Some Happenings

Over the last few weeks, we've had some cool opportunities to travel, both for fun and for work. Here's what we've been up to:

Easter in Bungoma

Followers of the "Dude Goes to Africa" blog will remember that in 2007 I had the privelege of living and working in western Kenya for 3 months. During that time I stayed at the home of Kistos and Petrinilla Khisa and worked for Western Region Christian Community Services, a sister organization to our current partner in ministry through Planting Faith. Kistos and Petrinilla's son David now works for Toyota in Nairobi and he and his sisters have been some of our best friends here in Nairobi. Over Easter, David took us on the over-night bus to Bungoma to visit his family and reconnect with old friends.

The Khisas consider me to be their African son, so this was something of a homecoming for me. But it was even more weighty for Rebecca, something along the lines of "Meet the Parents: Africa" (see the picture of the daughter-in-law bearing gifts above). Kenyans are really great as a people, but the Khisas are really special. As we walked up to St. Crispins Anglican Church for the Good Friday service, having arrived only an hour before after a 10 hour bus ride, I could hear Kistos preaching inside, and immediately remembered the power and sincerity that he brings to the pulpit. But more astounding, especially when pastors everywhere and maybe particularly in places like Kenya can easily fall into the temptation of acting like "big men" or the boss, was the way that Kistos humbly and graciously loves his family and his congregation. We were so encouraged by this incredible family, and praise God for their work.

It was also really fun to get to run into the neighborhood children and families along the dirt road that leads to their home, the road that I walked up and down every day for three months. White folks are an anomaly everywhere in this country, but particularly in places like Bungoma, and it was really beautiful to have people constantly coming up and saying, 'oh I remember you, the Kisha's American son has come back to visit!"

David took us on a hike that Brandon and Lily Russell, David, and I had done in 2007. The trail goes up this huge rock that rises out of the western landscape and gives you a great view of the miles upon miles of small farms receding off into the distance in every direction that make that part of the world so beautiful. This was also a pretty sweet time for David and I, who had stood in that same place three years ago and who have really grown together through our somewhat strange and unlikely friendship. Jesus has given Rebecca and I the opportunity to travel all over the world and make many lasting memories. But perhaps at the end of the day we haven't made quite so many lasting friendships on our travels, and the Khisas stand out as a noteable and God-given exception.

I also got a chance to catch up with my old coworker Joseph (if you remember the story about me on the back of the motorbike carrying a chicken, he was the primary player in that tale). His wife served us chicken, and his kids had gotten so big, and he told me news of all the groups I used to visit. He also gave me phone numbers so that I could catch up with a few other folks in CCS who I had hoped to meet.

And most importantly, Rebecca got a chance to have her first boda boda ride (public transportation on the back of a bicycle. Only 15 cents). Check out the pic.

In short, it was a beautiful way to celebrate the resurrection with old friends. Drinking chai under an avocado tree, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed by the gift God has given me through Kenya, both now and through that trip in 2007 where my life was changed in profound ways that I am still now discovering. There is something beautiful and strange about being in a place you love that you may never be in again, something that reminds us somehow of the kingdom to come. If you pray for us this week, take a minute to thank God for the Khisas, and to ask for His blessing on St. Crispins church and on their life and ministry in Bungoma. 

Work Stuff

I’ve had the chance to visit most of our groups over the past couple of weeks as well. In the sunflower groups, we have finally begun processing sunflower oil, and I actually brought home a liter of the finished product last week! This has been a long, often painful process, so please pray that we keep moving steadily forward and that after a long wait this sunflower oil will help the members of our community groups get some income for their families.

In Murang’a with the Pilot Project we’ve begun discussing how to go about this rice planting. In our last meeting, the group committed to planting by late June in order to try to hit the ideal growing season but also to time their harvest so as to be able to sell their product before the large rice growing region nearby begins to harvest theirs. We also discussed ways of getting less active members more involved, and developed guidelines for rice production. Soon we are hoping to be able to visit the government’s nearby research center specifically devoted to rice, as well as to visit another group of farmers that is using an irrigation scheme as the foundation for group agricultural business. Tomorrow (Thursday), our coworker Beth is bringing a representative from Equity Bank to discuss potential loan options for the group.

Our aloe vera farmers continue to battle disease problems, but the aloe vera seems to be nearing maturity in some areas. A new coworker, Peter Durito, has been furiously working to develop a marketing plan, and it looks like we might be able to sell some soon if everything goes well. Please pray for this, as marketing a new product is always difficult, and our goal is not just to help the farmers sell the crop but to connect them to the market in such a way that they can do it on their own. This will be difficult!

And although I haven’t been up there in months, I got a good report over the phone on the farmers from Ngare Ndare. Apparently they are still busy growing onions, and the group is still meeting regularly. I’m hoping to head up there with Rebecca sometime in May.

Teaching

There are times when you can tell Jesus has got it covered. Rebecca and I recently experienced this through a new cool opportunity for her. For a whole host of reasons, Rebecca has been feeling like she may want to teach in the future. Rebecca studied Philosophy at Covenant, and never really thought much about teaching, but she was a substitute in Memphis and has lately felt like that might be something she’d like to do one day. We’ve been praying about that, and lo and behold, Rosslyn International School, the Christian missionary school 10 minutes from our house where Rebecca has coached, asked her to start subbing. She enjoyed it, and began to think more seriously about this teaching thing. “Well, what do you think you might want to teach?” I asked. After some thought, she began to think that English in middle school or high school might be a good fit. And so (of course) she got asked to sub for three weeks as a middle school English teacher. So right now I’m flying solo at work and she’s flying solo with 4 classes of middle schoolers every day. So far it has been really fun, and you can pray that this would be a good experience for her.

There’s a lot more going on, particularly with some new opportunities to serve at New City Fellowship. But this post is long, so we’ll save those for another day. Keep praying for us, for the work, and for the people of Kenya.

Peace,

Michael