Forgiveness

Tuesday March 13, 2012

Those in the village of Taito continue to meet in Mama Rhoda’s house for church until the new church is finished. Even though the room is small and overcrowded there are a few more that come and join them each and every Sunday.

We are learning of visions and dreams that different ones have had concerning a new church that was coming to Taito. A blind pastor tells us how God showed him a church being built here in Taito. He saw bricks and many people coming and going. Another pastor has also said they he had a dream about a big church coming into the area, he knew that God was sending him help to minister in this area. The pastor of the new church recently told us that they were praying as the New Year came in. A few minutes into 2012 he stood to his feet and told everyone that this year God was going to bless him with a church! Others laughed at him as they understood the financial difficulties he would face for such a venture but his faith remained strong!

This church is well on its way to completion. We have a two door latrine that is 29 feet deep, it should last them years. The strong red door and iron window frames are in place.

The ground is being leveled and fence posts are marking the church property.

Men and women work within the church to prepare the floor for cement. Many are rejoicing here in the land of Taito!

Back at the lodge there is a monkey that waits to be fed every morning and evening. With Theresa away this now becomes my job. I enjoy the animals and birds and welcome the opportunity. Every morning somewhere close to 7 am a mango and a tomato is placed in the same bend of a tree. It doesn’t take long and the bushes start to move. He is sitting close by and knows that he has not been forgotten! Watching him play is enjoyed by most people, that is unless he is bouncing up and down on your roof at 5 am. He is starting to feel like he lives with us and we have seen him try to join us on the veranda. There is also evidence that he might be in trouble, the area were the fruit is kept has been tampered with! One mango has been eaten. Of course with all of the fruit and veggies he receives he must get thirsty and he has learned how to quench his thirst. We’ve had a little lamb born here and we have seen him toss the lamb aside……he wants the milk! Now that doesn’t happen every day or just anywhere but it has happened here.

Sunday March 18, 2012 We have a break from the church being built in Taito but not a break from church. Today is Sunday and we use the motorbikes and head out of Kitale. Our ride takes us through the main dirt road of Kipsongo slums. On the other side of the slums the view changes the fertile and rich land of western Kenya surrounds us. The majestic mountain is in front of us and around us the open garden land is being tilled and prepared for the next planting. It is their lively hood and if they sleep now there will be nothing to eat. They must be ready for the seeds to go in the ground when the rains come. The heavy dust rolls around us to the point that we can taste the red Kenyan earth.

Today we are on our way to Rafiki which is a small village forgotten by so many. They have settled here because of tribal wars and have very little to live on. I’ve heard reports that children from Rafiki were passing out at school because of lack of food. We hear the word Mazungu ring through the air and the children come running to see the white skin! They all run to greet us and use their one English phrase in a sing song type of way, Hi how are you? In there on cute little way they sing and jump up and down at the same time. Just a wave from a white woman brings happiness into the eyes of those we ride by. They will talk about the visitor all day long!

We arrive at the church made out of the mud of the earth and are welcomed to our seats. The first service is just ending and it is almost time for the main service to start. It is awesome to see how God leads with the message when they both come together as if we sat and talked about it first.The church is full today and used during the week to school 53 children.

As we walk the grounds we noticed that the well cover was broken and has put the children in serious danger. We would see that this was fixed soon.

All the children from baby class up received slipper socks made by my mom, Charlotte Towne. The rains are coming soon and they will feel the dampness especially at night. These little ones will now sleep with warm toes!

In the early fall the women of the church started a small business of raising chickens. It was good to see that they were taking this seriously and that they were working hard to see it succeed. They are like so many here; they just need someone to give them the opportunity to step out on their own. It was a great day spent together.

Monday March 19, 2012 Day by day the church goes forward. Today we started putting the metal sheets on and there is no doubt in any one’s mind now that there is a new church in Taito. The opening date for the service is Sunday the 25^th. The rush is on as we want to have it completed when the doors are opened! It will be a day of great celebration.

My friend, Joni, helped a missionary couple, John & Eloise Bergen, who were brutally attacked in their home here in Kitale in July 2008. Tonight we sat together with John and listened as he shared the night of terror to us. With tears gently rolling down his face he spoke of God’s goodness and how he saw God caring for them and protecting them through the night of terror, a night that should have taken both of their lives. John and Eloise have written a book called “Forgiveness in the face of Terror.” John went to the prison cell to visit the men that raped his wife and took machetes to both of their bodies. He shared the salvation message with them and told them he forgave them.

Acts 7:59-60 NIV

While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep.

http://canadianchristianity.com/nationalupdates/2008/080717kenya.html

http://www.bergensmission.com/id7.html

http://archive.org/details/JohnAndEloiseBergensMissionTripToKenya

http://www.debbiehaughlandchan.com/2010/02/forgiveness-in-face-of-terror-by-john.html