June 16, 2006 (Friday)
Howdy from Kenya! I have no idea when the next time I’ll have the opportunity to post this message, but yesterday was a day that needs to be communicated.
Daily life takes time here. Actually, I think that is the understatement of the century. It’s now 11am, and we just finished all the morning cleanings. Simple tasks like washing dishes easily take 1.5 hours. First you have to warm the water, then the process of washing and rinsing is quite extensive. With no modern connivances, I am impressed at the cleanliness. I have come to love doing the morning dishes. It provides an opportunity to simply sing praises to God and get the dirt out from under my fingernails.
Another example of daily life taking time is transportation. Walking is the main (and almost only form of transportation) and it takes time to simply move from one location to the next. One of the sweetest blessings I have received came from a very old woman who prayed that my legs and feet would remain strong all the days of my life. When your legs and feet are the only form of transporting the gospel to people this becomes a very thoughtful prayer and blessing. This brought new meaning to Romans 10, ‘Blessed are the feet of those who bring the good news’…
Speaking of walking, a few moments before we left the house yesterday, a local preacher stopped by to meet the American guest. He had walked 15 miles that morning just to introduce himself, and invite me to speak to the ladies of his church. 15 MILES!! I was blown away. I have never walked 15 miles just to introduce myself to someone. Right after he arrived, we had to leave to make our next appointment. And the pastor didn’t seem to mind that he had walked 15 miles just to sit with us for 10 minutes and turn around and walk back. He will come again on Tuesday and have lunch with us (which is another 30 miles roundtrip). I am quiet humbled that someone would sacrifice so much time and energy just to meet me.
The reason we had to leave the visiting pastor is the reason I want to write this letter. Our appointment that we had to keep was with a 75 year-old widow. She had three daughters and is taking care of her 10 young grandchildren. Out of her three daughters, one died in December, another is dying of AIDS currently, and the third took off with out notice 2 years ago, all leaving their children behind for this grandmother to care for. We (Phyllis, Paul-a Kenyan studying at an American seminary, Aaron-an elder at the church, and I) purchased some basic food items to take to this grandmother. We spent just under $14 and were able to procure about 2-3 weeks worth of food. Carrying the food as we hiked though the woods and farms to get to the house, I was paying more attention to the conversations we were having than thinking about and praying for the family we were going to minister to. As we approached the house many children came out to greet us. Most were not wearing any shoes, their clothes we little more than material that would make good rags, not to mention their attire was not close to being sufficient for a cold, rainy day. Strangely, I didn’t notice any of that until we were sitting inside. What I did notice was the incredible joy that radiated off of the faces of the children and their grandmother. Even though they had nothing, they were quick to thank the Lord for their weekly income of 10 Ksh (about 14 cents), with which they can buy soap. The house itself is incomplete. There are no doors and the wood slats that frame the house have 1”-2” gaps between each board, offering a little shelter from the cold winds. While we met with the family, most of the children were falling asleep and had other obvious signs of mal-nutrition. As we sat and spoke of a God who provides, I was humbled at how God was providing for this family. Some of our food supplies came from others who didn’t have much to eat themselves. They were giving greatly out of their poverty. They were limiting their own food so that this woman could feed her children TODAY. It was strange to walk away from this family, feeling challenged to evaluate how I spend money and humbled at the comparison between watching those that have so little, give so much and the Widow’s Mite in the gospel of Mark (12:41-44).
It seems there is overwhelming need for basic items such as food, clothing, shoes, and adequate shelter (by Kenyan standards, not American). And knowing that I could give all the money I possess and that wouldn’t even begin to help meet all the needs, challenges me personally. As I share the love of Jesus, it is not to be in word alone, but also in action. Only the Lord’s wisdom, moment by moment will help me discern how to minister to each person!!!
Although I have pictures, I am hesitant at showing them over the Internet. I do not want to add to the impression that white people come and take pictures that move our hearts, with the intent to exploit the needy. This is a common belief among the rural Kenyans. Many of these pictures (don’t worry I already have well over 200) will have to wait until I get home.
