Saturday, June 16
Friday ended and Saturday began at the same retreat center where we spent our first night in the country. The time in between those two nights passed way too quickly and yet it seemed like so much had happened and so many places had been visited and so many people had been met and so many experiences had been logged in those 9 days. It was hard to accept that our time in Kenya was already coming to a close. That morning we were able to debrief in a very informal way with the regional coordinator for LCMS missions in that part of East Africa, Pastor Shauen Trump and also visit with his wife, Krista, and two sons. It was a good way to get additional perspective on our time and experiences in that part of the world and again just a pure blessing to share that time with the Trumps.
We then began our sad trip back to Nairobi's International Airport with flights to London, Chicago, and Minneapolis looming on the horizon. We made a couple stops along the way. First at a western like mall area with a variety of stores and kiosks and even fancy cars parked out in the main open area. I was able to buy a Swahili Bible which I hope will give me an additional language to explore as well as a map of Kenya that has helped me to track where we were over these 10 days for future reference. We then did lunch at a nice restaurant whose name Carnivore tells you what the menu mostly consisted of. And lastly we stopped at another small street market to get a few more gifts and souveniers to take home.
A friend of mine has traveled to a number of continents and corners of the world and he always does a tremendous job of recounting those trips an providing good observations of the countries and their people, culture, and history. As I wrap up this travel journal I feel like I have just touched the surface of our experiene without penetrating very deep into the learning and the implications. Maybe I haven't quite sorted all of that out yet and maybe I wrote this to preserve the memories for me as much as to share them with you. I will try to add a picture for each day as well because I know a picture can speak a thousand words and hopefully the implications and learnings that weren't explicitly put into these posts will become evident in me and my life and my relationships and my ministry as a pastor. I can only hope that will be true and I can only hope to return someday to Kenya and to maintain contact with those I met there and to open the opportunity for others to travel abroad to experience the unity of the church that transcends borders, cultures, and languages.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Kenya - Day 9
Friday, June 15
We began the morning by meeting a small group of five women who gather in the mornings at the Bible College (there are also some ELCK (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya) offices located there) where we were staying. They gather for a time in God's Word and prayer and song and then they work together to sew various items from scratch. I will have to admit I don't know much about knitting or whatever proper term describes their work, but they begin with wool sheared from a sheep. And they work the wool and stretch it and eventually make it into yarn which is then made into baby clothes or hats or rugs or socks or whatever else they had on hand. Everything they do is completely natural so all of the colors are derived from flowers, plants, or roots that are boiled down and then applied to the yarn.
Our only destination for the day was KaBichBich (sounds like KaBeachBeach) to see a Rescue Center that is in the beginnin stages of construction. There is a small church building there and when I say small I mean small even by Kenyan standards. We filled the one small room to what felt like capacity with our 10 plus 2 other American missionaries and a friend of theirs plus 7 Kenyans who were church officials or somehow connected to the congregation/rescue center construction plus 5 deaconesses - I think that adds up to 25. If my memory serves me correctly I counted off 12 of my shoe lenghts by 17. The kitchen/dining area is built but the work on the dorms has a long way to go. The site of this Rescue Center is way off the main road and up in the hills so the scenery is beautiful, but the purpose of the visit was so that Megan could prepare a report of the construction progress for Pastor Chuchu's office. Knowing that we would be there that day some work was being done, but there is still a very long way to go.
After some time spent walking around, we were greeted and welcomed by various church officials and served tea. That meant we were served a full lunch meal and then also brought tea afterward. Friday presented maybe the biggest challenge in a collision between cultures. It is custom in Kenya to feed your guests and it is said that they have not been properly welcomed if they have not been properly fed. So people had spent a lot of time and given up their food or finances to prepare a wonderfully delicious meal for us over a fire. But we had a flight to catch that night and still some road to cover to get to the regional airport that would take up back to Nairobi and some members of our group were extremely time conscious and worried about the schedule to the point that they could not appreciate and enjoy the hospitality we were being blessed to receive. It was almost like the kindness of the Kenyans was an imposition. The effect was doubled when we returned to the Bible college to load our luggage and they had also prepared a lunch for us - equal in wonderful deliciousness. Before our departure the deaconesses gathered us together and sang for us and presented us with gifts - a closing gesture of their joy in the Lord and how that translates into their generous and kind treatment of others. From there our drivers did what our drivers always did - they got us to the airport in Eldoret well ahead of our departure back to Nairobi.
We began the morning by meeting a small group of five women who gather in the mornings at the Bible College (there are also some ELCK (Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya) offices located there) where we were staying. They gather for a time in God's Word and prayer and song and then they work together to sew various items from scratch. I will have to admit I don't know much about knitting or whatever proper term describes their work, but they begin with wool sheared from a sheep. And they work the wool and stretch it and eventually make it into yarn which is then made into baby clothes or hats or rugs or socks or whatever else they had on hand. Everything they do is completely natural so all of the colors are derived from flowers, plants, or roots that are boiled down and then applied to the yarn.
Our only destination for the day was KaBichBich (sounds like KaBeachBeach) to see a Rescue Center that is in the beginnin stages of construction. There is a small church building there and when I say small I mean small even by Kenyan standards. We filled the one small room to what felt like capacity with our 10 plus 2 other American missionaries and a friend of theirs plus 7 Kenyans who were church officials or somehow connected to the congregation/rescue center construction plus 5 deaconesses - I think that adds up to 25. If my memory serves me correctly I counted off 12 of my shoe lenghts by 17. The kitchen/dining area is built but the work on the dorms has a long way to go. The site of this Rescue Center is way off the main road and up in the hills so the scenery is beautiful, but the purpose of the visit was so that Megan could prepare a report of the construction progress for Pastor Chuchu's office. Knowing that we would be there that day some work was being done, but there is still a very long way to go.
After some time spent walking around, we were greeted and welcomed by various church officials and served tea. That meant we were served a full lunch meal and then also brought tea afterward. Friday presented maybe the biggest challenge in a collision between cultures. It is custom in Kenya to feed your guests and it is said that they have not been properly welcomed if they have not been properly fed. So people had spent a lot of time and given up their food or finances to prepare a wonderfully delicious meal for us over a fire. But we had a flight to catch that night and still some road to cover to get to the regional airport that would take up back to Nairobi and some members of our group were extremely time conscious and worried about the schedule to the point that they could not appreciate and enjoy the hospitality we were being blessed to receive. It was almost like the kindness of the Kenyans was an imposition. The effect was doubled when we returned to the Bible college to load our luggage and they had also prepared a lunch for us - equal in wonderful deliciousness. Before our departure the deaconesses gathered us together and sang for us and presented us with gifts - a closing gesture of their joy in the Lord and how that translates into their generous and kind treatment of others. From there our drivers did what our drivers always did - they got us to the airport in Eldoret well ahead of our departure back to Nairobi.
Kenya - Day 8
Thursday, June 14
We woke up in Kapenguria and it was just as beautiful and peaceful as the previous evening. As I have been processing the trip and working through this travel journal it has been almost depressing to arrive at this day - day 8 - as it was the last days we would really get to interact with a large group of Kenyans. Nevertheless, the day was a tremendous blessing - especially because we spent it all in one place and with the same group.
