Salvation

What is salvation? To me salvation is forgiveness, redemption, and freedom. In most religions you are seeking it from God. In Kenya people regularly ask me if I am saved. I always answer yes.

I grew up in a community where people fervently went around trying to lead others to Salvation. You could hand them tracks, offer to pray with them, invite them to a church event geared for “Seekers,” or have them over to your house for a home-study. When you saw someone on the street or in the store, you would look at their lost souls sympathetically, “If only they knew the truth.” It was a goal, a badge, or gold star on the wall if you had the courage to share your faith with someone. If you could lead an unbeliever into salvation: another jewel in your crown.

I had been preached to, prayed with, read the Bible, & went to church every week, but I was first offered salvation at 18. The boss at my summer job offered me a track, but this time the pamphlet was filled with potential of a greater Salvation. The Salvation he was offering was deliverance from the guilt I had grown up in, redemption for my constricted ability to dream, and freedom from a culture that dictated how I must live, think, feel, & believe.

He offered me a plane ticket to anywhere in the world;

I got scared. I couldn’t make the leap of faith into a new life that I didn’t quite understand. I feared the guilt of making a wrong decision; having to look back and regret doing what all of my friends had advised against. How would my family react if I were saved? Would they be embarrassed? Would they be disappointed? What if I am in leadership one day, a politician, the President? How would I justify my counter-culture lifestyle?

I went on with life. I fell further & further into my unbelieving ways. I made decisions that would impact my life forever. I rebelled from the freedom I was offered & joined the Marine Corps. Instead of seeking redemption in truth, I found comfort in commitment to my wife, religion, & church. The worst was yet to come. I sought forgiveness for who I was.

It took a deployment to Iraq, destruction of my marriage, & an ensuing string of failures for me to finally hit bottom. It was then, when I no longer had a reputation to protect, and there, where I had no-where else to turn that I finally accepted the truth. That was the day I was saved. That was the moment when I found my salvation: I forgave myself for all of my failures, my bad decisions, and my weaknesses. I found redemption in being proud of who I was, not who my community or culture wanted me to be. I found freedom, the freedom to be who I am, the freedom to not only chase my dreams, but also the freedom to dream my Own dreams.

Now I believe so fervently, that I too am passionately sharing my salvation with others. I don’t have a track to hand out yet, but if I did… …It would be a plane ticket to anywhere in the world.

My Departure for Haiti (and whatever else I find)

*This is from my "e-newsletter" that I use to send major updates to friends & family. Click Here to add your email to the list.

...For some of you, this is the first time you have heard from me since I left for Kenya. I have had an incredible five months in a beautiful country that I have started to call home. I arrived in Nairobi to give what I could to The 1010 Project and the people of East Africa, but the people here and their relationships have instead been a gift to me.

Tuesday afternoon I was offered a position with Doctors Without Borders. I applied to work with their international relief teams in September, and this week they asked me to join one of their Belgian teams in Haiti. I accepted the six-month posting as a logistician today, and leave for Port au Prince via Brussels on June 10^th.

This is an incredible opportunity for me, and an exciting adventure. I am looking forward to the challenges of working in disaster relief again. The hands-on and intense fieldwork is a great match for my personality. I love the problem solving and sometimes adrenalin it takes to get the job done. That said, this was a very difficult decision.

I am very loyal and personally tied to The 1010 Project. Our partners and beneficiaries in Kenya are my friends, the staff is like my family, and our mission provided a vehicle for my values. 1010 mobilized me as an advocate, and was a catalyst for my professional development. --- I am also not done exploring East Africa. I arrived in Kenya with the goal of standing on the summits of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Kenya, and I haven’t done either. On the other hand, this new position is the next step in my professional goals; it just arrived a lot sooner then expected.

Please think of me over the next few weeks as I prepare for this step. My thoughts and memories of you are what inspire my life. I will continue to be a part of the 1010 family (as I have been the last 4 years) as a donor and volunteer, and I ask you to do the same. Their model is proven, our partners are phenomenal, and their opportunities are dependent on your involvement! Please go to the website this week and see how you can Join The Story.

Thank you again for your friendship, support, and empowerment.

