To Serve.... or be Served??

 "Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting."

  "Do small things with great love." Mother Teresa

   "Your greatest test is when you are able to bless someone else while you are going through your own storm."

   "The beauty of life does not depend on how happy you are, but how happy others can be because of you."

   Thoughts about unselfishness have been swirling around in my head recently.  A truly unselfish person will gladly serve even when feeling misunderstood or taken for granted.  It won't matter who gets the credit for what was accomplished.  He is willing to do things behind the scenes that no one ever knows.  I've discovered that when I do things "for the Lord" instead of trying to please people it makes any menial task much more pleasant.  

   We are enjoying lovely weather recently!  I didn't realize it can get so cool in Kisumu. There are times when sweaters or a leso around the shoulders feels very nice! I think we may be heading into dry season again though... the last week or so has been dry and warmer.  

  The SMBI W.A.T.E.R. girls introduced themselves at our Sunday eve. activity at Gerolds Sunday a week ago.  They also shared what WATER stands for (World Awareness Training Evangelistic Responsibility).  These 3 young ladies have had a lot of cultural experiences during their time in Kenya.  They plan to fly out of Kisumu tomorrow and head back across the water.  Gerolds had an interesting eve. planned for the compound that day.  Mark Beachy shared some of his life story with us.  Very interesting!!  And the singing that eve. was great!  We really enjoyed the enthusiastic singing by the youth, led by Mark.  

   Monday was family day... a break from Pastor's meeting.  We decided to invite the WATER girls as well as Carolyn, Stacy, and Rhoda to go with us to Jennifer's Gardens.  It was a perfect day weather-wise and oh so quiet and peaceful there!  Wayne grilled chicken before we left that morning and I cooked up some rice so we had a nice meal ready soon after we got there.  The afternoon was spent playing games, and some explored the trails and looked for monkeys.  

    On Wed. Clarissa and Shonda were privileged to go with the WATER girls and singles to visit an orphanage close by.  Visitors are allowed to help feed the young children.  They reported a very interesting time and said the place was very clean and well kept.  I hope to get a chance to visit there sometime.  That afternoon Wayne and I and the WATER girls went with Joe to Bible study at Lela.  We met at Maurice and Caroline's house and really enjoyed the day.  The WATER girls and Carolyn shared some songs with them and then the Lela ladies sang and clapped for us.  Testimonies and Bible verses were also shared and there was plenty of hearty singing which was enjoyed by all.  It always feels SO good to be back with the Lela folks.  I guess that's kind of where our hearts are... and the people always seem so happy to see us and make us feel welcome.  We ate our traditional meal of chapatis, beans, and fresh salsa that eve. with the singles and visitors.  

   Wayne spent Thurs. afternoon visiting in Ahero again.  He got home too late to go with the compound folks who went to sing at the Russia hospital that eve.  It felt weird to go without him but they needed all the singers they could get and I really hated to miss it.  There was a nice snack for everyone after we got home, hosted by Jake's.  There were a few beautifully decorated cakes, one in honor of Becky Miller's 50th birthday and one for Joseph and Becky's anniversary.  

   On Friday Tony's and Kore came from Nakuru to spend the weekend with us!  We were glad to see them!  Kore and Tony had deliveries to make and business things to do while they were here so that took up some of the time.  Friday afternoon was an experience that I won't forget right away!  Wayne was asked to transport a body from the morgue to the dala of the deceased.  I decided to ride along and was quite amazed at the culture once again!  The deceased was named Catherina, a widow of around 80 years. First of all we picked up some members from the Ahero church since that was where Catherina was a member.  Next we headed to a small shop along the road where they sell caskets.  After purchasing one it was loaded onto the roof of our van and then we headed to the morgue.  The folks in the van were singing part of the time.  We arrived at a place that looked like an abandoned school building.  I stood on the porch of the building and could see through the window where the body was laying on a wire frame of some kind.  There were no cushions or anything soft or fancy, only a forlorn looking building with a dead body inside.  The men just reached down and grabbed the body and quickly placed it in the casket and closed the lid.  Nothing gentle or reverent about it.  Then they proceeded outside and while they were going through the door onto the porch they somehow dropped the one side of the casket!  I felt myself gasping but the men didn't act like it was a big deal although some of the women around there started wailing even louder.  They opened the lid to make sure the body was still in position and then they set the casket on the ground and we all stood around it and sang and then Wayne led in a prayer.  From there the casket was placed on the roof of the van and then we were off. We were terribly squashed inside the van!  The daughter in law of the deceased sat up front with me in the passenger seat.. while I was sitting at a "rakish" angle.  There was more singing on our way to the dala. When we arrived with the body the weeping and wailing started!!!  Oh what a sound!!  I wish you could hear it... just once!  It would be very depressing to hear it for hours I'm sure!  But it was really amazing to watch those ladies half dancing, half crying, half screaming, and the weird noises that came out of their mouths.  By the way... it was NOT the CBF ladies who were wailing like this.  It was others from the community who knew her I guess.  The CBF members were singing but were often drowned out by those wailing.  Pastor Tobias offered another prayer beside the coffin and then we sat in a tent for a while visiting with those around us.  The wailing pretty well stopped after that and I was glad!!!  Before we left they wanted to serve us a bit of food. So we tried to down a bit of "nyoyo" but we didn't feel at all led to drink the hot water they gave us.  They passed out sugar to go with it.  The plain water was the color of garden tea. :(  We were very happy to be home again where our children were.. and our visitors.  Tony's wanted to eat at the Chinese restaurant that eve. and we were happy to join them!  There was a very lively game of volleyball on the lane that eve.

