A Little Delayed

As most of you have noticed we're way behind on posting notes.  Between the lack of internet and some minor illness we've been put on hold.  I'll try to catch up as many as I can on Sunday but please know we are safe and waiting in Minneapolis for our final flight to YYC.  I doubt any of us will want to go anywhere soon once this is done!

lisa

Angels in Mwingi

It was already getting dark Friday as we headed out on our usual jaunt to the Cafe Kazuri for dinner.  As normal, I somehow ended up leading the charge and walking beside me was a mother and her young child.  I waved, the kid stared.  I waved again, the mom smiled and the child stretched out his hand.  I stretched out my hand…and he grabbed it.  He held on tight and we walked for most of a block with me on one side and his mom on the other.  His mother seemed to think it was amusing as could be and behind me I heard a chorus of ohs and ahs from the rest of the team but for me it was like holding a little angel's hand.  We stared at each other the whole time, enamoured with each other as we walked and when we came to the shop his mother was stopping at he didn't want to let go, neither did I.  You know that warm gushy feeling you get when something perfect happens…I had THAT all night, and I still get it when I think of it. 

The first night we walked down that alley I was apprehensive and constantly on guard.  I didn't ever think any of those people would trust us and generally the kids seemed scared of us.  Yet in five short nights we'd gone from that to some little munchkin holding on for dear life.  It's a testament to how wrong first impressions can be.

Now if only I could figure out how to smuggle him home.

lisa

Nzeluni

We spent four days working in Nzeluni to help with the building of a weir.  Basically we carried rocks, big heavy rocks, a lot of them, for quite a distance.  The great thing about carrying rocks is that it gives you time to talk.  At first most of us talked to each other about where we were and what we saw but within hours we were talking to the kids who started carrying rocks with us.  They were young kids, about four to ten years old at first but they would carry rocks that seemed half their size and they would run, fast, up and down the river bed to show off how great they were at this rock carrying.  By the afternoon of the first full day there were teenagers who started to carry rocks with us and most of them knew at least a little english, some of them knew a lot.  We talked to them for the next few days about their lives in Kenya, our lives in Canada and most importantly the differences between the two.

While we were carrying rocks a group of the ladies from the community took care of making tea and the lunches we had every day.  For a large part of the time we were walking past them every couple minutes and we slowly got to know them too even though few of them knew English.  On the third day Janet hurt her back and it was decided that she should rest for a while and from then on she spent her time with these cooking ladies.  There was allllllways laughter coming from that group as we passed.  They really enjoyed her company and especially teaching her new words which she diligently wrote down in her book.  I think if we had stayed for three weeks she would have been fluent in KiKamba!

Our experiences in Nzeluni were very different from what we saw in Mitiboni in 2008.  By staying at the work site to share lunch with everyone else there we gained their trust and laughter a lot sooner than we did in Mitiboni.  As well the number of people who had at least a general understanding of english really helped us to build relationships and understand each other and the huge differences in culture that exist.  I don't for a second want to degrade how much we all enjoyed Mitiboni but I think it's fair to say that nearly everyone who was on their second trip really felt a deeper and more fulfilling relationship to the people of Nzeluni.  I'm sure that our confidence and ease in the culture helped in all this and I'm excited to see what this could mean in terms of our next trip to Kenya.

lisa

Devotional - Saturday, August 21st

Excerpt from: Seeing What is Sacred (Gire 2006)



Pages 10 -11


The Sacredness of Our Neighbor


Books in a way are sacraments that make the communion between an author and a reader possible. The white paper and black ink are the means through which one heart is revealed to another. But the paper and the words are merely the elements of the sacrament. What is sacred is the heart that writes the book and the heart that sits in silent communion to take and read what has been written.


The words that are read are small, waferlike things. But sometimes, on some page, God humbles himself to come through some of those words and touch the reader’s heart. It is not the words that are sacred but God who is sacred . . . and the person to whom he comes.


In a sermon C.S. Lewis once said that next to the Blessed Sacrament our neighbour is the holiest thing presented to our senses. Most of us though, are oblivious to that holiness except at rare moments . . .


“The awe that we sense or ought to sense when standing in the presence of a human being is a moment of intuition for the likeness of God which is concealed in his essence”, wrote the Jewish scholar Abraham Heschel. “Not only man, even inanimate things stand in relation to the Creator. The secret of every being is the divine care and concern that are invested in it. Something sacred is at stake in every event.”


Something sacred.


At stake.


In every event.


A sobering thought, if it’s true. And if it’s true, it changes everything. Every moment of our day, every day of our life. Every dinner with the family, every breakfast with a stranger.

Devotional - Friday, August 20th

Excerpt from: Out of Solitude (Nouwen, 1974)



Pages 31-32


Out of His solitude Jesus reached out his caring hand to the people in need. In the lonely place his care grew strong and mature. And from there he entered into a healing closeness with his fellow human beings.


Jesus indeed cared. Being pragmatists we say: “That is obvious: he fed the hungry, made the blind see, the deaf hear, the crippled walk and the dead live. He indeed cared.” But by being surprised by all the remarkable things he did, we forget that Jesus did not give food to the many without having received some loaves and fishes from a stranger in the crowd; that he did not return the boy of Nain to his widowed mother without having felt her sorrow, that he did not raise Lazarus from the grave without tears and a sigh of distress that came straight from the heart. What we see, and like to see, is cure and change. But what we do not see and do not want to see is care, the participation in the pain, the solidarity in suffering, the sharing in the experience of brokenness. And still, cure without care is as dehumanizing as a gift given with a cold heart.

Mama Boss Lady

While we were in Nzeluni helping with the build there was a group of ladies who cooked for us everyday.  One lady in particular was always in charge and was the only person I saw who could get the kids to stand in a line while we handed out stickers or candy or anything else for that matter.  Because of this I took to calling her Mama Boss Lady and she seemed to enjoy it immensely.