Keith B. Ives

Field Visit: Potential Partner

Yesterday evening I visited an informal school in a slum community near my home. The Director was able to acquired a small area in the sea of rusted tin shacks. I peaked into the unlit "classrooms", dim with the the late day's sun casting long shadows across the homemade desks. Kim, the Director, talked about the 160 students that squeezed into the seats & their chance at a primary education. He charges KSH 400 ($5 USD) a month for students to attend. Despite the lowest price I've seen yet in Nairobi, only 30% of his students are able to pay. This leaves the school unable to provide a mid-day meal, teachers without consistent pay, and the future of the school & the students in jeopardy.

Kim's hope now lies in an alternative revenue source for the school. The disadvantage of his slum-setting also provides the potential for his success. There are no water sources in the immediate vicinity of his school or the families that share his tin walls. He is completing a business plan/proposal that would have the school purchase a large water tank that could be filled daily by the Nairobi Water Company. The school could then sell the water (for about 1 shilling a gallon). Considering other sources, community size, and operating expenses, the water sales would be able to generate 30% of the needed revenue annually.

Selling water would be a service to this community, an empowering business for the school, and a gift to the disenfranchised children in the area.

I walked home in the dark, energized by the buzz of this community. The muddy path out was lined with families selling fresh fruit, fried tilapia, brass padlocks, pencils... ...life was happening all around me. Yet despite the worst of conditions everyone's smiles seemed to glow as brightly as the kerosene lanterns that marked the way.

Hiking w/MCK

Now that I know I will be leaving Kenya, I am on a mission to see as much of it as I can. Today I went Hiking with the Mountain Club of Kenya. We knocked out a fairly difficult hike up a smaller mountain outside of Nairobi. I just posted the album so go check out the pics!

Quick Update-Wind of Change

Normally I try to write to & from myself on here. However, this one is for the few of you who take the time to follow me:

I'm back in Nairobi and trying hard to stay focused and disciplined in my work for The 1010 Project.  My immediate goals are to complete the NGO registration process with the government here, write the constitution & standard operating procedures for in-country operations, & to do a written evaluation of all of our current partners.  In the meantime I am also being intentional about getting out, exploring, & having fun. I really want to climb Mt. Kenya (& maybe Kilimanjaro) before I leave Nairobi. Yes, I will be leaving Nairobi. I have been accepted to work with Doctors Without Borders/Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) as a logistician. This is a "Roster" type position where give them my availability, & they try to find a "mission" to match my skill-set. I don't know where I will be; that's half of the excitement. The missions are typically 6 months at a time. I have posted myself as available starting in August. That should give me enough time to finish up what I am working on with 1010. I cannot tell you how excited I am to move back towards the relief side of the house. I have been craving something a bit more physically challenging, faster pace, & with more immediate results. I suddenly realized that I like to sweat, have my adrenalin pumped, and see the results of my work quickly... ...ok maybe I'm a bit impatient.   Anyways, that's the update. I am taking french lessons at the local Alliance Francaise. Brushing up on it will help me pick up missions with MSF faster. Check them out. They are a impressive org doing very intense work... 

I also have uploaded a number of pictures from my explorations around Kenya. Check them out here: http://picasaweb.google.com/KeithBIves

Thank God for Whiskey

I have so many good memories tied to whiskey. It is my favorite way to finish a good meal. It’s my favorite way to welcome a good friend into my home. A tumbler with whiskey and a few ice cubes has been enjoyed during some of my most memorable nights, worst days, and longest flights. Some days I get sophisticated & feel I deserve a nice single-malt scotch, but most days a simple serving of cheep whiskey reminds me of my humble roots. It is an honor to be able to share Stranahan's with a friend, but its nice to find yourself holding a glass of "Jim" too. I’ll stop here for fear of sounding like an alcoholic. But seriously, when I taste a bit of sour mash on the back of my tongue a flood of memories are triggered… … some smooth and some bitter.

