I am blessed by the efforts of my team-mates, colleagues and former classmates and friends. May we never forget what a privilege it is to live this life as we do.

Moving again

photo credit: marydoughtery.net

Moving again. For the 11th time in 10 years.

Sometimes I wonder when the constant motion in my life will end. Don't get me wrong - I have loved my life. I'm SO thankful for all the experiences - good and bad - that my little heart has gone through. But I'm SO done with packing/rearranging and starting over! I wish all my peeps were all in one zip-code. Or how about one time-zone?

All the exhilaration and the newness of things inevitably gives way to the familiar. And my eyes always scans for the familiar - even in the midst of so much unknown.

And I'm grateful to have a life where I have experienced what I have: several international and domestic moves, friendship, loss, joy, love, grief, uncertainty, comfort, beauty, sadness. Through all this, all the wonderful people I've met who have taught me so much!

Part of me is always scared with every new step I've taken. And another part of me always says, 'Do it Devina, take that step. If you don't, you'll always wonder'. I think I get this spunky part from my amazing mother, who has taught me so much!

So - here I am. Taking yet another step in the unknown and about to start a new life.

At least this time, it's not completely unknown. I'm moving back to Washington, DC, where I lived for a short 6-months last year. For a new job that I'm so excited about! Doing work that I feel called to do. With an organization whose mission I believe in.

Seriously?! Who'd have thunk? Me - a simple girl from Mombasa, Kenya would be here? If you had told me back in Kenya that I would be here - a masters-degree doing work that fulfills the calling that God has placed in my life - I would have laughed at you!

This simply gives me so much hope for other areas of my life where I'm still waiting. My Lord is a giver of good things! He has provided for me beyond measure, and He will continue to be faithful. So, in-spite of the uncertainty and potential nuttiness that life will bring in next months as I acclimate back to our nation's capital, thankfulness is still the song I'm singing!

5 ways to listen better

Evangelicals without Blowhards

Christian evangelicalism has been given a bad name, but there’s a strain that is extraordinarily generous and compassionate.

In this article, popular writer and journalist Nick Kristoff argues that religious people and secular people alike do fantastic work on humanitarian issues — but they often don’t work together because of mutual suspicions.

If we could bridge this “God gulf,” we would make far more progress on the world’s ills.

Africa is on my mind..

His Timing for my Good

God's provision comes in His timing - not based on our need, but for His glory.

Sometimes, it is simply for us to acknowledge His ability and our own inability. Sometimes it is to fulfill a grander plan that we cannot see or understand. Sometimes it is simply for us to be 'yanked back to Him'. Either way - waiting is good for the soul. Produces perseverance.

Who said faith was for weaklings?

It's just You and Me.

Faith is not a notion of the mind. It is the commitment of the heart..

President Sirleaf’s Ambition for Liberia: Aid-Free in a Decade

Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf—the first elected female head of state in Africa— spoke at an event hosted by CGD. President Sirleaf set a hugely ambitious goal of being aid-free within ten years. Gives me so much hope for Liberia and other countries in the fatherland.

What do I of Holy?

Love your God with all your heart, mind and soul.

Really. What do of Him who brought me into existence? How do I love Him who has loved with a perfect love? Not as man loves..but a holy pure love. What do I even know about the slightest hint of Him? The God who gave life it's name.. What do know of Him who is Holy?

10 years. 10 homes.

Boy, do I relate to this!

Family Planning Reduces Abortions – And Faith-Based Groups Can Help!

Many Christians around the world are concerned about abortion. But the facts linking the availability of family planning with a reduction in abortions is little understood.

A 2008 survey conducted by Christian Connections for International Health (CCIH) showed that there is tremendous support for international family planning programs among Christian faith-based organizations and Christian individuals.

This new CCIH publication helps to provide more information on the connections between family planning and abortion, and what the faith community can do to mitigate abortions worldwide!

Gratefulness..

