As my time in Kenya is drawing to its conclusion I am finding that I spend a fair amount of time wondering about success. How does one measure the success of a mission that has been a part of someones life for the past 2 months? Sitting in Mombasa, waiting to get on a bus tonight that will take me to Nairobi, and wondering.
Did we do the right things?
Did we use ur support wisely?
Was the Gospel preached? (what is the Gospel?)
We have been told by many people that we were working with that we have done a great job. We have been reassured that our mission was beneficial and that lives are changed because of it. And still I wonder. I want to be sure that this past 2 months have been spent for the glory of God, and not my own. Right now it doesnt matter what man says, because I know that one day I will stand before God and he will ask me if I spent my time wisely.
Now Im thinking about the new year. It doesnt matter if Im in Kenya or Caronport. He will ask the same question.
And so I find myself wondering
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
Blessing > Being Blessed
I have to report on our Christmas celebration with the families supported by Operation Joseph in the village of Ebuhando last Saturday. When planning our program for our time in Kenya, Rob and I knew that our focus would be on 20 kids and their families who live in Ebuhando and are struggling. Financially, physically and in some cases spiritually. We are able to see these kids three times a week- Monday, Wednesday, and Saturdays- and have been able to sit in all but two of these homes and hear their stories and struggles. We are then able to pray with them and try and encourage them that our great God is so faithful and loving- a message that they are preaching to us with their lives. We come away from each house with a pain in our hearts for the situations that they have to endure- pain from illness and hunger, loneliness; but also blessed after seeing this amazing faith and trust in the only thing that they can truly rely on- Jehovah God.
Each week like we have been reporting on, we have been able to bless these families with things that will last more than a few days and are too expensive for many of them to buy. Sugar. Cooking oil. Soap. SO this last Saturday, we invited all of the guardians to join us with the kids to hear the amazing story of Jesus' birth. How the God and Savior of this world came to us in such humble circumstances. Then we all ate together an amazing meal of beans, rice and cabbage salad.
Then, we were able to share with them the reason we were in their village and their homes. Because of the extravagant love that the Father has for us. Because the church in Canada has felt God's heart for these people and wanted to help. We are one body and this is a beautiful example of it working together. I'll never forget their overwhelming gratitude and thankfulness. We were able to give them a big cooking pot filled with corn, a serving spoon, a shovel for digging in the field, a machete, and a blanket for the child. We found out after that this was wayyy more than they were expecting. These are gifts that we hope and pray will benefit them and last them a lifetime-and beyond as they can be passed down. I'll never forget the video image etched into my mind seeing all these guardians pour out of Mama Jael's yard with this huge pot of maize carried on their heads. The kids wrapping their arms so tightly around the beautifully colored plaid blankets still in the plastic wrap. I wanted to say more on the video I was taking at the time... but I simply couldn't. The moment could not be described with words, and I'm sorry that you won't be able to fully understand this moment. Be assured that to all have given and supported us, we are fulfilling the mission we have set out to do. HIS grace has been sufficient and His love has been abundant like He promises. We have been soooo blessed to be the hands which are privileged to pass these materials on. They are just a picture of how connected this world is. How connected His body can be. Through your prayers and affirmations, Rob and I have been able to walk the dreams that we have been praying about for over a year now. I cannot wait to show these videos when we get home. I am trusting that the Holy Spirit will enable you to feel the joy and satisfaction given to us in this moment. Both now and when we meet again face to face.
Asanti Sana and Baraka!!
Each week like we have been reporting on, we have been able to bless these families with things that will last more than a few days and are too expensive for many of them to buy. Sugar. Cooking oil. Soap. SO this last Saturday, we invited all of the guardians to join us with the kids to hear the amazing story of Jesus' birth. How the God and Savior of this world came to us in such humble circumstances. Then we all ate together an amazing meal of beans, rice and cabbage salad.
