8/9/12 The First Ordinations

Original Post  8/9/12

Sunday was a huge day for the work on the coast not to mention for the group. It was the first ordination that we were to have here on the coast. It represents a step forward in our vision for what God wants done here and what he brought us to do. We loaded up the buses and headed down to Jimba.  We arrived around 9:00am we were suppose to start at 9:30 but there was no one present but us, Daniel was not even there yet and he is the pastor and the man being ordained. Slowly people started to arrive and even Daniel himself made it. We ended up starting the service around 10:30.

 

   We had a couple songs before the Presbytery left and went outside to prepare for the ordination service. We had eight ordained ministers present so it was a great presbytery. Brother Scott, myself, Ryan Copico, Darren Clements, Ben Higgenbotham, Aaron Luper, John Stiech, and Aaron Johnson.

We went outside while the singing and worship time continued. We selected a Moderator, Clerk, someone to introduce the candidate, someone to question the candidate, someone to pray over the candidate, someone to present the Bible that we all signed, someone to present the certificate, someone to preach, and someone to pray over the offering. 

   The presbytery rejoined the church services and the services were turned over to the presbytery. We started by explaining that we had no authority as a body but that the elders had been welcomed to help the church determine if the candidate was ready to be ordained. It was explained that we would question the candidate and make a recommendation to the church but that the church would make the decision as to whether to ordain or not. We then proceeded with the service by introducing the candidate Daniel Mbuvi and having him stand before the presbytery and the church for questioning. The questions were asked in swahili and I translated into English, Daniel answered in Swahili and I translated his answers. After the questioning was concluded the brethren recommended that Daniel be set aside for the gospel ministry and be ordained. The church members were asked to stand and to vote as to whether to accept the recommendation and proceed or not. The church voted to accept the recommendation of the presbytery. Daniel was asked to kneel on a lesso that was spread on the ground while all the Brethren gathered around him placing their hands on him and the one selected lead out. After the prayer together each individual minister laid hands on Daniel and prayed with him one on one. Daniel was asked to stand and was presented with a Bible that all the brethren had signed along with some encouraging words. Then Daniel was presented with an ordination certificate followed by a message from God's word by John Steich from Seattle, Washington. We concluded the service with an offering taken up for Daniel and his family and prayed over by one of the ordained brothers.

   It was a great service! Daniel did a good job with his questions and it was just a blessing to be a part of. We all rejoiced together and fellowshipped for a few minutes but not too long because we had to jump on the bus and head to the next ordination at Magangani LBC. Our day was not even half over...

   We loaded up and headed over to Magangani LBC with our newly ordained brother Daniel and his family. When we arrived in Magangani they were singing and ready to go. They had rented a sound system and had torn open the back of the church so everyone could see in. They were ready to go when we arrived so we jumped right into things.

After a brief introduction the presbytery was formed outside again with one new member added to our number. We remained with the same positions as before adding in Daniel and changing the one that would preach to Aaron Johnson. The presbytery returned in time to listen to the choirs sing before the services were turned over to us.

We followed the same pattern as in Jimba with the exception that Aaron Johnson preached the charge. After the ordination service we stayed and had lunch with the Magangani church. They prepared Beans and Ugali for us. It was a long day but we had done a good work! God was in it all and it was beautiful!

  

   We spent a while just visiting with the folks at Magangani and enjoying the meal they had prepared but we had to get on the road back to Malindi. On the way back to Malindi Brother Scott took a detour and went by to pick up Gertrude for the evening cultural class with the group.  With every group Gertrude usually takes a few hours to teach them some words, phrases, and basic culture before we start up our camps. This Swahili orientation is always a highlight of the trip.  Gertrude is a gifted teacher. We got back to the compound and the group had time to run wash up, it was time for classes with Gertrude.

   While the group had class Brother Scott and I loaded up the van with the number of Bibles, juices, cookies, and waters that we would need for day one of the camp. Brother Scott's dizziness kicked in while we were working so he went to lay down while the group finished up in class. After the class we had some supper then it was back to Brother Scott's living room for some strategic planning for the basketball camp. Ryan had his team broken up into smaller teams so they went over there jobs and those that were going to be involved in the special needs school met with Missy also. There were a couple guys that put goals together and by the end of the night the plan was in place and our equipment loaded. We went to bed praying for the camp and ready to make an impact on eternity.

 

James Taylor
East Kenya Missions

8/8/12 Anticipation and Arrivals

Original Post  8/8/12

Ok so I did it AGAIN already... I had planned to not get behind on updates but here we are two weeks between them. It would seem to be an easy thing to grab the computer and tap out the events of the days but with the activities, kids, eating, and a little sleeping there is not much left over. The reality is that I must just carve out time as it is available and right now it is available at least a little. As I prepare to write it is a pleasant 92 degree outside with a breeze. It is quiet here in the house with the kids playing upstairs, Kenya went to town to take Lydia to have a boil looked at, Kayla (our intern) is in her room sick, and I am on the couch in the living room with my Ipad on the couch and the keyboard in my lap. As I reflect over the past few weeks I must admit so much has happened and I feel a sense of anxiety over all that needs to be addressed still yet. We have been on the ground for almost a month and we haven't taken a breath yet in many ways. I still feel like I am waiting to exhale from our time in the states... Well enough of my melancholy self... Here is what has been happening.

