In Norway

I have been back in Norway for 9 days now, and its been surprisingly.. Not as I expected. When I first landed on the airport I got bitten by the freezing cold weather. Snow, ice and beautiful mountains. Than I went to a gas station to get my self an ice-tea (Yep, you heard right) and was shocked to feel the stressing atmosphere. Blond girls frying burgers in fast speed, and customers complaining that the queue were to long... there were three customers.
I came home and was overwhelmed, we actually have a nice home. Seriously, this house is marvellous, I just hadn`t thought about it before...
I hid myself inside the house for 7 days trying to get to used to everything. The amazing quietness, no donkeys, no gekkos, no mosqitos and no moske calling out in the night. It is so extremely different. I went from one world to the other without understanding that it was to different worlds.. And I guess that gave me some kind of a cultureshock.

Even to see leftover crumbs on the plate after dinner felt bad.. Why didn`t my brother eat this precious food?

My time in Kenya was perfect. I was challenged in so many ways, all by myself without having anyone to lean on... Except God; and I guess that was what made it so perfect. I felt "useful", it actually made a difference in people the things I did. The work I were put into.

I have found a new joy in this life, and I just want to tell you;
There is so much hope to all the misery you see around you.

I am home now, doing a fundraising, because I need to go back with a report on the research I have been doing. Encourage people and show them how much we can do to actually CHANGE, TRANSFORM and uplift that town.
I left my heart in Kenya, and need to go back to get it.

If you would like to know more about my work, please send me an email. Maria.Phoung@gmail.com


This is a hint of what you can get in your mail.

"It was sad to see the bigger picture as I dug deeper into the work. It seems to me like they don’t really have any vision, and that their words and action don’t go together. They focus a lot on power and wealth before equipping. There is division and distrust.
... are in general “enemies”. They are avoiding each other, looking down on each other and talk bad about each other.

But I do see hope. People are changing, .. are trying to work together and help each other. People are being educated and are striving to see changes and to have mutual respect. And glory to God because changes are coming. A month before I came to Garissa there also came a man from America who told the... the same vision as I had had. A man from another African country has also arrived in Garissa because God told him changes are coming to its city. ... X who has been in Garissa for MANY years are saying something is happening. That something is changing really fast. I believe it is time... "

Treasure

I have found a treasure. A treasure few know exist. Its a recipe, you can also call it a recipebook. I found the way of life. Treasure of life.

I am not talking about becoming famous and rich like Donald Trump or Britney Spears, but the recipe on how to have an everlasting, ever ending happiness.
To fill the heart with so much compassion the it overflows with happiness and joy. Compassion.
To live is so much more than just to look good, dress good and exercise enough. It is so much more than having a good job that gives you heaps of money, so you can by better, nicer things. To live is more than just to be alive.
Do you live?

Do you live?

A computer is dead without electricity. A storybook without words are no story.Food without taste is tasteless. A soccer match without a ball, a dance without movements....
Human beings are Body, Soul and Spirit. Where do you live from?

Do you live?

From the inside out, I will sing from the inside out!

Heyy!!!

Habari yako? How are you? Hvordan gar det?

The summer is coming to kenya, every day is getting hotter, and we like it!
This month focus is to go around to as many people as possible and do a research.
A research were I want to see have to mobilize people, and to create a network among workers. We need good advocacy and people who wants to bring changes.

Its so interesting to here people opinions and thoughts about this place, and about other people. Sadly, one extreme thing i notice is how everyone is blaming "the others" for the negative things in this city. It leads to lack of self-help and willingness to work for good changes...

But there is hope! I know there is!
Have a good week, enjoy life and do as much out of it as you can!
Bless

Safari and car race

My days at Minjila were fantastic. I had a room made out of mud and sticks, and no electricity and water. We really lived in safari land, and saw big monkeys, antilopes and other funny animals. Last night there were two lions roaring out for an hour. And on Monday of those lions killed a cow nearby. Our Askari, or watchman, were going around the area all night long with a self made bow and arrow. Pretty cool. It was so quiet and peaceful, I loved the place. Last night we were having a love feast dinner under the full moon, laughing and enjoying fellowship. There were a good cold wind, no mosquitoes and the food were delicious. It was so bright outside, no light that interrupted the natural shine from the moon.
Moonshine.
Now I am back in the north, and will continue with the work I am doing here. I think it will be challenging, exciting and hard. I am glad I had a week with rest and prayer; I have filled up the gas in the car and I am now ready to speed of, and next to me I have the bible as the instruction manual. The road is ready, the race has begun. Cheer me forward, let us win!

