A great night

Last night was AMAZING. So Gabi came to meet me, and together we were planning to go to Kennedy’s, as he’d invited us both for dinner. So she came and brought Quawme as well as a friend of hers who lives in Nairobi, this amazing guy named Tony. Well turns out (I guess I shouldn’t expect anything less from Gabs—as she is really just a person who glows, and so attracts the same) but Tony turns out to be one of the most thoughtful, contemplative, deep thinkers I’ve ever met. We then met Kennedy, who says he’s taking us downtown for a surprise. He is really one of the most passionate, free, giving, loving, innovative…just amazing people you’ll ever meet. Whenever I am around him I feel inspired, I feel like there is so much that I both can and want to do to change whatever parts of the world I can. Just watching him is really incredible. So SHOFCO was in paper today—which is so exciting. Seeing Kennedy’s pride about what he, a 23 yr. Old from Kibera can too is amazing—as he is so proud of the people he’s worked with. He is also such a thoughtful good friend. So we’re on a bus, and Gabi and I look at each other in one of those moments where you just realize how blessed you are. It was like, we just have incredible people in our lives, around us right now… Anyhow, Kennedy’s so funny…he’s so excited to take us to this place…which he talks to the boys about in Swahili, and when I ask Quawme what he said he tells me he can’t say because it’s a surprise for me. So he takes us to his favorite restaurant where they serve Luao (that’s his tribe) food. It’s in downtown Nairobi, outside…just beautiful. We’re all talking—and I am just truly happy. We eat this AMAZING fish that is served whole---the eyes just stare at you… And talk and talk and talk, the only thing missing was you! God, this table just had such incredible people around it…you would have died…these people just challenge, excite, awe, inspire… So we have a beer, and Gabi reaches for the bill, and goes, “um is this for the food too?” And Kennedy goes, “well I’ve already paid that.” Okay a note here. This is something really hard I think for Americans to understand…it’s hard for me at least. But in Africa, when you, as an American, go to a restaurant with a Kenyan it is assumed that you will pay. This is not in a taking advantage of way at all…it’s just that a) the dollar is really strong, so a meal for 5 people out at a nice place costs about $20 and mostly b) Kenyans just don’t have the money for extras like going out…so they’re only going because they are there with you…but it’s not like at home where going out is like a normal thing at all. So Gabi and I are like, Kennedy, no! You cannot pay for 5 people (as that meal probably cost about 1500 shillings, about $25, and more than an entire month’s rent in Kibera.) So we argue with him, like not in a token way, but in a, we really want to contribute way, and he goes, “No please. I have now a part time job, and I am celebrating being here with people I love. Let me explain. I don’t usually have the means to do this. That is true. And I will say that, as I am an honest person. But now. I am so happy to be here with you and am able to do this, and so doing this gives me great pleasure. It makes me so happy. Please.” And we knew that he was telling the truth…I almost cried. It was just a stunning act of generosity…I told you Kenyans are AMAZING about how they get most pleasure in giving what they have away. Then Gabi and Quawme got on a bus back to Mombasa (I was so sad to see Gabs go, but Kennedy and I are going to go visit Mombasa this month, and she says she will come back in November.) And Kennedy and I took a bus home, talking on the way back about our project. I am always stunned by the depth of his perceptions. He just gets and sees people. He looks at me and goes, “I see so much potential in you. More than you even know. I even see a fear within you of how powerful that potential is. And I know…that what we are doing in Kibera…that will bring out more vision, more courage, more of your spirit than even you know you possess.”

It was a good night.