I went to the service at the school today – there’s a service in English that all the boarding students are required to attend. Rev. Kendagor preached, and it was nice to hear a message in English without someone translating the whole way through. Then Brian, Noreen, and Andrew (the Bible College student who lives in) came over for dinner in the afternoon. It’s been a pretty quiet day I guess, but I’m still tired!
I had my first choir practice at the school on Friday – it was fun! They have decided to send one class at a time, so I had Standard 8 pupils (about 14 year olds). There are about 45-50 in the class, and they’re good singers! Of course, I didn’t really know what I was doing – so just made it up as I went along as usual! J They sang in church this morning so we practiced for that, and then we just went over a few of the pieces they already knew. They love to sing – after the class period was over, some of the kids wanted to stay on and sing for another while since that was their last class of the day. So I was playing the piano for another hour, while they kept calling out favourites.
There’s no such thing as personal space here in Kenya – the kids sit on top of each other on the benches during services etc. While I was playing, one girl was leaning on one of my shoulders, and one on the other, and someone else was playing with my hair as they were all singing around the piano. You would see even boys walking along with their arms around each other’s shoulders, and I have seen men holding hands as they walked through the street. It is VERY strange to our “Western” eyes, but the Kenyans think nothing of it – they’re just showing affection to friends. They probably think we’re really standoffish and cold!!
They say cats have nine lives, but I think the cockroach must win the award for most stubbornly holding on to the one life that it has. I saw one in the bathroom last night, but couldn’t be bothered going for the spray etc so decided to let it live this time. So I went on to bed, and was just getting comfy when I heard that sound the cockroach makes (can’t describe it – a sort of a squeak). But it sounded pretty close by, so I switched on the lamp and sure enough – there he was on the floor right beside the bed. Too close for comfort. I grabbed the spray which was handy on the bedside table and went for him. Well, he went leaping and darting all over the room, but I followed gamely and nearly knocked myself out with the amount of spray I had to use. Finally, his jumps got a bit weaker and I finished him off with a flip-flop. I must confess that I’m so lazy that I just set the flip-flop on top of him and just jumped back into bed. Although I did wonder for a minute if I should move him outside the door in case all his friends and relations came to bury him. It was quiet the rest of the night, though, so I guess cockroaches aren’t into funerals.
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Good Sabbath!
I had a good Sabbath today! Brian and I attended the BCFC church in Bendera, which is on the Bible College grounds (where Brian is staying and just across the fence from where I am). They have a prayermeeting each Sunday at 8:30am, then Sunday School at 9am, and the worship service at 10:30. The man who is pastoring this church (who is actually one of the part-time students at the Bible College and is in charge of one of the bookshops here) is one of the very few Kenyans who believe in starting things on time! So the service began at 10:30 sharp, even though only about a quarter of the congregation was there. The others straggled in during the next 45 minutes.
Did I mention before that in Kenya you have to be ready for anything? Both Brian and I, as the visitors, were called up to the front to “bring greetings” and say a few words of encouragement. That’s pretty routine here though. What caught me off guard was when Pastor Choge came down to me while the choir was singing their piece and said he wanted Brian and me to sing a duet!! We had about 3 minutes notice to prepare, and I must give Brian credit for keeping us going because I got a bad attack of the nerves and had to keep taking breaths in the middle of the lines. I just can't deal with singing in front of people unless it’s with a big group.
The service finished around 12:30, and since there’s never an evening meeting here (it gets dark about 6:30pm and wouldn’t be safe to bring everyone out after dark), we had the rest of the day free. So Brian came over and we listened to the Ballymena morning service, then I spent a couple hours studying, then we had dinner and then listened to the Ballymena evening service and part of the Lisburn evening service. So now I’m ready for bed! It was great to be able to tune in to the webcasts though, and to have our souls refreshed by preaching in English that we could understand! Don’t ever take this privilege for granted!
Did I mention before that in Kenya you have to be ready for anything? Both Brian and I, as the visitors, were called up to the front to “bring greetings” and say a few words of encouragement. That’s pretty routine here though. What caught me off guard was when Pastor Choge came down to me while the choir was singing their piece and said he wanted Brian and me to sing a duet!! We had about 3 minutes notice to prepare, and I must give Brian credit for keeping us going because I got a bad attack of the nerves and had to keep taking breaths in the middle of the lines. I just can't deal with singing in front of people unless it’s with a big group.
