A Busy Market Day!

December 22, 2013 (Sunday) The morning sky is very blue and it appears that we have shifted into a new season and left the rains behind.  Just outside of town is a church that sits in the open field with Mt Elgon, an extinct volcano, visible in the distance.  I’ve been invited to speak here at this church once again.  One of the pastors greets me outside and welcomes my visitors as well.  A family from America had joined me as they were looking for a church service to attend.

The people have worked together to make their church beautiful.  It was good to see all that they had done while I was away.  The platform once a dirt floor is now covered in big cement tiles.  It helps keep the dust down as they sing and dance.  Today there was lots of singing and dancing as we are nearing Christmas day.

Before we ended the service all were asked to take a moment and consider just where their steps were taking them.   Many silently prayed but a young woman and a man took steps that brought them to the altar for prayer.  They were making a decision to walk with the Lord.

December 23, 2013 (Monday) Christmas day will soon be here and it is usually celebrated with families going to church.  If food is available they will gather together for a special meal.  So many families would love to have gifts to give but it is beyond reach.  Christmas decorations and trees are seldom seen.

After our Christmas day service we want to have a special celebration with our school children.  There are about 60 school children from the villages of Makoi and Taito.  So today our goal is to walk the market area and find two pieces of clothing for each child and then pick up the necessary ingredients to make Mandazi (East African Donut).   

The market is a busy place and this time of year it is even more so. There are piles and mounds of clothes to go through.  Some are placed in bins, others are spread out neatly on a big blanket and then there are piles just dumped on the ground.  We walk the narrow dirt paths that wind between the booths and individual businesses of clothes and produce.  The prices are yelled into the open air. One voice tries to outdo the next in hopes that they might pull you their way.  Bartering is a general practice and in order to survive you need to stand your ground! 

With the hot sun beating down upon us we leave the busy market area in order to find some charcoal.  We walk into a quieter area with less people.  Individual tins of charcoal are set up beside the road ready for the daily buyer and sacs of charcoal for the serious buyer!  

There isn’t any need to worry about how we are going to carry the sac of charcoal.  The delivery bike is ready and waiting!

Now we have everything we need for making mandazi. We couldn't bless the children without our amazing cook! It's not an easy task to cook for sixty children but she does it with a beautiful heart and a beautiful smile:)

Psalm 95:6,7 Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.