Walker, Zander, Brooke and Kate got in on a soccer game this afternoon with some local kids and some of the missionary kids and it was so fun to watch! I've tried to link a video below. If it doesn't load, click here.
______________________________
 |
| Here is Angela, beginning a presentation on Tabitha Ministries. One of the leaders of Tabitha couldn't be with us so Angela filled in. Angela explained how Christianity is considered the main religion in Kenya, but many times it isn't a true faith in terms of being lived out in the lives of those who claim it. One way this is evident surrounds issues involving women. Often, wives of pastors wouldn't even have their own Bibles because they were assumed to depend on their husband's knowledge of Scripture. Tabitha was formed as a Bible study network for women of all denominations which has a Scripture memory program so women can earn their own Bibles, which is very exciting for them! It has grown into a network of over 500 small group Bible studies in Kenya, reaching out to the farthest corners of the regions. Compassionate outreaches develop through this network and seek to partner with local churches to encourage and help the poor through gifts of seed and fertilizer, cows and housing for the needy. All of this gave more meaning to the house mudding we were to take part in on Tuesday! ___________________
Melissa announced there would be a balloon animal contest at the Manys' on Friday night after dinner, and the winning team would win a massage at the Fairmont when we go on safari. Game on. Wifi was not on our side for tutorials but Melissa taught us all to make dogs and then we just used our imaginations and got creative while practicing. We eventually had to call it quits because after the 11th balloon popping in our ears and simultaneously all screaming in alarm, we all needed to decompress and get some alone time.
   
_______________________
There are no photos, but it should also be mentioned that our team greatly ministered to the mother of the triplet babies by going to the hospital and helping her do feedings every three hours last night. The team went by twos, even reporting in for the 3am feedings. They shared today they could tell it meant so much to her to see them continue to show up to help and every time they go, she gets more friendly and open!
__________________
The big event of today was our journey to help with the house-mudding of a Tabitha Ministries home for a lady named Alice. We drove over an hour from Tenwek, a good thirty minutes on one of the bumpiest roads we'd ever driven on. Everyone was glad to get out of the vans when we arrived.
Alice's mud house was being built on a family compound which already had some other mud buildings in place, presumably where others in her extended family lived. Alice is a widow and had been sleeping in a shed-like structure while she saved enough money to purchase a cow, which she now has. Tabitha Ministries helped her get the cow and has now helped her with her own mud house. When we arrived, they asked us to sit and served us chai tea and a tortilla-ish snack called, "chapati." Several leaders from Tabitha served us--Betty, Beatrice, Jess and Jen. The giant metal teapot with the piping hot chai was a beautiful sight and the tea was so sweet and comforting. It is basically a black tea with generous helpings of milk and sugar. And very appropriate as we passed huge, vibrant green, leafy tea fields on the way to the house-mudding. Kenya is the largest exporter of tea in the world, in case you weren't aware (I wasn't)!
Men from the church had already built the frame of the house which consisted of regularly placed posts set in the ground, tree limbs nailed in place as a frame that went around the perimeter and a good quality metal roof which will protect the mud. There are three layers to a house mudding and we were there for the first layer. Similar to an old chink-style log cabin, the mud went in between the stick framing and was then shaped and patted into place. The mud came from the dirt which was dug out to make room for a resting place for the house.
Our team was awesome. They worked so well and with joy! The longer they worked, the more the "crowd" grew who were watching. As they gathered, we tried to communicate with smiles, gesturing and a little translation from Beatrice (with Tabitha). They were so interested in us and the children especially drew us in with their big, beautiful eyes and--once they conquered their shyness--their smiles.
These people live to survive, one day at a time. Their lives consist of little more than food, survival, family and faith. Their entire days are spent working their land, growing their food, using products from what little livestock they may be blessed enough to own, hauling water--sometimes for miles, chopping wood to cook for fires to cook food. In many ways, it reminded us of what early pioneer days in the US would've looked like. Especially in terms of options for women and what little power they have, it's also reminiscent of Bible days. Coming from America and all its modernity, it's really unbelievable to witness.
After our part of the house-mudding was complete, Melissa brought out bubbles, which the children LOVED. Their smiles and squeals of sheer delight were just awesome. Then the ladies served us a hot lunch of rice with tasty broth, boiled potatoes and a small amount of meat. Even for people who have so little, they so desire to share what they have.
Beatrice led a dedication ceremony for the house and Alice spoke about how thankful she was to us for coming and helping her. Angela and Melissa also spoke as Beatrice translated and Lesli closed with a prayer. Melissa brought lollipops to hand out to all the children and they basically went crazy for them. Angela later said sometimes the only English phrase those children know is "Give me sweet!" They were thrilled with their sucker.
If any of you aren't yet linked to the Kenya Google photos album, there are so many more photos there. Click here to join that album. I know this has been a lengthy post! Below, to close, are some photos from the house mudding today. Thank you for continuing to pray for us--for our health, that we would walk by faith and not by sight, that Jesus would shine through us onto others and our eyes would be open to what God wants us to know and learn while here.
                 |
No comments:
Post a Comment