Serious water concerns

Jan. 24.17

I am realizing more and more just how serious are the affects of this hot dry season. The local people are telling us that it is exceptionally hot this year and they have not had any rain since November. Everywhere we go now, we are reminded that the drought is causing deep concern. We visited the Training College today. A beautiful facility constructed mostly through the generous support of The Salvation Army in the US.  A great blessing for this Territory.   Despite its state of the art buildings, however, they are currently struggling with a serious lack of water.  The kitchen has been challenged to get the food it needs from the local area because crops are scarce and are selling at high prices.  All the Cadets eat together in the dining room.  We noticed that the dishes were all washed in small tubs and at the end of the day there was no water in the washrooms.

In the local papers we are reading of some areas in the country where there is a concern of starvation due to the drought. The animals are also adversely affected and people here depend so much on live stock.  We noticed cows 'grazing' on the side of the hill on our drive home, but there was literally no grass so I am not sure what they were consuming.

So today, instead of writing about our visit to the College, I write to ask you to join us in prayer that rain will come soon. It isn't expected til March but the people (and the animals) really need it before then.

Thank you for sharing this burden.

First visit to Kitale January 22

It is truly a privilege to share significant events with Salvation Army leaders in this Territory. For the second Sunday following, we have been given responsibility to lead the installation ceremony of Divisional Leaders, this time in Kitale.  We begin by learning a little about the city. Kitale is a large city that is a hub for the area that surrounds it.  Many Kenyans travel to Kitale when they are en route to other places, like Turkana in the north of Kenya or to other countries such as Uganda, Sudan, or Ethiopia.  Our driver explains to us that from Monday to Monday, Kitale is always bustling with crowds of people and sure enough, we saw just that.  We drove through the heart of what we would call the 'down town' of the city where we saw streets lined and lined with market places, buses, motor bikes, and crowds of pedestrians. I have been told that Kitale is where much of Kenya gets its food supply. There are many large farms that provide produce for the country. Many people have moved to Kitale because they are able to secure larger pieces of land for their families. The Kitale Division serves about 36 corps, one of the largest divisions in the Territory. This is a very difficult time of year for this area because of the long, hot dry season.

Arriving at DHQ we were warmly greeted by the leaders and shared breakfast together. We had left our home at 6:30 a.m. so the spread before us was welcome - eggs, samosa, arrowroot, muffins, and locally grown bananas. And an excellent cup of tea. Yet, they have no running water in their home. Morris noticed people bringing water while we were having our meal. This was a reminder of the things that are second nature to us in Canada but not necessarily so here.  The warmth of the welcome was inspiring with no complaints or even mention that they live without running water.
Following breakfast a few children were waiting to give us the official welcome. Always so heart warming to be greeted by children!

Before long we hear the sound of the Army band - the march of witness has begun. We make our way to the reviewing stand and greet hundreds of soldiers from each of the seven centers in the Division who have come to celebrate, worship, and welcome their leaders. Throughout the morning service, we revel again in the beautiful singing. There is lots of dancing, which we are now becoming quite familiar with.  When they present us with welcome gifts of some African attire, we are led out to dance with them (robed in our new clothing) as a sign of our appreciation. (See photos below). Kitale Citadel Songsters favored the crowd with a beautiful selection (unable to post it here but hoping I can post it on facebook) and several youth items are also included. The new Divisional Commander challenges the congregation to move forward with a deep trust in God and a commitment to keep extending God's Kingdom.

We are reminded of security challenges today with the site of armed soldiers present. We understand that particularly in this election year (will write more on that later), keeping crowds safe is very important. The government has advised The Salvation Army that for any gathering of more than 300 people, there will be government security present. We have no fear for our safety and are grateful for the efforts to protect the people.  People are obviously unhindered by any threat of safety right now as so many have traveled freely to this event.  We were apprised in a private conversation following the meeting that there has been vandalism to The Salvation Army's property (quarters and halls) in recent years and some further discussion will address this concern.

Travelling to and from Kitale gave us our first glimpse of African baboons. A familiar site in the forest area of our drive. Like tourists, we call to our driver to stop the car so we can get some photos. It's not as easy as it sounds to pull over on the side of the road but we did manage to get a couple shots of the animals.

Tomorrow we go to the Training College. So, until then ...

Some photos of our day:

Warm welcome by the children. 

Every march begins with a band!

A glimpse of Kitale Citadel

Tents always required for large gatherings to provide shade from the hot sun.

Installation ceremony

 

Dancing is the cultural way to express appreciation for gifts received. 

Morris in his comfort zone. :)

The baboons! 

A few photos!

Our first week in Kakamega we dedicated a new vehicle to THQ for the TC/TPWM. Here we stand with our new team of Cabinet members outside of THQ.