"It feels like I am living"

I remember when I made this blog, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to make one. I had questions popping up in my head; would I have good stories to write? Would I experience things that are worth writing about? How is my English?
It turns out that I was right in a sense. I don’t write here as much as I want, but the reasons for why I am not writing are totally different. It is like I got so much to do that I never have time to go to an internet café. And when I first have time, I have no idea what to write because the feelings and impressions I got from everything around me could never be described well enough.

On Tuesday I visited a sweet married couple. We had a fantastic lunch together and talked about everything. I heard there incredible life stories. About how she came from a well educated family, jumped into “poor people” education and God told her the name on her to-be-husband and what kind of work he was doing. After some years she got married to this man, and all the private details God had told her about him was right. God had set them together long before they knew each other.
They shared with me secrets only life can show you, and touched my heart in their words and actions.

On Thursday I went to Mombasa. The bus trip was different from all others trips I have had. I was nicely squids in a corner, had a 3 year old boy on my lap, and we were jumping up and down as if we were in a roller coaster. I had lunch on the road with a family I couldn’t communicate with, but we tried…

On Friday Ebby, Millie and I went to a crocodile park. I held snakes, crocodiles and saw Africa’s largest crocodile.  Seriously! Eaten Ugali, rice and beans and I even swam in the Indian Ocean today. I got up quit fast; it was just too weird hear people screaming “mzungo, mzungo” which means “white person, white person” all the time.  

Tomorrow I am heading out to the bush. Seriously the bush. I will live in a mud house, and cook with coals. There is no electricity, no clean water and barely “enough” food. They don’t speak any English so I have to use and practice my poor Swahili. Habari? Asante sana!
Luckily I am just staying there one week to begin with, so I am just really excited. The things and people I have met, the variety in things to experience is still mind blowing. Gods work in me and in this people are too good to be true, and too hard to explain. I really am fare out of my comfort zone.

“It feels like I am living. And not only living, but living on a day to day basis where I can do whatever God tells me to do on that day”.  Journaling sat. 16 Oct.(Just in Norwegian of course)  

Thank you for all prayers. I realise they are the best gift ever given to a person, makes the biggest impact (long term) and are the best blessings and expression of love to one person to another.

This is in the girls house. We are having an Italian lunch! This place is getting better and better for every week. I am going to Mombasa on thursday, but I love this place so much that I will come back instead of staying in Mombasa. Today, and every sunday I am here I will hold testimonies in different churches about Gods vision for this place. Its amazing; everything that is happening here.

Thats it for now!

Baby girl

I went the first time. She was tiny and alone.
Her mom had left her. She was sad.
She didn't smile, she didn't laugh.
Why should she?

I went the second time. She was bigger.
Her skin was bad, and her stummic like a ballon.
She was malnourished, sick, and tired.
There is nothing we can do.

I will go one more time.
Too see this baby girl.
Too young to talk,
too weak to walk.
Will she still be there?

A "normal" day

I wake up in the morning around 5.30 am when the donkeys are screaming, and city coming alive. I lay in bed, thinking of what todays day will bring, and what kind of troubble I have to avoid. I raise and shine around 6.30-7.00 am and fold my mosquito net and fold my masaii blanket. Breakfast; homebaked bread, guava fruit tomatoes and carrots served with coffe/Milo gives you the energy to go to your first appointment. I always tape my toes before I go out the house. I already have heaps of blisters. And then I normally visit different schools. See how peoples charity can effect communities and help to e.g. develop a village. Talk with people, and alot of thinking to understand how to develop longterm projects for this people.

Then I walk home. Everything is within a walking distance, but I get exhausted of walking in the sand and the sun shining bright, bright, bright on all of me. There is no "good, western" roads. It is sand, and I walk with long dresses to be appropriate and respectful.
I eat a delicious lunch that Mama makes. Rice and beans, some potato and some good -pancake similar bread. Then I sleep. It is to hot to do anything, and I just sleep, one - two hours.

At 4pm. I met up with some people or are doing cultural, religious and society studies. At 6 pm. it gets dark, and I play with kids here. When it is dark you have to figure out something to do that doesnt need light. And you are never out after dark, then you put yourself in great danger.
So, we play, talk, discuss and eat a good last meal, the dinner. We drink cold water, which is "a wow", we have beans and rice, potatoes and some soup and once in awhile a piece of meat. It is an perfect end of the day. We eat and watch our daily show on a korean channel. Then it is bed time at 9 pm.

