Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Amen! Amen!


February 16, 2012 Thursday

The sun was bright and the day was heating up fast. We sat on the back of a motorbike as we traveled the dusty dirt roads of western Kenya. The morning went fast as we traveled to the different lumber mills in search of quality lumber and the best price for the church that we would soon be building.

The morning sun had changed position and it was time to head to the village of Taito. The widows had gathered for their Thursday session and they were all waiting within the small room of the home made from the mud of the earth. Before we began our study I wanted to check on the young widow that we recently took to the hospital that tested positive for HIV.

As we entered through the gate of her plot we could see her at the well drawing water for her family. She had fainted one week before while drawing water because she was so weak. What a change we saw in her as we entered their home.

This quiet small framed mama was on her feet, dressed and so eager to give thanks as we entered her home. “You are like a god to me. You have saved my life!” quickly came out of this woman’s mouth. I shared with her that I was not a god and that there was only one true God. She proceeded to explain what she meant. She knew that I was not a god but God used people to represent him and he had used me to help her live. So in her own way she was giving our heavenly Father thanks. She had so much to talk about today it was evident that she was feeling stronger.

Her grandparents also joined us and as we sat together we gave thanks to our Lord Jesus for pouring life into this weakened and diseased body. Part of her recovery demands that she takes her medicine and eats a good meal everyday so before we came we made sure we filled a bag with food items to leave with them. The bag emptied onto the table before us, rice, beans, tea, sugar, salt, ugali flour, salt and cooking fat, they would not sleep hungry tonight.

As we sat with the mama’s and prepared for our study this young mama walked through the door. She had changed her clothes and put on a beautiful royal blue dress. She came to learn more and made sure she put on her Sunday best to study God’s word.

February 17, 2012 Friday

On our way to Kipsongo slums we dodged the motorbikes coming and going at a rapid pace. The street was busy with people on foot and we shared the same roadway with the cows, goats, sheep and other vehicles. It is definitely a challenge to travel safely here and one has to be alert at all times. The laws of the road, traffic signals, warning signs, and speed limits just don’t exist in real life here.

It had been some time since I had visited with the children and I wanted to make sure that little Linda was still doing well. As the gate to the Bread of Life School and Feeding station opened for us to enter I could see the happy children on their lunch break. Most of the children here come from the slums and they are given a good meal every day along with schooling which opens the doors of opportunity for the future.

It took a while to sort through all the faces and find those that are from the orphanage that I have spent so many hours with. Little hands reach for mine and the children tagged along with me as I walked the compound.

The boys gathered around my husband to check out who had the biggest biceps!

It doesn’t take long and Sarah and little Linda are found. They snuggled in close to my arm and no one was allowed to take their place!

While in Kipsongo the rain clouds rolled in and sheets of rain came at us sideways for a short time. Everyone is thankful for this blessing of rain, the dust will settle some now and the people will prepare their land for planting. The rainy season will soon take over the dry and dusty hot days of the Kenyan summer. The first rains open up the heavens for more to follow!

Whenever there is a public official visiting the area the police will gather the street children and lock them up. They want to impress the official when he comes so they make sure he or she will not be bothered by beggars. Sarah and Alice, two street girls we have been helping have been missing for over two weeks now, along with so many other street children. We had presumed that they had been picked up by the police and were being held some place. As we passed through town one little street girl ran after us and her voice rang out loud and clear. It was Sarah! She was as excited to see us and we were her. We found a little table where we could sit and we had some food brought to her. She was very hungry and as we prayed over her food she said amen a couple times before we were even finished! The food was gone in no time. She looked clean and had a red knit sweater wrapped up around her head to keep warm. The night mountain air brings a chill into the land and one needs extra clothing or a blanket to keep warm. With Sarah there is a language barrier but she understands us as we try our best to communicate. Sarah is probably around 12 years old and the night ushers in such evil. We asked her where she would sleep tonight. My heart broke as she took the empty grain bag she was sitting on and lifted it in the air. I wanted to cry openly as I knew this grain bag would become her bed, her covering, and her shelter for the night. She would find a place hidden away from those that are stronger and older than her and wait for the break of dawn. The glue bottle would cover her pain of being cold and alone. She would wait for the sun to rise without any hope of a better tomorrow.

February 19, 2012 Sunday

It took us a couple tries to find Cornerstone Church today as it sits off the main road in an open field. I did not come to preach but came to listen to the preacher of the day. However, after a couple invitations to please preach I found my feet standing behind the pulpit. It is a church that is rapidly growing and as I stood to speak the chairs were full and others were standing in the back. The whole back part of the church had several rows of people standing throughout the whole service. The hunger to learn more is great.