Here is an example of one of the corps in the Kenya West Territory. They are proudly displaying the International Whole World Mobilizing flag.

Inside one of the corps.

They love to march! This march was held during our first weekend out when we had the privilege of installing new Divisional leaders.

Here we are saluting all the soldiers on the march!

Ready to meet and greet the people with their new Divisional leaders.

And they love to dance!!

Yes, that's me out there too. :)











A quick visit to a girls school after the service.

Some of the girls who board there and their teachers.

Morris's first driving day! :)

Another view.

Morris takes the plunge - the driving plunge that is! Jan. 20

This is a big day for Morris. He has taken the plunge and is now driving from our quarters to THQ. It may be difficult for most of you to appreciate that driving is anything but a basic skill for most adults. In Canada, yes. In Kenya ... ??  The change to driving on the other side of the road wasn't too bad, though you have to be conscious of keeping to the left and remembering your signal is on the right side of the steering wheel and your gears on your left. Someone suggested to him before leaving Canada that a good tip is to make sure you always keep the steering wheel side next to the yellow line. Well...in Kakamega there are no yellow lines or any color lines. :)

Driving on the left hand side is not the biggest challenge. What is most difficult is maneuvering between the crowds of motorcycles, bicycles, and pedestrians that weave in and out, behind and before and watching the cars that are obviously quite comfortable on this road. In addition, the road construction in town continues which magnifies the difficulty of the driving experience.

Morris takes the wheel with as much confidence as he can muster and we've now made two trips with no incident.

So the offering of prayers today is for 'no accidents'!

PS  I have a photo of his big day but I have yet to learn how to attach photos to my blogging. I promise photos soon!

Adjustments Jan. 16.17

January 16.17

The hardest part of this transition is definitely the distance from family. Our video connections (mostly through What’s App has been our life line to home. To be able to see the faces and hear the voices of those we love dearly (especially our girls, son-in-law, and precious granddaughter, Anna-Lynne) has both encouraged us and left us in tears. This will likely always be our biggest struggle. Prayers for us and them are welcomed. 

Connecting with our siblings has also been very important, especially over the past 10 days, so we are grateful that while internet service is different here, at least we still have it. (We have to get used to buying air time and then converting that into internet bundles.)

The differences in food & beverages has been intriguing. Each special event meal is a buffet that usually includes a few natiave dishes (ungali, chapati, fried cabbage, arrowroot, mandazi, etc.) as well as rice, potatoes, vegetables, and always fresh fruit.  There is a good variety at the buffet.   The food products which are similar to our Canadian ones taste just a little different – the jam, the ketchup, the fruit, the yogurt, etc. But it’s all good. Interestingly both Morris and I seem to have less of an appetite here. I think that is affected by the hot weather. So maybe we can shed a few of those extra pounds we’ve wanted to get rid of! J

The heat is both a blessing and a curse.  It’s nice to enjoy the beautiful sunshine and wear light clothing and receive lots of vitamin D from the sun. (Winter boots and heavy coats will no longer be part of our wardrobe.)  The only challenge for us thus far is trying to sleep during the hot nights and sometimes getting sweaty when we have to be outdoors for several hours (eg. the Sunday worship services).  The greater challenge is for the people whose daily lives are adversely affected by the drought. On a minor note, the roads are very dusty and keeping clean is an extra chore – like protecting white uniforms. But I see also that the dust from the gravel roads cause some breathing issues for some who are walking – and most people walk. Even more than that, however, is the places where these months of ‘no rain’ translate into ‘no water’ for drinking and washing. We visited a Salvation Army Girls’ school in the western part of the Territory this week, Kolanya, (near the Uganda border). The girls and teachers are often tasked to be out in the community trying to find water. The administration was happy last week when a sponsoring project arranged for a small drill near the school which will hopefully reap some flowing water.

Time takes on a whole new meaning in Kenya. No one rushes. Processes are much slower.  People are not ‘driven’ like the western world. It takes a little getting used to. It isn’t disrespectful to be late. You just need to be patient. You really have no choice but to slow down and enjoy the African life style.

I learned a new Swahili phrase today when I was about to leave the office, so I will leave it with you: ‘tuo nane kesho’ – see you tomorrow!

A short reflection - Jan. 14.17

January 14

We have been in Kenya for less than two weeks and we have experienced so much already. I struggle to know how to describe the lifestyle. It’s almost an oxymoron.  It is simple, yet difficult; refreshing, yet heart breaking. The beautiful singing of the THQ choir (as good as any I have heard) with no accompaniment except their voices reminds me that less is more. The site of hundreds and hundreds of shops and markets lining the streets every day inspires me as innovative entrepreneurs make a living with more basic means than I have ever seen. They sell their products from before sun up ‘til after sun down every day in the dry, dusty side lines of the main road hoping to achieve enough revenue to feed their families.  

