Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Emmanuel Jal: We Want Peace

Emmanuel Jal was one of the "lost boys" of the War in Sudan. He became a child soldier, survived incredible circumstances, became a hip hop singer, wrote a biography, became an activist for peace, and is the subject of a documentary. He latest song was released to promote peaceful elections in Sudan. It is also a message for all of Africa and the world. It is called "We Want Peace" and includes help and messages from other activists around the world. You can read more about Emmanuel Jal on posts that I made on another blog: Emmanuel Jal: War Child- Songs of Triumph and Three Views on "War Child" Emmanuel Jal


Sunday, February 20, 2011

Toughest Team to Make

The toughest running team to earn a spot to is probably the Kenyan World Cross-Country Championship team. There are so many outstanding, upcoming, and hungry runners aiming to earn a berth on these 6 member teams. At the Kenyan trials held Saturday in Nairobi, the male and female Kenyan runners who won the World Cross-Country Championships last year didn't even make this years squad.

Update: Geoffrey Muttai, the winner of the Kenyan Trials, went on to win the 2011 Boston Marathon and run the fastest marathon time ever recorded.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Kip Keino

The first I recall ever hearing about Kenya was while watching the 1968 Olympics on our black and white television when I was a child. A Kenyan runner named Kip Keino beat the American miling great Jim Ryun in the 1500 meter race in the rarified air of Mexico City.



He won two medals in Mexico City and two more four years later in Munich and became the first famous African distance runner. When I started running in ninth grade, the first two books I read were the biographies of Kip Keino and of Jim Ryun.

Now when people think of Kenya, they think of their great distance running tradition.

I have a running friend whose cousin was just in Kenya working with Kip Keino. Here is an article he sent that tells more of this great athlete and person and what it means to be "world class".

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Great Migration

I will be going to Kenya this summer with Crossway Christian Church this summer. I like to dive in and learn a lot about the things that I am interested in and this blog will be my personal place (you are invited to visit) to list thoughts, keep track of information, and tell about this wonderful opportunity that I have to serve the people of Kenya. I will delve more into the trip later, but want to include some other things related to the trip and Kenya in general.



First off, what do you think of one you think of Kenya? Do you think of the wildlife?This is a 2009 video from 60 minutes on the Great Migration. View the spectacular video here. It cannot be embedded. I am not going  to Kenya to see the magnificent wildlife, but I do hope to see some.