"Happy Feet"

March 9, 2014 (Sunday) Rafiki is a small village of people that have left the mountain in search of peace. They are not home as their land remains in the heights of Mount Elgon. They continue to push through daily obstacles to make a peaceful place for their children to live. They don’t want them to live in fear and to have the memories of bloody clashes.  The adults have stories to tell. Some speak of abuse, others the loss of a family member or being chased from their home by fire, guns or machetes. There was a time not too long ago when people with machetes showed no grace and the people suffered greatly.

Rafiki is a very poor area where they struggle for food for the day. There isn’t anything extra but here at the church they continue to praise the Lord.  My plan for the day was to return to the church in Rafiki.  After the service we then could do some house to house visits.   A call from the pastor with news of trouble in the area changed those plans.  After listening to his direction and wisdom I knew it was best to wait a few days before going into the village.

The church is on rented land and they have signed a lease.  They also have a school on the same property with 100 students.  They have worked hard and in five years’ time have seen lives change and have watched happy children come and go.

Through the cement hallways outside my room I hear an alarmed voice; a fire has been spotted across the street. The weather here at the base of the mountain is now at its hottest. Each day the temperatures rise to 88, 89, and even 90.  Because we are now nearing the rain season the winds have picked up and a fire would spread very quickly.

Across the street in an open but heavily laden field with dry grasses and bushes sits a traditional home. They don’t have any running water and smoke is seen rising from the top of the hedges.

A busy trail of people finds their way to the house making sure that all the children are out and that everyone is accounted for.  Buckets filled with water are taken from the lodge and carried swiftly across the way.  Children of all ages are needed and they don’t hesitate to be part of the “Kenyan Fire Department.” They gladly carry a bucket of water to save the home.  In time and with lots of water traveling at high speeds from one home to the other all is under control.

March 11, 2014 (Tuesday) It’s important to have a motorbike driver that you trust and I have one that I’ve used for a few years now.  He is a Christian and a man with integrity.  He’s timely and a very hard worker…..even when he has malaria!  When he came to pick me up one of his hands was bandaged up with white gauze. It was covering a port for his IV drip that he must sit for everyday to bring his malaria count down.  I’m sure he would appreciate your prayers as the fever, headaches, muscle pain and weakness can really be severe at times.

The day is hot and even riding on the motorbike one does not find relief.  The area around the school is depressed and people need work.  The school land needed some cleaning up with the removal of some bushes and stumps. (“Stems” as they say)  The men lack work but to find a good worker can be difficult.  Payment is expected at the end of the day and once given the man disappears.  He doesn’t return to his home to care for his hungry children but he finds the nearest mama that makes and sells home brew.  He uses his hard earned money for such and staggers around the market area and down the road.    

Today one of workers made a surprise visit and staggered into school. He laid down beside the children as they were napping and pretended he was sleeping too. So many in this area are lacking the zeal for a better life. They have sunken into a mold that they feel is theirs for life.  They lack enthusiasm. They live in world without ever seeing a brighter future. Complacency and apathy speak daily into their hearts and minds telling them that there isn’t any reason to even try.   

The adults and parents can’t seem to be motivated to change but within their children there is a spark of life emerging from each one.  Their eyes sparkle with delight and their steps even turn to dancing.  They have “Happy Feet.”   It is a hard land with soil that refuses to be cultivated but little by little we are making our way.  We are removing the boulders that blind them and stop them from reaching their potential.  The Lord has good plans for each one of them but they have been blinded by the enemy and the strongholds in the region are many. There is a light that shines bright in the midst of darkness and his name is “Jesus.”

The teachers are busy making posters for the children.  We have bought several sacks from the market area.  They will cut them in half and tape the edges so that they will not unravel.  Then they will draw a design on the sack and embroider it in colorful threads.  The end result is striking!   

Another poster used for learning their numbers is made by using the tops of soda bottles.

For the children to be healthy and have a good mind for learning they need to be dewormed.  To keep their bodies strong they need to be dewormed every three months.  If we don’t their bellies fill up with worms and take all the nourishment from the food they eat.  It is also not uncommon for them to have ring worm on their bodies, in their scalp and jiggers in their feet. 

Chickenpox is seen worldwide even here in the villages! As we found our seats in the already overcrowded public transportation van (matatu) the little boy in front of me was covered.  A body covered with chicken pox in this heat must suffer greatly!

March 14, 2014 (Friday) If someone tells you that God is blessing their land it means “it’s raining!!”  We welcome the rain after not having anything substantial for a few months.  The cool heavy rain brings us relief from the hot sun and the dust that rolls through the streets.  It is still a bit early for the rainy season to begin but it is a call for everyone to get ready.   

The grounds are plowed and the seed needs to be placed in this rich and fertile soil in the western parts of Kenya.  We are blessed here as not everyplace has soil that will produce a good harvest. 

My mode of transportation changes with the rains as the clay like red earth becomes slippery and too dangerous in some areas for a motorbike.

Most of our day was to be spent in Rafiki.  In the morning we were going to observe their school, meet with the headmaster and see if we could learn from him. In the afternoon we had scheduled a Bible study meeting.

Again the pastor calls and tells me not to come. There is trouble in Rafiki. I’m told that the land lord has come with a tractor to push over the church building and the school class rooms.  The children are inside the mud hut rooms and school is in session.  It appears he wants to chase them off the property as he now has a buyer.  The chief has been notified and there will be a meeting to see if more time can be given to the pastor to find a different location.

March 15, 2014 (Saturday) It was a great day of celebration with Pastor Mary at the Peniel Prayer Center. Bishops, pastors, missionaries and many from the area along with Noel & Mieke Alexander from Kansas City, Mo. USA came here today for the grand opening.  Noel is also one of the founders of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City.

The girls at the reception desk were pleased to pin a special "guest badge" on me that was handmade and had blue ribbons attached.

So many labored and gave in many ways to see this dorm completed.  Now when someone wants to dedicate several days for prayer they will have a place to rest their head.  Not only do we have an Esther’s Room but we have a Daniel’s Room as well! As we toured through each room I heard one woman say, "They even have pillows!" For many a place like this is a taste of heaven.

The morning was full of happiness and celebration from 9am to 2pm but my day did not end with noises of happy voices and the shouts of celebration.  Night settled in upon us.  The sky had darkened and the plans of evil showed its ugly head.  The pastor from Rafiki called to inform me that his church and all the school rooms had been demolished.  Also the chicken project that we had started for the church women was also in ruins.  He was heartbroken and so was I.   

He had met with the chief and the landlord last evening. They had talked until ten and he left assured that all would be ok and time would be granted to them to find another place.  The words spoken to the face meant nothing and the actions behind the back took everything the pastor had worked for over the past 5 years.  There was no time to remove the church pulpit or the chairs and benches with in the church. The school rooms were full of chairs and desks for the children along with books and supplies.  Tomorrow is Sunday and the people will come to church to find their church building is gone. On Monday morning there will be 100 children from the village of Rafiki that will not have a school to go to.

This little guy is new to the world! With the rain life springs forth around us. The birds sing louder and the grass and plants rejoice as they show forth their delight in various shades of greens….and this little 3 day old little guy is in wonder of it all!

Green grass shoots through the ground very quickly here when it starts to rain but at home it takes its time as it enjoys its rest beneath the heavy blanket of snow. 

Isaiah 45:8 

You heavens above, rain down my righteousness; let the clouds shower it down.                                    Let the earth open wide, let salvation spring up, let righteousness flourish with it;            

I, the Lord, have created it.