Then, we were able to share with them the reason we were in their village and their homes. Because of the extravagant love that the Father has for us. Because the church in Canada has felt God's heart for these people and wanted to help. We are one body and this is a beautiful example of it working together. I'll never forget their overwhelming gratitude and thankfulness. We were able to give them a big cooking pot filled with corn, a serving spoon, a shovel for digging in the field, a machete, and a blanket for the child. We found out after that this was wayyy more than they were expecting. These are gifts that we hope and pray will benefit them and last them a lifetime-and beyond as they can be passed down. I'll never forget the video image etched into my mind seeing all these guardians pour out of Mama Jael's yard with this huge pot of maize carried on their heads. The kids wrapping their arms so tightly around the beautifully colored plaid blankets still in the plastic wrap. I wanted to say more on the video I was taking at the time... but I simply couldn't. The moment could not be described with words, and I'm sorry that you won't be able to fully understand this moment. Be assured that to all have given and supported us, we are fulfilling the mission we have set out to do. HIS grace has been sufficient and His love has been abundant like He promises. We have been soooo blessed to be the hands which are privileged to pass these materials on. They are just a picture of how connected this world is. How connected His body can be. Through your prayers and affirmations, Rob and I have been able to walk the dreams that we have been praying about for over a year now. I cannot wait to show these videos when we get home. I am trusting that the Holy Spirit will enable you to feel the joy and satisfaction given to us in this moment. Both now and when we meet again face to face.
Asanti Sana and Baraka!!
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Perception vs Truth
I am so pumped to be able to report that many of the things I wrote about on Tuesday regarding Sunday were not as they seemed to be!!!
Unfortunately, this came at the expense of Mama and Papa's phones ringing non-stop since some have read the latest entry. I am sorry Billy and Judy. The things that I was bothered by on Sunday all had an explanation and I've learned to address those involved as soon as these things happen. Billy is such a man of integrity and I am so glad to see him leading this church! He is the only man suitable for this role in my opinion. I can't even count on my fingers how many times we have prayed for the individual members of this new church as well as the overseer and the bishop(s). Judy is definitely one of the most hospitable women I have ever had the privilege to meet. In no way was the earlier post meant to attack this beautiful family and I'm sorry if I have caused any harm or damage. Perfect love drives out all fear and I am writing these words in LOVE. (A common, fundamental theme of late!)
The young man who came in to our service on Sunday is a local boy. Slightly troubled and I have since learned- has been helped out on numerous occasions in a variety of ways by my beloved family in Kenya. And to top things off- he did receive a meal after the service. 2nd helpings-in fact! This is despite his unpredictable behaviors which includes violence. There is not greater love to be shown than a self-less love. And this is truly what this young man has been shown from mama and papa.
Also the guest speaker was a man from near-by Majengo...not Kisumu. And he did still talk about one body...many parts! Which is such a important message for all of us to hear. Even if its over and over again.
Lord, Forgive me for my eagerness to jump to conclusions. May the Shalom Family Worship Center truly be a place of peace where families can gather together in spirit and in truth to lift your name on high.
Unfortunately, this came at the expense of Mama and Papa's phones ringing non-stop since some have read the latest entry. I am sorry Billy and Judy. The things that I was bothered by on Sunday all had an explanation and I've learned to address those involved as soon as these things happen. Billy is such a man of integrity and I am so glad to see him leading this church! He is the only man suitable for this role in my opinion. I can't even count on my fingers how many times we have prayed for the individual members of this new church as well as the overseer and the bishop(s). Judy is definitely one of the most hospitable women I have ever had the privilege to meet. In no way was the earlier post meant to attack this beautiful family and I'm sorry if I have caused any harm or damage. Perfect love drives out all fear and I am writing these words in LOVE. (A common, fundamental theme of late!)
The young man who came in to our service on Sunday is a local boy. Slightly troubled and I have since learned- has been helped out on numerous occasions in a variety of ways by my beloved family in Kenya. And to top things off- he did receive a meal after the service. 2nd helpings-in fact! This is despite his unpredictable behaviors which includes violence. There is not greater love to be shown than a self-less love. And this is truly what this young man has been shown from mama and papa.
Also the guest speaker was a man from near-by Majengo...not Kisumu. And he did still talk about one body...many parts! Which is such a important message for all of us to hear. Even if its over and over again.