My Top Ten... ...ok, Four

I was thrilled to get to spend an extra week back home in Denver. The volcano in Iceland gave me an unexpected extended vacation.  I have tried to use it wisely; seeing good friends and visiting my favorite spots. That being said, I thought I would share what some of those spots are. If you find yourself in Denver, these are what I consider the best experiences to have:

• Bloody Mary's & Brunch at Luciles' (Denver Location)
  
  
  
  • Have your morning drink while sitting at their fire-pit outside! Be ready for a long wait on weekends
  
  
  
  


• Afternoon Drink at Golden City Brewery
  
  
  
  • Bring a DD, a coat on cold days (the seating is outside), & be ready to join in on the Irish drinking songs
  
  
  • Don't bring a date unless she is OK w/using port-o-johns
  
  
  
  


• Hiking around Green Mountain
  
  
  
  • The wind can bite, but the view is inspiring... ...perfect for a last minute fix of the outdoors
  
  
  
  


• Late Night (open till 1am) Coffee at Paris On The Platte
  
  
  
  • It used to be tradition to buy a pack of clove cigarettes (I think they are illegal now though)
  
  
  • Service usually is poor, buy your drink a carafe at a time
  
  
  • You WILL smell like smoke when you leave
  
  
  • Enjoy the local art, on-site roasted coffee, & eclectic cliental
  
  
  
  


• Other Favorites:

Confluence Park, Exploring REI, Climbing Clear Creek Canyon, PHO on Colfax or Havana st,

Gin Mill, Stranahans, DAZBOG (12th & Clayton), St. Mary's Glacier (not Denver at all), Charlie Browns

Things I Miss & Things I Don't

I just returned "home" to Nairobi on Sunday from a couple of weeks back in the States. The time got me thinking about things in the U.S. of A. :)

Things I Miss

• Diverse Food


• Owning a car


• Seeing the Mountains everyday


• Feeling the wind from the top of Green Mountain


• Bloody Mary’s at Lucile’s


• Having my own place


• Snowboarding with Dan


• Late night drinks w/Adam


• My Close Friends


• My Family


• Leathernecks


• Confluence Park


• Not worrying about someone stealing my phone or wallet


• Honest Cops


• Knowing where I will be tomorrow

Things I Do Not Miss

• Redundant days


• A cold & empty apartment


• Obligatory Relationships


• How much money I spent


• Being too busy to notice life


• Pizza


• Knowing where I will be tomorrow

A Life On The Edge

I am reading Jim Whittaker's "A Life On The Edge" right now. He was the first American to summit Mt. Everest. It has been a solid read & I cannot put it down.  I just read this part & wanted to share it:

"And gradually, over the years, my faith has deepened and broadened. You cannot travel the world and experience new customs and religions, as I have been privileged to do, without eventually concluding that there is no single, "true" path to God. There are as many paths as there are searchers for the way, and part of the essence of being a spiritual being lies in treating other travelers on that road as you would have them treat you--with an open mind and a compassionate heart. These days, all I know is that the more I explore the world and its faiths, the less anxious and the more humble I become." (Whittaker pg. 56)

This sums up so much of how I feel & what I believe these days...

Confessions of a Late Night Chef

I can’t sleep. Its 1:00am & I haven’t even hinted at a yawn yet.  I’m not supposed to go outside after dark. I guess it’s dangerous… I cannot sit in the house anymore. I wasted the best part of today’s sunlight inside, working, emailing, procrastinating… So I wander out into tonight’s darkness. I walk down outer-ring road looking for something, but not sure what yet. I stop at a pub that seems well lit. Sitting at the bar I order a beer & a pack of smokes. I open my Whitecap & fortunately smell its foul stench before taking a drink. I hand it back to the barkeep & she serves me a Tusker that smells closer to normal. The cigarettes are disappointing as always. The first drag tastes great. Halfway through I feel I bit light-headed (the benefit of rarely smoking), but by the end I feel disgusted by the stale taste on my gums.

I need some food to wash the disappointment out of my mouth. I leave and continue walking down the road. I know a good place to grab Mbuzi Choma (grilled goat) about a kilometer down the road. Arriving I find more disappointment. They are closed. I walk a bit further dodging the puddles left from tonight’s rain. Mud gets stuck between the bed of my Chaco sandal & my foot, as I notice that the air smells like a port-a-john in need of servicing. This has to be the only country that smells worse after it rains.

I spot a kiosk down the road with lights on. I head that way and begin to smell burning charcoal & see smoke. I walk into the brightly lit shack & find a 20-something man alone manning a fire with a large metal pot on it. I ask if he has anything left. He assures me that his beans and chapattis are always ready – 24 hours a day. I order a bowl, sit down, & pull out another cigarette.  It is just as disappointing as the last. The man brings me a very hot and very overcooked bowl of beans, a perfect chapatti, and a cup of chai. My first sip of the tea awarded me with a mouthful of slimy skin. I finished it all and silently hope that my stomach would not punish me for taking a gamble on food from a kiosk at 3:00am.

