35000’ over the Atlantic, 4580 miles to go and doing 587 mph…of course in an airplane. Where to start, where to start. I think that this is day 27, but it is getting harder to keep it straight. It is 12:22pm at Kitale, 11:22am in Amsterdam, Saturday. Saturday started earlier for us than for most of you. If you had paid attention in school, you would know why. Yesterday,…2 days ago for most of you, Sandy and I made the rounds to all the kids and the staff at the home and said our goodbyes. Some of the older kids cried as well as some of the staff. We have become attached to them and them to us. The place operates as a large family, and they had for the most part accepted us in. Anyway, tears all around….even Jeff, however his motivation was suspect. Sandy thought she would be glad to go, and I know it was true, but it wasn’t as easy as she thought. The thing I feared most came to haunt us…..we began to fall in love with all those people…yes, even the 82 sneaky little crumb snatchers. Those little critters look innocuous enough, but they have a way of getting to you….probably proof that they are alien beings.
Having left Anacortes on the 4th of Oct with mixed expectations, we are now out 27 or so days and are now trying to figure out just what the heck went on. Like all idiot Christians heading for the field, we knew we could just bless the socks off of all those less fortunate beings that God had directed us to minister to. “Yup” I said to myself…cuz I like to hear myself, “ I have a lot to give, and they have a lot of need”. And as you might be thinking, that’s not exactly how it is turning out.
Having been to Africa, and the outback before, Sandy and I thought we pretty much could fit into the culture pretty easily. As I have told you, there is a bit of a difference in living in Anacortes, and living in Kitale. For one thing, the roads in America have a flat surface free from mining operations. That and the contrast between western living and 3rd world living is something that really can’t be described here. If you haven’t been there,,,well, you haven’t been there. What happens in these situations, at least for us is that initially there are things that seem to devour you. Imagine leaving your living room, walking into a large aluminum tube, trying to be a contortionist for 18 hrs…just sitting…..sitting….getting up to go to the bathroom….now as an aside, every since my freshman year when the seniors ’helped me get acquainted’ with my locker, I haven’t cared much for airplane bathrooms….at least the locker door swung out……&sitting & sitting. Then someone opens the door and you step into….well, not your living room. Now all the niceties and rules that you have lived by don’t necessarily count. The surroundings don’t look like home. The temperature and humidity aren’t what they were 18 hrs ago. The people don’t look the same. Their ‘English’ is with a strong accent that make them hard to understand. There are few indications or signs of where to go and what to do next. The authorities seem to exude a power that is intimidating, especially since you don’t know what they can do to you. When you get through Immigration, being questioned and fingerprinted, you get ‘permission’ to be in their country…with the caveat that they can make you leave anytime they want….not exactly like home….unless you are a teenager. Then you collect your bags and face “Customs” While Immigration seemed to be interested in your DNA, these guys are interested in making you feel like you are criminal for bringing anything into their country. Then you go out into their world and find the British have corrupted them into thinking that driving on the left side of the road is the proper way. No big deal, you say….well remember ‘you haven’t been there’?… try sitting in the left seat watching vehicles coming at you from the front, sides, back, out of the potholes, from everywhere at 2000 mph. Doesn’t sound bad does it. But this all adds up to sensory and emotional overload….and this is just the first few hrs in country…..you shrug and say ‘I don’t see what’s the big deal’….and I say “I want my mommy” It is a big deal and you who have been there know. So now, you are on an exact reverse sleep time, tired and not being able to understand the language half the time and so you are in a semi state of confusion. Did I tell you that pre-aluminum tube, almost everyone looked somewhat (heaven forbid) like you, and now, almost no one does…..has nothing to do with race, just one more thing to put you out of your comfort zone. Smells, sounds, buildings, vehicles, signs, landscape….everything is strange. So you muddle on, marveling at what you see hoping that your ‘contacts’ will be where they said they would be. I don’t care how tough you are, you will feel a bit disoriented. So some of the romance of Africa begins to ebb……but it can come back…..stay with me. But don’t doubt, there is a culture shock.
So anyway, we came and we got to Kitale and we began to ‘feel’ what God was up to. You probably didn’t get much of a true feel from my previous postings, but it is what you paid for. The 1st 2 weeks, I didn’t feel good, Geri, Sandy and Marlies got malaria…..some of that romance that I mentioned. But even through that we were able to see that God is bigger than His ‘missionaries.’ He was doing something far greater than just the people could do. He was taking the willingness of a few, and sharing the credit with them for changing not only some kids lives, but probably a whole nation. Sound a bit much?? Well, Jesus is in the business of changing one person at a time, and if you get a few, the world will change….remember the 12 dudes He ran with. Like I said before, Kenya has a chance because Jesus is changing one at a time…..not only at InStep, but as I found out, many other places in the country. So we came to “minister”…to help change lives…..which we did. Surprise to us, it was our lives that changed. Those little Lilliputions (sp) so weak in each of themselves, as a group tied up our hearts and dragged us off to Jesus. We won’t be the same.