The service finished around 12:30, and since there’s never an evening meeting here (it gets dark about 6:30pm and wouldn’t be safe to bring everyone out after dark), we had the rest of the day free. So Brian came over and we listened to the Ballymena morning service, then I spent a couple hours studying, then we had dinner and then listened to the Ballymena evening service and part of the Lisburn evening service. So now I’m ready for bed! It was great to be able to tune in to the webcasts though, and to have our souls refreshed by preaching in English that we could understand! Don’t ever take this privilege for granted!
Thursday, 17 September 2009
Getting to work
The group of visitors left this morning – had to say goodbye last night. They’re driving up to Nairobi – stopping at a safari park on the way, and then flying home on Saturday. Pray that the Lord will keep the burden of Kenya fresh on their minds and hearts.
Now it’s time to get down to work. And it is getting rather busy here! I had my first class in the Bible College this morning – I’m teaching a class on Church Music. Here’s the course description from the catalogue -- “This course discusses Church music in both its biblical and historical context, detailing the history of some of today’s most popular hymns, and the use of drums and dance in public worship.” There are four students in the college at the moment – one is full-time and in his final year, and the other three are part-time. Two of them are pastoring churches as they study. I was REALLY nervous this morning (actually feeling sick!), but by the end of the class I was rather enjoying it. This class will usually be on a Monday morning.
Tomorrow morning, I’m taking my first class at the Christian school – it’s teaching a Bible class to 12 year olds. So we’ll see how that goes! I’ll also, Lord willing, be teaching piano to 5 teachers and helpers at the school each Friday, as well as 5 or 6 others on Wednesday and Saturday.
We’re travelling down to Mumias on Saturday, just for the day. It’s about 3 hours away, where Gillian Gillespie lives and works. The missionaries all get together once a month for a day of prayer, alternating between Mumias and up in this area. Kathy is leaving for furlough in the States tomorrow morning, and Dave is leaving on Saturday. He’s going to be ordained at the Ministers’ Week of Prayer in the USA at the beginning of October. Pray for them both as they travel and as they have a short time at home with family and friends. Pray for me too – I’m staying in Kathy’s house, and not only will I be housekeeping for myself for the first time in my life, but I’ll be housekeeping in Kenya! There are a few differences here, like remembering to soak your vegetables in sterilizing fluid before eating, boiling and filtering your drinking and cooking water, making the chai (Kenyan tea) for the watchman each night, washing clothes by hand, trying not to get attacked by our own watchdog (2 dogs are very friendly, but the third really has taken a dislike to me, especially after dark. Apparently I walk too fast! Imagine that!). I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes, but I’ll learn a lot!
Just a quote in closing from a book I’ve been reading recently (thanks, Richard). It’s a great book, and I’d recommend it to you all. It’s called This One Thing by Amy Carmichael, and is the life story of Thomas Walker of Tinnevelly (he was the mission leader in India under whom Amy worked).
“Christ said, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ Let us be content with nothing less than that in our churches: eternal life, and life more abundant.
There may be zeal for Christianity, without there being spiritual life. There may be liberality in giving, and yet no life. There may be church-going, and lyric-singing, and street-preaching, and all the time no life. Let us confess it on our knees before the living God – we have been too much occupied with outward organization and missionary routine; we have not sought for our Indian brethren, as we should, a Spirit of life form God; we have not loved them, wept over them, *wrestled in prayer for them as we ought to have done. Lord, we blame ourselves today. We are verily guilty, we missionaries, before Thee in this thing. Our strength has often been expended over the externals of our work, and we have failed to attain, in any adequate degree, the main object of our mission, that immortal souls might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. From this time help us all to make a fresh start. And O Spirit of life, breathe upon our congregations.
*(“We have not wrestled in prayer for them”; by that word he did not mean what is sometimes called “wrestling with God.” What he did mean was a wrestle with all that hindered prayer.)
From "Spiritual Life in the Indian Church", a paper prepared for the missionary Conference of 1902 by Thomas Walker .
Now it’s time to get down to work. And it is getting rather busy here! I had my first class in the Bible College this morning – I’m teaching a class on Church Music. Here’s the course description from the catalogue -- “This course discusses Church music in both its biblical and historical context, detailing the history of some of today’s most popular hymns, and the use of drums and dance in public worship.” There are four students in the college at the moment – one is full-time and in his final year, and the other three are part-time. Two of them are pastoring churches as they study. I was REALLY nervous this morning (actually feeling sick!), but by the end of the class I was rather enjoying it. This class will usually be on a Monday morning.