   On Sat. Tony's spent most of the day at Mark Beachys, or in that area visiting, Kore was doing distribution, and Wayne needed to preach at the funeral.  I stayed home to keep the household running.  That eve. Tony's treated us to a delicious meal of Stromboli and homemade ice cream!!! It was a wonderful treat! Thanks Judith!   I'm sure Wayne could tell stories about the funeral but I guess he will just include pictures... those are worth more than words anyway. :)  (WY) The funeral was fairly lengthy as is common.  First many friends and relatives needed to talk and various committees were introduced that the deceased had some connection with.  While all this was going on there was a lot of walking around, visiting, moving chairs to a shadier spot, etc...  After sitting a long time the service was finally given to the church.  After the message they needed to give the local politicians time to talk and oversee a fundraiser to raise money to help the family pay for the funeral.  After another good while we finally proceeded to the burial.  After burial we were taken to the home of Matthew Koro (son) for a meal.  Kenyan funeral are more of a circus then the reverent subdued way we are accustomed to.

      We very much enjoyed the service at Rabour on Sunday.  I'm always amazed how their choir can sing!!!  It makes the chills go down your back!  Wayne preached a challenging message on "Peacemakers".  The people were very glad to see Tony's again and they also got Kore to share a bit and introduce himself.  Joseph and Becky invited us to their house that eve. for another delicious meal.  We always know we will be fed well there! :)  

 We are still very much enjoying the sweet little addition to Joe's family next door! Elliot seems to be so content and happy with his world.  Glenda seems to be gaining strength every day!  PTL!!  Thank you for your prayers and interest in our lives.  There are many blessings here but also many adjustments to make and things to work through. It takes a lot of "unselfishness" to make things work!  We need much wisdom!   Nyasaye Ogwhedi!! (God bless) Clara

  

Jennifers Gardens

   

Freshly picked tea!

Picking tea...

Lunch time

L-R  Carolyn Rodes, Lanae Brubaker, Teresa Moyer, Valerie Musser, Shonda, Clarissa, Vanessa, Stacy Byler, Rhoda Wengerd, Clara and Bradlyn

Playing Bocce Ball

We passed out Bible story books on our way down the hill..

Beautiful Kenya countryside

Pasta Joe, Vincent Bonde and Maurice Kitayi at Bible Study

Community children eating after Bible study

WATER girls talking to Jacob Andawa

My little friend Santiago at the "chapati shop"

Sitting beside the highway in Nyamasaria

Cutting sisal stalks to harvest the fibers to make rope

A cute newborn baby..(about 2 weeks)

Marking the grave..  As you can see this had been planted in maize...  The old sisters husband had passed on some years ago and is buried here somewhere.  Even though his grave is not marked the older people seemed to know where it was.

Picking up the coffin

Loading to go to the mortuary

Unloading at the mortuary

Singing at the mortuary

Loading to go "home"

The mortuary

Arrival at the home

"Looking in.."

Jacob Obiero sharing a devotional at the Funeral

The trip to the grave behind the house

Grave side..

Lowering the coffin into the grave

The young and the old....

Burial

Heading home..

That was good ice cream!!