The late night chef takes a seat next to me & asks how I find my meal, Kenya & Eastlands (the area I am in). I lie a bit and tell him that I love all three. I offer him a smoke and we light up together. I notice two women walking down the street & suggest that it is a bit dangerous for “mamas” to be walking around this time of night. He retorts that business is good for them around this hour. “Oh… …They are prostitutes?” I half ask half state. He confirms my conclusion and then explains that they use the small hotel just down the alley from where we are. “The rates are good.” He explains that you can just go into the bar area and ask to see the magazine. “From there you just point to the picture of the girl you want.”  He goes on to explain that he used to find a prostitute to pay for sex every Friday night. It was his routine of sorts. He explains to me in a matter-of-fact tone that sometimes he wouldn’t even use protection. Laughingly, I tell him that he is being stupid. “You are a good looking guy, why would you pay for sex. Dangerous sex at that!” He quickly jumps in and reassures me that he doesn’t do it anymore.  A few months ago he went to a VCT (Free HIV testing/counseling center). He found out that he was “negative.” He went on to explain that now that he knows he is clean he doesn’t take those sort of chances anymore. I offer a few words and acknowledge his wise decision.

I ask him if he has any eggs I can buy, and he confirms that he has fresh ones. I buy three to boil for breakfast the next day. He puts them in a baggie and takes 100 KSH for the meal & eggs. I leave him the rest of the pack of cigarettes and nervously begin to walk back home. I really don’t want to deal with any punks on the way home. I’ve been called brave; I’ve been called stupid. Either way I don’t like to run into guys with big knives.

Its starts to rain again…

Me: 20 Years Later

In 2030 I’ll be 45. Until now that has seemed old, but now I think it will be another waypoint on my journey. I have been thinking a lot lately about what satisfies me, what my goals are, & what I want to be… …20 years from now.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="200" caption="The coolest Uncle in the world!"][/caption]

Twenty years from now I want to be just as excited about life as I am now. I hope I am satisfied with my past, but not yet complacent with the present. In my dreams I am still exploring, still being surprised, & still bold enough to start things even when I don’t know what the finish looks like. I am determined to be sharing my life with friends of the same caliber as I have today; hopefully some of the same ones that I have in 2010.

In 2030 I want to find myself as I am now: the only one awake on this overnight flight, buzzing with the excitement of something new when I land…

My Story?

My story, what is it? What is the value of it? Is it important to have a story to tell, or is it more important to just be able to be a part of a story.  Why blog? Do I blog for myself or for others? If for me, why put it online? If for others, is there a set of rules or ethics? If I leave out pieces, is that ok? Is it worse to omit or to make-up elements? Travel writers have become famous, embellishing their adventures & even describing sunsets they never witnessed.  We all see that at wrong, but what if I leave out the sunrise that I did experience? What if I don’t share some of my best thoughts, or show some of my worst mistakes?

I read a story about a twenty-dollar bill this week. It demonstrated that the value of the currency is the same whether it is crisp & new or wrinkled and wet. We appreciate it the same.  Do I need to try to look crisp; do I need to show my wrinkles? Maybe I should be less concerned about story telling & more concerned with being…

Off & On...

Everything here is off and on. The water comes and then it goes… …maybe for five days. After a blackout you reset your clocks just in time for the power to flicker again. On a larger scale, we are having un-seasonal rains. This is the same year that brought a drought devastating Kenyan farmers & in turn food-supplies. Sometimes a guest shows up unexpectedly and stays for dinner or even the night. On the other side, people I make appointments with can be absurdly late or even not show up. I live in a nice community where commodities are relatively reliable, but even here we have not had the internet for over a week. My motivation seems to ebb and flow as well. It is not like the tide, constant & predictable. Rather, it is like Kenyan water service; you never know when it will be there & when it will not. I meet an inspiring person or see an incredible community effort and I become enthusiastic about my opportunity to be here. In the same day I will wait for 4 hours to meet someone who will be more interested in what they can get from the white guy than making their community organization effective or sustainable. I need to find out a way to sustain myself & my motivation. When the water is on, families fill every bucket or container they have in order to ensure that they do not find themselves without when the water is off. How can I capture & store my source?