Tomorrow morning, I’m taking my first class at the Christian school – it’s teaching a Bible class to 12 year olds. So we’ll see how that goes! I’ll also, Lord willing, be teaching piano to 5 teachers and helpers at the school each Friday, as well as 5 or 6 others on Wednesday and Saturday.
We’re travelling down to Mumias on Saturday, just for the day. It’s about 3 hours away, where Gillian Gillespie lives and works. The missionaries all get together once a month for a day of prayer, alternating between Mumias and up in this area. Kathy is leaving for furlough in the States tomorrow morning, and Dave is leaving on Saturday. He’s going to be ordained at the Ministers’ Week of Prayer in the USA at the beginning of October. Pray for them both as they travel and as they have a short time at home with family and friends. Pray for me too – I’m staying in Kathy’s house, and not only will I be housekeeping for myself for the first time in my life, but I’ll be housekeeping in Kenya! There are a few differences here, like remembering to soak your vegetables in sterilizing fluid before eating, boiling and filtering your drinking and cooking water, making the chai (Kenyan tea) for the watchman each night, washing clothes by hand, trying not to get attacked by our own watchdog (2 dogs are very friendly, but the third really has taken a dislike to me, especially after dark. Apparently I walk too fast! Imagine that!). I’m sure I’ll make some mistakes, but I’ll learn a lot!
Just a quote in closing from a book I’ve been reading recently (thanks, Richard). It’s a great book, and I’d recommend it to you all. It’s called This One Thing by Amy Carmichael, and is the life story of Thomas Walker of Tinnevelly (he was the mission leader in India under whom Amy worked).
“Christ said, ‘I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ Let us be content with nothing less than that in our churches: eternal life, and life more abundant.
There may be zeal for Christianity, without there being spiritual life. There may be liberality in giving, and yet no life. There may be church-going, and lyric-singing, and street-preaching, and all the time no life. Let us confess it on our knees before the living God – we have been too much occupied with outward organization and missionary routine; we have not sought for our Indian brethren, as we should, a Spirit of life form God; we have not loved them, wept over them, *wrestled in prayer for them as we ought to have done. Lord, we blame ourselves today. We are verily guilty, we missionaries, before Thee in this thing. Our strength has often been expended over the externals of our work, and we have failed to attain, in any adequate degree, the main object of our mission, that immortal souls might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. From this time help us all to make a fresh start. And O Spirit of life, breathe upon our congregations.
*(“We have not wrestled in prayer for them”; by that word he did not mean what is sometimes called “wrestling with God.” What he did mean was a wrestle with all that hindered prayer.)
From "Spiritual Life in the Indian Church", a paper prepared for the missionary Conference of 1902 by Thomas Walker .
Saturday, 12 September 2009
School Opening
Well, the big day is all over! It went really well – the Lord gave help and strength and over-ruled in each detail. We were there about 8 am and last-minute preparations were still being made at 10:30, well past the time when it was supposed to start! Thankfully, Mr. Moi was running on Kenyan time, and his helicopter didn’t touch down on the school football field until everything was ready. The school kids were all gathered to sing a welcome for him, and some of the women from the school and church also gathered to sing. Mr. Moi and Dr. McClelland, who was the other “guest of honour”, unveiled two plaques at the front of the main building, and declared the school officially open. Then they had a quick tour of the school, and came up to the other side of the campus (the school has 9 acres, and a road runs through the middle of it) for the service itself. Dr. McClelland preached really well, some of the school kids sang, the wazungu (white people) sang, various presentations were made, and Mr. Moi spoke briefly. The meeting probably lasted about 2 ½ hours, and then we all had some lunch. There were probably about 2000 people there, and when we left the school at 4pm, folks were still in line to get fed!
The traditional dancers did get in after all! Jonny and I had gone up to the top compound to watch the helicopter landing and the first part of the ceremony, and when we came back to where the meeting was held, there were probably a couple of hundred Pokots in their respective groups and costumes – inside the gate! They didn’t cause too much stir though – they stood quietly for most of the meeting, and then towards the end, they began “dancing”. It was mostly just hopping straight up in the air, and back down again while they shook their spears. They had big necklaces of beads or something around their necks which made noise, and they shouted now and again. The funny part was, Mr. Moi left the compound by a different route anyway, so they didn’t even get to dance for him!
