Wow! Kenya. Was.
Awesome! I now know how to make tons of Kenyan food – sukomo wiki, samosa,
chapatti, ugali, oogi, and cabbage. AND! And I know how to kill and pluck a
chicken and slaughter and skin/butcher a goat. Waha! I ate some odd things like
goat stomach and intestines which tasted pretty nasty and were really chewy
(the goat’s stomach looked like a nasty old dishrag). And I think I may have
survived a bout with malaria this past week. Not quite certain of that since
food poisoning, the flu, and malaria all have the same symptoms. But praise
God! I slept it off in 36 hours and am now back to my normal free-spirited,
independent, sassy self.
I planked Lake
Victoria, hiked halfway up a mountain, helped drag fishing nets in from the
lake, assisted in the oaring of one of the huge fishing canoes, played soccer
on the beach, and survived the bumpiest matatu ride ever. I went door to door
to talk to Kenyans about Christ and visited and prayed for the sick in the
hospitals and got the privilege of helping lead several to Christ. I became
good friends with a lot of the youth, attended their kasha (all-night vigil),
performed with their youth dance team, and hopefully, made a positive impact on
their lives. I got to work with street kids, feed them chai and chapatti and
mondazi and take them clothes and hear their stories. I’ve seen sickness and
sorrow and sin and salvation. I’ve lived among the impoverished and experienced
their joy and fulfillment.
I figured out that
it is possible for me to live in an all-girl community and not commit murder.
Also, that I have a lot of learning to do about females because everything
about them confuses the heck out of me! (Guys, I TOTALLY sympathize with you; I
do NOT get girls whatsoever!) I’ve discovered that I’m able to hold my tongue
when I want to lash out, that patience is growing, albeit slowly, and I’m
growing more generous, forgiving, and… *gasp* dare I say it? Soft and
emotional? Eep! The horror! God, what are You turning me into?! I’m glad You
know what You’re doing!
I danced in praise
to God, sang at the top of my lungs and quietly in tongues, played with kids,
and experienced God in a whole new way. I learned that the greatest freedom I
can ever find comes when I’m in captivity to Him, that He has an awesome plan
for me, that all I have to do is ask, and that He has an ironic sense of humor.
I’ve been challenged and stretched in ways I expected and some I didn’t. I’ve
discovered what it’s like to hunger and thirst and seek after God, and to be
filled to the brim with Him and still want more.
Yes, Kenya has been very good. Very good
indeed.