A little ways north of Kapenguria is the Udom Rescue Center which is right down the road from the Chepareria Primary School (K-8). We began at the school of almost 1,000 students. The day we were visiting happened to be a testing day, but the principal and teachers were still gracious enough to let us invade their campus and interrupt their classes. Our group broke into pairs and we were allowed into the classes to see what was going on. I was able to see both seventh grade classes, talk with the students a little, and have an extended conversation with their teacher. At every school we visited, the students were always very respectful. Our presence did make them giggly and they would watch us through the winow an explode into sound when we left. But they always stood when we walked in and greeted us as a group. Even if the teacher was not in the room, they remained on task studying or working through lessons independently. We had a couple American teachers with us on the trip and they were extremely impressed with the classroom behavior that was observed as well as relayed by the teachers. I also was able to spend some time in on of the two 5th grade classrooms. Each 5th grade section had over 70 kids and once again mass chaos was the furthest thing from reality. The class was studying for a Swahili exam in the afternoon so instead of completely distracting them from their work I let them teach me some Swahili and I shared with them what little Swahili I know. There was lots of laughter - but it was still educational (OK, more so for me than for them). After our class visits, we were able to present the teachers and principals with a large amount of school supplies that had been gathered in the US and packed in our luggage. The school was a public school, but we consistently heard of the numerous fees and costs associated with even the youngest grades of public education. If students are unable to pay the fees or costs for things like uniforms, supplies, sometimes even their own desk then they are not able to attend the school. Teachers and principals do what they can do ensure every student has the opportunity to continue their education, but resources are almost always scarce and there is a great deal of government corruption that also works against their efforts. Before they departed for the lunch break, all of the students gathered in the center yard of the school where the principal and then someone from our group addressed them all - all 950 plus of them. And they stood and the listened with no need of a bullhorn to speak over them and no need of teachers to keep them in line. Everyday they gather like that; in order according to grade they stand outside and listen to announcements, sing a song, pray, and then continue on to their classroom. Everywhere we went and everyone we talked to was a constant reminder of how much we could learn from the Kenyans and how we can't just say life is better in the US. We need each other - the Kenyans and the Americans do - and I am so grateful I had even this short time as a guest in their country to learn so much from them.
During the students' lunch break we walked back down the road the the Rescue Center. We were given a tour of the site which includes a kitchen and dining hall, two dorms - one for boys and one for girls, and a church that is under construction but stalled at the point of getting he roof on. The Rescue Center currently gives shelter and care to about 60 youth. I remember walking through the dorms an being struck by the fact that each child had a little foot locker stacked between the bunk beds and everything that they owned/possessed/had could fit into something that is not much bigger than most microwaves and as I think about it smaller than most of the suitcases we took with us on the trip. As was the usual routine, we were fed a delicious meal and then sang to by the children and addressed by various church officials. We then presented the rescue center youth with some gifts - candy, jump ropes, volleyball and soccerball - and then we were able to just play with the kids. I joined in a circle with Americans and Kenyans and we laughed and had fun and enjoyed one another's company as we bumped, set, and sometimes even spiked the volleyball among one another. It was so so hard to leave that afternoon and another unforgettable moment as the students sent us off with a song - even following the vans partially down the road as they sang. The emotion was deepened as our driver translated what the orphans were singing: "Goodbye our beloved visitors; come back soon, you are welcome back anytime."
We woke up in Kapenguria and it was just as beautiful and peaceful as the previous evening. As I have been processing the trip and working through this travel journal it has been almost depressing to arrive at this day - day 8 - as it was the last days we would really get to interact with a large group of Kenyans. Nevertheless, the day was a tremendous blessing - especially because we spent it all in one place and with the same group.
A little ways north of Kapenguria is the Udom Rescue Center which is right down the road from the Chepareria Primary School (K-8). We began at the school of almost 1,000 students. The day we were visiting happened to be a testing day, but the principal and teachers were still gracious enough to let us invade their campus and interrupt their classes. Our group broke into pairs and we were allowed into the classes to see what was going on. I was able to see both seventh grade classes, talk with the students a little, and have an extended conversation with their teacher. At every school we visited, the students were always very respectful. Our presence did make them giggly and they would watch us through the winow an explode into sound when we left. But they always stood when we walked in and greeted us as a group. Even if the teacher was not in the room, they remained on task studying or working through lessons independently. We had a couple American teachers with us on the trip and they were extremely impressed with the classroom behavior that was observed as well as relayed by the teachers. I also was able to spend some time in on of the two 5th grade classrooms. Each 5th grade section had over 70 kids and once again mass chaos was the furthest thing from reality. The class was studying for a Swahili exam in the afternoon so instead of completely distracting them from their work I let them teach me some Swahili and I shared with them what little Swahili I know. There was lots of laughter - but it was still educational (OK, more so for me than for them). After our class visits, we were able to present the teachers and principals with a large amount of school supplies that had been gathered in the US and packed in our luggage. The school was a public school, but we consistently heard of the numerous fees and costs associated with even the youngest grades of public education. If students are unable to pay the fees or costs for things like uniforms, supplies, sometimes even their own desk then they are not able to attend the school. Teachers and principals do what they can do ensure every student has the opportunity to continue their education, but resources are almost always scarce and there is a great deal of government corruption that also works against their efforts. Before they departed for the lunch break, all of the students gathered in the center yard of the school where the principal and then someone from our group addressed them all - all 950 plus of them. And they stood and the listened with no need of a bullhorn to speak over them and no need of teachers to keep them in line. Everyday they gather like that; in order according to grade they stand outside and listen to announcements, sing a song, pray, and then continue on to their classroom. Everywhere we went and everyone we talked to was a constant reminder of how much we could learn from the Kenyans and how we can't just say life is better in the US. We need each other - the Kenyans and the Americans do - and I am so grateful I had even this short time as a guest in their country to learn so much from them.
During the students' lunch break we walked back down the road the the Rescue Center. We were given a tour of the site which includes a kitchen and dining hall, two dorms - one for boys and one for girls, and a church that is under construction but stalled at the point of getting he roof on. The Rescue Center currently gives shelter and care to about 60 youth. I remember walking through the dorms an being struck by the fact that each child had a little foot locker stacked between the bunk beds and everything that they owned/possessed/had could fit into something that is not much bigger than most microwaves and as I think about it smaller than most of the suitcases we took with us on the trip. As was the usual routine, we were fed a delicious meal and then sang to by the children and addressed by various church officials. We then presented the rescue center youth with some gifts - candy, jump ropes, volleyball and soccerball - and then we were able to just play with the kids. I joined in a circle with Americans and Kenyans and we laughed and had fun and enjoyed one another's company as we bumped, set, and sometimes even spiked the volleyball among one another. It was so so hard to leave that afternoon and another unforgettable moment as the students sent us off with a song - even following the vans partially down the road as they sang. The emotion was deepened as our driver translated what the orphans were singing: "Goodbye our beloved visitors; come back soon, you are welcome back anytime."
Friday, June 22, 2012
Kenya - Day 7
Wednesday, June 13
Wednesday was a little slower day as we switched gears to head north out of Kisumu. But before we left the city we had a couple great experiences. We began the morning with a tour of the rescue center that is under construction in Kisumu. The dorm building sustained damage from high winds that tore off a portion of the roof so the project has been delayed in opening. Still it was great to get a tour of what will be used in the future to care for those who fall into the most vulnerable category of the city's population. The main congregation in Kisumu is already doing so much to reach out into the community to share God's love and show God's mercy to others. I had mentioned in an earlier post that there is a medical clinic yet to be opened on the Lutheran compound right next to the church and the school for students with developmental challenges. The medical clinic and then the rescue center will continue to broaden the scope of ministry capabilities and reach.
