"If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together."
African Proverb
"We are all so desperate to be understood, we forget to be understanding."
I've been thinking about the importance of teamwork. In a compound setting like we have here its of utmost importance that we learn to pull together. With many of us coming from different backgrounds and settings it can be challenging to submit ourselves to others and their ideas but we have found it to be a real blessing!! I don't think submission has ever been put to the test so much as it has since our arrival in Kenya but its been a really good experience for us and I see the beauty in it now like I never did before. We are feeling the weight of Wayne's responsibility a lot today. We were at Kajulu this morning for Marlin's last service with them and for the "hand off" of Bishop responsibility. Marlin is now free from his responsibilities and given the privilege of going home!! The service was LONG today... it lasted until around 2:00! There was special singing by the choir, Marlins family, and the youth. And many people stood to voice their appreciation for Marlin and his family. We were welcomed many times and feel love and support from these dear people. We certainly want to continue with the "teamwork" mentality and I'm certain with everyone working together and doing their part the churches can continue even in the absence of those who have left us. With God all things are possible!
It feels like a long time since I wrote and I'll try not to bore you with a lot of details of our last two weeks. On Pastor's day off we were privileged to spend time with Marlins family at Kiboko Bay. It was a beautiful day and we enjoyed the fellowship and awesome scenery. The Nakuru youth were in Kisumu that day and had an adventure climbing Monkey stone. Some of the youth fellows camped on the big rock overnight.
Wayne went to Dienia on Wed. with the piki... an hour's drive or more, for Bible study. It was the first time he had opportunity to be there and meet the members he will have oversight of. Mark Beachy is the Pastor of the congregation there. Wayne had some stories to tell about the horrendous mud he went through with the piki! I'm always SO thankful when he arrives home safe and sound!
The highlights of the past two weeks have been time spent with Dad and Mom Yoder, and Tonys! We didn't do a lot of special things away from the compound while they were here but spent quality time at home. Dad and Wayne spent most of a day up in the hot attic of our house trying to fix our water problem... very limited hot water, air in the lines, and zero pressure sometimes. I can't tell you how HAPPY we are that the problem is fixed!! Hallelujah! I don't think I will ever take it for granted. After months of hauling water for baths, and waiting long minutes for the shower to work properly this is a HUGE blessing!! Thanks again Dad!! Mom, Judith, and I spent some time shopping and were happy with our purchases. Judith blessed us with some of her yummy baking and amazing ricardo chicken! We were also blessed with invitations to other houses for meals. Sat. eve. we went to Joseph and Becky's house for pizza and other "American" style food. The single ladies were there as well and we enjoyed some good laughs that eve.
Sun. afternoon Tony's headed home to Nakuru. I guess we won't see them again for a while since they plan to head for America soon for a 3 week furlough! Sunday eve. was spent at Jake's house where the whole compound enjoyed a great meal of haystacks! We also loved the special singing by Marlin's family, the youth and a few others, as well as Jake's family. There were also 4 youth girls from Uganda here that eve. who helped Jake's family sing. We enjoy meeting missionaries from other parts of Africa from time to time.
Monday morning we were up bright and early for the famous chicken butchering day! We did over 200 chickens and were glad for the extra hands... our visitors, and the ladies from Uganda! Glenda served us a delicious breakfast after we got cleaned up from the big mess butchering makes. The pastors had a long meeting after breakfast. That eve. we were invited to Dean and Barbara Jean's house for supper and enjoyed some great fellowship. Dean and Barbara Jean are both related to Wayne's family so it was interesting to make those connections.
The next day we needed to take Dad and Mom to Kisumu airport for their flight to Nairobi. :( Even though goodbye's are hard we have very pleasant memories of their time in Kenya to treasure in our hearts. Their enthusiasm for our work here meant an awful lot and gives us the boost we need to keep on keeping on. Tues. afternoon Wayne and I went to the Lela church to spray the gravel church floor for fleas. After that we visited Mary Ajode, a sweet widow who has difficulty walking but very faithfully attends services, every Sunday. She can't speak English well so we used as much of our limited Luo that we could, and spoke with "signs and wonders" as well. :) Mary takes care of her old mama as well. She's a sweet old lady that can't walk but every time I see her she is sitting up with a very straight back on a mat on the ground. Some of the blankets look like rags and I'm amazed again at the poverty around us. We shared some chicken meat and bones with them and they seemed very happy!
Wednesday our whole family wanted to go with us to Kajulu for a clothing sale. It will be our responsibility to be in charge of sales like this at 4 or 5 different churches. It was quite interesting!! I wasn't prepared for the mad rush to the door when they were allowed to come in and choose their items. And the way they "barge" in front of each other in line for the cashier! Wayne and I were kept very busy taking the money and recording names and amounts in a small book. I guess we're still learning things about these people and their culture. And we need to be okay with the way they do things but I think we can still teach them some things such as common courtesies, waiting our turn, and being polite. Our culture could also learn more from theirs about the importance of valuing relationships over time. We constantly need wisdom from God! That eve. we enjoyed our traditional chapati and beans supper with Joe and Glenda and dear little Tiffany.
Thurs. eve we hosted the prayer meeting at our house. Once during a song one of the youth fellows had the unfortunate experience of ending up on the floor when the chair he was sitting on collapsed under him. We thought we would be able to keep singing in spite of all the smiles but then we had to give up and everyone shared in the laughter! :) Thanks Jadon for a good laugh... and for being a good sport! We had a good laugh the week before as well when the prayer time was at Joes. Joe welcomed everyone to their home in Luo... "Warawakou en dalawa." Then he asked Gerold to translate what he said... and Gerold immediately responded by saying that Joe says there is cake and ice cream afterward. :) The whole place erupted with laughter!
Kore Beachy spent some time here again this weekend since he was doing food drops in the area. We always enjoy having him around! We feel so blessed to have relatives in Kenya!!! :)
We compound ladies enjoyed a good brunch at Java House yesterday morning in honor of Lavina who will be leaving us soon. I dread to think of Marlins and Linnfords leaving us soon! And now Joseph and Becky left us too! But only for two weeks. They found out yesterday that her grandmother died so Wayne took them to the airport about an hour ago for their flight to America.
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