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 Monday August 9, 2010
The Final Meeting and a Surprise Tour

Wow, the meeting with the BISHOP could not have gone better. There was great unity from GraceWorks, ELCK, the Anglican position we had discovered during the week, and St. John’s!! We then joined the Heart to Heart Board meeting which is doing much exciting work throughout Nairobi!

(Andi Scharf...remind me to share with you the story of Patrick)

Then we raced to a restaurant named Spurrs where we had lunch with a man named NASH. We had attended his bday party while in Embu at his sister’s home who owns the Izaak. He had invited to take us to lunch and then tour his coffee plantation. WOW what a treat. The lunch was western (steak and burgers) and the tour was absolutely fascinating.

This man owns the most land in all of Kenya and use to serve as the Financier for Kenya (like Bernake to the US). He also is developing a whole new privatized city...modern, and self sustaining. The drawing and plans are truly inspiring. His daughter Tracey was with us as well.

The coffee tour was really amazing. We learned alot. When the cupper (who works at tasting the coffee’s) was demonstrating how, he made the largest slurping sound ever and Dennis, Jane’s son got the giggles and couldn’t stop. Everyone laughed but this man truly was an amazing cupper. We finished and headed back to Nairobi where we said goodbye to Jeff and Robin.

Meanwhile, we got ourselves some dinner and desert and someone will have to ask Rob about the Perky Peanut Buster that almost was!

We repacked for safari tomorrow and will head there early in the am.

The meetings are done and my collar is back in the box. It is time to enjoy some much need relaxation with my wife and daughter and logan....and the team as we head to Safari. It really is a spiritual experience to be out there in the Masai Mara. God is so indescribable and His creation...especially the LIONS are such amazing parts of that creation. I can’t wait! It will be hard to sleep tonight.

Sunday August 8, 2010
Preaching in Rwika

We arrived at St. Phillip’s for what we thought was a 8:30 service only to find it was actually at 9am. So we were all one half hour early which was good. I received a call from Rev. Omodhi giving me some final words from the ELCK Bishop Obare regarding my participation in that service! (better late than never). After some careful back peddling so as not to cause offense I got both the Bishop and the Pastor at St. Phillip’s happy and we were off into the service.

It started just as I remembered last time. Keyboard and Vocalist out of key the entire time! Sound system wired to a generator outside, screeching and feedback for the first two choruses. Our group looking at me and I back at them trying not to laugh, look shocked, nor dismayed!! But after that things really settled in.

In fact, by the time we got to the sermon hymn, one hour into the service the song leader and keyboard were in sync and the whole congregation felt like a gospel revival! Then I preached. My message was all about the boy with a couple fish and some loaves of bread and the feeding of 5,000. It was realizing that LITTLE IS MUCH when it is placed into the hands of the Savior. I got lots of AMENS and other encouragement which I think every preacher appreciates hearing once in awhile.

My biggest joy was seeing Fiona Rowena Wanja again. She was the child I had baptized in 2007. She was now almost 4 and I got to show her the baptismal picture from 2007 on my computer. She is so very cute and it really meant alot to me.

We said our goodbyes and headed back to the Izaak to load up and get back to Nairobi. We landed back at the Jacaranda, checked in and got settled. We had a nice dinner before the Lyall kids had to head to the airport.

Tomorrow is last meeting with ELCK. Lots of pieces of moving right now, praying that LORD would lead a good resolution to some of the strings hanging loose right now.

I don’t doubt HIM. He has shown Himself so clearly throughout this trip. His majesty, love, and direction. As I preached to everyone else, I preached to me this morning. I don’t want to be in anyone else’s hands but the LORD’S. Because even the little I bring to the overwhelming needs I have seen here can feed multitudes in His hands.

PCS

Saturday, August 7, 2010
Closing Program and Saying Goodbye

This morning we gave Jane a bible with her name engraved on it. She was so thankful. I read from Eccl. 4:9-13 and shared with her how important it was to the work of St. John’s that we partner together to help the orphans here in Rwika. Everyone was anticipating the inevitable...saying goodbye.