After the rescue center we were able to tour a Lutheran Technological Institute in Kisumu. The school was the equivalent of our community colleges. Programs included (but may not be limited to - this is what I remember) metal work and welding, electrician, auto mechanic, information systems, and hotel and catering. We were able to see some of the students in action and we were able to taste some of the work of the catering students. I give them an A+ in hospitality, presentation, and deliciousness! One of the most memorable sites was the library. It literally contained two shelving units that were maybe four feet tall each with only a couple stacks of books on them. Continued evidence of the shortage of materials and the determination to provide quality educational opportunities that will prepare young people for careers regardless of that shortage.
We finished our time in Kisumum with a truly cultural experience. We went to a gravel alley that was lined with stalls set up with a wide variety of souvenier-like items - a real Kenyan market. Our group was about the only customers at that mid-day time so we had the full attention of the vendors. On the sales side each encounter included a high level of "encouragement" to buy something and on the purchase side we were able and expected to bargain down the prices. It was probably the most intense and overwhelming shopping experience I have ever had (and I have worked on commission in a men's clothing store before) but we all seemed more comfortable a couple days later when we stopped at a smaller market in Nairobi before we boarded the plane.
Wednesday afternoon we then traveled north out of Kisumu to Kapenguria. I was able to ride with Pastor David Chuchu and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about life, culutre, and ministry in Kenya. We were also accompanied during this last leg of our trip by Timothy and Megan Dooms, an American couple who have been serving as missionaries in Kisumu, Kenya over the past year. During our time in the country they were nearing the completion of their year and so they were a great resource to listen to and learn from and they were just great friends and travel companions to have with us for a couple days. Upon our arrival at the guest houses in Kapenguria that are connected to a Lutheran Bible College, I immediately pegged that location as one of my favorites in the world. The campus was absolutely beautiful as was the surrounding scenery. It was quiet except for the sounds of nature and just filled with a sense of peace and relaxation. Our group would also experience some of our greatest fellowship on the porch and around the dining room table at this location. If I ever unexpectedly disappear, check Kapenguria, Kenya before you call the police.
Wednesday was a little slower day as we switched gears to head north out of Kisumu. But before we left the city we had a couple great experiences. We began the morning with a tour of the rescue center that is under construction in Kisumu. The dorm building sustained damage from high winds that tore off a portion of the roof so the project has been delayed in opening. Still it was great to get a tour of what will be used in the future to care for those who fall into the most vulnerable category of the city's population. The main congregation in Kisumu is already doing so much to reach out into the community to share God's love and show God's mercy to others. I had mentioned in an earlier post that there is a medical clinic yet to be opened on the Lutheran compound right next to the church and the school for students with developmental challenges. The medical clinic and then the rescue center will continue to broaden the scope of ministry capabilities and reach.
After the rescue center we were able to tour a Lutheran Technological Institute in Kisumu. The school was the equivalent of our community colleges. Programs included (but may not be limited to - this is what I remember) metal work and welding, electrician, auto mechanic, information systems, and hotel and catering. We were able to see some of the students in action and we were able to taste some of the work of the catering students. I give them an A+ in hospitality, presentation, and deliciousness! One of the most memorable sites was the library. It literally contained two shelving units that were maybe four feet tall each with only a couple stacks of books on them. Continued evidence of the shortage of materials and the determination to provide quality educational opportunities that will prepare young people for careers regardless of that shortage.
We finished our time in Kisumum with a truly cultural experience. We went to a gravel alley that was lined with stalls set up with a wide variety of souvenier-like items - a real Kenyan market. Our group was about the only customers at that mid-day time so we had the full attention of the vendors. On the sales side each encounter included a high level of "encouragement" to buy something and on the purchase side we were able and expected to bargain down the prices. It was probably the most intense and overwhelming shopping experience I have ever had (and I have worked on commission in a men's clothing store before) but we all seemed more comfortable a couple days later when we stopped at a smaller market in Nairobi before we boarded the plane.
Wednesday afternoon we then traveled north out of Kisumu to Kapenguria. I was able to ride with Pastor David Chuchu and enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about life, culutre, and ministry in Kenya. We were also accompanied during this last leg of our trip by Timothy and Megan Dooms, an American couple who have been serving as missionaries in Kisumu, Kenya over the past year. During our time in the country they were nearing the completion of their year and so they were a great resource to listen to and learn from and they were just great friends and travel companions to have with us for a couple days. Upon our arrival at the guest houses in Kapenguria that are connected to a Lutheran Bible College, I immediately pegged that location as one of my favorites in the world. The campus was absolutely beautiful as was the surrounding scenery. It was quiet except for the sounds of nature and just filled with a sense of peace and relaxation. Our group would also experience some of our greatest fellowship on the porch and around the dining room table at this location. If I ever unexpectedly disappear, check Kapenguria, Kenya before you call the police.
Kenya - Day 6
Tuesday - June 12
We began heading north after two nights in Kilgoris and once again encountered excitement along the road. This morning it wasn't rough roads, but rowdy students. Driving through Kitale, traffic came to a stop as the noise on the street continued to escalate. As we slowly moved forward we could see a mass of people standing in the street shouting and chanting as we drew even closer two policemen came out of the crowd walking at a fairly quick pace away from the action - I think it was about this point that our driver told us to lock all of the doors. As we drove by the angry shouts had turned to celebratory cheers as they passed a long yellow metal something through the air. Apparently one of the teachers at a college located on that street had a tire boot put on her car right in front of the school for some sort of parking infraction. The town council had been lobbied for it to be removed and they had refused. So the students refused to go to class and took to the streets and the two policemen we saw walking away had just unlocked the boot from the car. With some of the political/religious/social tension in Kenya right now the story seemed much funnier after we actually knew what was going on.
Our first visit of the day was at a Lutheran primary school (equivalent of our K-8). As was typical wherever we went, we were made to feel very welcome. The kids sang for us, the teachers prepared a meal for us, and the students loved seeing themselves on the screen of the digital camera. We brought with us from America a lot of school supplies and Rongo is one of the schools that received part of that as a gift. We also left a soccer ball and volleyball and jump ropes wherever we stopped - as well as candy. And if we thought we saw a riot among the students on the streets of Kitale that still didn't prepare us for the eagerness that engulfed the Rongo students when we pulled out the little pieces of hard candy. It was a moment of chaos. Everywhere we went throughout the whole trip, I felt like we weren't spending as much time as we would like at each place. The school at Rongo maybe best exemplifies this. We ate and then instead of sitting in on a class or interacting/playing with the kids like we wanted we were herded back into the van to get to our next destination. We were able to see so much and meet so many people, but if I were to ever go back to Kenya I would love to settle into one place and really get to know the people and ministry of that place.
