About Kenya

PEOPLE

Kenya has a very diverse population that includes most major language groups of Africa. Traditional pastoralists, rural farmers, Muslims, and urban residents of Nairobi and other cities contribute to the cosmopolitan culture. The standard of living in major cities, once relatively high compared to much of Sub-Saharan Africa, has been declining in recent years. Most city workers retain links with their rural, extended families and leave the city periodically to help work on the family farm. About 75% of the work force is engaged in agriculture, mainly as subsistence farmers. The national motto of Kenya is harambee, meaning "pull together." In that spirit, volunteers in hundreds of communities build schools, clinics, and other facilities each year and collect funds to send students abroad.

HISTORY

Cushitic-speaking people from northern Africa moved into the area that is now Kenya beginning around 2000 BC. Arab traders began frequenting the Kenya coast around the first century A.D. Kenya's proximity to the Arabian Peninsula invited colonization, and Arab and Persian settlements sprouted along the coast by the eighth century. During the first millennium A.D., Nilotic and Bantu peoples moved into the region, and the latter now comprises three-quarters of Kenya's population. The Swahili language, a mixture of Bantu and Arabic, developed as a lingua franca for trade between the different peoples. Arab dominance on the coast was eclipsed by the arrival in 1498 of the Portuguese, who gave way in turn to Islamic control under the Imam of Oman in the 1600s. The United Kingdom established its influence in the 19th century. The colonial history of Kenya dates from the Berlin Conference of 1885, when the European powers first partitioned East Africa into spheres of influence.

About Us

Don and I met playing touch football in December 1984 behind Mount Bethel United Methodist Church with some friends and my father and brother. Luckily, my father and brother already knew Don from the church softball league, so he already had their "stamp of approval"! Don had just graduated from Georgia Tech and I was home during Christmas break. Soon we began dating and were married May 23, 1987.

Our journeys of faith have been wonderful preparations for this new adventure God has called us to.

Don Dickerson

Don is an environmental engineering consultant with nearly 20 years experience in pharmaceutical, specialty chemical, and general manufacturing settings. He is a registered Professional Engineer (PE)and a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager. He also is the PE of record for numerous plans, including storm water pollution prevention (SWP3); spill prevention, control, and countermeasure (SPCC); corrective action (CAP); and hazardous waste storage system integrity (RCRA). Other experience includes designing a mobile vapor extraction/air sparging unit, conducting emission inventories, and working as a Phase I, II, and III assessor of commercial, agrarian, and undeveloped real estate.

Don is a devoted and loving husband and father who loves playing with his sons. He also enjoys writing fiction and non-fiction, learning history, biking, and weight lifting. He has facilitated many bible studies, taught in Sunday School, is active in the Walk to Emmaus community, and has had the privilege of speaking at other churches.

Laura Dickerson

Laura is a former Registered Nurse, certified in adult critical care, with experience in Quality Improvement of systems in a Home Health department. Currently, she is a stay-at-home mom and a certified candidate for ordained ministry with the United Methodist Church, pursuing a Master of Divinity degree from Asbury Theological Seminary. Laura was most recently Executive Team Leader for Trinity Outreach Ministries, a multi-team mission and outreach ministry, seeking to "make Christ known locally, nationally, and internationally" through coordinated and strategic planning. She enjoys teaching and preaching in adult Sunday School classes, workshops, seminars, and children's activities.

Laura is a loving wife and mother. She enjoys reading books that challenge and inspire, writing, biking, drawing, and painting.

Dickerson Update 01/01/2007

Both of Laura's grandmothers passed away in December and this newsletter
is dedicated to them.


IN MEMORY OF NANA
1912- Dec 21, 2006
(Edna Turner)

Nana, I miss you.

I remember being about 8, combing your long hair. I loved to comb your
hair. I still remember you teaching me to start at the ends and work your
way up. I’ve even taught Zack the same thing for his hair. (Drew’s hair is
too short!)

I remember you playing with us at the hotel, pretending you were irritated
at Larry peaking through the curtains while we were all in bed and you
pushing him back down…I laughed SO much. He’d keep getting up, you’d keep
pushing him down, and I’d keep laughing!

Even Drew was smiling thinking about how you’d play board games with him.
He’d move his piece in the wrong way and you’d say, “You can’t do that!”
and then he said you’d give a little smile. He thought that was really
funny. Zack, too, loved playing board games with you. You seemed to be the
only one in the family who had enough energy for Zack! You were always
ready to play if he asked. Zack loved that. Oh, and the caramels in your
room. They were like a hidden treasure for Zack and Drew.

I remember coming to visit and we’d sit at the kitchen table and talk and
talk…about nothing, about everything…it was so nice. Sometimes we’d share
a cup of coffee. You seemed always to have time for me.

I loved how you taught me that once you get to a certain age you’re
allowed to say whatever you want to say – I can’t wait ‘til I get to that
age! But you forgot to tell me at what age that kind freedom comes! I
admire your boldness to speak. I admire your courage. I still pray for
that kind of courage in my life.

I remember how you said, “This is my lucky year!” I asked what you meant
by that. You said, “This is the year I go,” and you pointed toward heaven.
I asked if that was your idea or God’s and you smiled wryly and said,
“Mine.” I laughed. There was that boldness again. You were so ready to go,
so ready to continue life on the other side with Christ Jesus…Lord, may I
also be that ready.

Thursday night here in Kenya, December 21st, I was feeling lonely and
down. (I didn’t know you had died.) I asked God that night to give me a
dream that would be comforting and just plain nice. I dreamt of you. We
weren’t doing anything but talking…talking about nothing and everything.
It was so nice.

See you later, Nana.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


IN MEMORY OF "MONGA"
1918 – Dec 31, 2006
(Mary Lee Whittington)


Monga, I’m glad you’re free now. No more scary hallucinations; no more
falling; no more hospital visits. You now are free from the bondage of
your body and mind on earth; now you have True Freedom, freedom to worship
Jesus Christ forever and ever. Now is when life really begins!

I think, emotionally, I had begun to say goodbye a while ago. I remember
visiting you in the assisted living home right before we left for Kenya. I
was actually a little scared – would you remember that we were going?
Would you be ok with that? But you introduced Don and I to your
hairdresser and told her proudly that we were missionaries going to Kenya.
Whew. You were definitely ok.

You had so much love to give and were not afraid or embarrassed to give
it. You’d hug with big hugs and plant a kiss on my cheek. When I was
little, you’d cry so much when it was time for us to leave. (Granddaddy
would get so annoyed!) I didn’t know why you were crying until Dad
explained it to me. I remember thinking, wow, how much you must really
love us to cry so much. I’d never seen someone cry that much over us.
Somewhere in my twenties I realized that ability to cry is a great
strength. To be unafraid of the gift of emotion – of joy or sadness –
there is much freedom in that. Thank you for showing me that kind of
freedom.

I remember when you came to visit us in New York. And it began snowing
while we were eating. We all went outside and I think you were more
excited to see the snow that I was! You and Granddaddy actually made snow
balls and began throwing them at each other! And you were laughing so
much. I was surprised to see you so happy and playful. I think I was
around 10. I remember thinking that maybe you acted “grown-up” around me,
but this must be how you acted all the other times.

I remember being surprised at the dichotomy that you could be so lady-like
and feminine and at the same time so informed and opinioned about politics
and current events. You could easily and intelligently express yourself. I
enjoyed hearing about you “visiting” President Bush as you got older, when
your mind had begun making up things. You said he was very appreciative of
your advice. I bet he would be.

So, Monga, I miss you so much. Now you’re back to the way I remembered you
– but even better. I love you.