Getting Settled
And then there was one. Wednesday evening my three traveling companions flew via Brussels air to their respective homes in the U.S. Now that the constant traveling was over and I had finally arrived to settle down in the Moi’s Bridge area, the past three and a half weeks finally caught up with me. Friday was spent in a comatose state, getting reacquainted with that old friend, Mr. Sandman.
Saturday was spent preparing for my first church service here at H.C.L.C.E.M. (Holy Cross Lutheran Church at Emmaus Milimani. Later in the afternoon Anna, Mary, Wendy, Shawn, and Daisy came over for supper. Shawn lives in this same compound at Matunda Villa, he’s the grandson of the owner of the property. Shawn was excited to have a neighbor again since this house has been empty since last December. After sizing me up and realizing that I was indeed, not an alien from a different planet we have become fast friends. He’s in second grade and goes to the Silver Bells Academy just down the main road. He has helped me with reading some Swahili and I’ve helped him get through the tougher words in his English exercises.
I noticed Shawn and Daisy (Daisy is Mary’s granddaughter) were familiar with the wheelbarrow race. After some convincing, I persuaded them to try the three legged race. It was hard to explain at first, so I ended up just standing them next to each other and using my belt to tie their legs together and off they went, stumbling along and laughing the whole way. I spent some time with Anna figuring out what some of the Swahili names were for parts of the service. It was the first time I had ever produced a bilingual bulletin. We spent some time looking through the case of supplies provided by Holy Cross and they send their thanks for all the gifts. Toothpaste and toothbrushes were handed out already after church today and the antibiotic cream will come in handy for some who have had skin problems.
For dinner (switching from skin problems to food) we had something rather unique. It was a mash of cooked bananas, pumpkin, and potatoes. I was told, before I knew what it was, that it is a dish that’s “good for the stomach.” Now I realize this is code for a food that sets things in motion. Yowsers. To close out the day I watched the gamecast of the Wisconsin vs. ASU game (gamecast is just watching the dots go back and forth on the field indicating the game’s progress). I barely made it to half-time which was about midnight.
Today in church we had about 20 adults with many children filtering in throughout the service. Many this time of year are gone due to the maize harvest. The people were thankful for a service focused on the Word of God and for the opportunity to have two more baptisms today. They are eager to learn more about their Savior and grow closer to Him. There will be many challenges that lay ahead, much work to be done. After church I met with the elders and leaders of the church just to get to know what their responsibilities have been and what led them to become a part of H.C. Emmaus Milimani. I promised them that I’m not coming here in order to change everything that they are doing and to rule like a dictator, but that I am here to serve, guide, and instruct in the teachings of the Bible. With the goal being that no matter who may be preaching from that pulpit in the future, they would be preaching the solid truths of the Word and ministering instead of ruling. The president of the congregation, Samson, the one who had been leading the services up unto the time I arrived, sends his thanks to the congregation in Phoenix for sharing their servant. He has even claimed me as his own grandson now. He, along with Anna, have shared that they feel their time on this earth is not long. They look around and see so many children in this village and they long to do something for them that will last. They desire to see them united with their Savior so that when they depart to be with Christ, they will be reunited.
All in all it was a very uplifting day, I know it helped me to get a better grasp on the work that lies ahead. I got to know Samuel a little better, he is one of the two seminary students that I will be working with closely in the coming months. He teaches 1st – 4th grade at one of the area schools. He was explaining to me that in the first three years of school there are five main subjects: English, Swahili, Social Studies, Math, and Science. The young ones are taught everything in Swahili until grade 4. From then on all of the instruction is done in English. I hope Samuel doesn’t mind being loaded up with some homework after his busy days of teaching. I will be easing him into the worship services after a couple of weeks, starting by doing some interpreting for me, then some scripture readings. He is confident in front of a classroom, but up in front of the church is another story. I can appreciate that.
Tomorrow I will be helping out at the school, sharing a Bible Lesson with them…and of course playing some soccer. You can be sure there are pictures to come. As for now…the Packers and Bills just kicked off. Good Bye.