Pictures of Joseph and Fam

Their goofy faces...

Samuel and Faith...
The Wanyama's: Joseph, Alice, Samuel, and Faith

Today is Tuesday, and we leave for Molo, Kenya on Thursday morning. So from the last couple days until tomorrow night, everyone will be preparing for the trip. Here during Kenya’s winter, the sun does not come out very often, so it usually takes clothes a couple of days to dry (because they are not dried in a drier… we’re talking clothes lines). And they are not washed in a machine. So yesterday, I attempted my first load of laundry. I’m happy to say that I was successful (at least it appears that way… we’ll see once I wear them again). Most of them only took one day to dry.

We also had Bible study yesterday, and got off on a theological disagreement. The good thing is, we are all thinking and praying about it and plan on discussing it further. It was a good conversation, one that left us thankful and challenged by.

Today we went to a market to shop. We are so blessed, here in the US. To think that God has me where I am, out of all the places and situations in this world, is quite humbling. Here are some pictures of Joseph and his family, the Wanyama’s. The crazy thing is, as I speak of the immense blessings that God has lavished upon my family and I, I know that Joseph would say the same of his he and his family. He thanks God for EVERYTHING and gives Him all the glory.

I learned today that I will be recording the mission in Molo with a camcorder and a digital still camera. I am looking forward to this, along with writing summaries and reports on the mission and sending them along to Mission Africa leadership via email. We head up there on Thursday... I think we're staying in people's houses... not sure though.

I need constant humility here, when right and when wrong, in word and in deed. Please pray for that. May I learn lessons for both here and home, sensitive to the Spirit’s leading and ready to obey. And may I find strength in the full joy of God’s presence.

The Mzungu Pays

I had quite the Kenyan experience today. It started with church. We met in a huge up and coming church called Faith Evangelistic Ministry. They are in the process of a huge building project, but we met in some HUGE tents. It was pretty charismatic, including dancing, yelling, and even some tongues. They asked if there were any visitors and then if there were any from outside the country… and Carissa, Ryan, and I were the ONLY white people there (and we’re talking, like, out of a few thousand). We yelled out “the United States” and “Canada.” I wasn’t loud enough and was presumed Canadian. We were invited to a tent in the back afterwards for tea with some of the ministers. And they did the offering bring-it-to-the-front-row-by-row-style, so that was an experience. They sing a lot of the same songs as we do, including How Great Thou Art (in Swahili, the final verse in English – of course, all in English for me), and some other sweet hymns. There were also some distinctly African songs, a lot of movement involved. Everyone had rhythm. But, unlike in the US, it seemed that a lot of the time they clapped on the upbeats. The preacher talked about being careful of “writing on the wall” and living with integrity in Kenya. And although this was not at all the focus of the service, we prayed specifically against their new constitution, in which they are trying to legalize abortion… the country votes on it soon. Ps... they're planting a church in Boston!

After eating lunch with Joseph in his house, we went to the Maasai Market in downtown Nairobi, taking the crazy matatu taxi vans. They had a lot of awesome African souvenirs, and because we were white, they asked for astronomically high prices. We had Boninie with us to help… but sometimes we fail in life. Shopping at the Maasai Market was one such time in mine. Bonnie told me that for all the things I had picked out, not to go over 2000 bob (schillings), and to let him know if they would not, and he’d do the deal. When I told them 2000, they seemed to be offended and shocked. Long story short, after being escorted to an ATM (yes… I am pretty dumb – he had me in the palm of his hand) by one of the “brokers” who was trying to “give me a fair price,” I paid what is equivalent to over a little over 150 dollars. I feel sick. Don’t get me wrong… I got a good bit of stuff… some leather sandals, a few other things, and some bracelets… but apparently, I got taken for a ride. Straight ripped off. Here are some of the ways I have tried to justify it in my mind: I would have paid much more in the US (if everything is authentic, that is); I ended up only having to pay for 10 days in my room versus 20; I paid for the experience; and that’s only a couple of days doing landscaping. The vendors swarm mzungus constantly, placing things in our hands, making small talk, building rapport, working together, “helping” us tirelessly… I couldn’t get away. These guys were amazing… and I got played. I have grown to dislike bargaining a lot... maybe it's because of today, when I realized that I can't do it at all.

I took pictures of Joseph’s family tonight, another mutual blessing. He suggested that there may be an organization that could help his kids with school fees. He then served me dinner again… spaghetti, actually! Joseph has told me repeatedly that he will never forget me and that I have made him so happy. His love is incredible. He went to another church this morning to try to get some missionaries to come to Molo with us, but said that when he got there, they told him he was speaking, haha. So he did, and he said that one girl gave her life to Christ. Such an amazing guy. He continually testifies to God’s great power and glory in and through his life.

First Saturday in Africa

Saturday is a day off here. After praying in the morning, we went back to sleep for a few hours, and it had to make myself get up before 11. I helped with some chores around the house, and then I accompanied Ryan and Carissa to do some tourist-type things. Our first stop was to see the giraffes and that was pretty nuts. We were 2 stories high and could feed them food out of our hands.