On the last day as we were talking about what the team's plans were I mentioned we were headed back to Machakos.  To my amazement she told me she had been born in Machakos and had met her husband in Nairobi and then moved to Nzeluni.  She hasn't left Nzeluni since and my best guess would tell me that's at least thirty years ago.

I know that in Canada you wouldn't think twice about meeting someone in a town 2-6 hours away that grew up in your hometown.   In Kenya, where we met a town full of kids who likely had never seen a white person before last week it's down right amazing.  It was a great reminder of the connections that surround us even when we aren't expecting them.

lisa

Tattoos in Kenya

Two years ago when we came to Kenya Eric and I were both told to keep our tattoos hidden as generally they were taboo.  This time, Titus (a young man we all befriended) had us explain our Thai tattoos and told us he's looking to get one soon too.  It's not just North America that's changing by leaps and bounds because of television and the internet.

lisa

The Great White African Gorilla

From the moment we first walked into the work site everyone was enamoured with Eric.  At first it was his beard.  There were questions upon questions about his beard and more than one person reached out to touch it just to know what it was like.  Beautiful was the word most commonly used to describe it.  I had no idea Kenyans loved beards so much!

This lasted for a while but by the second or third day they had forgotten the beard and instead were amazed at his strength.  Eric consistently carried some of the biggest rocks and he worked as long and as hard as anyone else there.  But on the forth day he did the impossible.  

Our main job as a team was to move the rocks that the men were breaking from the river bed up to the actual weir site.  By day two or three we had pretty much depleted the main stash and they were now working on breaking rocks that took a lot more 'convincing'.  Breaking rocks in Kenya means you get a giant sledge hammer and a group of guys and basically just start pounding away.  Needless to say I can't fathom how they kept going for five days.

When the men first moved to the harder rocks they spent about an hour working on one huge rock in the middle of the river bed.  They pounded on it with all their might and they all took turns but none of them could get even a hint of a crack let alone get a piece to break off.

By the forth day of carrying rocks Eric decided he should try out the breaking instead and helped them finish a number of pieces before heading off to find more.  The rock he chose was the one they had worked on for an hour with no luck.  Despite many warnings and certainly some questioning looks he started in on it and amazingly had a nice crack forming within minutes.  Twenty minutes later he'd broken off a huge chunk and put down the sledge off for a break.  The men all sat down for a break and started talking in KiSwahili and eventually broke into laughter while staring at Eric.

"What?"  he said.

Eventually it came out that they had decided he must be stronger than any man in Africa as he had broken the rock that none of them could.  His response was that he must be strong like an African Gorilla.  And so was born The Great White African Gorilla.  Hairy and strong…yup it suits him.

Kamba Names

On our last day of work during the 2008 trip we all received Kamba names.  It's safe to say we are all as proud of them as we are of our family names and we share them with everyone we meet here.  It puts a HUGE smile on the face of any Kamba to find out that we have Kamba names and generally it begins a conversation about the number of people in the room whom also have that name and of course the meanings of them.

Because neither Janice nor Colleen had been here on the last trip they were still in need of this honour and thankfully Judy (the ABC Development Director) didn't keep them waiting too long.

Janice has been named Mwendae meaning the one who is loved.  This is also the female version of Eric's name and I contend that must mean that I am very good at showing my love for them as I'm the common denominator in that equation…neither of them are convinced.  Either way anyone who knows Janice will agree this is the perfect name for her

Colleen has been given the name Mutethya meaning the one who comes to the rescue.  I find this poignant given her job at the church and the fact I think she regularly comes to the rescue of a lot of us in that role.

It really amazes me that someone can know any of us for such a short period of time and yet find names that are so perfect.  I suppose the Kamba must have a gift for this.  We should all be so lucky to understand others so well so fast.

lisa

Mwingi

Monday morning we took a drive from Machakos to Mwingi.  It was supposed to be five or six hours long but thankfully some recent road improvements cut it down to two hours.  This was especially a blessing for me as I awoke feeling as if 'Ralph' was knocking on the door and soon I'd have to answer.  I downed a couple Gravol and settled into the back seat for what I hoped would be a long and uneventful sleep.  Apparently it worked well as by the time I came to we were half an hour outside Mwingi.

Mwingi is a truck stop and it happens to be busy enough that there's now a town there too.  Generally it's full of transients, people looking for a score of some sort and Somali's.  This is a very different experience for us and immediately upon our arrival we could tell it was a different place and quite frankly I think it half shocked and scared some of us.  However, having been here for a little while now I think it's safe to say we feel safe where we are and during our walk for dinner tonight we enjoyed relating to the kids on the street.

After setting up the accommodations we headed to the work site (about 30 minutes away).  We spent time meeting and talking to the people we'll be with for the next week.  As always that was a huge pleasure.  After a quick meal most of us pitched in to help get things started.  It was good to finally 'get to work'.

I on the other hand took the time to sit down with Carlos Mutinda.  We talked for about 45 minutes and both of us learned a lot.  I'll try and tell you more about that later.

This week will be exhausting for most of us and we've all decided that we'll work towards getting to know at least one person who's story we can bring home to tell you.  Start looking forward to them now, these are amazing people.


lisa

Cameras

It doesn't matter where you are in the world, little kids love cameras.  They love to watch you take pictures.  They love to see the pictures.  And more than anything they love to see the pictures you take of them.  Nothing creates a crowd faster than a camera or video camera!

Well ok, maybe candy.

lisa

UPDATES

OK, we finally have a little internet so here come all the blogs we've written along the way.  They will post every couple hours.


lisa

Devotional, Thursday, August 19th

Job 1:21 (New International Version)



NAKED I CAME FROM MY MOTHER’S WOMB,
AND NAKED I WILL DEPART.
THE LORD GAVE AND THE LORD HAS TAKEN AWAY;
MAY THE NAME OF THE LORD BE PRAISED.