We arrived and they welcomed us to sit down and they put on a wonderful performance of dance and song. Then it came time for a skit, and a poem or two. What was striking was the nature of these things. The first story was about a man with two wives. The second wife goes to the witchdoctor to get a poison to kill the first wife, then neglects that first wife’s children and promotes her own offspring. The poem was one entitled “I deserve to be in this world” It was filled with pain and reality of what a child goes through at different stages of life. The refrain “I deserve to be in this world” was haunting. At one point I leaned over to Doctor Jay and asked if he thought we might here any princess stories or fairy tales. There were none. It is the harsh reality that these children live with everyday. Their expression in poem and song and dance helps them to cope and deal with such harsh realities.

They then gave us gifts and the caretakers danced. When that was done, the entire compound broke into song and clapping and we were forming a conga line. But this line would be stopped by the leader for different dances and then continue. We all had a blast and everyone laughed and smiled and the music continued. For a moment, I believe everyone there forgot that we were in a poor country with orphans. For that moment, we were with friends and we were having the time of our lives. It didn’t matter the color of your skin, or the tone of your voice, or the status of your wealth, we just simply were humans.

From there we had free time. That is when we took everyone outside the compound and played soccer. I haven’t played soccer in awhile but felt I was doing pretty good. Until one of the kids asked me to go back on defense. Apparently he didn’t like my shots. When I saw him shoot over the head of the makeshift goal post I laughed and said, “You think my shots were bad?” He laughed but I was told to stay in the back. I redeemed myself when I took the free kick and perfectly placed a ball to my forward who turned and tied the game. Of course the Lyall’s got a break away and scored...but the ref waived it off with some coaxing by me since I was on the opposite team. We laughed over that! Chase and Evan and Hunter are great guys and have been such a blessing on this trip.

Then we ate. While we were eating we met with the older students, 5 of them, who are eligible for University education. Because of Jeff and My field trip to St. Paul’s University we sat to discuss and encourage them to go on and work to finish their education. The main obstacle for these five wasn’t grades, it was financial. We spoke with them and told them that we would work through GraceWorks and St. John’s to find scholarships to support them ONLY as long as they worked hard to keep their grades, stay in school, and pass their testing required to be admitted. What typically happens especially for the girls (2 in this group) is what happen to one of the other girls in GraceWorks. She turned 14 and went off to marry an older man. The mindset is that this way she is provided for with clothes and food. However, the sacrifice of her education means that she is forced to remain dependent upon someone else.
It was really touching as Rev. Jackson shared his story of poverty and providence and the kids were inspired. One of the older boys had tears in his eyes when he grabbed and hugged me.

Then we dedicated the Grace Amasha Hall (Susan’s mom) which is the building that St. John’s paid for and built last year. There will be a nice plaque commemorating the dedication date and the generosity of St. John’s Lutheran Church, Orange California! I led the dedication and one of the boys read from Scripture and expounded on what it means! It was really a blessing to here the praise songs of these people as they lifted up praise and thanks in their native tongue for this building.

Then one of the GraceWorks kids stood and spoke to our group and thanked us for the VBS camp and what they learned, and especially thanked us for the way we treated them. We all were stunned and moved at the same time. Then a caretaker thanked us and Susan for giving these children a chance. Then Jane and Ishmael also thanked us, along with a teacher on staff at GraceWorks. They all wished us well and told us to tell St. John’s that they love all of you and pray for you all. They also told us to thank those who we left behind to come there.

Then the kwaheri (goodbyes) started. There were alot of tears and hugging that wouldn’t let go by both kids and our team. I got teary eyed when the boy I mentioned earlier in my blog, “Jeff” saw me. I grabbed his hand and pulled him close and he started to look at me...then looked down as the tears filled his eyes. We really made friends and the children’s team had a very deep impact on them...and they on us.