I have only yet caught a glimpse of life in this land. I have so much to learn. I have a feeling my life will never be the same.

“Don’t judge a man until you have walked a mile in his shoes.” (Cherokee proverb)

Immigration here and a funeral there. January 13.17

January 13.17

Immigration requirements are likely unique for every country. When preparing to come to Kenya, we understood the work permits we had received was all we needed to reside and be employed here. Not so.  Further processing was required, including a trip back to Nairobi to the Immigration Office to obtain an Alien Card, a Personal Identification Number, and finger printing. Sounds easy enough but it actually took a full day and a half and even then one piece was still missing for me that should be resolved next week. We were supported by the PR Officer from the Kenya East Territory who was extremely helpful. We were so glad he was driving us in ‘the big city’. The traffic was bumper to bumper or at a stand-still - similar to the 401 during rush hour.  The difference in Nairobi is the crowds of pedestrians weaving in and out of this traffic selling whatever they could carry in their hands – fruit, board games, car parts, shoes, house hold supplies, etc. What brave souls! I was startled once from my back seat when suddenly I saw a blind man, supported by a friend, walking between the cars begging for some needed money when he was struck by one of the motor cycles speeding past another vehicle. Fortunately the man wasn’t hurt.

We returned to our hotel that evening and in the quiet room, our minds travel home. This is the time of the funeral service for Brock. It is so hard even to put that in writing. It just doesn’t seem real, but for our family at home it is more than real. What can we do from such a distance? We watch the clock and visualize all that is happening for them each hour. We read the Bible and pray for comfort.  

"Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast." 

Psalm 139:7-9

First Week in Kenya, Jan. 04-09

First Week in Africa

After a day and a half of travel, we arrived at Kisumu airport to a warm African welcome and sweltering heat to match! (32 C).  A crowd of Salvation Army officers from THQ, DHQ and corps and one of the corps bands (playing for all to hear) were there to greet us. It was a humbling experience. Treated like royalty. We gathered in a circle, shared our greetings with them, and one of the officers prayed over us. We were then driven to Kakamega (one hour).  On the road we saw crowds of people managing their small businesses in small ‘huts’ that I find difficult to describe. Basic perhaps, some might even say primitive. Poor, at best. For some reason, I noticed children playing with tires and they appeared to be having great fun rolling them along the side of the street. I have to admit that my heart is stirred by the site of what I see all around. I was not really expecting to see all of this so soon. I feel like I have been swung from one end of a pendulum to another.

When we got into Kakamega, we discovered part of the main road is under major construction. This magnifies the congestion, such that I had never experienced. There appears to be very minimal ‘rules of the road’ which accentuates the challenge.  Hundreds of motor cycles weave in and out between, behind, and before the other vehicles - many of them carrying three people or cargo of many sorts such as chairs, mattresses, or 8 ft pipes. They are quite skilled at balancing! People seem quite comfortable walking across the streets in between the cars and the motor cycles. This will take a little getting used to.

We were warmly welcomed at our new quarters by the Territorial leaders and shared a meal with them around our dining room table. Our first taste of African food - it was lovely.  I especially like the way they cook their cabbage and I also like the chapatti (similar to a pancake). The leaders sat with us for a couple of hours and prayed over us. We know there is a deep faith in God in this place. We spent the rest of the day unpacking suitcases and getting familiar with the house. It is quite comfortable and spacious. Our quarters is located in a compound. There are guards posted at the front and back gates for security reasons. The gardens are beautiful - lots of green trees accenting the peaceful grounds – seems like a place of quiet rest.  This is our new home.

At the end of the day, just as we were preparing to retire to bed, we received a call from home that suddenly disturbed us greatly. Morris’s nephew, Brock, had just died. Vaden and Judy are devastated and the family is shaken, sharing their heart ache. We quickly feel so far away. There is no recourse to consider returning home as we just arrived and the two day journey back would not be reasonable. But oh how our hearts long to be there. We knew this journey would be a walk of faith for us and on the first day our faith reaches back across the miles to ask God to bring divine comfort and strength in this tragedy. We lay our heads to rest with heavy hearts, pleading with God to care for our family when we cannot.

The rest of this week is filled with many logistics of settling into a new home and work in a new country. Cell phone and internet service is different here so we’ve needed some training sessions on that - still working out some glitches for service at home.  A visit to the supermarket introduces us to the variation of groceries that will now fill our cupboards – but there is Heinz ketchup! We’ve walked the grounds of the compound and met the gardeners – some who have come to work for The Salvation Army through one of the social programs here.  One of them, Nesbo, we discover later in the week also leads the THQ choir. We have also now met two of the guards – Henry and Bonifice.  There is one guard posted at the front gate 24 hours a day (two of them rotate shifts) and another guard posted at the back gate during the night. They are very friendly.