Though it was hard to leave the school at Rongo so quickly, what came next on Tuesday was one of the highlights of the trip and again something I hope I never forget throughout my pastoral career. We met some deaconesses that serve various parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya in order to accompany them on home visits. In Kenya, deaconesses go through two years of training (for which they pay) and then often serve without any compensation. These are truly remarkable women who love the Lord and love the people around them with much mercy and compassion and sacrifice. They make home visits; care for orphans, widows, the sick, and the poor; they teach Sunday School; they set up the altar area for Sunday morning worship; and they probably do countless other tasks that further the work of God through the ministry of His church. On Tuesday, we made three home visits that were each extremely special and simultaneously heart-breaking and up-lifting. We walked between each home as the three were all within what we would consider a couple blocks, but there were no sidewalks or manicured yards or curbs so we had to wind our way through muddy paths, puddles, and plots of corn.
At the first house we met Pemina. She was laying on a bed in the back of the house unable to get up. her eyes were glazed over and she could only speak in whispers and yet she expended great energy to get up on an elbow and greet each of us Americans. We were struck by the amount of flies buzzing around the room and pestering Pemina who didn't have the strength to wave them off. The deaconesses spoke with her for a while in Swahili so I don't know the specific words they used to comfort her. I had envisioned that as a guest on the visit I would stand in the corner well out of the way in order to watch and observe the deaconesses so I was surprised when I was asked to pray for Pemina. It was truly a humbling moment to hold her frail hand and pray that God would give her strength of body and faith and to express a trust in Him that spans cultures and remains even in times of hardship. At each of the three visits I would have the opportunity to pray for each home and family as my words were translated.
At the second home we met Walter and Doreena. We had actually seen Doreena walking toward the nearest town while we were driving into the area with the deaconesses. We stopped in the van and they had an animated conversation with her as she stood about 10 yards away from the road. At the time we didn't know who she was or what anyone was saying, but it was obvious that she was somehow connected to the visits we would be making. There was a younger man with her who continually tried to guide her in the opposite direction she was wanting to go. After the visit, we found out that she was angry with the deaconesses because they had told her that we would be there earlier in the day and we were much later than anticipated. With no phone the deaconesses couldn;t call her and update her on the changing schedule so she wasn't sure when or if we would arrive. So when we were approaching her house she was walking to the market to figure out what she could afford to buy for food. She did finally turn around and was at home by the time we made our second visit. We had purchased food to leave at each home so we were able to give her rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, tea, soap, and some other things and it was evident that she was moved by the gift. She told us how she was going to the market but now did not need to. She also talked about the health issues that she and her husband were having so after only spending a short time with them I was able to be fairly specific in the prayers I offered.
The third visit was maybe the most touching. One of the American young adults had received a monetary gift in memory of her godfather who had recently died and was asked to use it to benefit someone in Kenya. Pastor Chuchu suggested Roda as the recipient of that money so we arrived at her home with additional gifts of pots and pans and other household items. Roda is a widow who fell and broke her hip. It is evident that both her feet/legs and her hands/arms have been crippled and she wasd carried from her bed out to a chair by two deaconesses. We visited for a while and learned about the troubles Roda was having. With us strangers in her home she was very honest about the moments when her physical pain and the circumstances of her life weigh heavily upon her and how Satan uses those earthly thorns to raise doubts about God and her faith in Him. But her honesty was matched with a desire to remain steadfast making her a wonderful example of faith in the midst of trial and inspite of hardship. And again her openness allowed for very specific prayers to be offered. Part of the gift that our group member brought for Roda was also in the form of cash (transferred into Kenyan shillings). Roda had been receiving therapy for her hip and other physical issues but she now longer had the money to continue with the treatments. This additional gift from an American donor would now allow her to get the medical treatment she needed. As you can maybe tell, I remain fairly animated and excited by these experiences as can be evidenced by the number of words I am using for each day.
We began heading north after two nights in Kilgoris and once again encountered excitement along the road. This morning it wasn't rough roads, but rowdy students. Driving through Kitale, traffic came to a stop as the noise on the street continued to escalate. As we slowly moved forward we could see a mass of people standing in the street shouting and chanting as we drew even closer two policemen came out of the crowd walking at a fairly quick pace away from the action - I think it was about this point that our driver told us to lock all of the doors. As we drove by the angry shouts had turned to celebratory cheers as they passed a long yellow metal something through the air. Apparently one of the teachers at a college located on that street had a tire boot put on her car right in front of the school for some sort of parking infraction. The town council had been lobbied for it to be removed and they had refused. So the students refused to go to class and took to the streets and the two policemen we saw walking away had just unlocked the boot from the car. With some of the political/religious/social tension in Kenya right now the story seemed much funnier after we actually knew what was going on.
Our first visit of the day was at a Lutheran primary school (equivalent of our K-8). As was typical wherever we went, we were made to feel very welcome. The kids sang for us, the teachers prepared a meal for us, and the students loved seeing themselves on the screen of the digital camera. We brought with us from America a lot of school supplies and Rongo is one of the schools that received part of that as a gift. We also left a soccer ball and volleyball and jump ropes wherever we stopped - as well as candy. And if we thought we saw a riot among the students on the streets of Kitale that still didn't prepare us for the eagerness that engulfed the Rongo students when we pulled out the little pieces of hard candy. It was a moment of chaos. Everywhere we went throughout the whole trip, I felt like we weren't spending as much time as we would like at each place. The school at Rongo maybe best exemplifies this. We ate and then instead of sitting in on a class or interacting/playing with the kids like we wanted we were herded back into the van to get to our next destination. We were able to see so much and meet so many people, but if I were to ever go back to Kenya I would love to settle into one place and really get to know the people and ministry of that place.
Though it was hard to leave the school at Rongo so quickly, what came next on Tuesday was one of the highlights of the trip and again something I hope I never forget throughout my pastoral career. We met some deaconesses that serve various parishes of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya in order to accompany them on home visits. In Kenya, deaconesses go through two years of training (for which they pay) and then often serve without any compensation. These are truly remarkable women who love the Lord and love the people around them with much mercy and compassion and sacrifice. They make home visits; care for orphans, widows, the sick, and the poor; they teach Sunday School; they set up the altar area for Sunday morning worship; and they probably do countless other tasks that further the work of God through the ministry of His church. On Tuesday, we made three home visits that were each extremely special and simultaneously heart-breaking and up-lifting. We walked between each home as the three were all within what we would consider a couple blocks, but there were no sidewalks or manicured yards or curbs so we had to wind our way through muddy paths, puddles, and plots of corn.
At the first house we met Pemina. She was laying on a bed in the back of the house unable to get up. her eyes were glazed over and she could only speak in whispers and yet she expended great energy to get up on an elbow and greet each of us Americans. We were struck by the amount of flies buzzing around the room and pestering Pemina who didn't have the strength to wave them off. The deaconesses spoke with her for a while in Swahili so I don't know the specific words they used to comfort her. I had envisioned that as a guest on the visit I would stand in the corner well out of the way in order to watch and observe the deaconesses so I was surprised when I was asked to pray for Pemina. It was truly a humbling moment to hold her frail hand and pray that God would give her strength of body and faith and to express a trust in Him that spans cultures and remains even in times of hardship. At each of the three visits I would have the opportunity to pray for each home and family as my words were translated.