Job was a man who honoured God; he had been blessed by God. Satan took away the evidence of that blessing but the presence and caring of God remained. God allowed Satan to intervene in Job’s life. Job questioned God. He called out to God. He demanded an audience with God for answers and confirmation that he was blameless. Job’s wife and friends confronted him. People from his community who had respected him now scorned him.


Job admitted his sin and confirmed his belief in God. God answered Job “out of the storm”; Job’s life was in turmoil. God responded to Job with questions which Job could not answer. Although Job loved God he could not see God’s perspective. God showed Job that God was in control. Job acknowledges, “My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.” Job called out to God until he heard God’s answers.


Job’s story challenges me to acknowledge God’s provision. Throughout my life change has been constant. Life has not proceeded according to plan. The plan has changed many times, and likely will again. God loves me. He has directed me and provided for me and helped me to learn. But still, when change is upon me I struggle to meet it with confidence. Instead of calling on God to lead me I resist the change. Instead of relying on God’s strength I feel inadequate and overwhelmed. God has prepared me and challenges me to step forward. I am responsible to use the skills He has given and the strength He provides.


This opportunity to travel to Kenya is a gift from God. God has supplied the resources to allow me to see the beauties of the world and His provision in the lives of people I will meet. I will be challenged to learn new things and contribute the skills the Lord has taught me.


Will I understand “the bigger picture” that God sees? I may not. But I can be sure that God loves me and will meet my needs as I ask Him. Open my eyes, Lord, to see You. Open my mouth, Lord, to praise you. Let me learn through this experience, to use the gifts and skills you have given me to embrace change in my life, “for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:13 NIV.


Janice Evans

More thoughts

Tomatoes, passion fruit - truly mind boggling compared to last time. The dedication of the pump was very moving. Janet Mutanu

The hope that the water showed was so extrodinary to see so wonderful. It was so lovely to see the green. Stew

It was my first time at mitaboni. I was encouraged to see all the green growth caused by the weir being built. Colleen

It was great to return to mitaboni and see the transformation from brown and dead to green and alive. It was the best day so far. Glenn

During our time with the bishop today he asked what he and the church should learn from our experiences. He is wanting to learn how to be a better leader. Janice

Water of life. Frogs in the lake, beautiful water lilies, gardens waiting to be harvested and clean water for drinking. A beautiful site. Lynn

An encouragement to hear and see today the value and importance of our physical presence here in Kenya, building and strengthening relationships with our brothers and sisters. A God breathed day. Sara
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Our thoughts from Mitaboni

There was water at the weir! It was also green. There were banana trees (with almost ready bananas) and papayas and tomatoes and passion fruit. There were lily pads and frogs in the water. A place teeming with life - living water. - Darren

Today the color of hope was green. I felt that there was a new passion for why we pour our time and energy in. Eric.

Water is EPIC! Lisa

I was oficially blown away, it was far more then u could ask or imagine. Dave

I was so speechless when I was walking down the hill and saw the most beautiful water that wasn't there before. We need to care more about the water we have. *Paul*

Remarkable how much difference some water can make. Weir full, waterlilies growing, banana trees, kale
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Our thoughts from Mitaboni

There was water at the weir! It was also green. There were banana trees (with almost ready bananas) and papayas and tomatoes and passion fruit. There were lily pads and frogs in the water. A place teeming with life - living water. - Darren

Today the color of hope was green. I felt that there was a new passion for why we pour our time and energy in. Eric.

Water is EPIC! Lisa

I was oficially blown away, it was far more then u could ask or imagine. Dave

I was so speechless when I was walking down the hill and saw the most beautiful water that wasn't there before. We need to care more about the water we have. *Paul*

Remarkable how much difference some water can make. Weir full, waterlilies growing, banana trees, kale
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Devotional - Tuesday, August 17th

Unity in the Body of Christ



Ephesians 4 (New International Version)


1As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.


11It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.


29Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32Be kind and compassionate to one another forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


God put us here for a reason, to be a part of the Body of Christ. He brought each one of us to Kenya for a specific reason and those whom we’ve left at home are there for a specific reason as well. We each have jobs that he’s intended us for. That job might be as simple as saying thank you to someone who’s made us a meal and touching their heart. Or, it could mean teaching a sermon to touch many hearts.


Each of the people we meet while we’re on this journey has a purpose in our lives as well as in the Body of Christ. Although we might not see it at the time all of these people will touch us and it’s our responsibility as part of the Body of Christ to be open and accepting of that touch. Some of the things we see and experience will make us feel uneasy or afraid or confused but there is something important to glean from all of it. Don’t shy away from those things but rather go towards them and face them with the knowledge that God is here to protect and love you and you are here to show that same faith and love to others.


Most of all remember that we are ALL part of the ONE Body of Christ believing in “5one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”


Lisa Milton

To Mitaboni

We are heading to Mitaboni this morning. This is the location where we helped prepare the site and started building the water tanks in 2008. We are looking forward to seeing the completed water tanks and the pump house.

Members of our team will be offering prayers and speaking at the dedication ceremony. We look forward to this time of celebration.


Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Devotional - Wednesday, August 18th

Ruth 1: 16-17



When I began to think about writing this devotion, I turned to Eugene Peterson’s, The Message, to read his introduction to the book of Ruth. Following is my summary of his thoughts, which I wanted to share with you as a part of my devotion. This book of Ruth, a story about two widows and a farmer, is found in the Bible between the historic beginning of the Hebrew people with some well known stars – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses and the subsequent stories of spiritual formation starring characters such as Hannah, Samuel, David, Saul and Solomon. In the middle of these great fathers and mothers of the faith comes Ruth. She seems to be an unimpressive and unimportant character. She was a foreigner, not born into the faith, a poor, powerless widow. How could Ruth have any place in God’s story? As we read to the end of the book of Ruth, we discover that she is absolutely crucial for God’s story of redemption and salvation to be complete, for Ruth was the great-grandmother of David and a foremother of Jesus. How often do we feel that our lives are inconsequential, that we are only ordinary people who have little significance? Regardless of what we feel, each of us is “irreplaceable in the full telling of God’s story. We count – every last one of us – and what we do counts.” (The Message, p. 449).


