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!
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
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
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Quick Update
Dan and I are doing well. We have been spending a lot of time in Boyani (the village where we live) resting up and preparing for next week. A lot of our time in the mornings is spent in our Bibles and journals. Mama Judy says that next week we will be going full speed. You can be praying for strength for us. The sun is HOT and it saps away energy pretty fast. We could also use prayer for unity between us and the Kenyans. Sometimes it feels like some of the people we are working with have a different agenda in mind and it can be difficult to talk about it with the language barrier. We want to do what God is calling us to, not what man is calling us to. You can also be praying that we will continue to get opportunities to share the gospel with people, and that we would cease opportunities.
Thanks for everything. We are both so thankful for all of your support.
PS. We have a mailing address, but I don't know how long it will take to get here. That being said, if you want to send us some mail, do it sooner rather than later.
Billy Peter Otanga
PO Box 1454-503000
Maragoli
Kenya
Thanks for everything. We are both so thankful for all of your support.
PS. We have a mailing address, but I don't know how long it will take to get here. That being said, if you want to send us some mail, do it sooner rather than later.
Billy Peter Otanga
PO Box 1454-503000
Maragoli
Kenya
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Almost one week
It has been almost one week since we left Toronto and headed for Kenya. So much has happened since we left that it is hard to believe that it has only been one week. Rather than writing a novel, I'll list some of the highlights:
1) Walking around Nairobi with Sospeter (Ken's brother)
2) Driving from Nairobi to Kisumu. 8 hours on a bus. We had to take a detour through the mountains because the highway was being repaired. It was a rough ride, but it gave us a chance to see a part of the country that many people would not get to see.
3) Seeing Billy, Judy, Mike and Lavenda when we arrived in Boyani! It was so good to be back home. Even though a year has passed it felt like no time had gone by since we last had some chai in their living room.
4) Walking around the hills of Boyani with our new friend Josphat. We didn't plan on this, but ended up doing some house visits that involved singing, memory verses, climbing guava trees to pick the fruit, sun burns . . . it was fantastic.
5) Yesterday we went with Mike and Lavenda to Ebuhando for the first time! My heart is racing now as I write about this. It was so great to drive from Kima to the village again. As we drove by kids we were both trying to see if we recognized anyone. We didn't recognize anyone on the way, but as the day went on a lot of familiar faces returned. Team from last year, get ready. Jennifer, Evans, Luando, Jared, Samwel, and of course Temba! It was so much fun playing with them again. We brought out some soccer balls, frisbees, colouring books . . . so much fun!
6) Today we got up early to head into Kisumu with Billy and Judy. It was a big trip for them because today; through all of the support that was given to us; we were able to buy them a fridge! It was only $370.00! They are so excited because now they can serve there community so much more.
That is a quick update from Rob. It has been such a blessing so far to be here. We have already seen God moving through conversations with kids all over the villages. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
1) Walking around Nairobi with Sospeter (Ken's brother)
2) Driving from Nairobi to Kisumu. 8 hours on a bus. We had to take a detour through the mountains because the highway was being repaired. It was a rough ride, but it gave us a chance to see a part of the country that many people would not get to see.
3) Seeing Billy, Judy, Mike and Lavenda when we arrived in Boyani! It was so good to be back home. Even though a year has passed it felt like no time had gone by since we last had some chai in their living room.
4) Walking around the hills of Boyani with our new friend Josphat. We didn't plan on this, but ended up doing some house visits that involved singing, memory verses, climbing guava trees to pick the fruit, sun burns . . . it was fantastic.
5) Yesterday we went with Mike and Lavenda to Ebuhando for the first time! My heart is racing now as I write about this. It was so great to drive from Kima to the village again. As we drove by kids we were both trying to see if we recognized anyone. We didn't recognize anyone on the way, but as the day went on a lot of familiar faces returned. Team from last year, get ready. Jennifer, Evans, Luando, Jared, Samwel, and of course Temba! It was so much fun playing with them again. We brought out some soccer balls, frisbees, colouring books . . . so much fun!
6) Today we got up early to head into Kisumu with Billy and Judy. It was a big trip for them because today; through all of the support that was given to us; we were able to buy them a fridge! It was only $370.00! They are so excited because now they can serve there community so much more.
That is a quick update from Rob. It has been such a blessing so far to be here. We have already seen God moving through conversations with kids all over the villages. Thanks for all of your prayers and support.
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