Our first weekend here was quite eventful with the installation of the new Territorial Leaders – Commissioners Stephen and Grace Chepkuri. On Saturday, members of the Cabinet travel to Kisumu to greet the International Secretary and Zonal Secretary for Women’s Ministries for Africa who are the guests for the weekend. I wondered why so many had to be a part of this. One of my first learnings here is that welcoming people is extremely important.  It is a symbol that they are accepted in the land.  They believe first impressions are long lasting so every visitor’s welcome is an extra effort.

On Sunday morning, we met at THQ for breakfast with Cabinet and Divisional / District leaders. Following breakfast, the local police led our convoy of vehicles to the local University, the venue for the Installation Service. (By the way, we smiled during breakfast when several of the police officers came in to join the morning meal, dressed in their street uniforms and carrying their rifles, yet greeting the officers with friendly smiles and casual conversation – it is apparent that there is a good relationship with them here.) Arriving at the University, we see a huge field set up with large tents to provide shade for the people and a large platform for leaders and guests. The Territorial Leaders, International Leaders, and ourselves make our way to the reviewing stand and suddenly we see the March of Witness forming up, led off by the Kenya West Territorial Band. For over an hour we stood to greet the officers and soldiers from every division and district as they marched in impeccable formation, in sparkling white uniforms, as everyone saluted their new Territorial leaders. There were hundreds and hundreds of them. We were just amazed by this visible witness of The Salvation Army. Over 3000 people had come for this event and 90% of them were on this march!  During the next three hours, we would experience the joyful singing and dancing of the people who freely offered their worship to God as well as their respect for the new leaders. Many of them sat on the ground for the entire service, enduring the direct sunlight (30+C) yet engaging in every moment of what was shared.

Several divisions presented musical items and various speeches of welcome were offered.  Following the installation ceremony, Commissioner Stephen brought the Word of God, basing his challenge on Exodus 17 where Moses needed the help of Aaron and Hur in order to defeat the enemy and move forward to build God’s Kingdom. We listened and engaged in the meeting through the help of a translator as it was all spoken in Swahili. We were warmly welcomed by the TC and given opportunity to speak to the crowd.

On Monday we met at THQ for a private meeting with the Territorial Headquarters staff and Divisional / District leaders as well as the Training College Principal. It was another hearty welcome for us and we had opportunity to speak to the leaders during another time of worship.  Oh, yes, the singing we have experienced is amazing!  What perfect harmony - with no musical instruments, a sweet melody to our ears. We have learned a few Swahili words this week. Habari (hello); Habari ya saboi (good morning); asante sana (thank you very much). And Morris learned a few other words that escape me right now. He was able to greet the leaders with a few phrases this morning.

We will not soon forget our first weekend in Kenya West. And at the same time, we keep remembering our family at home. We are torn between two opposing life experiences. We have been able to video call our family and assure them of our love and prayers from the other side of the world. We pray God will comfort them as they cling to one another.

“I lift up my eyes unto the hills, where does my help come from. My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of Heaven and earth.” Psalm 121

A New Year - A New Adventure Jan. 02-03.17

Welcome to my Blog!
This is a new writing venture and an opportunity for me to share the journey that Morris and I have begun. Hope you find meaning in the reading. I'm sure I will in the writing.

January 02-03.17

A new year has begun and what lies before me/us is more unknown than the beginning of any of our past years. We are en route to our new home in Kakamega, Kenya. This adventure begins with faith. A deep trust that what is unknown to us is known to God. Erica gave us a wonderful message today: "Do not be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God." Corrie ten Boon.

The hardest part of the journey was our farewell to the people we love most - our children (Erica & Stephanie, & Erica's husband, Jeff) and our beautiful granddaughter Anna-Lynne.  A two-year-old that has captured every fiber of our hearts! The distance that separates us now will only be manageable because of our deep love for one another that no miles apart can damage, and the use of modern technology that will keep us visually and audibly connected. We are blessed to have a family with whom we share Christian faith and mutual respect for the paths we each are taking.

Psalm 139 reminds me that from the days of being formed in my mother's womb to these days of spiritual leadership, from a small rural town in Newfoundland, to a bigger rural town in Kenya, God is the creator of all that is life. With this knowledge, I (we) make our way because we believe in the promise: "Even if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me."

One final thought. I remember hearing Colonel Wayne Pritchett preach a sermon on the first Sunday of a New Year. I don't remember all he said, but I remember his text:  "In the beginning, God ..." At every beginning, there is God. So, here goes our new beginning!

Wanda