It’s a rainy day…

August 19, 2010

The rains in Nakuru are refreshing. When it’s dry here the dust is abundant. They don’t have lawns to keep the dirt under cover so it gets pretty thick. You breathe it, it gets in your eyes and everything you touch is dusty. Enough about the dust, I’m supposed to be telling you about the rain.

Tuesday is clan day so we were planning to go visit the newest clan with  Lawerence the Masai, Kennedy and Dorris, William and his wife Violet and baby, and Simon,  Before we left the house there was a major down pour. We debated whether to go or not. After George called them he felt we should just go. So we got our umbrellas and literally waded to the van. Once in the van we started down the road with rivers flowing beside us and even over the road in places. With water splashing up in the engine it waasnt long before we stalled out. We just happened to be on the corner of several Kiosks (food stands) with people staring at us wondering why we would be so foolish to try to drive these roads. George managed to dry out the distributor and we started down the road again. I wanted to dispel the serious looks on the faces of our observers so as we restarted I made praying hands signs asking them to pray for us. They all laughed.  

We got a little further down the road before we stalled out again. George suggested we walk the rest of the way (about a mile). In unison we all said, “no way!” Who knows what microorganisms might be lurking in that muddy ditch water washed over the roads and it was still raining. So he kept working on the engine until it started up again. All the while there was much debate as to whether we should turn around and go home or not but something kept drawing us on. 

We finally made it to Lawerence’s one room house. We had a wonderful time of fellowship with them that I wouldn’t have wanted to miss. The rain had stopped so we got back in the van to go home. I realized how easily I get anxious about circumstances, forgetting to consider God. When we ask He is always faithful to answer our call. In the end, no matter how foolish we were it was we all agreed it was His will for us to be at that Clan meeting.    Who is that strong man holding the rock????

When we got home Morelle had dinner prepared for us. She greeted me with a concerned look on her face and said, “Amma, I am sorry. I dropped the chicken on the floor.” I said, “OK….” And went to see what had happened. Then she broke out laughing to end the practical joke she wanted to play on us. I let her have her laugh and then warned her that there will be payback. Amy told her I am a brownie. When you least expect it. Anyone have any ideas? Now she is worriedJ

Wednesday

I got up early this morning to make breakfast. Nelly came in the kitchen and started asking a lot of questions about what I was doing. I was wondering why she was asking so many questions when I realized it was her day to cookJ We had made up a schedule for cook / clean breakfast since Morelle only comes for dinner cook. We had a good laugh. She cut up a pineapple and I finished the fried rice. My mistake so I will cook again tomorrow on my cook day.

Today Joy and I went to town with Petranilla to buy fabric for dresses and aprons while Amy went to Nelly's salon to get her hair done. George dropped us off so when we were done shopping we caught a Matatu home. That would be a 15 passenger van, crowded with people going places. We sat all the way in the back by our own choice. We are the minority here and although we are not treated as such, it made me think about the African Americans during the civil liberties movement and how they were forced to sit in the back of the bus. We got home  Lawerence, Kennedy and Dorris were there to talk to Abba. It was lunch time so we started warming up leftovers. We weren’t sure what to do as far as hosting our visitors so I asked Petranilla. She told us if we are going to serve them lunch we do not have to serve tea unless we want to and then it would be served after eating. If we weren’t going to serve lunch we should serve them tea. We decided to go all out and serve lunch and tea. They were grateful and enjoyed the time with us. We asked questions and made plans to video tape their stories.

Joy and I walked to Petranillas, escorted by Lloyd, to spend time with her in her shop. We met Martha who is from Sudan. Women are not allowed to work in Sudan so she is learning to sew from Petranilla. She wants to change the way things are done when she returns to Sudan. Then a customer walked in to try on an outfit Petranilla was working on. As they talked in Swahili even though I couldn’t understand what they were saying, I could tell the young lady was not satisfied with the sleeves. I asked if I could help. They said yes so I shortened and pinned a pleat at the hem of the sleeves. The lady was delighted and told Petranilla she wanted my design. She hurriedly left the shop. Petranilla said she was embarrassed because she didn’t know English and couldn’t tell us good bye. She had not been fortunate enough to go to school.

I think this trip will be about entering into their lifestyle a little more. I can see how our cultures will compliment each other. We are always reminded it’s not the African way or the American way but the  way of  God’s people living in His Kingdom, learning to love each other and become His light in the darkness of this world.

Please keep praying. We feel your prayers (and also the lack thereof).  We need you everyday.

Thursday

After breakfast I called Teresa June. I immediately liked her and hoped she was all she seemed to be on the phone. We met her in town at the Kokeb restaurant where you get those wonderful fruit punches. She is a very dear lady. Steve James had given me her email address here in Nakuru. She’s from Huntsville, Alabama and has been in Nakuru by herself for 2 years. She has friends here and works with various ministries, teaching  the bible and helping people in need. Her main focus is a ministry to Masai girls who have left their homes because of the abuse they received when refusing to submit to the custom of female circumcision and marriage to 60 -70 year old men. Many come having been beaten close to death and some die. They are a place of refuge for these girls age 15 and 16. They are given a safe place to live and an opportunity to go to school. Teresa will be going into the mountains with back packing group to reach the people there who would not even know who you’re talking about if you say the name of Jesus. Then she will hopefully be able to go to the Kenya relief clinic with us. She will be coming stateside in November and wants to visit the village. We felt an instant bond with her and look forward to being with her in the work here.

Teresa just called and wants to spend time with us so I will close. We’re going to meet her in town and go to her house. She also asked, “if it wouldn’t be too much trouble can I come to church with you Sunday?”

Of course!