We all went to the Kitale Club for a dinner last night – the group of visitors, the missionaries, and as many Kenyan ministers and elders as possible. A few of us got a swim before dinner, which felt SO good after all the heat and dust of the day! Then after dinner, all the visitors were presented with gifts, Rev. Kendagor made a speech, and Dr. Woods brought a word of testimony. Rev. Kendagor mentioned a couple of things about the future of the church that need to be prayed about. One was the need for a more accurate translation of the Scriptures into Swahili, and for accurate translations to be made into all the tribal languages. The trouble seems to be that some if not all of the Bible Societies that are working in Kenya (and I have no idea how many there are – maybe only one!) are not accurate or faithful in their translation work. So the choice for the church leaders is either to give their people an unfaithful translation in their mother tongue, or none at all! Pray that faithful men and women will be raised up, whether in the BCFC or another solid church or organisation, who have the necessary skills and knowledge to translate.
Tomorrow, all the visitors are splitting up into 5 or 6 groups; in each area, people from the churches nearby will gather in one central location, and one of the visiting ministers will be preaching. These big meetings are called “humojas”. Some of them go on for a few hours! Keep it all in prayer, please.
The traditional dancers did get in after all! Jonny and I had gone up to the top compound to watch the helicopter landing and the first part of the ceremony, and when we came back to where the meeting was held, there were probably a couple of hundred Pokots in their respective groups and costumes – inside the gate! They didn’t cause too much stir though – they stood quietly for most of the meeting, and then towards the end, they began “dancing”. It was mostly just hopping straight up in the air, and back down again while they shook their spears. They had big necklaces of beads or something around their necks which made noise, and they shouted now and again. The funny part was, Mr. Moi left the compound by a different route anyway, so they didn’t even get to dance for him!
We all went to the Kitale Club for a dinner last night – the group of visitors, the missionaries, and as many Kenyan ministers and elders as possible. A few of us got a swim before dinner, which felt SO good after all the heat and dust of the day! Then after dinner, all the visitors were presented with gifts, Rev. Kendagor made a speech, and Dr. Woods brought a word of testimony. Rev. Kendagor mentioned a couple of things about the future of the church that need to be prayed about. One was the need for a more accurate translation of the Scriptures into Swahili, and for accurate translations to be made into all the tribal languages. The trouble seems to be that some if not all of the Bible Societies that are working in Kenya (and I have no idea how many there are – maybe only one!) are not accurate or faithful in their translation work. So the choice for the church leaders is either to give their people an unfaithful translation in their mother tongue, or none at all! Pray that faithful men and women will be raised up, whether in the BCFC or another solid church or organisation, who have the necessary skills and knowledge to translate.
Tomorrow, all the visitors are splitting up into 5 or 6 groups; in each area, people from the churches nearby will gather in one central location, and one of the visiting ministers will be preaching. These big meetings are called “humojas”. Some of them go on for a few hours! Keep it all in prayer, please.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Preparations for the Opening
I’m so tired I can hardly walk! We were up at the school today to set up for the big day tomorrow. So setting up tables and chairs, carrying desks, cleaning and dusting etc. Then back home for a bite to eat, and back to the school for a couple hours tonight to set tables and put out flower arrangements. The Kenyan way is for the boys to do the outside work and the girls get stuck inside!! I didn’t think it very fair. Brian and Jonny helped to carry stuff, of course, and any other boys whom we could shame into helping.
It was a good day, though; I had a chance to meet a lot of the school kids and get a chat with some of them. They’re all very friendly and affectionate, although some are still shy around white people. Pray for these kids – they have a great privilege in attending a Christian school. We went to the church in Emboghat on Sunday, and one of the young men asked me to come and give a word of “encouragement” to the young people. They were all going back to boarding school on Monday, and some of them (as young as 11 or 12) go to Roman Catholic schools. In other words, for 9 months of the year, they are under the direct influence of Rome, 7 days a week.
The big group from Ulster arrived yesterday. They went into Kitale to do some shopping, and I met up with them after observing/helping with a few piano lessons. The bookshop in Kitale was filled with white people – it looked really strange! They are staying in the Kitale Golf Club, which is about the only place here that would have half-decent accommodation. It’s not bad – the golf course, swimming pool, squash court, etc. I felt a bit in limbo actually when I was with them – I’m not one of the missionaries, but I didn’t feel like one of the “visitors” either!