Lord, Forgive me for my eagerness to jump to conclusions. May the Shalom Family Worship Center truly be a place of peace where families can gather together in spirit and in truth to lift your name on high.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
What is life without Love??
We have had an amazing week. Busy...but amazing.
I just want to share with you one experience that Rob and I had on Sunday. Two days ago.
We woke up and got ready for church with the usual breakfast set out on the table for us: Warming, delicious Chai and toast with peanut butter and strawberry jam. So good. Then after our bucket showers we each slipped into our dress clothes and tried to make our beards look respectable for the morning service out in the gazebo of our beautifully manicured yard. This gazebo is probably 20 feet by 12...barely enough room to fit our 12 plastic chairs, a keyboard, three large speakers and the offering table into. BUT, somehow all of these things were placed where they were wanted. This church is just beginning. It is about a month old and we are under the blessing of the local bishop in the Word of Faith Denomination.
So as Rob and I were trying to talk about the morning and what the day would look like, we practically had to shout to one another in the house just to compete with the blaring noise coming from the three speakers-amplifying the distinctly Kenyan style of keyboard led worship at church. With the vocalists words being distorted by technology trying to keep up to the demand for 'more' sounds, were couldn't help but feel that maybe the Family Worship Center was not going to be much different from the other services that we had attended. It seems as if the speakers and keys which were the first purchase for this budding congregation may have been a little premature and we struggled to discern whether there was actually a need for them?
After trying to get out of my own North American predisposition, I asked God to take away my personal difficulties in dealing with the noise. A noise that literally pierces your eardrums and likely does much damage to those who were in its path of destruction- All of us!
We were dismissed to teach the children during the time when the sermon was delivered by a visitor from Kisumu. It was literally so loud that we had such a difficult time hearing the kids squeek out their questions about David and Goliath because of the preaching which was 50m from the garage. After our time had finished, I went back and joined the main church for the remainder of the man's message about the church being the body. (1 Cor 12:12) The same passage Rob and I had discussed teaching on if we were called on that day. I was excited to hear where he was coming from. The first thing that came to mind was: IT says one BODY-many parts....one CHURCH!! Not one denomination-many congregation. The denominational lines that divide the church in Kenya need to come down- just as the wall in Germany did 20 plus years ago. Let us stand as one church brothers and sisters! All throughout this nation...all throughout this world.
After the message came times of prayer-times of singing. Loud, excited singing. And my eyes were drawn to the material presented in the next chapter of 1 Corinthians. What does he write about? Love!! Without love we are nothing but a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. May we not forget what our main purpose as the church and as Christians is: to LOVE!
The rains started to fall...and a man came into the yard seeking refuge from the downpour. PERFECT...this is an amazing chance to show this man love and welcome him in to our family center of worship. TO be the body. Instead...he was not acknowledged, recognized or welcomed. Not in a loving way either....actually, something worse happened. Another man got up and after a word with Pastor, he grabbed the microphone and said: Today we are to have a prayer of faith. I thought 'Sweet...whats a prayer of faith?' And I quickly found out.... He laid his hand on this newcomers forehead and began to pray for him. This man literally looked like a lamb about to become slaughtered. He was so jumpy and nervous for what was about to take place. I was sitting in the back row and as the man and pastor prayed for this man to be brought into the kingdom of God-something was not sitting right inside of me. At first I got excited...Was this service of prayer going to usher another believer into the kingdom? But then I thought...is this what being welcomed into the kingdom looks like? Where is the love? What if this man is already born again? and we are repeating a prayer that he maybe has received already? It ended...I felt sick and was called into the house for lunch. I was anxious to go back outside and talk to this man after food...but what I found was so discouraging. He was gone. Pastor said he left right after the rains had let up.... I pray that he was invited to stay and join us for lunch. I pray that pastor talked to him about what in the world just happened to him. I pray that what I was a part of didn't do more damage to this individual than good. I pray that somehow God can take our efforts and well intentioned prayers and SOMEHOW use it for His Glory. God forgive us for acting out of LOVE.