At the second home we met Walter and Doreena. We had actually seen Doreena walking toward the nearest town while we were driving into the area with the deaconesses. We stopped in the van and they had an animated conversation with her as she stood about 10 yards away from the road. At the time we didn't know who she was or what anyone was saying, but it was obvious that she was somehow connected to the visits we would be making. There was a younger man with her who continually tried to guide her in the opposite direction she was wanting to go. After the visit, we found out that she was angry with the deaconesses because they had told her that we would be there earlier in the day and we were much later than anticipated. With no phone the deaconesses couldn;t call her and update her on the changing schedule so she wasn't sure when or if we would arrive. So when we were approaching her house she was walking to the market to figure out what she could afford to buy for food. She did finally turn around and was at home by the time we made our second visit. We had purchased food to leave at each home so we were able to give her rice, flour, sugar, cooking oil, tea, soap, and some other things and it was evident that she was moved by the gift. She told us how she was going to the market but now did not need to. She also talked about the health issues that she and her husband were having so after only spending a short time with them I was able to be fairly specific in the prayers I offered.
The third visit was maybe the most touching. One of the American young adults had received a monetary gift in memory of her godfather who had recently died and was asked to use it to benefit someone in Kenya. Pastor Chuchu suggested Roda as the recipient of that money so we arrived at her home with additional gifts of pots and pans and other household items. Roda is a widow who fell and broke her hip. It is evident that both her feet/legs and her hands/arms have been crippled and she wasd carried from her bed out to a chair by two deaconesses. We visited for a while and learned about the troubles Roda was having. With us strangers in her home she was very honest about the moments when her physical pain and the circumstances of her life weigh heavily upon her and how Satan uses those earthly thorns to raise doubts about God and her faith in Him. But her honesty was matched with a desire to remain steadfast making her a wonderful example of faith in the midst of trial and inspite of hardship. And again her openness allowed for very specific prayers to be offered. Part of the gift that our group member brought for Roda was also in the form of cash (transferred into Kenyan shillings). Roda had been receiving therapy for her hip and other physical issues but she now longer had the money to continue with the treatments. This additional gift from an American donor would now allow her to get the medical treatment she needed. As you can maybe tell, I remain fairly animated and excited by these experiences as can be evidenced by the number of words I am using for each day.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Kenya - Day 5
Monday, June 11
Mondays are my typical day off in a normal week and that was kind of the case during the trip to Kenya. We woke up early Monday in order to drive into the Maasi Mara (the Kenyan side of the Serengeti) game refuge for a safari. We took one way there and later in the day we took a different way back to Kilgoris and both routes took us across roads that would not be considered roads in the US. I will never know how our drivers navigated the cracks, crevices, potholes, wash-outs, and other obstacles but they did. On the way we had to stop for a while and fix a pan that had been knocked loose on the bottom of one van (there was no duct tape so the drivers used a rock and a rope). One the way back the road was impassable so we had to pay some locals to drive across their land in order to rejoin the road at a further point. The trip was not without human casualties as well. One person did lose his $25 buffet lunch and another participant sustained a concussion when a bump sent her straight up into the ceiling of the van.
During the safari we were able to take in the wonderful landscape of southern Kenya and the creative wonders that God has placed upon the earth. Most of our time in Kenya was spent in hilly, tree covered areas, but there was a moment on Monday when we drove out of the hills and before us was just a flat, sparse, almost treeless plain. During the day we saw countless warthogs, water bags (from the antelope family), impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo. We got upclose views of zebras, giraffes, and elephants. We saw colorful lizards and butterflies. We entered the park with orangutans up on a hill running alongside our van and we would be entertained by elusive little monkeys later in the day. And about 100 yards from the gate as we were leaving for the day, our trip guide Pastor David Chuchu proved himself to be a great safari guide as well. He pointed our driver off of the road toward another vehicle and sure enough we found a mother lion with about 5 cubs. We'd been hoping all day that after enduring the roads and the time in the van we would see a lion and it happened at the last moment as we were just about out of the park.
Have I mentioned the roads - they added an upleasant element into the day. Back in Kilgoris with everyone still a little on edge and extremely tired we tended to our wounded. One trip participant's health continued to deteriorate during the night and was taken to a clinic that was connected to the convent where we were staying. There were some scary moments, but it was a blessing to see God work through people - American and Kenyan - to restore him to health. During dinner that night, another American who was staying at the convent introduced herself as a nurse so later we knew exactly who to turn to for our medical emergency. And after a couple days of rest and recovery all of the group was back in good health and able to fully experience and enjoy the people and places we would encounter and meet.
Mondays are my typical day off in a normal week and that was kind of the case during the trip to Kenya. We woke up early Monday in order to drive into the Maasi Mara (the Kenyan side of the Serengeti) game refuge for a safari. We took one way there and later in the day we took a different way back to Kilgoris and both routes took us across roads that would not be considered roads in the US. I will never know how our drivers navigated the cracks, crevices, potholes, wash-outs, and other obstacles but they did. On the way we had to stop for a while and fix a pan that had been knocked loose on the bottom of one van (there was no duct tape so the drivers used a rock and a rope). One the way back the road was impassable so we had to pay some locals to drive across their land in order to rejoin the road at a further point. The trip was not without human casualties as well. One person did lose his $25 buffet lunch and another participant sustained a concussion when a bump sent her straight up into the ceiling of the van.
During the safari we were able to take in the wonderful landscape of southern Kenya and the creative wonders that God has placed upon the earth. Most of our time in Kenya was spent in hilly, tree covered areas, but there was a moment on Monday when we drove out of the hills and before us was just a flat, sparse, almost treeless plain. During the day we saw countless warthogs, water bags (from the antelope family), impalas, hippos, crocodiles, and buffalo. We got upclose views of zebras, giraffes, and elephants. We saw colorful lizards and butterflies. We entered the park with orangutans up on a hill running alongside our van and we would be entertained by elusive little monkeys later in the day. And about 100 yards from the gate as we were leaving for the day, our trip guide Pastor David Chuchu proved himself to be a great safari guide as well. He pointed our driver off of the road toward another vehicle and sure enough we found a mother lion with about 5 cubs. We'd been hoping all day that after enduring the roads and the time in the van we would see a lion and it happened at the last moment as we were just about out of the park.
Have I mentioned the roads - they added an upleasant element into the day. Back in Kilgoris with everyone still a little on edge and extremely tired we tended to our wounded. One trip participant's health continued to deteriorate during the night and was taken to a clinic that was connected to the convent where we were staying. There were some scary moments, but it was a blessing to see God work through people - American and Kenyan - to restore him to health. During dinner that night, another American who was staying at the convent introduced herself as a nurse so later we knew exactly who to turn to for our medical emergency. And after a couple days of rest and recovery all of the group was back in good health and able to fully experience and enjoy the people and places we would encounter and meet.
Kenya - Day 4
Sunday, June 10
I love gathering with the people of Crosspointe on Sunday mornings to worship our God, but this was a special day in my life as a pastor. It was such a humble honor and great privelege to not only worship with the men, women, and children of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Dirubi, Kenya - but also to stand before them to preach God's Word and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus.