We loaded up and headed back. We all remarked on how starved they were for touch. The boys and girls all ran to grab our hands when we had led them out to soccer. I placed my hand on one boys shoulder and he reached up and pulled my arm tighter around him. This also was tremendously revealing to their need for love and someone who believes in them in the absence of their parents. We were a highlight for them in this way because we were here for THEM! Just as Jesus came for us!

Time to shower and get all this red dirt off of me then get up to dinner. Then I need to prepare my message for tomorrow’s sermon. One in English, One in Swahili...then we leave for Nairobi.

Friday, August 6, 2010
Last Day of VBS

This morning the team left Jeff, Susan, and myself behind in order that we could meet with the Anglican Bishop from this area. He squeezed us in before his presiding over a funeral of the former Bishop of this area!! We had a very nice meeting and he and Susan arranged to meet again next week.

Meanwhile the children’s team stepped up to the plate and had a great day. At one point they asked the children to stand and share the things that they were afraid of as the lesson was on fear. Their responses brought many tears to the eyes of our team. One 19 year old explained his fear about not wanting to go to secondary school right now because he is the only one left since his mother and sister died. He lives with his grandmother and his cousins...but his grandmother is sick and he lives in fear of her passing away and at the young age of 19 he would have responsibility for his cousins and would be all alone. The team shared great words of compassion and care. But the highlight came when Jeanette spoke and shared to the entire group a time in her life when she was afraid and yet how faith had carried her through. She encouraged each group to trust in the Lord, to read God’s Word, and to pray daily and then shared Jer. 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to help you not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” The children were glued to her words as their hungry hearts soaked in her great words of hope. Jason, Hanah, and Logan led them in the Benediction Song and I closed us with prayer.

Dr. Jay, Cindy, Frances, Evan, and Rob earned gold stars as they worked in the Infirmary and Dr. Jay pulled out many teeth! (40 teeth on 24 kids!!) His back was really hurting but the joy and satisfaction of helping them kids and caretakers was great.

One caretaker has shown serious signs of illness. GraceWorks has a policy that they cannot give medical funding in these cases. This is understandable because then the need would be so great they would not be able to help. However, myself along with Jeff felt that this case was urgent and needed. So we prayed together and were moved to purchase this ladies needed xray and Dr. Evaluation. Cindy and Jeff loaded onto the bus with Ishmael and drove her into Embu for the Xray and the Doctor. She wasn’t able to see the doctor so they made an appointment for 530pm. On our way back to the hotel, Jeff and Cindy took her again and the Dr. was on his way. Jeff said the xray showed some deep scars on her lungs and Cindy and Dr. Jay suspected it could be cancer or some other serious lung disease. We left Jeff and Cindy at the doctors and took the team to shower and get ready for our dinner. I am praying for them now. The driver will pick them up and bring them to us and we will pay for a taxi to get the caretaker back to her home from Embu.

Meanwhile all the posts are up and the barb wire is going on the posts very quickly. 3/4 the acres were done today and the last 1/4 will be finished tomorrow. While there walking the work we saw 200 kids who were on the church property with Compassion International. I tried to teach them to play tag but it ended up into a chaotic hand shaking with everybody. The kids are so cute and eager to learn more about us Muzungu’s. They love it when I follow the chickens and walk like them. They giggle and point at the strange preacher who walks like the chicken.

The meetings I held with pastoral leadership were powerful today. It is exciting to see the Lord’s work here.

Just finished our dinner engagement. Nicest home in Kenya with a family who owns the Izaak Walton. Christian family, wife Rachel is a Lawyer, her brother is owner of the largest coffee exporter in Kenya, daughter Eunice and cousin Pinky took Hanah and Logan in as friends right away. We had a wonderful evening of bbq lamb, chicken and rice and stew. It was delicious! Jeff and Cindy arrived and explained that they took the caregiver to the hospital where they took 2 xrays. Apparently the first one we got earlier in the day was not clear enough (thats Kenya for ya) and after going back to the doctor with this dear woman, Jeff was told that she has a tumor. She will need more deeper care and the doctor gave the information so that we could share it with Nurse Lucy back in Rwika. Jeff was really the hero today as he sat with that elderly lady who didn’t speak a word of English and showed her Jesus with his kindness and effort to get her help. St. John’s is blessed to have such a fine heart like Jeff’s in leadership of our congregation.