The song of gratitude lures the humility out of the shadows. For to receive a gift, the knees must bend, the hands must lie vulnerable open and the will must bow to accept whatever the Giver chooses to give..

A friend shared the above quote out of a book she's reading. This coupled with the reflecting on the thoughts of my mind lately is worthy of a blog post! :)

I am often a glass-half-empty realist type. It comes from years of having to figure out life on my own. Caring and providing for my family. Figuring out next steps for my own life. Weighing and considering all options comes naturally to me. I could easily work as an 'analyst'! Ha!

However, being a realist means that one must also acknowledge the good along with the bad. But while I can recount all the 'bad' that happens, do I take the time to remember the good? Do I look hard for all the wonderful things in my life? I am often guilty of not considering all the blessings that I have been given. All the wonderful people that I have had the privilege of getting to know. All the experiences - heart-wrenching, absolutely amazing or mind-numbing as they may be - that have shaped the person that I am and place in life I am. The sheer mercy that God gives on a daily basis that allows my heart to beat, my hands to type this post, and my mouth to speak, and the biochemistry of my cells to continue to function.

As I acknowledge all these gifts in my life - I must realize that nothing I do or am is a consequent of my own self! As I acknowledge my own inability to control anything, I realize the extent of my own willful self. And realize that it is only an act of mercy that I am where I am. No, my life is simply a gift of my Maker. I am simply clay and dust. I am a product of my Maker's creativity and mercy. My role and response then is to simply be obedient and grateful. Thanks be to God for this amazingly never-imagined wild life! Gratefulness is current song I'm singing. :)

Family Planning Saves lives!

Back from Ghana!

I landed back in Atlanta in the wee hours of the morning on Monday. Can't believe I'm back already!! I've been struggling how to frame my trip to those who have asked. Words are honestly difficult - so I'll let my pictures describe some of what I saw. Overall - it was a great trip. I can honestly say that Ghana stole a small piece of my heart. Being in Africa after 10 years was good for my soul! I felt more at home there than in India back in 2009!

So, work ended on Friday at noon. I had elected to stay back over the weekend to do some exploring. Turns out there were a few others at the conference who had the same thought. On Friday - I hung out with this Kenyan guy (Mike) from Nairobi and French-American girl (Melissa). Both currently worked in Nairobi. Melissa is a diplomat's kid who has lived all over the world. Mike has worked primarily in Kenya but traveled for work all over Africa. I was in good company. We explored more of Accra on Friday. Ate. Shopped. Took pictures. Got busted by the Ghanaian Army! Fun..fun. :)

On Sat, we organized/hired a car/driver to go to the Western Region (next province over from Accra). So - it turned that a Kenyan, a Ghanaian, two Sudanese and a Ugandan - set out on a 120km road trip this past Sat to see what Ghana had to offer! And it didn't disappoint!

First stop was Kakum National Forest. Did some hiking. Walked on a 350m long, 40m high wood-and-rope walkway suspended by seven trees. You can imagine Devina's state - scared of heights and all! Then we drove over to Elmina and Cape Coast Castles (an hour drive apart). I'll let the pictures do the talking - but it was a pretty grim place. It's one thing to read about slavery - but to actually see the places/dungeons where hundreds of human beings were cramped in small spaces with very little food, light and ventilation was sobering. Incidentally - Michelle Obama's ancestors were traced back to Cape Coast Castle. The trip was great. Good conversations and learning about life/living in each of the above-mentioned countries. Listening to African music as we drove along little towns. Seeing people along the sides of the road as they conducted daily life/business. Did I mention that it was a good trip?? (insert content smile)

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to live this life. Affirmed in my heart that I'd love to move back to Africa in the near future. Currently seeking direction on my next steps. Figuring out what it means to sit still while I let my Lord open/shut doors.

Africa notes: Part tres

Ghana Logs – Day Seven.

