"Hi there everyone...
This is the beginning of my 1st of 5 weeks here in Kangundo, Kenya at the Kenya Evangelical Missions. A little background...Lois and Hoyt came to Kenya as teachers about 13 years ago with a strong calling to serve the Lord here...
|
their plan was to teach for a bit and get to know the country, and then begin full time ministry in the heart of Kenya (the small villages)...and this is what they have done...in the 13 years they have been here they have started 10 deeply needed churches, adopted 11 struggling Kenyan boys, and helped countless others in more ways than I could begin to mention. Each day brings a new and interesting way to serve. They are more than willing...and clearly still have the passion for missionary work that once drew them to this country...I think even more...they exhaust themselves serving...but are happier than most people I have met in my life.
I have only been here for 4 days and it feels like I have been here for a lot longer...this simple life is very good to me...I am more at peace and more rested than I have been in quite some time. I am sleeping like a baby and feel so in the moment most times....I am learning how to live one day at a time...the people of this country have a lot to teach me.
Well this is my first email that I have had the chance to write since I have come to Kenya..I want to share my experience with you, because each one of you, in your own unique way has contributed to me being emotionally, physically, financially or spiritually ready to come on this mission trip, and I will forever be grateful..You may not even know you did this, but if you are receiving this email you can bet that you have been a part of making this possible.
My flight to Nairobi from London was a joy! It was a red eye flight and the plane was half-empty. I got 3 seats to use as a bed...and I did...slept like a baby and was wide eyed and bushy tailed when I got to the airport in Nairobi where Lois and Hoyt picked me up.
What can I tell you about Kenya...It is very beautiful...and very very poor.
I did not know what it meant to have nothing until I came here...people live without any running water, electricity and often without food or a place to sleep (Our water has been out for days…we have been showering with buckets that we boil…the phone lines and electricity continually go on and off) One learns patience and gratitude for the luxury of these simple things we take for
granted in the states). One in every 3 people are HIV positive. Healthcare is almost entirely missing. People cannot afford simple medication.
There is a lot of corruption in the country..the local authorities are not what one would hope them to be. There are beggars everywhere...some who are willing to try to make a living and some who have simply turned to a life of crime...it is very sad. Even with a job...it is nearly impossible to make an honest living. The country is only 38 or 39 years old and is making efforts to get on it's feet...but seem to be running into obstacles every step of the way.
I find it easier to understand and picture the Gospel here...I know this is not Nazareth, but I can somewhat picture what the streets and life must have been like in the days that Jesus ministered...the gospel describes beggars and poverty very well. Time seems to have stopped here...I'll bet it was not too different 2000 years ago. I can understand it all so much more clearly today after having walked these streets and felt the poverty here....the simpleness.. the desperation. I felt a kind of closeness to Jesus today that I have never felt before....I hope to feel it again.
The good news is simply that THE GOOD NEWS is alive and well here....I have truly never seen such faith and devotion. These people have nothing...but they are joyful over such simple things...they are not all bound up by possessions. Children never quibble over the food that they are given...they eat what they are given without a word...they need that food...they walk so much each day and work very hard in the fields and tending the animals...their bodies just crave the calories. They run and play and find toys in the funniest things...I have yet to see someone pout over not having the next thing...they just make their fun and joy out of the “here and now” and what is available. They live in the moment. I have taken
some incredible pictures of them...they taught me a whole lot today about being satisfied with what I have, and making the most with what life has given me.
Joy and playfulness are a choice. These children were happier than I can tell you...well at least in the moment that I saw them. They need food and shelter and medical care on an ongoing basis to keep this wonderful spirit. Sadly, I also saw some that clearly lacked these basic things and they were not so joyful.
Staying with this missionary family "The Osbornes" has been such a wonderful blessing. I am at such peace here...There is such love, grace and acceptance. I am moved to tears each morning as I participate in their morning activities...I feel very much a part of this large family...typically we have 20-25 people at each meal...let me tell you I have never learned so many foreign names in such a short time...they each hug me good morning every day. After breakfast we all sit outside in the roofed porch, with the garden nearby, and sing worship songs in Kamba (the tribal language) with drums, tambourines and such.
|
The people have such incredible LOVE for God and praise uninhibited and unashamed. They show their love for one another in the same way. Each morning I cry gently as I hear them sing, and I struggle to participate, as I am not "yet" fluid in Kamba. (This is what I pictured in my minds eye as I dreamed of Kenya.) Some of the boys are writing/translating the songs in English so I can follow along and feel like I belong. This morning 3 of the boys sang me a song and one read a poem he had written for me to make me feel welcome. They have shown me great love. Hoyt and Lois are beautiful people and have made me feel at home so well in the short time I have been here. I read the words I have just written and know that they don't even begin to express the experience I am having.
