Wow. I feel like I’m living in a dream I’ve had since I was
a kid. I’m in Africa right now. I’M IN AFRICA RIGHT NOW!
This month we are in Isibania, Kenya working with Pastor
Abraham and Deliverance Church. This man is so wonderful… he is smiling nearly
every moment we are with him. He runs around setting up ministry for us,
helping us shop, making sure we have people cooking for us, and basically doing
anything and everything to make sure we are safe and happy. And that’s just
what he’s doing for us. Abraham and his wife Jenny have four children- Ronnie,
Bella, Peace, and Victor. Victor just came into the world six days ago. He was
born two months early because Mama was having high blood pressure and went into
labor. So while Abraham has been bending over backwards to make us at home, he
has also been taking care of his wife on bed rest and his baby boy in the
hospital. And all he talks about is how good God is. Please pray for the health
of his family.
We also have the joy of hanging out with Michael. Michael is
a guy that stays with us 24/7 to help us cook, bathe, stay safe, and laugh. He
is very gentle and humble but also fierce and joyful when he leads worship on
Sundays. Winnie, Bonnie, Leah, and Lidisha are some of the other women who help
us cook, and they are all so kind and incredible to be around.
Most of what we have done so far has been about settling in
and meeting people in the community. I had my first experience in an African
church this morning, and it was even more glorious than I anticipated… loud and
crazy music, dancing/jumping/movin’/shakin’, two sermons (given by my lovely
teammates Jenny and Daniel), and a beautiful African girl cuddled up in my lap.
After the nearly four-hour service we piled 26 people in the Van Man’s van and
headed to a nearby watering hole (think Lion King) for a baptism. See my next
blog for the details of this wonderful event.
Sunday evening we split up for the four different cell
groups from Deliverance Church that meet for fellowship. Brittany and I met
with Judy’s group and were able to share our testimonies and talk about James
1.
This month we will travel around to schools in the area to
talk to and counsel the students. Many of the female students have been victims
of FGM (Female Genital Mutilation), rape, abuse, and other injustices and as a
result are dropping out at a very high rate. We will also visit a few
orphanages (one is called Brittney’s Orphange!), possibly work in an HIV
clinic, hopefully work with the Masaai people, and work with Deliverance
Church.
Here are a few tidbits for those of you wanting more facts:
-Isibania, Kenya is right on the border of Tanzania.
-I have a new team! Team Wellspring consists of Daniel
Montenegro (leader), Justin Jue, Brittany Priess, Jenny Hill, Angela Murray,
Sydney Sample, and myself. Check out their blogs!
-My male team members take Women’s One a Day vitamins…
sometimes I still feel like I’m on an all girls team.
-I use a bucket of water to bathe. Michael heats up well
water for us to use in the little square outdoor shower room.
-Squatty potties aren’t as terrible as you think.
-Team Wellspring has Funky Dance Party Fridays, and things
get crazy.
-My teammate just asked me how to spell Missouri… I’m always
the one from the random state.
-I crossed over the equator on the bus ride from Nairobi to
Isibania and went through the Great Rift Valley.
-I saw monkeys on the side of the road!
-Wavin’ Flag and Waka Waka are the theme songs for the
month.
-I pretend that the mosquito net around my mattress is
actually my canopy bed, and I’m in a palace.
-I’ve eaten more cabbage in the last four days than I have
in my entire life. I actually like it.
-We get drinking chocolate and popcorn for breakfast. It’s
every kids dream.
-Swahili phrases I’m learning:
Bwana
Asifiwe=Praise the Lord
Habari=Greeting/How
are you?
Nzuri
sana=so good!
Asante
sana=thank you very much
Watoto ninawapenda sana=I love you
so much, children!
Bwana
awabariki=God bless you (to many… akubariki to one)
Hodi=greeting
(entering a place)
Karibu=welcome
Natuombe=let’s
pray
Mtoto=child
Watoto=children
Jambo=hello
Our neighbors…
Deliverance Church…
Susan, my church buddy…
Team Wellspring…
26 people in a van…
Kenyan children are BEAUTIFUL…
Thank you for your continued prayers… please pray for words
from God to fill our mouths since we will be speaking a LOT. I’m so grateful
for all of your love and support!
Much love