The past days have been exhausting! Start early in the morning and then day-long conference workshops. Monday’s workshop was being facilitated by my organization – so we had to be extra sharp in the morning. Of course, there’s always last-minute things like needing extra copies of handouts and the friendly photocopy person taking her own sweet time in pushing a few buttons. I wanted to go up to her and say, ‘Oye..Mami..please let me do this’ (insert african accent) :)

Oh, I should tell y’all about the ‘Opening Ceremony’! So – in Africa – things don’t start, unless there’s a 5 hour opening ceremony (usually scheduled for 1-2 hours, but then runs overtime for reasons described below). There’s usually a stage with a podium. (Pics on picasa). Seated at this stage are the ‘distinguished’ guests. It usually starts with a prayer or the national anthem. Then we go into introductions. This opening ceremony started in the morning and ended at 1pm! The first hour was introductions! I mean – the first person introduced the next who introduced the next and so on – till we go to the most senior person – the ‘Chairperson of the meeting’.

THEN came the speeches. OMG! The longest things ever! I mean – this one guy was allotted 15 minutes – he talked for an hour! (What did I tell you about Africans and verbosity?) I kept having an internal giggle-loop about things and wish I could telepathically have a conversation with someone about the speeches. Hehe!) Anyways – my butt was so numb at the end of this all! The highlight of all this was a traditional African dance at the end! It was amazing, guys! So full of energy and life! We were all moving/tapping our feet etc at the end of it all. (Kait – now I know why you love west African drumming so much! I was thinking of you the whole time – I’ll send you a video clip I took for you)

Oh, I should mention food. Dude – the food here is amazing! Dishes (like most cuisines around the world) are comprised of a starch and protein. They have this spicy curry looking thing – and they serve it with rice. Then they have this watery soupy (again spicy) one that they serve with corn-meal mash – called fufu. Then there’s banku and kenkey – which are variants of fufu. Oh, and fried plantains! YUM-MY! I’m going to gain so much weight! Ha! The food here tastes so fresh and tasty. Like yday I had pineapple – the best pineapple I’ve had! I love sampling food from everywhere – and this trip is definitely hitting my foodie spots. :)

Other than that – nothing much to report – the rest of conference has been good. We’ve had several power outages both during the day and the speakers make the best of the situation. At night, it’s a different story. Taking a shower in the dark with a candle brings back memories. :)

Interviews are going well. I am using every available ‘free’ minute to grab people outside of meeting rooms to hold this qualitative survey on family planning. It’s exhausting. But rewarding when I think of the impact that this information will have in helping to bring family planning commodities to African countries. I’m looking forward to the weekend – the conference ends on Thurs, and I’ll have Sat/Sun to do some sightseeing. No idea what I’m going to do – and where I’m going to go. BUT I can’t come all this way and not see/do something, so watch for my next update on the weekend adventures! :)

Thanks so much to those who’ve been writing – I love hearing back from you! I have pretty reliable email access and have communicated with a lot of you - even been able to video-skype with some!

Much love and hugs from this end of the world! :)

Africa notes: Part deux

M'ma ache! (Good morning!)

Day Four in Ghana. May I just declare it's been lovely so far. I still can't believe I'm here. It hits me every so often when I pause to reflect. I'm simply amazed of where I am and how I got here. I mean – who am I? Who would have thought that me - a simple girl from little Mombasa - would get the opportunity to study what I did, where I did and do what I do. Craziness, if you must ask me.

So..Saturday was my 'day off'. I got connected to a friend of a friend who lives here. She very graciously came to get me around mid-morning so we could go 'roam around town'. While I was waiting for Victoria (she was an hour late..hehe..African-time! Y'all better not complain when I'm like 10 minutes late for things!), I started chatting with this woman over breakfast. A native of Cameroon, but living in Harare, Zimbabwe - she'd come to Accra to facilitate a workshop. Such an interesting vivacious lady! A lawyer by training - she was a World Bank consultant working on the issue of strengthening systems in developing country governments, and how to build good governance from the ground up. Anyways - she was leaving for Harare on late-night flight, and had the day to 'roam around' - so I invited her to join me and Victoria.