  The Thursday before the group came was the 20th I believe I started off the day with a nice run and had a meeting with Ashley to go over some material she is reading. We then worked on putting some finishing touches to the houses in anticipation for the group’s arrival on Saturday. We decided to turn our living room into a dinning hall for the group since we were unsure of the rains not to mention that in the evening we have around 1000 bats that fly around and dive bomb you. We set up tables and chairs in the living room and counting our dining room table and Gazebo we figured we had enough seating for everyone. We also worked on the certificates for the graduates and Ordination certificates to get things prepared.

  In the afternoon the ladies had Bible study while Brother Scott and I ran to pick up the bunk beds that we had made to set up to make enough room for everyone. Keep in mind we were expecting 34 guests to arrive to bring the total staying on our compound to nearly 50! Anyhow we managed to load up the four bunk beds in and on top of the Land Rover. The varnish on the beds was not quite dry but we had no choice but to take them anyway and let them dry at the house.

  After we got back to the house Brother Scott, Josiah, and I off loaded everything and then began the process of putting the beds together. That may sound like an easy task but these beds are handmade so they only go together one way they do not have  interchangeable parts so we had a time piecing everything back together but we managed. All the ladies and Samuel went to Bible study at First Landmark while we continued to finish up the bedding situation.

  We needed to run to town to pick up mattresses for the beds also. We needed to wait until we got the beds to measure them to ensure the mattresses would fit. While we were out we made a trash run, which is always a stinky experience. We made it to the mattress depot just before they closed and were able to get all the mattresses we needed. It was a late evening but we got everything finalized and we were all but ready to receive the guests.

  

  Friday the count down was on and we were watching the tweets and posts of the group as they were connecting and making their way to us from literally all over the US. A group of 10 from Washington State, a couple young ladies from California, a church planter from Pennsylvania, a group from our church Pauline Baptist in Arkansas, and several others from all around Arkansas. We all were reading with great anticipation the arrival on Saturday but first we had some meetings on Friday. I had the normal meeting with Ash as she is affectionately called at the churches.

 

  Brother Scott and I headed out in the morning to meet with a few of the men. We started out with breakfast at Alphonse place. He served us chai and mahamri which was excellent then (Alphonse’s wife) brought in three huge bowls of beans for us too! We were stuffed by the time it was over. We visited and talked a little about graduation and the ordination services. We also greeted Mercy, Juma's wife. Juma and Mercy live just a few doors down from Alphonse in the same little apartments. We had a really good visit with Alphonse and dropped off the food for the lunch that the church was cooking for the visitors after the ordination Sunday.

   We left Alphonse and headed up the road to meet with Daniel Mbuvi and to meet his friend Isaya that Scott met one other time. Brother Scott went over the graduation things and ordination service with Daniel so he could be sure all was in order. Daniel also showed us his little machine that tells you what sickness you have and where to rub if the machine shocks you. It was some type of reflexology or something. Daniel is really into herbs and stuff like that. Isaya showed up shortly after we arrived and we spent the rest of our time just talking and getting to know Isaya. He says he wants to work with us when he moves to Kipini. He has been a pastor at an AIC church since 1994 and was educated in a church of Christ school in Mombasa. He left his home area which is the same area Daniel is from to buy farm land to provide for his family. He met up with Daniel and brother Scott when they were working on Daniel's farm plot north of Malindi. I asked Isaya if he had any problem with the church he left or any doctrinal conflicts he said no but that he now wanted to work with us because Daniel was his friend. This kind of thing happens so much where someone wants to work with us but have no idea what our doctrine is but they are convinced that they want to work with us. This always raises red flags but we want to be sensitive to the Lord. We did give Isaya a doctrinal statement and told him to look at it and I advised him to talk to the local AIC churches and even to seek out AIC missionaries since he was in line with their doctrine and they had trained him that they would be able to better help him. Brother Scott and I shared our appreciation for Isaya coming and told him to call us if he had any questions or thoughts.

   During our time talking with Isaya we had some chai and bread, also we had some passion fruits, then just before we left we ate ugali and sukuma. Needless to say after our bean breakfast and grazing at Daniel's Brother Scott and I were full! We left Daniel's and picked up Juma on our way out and stopped on the side of the road to visit with him a few minutes. It was my first time to see him so it was great to shake his hand and speak face to face. He looked good and talking with him was so good. We invited him to come to the graduation to support the guys that were graduating and he said he would be there. We spoke for just a few minutes then said goodbye so Juma could run back to work. It was nice to see Juma and I told him we would talk more in depth later, there is much to discuss with him but this was just an opportunity to greet him.

   Back at the house I bound up some books to be given to the graduates and we continued with the last tiny details for the group then settled in for Taco Night!! Brother Scott, Missy, and Ash joined us for tacos. After tacos we watched Madagascar 3 then Kenya and I collapsed.

The long awaited arrival day of the groups Saturday arrived with our family sleeping in. We did not have to go to the airport until 10:00 so we slept in knowing that when the group arrived those chances were gone. Kenya, Missy, and Ashley stayed behind to finish up details while Brother Scott, the kids, and I rode with the buses to get the group.

   The group arrived right on time and all 34 passengers made it with all their luggage! It was a miracle of sorts for all the luggage to arrive with the passengers. We have yet to lose a bag but they at times show up a few days after the passengers. Anyhow the group all made it and it was great to hug those we knew and greet the newbies. This group was a mixture of experienced travelers to first timers. We got the scoop on all the en route stories both good and bad while we got all the luggage loaded. Then we snapped a picture before heading towards Malindi with an ATM stop over. Over the two and a half hour drive many slept and a few stayed up to enjoy the view. Once we arrived at our compound we put all the luggage aside and ate some samosas and chips as a welcome. After dinner everyone got their room assignments then set up camp. We had a short orientation meeting going over the basics then called it a night until church the next day.