Forgive me for my insensitivity. Remove it from my heart and fill us up to overflowing with your LOVE! Continue to give us eyes to see and the ability to bless. Lord we need your Help.
We desperately need your love which you so freely-amazingly give!
Thank-you LORD. Buena Asifewe!
I just want to share with you one experience that Rob and I had on Sunday. Two days ago.
We woke up and got ready for church with the usual breakfast set out on the table for us: Warming, delicious Chai and toast with peanut butter and strawberry jam. So good. Then after our bucket showers we each slipped into our dress clothes and tried to make our beards look respectable for the morning service out in the gazebo of our beautifully manicured yard. This gazebo is probably 20 feet by 12...barely enough room to fit our 12 plastic chairs, a keyboard, three large speakers and the offering table into. BUT, somehow all of these things were placed where they were wanted. This church is just beginning. It is about a month old and we are under the blessing of the local bishop in the Word of Faith Denomination.
So as Rob and I were trying to talk about the morning and what the day would look like, we practically had to shout to one another in the house just to compete with the blaring noise coming from the three speakers-amplifying the distinctly Kenyan style of keyboard led worship at church. With the vocalists words being distorted by technology trying to keep up to the demand for 'more' sounds, were couldn't help but feel that maybe the Family Worship Center was not going to be much different from the other services that we had attended. It seems as if the speakers and keys which were the first purchase for this budding congregation may have been a little premature and we struggled to discern whether there was actually a need for them?
After trying to get out of my own North American predisposition, I asked God to take away my personal difficulties in dealing with the noise. A noise that literally pierces your eardrums and likely does much damage to those who were in its path of destruction- All of us!
We were dismissed to teach the children during the time when the sermon was delivered by a visitor from Kisumu. It was literally so loud that we had such a difficult time hearing the kids squeek out their questions about David and Goliath because of the preaching which was 50m from the garage. After our time had finished, I went back and joined the main church for the remainder of the man's message about the church being the body. (1 Cor 12:12) The same passage Rob and I had discussed teaching on if we were called on that day. I was excited to hear where he was coming from. The first thing that came to mind was: IT says one BODY-many parts....one CHURCH!! Not one denomination-many congregation. The denominational lines that divide the church in Kenya need to come down- just as the wall in Germany did 20 plus years ago. Let us stand as one church brothers and sisters! All throughout this nation...all throughout this world.
After the message came times of prayer-times of singing. Loud, excited singing. And my eyes were drawn to the material presented in the next chapter of 1 Corinthians. What does he write about? Love!! Without love we are nothing but a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. May we not forget what our main purpose as the church and as Christians is: to LOVE!
The rains started to fall...and a man came into the yard seeking refuge from the downpour. PERFECT...this is an amazing chance to show this man love and welcome him in to our family center of worship. TO be the body. Instead...he was not acknowledged, recognized or welcomed. Not in a loving way either....actually, something worse happened. Another man got up and after a word with Pastor, he grabbed the microphone and said: Today we are to have a prayer of faith. I thought 'Sweet...whats a prayer of faith?' And I quickly found out.... He laid his hand on this newcomers forehead and began to pray for him. This man literally looked like a lamb about to become slaughtered. He was so jumpy and nervous for what was about to take place. I was sitting in the back row and as the man and pastor prayed for this man to be brought into the kingdom of God-something was not sitting right inside of me. At first I got excited...Was this service of prayer going to usher another believer into the kingdom? But then I thought...is this what being welcomed into the kingdom looks like? Where is the love? What if this man is already born again? and we are repeating a prayer that he maybe has received already? It ended...I felt sick and was called into the house for lunch. I was anxious to go back outside and talk to this man after food...but what I found was so discouraging. He was gone. Pastor said he left right after the rains had let up.... I pray that he was invited to stay and join us for lunch. I pray that pastor talked to him about what in the world just happened to him. I pray that what I was a part of didn't do more damage to this individual than good. I pray that somehow God can take our efforts and well intentioned prayers and SOMEHOW use it for His Glory. God forgive us for acting out of LOVE.
Forgive me for my insensitivity. Remove it from my heart and fill us up to overflowing with your LOVE! Continue to give us eyes to see and the ability to bless. Lord we need your Help.
