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
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