Brooks
We came back
to Nairobi, Kenya from Kampala, Uganda yesterday. We are always
surprised by how exhausted we are from just one day's travel … and
that's flying!! It seems it's at least an all-day ordeal no matter how
well it goes. For example, our taxi ride from the airport to our hostel
took longer than our flight!!!! Nairobi "freeways" are a mix-mash of
anywhere between three, four and five self-made lanes, with all sizes
and shapes of vehicles vying for the best position in standing still
endless lines of traffic. The matatu drivers are considered crazy even
by Kenyans' standards, but luckily hawkers pass by every few minutes
while you are just sitting still, selling anything from jumper cables
looped about their necks to bananas, maps, flags, shirts, or maybe
underwear … it's like Walmart on the street … they just come to you. So,
we have finally arrived in Nairobi, and are happy, safe and sound and
yay for us, we got the room with the awesome shower, even with hot
water!! Whohooo!
We are glad for a couple of days
to regroup, get some work done, and meet up with two couples who are
working here in Nairobi. Then, Tuesday night our flight leaves at 11:30
pm for London, then onto LAX, so after traveling up the Coast, we should
arrive home late, late Wednesday night. It's been an incredible two
months, and we can barely keep track of where all and what all God has
done in that time. I thought perhaps you would rather see a sampling of
pictures of where/when/what has gone on than my verbal update. As I
reflect on our time, I must admit that it's very challenging not to get
overwhelmed with issues, problems, challenges, the needs of Africa, but
just for today, let's celebrate all the ways God is working!!!
I hope you enjoy the photos … as
always, we so appreciate your prayers for us, for the young men and
women working so very hard here under such difficult, difficult
circumstances … and for all of East Africa …
We spent time in Tanzania doing
trainings that were set up by spearhead and leader Samuel for
discipleship movements in the eastern region.
And his very outspoken and radically passionate wife …
Then we went onto Kakamega, Kenya where John Omondi and Roger trained
and worked with leaders specifically brought in who have already
planted anywhere from one to 100 churches.
Over and over Roger has been told
how much the church planting leaders appreciate him. They tell him that
he understands and respects them. Often he invites them to join us so
they can teach alongside him. We know and believe that it's Africans
who are the ones who are the best to teach other Africans.
Roger facilitating a role play that always gets a good laugh!
Wherever we are this is usually what our lunch looks like cooking …
it takes forever … obviously!!! This particular lunch is rice and beans …
and we had it around 2:30. Roger and I had eaten breakfast at 7:30 … I
imagine some of these folks had only had a cup of tea since the night
before.
Roger and his interpreter … about
half of these particular folks could speak English (in addition to two
other languages) very well which was great for us. Typically in Nairobi
everyone speaks English fluently. We find in the rural areas of most
East Africa, especially where the level of education is lower, if at
all, people speak their mother (or tribal) tongue and Swahili. The
universal world-wide joke is that you can always tell an American,
because they can only speak one language...sad, but true!!
The ones who were brought to the week's training in Kakamega...
And the women that I got to work with, too …
George, an amazing man and
passionate church planter is incredibly knowledgeable in farming,
accounting, administration and has a very catching "can do" attitude
that's desperately needed here. Here he is with the one acre of sugar
cane that was planted last fall and will sustain six families … at the
end of three years harvesting, each family hopes to be able to use their
profits to lease their own plot of land and grow their own sugarcane,
realizing all of the profit for themselves to teach and do the same for
others. So far, so good … I am assured sugarcane cannot fail!! It isn't
dependent on rain, has a guaranteed success rate with the only challenge
being fire. Please pray with us for a very, very successful harvest
(they can harvest this field three times from one planting!) This is
just one of the projects that we are able to support because of your
help!
Judith was educated at the small sewing center in Kakamega. She
graduated last year. We were delighted to find her, set up in her own
rented space on a busy street in town. While we were there, we were
interrupted visiting with her several times because of clients coming to
her to mend their clothes. She has two children and now is able to
support them by paying for their school fees, feeding and clothing them.
HURRAY for her success!
Then we went onto Kitale and a week with Liberty School … since we
were there many changes have happened. The orphanage was finished.