We desperately need your love which you so freely-amazingly give!
Thank-you LORD. Buena Asifewe!
A Quick Story
I'm walking down a dirt path with Dan, Mama Jaielle (sp), and another woman from the village. We are trying to get to the third house on our list of house visits today. Mama J tells us that she has been informed that she will be unable to make it to the house, but she still wants to give it a shot.
Sometimes it is hard to understand what Mama J is talking about. Not because she doesn't speak English. Her English is perfect after being a school teacher for most of her life. It is hard to understand her because she is unlike any 69 year old woman I have ever met.
The other day we were doing house visits. Mama J shows us around and interprets for us. We get to a house and there is only one step to get into the door. The only thing is that the step is over the height of my knee.
Did I mention that she walks with a cane? Also, she is blind in one eye.
Anyways, I ask her is she needs a hand getting up the big step. She doesn't even look at me. She lifts her leg and places it on the step. With her other leg she hoists herself up the rest of the way. I look at Dan. We both trip over our jaws on the ground as we follow her.
So today we are told that she may not be able to make it to the house. I'm starting to wonder what it will take to stop this woman. Eventually we get to a ravine. We are standing on a cliff that is about 70ft high looking at a house that is on the other side (the opposing cliff is probably 80ft). And so, these two woman start to look for a possible way across. First we would have to climb down the first cliff, then we would have to walk across the river, and finish it up by climbing up a "staircase" that is cut into the cliff (this is basically a ladder cut into the mud).
I turn to Mama J and tell her what we need to do is make a rope swing. I would hold onto the rope, and she would jump on my back. "We could swing across." My plan is obviously rejected, but as we start walking back I notice that she is looking at the trees by the edge of the cliff. "Is she actually considering a rope swing?"
As we are walking back to the house I ask Mama J to ask the other woman how old she is. I can tell that she is older than Mama J, but in Kenya people age differently. It is as if people don't age at all until they're 50. Mama J asks her and the woman starts laughing. Mama J tells us that she isn't sure how old she is; "Maybe I'm 80 or 90" she says.
80 or 90!? She must be mistaken. To be 80 she would have been around during the Great Depression. To be 90--I don't even want to think about it.
These two woman are leading us over bridges made of logs and branches; they're hopping over streams; they're climbing up hills that are at an angle of over 50 degrees. And the woman who doesn't know how old she is is barefoot.
Day after day I am blown away by these people. They know what it's like to work. They understand that if they don't work they won't eat. They know that it comes down to their perseverance. But, they also know it comes down to prayer.
We got to talk with the old woman before we went on the journey to the ravine. We told her that we saw how much joy was in her family; that lives in a house with a leaking roof, whose husband is crippled, who lives with her daughter, whose granddaughter is deaf, and who doesn't know where supper is going to come from.
We saw joy.
She told us that it is only because of prayer and faith in God that they have anything.
That gave me quite a lot to think about.
Sometimes it is hard to understand what Mama J is talking about. Not because she doesn't speak English. Her English is perfect after being a school teacher for most of her life. It is hard to understand her because she is unlike any 69 year old woman I have ever met.
The other day we were doing house visits. Mama J shows us around and interprets for us. We get to a house and there is only one step to get into the door. The only thing is that the step is over the height of my knee.
Did I mention that she walks with a cane? Also, she is blind in one eye.
Anyways, I ask her is she needs a hand getting up the big step. She doesn't even look at me. She lifts her leg and places it on the step. With her other leg she hoists herself up the rest of the way. I look at Dan. We both trip over our jaws on the ground as we follow her.
So today we are told that she may not be able to make it to the house. I'm starting to wonder what it will take to stop this woman. Eventually we get to a ravine. We are standing on a cliff that is about 70ft high looking at a house that is on the other side (the opposing cliff is probably 80ft). And so, these two woman start to look for a possible way across. First we would have to climb down the first cliff, then we would have to walk across the river, and finish it up by climbing up a "staircase" that is cut into the cliff (this is basically a ladder cut into the mud).
