So What Does the First Day on the African Continent Feel Like? by Dan Magee

So what does the first day on the African continent feel like?  Will there be a resemblance to the various parts of it that I’ve heard about over the years?  Will I be able to gain everything from the pilgrimage that God has placed here for me? 

It’s really important to me to turn a personal corner on this journey, to reach out for that personal relationship with God and not care who knows it; in fact, to let people know that’s exactly why I’m here.   I want to strip everything down to the essentials of a Christ-centered life, to honor those things of God and for God and in God, and to move through each day with a complete and joyful reliance on Him, particularly during the difficult times.

Today flowed naturally, with walks all over the compound and little visits with many of the people who make up the hospital and family community at Nazareth Hospital.  The walk to and through the tea fields was amazing.  We can hear about beauty; it’s altogether different to experience it directly. 

Meeting Nguvu and walking with him and his friends replaced the reports we receive in worship on Sunday mornings.  We’ve heard about the porch kids many times.  But building airplanes and helping to drive the joyous chaos alongside them made me as happy as I’ve been in a long time.

God’s presence is here – in each pinch of 2 leaves and a bud.  He is here in our evening devotion and our plan for tomorrow.  We looked at Genesis 3 this evening: God called to the man, “Where are you?”  Tonight I knew.


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You See That Mountain?

“You see that mountain, Pastor? I want to climb it.”

Moses, a fourth grader at Good Shepherd, a boarding school reserved for some of the brightest in Kenya, began his life a far way off from privilege. Born to parents who pick tea all day long for about $2, Moses got a late start in school, beginning first grade at age 9, in our Allamano School, which targets those whose lives, simply put, haven’t always been that pretty. 

But now one of twelve “scholars” who show incredible ability, drawn out by the generosity of others from a nation far away, Moses studies …  studies … studies … and dreams of climbing the Abedare Mountains, looming as a giant dare over both Good Shepherd and this little determined fireball.

 “You see that mountain, Pastor? I want to climb it.”

He gazes and sees another height, yet unreached, dreaming of climbing. And as we talk, his eyes full of challenge, I’m reminded that mountains are, in so many ways, all this little boy has ever faced.  Yet, so far, not a one has slowed him down.   

“You see that mountain, Pastor? I want to climb it.” 

When the time comes to part, I whisper, “Moses you remember Psalm 121? That’s your song…”

“You see that mountain, Pastor? I want to climb it.”

As I drive away, down this dusty rutted road, I make a mental note: The next time I come visit Moses, remember to bring my hiking boots.

“I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? It comes from the Lord…”

Psalm 121:1

God is good…so very good.  


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Medical Time at the Joy Home

Kate and I arrived at the Joy Home as 17 children were returning from a day at school.  Faces, names and personalities are beginning to become more familiar. Moses is a spokesman, David is the silent charmer and Naomi is a mature young lady. Naomi, an 11 year old, has recently entered the Joy Home. Currently we are having a difficult time finding her a school.  She is HIV+ and as with many children, she is suffering with the stigma of the disease.

As the children arrived home they quickly changed from their school uniforms into play clothes.  The Moms were ready for them with a cup of porridge and a banana for each child. Caring for and raising 20 children is a 24/7 challenge for these women……endless piles of laundry and plates of food! At 6:30 pm, just prior to dinner, the call went out “medical time”.  All of the children seem to work together to encourage the 11 HIV+ children as they moved into the dining room area to receive their antiretroviral mediation.  This ritual is repeated every morning at 6:30 am. I noticed Naomi moved quickly. There are no HIV stigmas at the Joy Home. Perhaps her maturity, beyond her years makes, this process a life giving reality. Naomi is one of the children on Second Line treatment due to adherence issues. Hopefully, this will successfully combat the virus.

Morning wakeup call at the Joy Home is 5:30 am. Children put on their uniforms in anticipation of the day, have breakfast and begin their walk to school by 6:30am. Naomi was outfitted today in a pretty white dress, no school uniform. She seemed anxious to begin another day of school interviews; perhaps this will be the day. Most Joy Home children have not been able to attend school on a regular basis due to their unstable family situations.

P.S. We learned late today that Naomi has been admitted to class 6 at the John Boscoe School in Ngarariga. We continue to thank God for ever victory we have been privileged to be a part of at the Joy Home.

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It Takes a Village to Solve a Puzzle by Jim Wood

October 20 is Kenyatta Day, sort of the equivalent of the 4^th of July for Americans. Named after Kenya’s first President, Jomo Kenyatta, a revered Freedom Fighter, today the current President will make a grand speech in the capital of Nairobi, flags will furl, soldiers will parade in towns large and small, businesses will be closed, those who can afford it will return to their homelands and share a barbequed goat or two with extended family.

For those who populate my front porch this morning, it is a bit different. Granted, their parents, mostly tea pickers who work for less than  $2 a day, will not be plucking tea but neither will they be paid.  So rather than the smell of charred meat, their families will have a few fewer beans in their pots tonight. In a way, it seems that true independence is yet to arrive, at least in this part of my world.

So my porch kids arrive almost as early as the morning rains; schools are closed and they have nowhere else to go, nothing much to celebrate, other than a “free” day. And this is my commitment to them, in some small way, to help them feel the fresh breeze of freedom. James can sit in a grown-up chair, cross his legs like he sees the old men do, and read the morning newspaper. Alice can sit on my wood box, bundle herself with a tattered wrap and watch the younger kids run. Zecharias can leisurely twist the wire he pulled from the heap this morning, as the artist within creates a beautiful metallic bird.  Then every hour or so they will collect themselves, boys and girls, the young and the younger, as a community of freedom and submit their solitary wills to the communal project of a 100 piece puzzle.  As I watch, I’m reminded of how Psalm 133 opens, “ How good and pleasant it is when God’s children live together in unity!”  