I lay in my bed with my flashlight on. Reading a little bit in the bible. Always proverbs 3:24-26
Getting sleepy, and within 10 pm. I am sleeping with a thankful smile to God in my face.




   

Wow!

Have long have I been here? Two weeks? It feels like So much more. Everything is getting better and better. There is new adventures around every corner and I want to tell you some few stories. Where to begin? Haha, have you ever had the feeling of being so full of stories and thoughts that you dont know where to begin? I went to an orphange yesterday, and that was really touching.

There were approx. 15 - 20 kids in all ages in this orphange. The smallest ones had a wet butt, cause they dont have any diapers, and they dont get changed before the end of the day.
I went there with some Americans I've met (They are awesome). We brought biscuits, and had to open the packages right away so Mama (Who runs the place) wouldnt sell them and buy stuff for herself. She is a drunky. We were there for 2 hours I guess, and had one child on the lap, before we had to give some love to another child. This kids are abandon and no one wants them. And the people in this village, doesnt reaaaaally like them. They(the village people) dont like us either, so we cant go there to much.
This kids are alone, with no identity.  They dont know have to play games, they never have.

The Americans I met are here for a student internship. They are so cool! They have taken me to town, and learned me some Swahili. We laugh together, and had some french homecooked dinner on friday. I feel blessed! I will hopefully do more with them, and hope to pursue them to do some projects in the schools with me. (They dont know that yet, haha)

I will write more soon, but right now I have to cut my hair. See ya! 

For all that are praying

Thank you so heavenly much for all prayers you have lifted up for my sake.
God will reward you in heaven, and I will let you know later what incredible things you have been a part of.
And what you have helped me to overcome.
Prayers are my one and only wish, that are higly needed here.
Today I was able to walk around and not being scared, for the first time since I came.

People are stirring all the time, and commenting everything about me. It is hard, but with your faithful prayers everything is possible.
I will be gone for a week, but I will have you all in my heart and mind.

You, Gods joy; keep going strong, never lose your faith, then you will see what kind of amazing, incredible things our father can do for you. He loves you so much, he hear all your prayers,
Thank you so much! You are a part of my safety, joy and sleep. I wouldnt have this things without your prayers.

Ps. What God told me in my dreams, are now coming true. We have seen it on the news...

First 5 days!

This country is amazing :D
 I spent my two first days in *tha* place and got to know heaps of people there. People with stories that shocked and amazed me. Some that had gone to the finest design schools in the u.s.a   and are now starting a jewelry business for some etnic groups here so that they can earn money to pay for their childerns school fee.
I went with them to the jewelry marked and were their young; input opinion. haha XD
It was so mindblowing to see how a business can take form..
A women  i talked to, german, had been here a looooong time by herself and told me and prepared me for some craziness I could meet. Thank you! She had learned some funny triks on how to get rid of the insects, and further on...
I met a man from a local tribe who told me about the first time he saw the phone ringing.. He didnt know what to do...

And now I am in *the next * place.( Had to take a long busdrive,i was lucky, i had a seat while other were hanging out the door)  i thought there were 70 000 people here, but came to the city and found out that, that was really wrong. This is a big place, with a lot of people.
so sometimes I ask my self; What can I do here!!????
my *new family* learn me so much. If  I came all this way just to give them the vision and get this learning back, then it is already worth it. I see things in new perspectiv, and things arent as we all think they are..
alot of people say they want to help with the african development, But dont you think they trying really hard alredy? I have seen the hope organization, unicef, unesco ( I think) and some less know.
And yes Africa do need us. But have can we solve a problem without knowing what the problem really is..

It is September and I am sweating day and night. My deodrant actually fell apart, and it will be hotter.
(Summer in December) I have just been in Malaysia and Australia, but wow this is different.

Take care wherever you are in this world. Never lose your hope, but keep striving after the things you want.
Please remember me, and pray.

Why Kenya? This is my story.

It begun when I was 14 years old. I was laying in my bed, sleeping in.
And then I heard this voice in my head. I can`t describe how it feels, its something you have to experience yourself to understand. Anyways, this voice said "Maria, when you get old. You have to water the flowers and give them nutrition". Whaat? I had no clue what it meant,
but it felt important... I wrote it down.


A time later (less then a year) I heard the same voice! "Maria, what I mean by watering the flowers is that you have to pray for people. And by nutrition I mean that you have to spread the gospel."

I was 15 at the time and went to school; busy with homework and everything with it. But last fall I got this sense of something big coming. I had no rest, and was waiting for something I didnt wait for...