     

James Taylor
East Kenya Missions

7/18/12 Three Men Misty Eyed and having a Connecting Moment

Original Post  7/18/12

Friday night family night! First we made a trip to Mombasa to do some work in anticipation for the groups. Brother Scott, Missy, Ashley, and our entire crew loaded up to head for Town. This was our first time to visit the new Mall that was built near Nakumat. It is really nice and has some neat shops in it. Most things are crazy expensive but it is nice to see some development.
Brother Scott and I did some running in town while the ladies and the children shopped for some food that we needed for the 516 missions team. Brother Scott and I were able to renew our game park cards in anticipation of the group and we were able to buy some nice Bibles with covers for the men that are being Ordained this year. There were several other things we could have done but most all of our time is being spent on getting ready for the team. There are a total of 35 so the logistics and everything for them is a lot of work. Especially since they are all staying on the mission compound with us. It is going to be so good.
When we got back I had enough time to run outside and repair one of the lights in the guest house that went out.  I also tried to fix our light in the kitchen to no avail. I called it quits when the Tacos were ready...Taco night every Friday I love our routine! Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley joined us for tacos and we all had a good time visiting around the table.
After supper we watched some movies with the kids and stayed up late. The kids all piled in our room on the floor since it was family night. Half the night was spent in silence as the power went off somewhere along the way. We got up and put some bug spray on and sprayed the kids also since the fan was not on.
After the late night Friday we slept in then headed to a sports day at Kiddie Star Kids Academy. This a daycare/preschool that is run by the wife of the man that runs one of the local hardware stores. His family name is Ragib so we all know him as Mr. Ragib. He is the fellow that Kenya almost cried when she told him good-bye for furlough. He was counting the days down for us...we had donated some things to Kiddie Star just before we left so we had been there before but Mr. Ragib had asked us to come for this first annual kids day. He actually asked Kenya when she went by with Missy to the shop and Brother Scott saw him in town and he invited me also adding, "Please come even if it is just for five minutes." I assured him we were planning to come.
We really did not know what this sports day was so our kids were all excited because we all thought maybe it was just fun and games for everyone. The kids even put on their sports clothes and were all excited to go. When we arrived it was actually a sports time for the kids of the school and for the parents to come watch. It was a bit of a disappointment for the kids...you know that sick feeling when you see your kids all excited and expecting one thing and then you see their faces when there is a big disappointment. Ugh! Even writing it I still feel just yuck because the kids were all cheering about a sports day and got all ready only to have to sit and watch, I kind of want to cry now... anyhow. That is how Kenya and I felt because we really thought there would be things for the kids to do but we were mistaken so we felt bad but got the kids together and told them we would take them down to the beach after the sports activities to play some games. We explained to them that Mr. Ragib really wanted us to come so we would stick around and just visit to encourage our friendship. They understood but still they were disappointed. At least as the events went on they brought out sodas for everyone and there was a small play ground for the smaller children. The first annual sports day was good for the children and parents. It was organized well and the kids and everyone had a good time. There was special guest that had been invited to speak about education and need for development.  She did a great job. The highlight was as things closed down and they were saying thank you for coming, Mr. Ragib's wife who is the director of the Daycare was recognizing the special guest and presented her with a gift.  Then she recognized her mother in-law and said that she was so grateful to her for her support and she said she could not have done any of it without her then hugged her in front of everyone. Brother Scott and I were standing beside Mr. Ragib while this beautiful moment was happening.  I leaned over and said to Mr. Ragib, "that is your mother?", when he turned to answer his eyes were full of tears to which I started to tear up then he shook my hand then shook Brother Scott's hand, apologizing to Brother Scott for crying, but brother Scott said it was ok he was too....So there we were with our Muslim Hardware guy at his wife’s Daycare Sports day three men misty eyed and having a connecting moment. I will not soon forget this day! I pray that we can continue to develop this relationship, pray for the Ragib family. As we were making our way to town to grab some chapattis for our pojo that we were having for supper Juma call and I was able to talk to him for a few minutes. I really have been praying for him because I am not sure where he is spiritually right now. Since our departure he has been up and down from the communication Brother Scott has had with him. Juma began by saying something about the church and I told him that I really wanted to just see him first. It was so good to hear his voice and when he heard me say that I want to just see him I felt like there was a joy in his voice and we shifted to just normal talking. I told him we would talk about the church things and everything especially after the 516team left but that I really just personally wanted to see him. We planned to meet the next week since he was heading to Bokole for the weekend. He actually is living in Gede next door to Alphonce. Juma is a good friend and I pray that if he has back slidden or is not where he should be, the Lord can use me to help him, I love that guy. We headed back to the house and got all suited up for some beach fun. Oh we also swung by and picked up our sixth kid Richard so he could spend the night. We had a good time playing at the beach with the kids. Brother Scott, Missy, and I played Bocce ball with Josiah and Richard jumping in and out with us. It was a good afternoon being together. We packed it up quickly when it started to rain. Cissy Hopper called while we were enroute home so it was good to hear her voice from Nairobi. She and Kenya talked for a good bit. We are hoping to go in the fall and take the kids to see Babu and Granny (Ernie and Cissy Hopper).
After getting all the sand off of us we all kind of did our own thing for a little while. I worked on some financial things because I wanted to stay on top of my mission finances. We had some pojo (Mung Beans in USA) for supper and chapati. It was good to be home!
We had another awesome Sunday worshiping at Magangani Landmark Baptist church and their pastor Alfonse. It was so good to see everyone again. Before services started we were greeting everyone and Alphonce came and asked me who was preaching and teaching and I asked him who normally did it but he said no between you and Scott who will preach and who will teach. I told him that we were just with them to worship with them but he said he would like for us to speak since it had been so long. I told him no problem we would love to be a part of the service. I first told him I would teach and Scott could teach but when he told brother Scott, Brother Scott said he would rather teach because the lesson he had was more for Sunday School so we flip flopped it and I was to preach. Alphonse also asked if I thought Mama Josiah or Mama Missy would teach I told him I was sure either but he might ask Mama Missy, so he did.
Brother Scott did great teaching his lesson he already had translated in Swahili. Missy taught SS Kenya was with her translating only when Missy got stuck and I preached the morning message. The worship service was amazing the Magangani choirs are just excellent. The service all the way around was great! At the end of service there was a small meeting that was just fun to be a part of. They were planning for a meal they will cook for the 516team when we come for Alphonse’s ordination. Everything just went so well! My heart was filled with joy once again to see the church functioning and moving forward. It was also so good to see so many of our friends, oh and Mapenzi, Alphonse wife was there with their baby Rita. It was so good to see Mapenzi, the baby looks so much like Alphonse! Also Mercy and Neema, Juma's wife and daughter, came with Mapenzi . Juma had gone on to Bokole to be with the church but Mercy stayed in Gede. Great Great Day!