We finally made it to a public park right outside of downtown Nairobi where there were a lot of monkeys. The monkeys were not people-shy, because people always fed them peanuts and bananas… that’s right… the banana thing is not a myth or stereotype… monkeys really dig them. In fact, when they caught on to us having food, they would jump onto us and try to pry it out of our hands. Or, they would look for the source and try to steal it straight from there (Carissa’s purse or maybe even a pocket). They were so people-like! I will put up some pictures and, hopefully, a video or two on Facebook.

Next to the monkeys were some street kids who were swinging (on vines in the trees) across a ditch full of dirty water. We went over there and I asked if I could swing. They said I could and gave me a turn. Ryan and I swung on the vines a couple of times each. As we took pictures, the kids became fascinated, so we took pictures with them and of them. I even let them take turns using my camera, which they absolutely loved. They began to catch on and realized that they could pose, so they would stick up their leg in the air or turn around just so they could see how they would look. As we left, they shook my hand and pounded fists, but they also did what I have always known as a “pinky promise.” I asked them what it meant, and they said it meant I was their friend.

I ate cooked bananas for dinner, which oddly enough, with the additional flavoring, tasted like potatoes.

Tomorrow we have church, which I am excited to experience. Also, I keep growing closer to Joseph, the encourager. I am taking pictures of his kids tomorrow night because he thinks that the Lord may be able to use the pictures to garner financial support for his children. He said that it costs 24,000 Kenyan schillings for his two kids to go to school for a year, extra expenses aside. This is equivalent to about 300 dollars a year, and too much for Joseph and his family. So think about that… wink wink, nudge nudge… : ).

Kenya - "The only place where you can get welder's flash while driving"

It is now Friday, and his morning even I, with my North American blood, got cold… I could see my breath. The Fox Fires get up in the mornings at 5 to pray. This morning was the first morning I joined them and was really blessed by Petty’s word about us having the power of Jesus, all else being subject to that. Yesterday, we had Bible study together on patience as a fruit of the Spirit. It is so cool to hear insights from the people of Kenya… they draw a lot straight from the Bible, with the Holy Spirit as their teacher, and it’s often even better than what I learn from sermons and commentaries. We’ve got more school ministry today at 1:30. I spoke for a very few minutes yesterday at the school… Joseph apologized for taking all of my time, but I assured him that I was totally okay with that. I, along with the Canadians, certainly draw some attention by being white.

Also, about 15 minutes ago, I saw a monkey.

Yesterday I had one of the most encouraging conversations I have ever had with another guy named Joseph. He maintains things around the compound and guesthouse, and he cooks my meals. Joseph is a very good cook. I have never met someone who more embodied humility in serving his brothers in Christ. I sometimes offer to help, but he responds with “No no, you are my guest,” and more commonly, “Jonatin, you are my broda.” He told me some of his story, a past filled with hardships, and even presently as he tries to provide for his extended family that is very poor. Yet, every other sentence, it seemed, he said, “But I thank God.” He encouraged me greatly in both word and deed, directly and indirectly. He once half-jokingly told me to follow him as he followed Christ (to the table where he was carrying my food). However I really do strive for this – I want to serve Christ and others with the joy and humility that Joseph has.

And regarding the title - it's true. Some welding going on right off of the road. But when driving in Kenya, that is the least of your worries.

As we gear up for the Molo Mission, please pray for funding to cover the deficit that they still face. Pray that God moves mightily.

First Day

Haberi ya gioni! That means goodnight. It is 10:20 pm as I write this from “the bunker” their compound-like places of residence for their Fox Fire ministry team. I, however, stay in the guest house, which is a little bit nicer. My new Kenyan friends are Boniface, Joseph, Esther, and Petie, along with some Canadians who are serving here for a couple of months, Christa and Ryan. Everyone has been very nice to me, and although I have been thrown into a whirlwind of new experiences, I feel like I am being served more than I am serving.

Kenya is awesome. It is probably about 60 degrees, maybe 65, which means that the Kenyans get out their heavy coats, gloves, scarves, and beanies… they do not like the cool. Speaking of which, “cool” is a term that I have taught Boniface (Boni for short), which he is greatly amused by and is now hooked on saying. Today, he and I went to a school to retrieve a Bible that he had left. We took some sort of taxi/van thing that drove crazily through bumpy, congested, and pedestrian strewn streets. I was squeezed 3 wide into the front bench seat (on the left side… the passenger side here in Kenya – which is still strange to me) and one time we even narrowly avoided drilling a baby calf that was crossing the street. Speaking of calves, on the way back, as we were walking through a cattle-grazing field, and I asked if I could take a picture of the picture-esque scene (located a stone’s throw from our compound). As I snapped the second shot, I noticed the cattle-keeper walking towards us. Boni had a somewhat intense Swahili conversation with him. As we walked away he told me that the herder thought that I ought to pay him a little over 6 USD for the picture that I had taken without his permission. So that was a bit of a mess up, but Boniface told me that it was a mindset he had to take advantage of me because I was white. Thanks to Boniface, I still have 6 dollars (more than that, of course, Dad) and 2 pictures of the cows.

We then spoke in a school. It was as you would imagine… a bunch of high school aged kids, maybe 50, all in uniform, (brown, beige, and khaki) crammed into a simple concrete classroom. They spoke about goal-setting, and other than an introduction and prayer at the end, I just observed. Tomorrow, more of the same, including our awesome morning devotions, called Morning Glory, in which we sing, listen to a Word, and pray. It’s awesome to see God’s people gather to worship our same God in different ways, but very much the same.