Africa is here! I just arrived to begin month 8 of my World Race in Kenya!
Upon landing in Nairobi, our journey had only just begun to get to our ministry site. A couple of days later, we hopped a bus to Bukembe, Kenya. This is a town you won’t find on any map. As our drive toward Bukembe progressed, it became more and more evident that this was going to be a “unique” place. The paved road slowly became worse and worse. Houses became a rare siting as we drove further and further towards the Rift Valley. We started to wonder if there was ANYTHING AT ALL out here!
9 hours later, we arrived in Bukembe where we were greeted by our contact and his team. The population has to be around 2,000 people. There’s not a lot here… a couple strips of small shops and that’s about it. We were shown to our shelter that’s behind a mechanic’s shop. There were 5 beds set up for us, each with its own mosquito net. No running water or toilet, and very little electricity. The only reason I’m able to post this blog is because our contact just drove us 30 minutes to a place that has good internet.
It’s actually been very rewarding living without all the things we find essential to life back home. It gives me more opportunities to dig into the word, reflect on the day and get immersed in the culture and people. I’ve always believed it’s important to live the way they do. It puts you at their level. And they seem to be more receptive to you when they see that you live like them, with no special treatment.
During the past couple of days, we’ve been going door to door visiting the people of the town. Now, I know what you’re thinking, “Door to door evangelism?! Really?” Here in Africa, it’s not unusual for the Pastor to visit everyone in the community. Everyone is very happy to have visitors stay with them for a while, talk with them and see how they’re doing in their walk. Especially if it’s a group of white Americans who have traveled thousands of miles to see them! They feel so loved and honored by the thought.
The people here still stare. But, I guess I don’t blame them. I would stare if I were in their shoes too. Ezekiel, one of my friends I’ve met here, said that most of the children here have never seen a white person before.
He said, “Half of the kids you haven’t even seen yet because they are hiding from you.”
“Why are they hiding?”
“Because they are scared of you.”
“There is nothing to be scared of, Ezekiel.”
“I know that. And they will too. It will just take some getting used too. Soon they will see you are a blessing from God from a faraway land. Just watch, next week, your arms will be hurting because they will be hanging off of you so much!”
Ezekiel has been a great friend to me already. Just this morning, I asked him if he would like to go on a run with me. I told him that I always wanted to run with a Kenyan because they are always the ones who win our Boston Marathons! He said, “Yes, yes, we are CHAMPIONS at running!” We had a good laugh and then hit the road for our Sunday morning run! I love those moments God gives me.
We get back from the run huffing and puffing, joking around, talking about life, God, and living in Bukembe… Thinking about how I just ran through this little community in Kenya… I wonder, “Really, God?! Is this my life?! How in the world did I come to be in this place at this point in my life?” And I realize only God could have brought me to such a place on such a journey. It gives me a great sense of awe in the Lord; that he can put me in a place I never dreamed I would be.
To be continued…