Then I went to YWAMs "new years camp 2009" were a girl I didnt know prayed for me. She saw a picture of seeds coming to me. And I knew it right away. It was the flowers seed! I felt mr. father gave me the sack with seeds. Prepared me,because the time was in.

I prayed for people and saw things happend in their life, but I knew it was something more with this "calling".
It wasn`t all, so in May I had a dream. A picture of Kenya surrounded by water to the east, and Somalia in the north. "The grass is dying, and people are losing their hope. Hard times is coming for this people". I got alot of information about this place and when I woke up it was stuck in my head.

God, is this you? How could I know?
I prayed about it, I wouldnt let one dream determine my future plans. I needed confirmation if this was it.
Glenn, an awesome guy and friend prayed for me and he started to talk about 1 Peter in the bible.. Blablabla, I didn`t see the point of talking about this now, I tried to find out about my future. (Sorry, Glenn)

I went away and then my humoristic Mr. Father told me " Hey, take a hint girl. Go and read 1 Peter"
So, I did. I opened the book excited,cause I had never read this book before.
Before I started reading he said "Just read the first chapter and look for something with vegetation".
And I read, and this is what I found. I will not forget it, I am always thankful for it;

"All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;

the grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of the Lord stands forever. 

And this is the word that was preached to you".      
                                                           

                                                       1 Peter 1:24-25

Random thoughts...

Yesterday was a beautiful day. My bestfriend were with me almost all day and I relaxed, totally!
I walked down to the city around 12.pm and realized that this would be one of the last timesI could walk around alone safe as a lamb in the streets for three months.
I wore my red flower dress that came half way down to my knees and brown tights. And realized that, that would also be one of the last days with split between my legs. Because for the next three months I have to were skirt.

 I like skirt, but this make me realize how lucky I am here in Norway with all this oppertunities.

Or just a little bit of what kind of challening things Im gonna  meet.
Then I sat in the sun, licking me without getting a sunburn.. Oh, I tought.. my last day without sunscreen?

Sometimes it just hit me how GOOD everything is. Life is good.
I can do whatever I want and there are no limits.
I take to much for granted, and I know it. What can I do about it?

Im going out far away, so I can appreciate what I got right here...

I am going out far away, so I can appreciate what I got right here...

Thank you, my love

Run!

Fuck, run!

They take you. hit you. Tease you. Gossip you.

Bully you. Criticize you.

Fuck, run!

                      - but they are my friends.

I know,

thats why you have to run.
 
 
 
This is one of my poemes from the "earlier days". Who is wrong and who is right?
When do you know who`s the bad guy and the good guy.
I guess life is a movie where you don`t know which path you are on
before you look back on the old path, your old footprints.

You Learn.
Learing and growing is something faboulous about your movie.

And my movie taught me some hard lessons.
But I am glad,
Now I might look back
and have the answers.
___________________________________________________________

Do you have the answer? Who is the bad/ good guy in your life? How can you know?

Preparation

Few facts:
Wow! Times running by fast and I am already leaving for Kenya in 2 weeks!
I will travel with Turkish airlines with uncomfortable seats and no tvscreen (to save some money) at September the 3. Im going to visit the organisation"Youth with a mission" in two places. Garissa is a city at the same size as Drammen, my hometown <3. I will stay there the two first month, met HEAPS of people and help out with all I can. Hopefully some church- and children work and maybe some teaching? 
Then I am going to Tana Delta for the last month. I been told to bring old shoes and slippers  because of the muddy roads and streets. Or.. I dont know if it is actually streets there. Is it streets in the bush, cause thats were Im going!?

Cultureshock to come.. What?
I have mentally prepared and said to myself that I want to be outgoing, sharing and spitting out ideas at every corner. Coming with suggestions and always say my opinion.
And then I read the book "Foreign to Familiar" by Sarah A. Lanier, that made me realise that I had to fix my mentality! My culture and ways of doing things is so different from the African "warm culture". I come from Norway, which you could generalize and call a "cold culture". Norwegians are direct, effective and taught to be individualistic. We are honest and right on, and as me; always saying our opinion. 
Africans are indirect and think about the atmosphere more then the effectivness. That means that a no can mean a yes and a yes can mean a no.. The group is more important then the individual, you shouldnt always say your opinion out loud.
Will I adapt to their ways easily or will I have a three months cultureshock?
I am preparing, taking one day a time, because thats the only thing I can do..
I am so excited!!!