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
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