What made Ruth significant? What made her life count? The two verses, Ruth 1: 16-17, provide an excellent glimpse into the character of Ruth and I believe answer those questions.


Don’t urge me to leave you or turn back from you.
You have something that I want – a faith for myself.
Where you go, I will go.
I will follow you to a place and a land I know nothing about. I will have hope.
Where you stay, I will stay.
I will be committed and live with you and your people who may even be hostile to me, a foreigner.
Your people will be my people.
I will become one of your people, observing the laws of your God.
Your God will be my God.
I will worship your God in spirit and in truth.
Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried.
I will be faithful, love you and stay with you until the end.

What made Ruth irreplaceable in God’s story? She became a woman of faith. She pursued the faith of Naomi and made it her own. She lived in relationship with God, following his ways, observing his laws. She had hope despite her circumstances. She lived out a life of love and commitment.

Commitment, Faith, Hope, Love.




Heavenly Father, Help us to live lives of commitment, faith, hope and love. We may never know the impact that we will have on the people around us. Despite that, use us and what we do, imperfect as we are, in your unfolding story of redemption and salvation. Amen.


Lynn Martin

Devotional - Monday, August 16th

Robbing God



Malachi 3:6-12


Are we robbing God? Are we bringing our tithes and offerings to Him? Are we bringing the ‘full’ or ‘whole’ tithe? If not we are robbing God.


Malachi is talking to a people who have abandoned and ignored God. They have not only abandoned God but also His children; the widows, the orphans, the foreigners, and those who work for wages. This lack of giving is a symptom of something much bigger. They have turned their backs on God and gone their own way and this arrogance has caused them to ignore their neighbour.


This is an interesting passage to consider while we are in Kenya (when you’re reading this we’ll be in Kenya). We are among a people who give even though they have few possessions. They share a meal with us, even killing their chicken or goat, while they survive on a protein deficient daily diet. Their chicken or goat is like the widow’s mite that Jesus described in Luke 21:1-4. Jesus said that the widow with her two pennies gave more of what she had than the rich man who gave out of his plenty.


I think that the time, members of the Altadore family have spent among the El Salvadorans and the Kenyans, has influenced us. Observing their lives and their character has rubbed off on us. It has made us a more giving family of believers. We respond to the need we see in the world around us. We love to share our time and gifts with His children where ever they are in the world.


The passage ends with the promise “We will be blessed” if we obey. In ‘The Message’ Eugene Peterson translates this to we will be called the “Happiest Nation”. It’s interesting that we’re here with the Kenyan people who give and share willingly. They are a happy people, smiling in spite of the many challenges they face each day. With these smiling faces the Kenyans must be part of the “Happiest Nation”. Being here among them allows this to rub off on us and we like others before us bring this back to our church family at Altadore.


Prayer:


May we be as generous as our Kenyan hosts.
May we bring the full tithe into God’s store house.
Grant us the willingness to obey, to look after
the widows, the orphans, the foreigners, and the workers.
May we become a “Happiest Nation”.


Amen


Glenn Malcolm

Devotional - Sunday, August 15th

Psalm 123







1 I lift up my eyes to you,
to you whose throne is in heaven.
2 As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,
as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress,
so our eyes look to the LORD our God,
till he shows us his mercy.
3 Have mercy on us, O LORD, have mercy on us,
for we have endured much contempt.
4 We have endured much ridicule from the proud,
much contempt from the arrogant.

Excerpt from: A Long Obedience in the Same Direction (Peterson 1980)


Pages 55-56


Quote from Karl Barth


In general terms, service is a willing, working, and doing in which a person acts not according to his own purposes or plans but with a view to the purpose of another person and according to the need, disposition, and direction of others. It is an act whose freedom is limited and determined by the other’s freedom, an act whose glory becomes increasingly greater to the extent that the doer is not concerned about his own glory but about the glory of the other…. It is ministerium Verbi divini, which means, literally, “a servant’s attendance on the divine Word.” The expression “attendance” may call to mind the fact that the New Testament concept of Diakonos originally meant “a waiter.” We must wait upon the high majesty of the divine Word, which is God himself as he speaks in his action.

Devotional - Saturday, August 14th

Generosity Encouraged



2 Corinthians 9: 6-15


6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:


"They have scattered abroad their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever."


10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.


12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, people will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!


There are two kinds of giving noted in this passage. The first is giving out of obligation. The second is giving out of love. No matter what we give- our finances, our time, our friendship- God wants us to give willingly, out of love. When I think of all the gifts I have been given by God, I realize these gifts are given freely. Jesus gave the greatest gift, salvation, freely. God gave His Son, freely. God gave me gift of a loving family and wonderful friends, and the gift of living in this country, with all its wealth and benefits. The question is what should I do with these gifts, and how do I share them. The easy thing is financial sharing. Take a look at what you have, and write a cheque. Easy…..


The tough stuff is giving of yourself, putting others first. It is a challenge in our wealthy society to not feel some sense of entitlement. We think we deserve to be treated a certain way; we think we deserve to have a nice home, to eat well, to have top health-care, to have good education. We complain when any of this is lacking. The reality is we are just lucky. The first step to being a cheerful giver is to step out of the sense of entitlement, and enter into a sense of gratitude. When I become grateful for family, it is easier to give to them. When I am grateful for my friends, it is easier to give my time. When I am grateful for my life situation, it is easier to open my cheque book. The amazing thing is that truly the more we give the more we receive. When we give our time to help a friend, the satisfaction we get often feels like we benefitted more than the friend. Simply taking time to engage in conversation can have huge rewards.