After the singing and worship...Hoyt reads from his daily reader and shares and teaches...he teaches in such a personal and simple manner with such gentleness and kindness.
|
He shares the gospel as Jesus did...makes it so that the people of this village can relate to it. he uses their name....he uses things that they see in there daily life. He demonstrates the love of God for them in the way that he lives and is...this is their home. This is how we begin each day. We end the day in much the same way...sometimes a little more subdued...most suiting for bedtime. It is very powerful.
We then share the chores of the house...I have come to be the dish dryer...I love doing this...there are lots of dishes to dry...as so many have meals here...this is a wonderful time for me...I get to talk and tease with the others as we go about our work....It gives me a way to be a part of the group and get to know people..I do not want to be seen as an outsider who is from America and thinks she is different....I know better. I have come to know what it means that the blessing is in the serving, not in the receiving. I feel great when I am able to do my part.
Lois and I have had a lot of special time together to share and talk...I enjoy her company very much...she has a way of making you feel comfortable very early...and many of the women here have learned this about her...The first full day I was here...3 woman waited all day just to get to talk with her and be counseled. All of the workers and people here call her Mamma...seems quite fitting.
I have been able to help one of the gentleman here who has been having high blood pressure...he is very sweet...and I am going to a local clinic soon to bring the medical supplies that I have brought...I also plan to leave some supplies here for Hoyt and Lois...they constantly have people with medical needs turning to them. I am going to 9 of the churches to give seminars on how to prevent and treat diabetes and High blood pressure. I am meeting with a local nurse here to discuss how best to approach this…I plan to use the common things in life here to draw analogies to help them understand these complex topics...I was able to bring material with me that has simple pictures to go along with the symptoms of both Diabetes and Heart Attack....and plan to do screenings and give recommendations to those who are symptomatic. I have seen a few town people who know I am here, and are coming to see me so I can assess things that they are concerned about medically. I will do what I can and am guided to do in the medical arena...it is such a desperate situation here...I will do all I can. It is very difficult without the multitude of assessment tools we have back in the States…one must depend on their physical assessment skills alone…unless a person can afford to go to the hospital…most cannot.
One of the things I feel very guided to is to help Lois and Hoyt with gaining support...the needs here are endless...they support many people in every way possible...funds are never enough to meet all the needs here. I am an amateur (and I do mean amateur) photographer...and took lots of film and slide film...I plan to use the pictures that I have taken, and will take of daily life here in Kenya to make a slide presentation....I will then go to churches in America with their literature and share this incredible experience with them. I just bought a bunch of neat Kenyan artifacts for the table (to set the mood) and plan to wear traditional Kenyan dress. I feel very moved to do this...and have a lot of energy about it....I know I can help in this way, and I can use some of the gifts God has given me. I love to take pictures, and I love to speak and share things that I am
passionate about...couldn't be more fun to me.
Next week I will go on a safari and have 4 game runs...I am very excited about this....I love animals and have always dreamed of going on a safari...
|
it's in my book of things I want to do in my life...with this trip I will cross off 2. (The missions trip and the safari.)
I am so grateful to be here with Lois and Hoyt and sharing in their work...my faith in God has grown even in the 4 days that I have been here...I have needed this time. They have so much to share. The way they practice their faith is very simple and honest and very non-preachy...they are very real and all around get to be real too....one never has to fear being imperfect. They are non-legalistic and really focus on the unending grace and love God has offered us in the gift of his son. The way they witness is not intrusive and very inviting. People are drawn to their faith and peace and simply want to know more.
The country side is simply gorgeous...we had the opportunity to go into the mountains yesterday and it was incredible...the sky gets stormy most nights as this is the rainy season
(It only seems to rain for a little bit at night) and this makes the sky so interesting...blue and deep and mysterious...especially when the storms begin to come in as the sun is setting...what a sight...I love it. We live at about 6,000 feet so it is not overly warm, and the sky is so clear (stars are very nice at night) I got some great pictures...I am glad that I brought so many rolls of film. Everything is so different here...it truly is another world...when I return...I will share some of the pictures with you...as I'm sure you can imagine...they won't do it justice.
As I suspected I am receiving more than I can possibly give....I will not come home the same person..of this I am sure...and I am glad to know it.
I will try to write a few times while I am here...please feel no pressure to respond...respond if you like...but know I don't expect it...I just want to share this wonderful journey God has brought me on with you, because you have been such a support to me, and I want you to know that I appreciate it.
Love and Peace,
Anne Ouellette
|
| Home |
Our Story |
KEM Bible College |
Anne's Letter
|