Psalm 103:1-5 Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits- who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Bibles For The Mamas

February 11, 2012 Saturday

Pastor Winnie invited us to join her for a crusade that was starting in the late afternoon. The sun was low in the sky as we traveled a short ways out of Kitale to a section called Mitume. A big truck sat in the open field with banners which told of the speakers of the night. The side of truck opened and it became the platform for those singing and preaching.

There were people sitting along the edge of the field. The children gathered and excitement shown on each of their faces. As the singing started more and more came. Some came and stood others broke into a time of dance.

Earlier we had met with Rev. Carl Bauman, an Assembly of God pastor and missionary from, New Mexico. As he opened the service up for a time for prayer. We gathered around the truck to pray with those in need of healing, salvation and victory over the problems in their life.

February 15, 2012 Wednesday

I met Gladys, my interpreter and friend, in town at her hairdressing shop. We then walked the tracks to the matatu stage. After the van is full they always squeeze four or five more people in. It is not uncommon to share a matatu (public transportation van) with twenty other adults.

It was a beautiful day and we arrived safely in Moi’s Bridge but we weren’t at the place where the women were meeting yet. We found two motorbikes and traveled twenty more minutes out into the country. The quiet rural life is so beautiful but so very hard. As we enter the little village we had to stop as there was a rope pulled across the road. Two town officials sat on each side. The motorbikes had to pay a fee to enter! I think it is the Kenyan version of a “toll booth.” We have not seen rain for over two months now and the dust swirls around us as the winds pick up.

The women had gathered inside a home and their singing could be heard at the road.The room was full of women and later on a man that had been standing outside listening decided to join us. It was good to see the mamas eager to learn and continue on serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I had spoken to these women on my last trip to Kenya and they had not forgotten. The room made from the mud of the earth was dark and to make it easier for everyone to read we pushed open the little wooden window and left the door open. The light was needed but as the wind blew on the outside the dust rolled into the room.

Each one received a New Testament to keep with them where ever they traveled. They were encouraged to have their children sit with them and read one chapter a day. Their voices joined together as their hearts expressed their thanksgiving to God for such a gift. Many thanks are sent to Craig Hardy for donating so many Bibles to the work here in Africa.

It was time to return home. The motorbikes were called but were nowhere to be seen so we started to walk. Gladys wrapped her head in beautiful green cloth to avoid as much dust as possible. Little children gathered at the roadside with big smiles and a quick “mazungu, how are you?” was sung into the air as we walked by. Motorbikes soon approached us and we were given a ride to the main road. Once at the main road we would wait for a matatu to take us the rest of the way back. Today we didn’t have to wait long, we only had to make a choice of which driver was going to carry us in his vehicle. I am almost always honored with the front seat. It is not necessary but the driver insists and even has people move for me. Prices for the ride started dropping as each driver hurried our way to try to capture our attention. Competition is not a bad thing but they started to get physical. Pushing and shoving and loud voices started to take over the peaceful day, they were ready to fight for the right to have us in their vehicle. We quickly walked away and found another transportation van up the road a bit.

The marvelous beauty of God’s creation surrounded us as another busy day came to an end. We enjoyed the peace and quietness at the lodge in the evening as the sun set behind us and the moon in its brilliance came up over mountain range in front us.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Friday, February 10, 2012

Termites Anyone?


February 10, 2012

Manley has continued to work at the church throughout the week. Almost all the trusses have been corrected and are now in the right position.

Before the moon rises over the mountain range in front of the lodge we hear the sound of a beating drum. It continues night after night. On one of our evening walks we discover a group sitting on the ground beating their sticks. They welcome us and teach us the art of harvesting termites. Everyone I that I ask has always told me that termites taste good! I have yet to try one myself, so for now we will take their word for it.

Termites are full of protein and can be eaten alive or cooked. The children were delighted to show us that they ate them alive and after a quick bite they spit out the wings.

Termites are usually gathered after it rains but it has not rained here for two months. So they pour some water over the termite area and then beat on their sticks over and over again. They are trying to reproduce the sound of heavy falling rain. As the termites begin to fly out of their hole they are captured in a plastic bag.

Later on we visited with Jane and Patrick in their humble home and they invited us to sample some of their hard work. A bowl was placed on the small table in front of us and it was alive with termites but their wings had been removed. We thanked them for their generous offer.

We had not come to eat but to bless their children with a ball, jump rope and dresses that were made by Cindy Bassett and some of the women in our home church. Each girl tried on her new dress and it was a perfect fit. Lilian, Jackline, Emily, Evon, Ruth and their friend walked together that evening wearing their new dresses and big smiles!

Little 5 year old Ruth kept looking down to make sure her doll was still in the pocket. Even at that age she was concerned about getting dirty. Every once in a while she would brush the dust of the bottom edges of her new dress. Dad was just as happy as the girls were and repeatedly gave thanks for blessing his family. Many thanks are sent home to you for all of your work and for making these little girls happy!

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”