First day friends. Neighbors who are now constant companions.
We’ve made it. We’ve arrived.
Allow me to introduce our new favorite phrase… T.I.A. – This Is Africa…
- When a chicken clucks her way into the living room (almost daily) and bedroom – TIA
- When sheep meander the dirt pathways you walk
- When the only tarmac road is the main highway through town and it is full of potholes – TIA
- When donkeys pull carts down that main highway
- When the mention of a western toilet gets your heart pumping with excitement
- When there is no toilet paper – TIA!
- When you eat rice or ugali (think firm grits) everyday and ingest more carbs then you ever thought possible – TIA (and GHM! – God help me!)
- When it rains at a moment’s notice – and hails
- When the power goes out everyday
- When the Internet works…in brief spurts and is as slow as a tortoise (reminds you of the dial up days)
- When you hear “hi mzungu” (hi white person) every five seconds, followed by HOW ARE YOU? in the high pitched voices of children
- When you shake EVERYONE’S hand and say Jambo! (hi!)
- When you can walk into any schoolroom at any hour of the day unannounced and teach anything you want to
- When you can walk (ok, trespass) through people’s fields and yards without a yell or threat of being shot
But wait… This is Africa? And nearly everyone has a cell phone. People are checking Facebook, and I find myself in a Computer Store owned by the church teaching the basics of Microsoft Word and Internet.
Africa is full of surprises.
We are serving alongside Deliverance Church in Kiminini, Kenya with Pastor Shadrach Barasa – a man who lives by the Spirit, preaches boldly and lives out what he boldly preaches.
This month we are living in a mud house with the pastor and his family – six kids and five (+) orphans. People constantly stop by and never leave without having tea or a meal and a sound word of counsel. The pastor’s phone rings constantly and he is on the go 24/7.
Pastor with David, a church member’s son. David was scared at us at first. He ran away screaming “don’t let them paint me.” Our white skin is pretty scary for the little ones. I think we are the only seven white people in Kiminini.
Our group is scattered about – some work with Social Workers who make visits to the 100 children in the orphan care program through the church, some make home visits and some work in the computer stores that help fund the orphan program and the church while also providing jobs and training in the community.
Pastor’s biggest desire for his church members and the community (which is mostly Christian): education. “Education is the only way out of poverty,” he told me one Sunday afternoon as we meandered the dirt pathways of the community, greeting people as we walked, allowing donkeys and sheep to pass in front of us.
The Pastor is also very concerned about our health and safety, we are followed to the outhouse at night to brush our teeth and use the facilities (stalls that have a small concrete platform with a hole that drops 15 feet below). He has hired two guards to watch the house at night and we have a padlock on our room. The friendly greetings and handshakes, and warm welcome by the Pastor’s family, though, creates a safe atmosphere. But we are also well-aware the precautions he has taken are necessary and we appreciate their hospitality.
Please keep our safety and health in your prayers. Our squad already has several cases of malaria and typhoid. Please pray that we’ll also stay focused on where the Spirit is leading us and boldly go with God.