February Excursion

One of my goals this year is to take advantage of my flexible schedule and the fact that I live in Kenya.  Every month I am being intentional about doing one major excursion.  These excursions are my time for adventure, and may also be the key to my personal sustainability.  February’s was easy. I went with The 1010 Project’s service learning team to the Masai Mara on a Safari.  Normally these trips will not be associated with 1010 or “work,” but for the Safari I made an exception.

After a few hours on a paved road our driver left the “hardball” and started down a dirt path. Passing pastoralists, small villages, & vast panoramic views we drove towards the National Park & our camp. We arrived in the early afternoon at a surprisingly comfortable lodge or “Safari Camp.”  We cleaned up and rested while we waited for the afternoon rain to clear up. Refreshed from the trip & anxious to see lions, we took off on our first game drive. 3 kilometers into our “hunt” we came to an impromptu river that the rain had formed. It was too wide to through a rock across (yes I tried, its what Marines do when they’re bored), and waist deep (no I didn’t try, I let someone else be the measuring stick.) We returned to camp a bit defeated. Mara = 1 Keith = 0

The next two days brought us great weather, unbelievable scenery, and a lot of lions! It was unbelievable. We drove around the savannah hunting for one animal or another: Lions, Malibu, hyenas, hippos, elephants, zebras, buffalo, monkeys, dik dik, birds, birds, and more birds…

The trip, the exploration, the bit of adventure... ...it was just what I needed.

More Pictures Here

Ok, I arrived

I arrived in Nairobi on Sunday. This is important because I was confident that I was supposed to land on Saturday... ...Next time I will pay a bit more attention to the details, especially the 10 hour layover in Amsterdam. I have been staying with the Mulwa family. They are incredibly kind & generous hosts.  They have even found a friend who is going to rent a room to me! The "room" is much like a carriage house. I believe it is the old servant's quarters or something like that. It is much more comfortable than I had planned on having. It has a bedroom, small living room & studio-like kitchen. They have invited me to eat all of my meals with them as a part of my rent! This is a relief as I know that I will crave the social interaction.  The down side is the distance from downtown Nairobi. It took me nearly two hours by Matatu (quasi-public transportation) to get to the city center this morning. Their home is in a safe gated community in the eastern half the greater Nairobi area (conveniently referred to as Eastlands). This is the poorer side of the city & where most of our partners & their projects are located.

My departure for Kenya (and whatever else I find)

I'm sitting in what is as close to home as I get:  A friends house in the woods of North Georgia a few yards away from the Bartram Trail.  In the late 1700's William Bartram set off to explore the southern colonies.  He documented his travels & is known as one of the earliest naturalists and historians in America. Growing up in this area I have hiked and explored most of the same trails, mountains, and forests they he wrote about.

Bartram is said to have fallen in love with travel and nature at an early age. Trips with his father, the Royal Botanist, opened his eyes. In his thirties, he left his home (what would be Philadelphia) and began his exploration of the south. He learned and wrote about the Cherokee, nature, and mans' relationship to our earth in a way that probably didn't agree with society at the time or his Quaker beliefs.

Much like Bartram I am taking off for an adventure and exploration of my own. I won't be exploring Appalachia on horseback, but I hope to find experiences as impressionable on me as nature was on him. This past fall I began to sell everything that I owned and prepare to pursue my passion: poverty.

A few years ago I was exposed to the images, faces, and facts of extreme poverty. Since then the burden of social injustice has pulled at my heart. I have read, studied, listened to lectures, followed documentaries, volunteered, taken short-term trips, and advocated around the issues of poverty. I am confident that extreme poverty is the greatest threat to domestic security & basic human rights around the world. That being said, the greatest thing that I can see myself doing now is joining the fight against poverty.

On Friday I fly out of Atlanta to begin my life in Africa. I will be living and volunteering in Nairobi, Kenya to support the work of The 1010 Project & the communities they partner with. This hasn't been an easy or quick decision, but I know that it is the right one. It is not just about social justice either. It is about me. It is about living a life of passion and purpose.  It's about chasing dreams, embracing adventure, and pushing past fear and doubt. It is about the things that so many of you have taught or instilled in me.