We were greeted upon our arrival with singing the moment we got out of the car. Everyone was waiting outside for us and with smiling faces they welcomed us with their voices. The church itself was a small building with no glass in the windows (the candles were all extinguished by the wind at some point during worship) and with a dirt floor. The structure is still an upgrade from the previous sanctuary which still stands to one side of the church. The service followed a traditional order of worship in the local vernacular of Luo. So at different times us American visitors could pick up on the rhythm of the Creed, Lord's Prayer, or other elements of the liturgy. And though we didn't know the Luo lyrics, two hymns were familiar by their tune - Rock of Ages and Nothing But the Blood. A group of 6 or 7 added additional special music standing before the congregation. I think their handful of voices without microphones may have been louder than the 130 voices that fill Crosspointe on a Sunday morning so we may have some volume knobs to crank up in our worship. The service also included Communion providing even greater joy in sharing the unity of the church with these individuals who spoke a different language and lived in a different part of the world. Beyond the opportunity to preach, I also helped with Communion serving wine from a chalice - for the first time. During the worship service the men sat on one side and the women and children sat on the other (on very simple wooden benches without any back support) and then during Communion almost all of the children waited outside the back door looking in while the adults received the Sacrament. The offering also was very unAmerican. Two people we would identify as ushers stood up front and members of the congregation then brought their offerings forward. Many people gave various amounts of money, but some also brought forward bags of produce - I remember kale, sweet potatoes, and avocadoes and there may have been more. The bags were placed at the feet of those gathering the offering and then add the end of the worship service they were auctioned off with one member acting as an auctioneer and those in worship bidding against one another. That money was then added to the rest of the offering. It was definitely more exciting to watch than the typical offering given in an American church and it was neat to see how people gave from what they had. I again cannot fully describe the experience of worshiping with this group of Kenyans who are our brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is something I hope to never forget.
Following the worship service, a number of leaders within the Kenyan church also addressed the congregation with various announcements. Throughout the trip, there was a high level of formality and respect when we met with different church leaders and on Sunday there was a lot of excitement as they named Dirubi (the place we were) as a future site of a Project 24 orphan rescue center. Everyone present erupted into applause as the announcement was made. The North Dakota and Minnesota North Districts of the LCMS have committed to jointly funding three rescue centers over the next three years and on Sunday Dirubi was identified as one of the locations for this effort. Following worship we were again fed extremely well with a kale dish, rice, ugali (which is a staple served with most meals and made out of cornmeal that is like a thicker version of mashed potatoes that you eat with your hands and shape into balls to soak up the rest of your meal. It doesn't have a lot of taste but it was good), chicken, and our favorite tortilla-like dish of chipati. During the lunch we were able to speak with church leaders, pastors, and others in a more informal manner to learn more about the church and its people and its ministry.
It would have been great to spend the whole afternoon and day with the people we had worshiped with but we were soon back in the car and headed toward another orphan rescue center in Othoro. The children who live in the rescue centers have lost at least one if not both parents to AIDS, malaria, poverty, or some other cause. As we toured the grounds including the dorms, kitchen, and church we met kids that were probably 2 all the way up to the 8th grade. We saw how they drew water from a well and also scrunched our noses at a dish that is very popular in Kenya - minnow (yes, as in the fish). The rescue center is located right next to a church and right next to a public school. The local pastor/evangelist took us over to the school and introduced us to the classes. Now I know I have been writing a lot, but do you remember what day this is? Sunday. And there were kids in the classrooms - some of them with a teacher receiving instruction for a couple hours in the afternoon and others studying on their own (quietly and diligently) without the supervision or guidance of a teacher. From Othoro we continued on down the road to a Lutheran high school or secondary school for girls. There were about 320 students and 260 of them lived there at the school. The school is in the process of building a dorm but for now the girls sleep in converted classrooms. We met with the principal and a couple teachers and learned more about the education process and challenges. At all of the schools we went to there was a sense of excellence and a commitment to helping the students achieve a successful future despite the lack of resources. At Othoro, the boys were up at 5:15 and in class by 6:00. At the Lutheran high school, the girls were awake at 4:45 and in class by 5:30. At the high school, all of the grades were also posted with the students names where everyone could see them so that those who were excelling could be congratulated and those who were struggling could be encouraged. While we were at the school a heavy rain storm blew through and all of the girls took pots and basins outside to be filled with rain water. The final leg of Sunday's traveling took us south to Kilgoris.
I love gathering with the people of Crosspointe on Sunday mornings to worship our God, but this was a special day in my life as a pastor. It was such a humble honor and great privelege to not only worship with the men, women, and children of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church of Dirubi, Kenya - but also to stand before them to preach God's Word and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus.
We were greeted upon our arrival with singing the moment we got out of the car. Everyone was waiting outside for us and with smiling faces they welcomed us with their voices. The church itself was a small building with no glass in the windows (the candles were all extinguished by the wind at some point during worship) and with a dirt floor. The structure is still an upgrade from the previous sanctuary which still stands to one side of the church. The service followed a traditional order of worship in the local vernacular of Luo. So at different times us American visitors could pick up on the rhythm of the Creed, Lord's Prayer, or other elements of the liturgy. And though we didn't know the Luo lyrics, two hymns were familiar by their tune - Rock of Ages and Nothing But the Blood. A group of 6 or 7 added additional special music standing before the congregation. I think their handful of voices without microphones may have been louder than the 130 voices that fill Crosspointe on a Sunday morning so we may have some volume knobs to crank up in our worship. The service also included Communion providing even greater joy in sharing the unity of the church with these individuals who spoke a different language and lived in a different part of the world. Beyond the opportunity to preach, I also helped with Communion serving wine from a chalice - for the first time. During the worship service the men sat on one side and the women and children sat on the other (on very simple wooden benches without any back support) and then during Communion almost all of the children waited outside the back door looking in while the adults received the Sacrament. The offering also was very unAmerican. Two people we would identify as ushers stood up front and members of the congregation then brought their offerings forward. Many people gave various amounts of money, but some also brought forward bags of produce - I remember kale, sweet potatoes, and avocadoes and there may have been more. The bags were placed at the feet of those gathering the offering and then add the end of the worship service they were auctioned off with one member acting as an auctioneer and those in worship bidding against one another. That money was then added to the rest of the offering. It was definitely more exciting to watch than the typical offering given in an American church and it was neat to see how people gave from what they had. I again cannot fully describe the experience of worshiping with this group of Kenyans who are our brothers and sisters in Christ, but it is something I hope to never forget.
Following the worship service, a number of leaders within the Kenyan church also addressed the congregation with various announcements. Throughout the trip, there was a high level of formality and respect when we met with different church leaders and on Sunday there was a lot of excitement as they named Dirubi (the place we were) as a future site of a Project 24 orphan rescue center. Everyone present erupted into applause as the announcement was made. The North Dakota and Minnesota North Districts of the LCMS have committed to jointly funding three rescue centers over the next three years and on Sunday Dirubi was identified as one of the locations for this effort. Following worship we were again fed extremely well with a kale dish, rice, ugali (which is a staple served with most meals and made out of cornmeal that is like a thicker version of mashed potatoes that you eat with your hands and shape into balls to soak up the rest of your meal. It doesn't have a lot of taste but it was good), chicken, and our favorite tortilla-like dish of chipati. During the lunch we were able to speak with church leaders, pastors, and others in a more informal manner to learn more about the church and its people and its ministry.