Victoria, a shy graceful woman in her mid-20s, is working on her 'National Service' (an internship mandatory for those who go through public education in Ghana to 'pay the government back'). Throughout the day, I got the most interesting conversations with these lovely African women. Both so different in socio-economics, age, background, education - and yet - here we were - a Kenyan-Indian-soon-to-be-American, Ghanaian, and Cameroonian - spending the day sharing about our respective backgrounds and what motivates us to be where we are. And all this, in the midst of a jostling crowd while in a busy open-air market on a hot day. I was loving it!

There's more stories - like how we ate at this local restaurant with live chickens literally being slaughtered right outside! And how exciting it was to be on a trotro packed with more people than fingers on all my hands/feet. But let me not bore you with more minutiae. Again - it helps to "process" by writing. You unwittingly are someone that I'd love to tell these stories to right now, so here - you got this email! :)

This next week will be full of meetings - lots of listening/writing. Wish me luck - I'm conducting interviews with 20+ country health leaders who are at this conference that I'm attending. I did two yday evening. Talking with Africans is always joy - simple questions can take 1hr’s worth of long convoluted answers. (Wow. I know how YOU feel when you talk to me! ha!) Processing/analyzing these interviews will be fun when I get back.

Meda ase (thank you!)

In Africa!

I made it to Ghana okay! Just checked into the hotel and discovered that they have free (VERY SLOW) wireless in the room! Woo hoo! So - I'll be able to check emails for a couple days. (moving to another location (conference center) on Sunday - and the internet situation there remains to be seen).

It's sooo weird being back! It is HOT! I had forgotten what African heat was all about. I'm already sweating buckets! hehe! AND everyone is black (duh!). My Swahili keeps bubbling forth! I've already started speaking Kiswahili with people and the moment I say 1-2 words and get a blank stare - I realize I'm not in Kenya! :(

The flight was good - I got a bulk-head seat with no one next to me, so I was able to sprawl out (sort of). Got a lot of work done on the plane and slept. Uneventful. But I was so glad that my flight landed during the day in Accra - seeing the red earth on the roads, green rolling hills, and houses with red roofs built African style was sooo good for my soul! My heart was doing little flips. :)

Driving from the airport with Ghanaian music blasting off from the radio and watching graceful women balancing their wares on their heads to be sold along the road-side makes me feel like I'm home. I almost want to move back to Africa for another job! :)

Ooo..can I just declare that I had a Ghanaian (or maybe Nigerian) family behind me in line at Atlanta airport that came to drop their family off to the airport - African-style. It felt like the whole village was there. I kept thinking in my head - "here we go..start getting used to this". Hee..hee.

Anyways - forgive my rambling..but I feel like "chatting" and telling people what I am seeing, etc! I've already taken a few pictures - will upload them on to picasa when I have better internet. Thanks for listening and feel free to write back! I'll try to send out little updates as I can - you all can be my little journal-buddies on my first back trip to the fatherland. :)

The One Thing

He has loved me with an ever-lasting love. Not as man loves. But an unfailing, unchanging love. Happy Valentine's Day, ya'll!

Africa's Holy Healers

Faith-based organizations (FBOs) harness tremendous power to bring change. In a variety of development areas, such as peace and stability, the environment, world hunger, HIV/AIDS and children’s rights, FBOs have demonstrated that they bridge gaps, often where government cannot. Listen to this radio segment to hear about the good work that FBOs do in Africa in reaching people for health-care!

So thankful!

A year later..still thankful..

Things haven't changed much..I'm still thankful for the same things and then some!

See my post from a year ago when I was living in India:

Things I'm thankful for..

One Home Many Hopes

One Home Many Hopes | Be Unreasonable 2010

The promotional video for One Home Many Hopes' 2010 campaign to build a school with Mudzini Kwetu in Kikambala, Kenya.

"Reasonable People adapt themselves to the world. Unreasonable people attempt to adapt the world to themselves. All progress, therefore, depends on unreasonable people."