Know my prayers are with each of you! Serving Christ with you!
Tami
Daily life takes time here. Actually, I think that is the understatement of the century. It’s now 11am, and we just finished all the morning cleanings. Simple tasks like washing dishes easily take 1.5 hours. First you have to warm the water, then the process of washing and rinsing is quite extensive. With no modern connivances, I am impressed at the cleanliness. I have come to love doing the morning dishes. It provides an opportunity to simply sing praises to God and get the dirt out from under my fingernails.
Another example of daily life taking time is transportation. Walking is the main (and almost only form of transportation) and it takes time to simply move from one location to the next. One of the sweetest blessings I have received came from a very old woman who prayed that my legs and feet would remain strong all the days of my life. When your legs and feet are the only form of transporting the gospel to people this becomes a very thoughtful prayer and blessing. This brought new meaning to Romans 10, ‘Blessed are the feet of those who bring the good news’…
Speaking of walking, a few moments before we left the house yesterday, a local preacher stopped by to meet the American guest. He had walked 15 miles that morning just to introduce himself, and invite me to speak to the ladies of his church. 15 MILES!! I was blown away. I have never walked 15 miles just to introduce myself to someone. Right after he arrived, we had to leave to make our next appointment. And the pastor didn’t seem to mind that he had walked 15 miles just to sit with us for 10 minutes and turn around and walk back. He will come again on Tuesday and have lunch with us (which is another 30 miles roundtrip). I am quiet humbled that someone would sacrifice so much time and energy just to meet me.
The reason we had to leave the visiting pastor is the reason I want to write this letter. Our appointment that we had to keep was with a 75 year-old widow. She had three daughters and is taking care of her 10 young grandchildren. Out of her three daughters, one died in December, another is dying of AIDS currently, and the third took off with out notice 2 years ago, all leaving their children behind for this grandmother to care for. We (Phyllis, Paul-a Kenyan studying at an American seminary, Aaron-an elder at the church, and I) purchased some basic food items to take to this grandmother. We spent just under $14 and were able to procure about 2-3 weeks worth of food. Carrying the food as we hiked though the woods and farms to get to the house, I was paying more attention to the conversations we were having than thinking about and praying for the family we were going to minister to. As we approached the house many children came out to greet us. Most were not wearing any shoes, their clothes we little more than material that would make good rags, not to mention their attire was not close to being sufficient for a cold, rainy day. Strangely, I didn’t notice any of that until we were sitting inside. What I did notice was the incredible joy that radiated off of the faces of the children and their grandmother. Even though they had nothing, they were quick to thank the Lord for their weekly income of 10 Ksh (about 14 cents), with which they can buy soap. The house itself is incomplete. There are no doors and the wood slats that frame the house have 1”-2” gaps between each board, offering a little shelter from the cold winds. While we met with the family, most of the children were falling asleep and had other obvious signs of mal-nutrition. As we sat and spoke of a God who provides, I was humbled at how God was providing for this family. Some of our food supplies came from others who didn’t have much to eat themselves. They were giving greatly out of their poverty. They were limiting their own food so that this woman could feed her children TODAY. It was strange to walk away from this family, feeling challenged to evaluate how I spend money and humbled at the comparison between watching those that have so little, give so much and the Widow’s Mite in the gospel of Mark (12:41-44).
It seems there is overwhelming need for basic items such as food, clothing, shoes, and adequate shelter (by Kenyan standards, not American). And knowing that I could give all the money I possess and that wouldn’t even begin to help meet all the needs, challenges me personally. As I share the love of Jesus, it is not to be in word alone, but also in action. Only the Lord’s wisdom, moment by moment will help me discern how to minister to each person!!!
Although I have pictures, I am hesitant at showing them over the Internet. I do not want to add to the impression that white people come and take pictures that move our hearts, with the intent to exploit the needy. This is a common belief among the rural Kenyans. Many of these pictures (don’t worry I already have well over 200) will have to wait until I get home.
Know my prayers are with each of you! Serving Christ with you!
Tami
posted by Tami Dale | 9:17 AM
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