The big issue though is how we see God. The burden of this text is to help us see God and feel God as a Giver and not a Taker. He is a Giver on both sides of our giving—on the back side, enabling our giving with his blessing, and the front side, rewarding our giving with even more blessing.


Colleen Milton

Being The Insider

I think everyone should have to be a minority at least once in their life.  It's a great learning experience and it helps you understand what others see and feel when they are the minority.  It's also a surprisingly different experience when there are two of you versus twelve of you.  Large groups incur a great deal more staring, pointing and watching.  It makes a lot of sense really as when we all saw a group of Kenyans dressed the same way we stared, pointed and watched…and then we met them and found out they were a running team.  The most disappointing difference being in a group makes is that it means the kids act differently.  They don't follow you down the street for blocks on end shouting 'How are you?'  It's true, a few may shout as you pass by but when you answer them you don't get the same interaction and willingness to try out their English.  It's a small price to pay for getting to experience this with so many great people but it's still a little sad.

The most interesting difference for me was the number of times men will hit on you when you're with a group.  I guess they don't look for the ring.  Don't get me wrong…it's kind of nice!

By far the best part of being an Outsider is the number of people who will wave to you as you pass by.  It's a constant game to see if you can keep up to the kids on each side of the road waving to you and hoping for a wave back.  Most kids get a huge smile across their face when you wave back and you can't help but smile too.

It is impossible for us to forget we are Outsiders in this land, but that's not a bad thing.  In fact the entire sermon on Sunday focused on the need for us to be Outsiders.  The pastor was working from Philemon and discussed the letter that Paul was sending and how Paul was asking this Master to no longer treat his Slave as a slave but rather that now they would treat each other as Brothers.  He was asking this man to reach outside of a social construct and outside his tribe and to love this man as Jesus loved him.

The entire sermon boiled down to one very important idea:  We humans have created Boxes/Tribes/Social Groups/Clicks and they are not a good thing.  Jesus died so that we would all be equals in God's eyes and we could all come to him with a hope for grace.  Jesus died so that we could think outside our box, so that we could love each other the same way he loves us, unconditionally.  In order to live this out we need to be the Outsider.

What's it like to be the Outsider?  It's often difficult, usually uncomfortable, sometimes challenging and not easy.  Despite all that we should do it anyways, we're called to it.  

lisa

Devotional - Friday, August 13th

Psalm 28





The Lord our God is our rock and our foundation. We must trust in him during our times of struggle. Our faith in him always being there and never turning away from us gives us the strength to go through the struggles we all face in our lives. I need to always remember not to stop relying on him to help me accomplish my goals. He has a plan for me and a path for me to follow, and as long as I stay true to him and his ways I can accomplish anything. During this trip to Kenya I believe God will show me much about his ways and how he wants me to take part in his kingdom. Through relying on him, the journey he has set a head of me although challenging, can be accomplish. With him at my side anything is possible and it is through that strength that I step out of the world I know so well and travel to a land I do not.


Dear Lord give us strength to accomplish what you have set in front of us. We know that you challenge us to help us grow and for that we thank you. You have never let us down Lord and today we pray that you give us the strength to not let you down. Be with us this day Lord and give us the strength we require. You are our one true God Lord and we can do anything through you.


Amen


Stewart Littel

Same Same but Different

Today is our last day in Mwingi working at the weir site. We have met so many people and have made new friends every day. A few of the people we have gotten to know really well are Mutemi and Grace who are the co-chiefs of the area, Jonathan the project manager, a university student named Titus, Faith and her brother Carlos, Merci and her sister Muende and her brother Funde, and a school teacher named Joseph Ngao. We are shocked and amazed every day to see the smallest of kids not only carrying rocks half their body size, but RUNNING back and forth with them! They seem to have bottomless energy and strength and when they're not carrying rocks they keep us entertained with "Hello how are you?" and "What is your name?" Some of the team has built an inukshuk of stones on top of a large rock for our new friends to remember us by, the children are already guarding their new statue. The women serve us the most delicious food and tea, always wanting us to eat more and more and more and more...We have been sharing as much information about Canada as we can, always surprising the kamba people with our stories of the winter weather and lack of "tea time". We have also taught some new handshake greetings and inadvertently shared new phrases written on our t-shirts, a favourite being "same same but different".

We are currently sitting at the local market picking up our daily produce, a place where we see and experience both very high and very low moments as we get a small glimpse into how the people of Mwingi navigate day to day life.

We journey back to Machakos tomorrow and as always appreciate your prayers for a safe journey. Hope you are all keeping well at home!
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Devotional - Thursday, August 12th

God Breaks Into Our Everyday World



Luke 24:1-12

The women have been preparing the spices and perfume for Jesus’ body. They did not have time to complete the burial. They only had time to get his body to the tomb and then they had to rest, as required on the Sabbath.


What a long Sabbath that must have been. Remembering what Jesus endured on the cross. Possibly trying to make sense of what seemed so senseless.


And now they rise early to bring the spices and perfume to the tomb. I can not imagine how heavy their hearts felt that morning. They were taking the final steps to complete the burial. Their focus on the task ahead of them.


And then there is surprise. The stone has been rolled away. More surprising, the body is missing! They are overwhelmed as men with white gleaming clothes appear suddenly. The events over the last few days are forgotten. God has broken into their world. They hear the words of Jesus again. He is risen! He said he would rise. How could we know what it would mean? He said it would happen and it has! He is risen!


The spices and perfumes are not mentioned again. The women probably left them as they hurried from the tomb. Their focus was no longer on the burial. They had to let the Eleven and all the others know that Jesus had risen.