We left the Magangani Services around 2 and went on to Shukarani for lunch as we passed through town. After Lunch it was already 3 when we got in and Bible study was at 6 at Brother Scott's. Kenya, the kids, and I decided to clean out the van and Land Rover. The Land Rover was in serious need of a bath it had something growing on the inside head liner. We scrubbed and washed and in the end everything looked better and you were not afraid to touch anything in the Land Rover. The van just needed spruced up. We had Bible study at 6 and Christine was there this week so it was nice to see her again. It was a good time in the word and singing together. After the Bible study Josiah and I ran Richard home. I had a bit of a late night after spending some time on the phone with my family. Please pray for my Mom that the Lord will give her wisdom as to how to help my little sister. Late night on the phone Sunday night meant I missed my chance Monday morning for my first Post opp run so I had to wait another day. I met with Ashley after she worked out with Kenya to go over some teaching on Indigenous church planting and helping her understand why we do what we do the way we do it. She is reading a book I gave her and we are planning to discuss it each morning. We will only get a few weeks with Ashley as she finishes out her internship and heads back with the 516 team but maybe we can help her a little also as I am sure brother Scott and Missy have already. Everyday there is a little office work to be done whether updates or something for the groups or just something so every chance I try to tap away at things. Brother Scott and I ran to town and purchased some plastic chairs for the group so they will have seats at the churches and around the compound as well. Godfry had gone ahead of us and worked out a deal with a shop so we just met Godfry and purchased 40 chairs and loaded them. I also bought a couple light fixtures we needed to replace at a little shop while Godfry and Brother Scott loaded the truck.
When we returned from town Brother Scott and I started looking over our list of things to do and checking off things, looking at what next. We called Brother Hopper to check on a package he was sending to us with the raised seal for school and some other documents. We had a great conversation catching up on things and talking about the upcoming graduation. Hopper said he was planning to come out but did not know if Cissy could make it. Brother Scott and I are super excited that Ernie will be joining us! This will be Ernie's first visit out to see us since we moved here on the coast and there would not be a better time! We will have Hopper with us and James Muhanji who was the first pastor Lynn worked with here in Kenya, it is going to be a special day not just because of our first graduation but also to have these two pillars of our work with us. I am so happy I could cry!
After brother Scott and I visited a little more I went back to work to rewiring some lights in the guest house and in two rooms in our house. Thankfully everything went pretty smooth. We had supper and Kenya for some reason went wild and made like 10 pounds of cornbread hamburger stuff. It was pretty good just dry. It was a fun conversation piece over the next two meals...In the evening we all played some games...Kenya proclaimed the week to be no TV week so it has been good to just play together. I made another call home to check on everyone before bed and let the kids all talk to my mom. They all really miss her, their mamaw, and the rest of our family. We love to see them connected to our family but really our kids love everyone. They really do find security in the relationships they build.
Yes! Tuesday was the day that I took my first Post operation run! I did not have any pain except if you count my lungs from lack of exercising! I do not have any strength or endurance after 6 weeks of no running or lifting or anything strenuous. I did pretty good I ran 3 miles in 26 minutes and only had to walk for .15 of it. When I hit the beach running I rounded the corner to see the sun up over the ocean, it was a beautiful thing! Got back in time for Ashley and Kenya to be finishing up their work out then Ashley and I met and went over another chapter in her book.
I asked Kenya to give me a quick haircut before I took a shower, normally an easy 10 minute thing. WRONG! We broke two sets of clippers, went downstairs for part of the haircut, back up stairs, then over to the neighbors house to borrow clippers then finally got it all finished up. Hair cut simple thing right TIA (this is Africa). Got my slick short haircut, shorter than normal because yes I admit it I am thinning on top...don't ever ever mention that again...
Got in some more office work preparing books for our graduates and going over some other things. Then I made an extension cord for the guest house and started on this update. I think I sat down maybe four or five times to work on this update but even on Tuesday did not get it completed. Brother Scott came over and we talked for a little while about Juma's situation. He did not complete the work to be able to graduate so it really grieves me that he is not going to be able to graduate but he was given the time and warnings. He can still complete his work but will not walk with his class. Brother Scott filled me in on how things have gone with Juma in my absence. It was especially helpful because we are planning to meet with him on Thursday afternoon. I wanted to know as much as possible about his situation before we meet. Brother Scott and I also spent some time looking over and talking about the upcoming missionary retreat in Turkey reviewing options and possibilities. In the midst of our conversation Godfry called us about the beds we are having made for the groups so we needed to run to town to take a look at the beds and give a little bit more towards the deposit.
We had a good evening together as a family. I got beat by Samuel in candy land but that's the way it goes I guess. I went out for about thirty minutes to talk to Ricklynn a bit just visiting and chit chatting. Pray for his daughter Angela Kenya she is coughing, throwing up, and not wanting to eat. She has had this for awhile so pray for her that the doctors can figure out what is going on. After the kids went to bed I called and talked with Ryan a bit about some last minute details and it looks like everything is a go on the 516 missions team they will be packing on Wednesday and heading out on Thursday to arrive here on Saturday. After talking with Ryan I had to call PayPal to work out some details on our PayPal account we set up so people could give to the East Kenya ministry online. They just needed some details and a voided check uploaded so I got that all taken care of before heading to bed. While uploading the file to PayPal I worked on some old iphones that we had here trying to get them all updated and working right and before I knew it was 1:00am. I hate when I do that just get side tracked and forget that I need sleep, that happens with food sometimes also... Well I did not get up to run I thought I would ease into the running so I will run this evening or tomorrow. I am feeling pretty good a little soreness in my surgery area but not bad. I met with Ashley to discuss the next chapter in the book I asked her to read. I met with Brother Scott a little going over his conversation he had with our pastor and talked about some details on the group and the plan for the remainder of the week. I have spent most of the afternoon working on this update and fixing Missy's phone for her but I think I got them both just about done... It has been a rainy day outside so it was a good day to write. We are suppose to pick up the beds we are having made but I am not sure how the rain will affect that...
Thanks so much for taking the time to read these journals, updates or whatever you call them and taking this journey with us here on the coast of Kenya. Please continue to pray for the work here and for the next month as we reconnect with the other churches and look to the future of what we need to do. I know God has great things in store!

