An abrupt thud rattled the door, breaking the somewhat peaceful silence…and then another followed. The single bulb of light that illuminated the cramped, concrete chamber suddenly went off leaving me in complete darkness. The mischievous sound of giggles trailed off into the dorm and then multiplied. After a few seconds passed I finally shouted at the top of my lungs, “Kennedy! Joseph! I can hear you laughing! Get over here now and turn the stinkin’ light back on and leave me alone while I’m on the toilet or else!” This is a daily scenario in my life since I moved my accommodations to make room for Uncle Chris, Aunt Becky and their little one year-old daughter Ana. I am the first resident of the new two-story dorm being built for the IAA children, but the early ... read more

Two years ago I spread my wings and left my worries behind. I began to paint brushstrokes of culture and experience onto the canvas of my life, because I believe our lives should be an adventure and not a routine. I decided then that I wasn’t going to waste another minute nor take it for granted, because you never know when it’s your last. Ever since I can remember, I’ve wanted to see the world, not as a tourist but as a traveler. For a tourist’s experience is normally confined to a schedule, prearranged, comfortable, and they usually only see what they came to see. But a traveler, he or she explores a culture from within, embraces the journey, and takes on a life of spontaneity and adventure. That was my dream that I soon made ... read more

“Then Moses went up to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the Lord showed him the whole land from Gilead as far as Dan; all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all of the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho, the city of palms, as far as Zoar. Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said I will give it to your descendents.’” - Deuteronomy 34: 1-4. As I read through the passage, I thought back to the previous day when I stood on that very same peak and looked out over the Promised Land just as Moses ... read more

The sounds of Egypt pulsed through the speakers of my taxi as we sped through the streets of Cairo and traversed the bridge spanning the Nile River. Soon the hazy skyline delivered the surreal scenery of two giant pyramids in the backdrop of the palm-speckled metropolis. Buildings of faded-red brick and pallid concrete complemented the insipid colors of the vast desert that surrounded the city. Cairo, known as the “Mother of the World,” is the home of eleven million people and probably somewhere around the same number of scams. As we neared the Pyramids of Giza, my taxi driver whipped into a tourist office just out of view of the entrance gates. I was then informed by him and a tourist agent who quickly made his way to my window that I would need to book ... read more

Solemn expressions appear painted across the faces of the Kenyan citizens who flee from the violence that has erupted around them. Hundreds of thousands walk away from a life they once knew, now refugees in their own country. Hundreds will never see another sunset. What began as fighting and protests against election results, has now turned into, what is known as, an ethnic cleansing. This is claimed to be the worst uprising in Kenyan history. Anger has fueled hatred, hatred has encouraged evil hearts, and led to cold-blooded murder. My heart is saddened for this battered country and my tears fall for its children lost. In an earlier entry, I brought to light the suspicious and shocking outcome of the Presidential elections, which resulted in President Kibaki maintaining his position and sending the country of Kenya ... read more