New life in Kenya : January 2019

Hello Family & Friends,

Before the first month of this year gets totally away from us, let me say hello and share my inaugural 2019 blog. Since we last connected, we’ve all had our Christmas excursions or stay at home time and welcomed the blank slate of a new year. Morris and I spent a treasured stint in Ontario with our children and grandchildren in December, reveling in how the little ones have grown and being delighted with their new interests and expanded conversations. Along with loving our walks to school with Anna-Lynne and Granda cherishing his Tim Horton’s dates with her, we both found her child-like expression of “oh my goodness!” so funny! Oliver surprised us with his constant (and I mean constant) attempts to play Erica’s purple p-bone (real size plastic trombone). Even a hockey stick and a toy mop gets lifted to his lips as he declares emphatically “trombone”! We also loved spending extra time with Stephanie and got to hang out with her and her boyfriend, Jeremy. Jeremy loves to cook so watching them serve up a delicious meal together for the whole family was an added treat.

Following the Christmas festivities, came the ‘welcome’ of a new year. To be honest, the turning of the calendar started off sad as we had to say good-bye again and head back to Kenya. Those who live far from the people they love most know that these ‘farewells’ do not get any easier.

The busy days of ministry set in quickly on our return including for me a trip to the northern and most remote region of our territory, Turkana. I have previously written about visits to this area. It is the place where we have the most extreme weather conditions, usually severe heat causing drought (though last year it was flooding) often causing significant livelihood challenges. It is our largest geographic district, bordering as far as South Sudan. This time my trip was with the Women’s Ministry department. The first of our “Empowering Women” seminars planned for this year. The preparation meant networking with the local leaders to discover what relevant needs might be addressed and how we might enhance the resolve of these ladies to live healthy and productively, encouraging their confidence to tackle their challenges, and hopefully offer a new insight or two.

We met with about 40-45 women who inspired, enlightened, and humored us in our dialogue together. I was immediately delighted with their quick interaction as we engaged them in the various lessons. Very little hesitation to respond to questions and offer their own stories and answers to ‘what are you doing’? Most of the ladies had come from the far distant areas, travelling more than 200 km over very rugged terrain. In these remote villages, the traditions and culture which shape their lives include polygamy, inconsistency in how families view education, and varied perceptions about self-worth. (We were informed by the new District leader that two of the young ladies in the group were married to the same man, a young boy who had just finished high school).

Many of the women (both the young and older) were wearing the wide traditional beaded neck jewelry which can look like a fashionable neck brace, yet worn with much pride. From an earlier visit, I remembered that this jewelry was often indicative that the girl’s father wanted male suitors to see the worth of his daughter. Pre-arranged marriages are most common. One story about the beads suggests the more beads around her neck, the more dowry the parents required. Another version indicted the amount of beads reflected the father's wealth, enticing a young man into the family. It likely depended on the community. In some some villages, girls have limited or no opportunity to go to school but are kept at home to care for the family so she would learn how to be a ‘good wife’ and keeper of the home and not be influenced by ‘other teaching’. Women who were older and married many years still believed that wearing these beads reflected their value and the honor to their traditions. Visitors, like myself, know that it is not our place to condemn these customs. In this setting, our role is to respect all participants as we present new opportunities to learn and grow.

The joy and dancing was incredibly energetic, beyond what our women’s group could keep up with – not just the Canadian. In the midst of the dancing and singing, we talked about family relationships, income generating opportunities, spiritual growth, and the strength of women. We listened to stories of women whose husbands were unfaithful, yet they were responsible to provide for his well-being. On the other hand, we were delighted that many of them had their own markets or were involved in table banking groups. In several places where Commissioner Grace had visited the week before, women were actively contributing to the growth of the church, including taking leadership roles or fund raising for new quarters and halls. In my closing remarks at the seminar, I told the women I would never forget Turkana. They had touched my heart and I prayed God would bless and protect them and enable them to keep growing and learning.

I am very grateful for this visit north, for the opportunity to serve with and see the Army at work in such ‘far away’ places. I am so thankful to have met these women who keep seeking God and who contribute much to their world. These few days remind me that I am seeing "through a glass darkly" with only a partial glimpse of a much bigger picture. The trip coincided well with a couple books I’ve recently read of how people are deeply shaped by their environment and background. ‘The Book of Negroes’ and ‘Educated’ are two accounts of real life culture, customs, and ethnicities which both startle and jolt me about how a way of life profoundly influences who you are. As Newfoundlanders, for years we have heard ‘you can take the boy out of the bay but you can’t take the bay out of the boy’ (if you aren’t from Newfoundland, ask a person who is what that means). This lighthearted sentiment carries great truth.

The place, people, and customs into which you are born help form your values, beliefs, and life learning – whether the elements around you are sweet or harsh. It isn’t always the determined end result, but it has unquestionable impact. It is quite eye-opening to discover how people respond to their life situation with resilience and courage, how people overcome adversity, and utilize their context for either good or not so good. The ties people have to their families, their home, their land, and their way of life are intrinsic to one’s identity and who we become in the world. It isn’t the only shaping factor but it is one none of us can escape.

As I close my blog, I ask you to join us in praying for Kenya. The attacks in Nairobi have disturbed us greatly this week and we pray for those severely affected and those who will assist with building hope and healing.

Wishing all of you a good year filled with much love and lots of hugs!

Wanda & Morris

PS Just remembered, we were all given traditional names in Turkana. Mine was Aman (Awe-man). It means 'ocean'. Pretty appropriate for this native Newfoundlander.

A few Turkana pics