Tomorrow we get to sleep in an extra hour. The team really needs it. Everyone has worked so hard and intensely while here. Susan has certainly kept so many plates juggling and is pretty worn out as well. Tomorrow we go back to the village for the closing program. It should be great fun. We are planning a soccer game with the boys and are looking forward to giving our last energy to that game. Then the afternoon we have off and have discussed several options. Sleep may be the #1 choice!! (The open air revival has been postponed until next trip)

I got to know Rob better this trip. He is a new member to St. John’s and also a really great guy. I have enjoyed laughing with him and tonight Jason and I poked fun at him as we stared into the front room and saw him sipping tea with all the ladies. (Actually the brother was also there, but we ignored his presence and teased Rob anyways!!) We all had some great laughs tonight. You can tell the team has felt some relief to be at the closing part of our work here.

I need to start preparing my message. With the family tonight, our team, and some other distinguished guests we should have a very full Kenyan church on Sunday. The first service is in English, and the second will be in Swahili. It certainly is important for these people to see the example of the caretakers and the call of Jesus to love our neighbor. Jeff was a great example of that today!

With every meeting today God seemed to sharpen an exciting vision for future work here in Rwika.

Almost there...we will get to relax and enjoy God’s creation on Safari soon. Two more days of serving, one more day of meeting with church officials, and then off to Lion Country Safari!

Thursday, August 5, 2010
Back to Nairobi??

Well on the day of the announcement of the referendum the LORD called us back to an opportunity in Nairobi...right in the heart of it all. Here I was going to be relieved to be away from the big city during any announcement, and now the opportunity came. So Jeff and I woke up at 6am in the morning and rode into Nairobi with Rev. Ngari. We were on our way to St. Paul’s University. The trip was absolutely amazing.

Turns out the Anglican Church has a pastor who trains caretakers and has developed curriculum to meet the needs they have. We began to really get excited and I became more convinced of God’s wonderful timing. Mission work can be really exciting at times and today was one of those kind of experiences.

Before we arrived in Nairobi the Rev. Ngari asked me to lead an open air revival of sorts in Rwika on Saturday afternoon. It is an evangelistic outreach with some singing and preaching to the open market. Jeff and I couldn’t believe how quickly the plans came together. I called Susan back in the village to let her know and she was floored.

When we arrived at St. Paul’s University both Jeff and I were very impressed with how beautiful it was. We were brought into a meeting with the Vice Chancellor and had a wonderful meeting with her. We spoke about sponsorships for GraceWorks children and the cost and resources available. We learned so much from her and she was open to making spots at the university available for GraceWorks.

We then met the University Chaplain. This meeting was incredible as we spoke about the culture and what the Kenyans are facing. One of the main issues facing him is that at the University level it is the first time when most males are in the same glass with females. This means that the drama between the sexes is mature in age but perhaps immature in experience. Yet as we discussed he shared with me that they are needing to be able to help those wishing to marry a good program. I couldn’t believe my ears. With all of my work in Becoming One and Built to Last back home I had been equipped to share with him some hope. After explaining our work at St. John’s in this area he asked if I would be willing to return to train 40 pastors in using the assessment.

The next issue he spoke of struggling with was that pastors are use to the traditional liturgy but since he has 41 different denominations presented on campus and young students he discovered that they were not showing up to the traditional offerings. So in adding a contemporary service they were struggling to help pastors and students see eye to eye on how to do contemporary worship. Again, by the end of the conversation he hoped I might also be willing to do a session on contemporary worship upon my return.

We toured the remaining campus and then left to get lunch. Now lunch was ideal. I had a ham and cheese sandwich in what is known as a Market Center for westerners. It was so good to have home like meal and to give goat, potatoes, and rice a brief rest before returning to the village.