James Taylor

East Kenya Missions

7/12/12 Time Flies When Your Having Fun or Have Jet Lag

Original Post 7/12/12

The days just seem to click by here as they are filled with activity... Already it is Wednesday and we have almost been here a full week. It seems like we stepped off the plane yesterday, for realz.  Well Friday  last week I left off with Kenya and the kids still in bed at around 11 and they stayed there until after 12 and had I not woke them they might have slept longer. The trip over the ocean really took a lot out of everyone but once they were up and going things were alive at our house. Scott and Missy came over while everyone was still asleep and were shocked to hear the silence. It really kind of weird around here to have silence once the sun is up. Five kids brings lots of life...we love it!

 Once the crew was all up we spent the day unpacking and cleaning. Thankfully Brother Scott and Missy put a little food in the fridge to help us get started so we did not have to go out to get food. The house was really musty.  It is amazing how things can begin to decay without anyone home. I noticed rust on things and just wear on stuff even though it had not been used. It is better for things to be used than left alone. I think that is true about people also just sitting unused we tend to wear out faster then when we are used... ok not time for preaching but just a thought.

 After a day of working around the house we decided to head to Shukarani, our favorite local joint in town. Josiah asked us if he should go and ask Uncle Scott and Aunt Missy about going with us to which Kenya responded that she did not think they liked Shukarani. Josiah said, "Mama!" as if she had blasphemed. Kenya told Josiah that Uncle Scott and Missy had not gone but once since we left but she told him he could ask. When he came back he said they wanted to go also. Brother Scott meets the guys for meetings and takes the men to Shukarani sometimes for school so he had been there more then Kenya knew. It was just so funny to see the shock on Josiah's face that someone could not like Shukarani.

 We all piled in the van and headed for Shukarani. We saw the Mzee that runs the place and he was full of greetings and several of the servers that we know well were there. It was like a little reunion. Keep in mind we frequent Shukarani sometimes multiple times in a week. We all started to order and it only took Brother Scott three times to get some food. Each item he requested was not available, the waiter kept trying to get Brother Scott to have Fish but finally he was able to get some samosas. The menu is not always the menu, yes it was an African night. Malindi has not changed a lick!  

 We were back at it on Saturday morning after a night of trying hard to go to sleep. Kenya and the kids worked on cleaning up the house and their rooms while I worked on setting up my office. I, finally, after a discussion with Brother Scott, took out the old copy machine we had to the garage. I kind of want to spit when I mention the copy machine. It was a source of constant distress for me last term! We have given up on it and I did not even want to see it in my office. As Kenya carried it out (I am still on weight restrictions) I felt a sense of joy to see the death of it. Hyde Park MBC in West Monroe, LA gave us $2000 towards a new copy machine so we are planning to look at a new machine. The key word is NEW, anything used here is code for someone else's head ache.  There is a copy machine place in Mombasa we plan to look at as soon as we get the opportunity.

 The office was pretty much set up except for getting things in place like the printer and computers. I brought a mini mac computer over with me with thoughts that I may start to make the shift from PC to Mac slowly. Now some will stop reading but stay with me... The mini mac was used (even in America USED may be code for someone else's headache also) and I had not used it yet. The first thing the crazy thing did was eat my disk. I had to take it apart to recover my disk, but found that inside the CD drive had been jarred loose during transport so I think it is going to be ok. So I am still considering my slow migration to Mac...