Breaking Ground October 18 - November 20, 2010. Be Unreasonable. http://www.onehomemanyhopes.org

Thanksgiving plans?

What are you doing this Thanksgiving? Know someone that may not have family around for the holidays? Google agencies like AMIS in your town and invite someone new to your table!

It's called Choice

To choose life is to love the Lord your God, obey Him and stay close to Him. - Deuteronomy 30:20

He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground...All were silent as the Creator reached in Himself and removed something yet unseen. It's called choice. The seed of choice.

Within the man, God had placed a divine seed. A seed of His self. The God of might had created earth's mightiest. The Creator had created, not a creature, but another creator. And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return.

This is a beautiful picture painted by Max Lucado of how we as human beings are created for a purpose greater than ourselves. By Someone greater than ourselves. And in so doing - we are spitting images of our Creator. We have brains and we have brawn. We also have a choice. To live our life as if it were one big blessing - in daily gratitude and returning love to the One who loved perfectly. It's called Choice. Love is a choice.

(Adapted from Max Lucado's Grace for the Moment)

What nonprofits can learn from Coca-Cola

Ushahidi!

Ushahidi means Testimony in Kiswahili. I'll let the video speak for itself.

What is the Ushahidi Platform? from Ushahidi on Vimeo.

Just dance! And pay attention while you're at it!

Pretty awesome way to get people to actually watch the flight safety demonstration! This makes me want to burst out a dance! :)

Family planning does NOT equate abortion!

So..today is World Contraception Day! Who knew?!

Well, I work in the field of public health with a specialty in family planning and reproductive health and I did! The one thing that is at the top of my mind today, on World Contraception Day, is the misconceptions around contraception.

Family planning is simply providing a couple with the tools (contraception) to choose when and how often to bear children.

You may have heard the terms 'family planning' often lumped together with 'abortion'. It is a complicated topic - often plagued with inability to find common ground, and might I add, misguided passion. I realize that in order to have dialog, one must respect and acknowledge the differing views and values that result in different definitions of abortion.

Definitions and language are important. The simple question of what constitutes a pregnancy needs to be defined. Even as an university-educated student, I thought that life was formed at fertilization (when an egg and sperm come together). However, I learnt that, medically, a pregnancy is defined when the fertilized zygote undergoes implantation. In fact, 1/3 of fertilized zygotes will not implant, and will be 'aborted' naturally by the body.

This difference in definition is important when classifying and defining those things that can cause termination of said-pregnancy (i.e. abortaficients). While the average Joe (or Jane!) does not seek to understand the mechanisms of action of the different forms of contraception, misconceptions need to be dispelled.

As someone that values life - I want to see a global reduction in abortions. From an economic standpoint, abortions are expensive! Women who don't have access to contraception will find themselves pregnant and will seek abortions, especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. Botched abortions (especially, in places where access to health-care is limited) can result in death or disability of the mother. These costs to society are expensive - children grow up without their mothers, families suffer loss of income and incur out of pocket costs for medical care, not to mention mental/psychological trauma that a woman goes through when undergoing an abortion, etc..etc.

Family planning is one of the single best ways to reduce abortions!

Think about it: if you provide a woman the tools to prevent pregnancy, then you will reduce the need for said-woman to seek an abortion!

The reality is that many women, especially in the Global South, do not have access to simple things like condoms, birth-control pills, or injectable contraceptives. If access is there, then it is patchy at best. And even if access is 100% guaranteed, it is not guaranteed that a woman has the ability to make that choice to use contraception. In a male-dominated world, women simply not have the same ability to negotiate sex.

As a Christian public health professional, I value life. Life of women. Life of children. Life of families. I want to see women, regardless of where they live, and how much money they make or don't make, receive access to and education about a wide range of quality contraception.

So today, on World Contraception Day, while an estimated 215 million women worldwide want to avoid pregnancy and plan their families but are not using modern contraception, it is my hope that this post caused at least one person to pause and think.