When Peter entered the tomb it would have been filled with the aroma of the spices and perfume. An aroma normally associated with death. But there was no body. Even Peter was wondering what was happening. This is not what he had expected.


What joy and celebration there would be as the significance of the empty tomb sunk in. He had risen! Just as he said he would. What wonderful joy during a time of deep sorrow. God has broken into our everyday world and reminded us of His power and love.


Heavenly Father,


We thank you for the new life that You have given to every person through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We remember the pain and sorrow that began that first Easter morning and celebrate how You broke through with surprise and wonder. Through Your power and love You have given us new life. Help us Father to remember this in our everyday lives.


Amen


Darren Martin

What a great time!

We have spent the past 2.5 days carrying rocks. Well some have carried rocks, others have carried boulders. The weir is looking fantastic. We have had fun interacting with the locals, talking with them, learning some new Kamba and Swahili words, eating, singing and dancing. We have 2 more days to spend working on the weir and then we will be going to other communities to see their water and agricultural projects.

All are well. Everyone is healthy and having a great time. Looking forward to sharing more stories with you.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Devotional - Wednesday, August 11th

Esther 4: 12-17



In the past few months I’ve been frequently reminded of the idea that each of us are living stories, stories within a greater story that connects everything God has and will create. Passages from songs, books, movies, and even T-shirts have caught my attention since I began focusing on this notion of “story”, the most prominent being the book “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years” by Donald Miller, a narrative centered on the idea of writing your life into a story worth telling. In the end when we sit with God and remember our life, will he tell us we have lived a good story, one he is pleased with? Donald predicts of a story well lived: “I’ll tell these things to God, and he’ll laugh, I think, and he’ll remind me of the parts I forgot, the parts that were his favourites. We’ll sit and remember my story together, and then he’ll stand and put his arms around me and say, “Well done,” and that he liked my story. And my soul won’t be thirsty anymore.”


Most of us have significant input into how our stories evolve and whether we write stories worth telling; I found this reflected in the account of Esther, specifically in her decision to risk her life in the chance she could protect the lives of her people. We can look to Esther’s story as an indication of what God is capable of doing when we choose to go from victims and bystanders to active participants that embrace conflict with courage and take the risk of trusting something beyond ourselves.


A good story doesn’t mean you have to travel across the world or become a leader of an organization; if we make the effort to look at every day and every moment as an opportunity to love people and love God I think we’re living a story that reflects the story of Jesus. Stories are also continuous, whether we are ten years old or ninety years old, characters continue to grow and there’s always more to be written. It is exciting to consider my life as a story, something God not only spoke into existence but also continues to whisper direction and opportunity into. However, not only am I writing stories for myself, my stories are also contributing to the greater story of all creation – a fact that requires accountability when we consider the impact of every choice we make.


I want to share one final quote by Donald, a statement I think deserves our consideration of how we have and will choose to write our lives in the face of a power fighting against a well written life:


“Part of me wonders if our stories aren’t being stolen by the easy life. There is a force in the world that doesn’t want us to live good stories. It doesn’t want us to face our issues, to face our fear and bring something beautiful into the world…I believe God wants us to create beautiful stories, and whatever it is that isn’t God wants us to create meaningless stories, teaching the people around us that life just isn’t worth living.”










A Four Fold Franciscan Blessing


Bless us with a restless discomfort about easy answers, half-truths and superficial relationships, so that we may seek truth boldly and love deep within our hearts.


Bless us with holy anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom, and peace among all people.


Bless us with the gift of tears to shed with those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, or the loss of all that they cherish, so that we may reach out our hand to comfort them and transform their pain into joy.


Bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we really can make a difference in this world, so that we are able, with your grace, to do what others claim cannot be done.


Help us write stories worth telling, stories that go beyond ourselves, stories that make you proud.

Amen


Sara Malcolm

Devotional - Tuesday, August 10th

Life I find is harder and easier to enjoy when we are reminded of what there is in this world to compare to...



I was out getting some work done one on of my job sites/restaurants and I couldn’t help hearing the lady next to me. She was about thirty eight years old and was off on a rant about how her husband that she had been with for more than three years was being such an unrealistic individual and that he is only in it for himself! After trying to block her out and carry on with the task at hand I heard why and how this all started. The gist of it came down to the fact that her husband didn’t want to buy her the Land Rover until she was 40 and that she would have to stick with her “ lame Honda Ridgeline” until then. Wow was all I could get out of that when I was packing up my tools. May be the “lame Honda Ridgeline” was enough.


It has been a dry winter for us here in Southern Alberta. The duck ponds are down and dry, the rivers are low and clear, the grasses are snapping with the harsh dry wind and yet I am confident knowing that the rain will come with spring. I like hearing the birds move in, seeing the grasses starting to grow from the littlest of root. I find that these simple cycles of our Canadian landscape are what drive me and keep my head a little higher looking forward to a new period. Is it wrong to feel guilty for knowing that we have “it” a little easier than our Kenyan Friends? (And yes I took into account the whole minus thirty degree thing in winter; at least we know this too shall pass!)


So my Grandpa is dying, it is kind of neat to see. No I don’t like to see this happen don’t get me wrong. Here is a man that has been around for eighty years now and has his family closer than ever. Both grandparents have their family to lean on and talk through the whole process with. I feel blessed to have had the ability to know this man all of my life. I see his knowledge now coming through in the people around him and how he has had a quiet and simple approach to showing his experiences to others. I kind of find it hard to look at and think through the fact that someday I will be there in his place knowing that the end is coming and that I will never be able to tell or share another experience again. I guess what I am realizing is that every day we need our family and friends close to us to share those experiences with because someday we will not have the chance to do so. I at times find this hard in my busy life and I look up to most of Kenya for the relationships they have and the time they dedicate to each other.