 We had a cookout with Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley to celebrate the 4th of July. It was a good time of fellowship around burgers and hot dogs(don't get to excited about the dogs they are very different from American dogs but are palatable). The kids swam and we all visited over some amazing cheese cake that Ashley made! As we finished up eating we had a team meeting with everyone present to discuss the 33 people that are to arrive on July 21.  Brother Scott, Missy and Ashley have been working  diligently on things already so it was only for us to discuss and look at details. Everything is pretty well in order with just a few meetings and confirmations to make. It was good to just put our heads together.

 The best day so far has to be Sunday! We went to First Landmark here in Malindi and it was a great service as well as a tremendous encouragement. First of all we did not do anything in the service accept greet the congregation! Yes, that is a good thing! They had great attendance and everything went well. The singing was good and Godfry brought a solid message. It was so good to see the church standing and walking on its own!  We enjoyed worshiping with everyone and after services it was so good to see many of our friends and to greet them.  You never know how things are going to go while you are gone and if anybody will remain when you get back. We also were surprised to see Josiah's best bud RICHARD at church. He usually is at school in Mombasa but while we were away he switched schools to a school in Malindi. Josiah was super excited.

   Again I can not express in words the joy to see the church doing well. I hope that as we visit the other churches we will find them progressing in their growth. The work here on the coast is still so young and delicate. Pray as we try to strengthen the churches and seek the Lord for the future.

   After services we all had leftovers from our cookout for lunch.  Brother Scott and I spent some time in the gazebo just talking. It was a great time to just be together. In the evening we had a service together at Brother Scott’s house.  

   Monday was spent repairing lights all around our houses. Since there have been some security issues on our property over the past month we wanted to be sure we got all the lights up and going for the groups when they arrive. The good news is there were no major issues just some minor repairs to get the house lit up. It was a rainy day so probably not the smartest idea to stand on an aluminum ladder and work on electric wires outside but it turned out ok... : )

   We enjoyed dinner with Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley at our house. I got started on an intense game of Monopoly with Josiah before bed. We had to set it aside to go to sleep just as it was getting good.

   While I was in the office on Tuesday I heard Kenya and Ashley working out in the living room, doing "Insanity" I think and it made me long to go for a run.

   (I am almost healed up from the surgery last month but there is still a little soreness on the inside but for the most part I am good to go. Starting next week I should be able to start jogging. By the way Brad my cousin who I donated the kidney to is doing good as of last report I got 7/11/2012. He did have to go in for surgery for a hernia and while the were in surgery the found some infection and repaired a hole in the artery to the kidney, but he is feeling good now and recovering)

Ashley started working on two new security lights in the front yard in two problematic areas while Brother Scott and I headed to town for a couple meetings that we need to do. We met with the Crock Farm guy Mark and got the low down on our visit and about the stolen snake. It was not the big one so we will still get pictures this year with the big snake as usual. We also were able to plan a nice lunch for the groups while they are here at a local place called Everybody Loves Pizza. As you can imagine with a name like that it is GOOD. Brother Scott and I had a good chance to continue to talk as we drove around town. Being apart for almost a year there is much to discuss. Every time we catch a chance we are discussing another aspect of ministry and personal life just reconnecting.

   While we were out in town we got some money and renewed our insurance for another year. A few years ago Kenya went to jail with Sister Paula from our church because we forgot to renew our insurance so we are pretty diligent with it now. Upon returning to the compound I went out and wired up the lights that Ashley had dry fitted. While working on the lights Cleopus came by to talk to Scott and I about the transportation needs that we have for the group. We also discussed with Cleopus our concerns about security of the visitors in light of the recent grenade attack on a church 4 hours north of us. We had noticed on Sunday that a few Catholic churches had armed guards at their churches so it has caused us to evaluate our situation. We also received a travel warning from the embassy just reminding and updating people on recent events this past year and expressing concern for travel to Kenya. Cleopus said he would be notifying the police of our visitors and would likely have a police officer in transit with us. After Cleopus left Ashley and I finished the two new lights and they even worked. Bonus! Oh did I mention it was raining, anyhow...

   Ryan tried to Skype Brother Scott and I into the weekly staff meeting at our church but it really did not work out. We aren’t sure if it was our connection or his. We did get to see everyone, it was a good attempt. Ryan ended up calling us later in the evening and the three of us had a conference call going over details for the 516 team that will be arriving on July 21. It was great to talk with Ryan and share all the details and go over any questions or concerns.

   It was a late evening but a productive day. I did not finish up until after 8:00pm so I went straight up stairs with Kenya and the kids to finish my game of Monopoly with Josiah. I hate to admit it but Josiah killed me at Monopoly and I didn’t even let him win. I am still in shock. At one point Josiah was feeling sorry for me and said, "Baba it's ok you do not have to pay...". I finally went belly up with no money and he was the victor!

   After my morning with the Lord I started to write this update but did not get far until Brother Scott came in and we spent a few hours talking about some important topics. We discussed his and Missy's furlough, what to do now until their departure, and about Missy's desire to do orphanage and special needs work. It was a good to time to share with one another. I love talking to Brother Scott and being able to open up and for our hearts to be knit together. I am glad that God has put us together.  I am looking forward to what God has in the future for us. As the scriptures say "two are better than one"  in Ecclesiastes 4:9.

   We visited clear up until lunch then headed out together for a meeting with Godfry about the upcoming ordination service and graduation. We met him at Shukarani and had some killer Pilau. After we went over all the details of the ordination and graduation we headed out. On the way out Godfry asked about my surgery in the states and how I was. I told him I was fine and explained to him what they had done in the surgery. He just laughed in embarrassment and said, "I cannot". I told him sure he would if it were his brother or his child and he again laughed and said he could not. I think it was pretty hard for him to conceive the idea and to understand the confidence we put in US doctors and their skills. I guess if I had grown up here in Kenya where going to the hospital does not always mean you will be taken care of well I would have difficulty understanding going under the knife voluntarily.