Musicka - Cheb Khaled

Hat-tip to my sister for introducing this lovely love-song to me. Now, if only I can find me a man who can serenade me with some French-Arabic music! ;-)

Something about music in another language is simply fascinating to me! This Algerian musician has earned accolades in France and is a household name within the Arab world. I grew up around his other hit song Didi in Mombasa, Kenya (which incidentally he performed for the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa). Love his music! Check out his Wiki page to learn more!

Blue Skies

Ah, the joys of technology!! I am in an airplane and we actually have Internet on the plane! I had heard of it – now I get to experience it. This is a crazy world where people get to take their neurotic attachment of being always connected to the World Wide Web to the top of the world. Quite literally. Whatever happened to the simple life? Sigh.

But – I won’t complain – I get to blog from 35000 feet above the ground – how cool is that? So...my flight was delayed by 4 hours and I’ll likely get home at about 4am. BUT here’s where the glass-full side of me that comes out: I am watching a lightning storm out of my plane window and listening to my favorite songs of Hope. It’s an amazing and a beautiful thing. I SO wish that my camera wasn’t packed away in my checked luggage!! I would LOVED to have attempt to capture the beauty of it all. Night shots and black/white photographs are my favorite things. Difficult to capture things without the vibrancy of color, but the challenge makes a good picture worth the effort.

Anyways – I’ll attempt to describe what I am seeing outside right now but you will be stuck with my feeble attempts to use words to describe a glorious picture. J

If you’ve never witnessed a lightning storm from above ground, it is a phenomenal thing! It is currently 11.30pm at night – pitch black outside, save for the little lighted dots on the ground that represents human existence. As I listen to my favorite worship songs, the clouds are lighting up – almost in sync with the music! It’s like being a disco club – with lights going on and off. They almost seem to be almost fighting – sort of challenging each other! Who has the most brilliant strike of lightning? Me! Me! They say. Bam! Bam! The entire sky is being lighted up in a dazzling array of cloud shapes and colors. Sometimes I can actually see a strike of lightning strike another within a cloud and the result is orangey/reddish colors. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G!

(sigh) I simply want to ask God – how the heck did you create such beauty? You’re a genius. I mean, I know how charged particles create static electricity in clouds. But that took years for the human brain to fathom and understand! You, Lord, simply spoke these things into existence. Or something like that. While my evolutionary-theory-trained mind cringes at the above sentence that I just wrote, I still cannot believe that all these things are due to chance. There is too much complexity in nature to completely rely on the notion that chance incidents led to the cascade of forty chain biochemical reactions that lead to clotting of the blood, or that the human eye with its rods and cones – one of nature’s most amazing inventions – is a freak accident...or what I am seeing outside my airplane window – a beautiful lightning storm in the clouds – is a due to colliding forces from beyond yonder.

I am simply joyful. Little things like this remind me that my source of joy and hope is my Lord. I may stumble, fail, or rebel with each new struggle I face on the ground, but my strength is always renewed when I place my joy on the Creator of blue skies. Peace to you all.

Breast Ironing

Just when I thought I had heard it all...

Breast Ironing - a practice in Cameroon - to 'flatten' the breast of pubescent girls in an effort to deter unwanted sexual attention and possibly rape. What has our world come to?

The Opposite of Love is not Hate...but Fear.

I visited my housemate’s church today and heard the above line. I won’t go into the nuances of the sermon taught by a guest preacher Gene Robinson on a topic which deserves an entire blog post of its own: homosexuality and the Christian church. He threw the above-mentioned line in response to the question of how to respond to those in the church who show retribution against the LGBT community. The line above stuck with me today and has given me much to think about...I could write a book!

For starters, what is love really? Who are the subjects of my love? Both questions have been answered for me in the Bible. The what: The Bible tells me Love is supposed to be sacrificial and focused on the needs of others and not my own. The who: my biggest imperative as a follower of Jesus is to love God and to love people in my life. But what does it mean to love God? An entity that I haven't seen but simply believe exists. And how do I really love people? Especially when my social construct and definition of love may be different from those around me.