I turn to Mama J and tell her what we need to do is make a rope swing. I would hold onto the rope, and she would jump on my back. "We could swing across." My plan is obviously rejected, but as we start walking back I notice that she is looking at the trees by the edge of the cliff. "Is she actually considering a rope swing?"
As we are walking back to the house I ask Mama J to ask the other woman how old she is. I can tell that she is older than Mama J, but in Kenya people age differently. It is as if people don't age at all until they're 50. Mama J asks her and the woman starts laughing. Mama J tells us that she isn't sure how old she is; "Maybe I'm 80 or 90" she says.
80 or 90!? She must be mistaken. To be 80 she would have been around during the Great Depression. To be 90--I don't even want to think about it.
These two woman are leading us over bridges made of logs and branches; they're hopping over streams; they're climbing up hills that are at an angle of over 50 degrees. And the woman who doesn't know how old she is is barefoot.
Day after day I am blown away by these people. They know what it's like to work. They understand that if they don't work they won't eat. They know that it comes down to their perseverance. But, they also know it comes down to prayer.
We got to talk with the old woman before we went on the journey to the ravine. We told her that we saw how much joy was in her family; that lives in a house with a leaking roof, whose husband is crippled, who lives with her daughter, whose granddaughter is deaf, and who doesn't know where supper is going to come from.
We saw joy.
She told us that it is only because of prayer and faith in God that they have anything.
That gave me quite a lot to think about.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Joy in the Midst of Sorrow
"The honeymoon is over," is an expression that I have used many times before, and I feel like this is one more time where it applies. I think that with a lot of things in life you remember the good things. You tend to dwell on the happy, encouraging, beneficial moments in life. It can be easy to forget the struggles.
This week I have started to look at Kenya through a new lens. Sitting in people's houses while listening to stories of drunkenness, starvation, abandonment, loss, death . . . it takes its toll. How do you encourage people in the midst of such struggles? How do you let your light shine when you know deep inside yourself that you have no idea what they're dealing with?
A woman we met on Monday told us that she had a big family. All of the sons and daughters married. The sons died and their wives left. The daughters have disappeared. She, along with her husband, are now taking care of some of their grandchildren who were abandoned by their mothers after the husbands had died. She is old; barely able to walk; and her husband is much the same. What do you say after hearing a story like that?
I turned to her and asked if I could read her something from the Bible. I started to read Psalm 23. I told her that this Psalm had helped carry me over the past 3 years. As I said it from memory she said it along with me. Afterward she told me that she used to be a Pastor, but can't anymore because she is unable to talk to church.
We have heard this story so many times. It feels like every house we enter there is a similar story. With each story we hear comes a consistent reply--thanks be to God for he has enabled me to serve him and has provided for me in the midst of pain.
Everywhere we visit people are so thankful for everything God has given to them. It doesn't matter if your house is made of mud, you just miscarried, you can't afford school for your kids, and you don't know where supper is going to come from. Through all of that stuff there is a joy that surpasses knowledge. Through all of the pain and sorrow comes a calm voice, "I am with you in this valley."
As you think about Dan and I continue to pray that we may be able to be a light here. It is tough to hear so many stories and remain positive. There is so much to be mad, sad, disappointed, angry, frustrated about, but we serve a God who is able.
We have started a weekly feeding program for Operation Joseph on Saturday's. We are starting to plan for Christmas gifs for the kids. It looks like each family will get a blanket, shovel, machete, and cooking pot. Your support is helping to give a hand up to these families in Kenya. From these families we want to pass on their love and appreciation.
Thank you for all of your support.
Rob
This week I have started to look at Kenya through a new lens. Sitting in people's houses while listening to stories of drunkenness, starvation, abandonment, loss, death . . . it takes its toll. How do you encourage people in the midst of such struggles? How do you let your light shine when you know deep inside yourself that you have no idea what they're dealing with?
A woman we met on Monday told us that she had a big family. All of the sons and daughters married. The sons died and their wives left. The daughters have disappeared. She, along with her husband, are now taking care of some of their grandchildren who were abandoned by their mothers after the husbands had died. She is old; barely able to walk; and her husband is much the same. What do you say after hearing a story like that?