It would have been great to spend the whole afternoon and day with the people we had worshiped with but we were soon back in the car and headed toward another orphan rescue center in Othoro. The children who live in the rescue centers have lost at least one if not both parents to AIDS, malaria, poverty, or some other cause. As we toured the grounds including the dorms, kitchen, and church we met kids that were probably 2 all the way up to the 8th grade. We saw how they drew water from a well and also scrunched our noses at a dish that is very popular in Kenya - minnow (yes, as in the fish). The rescue center is located right next to a church and right next to a public school. The local pastor/evangelist took us over to the school and introduced us to the classes. Now I know I have been writing a lot, but do you remember what day this is? Sunday. And there were kids in the classrooms - some of them with a teacher receiving instruction for a couple hours in the afternoon and others studying on their own (quietly and diligently) without the supervision or guidance of a teacher. From Othoro we continued on down the road to a Lutheran high school or secondary school for girls. There were about 320 students and 260 of them lived there at the school. The school is in the process of building a dorm but for now the girls sleep in converted classrooms. We met with the principal and a couple teachers and learned more about the education process and challenges. At all of the schools we went to there was a sense of excellence and a commitment to helping the students achieve a successful future despite the lack of resources. At Othoro, the boys were up at 5:15 and in class by 6:00. At the Lutheran high school, the girls were awake at 4:45 and in class by 5:30. At the high school, all of the grades were also posted with the students names where everyone could see them so that those who were excelling could be congratulated and those who were struggling could be encouraged. While we were at the school a heavy rain storm blew through and all of the girls took pots and basins outside to be filled with rain water. The final leg of Sunday's traveling took us south to Kilgoris.
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
Kenya - Day 3
Saturday - June 9
We returned to the Lutheran compound in the morning and had our first opportunity to really interact with kids. There were a handful of them hanging around trying to figure out what this strange group of white people were up to. We learned immediately that the kids loved to be in pictures and then they loved to see their picture on the screen of the digital camera after it was taken. I also learned that playing peek-a-boo is an ice breaker with bashful kids that spans cultures and countries. During this time, I noticed something I would see on multiple occasions throughout the week - one of the little boys was wearing girls shoes and another was wearing jeans shorts with flowers that were also definitely made for girls.
On Saturday we took our first extended drive into a rural area. Throughout the trip, our group was amazed that wherever we went, we would see people walking - even in the most remote, middle-of-nowhere areas. The plots of land in Kenya are much smaller than they are in the rural Midwest. People worked with hoes and hands not with machines that tilled the land and harvested the crop so their corn and rice were planted on more of a garden scale than a farm spanning hundreds of acres. The smaller plots of land also meant that small houses and huts consistently dotted the landscape. So during our drives we saw lots of people walking and lots of little homes and lots of cows, goats, and donkeys wandering around often without any human supervision. It was also common to see young children walking on their own without adults nearby indicating that some of the fears and dangers we live with in America (like theft of livestock and abuse of children) are not as prevalent in Kenya. Small towns in rural areas of Kenya are also not what we would picture when we think small towns. Most striking is the fact that there were people outside everywhere - standing in crowds or sitting in smaller groups. When we drive through a Midwestern small town, it's rare to see anyone in a yard or in front of whatever business may still exist. But in each and every small community the corners and open spaces were congested with people. Small businesses also lined the streets and additional goods were laid out on blankets or set up in stalls between the buildings and the roads.
Our Saturday destination was a rural congregation where four children's Bible clubs from four different towns would meet for a competition. The idea for the Bible clubs began in the home of Pastor David Chuchu - our main guide for the trip. The Chuchu's had a television that would draw many of their children's friends on Saturday mornings. Pastor Chuchu's young daughter decided this was a great opportunity to teach her friends about Jesus so they began to incorporate time in the Bible and Luther's Small Catechism whenever the kids would gather to watch TV. That has now grown and expanded and multiplied through the work of deaconesses and pastor into other communities. Pastor Chuchu smiles what is almost a mischievous smile as he explains the strategy of inviting people who would not enter a Christian church into people's homes in order to teach them the very things that are taught in church. Many of the children are from non-Christian homes so the Gospel is heard by those who have not previously heard about who Jesus is and what He has done. Pastor Chuchu also sees this ministry as a way to prepare youth at an early age to deal with questions that come from other religions when they get to high school and eventually leave the home so that they can remain steadfast in their faith. On Saturdays the groups meet and memorize sections of the Small Catechism and hear from the Bible. They learn songs and eat and laugh and have fun. Then two times a year all of the groups come together for a competition. This is what we witnessed. Each group presents what they have memorized and sing songs they have learned sharng both the truth and the joy of our faith. The kids try to outdo the other groups in creativity and how well they know the Catechism and how loudly and smoothly they present. For the kids, this is one of the few chances they may get to travel to other communities and it is evident that they love the groups and the time when the groups all come together. Pastor Chuchu told us of a couple Muslim parents who prevented their children from going to the competition because they did not want them learning about Jesus from the Bible so the kids decided to go on a hunger strike refusing to eat their meals that day in protest. Our group from America got an extra kick out of the introduction for each Bible club's presentation. One of the kids stepped forward to identify where they were from and to state that they were ready to present and then he/she invited us to "sit back, relax, and enjoy." And that we did!
After the presentations we had the opportunity to teach all of the groups a song and then I was called on unexpectedtly to teach about Communion. That was my first experience of using a translator and luckily we were also teaching them a song - they probably had a lot more fun with that. We were then fed as we were everywhere we went and then we had an unbelievably awesome night of hanging out with the local kids who did not have to board a bus and return home. We hit a volleyball around with them and did sack races and watched as some of them played soccer and then they began to group around us and ask us questions and talk about their lives and our lives and weather in the two different countries and all sorts of things. That eventually gave way to more singing. We asked them to teach us a song and then they wanted us to teach them a song and so standing in an open field as the sun slowly set we took turns singing back and forth. It was beyond words to take something as simple as This Little Light of Mine which the Kenyan kids did not know and to get lost in the joy in their voices and their eyes as they heard it and sang it for the first time. This was the first of many moments that we did not want to end.
We returned to the Lutheran compound in the morning and had our first opportunity to really interact with kids. There were a handful of them hanging around trying to figure out what this strange group of white people were up to. We learned immediately that the kids loved to be in pictures and then they loved to see their picture on the screen of the digital camera after it was taken. I also learned that playing peek-a-boo is an ice breaker with bashful kids that spans cultures and countries. During this time, I noticed something I would see on multiple occasions throughout the week - one of the little boys was wearing girls shoes and another was wearing jeans shorts with flowers that were also definitely made for girls.
On Saturday we took our first extended drive into a rural area. Throughout the trip, our group was amazed that wherever we went, we would see people walking - even in the most remote, middle-of-nowhere areas. The plots of land in Kenya are much smaller than they are in the rural Midwest. People worked with hoes and hands not with machines that tilled the land and harvested the crop so their corn and rice were planted on more of a garden scale than a farm spanning hundreds of acres. The smaller plots of land also meant that small houses and huts consistently dotted the landscape. So during our drives we saw lots of people walking and lots of little homes and lots of cows, goats, and donkeys wandering around often without any human supervision. It was also common to see young children walking on their own without adults nearby indicating that some of the fears and dangers we live with in America (like theft of livestock and abuse of children) are not as prevalent in Kenya. Small towns in rural areas of Kenya are also not what we would picture when we think small towns. Most striking is the fact that there were people outside everywhere - standing in crowds or sitting in smaller groups. When we drive through a Midwestern small town, it's rare to see anyone in a yard or in front of whatever business may still exist. But in each and every small community the corners and open spaces were congested with people. Small businesses also lined the streets and additional goods were laid out on blankets or set up in stalls between the buildings and the roads.