Metal, temporary buildings have been put up to house the most vulnerable
of the older teens who would otherwise not be able to go to school and
would continue to stay in very, very volatile situations. The school has
been painted, there are two new teachers and there are about 100 more
students!!!! Most are not able to pay to come to school, but because of
support from you, they are able to get an education and have a hot meal
at least once a day.
I spent most of the week working
with the kids who have sponsors from home. I was shocked and so happy to
see that most of the kids were able to read the sponsor's letters
written in English and able to write them back by themselves. Remember,
English is a second language for them. Many of the kids going to
rural public schools here are not getting as good an education as these
kids are … even with many, many limitations in the way of books, desks
and children living in extremely challenging situations, they are doing
very well, receiving not only an education but love from dedicated,
often not paid, teachers. This is Mary. We met her three years ago. She
is ALWAYS smiling!
Because of a sponsor's extra donation, we were able to buy much
needed books for these kids. They will be shared by all of the students
and kept at school.
Just some of the kids who will receive a hot meal today … typically lunch in a Kenyan school is maize and beans.
Classrooms to the right, temporary housing for the older boys and
older girls to the left. I am standing taking the photo from in front of
the orphanage. (The property is square. There is also a new well, with a
pump for clean water.
Housing for orphans, Director John Wayonye and his family and also
where the baby class meets. (The building in front with the smoke is the
new kitchen! I know, girls, it's the envy of us all!!!)
Also in western Kenya, we spent time with Dawson in Birunda … a small
village where Steven, front and center, is starting simple churches. We
spent one afternoon where this group meets in a hotel (a restaurant),
which is located inside the area with the curtain.
Everywhere we go in rural areas there are kids and kids and more kids!!!!
Roger in Birunda
Then onto Rwanda … some of the women I got to be with. The woman in
white is a converted Muslim. Her story is amazing, but due to her
safety, I am not able to post it. I'm very anxious to share it with you
in person, though!
Check out all of the folks we got to spend the week with in Kigali,
Rwanda. Blue shirt, front row on the right is Behizi from Burundi. This
man along with his disciples has planted over 100 churches. It was great
that he could come be with us.
My wonderful interpreter who is a pastor in town. She volunteered her
time and at the end asked if she could even have my notes! YAY for
that!!!
Steven surprised us by bringing
along his wife Angel and their new baby, Moses to join us in Kigali,
Rwanda. It was so great to get a firsthand report from Angel about the
work in DR Congo. Great things are happening not only in the center she
started in the city of Uvira, but from that school, one lady has been
raised up who on her own is traveling some distance to go to a village
where the women are illiterate. She is discipling them and training them
how to lift themselves up. Because of the fundraising done for women
this year, we will be able to help 25 of these women who are wives of
church planters in that remote area start businesses of their own
raising pigs.
And lastly … we went onto Uganda. Here are just two of the women I
got to work with. Left is main church planter in that area Henri's wife,
Oliver. Right is a young 20 year old Irene, PASSIONATE about reaching
her nation, particularly eastern Uganda. These women live hard, hard
lives in remote areas where poverty is a way of life … yet they are
smiling and such an inspiration!
Here's the gang in Kampala …
Roger and his interpreter … we are ALWAYS so, so appreciative when
God provides a really good translator … when they are bad, it's so, so
disappointing … This trip God has really given us great ones! This young
man is only 24, speaks three languages fluently and was a genuine
support and help to us in so many ways.
Dawson joined us again where he and Henri did some of the teaching,
along with a couple of key leaders from the northern region of Mbale
town …
… and Henri and one of his guys …
As I said, this is only a
sampling of who and what you all have supported, prayed with and for
over the months, particularly the last two. We feel God has encouraged
and strengthened the work going on here because of all of us standing
with them, believing with them for transformation of their homes, their
communities and their nations. Great things are going on; many, many
times they have told us to greet all of you. They appreciate so much
what you do for them physically, but truly they also feel there are
people in the US who also believe Jesus is the answer for the problems
and challenges in their nations. Often they ask us to not only greet
you, but that they also pray for you.
Thank you once again for traveling with us. We love you; we appreciate you; we can't wait to see you!!!
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