However - this is not a post about Love. It's about Hate and Fear. The preacher went to speak about homosexuality - a topic that makes my mind normally spin in 10-million directions - but today my mind was riveted on to this: When am I most prone to hate? What things am I bitter about? Why do those feelings arise? Who causes those emotions to arise? Is it things like hunger, poverty, oppression and war in some far off land? Or is it when something close to my heart hits home.

And what is hate anyway? Is it a bitter feeling against an event or a person? Webster defines hate as an intense feeling of dislike and hostility. Most of us are uncomfortable using the word 'hate' against people - as it denotes too strong an emotion, and perhaps we want to be perceived as balanced, rational beings. In fact, as I write this - I wonder - is there any thing or person that I actually hate? I cannot think of one person that I hate. However, to be completely candid, there are people who are not high on my favorite-people-list. Do I hate them? No. Do I have a hard time loving them? Yes.

While I deeply care about many issues especially that which relates to injustice and inequality even in far-off international settings and I hate - for example corporate money-making machines that exploit poor people in sweat shops and I hate people who fuel the market for child pornography and the sex industries in places like Mumbai and Bangkok, I find that I am most prone to 'hate' when feeling slighted by those that claim to care for me and that I care for. Family who are a part of my human existence and friends who make my social being a reality.

And so - what is it in my struggle to love someone that inspires this 'hate'? A sense of injury is usually tied to this 'hate'. I couldn't care less if a stranger off the street said or did something mean towards me. But if family/friend failed me, it is often difficult to love them. I often have to relearn how to love again instead of holding onto hate.

Today - I understood for the first time the notion that fear can be tied to hate. That fear of self and fear of man could drive the underlying sense of injury which then leads to 'hate'. Instead of loving someone, I am fearful and afraid of what they could do to me, and how they could crush me at my most vulnerable state. How is it that the Fear of Man cripples us so much so that we choose to hold onto 'hate' instead of looking beyond the immediate and choosing to love?

(sigh) I don't know. My responses towards others are conditioned from years of interacting with other human beings. As self-aware as I try to be, I'll likely still do both - love and hate. It's part of my innate human nature, I suppose. However - as I learn more and more how to be like Jesus, I hope that I can let go of my fear and learn to love others well.

Getting the travel bug again..

The World's Most Spectacular Roads

Milford Road, New Zealand.

Photo credit: Macronix

So much of the world to be seen...so little time..(sigh)

Musicka - Natalie Grant

This is what it means to be held...

Food talk: Tabaq

Credit:Molly V. Strzelecki, Special to Metromix

I love being outdoors. Being cooped up all week indoors, I look for opportunities to be outside as much as I can. (Don't ask me how much outside-time I spend when it is 105 degrees, like it has been this past few weeks in DC!!)

Anyways, Tabaq is a beautiful outdoors roof-top terrace restaurant on the U-street corridor of Washington, DC. I wish more restaurants would do this! Great views of the neighborhoods and monuments in Washington, DC.

I've been four times and haven't been disappointed. First time for a friend's birthday party - good music, good drinks, great service. The subsequent times, I met people for happy hour and also have had dinner once. I'm partial to Mediterranean cuisine, and have to say that what I've ordered thus far has been good. I will admit that the I will admit that it is a little on the pricey side - but then I suppose DC is an expensive city. It's definitely on my list of favorite roof-top places to eat at.

For all you single Mac lovers!

Okay..what will Apple come up with next?!

This is why you should exercise

Why we have earthquakes

AP file photo

So..this is why we've been having so many earthquakes lately. Apparently, women can make the earth move! ;-)

Food talk: Busboys and Poets

A name like Busboys and Poets is bound to get a double-take. At least, it did for me. I walked past this snazzy establishment one fine Tues evening. Later that week, my housemate tells me that it should be on my ‘Things-to-do-in-DC list’. So today, I set out to scratch that off my list. Mission: to take my friend K visiting from Beantown to a fine DC establishment in an effort to show him what stuff DC is made of (and in the process – discover DC for myself! Ha!)

