It’s been a little while since I’ve updated, and I have so
much I want to share! Here we go…
Jumping back to last Thursday. We started processing the pig meat to make sausage when we quickly realized from the smell that some of the
sausage meat had gone bad when the power went out the day before. This is a
common occurrence in Geita. Luckily most of the other good meat survived. Maybe
survived isn't a good word here. It remained eatable.
Our plan was to leave Friday for Mwanza and head to Kisii,
Kenya on Saturday to visit a church and school. The Church of Christ in
Dangerfield, Texas had sent a representative to see the work that Brett was
doing in Geita and also to visit the church they support in Kisii. Brett
offered to take this man Duane to Kenya, so we got to tag along! Plans changed
a little when baby Cohen got sick and needed to go to the hospital in Mwanza on
Thursday. We all packed up and jumped in the cars. One of the best thing about
long car rides, or car rides in general, is that Brett pours out all his
thoughts/ideas/crazy stories on us. This car ride we heard all about his idea
of primary, secondary, and tertiary fun. Yes, he rates his level of fun. I
would probably rate listening to him talk for an hour on this as secondary fun,
but almost primary fun. That night we spent time with some of the missionaries
on the Mwanza team at their house.
On Friday we picked up Duane from the airport and spent a
lot of time doing things around town. We visited the biggest “grocery store”
and were astonished by the amount of processed food they had. (Un)fortunately, processed
food here is typically much more expensive than in the states. Cereal is good
and all, but not sure I can justify paying $6 for it. Unless it’s honey bunches
of oats (with almonds of course. I’m looking at you Mary Helen).
Saturday morning we enjoyed the beautiful drive to Kisii past
the Serengeti and through the rolling hills of corn and sugarcane (not to be
confused with the seven layers of the candy cane forest). We were planning to visit both Nyamue Church of Christ and the private school that is affiliated with
the church. David Marube, the preacher and director for the school, was
our wonderful host for the weekend. He met us on our way in to welcome us and
show us around town. Right from the start he was extremely hospitable, and I
quickly came to admire the way he spoke to us with wisdom and purpose. Be it to
teach or to make us laugh. Later that night we discovered the Pizza Griller,
where we would become regular customers for the next three nights. Yay for good American food! (Although don’t
be fooled, we have had plenty of really delicious American and foreign food
since we’ve been here).
Since we were staying at a convent in Kisii, Sunday morning
began with worship music blasting through the window. We left for Nyamue COC
where we got to meet all of David’s family, many of whom also serve some role
in the church. It was great to see a family coming together to work to bring
the kingdom to their community. Yet again they honored us as guests, even
though we were honored to be there with them (Although they may have treated us
so well because David thinks Brett looks like the brother of Jesus). David
asked that Duane and Brett share a lesson with the church. It was great to see
what we have been talking about in our classes being played out. We’ve
discussed a lot about leading a church through teaching others to be obedient to
scripture, which is best done by reading scripture together and interpreting it
as a group to see what God is teaching. This leads us all to be dependent on
God’s truth instead of on one person’s teachings (Unless that person is Jesus…).
In this way we form a church of obedient disciples who are equipped to be salt
of the earth and lights of the world. We read the story of Jesus feeding the
5,000 with five loaves and two fish, seeing God abundantly provide for his
people. In the same way He provides abundant love and forgiveness to us so that
it can overflow into other’s lives.
Speaking of abundance, the Marube family was overflowing
with generosity. They served us a delicious meal at their home, offering us
much more than we could handle. We spent the whole afternoon with them at their
home, talking and playing with the kids. Even meeting their newborn calf.
Eventually we had to leave. It’s always fun driving down the narrow dirt roads
past all the homes in the village, because everyone on the side of the road smiles and waves. Sure, it may be because they don’t see Mzungu (white people) all that
often, but the joy is genuine. That night Brooke and I had peanut butter banana
sandwiches. My joy was genuine too. Although, later on there wasn’t so much joy
when we got up at 1am to watch the World Cup and Portugal scored in the last
few seconds to tie with USA. It was still a fun experience to watch soccer in
the middle of the night at a convent in Kenya while eating Oreos with milk
(that part was just Gunnar and Brett).
I didn’t think Monday could get much better, but it
definitely did. On the way to Nyamue Christian Academy, we picked up sugarcane
for us and the kids at school. After David introduced us to the teachers, the
kids performed some songs and dances for us. Per David’s request, I got to join
the kids. The dancing flamingo strikes again. This time with slightly less
laughter from the kids. Later during their break they showed us some more
dances and Brooke and Katie taught them the few we know. Ayyy macarena! They
pick up on these things fast. We went around to all the classes and were quite
impressed at the level the students were at. Three and four year olds were
learning English letters and starting to learn words in both English and
Swahili (Kisii is their native tongue). All the kids were attentive and willing
to learn. I talked to all the teachers more later and came to see how incredibly
gifted and intelligent women they are. After sharing another delicious meal with
David’s family, we went on a walk/hike to a place on the hill where they get
soapstone that they carve into small sculptures to sell. It was an incredible
view. Or so I thought, until later that evening they took us up to an even more
amazing spot where you could see for miles in every direction. We were all in
awe.
so are my ways higher than your ways
and
my thoughts higher than your thoughts…
You will go out in joy and be led forth in
peace;
the mountains and hills will burst into song
before you,
and all the trees of the field will clap their hands."
Isaiah
55:9,12
The Lord used this trip much differently than I had
expected. He revealed his immense love through his creation, through people,
and through the many many moments of laughter. We were all so thankful to the
whole Marube family, not just for the food and fun adventures, but also for
challenging us and showing such selfless love.
Just one of the amazing views.
(More pictures to come!)
Wonderful, Wonderful! Enjoying your blog very much. Proud of you!
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