   When Brother Scott and I got back I did a little work in the office then checked on some lighting issues we have in one of the guest houses. I realized that it was almost five and the kids had asked me to take them down to the beach so I called it a day and ran up to change and walk the kids to the beach. The kids and I walked down to the beach while Kenya finished up some cleaning and worked on supper. The kids wanted me to see them jumping up and down the sand dunes along the beach. We had a good time and finished up by rinsing off in the water. As always walking out on the shore of the Indian Ocean I am reminded that we indeed live in AFRICA and my heart is overwhelmed with the reality of what a privilege we have to serve God here!

   Well today was a great day! Brother Scott, Missy, Ashley and I loaded up in the Land Rover and headed to Gede for some meetings. Did I mention we went in the Land Rover, the manly mans vehicle that is like a tank and...well I like the Land Rover... We got to Gede and Alphonse met us there. It was so good to see Alphonse! We went to the special needs school where Brother Scott introduced me to the Deputy Head Master and Missy presented him with a schedule of events she had put together. We then headed over to the Primary School side where Brother Scott introduced me to the Head Master and showed me the goal posts and where we would be doing the sports camp with the group in a few weeks. Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley have done an amazing job in getting the details all put together for this years 516 missions team.

   Brother Scott, Alphonse, and I met under a shade tree to go over the details of the ordination service we will be having at Magangani and the graduation service.  While speaking on the subject of ordination Alphonse shared that he had gotten some personal matters cleared up that the Lord had shown him he needed to do before his ordination. It has been a while back but some may remember... Alphonse was engaged but it all fell through when his mom did not want him to marry the girl he had been living with in Malindi. Moses and I worked a lot with Alphonse and Mapenzi to help them to stop living in sin and to properly follow custom to get married. Moses even went with Alphonse and a member of his family to make an agreement of marriage but again that all ended when Alphonse mom refused.

   Since that time Mapenzi gave birth to Alphonse baby and there was a case started against Alphonse. This caused his mother to agree to the marriage terms that Alphonse had worked out over a year and a half ago. So Alphonse’s new wife and baby will be joining him in Gede soon. That all may be a bit confusing but culture here and matters of inheritance and family are strong motivators and hindrances at times. I praise the Lord that he changed Alphonse's mom so that he could take his wife and raise his child. Also I praise the Lord for Alphonse's willingness to recognize his need to take care of this before his ordination. He said that he would not have continued with ordination without this all being taken care of. This shows tremendous maturity from Alphonse some would just hide all this and go on but God is and has done a great work in Alphonse.

   After our time with Alphonse we headed to Timboni to meet with Daniel Mbuvi to go over the Ordination service at Jimba and Graduation details with him. Daniel was looking good. It was good to see him and his wife as well as a couple of his children. We spent a few hours with Daniel just visiting. He has a friend named Isaya he wanted Brother Scott and I to meet that is interested in working with us.  He had already made arrangements with Brother Scott to meet with him on the 20th so we talked a little about him. Isaya is planning to move to Kipini soon and wants to talk about the possibility of starting a church where he is going. Of course we will move slowly with Isaya but maybe God is opening a door or maybe not.  Pray for us as we meet with him on the 20th. We had lunch with Daniel and his wife, sukuma wiki and Ugali!  Whoo Hoo!

   We got back here to the house in time for Missy, Kenya, and Ashley to have their ladies Bible study with Christine. After the ladies Bible study our family loaded up and headed to Malindi for Thursday night Bible study. It was good to hear the Word and fellowship with the folks at Malindi. After services we stopped off and had some Shukarani. I had the best chicken in the world and a Bitter Lemon to drink. (Heather Thomson that meal was for you.) It was a great night! Samuel said that Shukarani was his favorite restaurant ever. It has been good to step back into life here we sincerely love our life here and our friends. Yes, it is different and we miss our friends there in the States but this is home.  It only took us three years to call it that but it is home for now. Thanks so much for taking the time to read this and pray for our families.

James Taylor
East Kenya Missions

7/6/2012 Return to Kenya

Original Post Date 7/6/2012

This update marks the end of our first furlough from the ministry on the coast. It was a great very productive furlough! I think it was a bit longer than we would have liked but it served the purpose of letting us reconnect with nearly all our supporting churches. Here is the breakdown of our furlough...

Attended 15 different Association meetings We visited and shared at 90 different churches Preached an additional 30 meetings We traveled over 46,000 miles in our van not to mention other vehicles we used. We went from Maine to California and from Michigan to New Orleans.

I ran three marathons and Kenya ran a half Marathon both firsts for us.

I was able to earn an Associates in Missions from the Missionary Baptist Seminary Donated a Kidney to my cousin's husband Brad and got the T-shirt to prove it...

Not to mention all the sites we saw along the way with our kids and all the friends we stayed with. Indeed it was a full furlough and hey we SURVIVED IT.

The last two weeks of our furlough were great as we spent one week in Indiana with our family, visiting Victory BC in Seymour and Columbus BC in Indiana the other week we spent in Arkansas with our church Pauline BC in Monticello, AR. It was so good to be with our closest friends and family at the end of our time. Kenya and I both agree it is not getting easier to say good-bye as we continue to serve the Lord. I think 12 years ago when we first left for Kenya it was easier than it is now. We recognize now that some that we said good-bye may not be there when we return as the pages of time continue to be turned. We also are ever aware that our kids are growing up and in just two terms we will be returning without some of our children... I can not even write any more about that. "Even so come Lord Jesus..."

