Thursday, December 15, 2011

Friendly Kenya

From the sweltering heat of Watamu to the unseasonal rains of Kisii and from the crowded streets of Nairobi to the untamed bush of Maasailand, my trip to Kenya took me all over the map. Despite the diversity of weather and population though, one thing didn't change: the friendliness of the people. The Kenyan people are some of the warmest and most welcoming people I've ever met!


In Watamu, we were visiting an orphanage supported by the Larium congregation. We were warmly welcomed by the Fondo family who run the orphanage and encouraged to return for a longer visit anytime.


In Nairobi, we stayed with a wonderful family in the suburbs. They welcomed us into their home and helped us get oriented to the crazy city of Nairobi!


In Upper Guccha (near Kisii), the people's warm welcome made even the rain and the mud seem insignificant! We arrived after an hour-long walk through the mud to be met by smiling people, warm food, and a cheery mud hut!


In Maasailand, we walked through the fields to arrive at the church: a clearing under a large tree. When the congregation saw us coming in the distance, several of the women ran out to meet us and escorted us back singing the entire way!

We had a truly blessed time in Kenya this year. Last year when John Ruotsala and Chad Koivanen went, the police chief welcomed them and asked that they return with more people next year. We revisited the same police chief this year and he was so happy to see a team of four people instead of two. However, he charged us to come again--with 20 people! So, if anyways is interested in coming and meeting the happy, friendly people of Kenya, contact the Foreign Mission today! foreignmission@comcast.net

Sunday, December 11, 2011

A view from Kenya!

There has been little time to post a blog during this trip! There is so much to discuss, that it is very difficult to put into a blog.  Therefore let me just ramble on a bit with a few random thoughts.

First of all, there is no power in terms of electricity where we ministered, but we surely did feel the power of God during this trip.  What I mean by this, is that the amazing power of God has seen fit to lead us to these wonderful people that have such an amazing grasp and knowledge in the scriptures.   Many of them know the Bible so much it is very humbling to us.  Yet, they were so very thankful for our coming to share the Gospel with them.  

It seems people all across this country, though very poor, people are so happy and helpful. It seems like they will care for whatever need we have.  This is true with total strangers as well as those we know. The smiles are so bright and their countenance is so peaceful.

I wonder if part of the reason for this is that without power, they must communicate one with another!  Whatever the reason, in many ways, one longs that Americans could become more like the Kenyans in many ways.  However, we realize that we as people change with the times, and I know the Kenyans do as well when they come to the USA.  It is only by the Grace and Power of God that He keeps all believers no matter where we live.

One pastor we spoke to that has several children told us one of them had been promoted to Glory.  What a way to say their child has passed away. His church is 6 months old and has 180 people.  May God bless his humble heart. He is from a different tribe of people.  Kenya has 42 tribes.


Perhaps the most knowledgeable man in scriptures that I have ever know, Sylvester, has such a wonderful spirit.  We were in awe as he lead us through the Bible in a Bible study after we had him over for a meal.  Wow, such a wonderful man.  He came running up to me early one morning.and said 2 of his cows had been stolen.  He asked for prayers.  Then he went by running up the muddy roads for 15 miles to home.  He put out a call and 50 friends and neighbors turned out to help hunt down the thieves.  Then they ran 25 miles tracking the cow by measuring the footprints.  They found the cows. You see, the Masai people love to steal cows.
(here Leona is meeting Sylvester for the 1st time)

Well, Sylvester's team spotted the cow, but then they had to tell the Land Board they found it.  So they had to run back 25 miles.  The next day they ran the 25 miles again, got the cows and ran them back home.  Sylvester reported that the entire time they were looking, family and friends were praying, as we were as well.   Now that the cows were safe, he ran the 15 miles back to us, leaving his family singing and praising God about the cows returning.   When Sylvester entered our mud hut, after running full blast in the rain and on the mud, you should have seen the scene!  Such true joy and celebration!  Hugs, long embraces, and praises to God were voiced aloud and often.  Sylvester was thanking the Lord for answering prayer!   Yes, you can add up the miles he ran, 130 miles in 2 days.  This is without eating or drinking, but rather fasting and prayer!   Words cannot explain the faith of this man, but we surely do thank God for giving us the priviledge to know him.

(this pic is outside Pastor Fredricks church)
Services here have been almost conitnual.  It is so wonderful to share the gospel with such people.  Their heart is for the unreached as well, and they try to bring the gospel to them as much as possible.  They also invite people to the services, and we were even priviledged to be able to speak on the village green with the blessing of the police chief.  People from all walks heard the Word during these two service times.

The widows, (some pictured above), the ophans, and even special people like Emma (pictured below) are ever present.


There is so much more to write, but blogs are supposed to be short!   Please pray that the Word preached here by both us and them as they faithfully serve the Lord, would be made living in all the hearts that hear by the power of the Holy Spirit.  God is in control now as we leave, as He was before we came, or while we were here!

Here is part of the crowd at the outdoor services sending greetings to all Christians in America.


Please email foreignmission@comcast.net if you want to come on the next trip to this wonderful land!

You can see many more pictures of Kenya at the Foreign Mission Facebook site.  


 

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Welcome to Kenya!

Our small mission team met in Kenya about a week ago. From the capital city of Nairobi, we traveled 6 hours south-west to the town of Kisii. From Kisii we then traveled my matatu (mini-bus) to the Upper Guccha region where we stayed with Pastor Charles, his wife Mary, their family and a group of 32 orphans that they care for! During our few days there we spent time visiting, preaching, teaching and enjoying the warm hospitality of our amazing hosts. Here are a few pictures and comments by Thomas Questad about our time there:


The trip from Kisii to upper Guccha took about twenty minutes of riding in a semi-noisy, fairly cramped, and very bumpy matatu (mini-bus). When we finally arrived to Sangra (the closest village) we had to get out of the vehicle and walk the last half mile or so because it was too wet and muddy to drive. Walking in the mud is not as fun as it might sound, but we made it to pastor Charles home and surprisingly only half of the visitors slipped and fell!  


 
After we had completed the journey and they fed us we had our first of many services. Their love for the preaching of God’s Word was amazing. All they had for a church was a tent with a very muddy floor and people came from all around; many of them had to make a further and muddier journeys then we did (and ours was long and muddy). 

 
They didn’t have any instruments per se but there was this little girl that could make some amazing sounds out of an old three-gallon water jug and she was probably playing it over two hours a day...


And late into the night it seemed they couldn’t get enough of praising God! The first night I don’t think they slept; we could hear them whenever we woke up throughout the night.


This is the family and orphans that lived in Upper Guccha, plus some of the visiting pastors. We took this picture down the hill from their home on our way back to town.


Here is our slippery journey back up the hill to town to meet the chief and catch the matatu. I guess the few days spent there in the mud helped us learn, because no one fell on the way back!


This is John with the police chief (seated) who was very friendly and told us to come back and bring more people!

Please continue to pray for our time here in Kenya. Please also pray for the people of Kenya: 40,000 people so far have been affected by unseasonal flooding.