I turned to her and asked if I could read her something from the Bible. I started to read Psalm 23. I told her that this Psalm had helped carry me over the past 3 years. As I said it from memory she said it along with me. Afterward she told me that she used to be a Pastor, but can't anymore because she is unable to talk to church.
We have heard this story so many times. It feels like every house we enter there is a similar story. With each story we hear comes a consistent reply--thanks be to God for he has enabled me to serve him and has provided for me in the midst of pain.
Everywhere we visit people are so thankful for everything God has given to them. It doesn't matter if your house is made of mud, you just miscarried, you can't afford school for your kids, and you don't know where supper is going to come from. Through all of that stuff there is a joy that surpasses knowledge. Through all of the pain and sorrow comes a calm voice, "I am with you in this valley."
As you think about Dan and I continue to pray that we may be able to be a light here. It is tough to hear so many stories and remain positive. There is so much to be mad, sad, disappointed, angry, frustrated about, but we serve a God who is able.
We have started a weekly feeding program for Operation Joseph on Saturday's. We are starting to plan for Christmas gifs for the kids. It looks like each family will get a blanket, shovel, machete, and cooking pot. Your support is helping to give a hand up to these families in Kenya. From these families we want to pass on their love and appreciation.
Thank you for all of your support.
Rob
On the ground; full swing into Ministry
This is the first time I have update the blog since being in Kenya and I just want to say our experiences have been soooo valuable and character building. This statement can mean alot of different things...which it most certainly does.
I'd say this past week has been the hardest by far. We are fully into our weekly program which basically means that our schedule has been really full (of good things to be sure) but tiring and we definitely need to rely on HIS strength instead of our own. We would be sooo done by now if it was up to those mid-afternoon sugar bursts from the Coke and Fantas to sustain us.
Personally, I felt really attacked, being unsure of my identity in the Lord and what I could even be used for in ministry here. I has no confidence in identifying with alot of the children we were playing with- even if it was just playing with Mikey and Lavenda in our house after supper. I felt really attacked in that I had nothing to offer the people that we would come into contact with in Kisumu or on the matatu's or the families that we would visit on our walks around the villages.
I also was just overwhelmed by the amount of despair and death that seems so close to many of these families. One mama has buried 5 of her 7 children in her life-time. Another mama who lives next door has buried all four of her sons and 2 out of 4 daughters. Only one of her kids helps to sustain this mama who cannot move further than her back cement pad because of poor legs. Her husband who must be midway into his seventies cannot go much further from the house. There are many days that this great grand-mother cannot provide any food for her family which includes her husband as well as 4 children under the age of 15. I asked a local man how much it would cost per day for her to buy food for the family and he responded with this: Food prices are very high in Kenya these days. (Because of the government raising food prices almost double in the last few months) It would cost 500 Kenyan Shillings to provide a healthy meal for the 6 people living in that home. So what is that in Canadian dollars?? 5! Five dollars a day to take care of all of these people and instead I choose to spend $5 on anything that would gratify my appetite for a pop and some chips on any given day. I was convicted...I was reminded that God has a special special place for people who live in such conditions allll over the world. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.... blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We know that this applies to all who are poor and who hunger in the spirit---but I know that God has a special place in His heart and His kingdom for those who have NO-WHERE else to turn but to Him for His providence. And they are soooo quick to acknowledge that He is their help; that He is their provider; and He will will not forget them. And they are so thankful for any little thing that He does bless them with. I get comfort from that....but I am bothered that as the Church, as His hands and feet....that WE forget this special place that people such as this hold in His heart. As we continue to discover the greatness and splendor of our God-we ought to have this drilled so deeply in OUR hearts and our minds that we are responsible and accountable with what what He has entrusted us with.
This week I was so strongly reminded with how fragile life is and how we are all in a state of decay. It sounds morbid, but came to me in a beautiful way. It is supposed to be approaching the hottest time of the year right now but yet, we are experiencing heavy rains every day. In a 24 hour period it is easy to observe how the streams and rivers carve their way through the red soil. Everything is being eroded and moved in this world.... BUT "Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" 1 Peter 1:3-5.