We then toured their second campus located in the heart of Nairobi. This campus targets working people who want to finish their degree. It is right across the memorial site of the US Embassy bombing and where Vice President Joe Biden had spoken.

It was crazy in the city - people walking everywhere between cars and cars between people walking.

The three of us had a great conversation about doctrine on the way back to the Izaak. There were many laughs and moments of discovery as we shared about communion, and other doctrinal issues facing the church. The ride back got very scary when the sun set and we were traveling on a two lane highway in a rickety car with people running across the highway returning from the rice field work. Rev. Ngari laughed and said, “I learned driving this road two things. 1. God’s grace is sufficient, and 2) keep to the left! Let’s just say I breathed a huge sigh of relief when I stepped out of the car and onto the blacktop at the Izaak Walton!!

Today God was really at work in a way that was clear and evident. We had originally complained that the referendum was an obstacle since it closed down everything including the dispensary and the school with whom we wished to work. What we didn’t realize however, was that with this closing their was also a postponement of an important funeral of a Bishop who formally served the Berei diocese in which GraceWorks and St. Phillip’s church in Rwika reside. This meant that the current Bishop would be one block away from our hotel on Friday. While we were in route back to the Izaak, his secretary called Rev. Ngari to confirm that the Bishop would meet us for breakfast at the Izaak before the funeral. This meeting is important and key if the ongoing spiritual work through St. Phillip’s will continue when we leave. Tonight I pray the LORD gives Jeff, Susan, myself, and Rev. Ngari the right words to help him see the excitement that we share in what the LORD is moving for this little village in Rwika.

It sounds as though the VBS team had a good day, Dr. Jay got the urgent need list seen, the fence crew was delayed but will put barb wire up tomorrow, and the social work team continued sharing with Jane their assessment findings.

I have also been invited to preach both services on Sunday in Rwika. This is an honor and I have already selected my text! I will preach on the story of the boy with 2 fish and loaves. This story applies greatly to what the LORD can do with what we think is little.

At the revival I plan on sharing a version of the sermon some of you might remember, “Because He Said So”. This message was one I shared at St. John’s on Baptism Sunday and the analogy translates extremely well to the Kenya culture.

For now...I've got to get to sleep. Miss you all at home. More stories to come.
--PCS

Wednesday, August 4, 2010
DAY TWO IN THE VILLAGE... VBS STARTS!

We woke up this morning with the news pounding election coverage. Those with a “Yes” vote have been using the color green for their side and those with a “No” vote have been using the color red for their side. As we got dressed we had all planned to wear our VBS shirts. As I slid mine on I thought, wow, wonder if this is a good idea?? Dr. Jay knocked on my door just a few moments later and expressed the same concern. Why the concern? They were all green!! We decided it would not be a good move to have 18 Americans in Green shirts with the country Kenya outlined and 2010 below. We spread the word to change plans! Mission work requires flexibility.

We arrived to GraceWorks and the kids were already there...some were not arrived yet due to the vote...but the majority were present. They were so excited. Jeanette led the children’s team and immediately jumped into action. They got bracelets and T-shirts handed out. We joined for...

Tuesday, August 3, 2010
FIRST DAY IN THE VILLAGE

Wow, just got back from our first day in the village.  It was a wild one.

We ate breakfast and read ps. 46 and prayed.  Loaded up the tubs and we were on our way! 

We first stopped and took a tour of the entire area.  Our first stop was St. Phillip’s church where I preached last trip in 2007 and had baptized Fiona Rowena Wanja.  Her uncle was working for Compassion who has an office in a back part of the vicarage to the church.  He remembered me and greeted me warmly.

The school has added two buildings and one of them serves as the secondary school.  While there a couple of neighborhood boys joined Dr. Jay and myself in a little one on one soccer while Miranda, Jeanette, Logan, Hanah, Jacquelyn, Karrie, and Frances and Robin all doted on the the girls who were watching.