So..much has been written about this place (dang, if there’s a Wiki page to something, no need to reinvent the wheel, ya know?) so I won’t go into the humdrum of what this is. I’ll simply give my own impressions and hope that I win over more business for this place. (Not that it needs it..it seems to have enough word-of-mouth advertisement going on!)

I got the Grilled Brie Panini with spinach, caramelized onions and tomatoes on ciabatta bread. K got a burger with gorgonzola cheese, and the regular stuff that goes on a burger. I liked my food. What I loved better was the burger that my friend got! YUMMY – I never knew gorgonzola and moo (aka beef) went SO well together! This is definitely one that I'm going to try creating at home! (Thank the good Lord for sunny weather and backyard bbqs!)

What I loved the best though was the ambience of the place – the resto is a coffee-house-lounge-bookstore-restaurant. People come here to work on their laptops (yay! free wifi!), drink coffee, enjoy some libations after work, check out their books, listen to poetry being read or simply come out to eat. Definitely an interesting place! Would love to go again, if only to simply read on their comfy couches and people-watch! ha! Check it out if you’re in DC. :)

Musicka - The Summons - John Bell

Heard this song last year at church...powerful words. I love the reminder to always be obedient to God, no matter what life throws my way.

Will you come and follow me
If I but call your name?
Will you go where you don’t know
And never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
Will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown
In you and you in me?

Will you leave yourself behind
If I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind
And never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare
Should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer
In you and you in me?

Will you let the blinded see
If I but call your name?
Will you set the pris’ners free
And never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean,
And do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean
In you and you in me?

Will you love the ‘you’ you hide
If I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside
And never be the same?
Will you use the faith you’ve found
To reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound
In you and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
When you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you
And never be the same.
In your company I’ll go
Where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I’ll move and live and grow
In you and you in me.

All things nuclear!

Living in the nation's capital comes at a price - you gotta contend with the city shutting down when 40+ heads of state descend on your town!

The subject - all things nuclear.

In one of the largest gatherings of heads of state in history, President Obama invited more than 50 presidents/prime ministers to discuss how to secure vulnerable nuclear materials and prevent acts of nuclear terrorism.

The city hasn't seen this large a security curtain since Inauguration Day. It is said enough downtown streets are to be closed to cause two days of gridlock! All I can say – watch/read the news to see what action steps result from the summit. And thank God for ‘working from home’!

All talk..

So..it's been an interesting time since I got to Washington, DC to work as a project manager for a small Christian NGO on reproductive health/family planning grants. In the short time I've been here, I’ve met congressional staffers from Senators and Congressmen’s offices, met a Senator (!), participated in high-level meetings at USAID, met with the vice-president of a multi-national public health company. It’s amazing who you run into here. My next-door neighbor for two weeks was the Chief of Staff to a Senator!

In the whirlwind of meeting and being introduced to ‘important’ people..and learning how to talk the talk and walk the walk, I’m realizing that there’s a lot of TALK here! On a daily basis, I participate in at least one conference call or go to a meeting where people get paid BIG money to sit around a table and talk! Makes me wonder...how much the talking is helping. How much difference is it making on the ground..in the life of the child who is suffering from hunger and the woman who couldn’t get to the nearest health-clinic on time while giving birth, and the man who has to make a choice between food and medicine for his family. Really...how much difference does it make what old white men sitting in air-conditioned offices in Washington, DC say?

Am I jaded already, you may ask? I don’t think so...at least, I hope not. Am I wary of all the ‘politics’? Heck yeah! But I am here. As wary as I may be, I am here to do a job – and do it well. I am called to bloom wherever I am planted, so I hope to bloom. Hope to speak for those from the field who may not have an organized voice, and may not have glossy paper reports but do do good evidenced-based public health work from a faith persepective. Wish me luck! :-)