2 Cor 5:17 tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" What a wonderful word in the face of death. We have nothing to be afraid of when we see all of these things around us.
We have HOPE in Jesus. We have satisfaction in Jesus. We have Confidence and anticipation in Jesus. Not just for the future....but for TODAY! His Spirit lives in us; in ME! AND that gives me every reason to be thankful, joyful and hopeful for today and tomorrow. It doesn't matter what last week looked like or felt like, I receive new mercies every morning and I am continually being restored and renewed every day- although I am getting older in the flesh. Thank you for your prayers...thank you for sharing in this with us. May this bring encouragement and a challenge to you today. Baraka on you and your family. ('Blessings' in Swahili)
Dano
I'd say this past week has been the hardest by far. We are fully into our weekly program which basically means that our schedule has been really full (of good things to be sure) but tiring and we definitely need to rely on HIS strength instead of our own. We would be sooo done by now if it was up to those mid-afternoon sugar bursts from the Coke and Fantas to sustain us.
Personally, I felt really attacked, being unsure of my identity in the Lord and what I could even be used for in ministry here. I has no confidence in identifying with alot of the children we were playing with- even if it was just playing with Mikey and Lavenda in our house after supper. I felt really attacked in that I had nothing to offer the people that we would come into contact with in Kisumu or on the matatu's or the families that we would visit on our walks around the villages.
I also was just overwhelmed by the amount of despair and death that seems so close to many of these families. One mama has buried 5 of her 7 children in her life-time. Another mama who lives next door has buried all four of her sons and 2 out of 4 daughters. Only one of her kids helps to sustain this mama who cannot move further than her back cement pad because of poor legs. Her husband who must be midway into his seventies cannot go much further from the house. There are many days that this great grand-mother cannot provide any food for her family which includes her husband as well as 4 children under the age of 15. I asked a local man how much it would cost per day for her to buy food for the family and he responded with this: Food prices are very high in Kenya these days. (Because of the government raising food prices almost double in the last few months) It would cost 500 Kenyan Shillings to provide a healthy meal for the 6 people living in that home. So what is that in Canadian dollars?? 5! Five dollars a day to take care of all of these people and instead I choose to spend $5 on anything that would gratify my appetite for a pop and some chips on any given day. I was convicted...I was reminded that God has a special special place for people who live in such conditions allll over the world. Blessed are those who are poor in spirit.... blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. We know that this applies to all who are poor and who hunger in the spirit---but I know that God has a special place in His heart and His kingdom for those who have NO-WHERE else to turn but to Him for His providence. And they are soooo quick to acknowledge that He is their help; that He is their provider; and He will will not forget them. And they are so thankful for any little thing that He does bless them with. I get comfort from that....but I am bothered that as the Church, as His hands and feet....that WE forget this special place that people such as this hold in His heart. As we continue to discover the greatness and splendor of our God-we ought to have this drilled so deeply in OUR hearts and our minds that we are responsible and accountable with what what He has entrusted us with.
This week I was so strongly reminded with how fragile life is and how we are all in a state of decay. It sounds morbid, but came to me in a beautiful way. It is supposed to be approaching the hottest time of the year right now but yet, we are experiencing heavy rains every day. In a 24 hour period it is easy to observe how the streams and rivers carve their way through the red soil. Everything is being eroded and moved in this world.... BUT "Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" 1 Peter 1:3-5.
2 Cor 5:17 tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" What a wonderful word in the face of death. We have nothing to be afraid of when we see all of these things around us.
We have HOPE in Jesus. We have satisfaction in Jesus. We have Confidence and anticipation in Jesus. Not just for the future....but for TODAY! His Spirit lives in us; in ME! AND that gives me every reason to be thankful, joyful and hopeful for today and tomorrow. It doesn't matter what last week looked like or felt like, I receive new mercies every morning and I am continually being restored and renewed every day- although I am getting older in the flesh. Thank you for your prayers...thank you for sharing in this with us. May this bring encouragement and a challenge to you today. Baraka on you and your family. ('Blessings' in Swahili)
Dano
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