We walked the 9 acres that St. John’s gifted to GraceWorks.  IT IS UNBELIEVABLE!  What an incredible gift this will be for this community.  The size of land is amazing and the fence polls were already dug and poles and cement had already begun to be placed.  As we were walking along the path of pole holes the Chase, Evan, Hunter, and Jeff were commenting that they must have had an auger.  Well then we came upon the man digging the fence post holes. He had an iron rod and a tin cup...unbelievable.  The cement was made as a guy sat with a chisel and broke up large rocks into tiny pieces. 

We saw the biggest ants ever!  The soldier ants were lining a path about an inch wide of army ants up and down transporting food.  The pinchers on the soldier ants were huge.  Susan told us, they do really hurt...nobody dared to prove it.

We saw a lady with her daughter and 2 year old loading up 40 lbs of water.  She slung the water up with a cloth band and placed around forehead to carry...then with the other arm swooped her two year old on her back and started walking.  A couple of ladies tried to lift just the water she was carrying and could not.

We got to GraceWorks and it has really grown.  The $14k building which St. John’s donated serves as the main hall.  Hung on the walls and all around were St. John’s posters from St. John’s kids.  We saw Skyler Flynn’s drawing from when she was in third grade!  (She is entering high school in the fall) In 2007 this was only gravel outlined and the foundation was about to be poured.  The bathroom has a flush toilet!  We saw the hole for that being dug when we were there in 2007 as well.

We also did work in the library.  That building sits next to the GraceWorks office and houses a large portion of the 10k books sent over by St. John’s Girl Scout Troop.  We began working in there to help begin the process of categorizing books.

Jeanette was in her element.  She had all her team and the Kenya teaching team learning the songs, the chants, and going over instructions.  It reminded me of how blest we are to have her talents.  She had everyone organized and ready to go for the kids who will arrive tomorrow.

Meanwhile the building team helped to put up two tents which will house the 54 boys who are coming for VBS.  Since some of them walk as far as 15 miles they will all sleep over each night at GraceWorks.  It will be a nice break for the caretakers as well.

The medical team got all set up and worked all day to get the equipment working and a make shift room setup in Graceworks.  Dr. Jay is eager to get to work.  We couldn’t work him in the dispensary since it would be closed tomorrow and the day after for the vote.  So we moved the GraceWorks office stuff around and cleared a place for Dr. Jay to work.  What is amazing is that Dr. Jay got from the Christian Dental Network a dental chair that is made of corrugated cardboard.  It can hold a 300 pd person.  He got it all setup and showed it off. 

Jeff went and toured the Rwika Technical institute.  It has some 600 students and has a couple GraceWorks kids who are learning a technical trade and getting ready to go into the work field.  While he was out he saw a military camp setup right next to Rwika.  He estimated it was hosting about 300 troops.  We saw several of them walking through the marketplace which is right outside of GraceWorks compound.  I think that is a good thing!  Rob heard and shared with us that the Kenya government has mobilized 65k troops to keep peace.  That is also good...I think.  The vote is tomorrow so keep this country in your prayers.

Karrie isn’t feeling too well today but she was a trooper and never complained.  I know she will sleep well tonight!

Everyone is good and we are heading to dinner for now.  We hope to talk about what everyone saw and get ready for a big day tomorrow where the vbs team will host the kids, the medical team will be doing dentistry, the social work team will be assessing the needs of the caretakers, the building team will be purchasing barb wire and begin to wire the posts around the 9 acre property and I will rotate from team to team and have a meeting with several church leaders, community leaders, and hopefully the school master!

Monday, August 2, 2010
IN EMBU

Susan, Jeff, and I went and met with Bishop Obare and Rev. Enos Omodhi at the ELCK.  We had a very cordial visit.  Discussed much church history and how the ELCK came into being.  Bishop Obare is very concerned with the concept of Sola Scriptura  (Scripture Alone).  The subject of land came up as we closed our meeting and it was decided for time sake that we would meet again next Monday when we get back to Nairobi.

