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
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