The past few days have been a learning experience in many different ways. We have met many different people here in Siaya, many from the church, as well as others just out around the town. I find myself wondering how the view us Mzungu, and specifically as Americans. Many here seem to have a grand idea of what America is like, and I guess in many ways those views are at least partially true. As Americans we have more freedom and opportunity than most other places on earth. However I guess like my previous idea of what life in Africa would be like, sometimes things are not always how the appear.
We had our first Sunday morning church service at Deliverance Church a few days ago, what started with a youth service at 8am the service was still going strong until around 1:30pm. A marathon of a service for sure, it seems like people come in a various times during this period, in a way they have three different services on Sunday.
Here is a picture of one of the Sunday School rooms which had about 75 kids in it on Sunday:
So one of the few things I found out about Siaya before coming here, is that Siaya is the birthplace of Sarah Obama the grandmother of President Obama. So naturally the first day that we arrived Pastor Joseph said very excitedly, that we were going to be able to go to her house and meet her this week. So on Tuesday that is exactly what we ended up doing. Though we found it completely random, and the actually meeting kind of awkward, especially seeing as she doesn't speak English. The drive to and from her house was well worth it, we all piled in the back of a pick up truck and drove about 20 minutes to meet Mrs. Obama. We were able to see more of the surrounding area, and though we ended up getting a flat tire on the way back we made it back just in time to miss a crazy hail storm.
Wednesday we start our time meeting people in their homes around the neighborhood and having some outdoor worship services. So please pray for myself, my team, and the pastors who we are working with, that it will be a time to encourage the people of the area and show them the love of Christ, a love that is more than a religion or tradition, but a truth that changes lives.