As I leave all of you an on my mind, & I ask that over the next few months you keep me in mind. There is a list of ways for you to support & encourage me HERE.

My Blog has moved:

Http://KeithBIves.com/

I'm on an Island

I just stepped into a very weird world... Getting off the ferry from Cape Cod to Martha's Vineyard I walked into the small village center & stopped at the first shop that promised a hot cup of coffee. Entering I was greeted by the customers, but the shopkeeper was no where to be seen. I quietly asked the lady chewing her sandwich if there was WiFi in the shop. She responded by yelling, "Katie (I think that was her name), you have internet here?" Suddenly a young & chic girl with a small stud pierced through her nose appeared. She welcomed me to her shop & reassured me that I could "borrow" the signal from the cafe across the street. I sat down & put my good-sized backpack down next to me & the table I had to share with the customer still chewing her sandwich. With me, the lady chewing her sandwich, & my pack the shop was full.

Katie recommended the meatloaf sandwich with her strong Massachusetts accent, & Donna (by now I was on a first name basis with my table-mate) nodded her head in agreement explaining that it wasn't at all like meatloaf. With two recommendations I ordered the meatloaf sandwich & sat down. Out of the corner of my eye I noticed a sign that always haunts me when I travel, "Cash & Local Checks Only." Damn I thought, as I nervously thumbed through the $1's in my wallet. "I think I have enough" I thought to myself. I wonder how much sales tax is? Well, worst case scenario I will be stuck washing dishes for Katie... ...that didn't seem too bad.

Just before Donna finished her sandwich & left she commented on Haiti, the Red Cross text message fund-raising, & how she kept trying to text "HAITI" to donate but couldn't figure it out. (this is the third time I have had someone tell me this). As with the other two, I explained that HAITI should be in the body of the message, but the phone number was 90999. She left & a half dozen high-schoolers piled in. They started talking about their new bearings, trucks, & sick decks. I slowly realize that they are talking about skateboards. "Really?" I thought to myself? They bought sodas and left. I asked Katie if people really skateboarded on the island? She quickly explained that all the kids are into surfing, skateboarding, & snowboarding. I assumed all kids on Martha's Vineyard were into sailing around in khaki shorts & polos.

Katie dressed like she was in NYC, talked like she was from Boston, but made it clear to me that she was Californian. She proceeded to tell me about her full sleeves of tattoos (currently covered by a well fitted black top). Katie skated too. She explained that she was into snowboarding, but it was a real pain to go all the way to Vermont to get on a decent slope. Instead, she improvises & goofs off on the hill she lives on.
"What else do people do for fun around here?" I asked. "Mainly abuse drugs & alcohol." she retorted. "Oh... ...well where is a good place for a guy to go to abuse alcohol?" I replied. "Nowhere around here," she said. "This is a dry town!"
I was confused, but likely not the most confused person on the island.

Choose your family

Let me start by clarifying this: I love my family.  My mother is my hero & my sister is my best friend.

A new friend mentioned the idea of being able to choose your family... ...I was struck by the comment. As I left Denver, my home for the past 5+ years, I realized that I was leaving a lot of family.  If we are lucky our biological families love us unconditionally.  I have tested that with mine! It is truth.  Living in Denver, especially this past year, I have found people that choose to love me in that manner without a biological connection.  I have brothers from the Marine Corps, siblings from college, stand-in mom's from work, big sister's in Evergreen, & even a few father-like friends. This doesn't even include the "Family of Rotary!"

I arrived 'home' this week & found it empty, & I am wrestling with the concept of home. I have a small token in my pocket that reads, "There's No Place Like HOME" on one side & has a embossed image of the globe on the other.  I am from a small family & small towns.  Growing up everything seemed immense comparatively.  As I grow my family through meaningful and loving relationships the world begins to shrink.  The flip side of the token begins to inform my definition of home. Home is where there the people you trust live. Home is where you have loving and generous relationships. Home is wherever I want or need it to be at that stage of my life... ...reassuring for someone who struggles with a bit of wanderlust.

I tried using my ipod to catch a quick thought today... ...unfortunately its sideways :)


Heading Home? from Keith B. Ives on Vimeo.