Our Saturday destination was a rural congregation where four children's Bible clubs from four different towns would meet for a competition. The idea for the Bible clubs began in the home of Pastor David Chuchu - our main guide for the trip. The Chuchu's had a television that would draw many of their children's friends on Saturday mornings. Pastor Chuchu's young daughter decided this was a great opportunity to teach her friends about Jesus so they began to incorporate time in the Bible and Luther's Small Catechism whenever the kids would gather to watch TV. That has now grown and expanded and multiplied through the work of deaconesses and pastor into other communities. Pastor Chuchu smiles what is almost a mischievous smile as he explains the strategy of inviting people who would not enter a Christian church into people's homes in order to teach them the very things that are taught in church. Many of the children are from non-Christian homes so the Gospel is heard by those who have not previously heard about who Jesus is and what He has done. Pastor Chuchu also sees this ministry as a way to prepare youth at an early age to deal with questions that come from other religions when they get to high school and eventually leave the home so that they can remain steadfast in their faith. On Saturdays the groups meet and memorize sections of the Small Catechism and hear from the Bible. They learn songs and eat and laugh and have fun. Then two times a year all of the groups come together for a competition. This is what we witnessed. Each group presents what they have memorized and sing songs they have learned sharng both the truth and the joy of our faith. The kids try to outdo the other groups in creativity and how well they know the Catechism and how loudly and smoothly they present. For the kids, this is one of the few chances they may get to travel to other communities and it is evident that they love the groups and the time when the groups all come together. Pastor Chuchu told us of a couple Muslim parents who prevented their children from going to the competition because they did not want them learning about Jesus from the Bible so the kids decided to go on a hunger strike refusing to eat their meals that day in protest. Our group from America got an extra kick out of the introduction for each Bible club's presentation. One of the kids stepped forward to identify where they were from and to state that they were ready to present and then he/she invited us to "sit back, relax, and enjoy." And that we did!
After the presentations we had the opportunity to teach all of the groups a song and then I was called on unexpectedtly to teach about Communion. That was my first experience of using a translator and luckily we were also teaching them a song - they probably had a lot more fun with that. We were then fed as we were everywhere we went and then we had an unbelievably awesome night of hanging out with the local kids who did not have to board a bus and return home. We hit a volleyball around with them and did sack races and watched as some of them played soccer and then they began to group around us and ask us questions and talk about their lives and our lives and weather in the two different countries and all sorts of things. That eventually gave way to more singing. We asked them to teach us a song and then they wanted us to teach them a song and so standing in an open field as the sun slowly set we took turns singing back and forth. It was beyond words to take something as simple as This Little Light of Mine which the Kenyan kids did not know and to get lost in the joy in their voices and their eyes as they heard it and sang it for the first time. This was the first of many moments that we did not want to end.
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
kenya - day 2
Due to inconsistent internet access, my travel updates will have to be posted after the trip has concluded rather than as it concludes...
After one night in Kenya, we are already sleeping under mosquito nets (a reminder of the constant threat of malaria) and we are drinking and brushing our teeth out of water bottles (a reminder of the unsafe water). We met this morning with the Bishop and General Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) which is a partner church of the LCMS. I also was able to talk briefly with another American who was at Concordia Seminary when I was there and now serving as the regional coordinator for LCMS missions in East Africa. Then it was back to the airport for a flight from Nairobi to Kisumu in the western part of the country on Lake Victoria.
Traveling back to the airport during the day gave us our first real impression of Nairobi and Kenya. Our driver pointed out the largest slum in East Africa which we viewed from afar as the van traveled along a main road. As I got this first glimpse of the differences between Kenya and the US, I was reminded that the purpose of our church's presence in the country is not to make the Kenyans more like us - more American - it is to learn how the Gospel can be communicated in and to different cultures. To think we are there to do something or fix something that the Kenyans cannot do or fix themselves would be horrible arrogant and mistaken. Throughout the trip, I found great joy in watching so many beautiful facets of the Kenyan culture and people unfold before me.
Upon arrival in Kisumu we went to the "Lutheran compound." It houses a church, offices of different ELCK ministries, a medical clinic that is yet to be opened, and a school for developmentally disabled children. We met and talked with various local and regional church officials including the pastor of the congregation and the principal of the school. The great love for and service toward others was especially evident in talking with the teachers of the school and seeing some of the students and their work. And both the congregation and the school were very intentional in reaching out to the community and those in need with services that included but went far beyond Word and Sacrament ministry. The main word for the trip was mercy and it was evident from day one in so many ways and in so many places and in so many lives.
Friday night we checked into The Vic - a very western feeling hotel - and then went out to a very Kenyan feeling restaurant where our Kenyan host (Pastor David Chuchu) ordered the most Kenyan meal among the group - a plate filled with a fish head.
After one night in Kenya, we are already sleeping under mosquito nets (a reminder of the constant threat of malaria) and we are drinking and brushing our teeth out of water bottles (a reminder of the unsafe water). We met this morning with the Bishop and General Secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Kenya (ELCK) which is a partner church of the LCMS. I also was able to talk briefly with another American who was at Concordia Seminary when I was there and now serving as the regional coordinator for LCMS missions in East Africa. Then it was back to the airport for a flight from Nairobi to Kisumu in the western part of the country on Lake Victoria.
Traveling back to the airport during the day gave us our first real impression of Nairobi and Kenya. Our driver pointed out the largest slum in East Africa which we viewed from afar as the van traveled along a main road. As I got this first glimpse of the differences between Kenya and the US, I was reminded that the purpose of our church's presence in the country is not to make the Kenyans more like us - more American - it is to learn how the Gospel can be communicated in and to different cultures. To think we are there to do something or fix something that the Kenyans cannot do or fix themselves would be horrible arrogant and mistaken. Throughout the trip, I found great joy in watching so many beautiful facets of the Kenyan culture and people unfold before me.
Upon arrival in Kisumu we went to the "Lutheran compound." It houses a church, offices of different ELCK ministries, a medical clinic that is yet to be opened, and a school for developmentally disabled children. We met and talked with various local and regional church officials including the pastor of the congregation and the principal of the school. The great love for and service toward others was especially evident in talking with the teachers of the school and seeing some of the students and their work. And both the congregation and the school were very intentional in reaching out to the community and those in need with services that included but went far beyond Word and Sacrament ministry. The main word for the trip was mercy and it was evident from day one in so many ways and in so many places and in so many lives.
Friday night we checked into The Vic - a very western feeling hotel - and then went out to a very Kenyan feeling restaurant where our Kenyan host (Pastor David Chuchu) ordered the most Kenyan meal among the group - a plate filled with a fish head.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Kenya - day 1
After a long series of flights the group of ten from Minnesota and North Dakota have arrived in Nairobi, Kenya safely with excitement for what the LORD will do through this trip to give us a deeper awareness of Him and His grace and the fellowship of the church around the world. Thursday was a travel day and now tomorrow we get back on a plane for Kisumu. I hope to share more as the trip continues. But tonight's wonders included simply the moon, stars, and the sound of frogs - evidence that God, our Creator and Sustainer - is present with His goodness and power on every continent.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)