July 3

   Our return trip back to Kenya started on the morning of July 3 as we left Richard and Doris Akin's house, where we have called "home" during furlough. We went to the church and met up with our pastor Chad, Ryan, Brother Bill, and Clayton. We had prayer then jumped in the loaded van and headed to Little Rock for our 11:45 flight, or at least that was what we thought...

   When we arrived to check in at the American Airlines counter we were made aware that we had missed our flight that had been changed to 8:45 in the morning. The airline had changed the flight a month ago but I did not know it. I should have known it, because after a call to brother Jack he drew my attention to the email he had sent me the end of May that informed me of the change which I did not remember. I think I got it during all the process of donating the kidney to Brad but bottom line is I forgot to write it down and now we were in Little Rock and not Dallas where our international flight was scheduled to take off later that evening.

   Jack sprung into action on his side and we did some enquiring at the airport as to options. One option was to jump back in the van and drive to Dallas but unfortunately we were at the point of 50/50 on making it for the international flight. Jack called back with a possible reroute option from the consolidators that took us through Chicago but while they worked on that Brother Chad asked the Southwest counter if we could book a flight from them and still make our connection in Dallas. End result was that we could fly with Southwest for cheaper than a reroute and still make our connection so that's what we did. After our good-byes we started the trip.

   The Southwest flight took us to Love field in Texas so we had to take a shuttle from Love field to DFW then recheck all of our luggage. By the way we had 13 pieces of 50 pound luggage and I failed to mention that I have a 10 pound weight restriction as I continue to heal from the Kidney surgery so checking and rechecking luggage is not so simple. Thankfully in Little Rock Clayton, Ryan, and Brother Chad were there to help and God bless the curbside guys in Dallas that handled it all for us there. My poor wife and kids had to do all the work to get the luggage from baggage claim to the shuttle at Love field, have I mentioned that my wife and kids are amazing, well they are... So we recheck our luggage at DFW airport in Dallas and we were back on schedule with our original itinerary with two hours to spare.

   Dallas to London was uneventful and London to Nairobi was the same. Our kids are amazing travelers! We got to Nairobi late evening of the 4th missing only one of our thirteen bags. We were scheduled to leave out on the morning of the 5th so we just stayed in the airport for the night. We could have went to town and got a hotel or even could have went and stayed with Ernie and Cissy Hopper but we just did not have a lot of time, I am cheap, I do not like Nairobi, and I thought we could possibly catch an earlier flight than we had. So we set up camp at the airport.

We all were wide awake until about 2:00am then everyone started to fall asleep except me. I stayed awake, for one to watch over everything, and I just could not sleep.

 

    At around 6:00am things were in full motion at the airport and we were all up and ready to go. The earlier flight I was hoping for was not available so we had to wait until 9:40am for our departure. We checked all our bags at 7:30am and did not have to pay anything extra as we had anticipated with the short flight to Malindi. We were supposed to pay around 150-200 dollars for all our extra luggage but they did not tell us we needed to and I did not ask if I needed to. Praise the Lord!

   The puddle jump from Nairobi to Malindi was a breeze especially since I in essence passed out and do not remember it at all... Samuel and I sat together and woke up in Malindi. Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley were there to pick us up with smiling faces. It was so good to see them. We were HOME in Malindi. A short ten minute drive through Malindi, which has not changed at all, and we were at the mission compound. The house was all ready to go despite the musty smell from not having anyone live it for ten months. Brother Scott, Missy, and Ashley had cleaned the place up and put a few food items in the fridge for us and we were in business. The kids were super excited to be home and quickly had the place cluttered with all their toys and dress ups.

   We visited with everyone for a few minutes then Brother Scott had to run to town for a meeting which he invited me to but I declined to help Kenya get things all unpacked. We unpacked most everything but Kenya had some more detailed cleaning to do before we could put things away. Mold was growing in several places and it was really messing with Kenya, she put her war face on and started to attack. The heat and moisture here is perfect for mold. It is amazing how a place with no one in it can just start to decay without use. Anyhow just details but for the most part we just unpacked and were ready to go.

   I was able to get the internet from Brother Scott's house to our house via a router our friend Greg gave us so that was a huge step forward. Internet is so nice to have! Brother Scott and I visited off and on throughout the day talking about things and even got to bond over repairing a oil leak on the Land Rover. VEHICLE WORK FIRST DAY BACK. TIA (This is Africa) Love it!  The kids played with toys all day and we got a few things worked out and started a list of things to do... Ashley and Missy made dinner for us all and we ate together at our place. It was great to sit down together and eat and just laugh. Sitting at the table together was a small thing but there was a sense of peace knowing we were home.

   We were able to greet Safari who works here on the compound and Ricklynn when he came in the evening. It was so good to see Ricklynn! Kenya and I both had no trouble with our Swahili so that was encouraging. I am anxious to see all the men and their families but first we must settle in and get our house in order. After showers we all went to bed at around 8:30pm and the kids were all out in about thirty seconds from hitting their pillows. I did not move last night until this morning at 7:30am.

   I came down to the office for some coffee, prayer, and Bible reading yes in that order. I do not worship coffee but it is part of my spiritual life... It was a sweet morning with the Lord in the silence. I answered some emails and wrote this update. It is now 11:10 and I still have not heard anything from up stairs I guess I better shake the nest lest no one sleep tonight.

Thank you so much to all those that prayed for our flights! Pray for us as we settle I am looking forward to all God is going to do as we have returned to Kenya...