We raced back to the hotel and the team had everything packed and loaded for our 3 1/2 hour drive to Embu.  The Lyal boys were amazing and got the heavy lifting done.

We loaded up and had a wonderful drive to Embu.  We stopped along the roadside to purchase fruit from the roadside stands.  The avocado’s were the size of egg plant!  One woman had her baby with her and was selling fruit. 

We got to the Izaak Walton Inn and were checked in right away.  We are in a new wing of the hotel and the rooms are nicer than in 2007. 

Our dinner tonight was goat, veggies, carrot and ginger soup.  We heard stories about Frances’ experience of being in the war in Iraq.  What an incredible sacrifice our men and women in the armed services make!!

After dinner we held a team meeting.  Everyone shared what brought them to this team and their skill set they hope to serve with.  It was incredible and God has truly brought together a great team.

We found out that last night the Kenyan President declared Wednesday and Thursday National Holidays in order that the vote will be open for everyone.  Wednesday is the vote and Thursday is meant to celebrate the vote.  As Jay said, “I hope it is to celebrate”.   The effect it has on us is that we cannot meet with the school as planned, however all the kids will be available for VBS.  We go tomorrow to the village and begin to prepare for an incredible week with the GraceWorks kids.

I amazed of the work of God in this team and their skill set.  We are excited to get to work and will report more tomorrow.

Blessings,
PCS

Sunday, August 1, 2010
PREACHING AND TOURING IN NAIROBI

Early morning today as we headed to breakfast and leave to get to church on time.  Jeff Lyal was sick today and wasn’t able to go with us.  With a lot of sleep and some meds he was feeling much better by the end of the day.

When we arrived at the Cathedral church, Bishop Obare’s son, Isaiah was there to greet me.  He is also a pastor and Bishop Obare’s #2 son of 10 children!  He study at Fort Wayne Indiana and now serving here.  He walked me through the service and right away asked me to perform the baptism for Malaki Ahron GheberJesus. 

The service went great.  Our group sat together and we filled the back part of the church. The message was well received and Bishop Obare made a special presentation following the service to Susan Njemansze and the group from St. John’s.  We were welcomed and shared in a tea and biscuit reception after for the baptismal family.  The Bishop informed me that it would be an important honor for me and my group to participate in the reception since it was hosted by the baptismal family.  He explained that in Africa, a person who hasn’t time to sit and eat is offered a cup of water, however if a person refuses the water then they are considered an enemy.  I laughed and said to him, “I certainly don’t want to be your enemy” and so gathered the group and headed over for some white tea (milk, tea bag, sugar) and biscuit.

Now for the small world part.  The grandmother shared with me that 9 months ago she was in California.  She said, “I was in Downey and went to a Lutheran church”.  I almost fell over when I mentioned Pastor Mike Hayes and she said ‘yes’ that was the pastor’s name!  I shared with her how Pastor Mike is now serving at St. John’s.  Not such a big world after all!

We left and headed back for a quick bite at the food court, shopping for biscuits (cookies) for our next visit to the Starfish Orphanage and we were off!  That is when we got lost.  Even though we had been there before, our driver had received some bad directions and we were driving 5 mph on a deeply rutted road trying to find our way.  Even though people don’t necessarily have a lot in Kenya...they do have cell phones.  So with several calls Starfish was finally able to figure out where we were (remember there are no street signs on these roads...its by other visuals...rocks, for sale signs...water towers)  Finally we arrived at Starfish.

When we got there we were greeted by Margaret who is a dear woman of God.  She has adopted 127 orphans and they all call her mom.  We toured their facilities and were amazed how much it had grown.  They added a playground which a small congregation from Houston had helped to build.  The kids were amazing.  When we reached the playground, immediately the team was in action.  Evan was showing off his watch, Robin was taking digital photos of the kids then showing them. (the kids were thrilled to see themselves!)  Jeanette, Hanah, and Logan began playing volleyball on an actual volleyball sand court they had, Jason started snapping photos, Miranda was also snapping away!  Cindy was sharing some laughs as well with these children.