So if you have known me for more than a day or so you should know that I love to go fly fishing. I feel more connected out there to this place we call earth and more in tune with God than in any other setting I’ve come across. One day just after the official start of spring I was out enjoying a little stream, that shall remain nameless, and I had the best day of fishing I for a stream that size in many years. The day started out laid back and simple. I got to the river around 1100 and the river as very low and clear. Minutes in to the hike up stream a beautiful Brown trout was on the other end of the line and the endless wind seemed to have stopped. A little further up stream I was greeted by a pair of Great Horned owls that took off from their tree and cruised inches above the water and lead me farther upstream. I landed a dozen fish that afternoon and the day just keep getting better. All of the time that this “surface enjoyment” was going on I was feeling that this stream was way too low to be healthy and then it hit me. Wait a minute; the river is here at least! There was enough snow in the mountains to sustain it until the rains came. All of the day’s enjoyments seemed to be a bit of a non-issue compared to the fact that there was a river there that at all. It shouldn’t be hard to live and enjoy life but it is good to see it differently when compared to some of the bigger issues out there.


I wrote this “devotion” in a bit of an untraditional way because this is the way that I see this thing we call life. There are so many dynamics of life that can be taken or experienced in a different way all dependent on perspective. I am here in Kenya because these people teach me that life is what we make out of it. I need this reminder to be able to “enjoy and connect” with what I think truly matters.


Eric Milton

Devotional - Monday, August 9th

The Living Stone and a Chosen People



1 Peter 2:4-12


As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him— you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. For in Scripture it says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious cornerstone, and the one who trusts in him will never be put to shame."


Now to you who believe, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, "The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone," and, "A stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall." They stumble because they disobey the message—which is also what they were destined for.


But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.


Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.



Peter is writing this letter to a collection of believers scattered across a diverse ethnic region and he is telling them that collectively, they are “a people” together. Though they may feel alone or isolated in their communities, they are a part of a privileged people group, the people of God. We too are people of God. Jesus is the living Stone, the precious Son who God chose to fulfill his purpose and sadly who, as then, is still rejected by many today. A temple is not built with just one stone but by many stones being stacked together, so are we drawn together as fellow stones with Christ as our cornerstone. In ancient times the cornerstone was the most important stone in architecture. It was a foundation stone that held the pressure where two walls joined. By putting our trust in Jesus, we will never be disappointed. This passage is an encouragement for Christian fellowship and confirms that God brings and binds us together.


We are also a people with a purpose. The priests were the ones who stood between the people and God and who offered the sacrifices in the temple. We are to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. Our spiritual sacrifice is our heart, our very own being offered up to God. From this broken heart arise two main things that we do together as priests, praise and good works. We do them not in isolation, but together. Thus we have a spiritual fellowship and are spiritually connected to all Christians.


Christ was a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to the reprobate Jews who despised and rejected the word of the Gospel and everything to do with him, all of which was preordained. What makes the situation disheartening, is that God intended us all to be part of his family and in the end there will only be a remnant of all the nations that go to heaven.


For those of us who chose to believe in Christ, how wonderful to know that before we chose him, God chose us. What a privilege and an encouragement. As we grow in Christ, we are constantly being shaped into spiritual beings who are ever being refined in our journey toward everlasting life. In our daily struggles in this world (perhaps when we are belittled or embarrassed, tired or stressed), we may feel inadequate or unworthy to come into the presence of Christ. The Old Testament reference above reminds us that if we just trust in God, we will be all right. It seems such a simple thing but we need to impress it upon our minds so that we can remember and use it during those times of doubt and despair. It is comforting to know that because we have accepted Christ as our saviour and are following him we are being moulded day by day into his likeness. He is the light and all we need to keep walking in that light.


As Christians, we belong to a royal priesthood and a holy nation. If we think of royal circles here on earth, or privileged clubs, they pale by comparison! After all, we have God as our King and Jesus as our Lord.


I love verse 11. For a long time I have felt that I really do not belong in this world and this verse explains why! None of us Christians do – we belong to God's kingdom. It is interesting to see how some of the other bible versions describe this "worldly unbelonging". The Message says "friends, this world is not your home, so don't make yourselves cozy in it"; the New Living Translation, that we are "temporary residents and foreigners"; and The New English Version that we are "aliens in a foreign land". So, no wonder I feel like a stranger here.


Finally, we are called to live in such a way that those around us who do not know Christ will eventually be impacted by the way we live. With the help of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, by obeying his commands and reading his Word, we can overcome those worldly desires and temptations and be a model for unbelievers.


Janet Walker

Arrived in Mwingi

We arrived in Mwingi and are getting settled in. We have ordered our lunch - most of us chose something familiar (fried chicken). We are looking forward to working on the weir tomorrow. This afternoon we expect to visit the weir site. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers.

Stewart wanted to let his mom know that even though his dad wanders off he has managed to come back safely each time. :) All are well.

Janice has been given a Kamba name (Mwende) which means the loved one. Colleen will have a birthday tomorrow and receive her Kamba name. Don't worry Doug, you will now have 2 birthdays to remember.
Sent wirelessly from my BlackBerry device on the Bell network.
Envoyé sans fil par mon terminal mobile BlackBerry sur le réseau de Bell.

Devotional - Sunday, August 8th

Excerpt from: Can You Drink the Cup? (Nouwen, 1996)



Pages 109-111





One Cup, One Body


On July 21, 1997, it will be forty years since Cardinal Bernard Alfrink ordained me to the priesthood and my uncle Anton gave me his golden chalice.


The next morning I celebrated my first Mass in the sisters’ chapel of the seminary. I stood in front of the altar, with my back to the sisters who had been so kind to me during my six years of philosophical and theological studies, and slowly read all the Latin readings and prayers. During the offertory I carefully held the chalice. After the consecration I lifted it high above my head so that the sisters could see it. And during the communion, after having taken and given the consecrated bread, I drank from it as the only one allowed to do so at the time.