Some observations:
Most missionaries try to bring the culture over to what they (the missionaries) know. So the converts then become ‘different’ than their fellow citizens.
InStep believes and lives out the principle that as the people are changed by Jesus, they need to live out their lives in the society that they have around them. That means….now listen to me….that the kids they are loving are not learning to live the ‘mzungu’ life. When they leave the home, they will enter a society that lives differently than we do. They will probably walk everywhere, live in mud or mud brick houses, without electricity and running water. They won’t have gas or electric cook stoves or washing machines or most of the things we can’t live without. Jeff and Carla have purposely chosen to raise ’their’ kids as Kenyans, not as sudo-americans. The thing that affected me the most is that they do not live in a separated house, but just have a small room in the same building as their kids. They have no kitchen, living room, media room….but it is part storeroom. They eat the same ‘food’ (so called) that comes from the traditional charcoal burners, in the same room with the kids….just like a real mom and dad…..if you can imagine!! Their clothes are washed the same way as the kids clothes..on the ground, in a tub. I can’t emphasis it enough, that these kids are going to be able to enter their society as Kenyan, but with the one difference….their heart will be changed and their values will reflect our God’s values and so they will be the leaders that brings Kenya out of it’s dark past.
The first thing that I wanted to do was to make things easier for the kids…..”let’s get them modern stuff, let’s give them food that I can eat…..THEY NEED TO BE LIKE ME!” But then I go…..they grow and leave the home and go out into the society as a mzungu. Kenya needs Kenyan, not wazungu.(pl) I don’t know if this makes sense……sometimes I think I was born ’blonde’….most of the time if I put 2 thoughts together that make sense it is something like; “time to eat”. Yes it would be nice to make life easier, but it seems to be smarter to make life realistic. For J & C to “get” this concept is huge. For us to get it will be an act of God.
Now, for you that are involved with Snake Charmer. I’m talkin’ ta yous. Say, did you know that she has another name?? Yeah….it’s Ashley something or another……The rest of you can listen in if you want. I know that there is no way that you can know what God has done with that girl. You have an inkling, but it is bigger than that. I have seen her heart and watched her in action for almost a month. When she wasn’t harassing me, she was lovin’ on and teaching the kids, organizing the home, talking to the aunties, generally being a little Carla. (no implications, there Carla). She seems to have an intuition as to where the kids ’are’ and knows when one is not feeling well. Her heart really is in this work and she is in it for the long term. She has taken a large load off J & C…..well, C anyway,….anymore load off J and we would have to tie him down. So, since Charmer has the good sense not to read this, I am free to say, as a great friend of mine on Yokeko Dr. said…..”some go, and some send”. I’m asking you to consider ’sending’ Charmer by financially supporting her……long term. I don’t think she knows that I know she will be looking for about $1500 US per month…..that will cover her expenses, insurance and some reserve for flights home and sending Terry gifts etc. So, just sayin…..give it some prayer, and don’t tell her I kinda like her.
Now to some logistical stuff. This is where I shine and most get bored. If you go to rehemaministries.com you will see the basics of the ministry and some of the vision….Joyce has done a great job with that (that will be $10.00, J) But you can see that the 82 wants to be 400 with schools thru hi school, dorm for boys and girls with house parents for each small group of kids, and a clinic. Speaking of the clinic….did you know, probably not, that some great people got behind that part and have raised most of the money to build it. I would tell you who they are, but they have asked that I wouldn’t because they want vast amounts of jewels on there crown in heaven. Back to the subject at hand…..Since the money was raised, the weather has not co-operated at all. The ground here is made of cornflour and elmers glue….they call their rubber boots ‘gum’ boots…..and when it is dry it is like ugali. But when it is wet, it is fresh cream of wheat….so any action on it creates a sort of quicksand effect….you can walk on it but only if wearing pontoons. I could be exaggerating,,,,,maybe not. All this to say that contrary to what I have been posting previously, it has rained a lot……just about everyday since last March. So if you have a concern as to why the clinic is not underway, check with God……we think His timing will be perfect. If you have a chance, encourage J & C about this issue….I think that it bothers them that they haven’t been able to get this project going. (You didn’t hear that from me, Jeff)
Well, this magic box is saying that it needs the electric bucket guys to stop by……fat chance, since it’s probably some holiday at the electricity tank. So as soon as I can, I’ll post this…..but don’t think I’m done tormenting you….I learned from the best……3 to 5 yr olds….persistence is the key. Stand by for more.
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