So this Kenyatta Day. Though I don’t smell flame-broiled goat, I breath in something so much sweeter, the aroma of hope - hope in and for a new generation, one which perhaps just might be able to work together more cooperatively than mine, even if only once in an hour or so, so that, in unity, they may solve some of the puzzles we have left to them.

This rainy glorious holiday, I thank Jesus for the joy of witnessing a little hope unfurl amidst a dozen young puzzle solvers.  Happy Independence Day. 

Anastasia by Jim Wood

The privilege of watching a baby take her first steps is one of God’s rich bonuses. Such was the gift for my first day back in Africa. Anastasia, a gorgeous little 20-month old, took her first steps at the Joy Home, in Ngarariga, Kenya at 3:53 Eastern Africa Time.  And when she did the heavens opened up… her entire family rejoiced, women smiled, children clapped and this white man, as usual, cried.

You see, Anastasia has a special story, one in which her first steps are an immense leap forward.

The fourth born girl to a single mom dying with AIDS, Anastasia was orphaned just weeks after her birth. Her grandmother tried her level best to take care of four grandchildren, all under the age of six. Each day she would find a neighbor to tend the older ones and then strap little Anastasia on her back, as she headed to a local rock quarry, where for ten hours a day she would chip larger rocks into smaller and smaller ones, when, at the end of the day, she would pocket about $1.50.  Then she would make the long trek back home, where Anastasia was untied from her back bundle and placed in a cardboard box while grand mom cooked and tended the older children. 

Strapped on her grandmother’s back, or laid in a box nearly all of her hours for well more than a year, Anastasia’s body never thrived and her little legs never matured.  Then the $1.50 quarried a day went away when grand mom, herself with AIDS, became ill. Things got worse and worse…until it appeared that death perhaps would visit this home once again.

But today, Anastasia, 20 months old, her once tiny body enriched by good food, unformed legs strengthened by physical therapy, spirit built by the love of an adoptive new mom and aunties and sisters and brothers at the Joy Home, took her first step…and then another…and another…and…

…and when she did, this crying white man saw the heavens opened and witnessed, first-hand, the smile of Christ.

Only He knows where her next steps will lead her but, based on the heavenly smile witnessed today, I have the feeling they are leading her into an awesome future.

In Him,

Jim 

PS: In case you couldn’t tell, it was a great first day in Kenya. 

"Friday - School's Out!" by Rudy Miller

Whether in the US or Kenya, Friday marks a special day for children. The start of their weekend!

This past Friday afternoon, Kate and I visited the Joy Home as the children returned from school. I suspect they were surprised to see visitors but they were quick to greet us with many handshakes. The boys were boys, showing us their newest Karate moves, followed by their ladder climbing skills. We recognized several familiar faces…..Moses from Holy Family Center and Michael from the Allamano School. Over one half of the children at the Joy Home are  HIV+ and most are full orphans.

The boys wanted to show off their bedrooms and specifically they wanted us to see their personal shelf of clothing…..several   shirts and socks.  They were all smiles! It later occurred to us that this might be the first t time these children have had their own space and clothing. Sometimes what we take for granted is a treasure at the Joy Home.

The girls were giggly and especially proud of their bunk beds. The beds were neatly made and their names where written prominently   on their storage cabinets. Many children in Kenya, especially orphans, sleep on the floor or several to a bed… these bunk beds are truly a treasure.

Three Moms were busy in the kitchen preparing mokimoke (mashed potatoes, beans and corn) and mandazi (a donut like treat) for Friday night dinner. Each of the Moms have completed 12 weeks of training including nutritional instruction.  In order to combat the side effects of a weakened immune system in many of the children proper nutrition is essential.

We wanted to stay for dinner but needed to leave. We promised to return this week and spend the night with them…our first sleepover. 

"Happiness is in Doing" by Rudy Miller

A poster on the wall of the pediatric ward of Nazareth Hospital reads “Happiness is in doing”. I’m not certain those words are meant to encourage the Nazareth staff, patients or visitors. Perhaps all.

Kate and I were visiting the pediatric ward to see a child from the Joy Home. Michael B. was admitted to the hospital on Monday. He is struggling with TB, pneumonia, shingles and a low CD4 (white blood cell) count. Michael is HIV+. Although he is only 11 years old he and his younger brother are full orphans who were living alone before being admitted to the Joy Home. We also learned Michael has a friend at Nazareth, Brian.  Brian is 8 years old and is struggling with AIDS. Michael has become Brian’s encourager! When we visited Brian it was clear his disease had progressed….he is extremely weak, malnourished and dehydrated. But, there was Michael at Brian’s side.  I’m not certain what Michael said…..but he was there.

As we looked around this ward of beautiful children, all HIV+ thru no fault of their own, there was a pretty little girl hiding under the covers of her bed. As she peeked out, we thought we recognized her, yes, it was Habiba. We last saw Habiba in 2010. At that time we learned she was being abused and in the midst of a terrible living environment. Last week her uncle brought her to Nazareth Hospital. Because she no longer takes her Anti Retro Viral medications her health is failing. Will her mother or uncle return for her? It is unclear. Yet, the Tree of Lives Love Account will at least make certain Habiba’s medical needs are provided.

Our visit ended with a reminder of the tremendous needs of Kenyan children yet a promise of hope. Perhaps our experience was best described by Paul when he described our God as the God of all comfort who comforts us in all our afflictions so that we may be able to comfort others.