It was an intimate and mystical experience. The presence of Jesus was more real for me than the presence of any friend could possibly be. Afterwards I knelt for a long time and was overwhelmed by the grace of my priesthood.


During the nearly forty years that have followed, I have celebrated the Eucharist every day with very few exceptions, and I can hardly conceive of my life without the consistent experience of intimate communion with Jesus. Still, many things have changed. Today I sit behind a low table in a circle of handicapped men and women. All of us read and pray in English. When the gifts of bread and wine are brought to the table, wine is poured into large glass cups, held by me and the Eucharistic ministers . . .

So much has changed! So much has remained the same! Forty years ago, I couldn’t have imagined being a priest in the way I am now. Still, it is the continuous participation in the compassionate priesthood of Jesus that makes these forty years look like one long, beautiful Eucharist, one glorious act of petition, praise, and thanksgiving.



The golden chalice became a glass cup, but what it holds has remained the same. It is the life of Christ and our life, blended together in one life. As we drink the cup, we drink the cup that Jesus drank, be we also drink our cup. That is the great mystery of the Eucharist. The cup of Jesus, filled with his life, poured out for us and all people, and our cup, filled with our own blood, have become one cup. Together when we drink that cup as Jesus drank it we are transformed into the one body of the living Christ, always dying and always rising for the salvation of the world.

The Rabid Wasp, Or was that the rabid wife?

You wouldn't believe what happened last night (our first night in Kenya). I was brushing my teeth getting ready for bed, when I heard this BIG buzzing sound. I looked around , even checking my hair, for a buzzing bug. Sure enough I spotted a HUGE WASP. It was at least the size of 2 or 3 wasps put together. I ran out of the bathroom, with my mouth full of toothpaste. I shut the bathroom door, hoping to trap the wasp in the bathroom. When I looked at the top of the bathroom door, there was a gap a foot high, the entire width of the door. Good trap that would be. Since that wouldn't hold the wasp too long, I went to tell my husband that there was a BIG WASP in our bathroom. With toothpaste still in my mouth, I tried to tell him that there was a BIG WASP. He had already taken out his hearing aids, so without even looking at me told me he couldn't hear me and to talk louder. Again I tried to tell him, in a louder voice, that there was a BIG WASP. Finally I got him to look at me and while foaming at my mouth, signed BIG and shouted WASP. I think he was as afraid of the rabid wasp as I was, or was that the rabid wife? 

Then my DARLING husband (this is now being written by the husband) realized that something was not right.  The wasp was hovering by the opening above the door but my husband could not hear it with his hearing aids out.  He opened the door and the wasp came out and hovered by the floor.  It was now clear to him that there was a BIG WASP in the room.  Rather quickly, he retreated (or as the wife says, he ran AWAY) to the other end of the room.  Thinking it would attracted to the light, my husband figured we should turn the lights off and open the outside door.  The wasp had moved back into the bathroom so it wasn't a problem to get to all of the light switches and turn them off.  We opened the front door, turned off the lights and stepped back.  In what was a few seconds, but felt like much longer, the wasp realized it could be free of these people.  It went directly out the front door and was gone.  Didn't take long for the front door to slam shut and peace and order was restored (again, the husband is writing this now).

Devotional - Saturday, August 7th

Psalm 131



a psalm of humble childlike trust in God
stilled and quieted his soul in God,
as a child to his mother.


Heavenly Father, thank you that I can trust in you like a child trusts in his mother. Thank you for being a loving God, protect us as we go to Africa and help others trust in you too. Amen




Paul Malcolm

Feels like coming home.

For most of us the overwhelming feeling has been one of returning home.  It's not a foreign place anymore and although there is still a sense of wonder and excitement generally we're all just ecstatic to be back.  Even Tim mentioned feeling like he was picking up family from the airport as opposed to a new team.  It's rare that he has teams where he knows so many of them by name right off the plane.  Of course the caveat to this whole paragraph would be Janice and Colleen…Janice is constantly giddy and Colleen has a perm-a-grin.  In fact when I asked Janice yesterday what her first impression was, she vibrated, literally.  

Even though it feels like home there were many things that surprised me again.  I forgot how many people walk.  They walk everywhere and for miles a day and generally any road you travel has masses of people walking somewhere.  In amongst all those walking people on the side of the roads is a plant called Sisal.  I love Sisal, I think it might be my favourite plant.  I know that's weird but really it's great stuff, very very very useful.

Not only were there old things that surprised me but lots of new things too.  They actually have new very drivable road most of the way to Athi River.  It was amazing to see it done and although I know it's not the norm for most of Kenya it was still amazing to see it and drive it.  Also on the sides of the road are plant nurseries where you can buy plants of every shape and size and while that's not new the plot gardens beside them are.  I found it ironic that something that's grown so much in Calgary in the last two years has also grown here.  Although I suspect it has been in Kenya for longer while at home it's just the 'Latest In Thing' that hopefully will stick around in the long run.

Our timeline yesterday was mostly about keeping us awake.  We got to Kenya before the sun rose and after a short trip to Lukenya and some much needed breakfast and showers we had some orientation time with Tim.  It was a good review and very interesting to hear all the changes that have gone on in the African Brotherhood Church.  It will be exciting to watch what I think is the start of a new very prosperous era for them in the coming years.  

After lunch we headed out for our first safari drive and although we did see a lot of water in places that either never had water or had so little it might as well have been dry it was still sad for those of us who've been here to realize how many animals died in the drought.  Colleen and Janice both thought they got to see plenty of animals but it was a drastic change from what we had seen before with entire species missing in our head count.  Although it's saddening and scary it's a good learning experience for the team as the next time we hear the words drought we will all have a much better understanding.

At lunch today we'll leave for Machakos and then later in the week to Mwingi.  We have no idea what our internet will be, if we have any, but we'll keep you updated as best we can and then post about it all when able.

Sending our love to you all!