day 14

Sunday seems to come earlier here than it did in Anacortes. Checking out the window, I realized that it was time to get up, as it was, as you know by now, almost 6:30. Sunday morning is so much different than other mornings, as the kids all sleep in and are quiet until about 10:00am, and so we were able to rest until breakfast was served to us in our bed…..this missionary life is the ritz!
Now, after that nice dream, I woke up and saw that it was really almost 6:30 and so got up, showered, shaved and put on my cologne of choice…..deet insect repellant. You may not know this, but the Kenyan people have a distinct odor…..not bad,,,but just different than we pale people. I’m sure that they think the same of us…..”those white people sure smell different” they say, “kinda like that spray stuff we put on insects”
We, Jeff, Carla, Snake Charmer (Ashley) Geri, Marlise, Sandy and I all went to Kitale today to socialize with some of the other people that have lost their minds and believe that God has called them here. There seems to be quite a few of them and so we were able to continue on in our delusion.
Oh, I met Boreholer today. I had pictured him as a crusty old coot that chewed tobacco and spit on the sidewalk……if there were sidewalks. Much to my surprise, he looked a lot like a normal human being and spoke with intelligence and clarity, with a distinct Arizona accent….maybe that’s because he is from Arizona. He wasn’t exactly old or a coot…..probably 30 something and articulate. I could make fun of him, but trouble is, his heart for poor and hurting people was quite convicting to me. During the hour or so that I spent with him, he mostly talked of different ideas to help the poor by providing ways that they could help themselves. He has a deep commitment to serving Jesus in a tangible way. I’m beginning to question my heart to serve the God I confess. Here, most of the ’missionary’ types have a hurting heart for the people, and have given up their lives as they have known it to be here. Most have family somewhere else in the world and feel the tug to be with them, just as we all do, but have chosen to be obedient to what their Lord has called them to. I wonder just what I am willing to give up….am I able to turn my back on the comfortable to do what I should????…….I sure like my “stuff”. Because of Jeff and Carla, there are probably over 60 kids alive and thriving that otherwise would be dead, because there would be no place for them in this culture. J & C have given up the comfort of the US and the direct contact with their own kids and grandkids to provide the presence of Jesus to these kids. It is easier to read about this kind of commitment than it is to see it first hand. Dang! it’s making me think….sucks, don’t you know.
We had a good day in town and during the visit we got a call from Dr Shadrack saying to put Sandy on some anti malarial medicine, even tho it hadn’t definitively shown up in her blood yet. She has had some classic symptoms last night and today. Caught early, it is controllable and since they have more malaria here than most places, they really know how to attack it. Sandy is OK and might be down for a couple of days. We had chosen not to take the preventative medicine as the cost was high, and the chance of getting malaria was still around 50%. And we have already seen this, as Geri was on the medicine and still got malaria…..she is back full steam and doing fine. To our kids…not to worry….especially you, Jen.
I know that I promised that Sandy would write today, but just like in high school when the report was due……..”I’m sick”!!! HEY, see I have 15 followers of this blog….by the time I get back I’ll be famous!!