Keep the meeting tomorrow in prayer, that everything will go smoothly and God will be glorified. Dr. McClelland is preaching, and I know there will be unsaved there. A lot of people from the community are coming because Mr. Moi (the former president) will be there. In fact, some people wanted to do the traditional welcome dance for him, and of course they weren’t allowed, and now they’re saying they will do it right outside the school gates! Mr. Moi has never come to this area before, and it’s quite funny to see how the potholes are being filled up in the local roads and other things made shipshape. Anyway, I’m going to go do a bit more and then head to bed. Keep in touch, everyone!
It was a good day, though; I had a chance to meet a lot of the school kids and get a chat with some of them. They’re all very friendly and affectionate, although some are still shy around white people. Pray for these kids – they have a great privilege in attending a Christian school. We went to the church in Emboghat on Sunday, and one of the young men asked me to come and give a word of “encouragement” to the young people. They were all going back to boarding school on Monday, and some of them (as young as 11 or 12) go to Roman Catholic schools. In other words, for 9 months of the year, they are under the direct influence of Rome, 7 days a week.
The big group from Ulster arrived yesterday. They went into Kitale to do some shopping, and I met up with them after observing/helping with a few piano lessons. The bookshop in Kitale was filled with white people – it looked really strange! They are staying in the Kitale Golf Club, which is about the only place here that would have half-decent accommodation. It’s not bad – the golf course, swimming pool, squash court, etc. I felt a bit in limbo actually when I was with them – I’m not one of the missionaries, but I didn’t feel like one of the “visitors” either!
Keep the meeting tomorrow in prayer, that everything will go smoothly and God will be glorified. Dr. McClelland is preaching, and I know there will be unsaved there. A lot of people from the community are coming because Mr. Moi (the former president) will be there. In fact, some people wanted to do the traditional welcome dance for him, and of course they weren’t allowed, and now they’re saying they will do it right outside the school gates! Mr. Moi has never come to this area before, and it’s quite funny to see how the potholes are being filled up in the local roads and other things made shipshape. Anyway, I’m going to go do a bit more and then head to bed. Keep in touch, everyone!
Sunday, 6 September 2009
Sunny and Singing Lessons
We arrived into Kapenguria on Thursday evening after a long but uneventful drive. Things began happening almost at once, however -- Sunny, one of the compound dogs, managed to slip through the gate and got hit by a car! He's a lovely big lab -- very friendly and affectionate. Margaret Russell and Kathy Walker share a walled compound, a night watchman, and three dogs as protection from . . . . (I haven't been told yet what all the dangers are!) Anyway, Sunny was hit in the abdomen (if that's what you call it on a dog), and he was vomiting and seemed to be in a lot of pain. Thankfully, he seems to have picked up a bit in the past two days and is more in his usual form, although still finding it a bit difficult to eat.
Yesterday (Thursday), I spent the morning helping to get stuff ready for the BCFC Academy official opening which takes place next Friday. Sounds like it's going to be a big event! The former president of Kenya -- Mr. Moi -- is attending as well as some other officials, or maybe they're just his aides. Then there's a group of 22 people coming out from some of the Free Pres churches, and then of course a lot of parents and church members from here. Everyone has to have a name badge -- i.e. "guest", "special guest", "parent", "host", "steward", etc. So I spent a couple hours hot-glueing some badges together yesterday. Then we went into Kitale for a few hours to run some errands and for Kathy to do some business at the bookshop. Kitale is the nearest good-sized town (about half an hour away from Kapenguria), and it's also where Noreen McAfee and Rev. Dave DiCanio live. (Gillian Gillespie lives about two hours away in Mumias.) We ended up going to Dave's for dinner -- pizza which he made from scratch. Yum! Must say I was impressed with the cooking.
Everything takes so long here! Mundane things like going to the bank etc -- you feel like it's wasted time I suppose, but it's very necessary. I guess when we think of the "hardships" that missionaries put up with, we don't think of these very ordinary, day-to-day chores as being part of that, but in a real way they are because sometimes it seems like everything is a hassle. Somebody said yesterday that if living in Kenya teaches you nothing else, it teaches patience.
I'm going to be filling in for Kathy while she's home on furlough -- she leaves in a couple of weeks and will be away for 4 months. Of course, I won't be able to do some of the stuff she is responsible for -- for one reason or another: I don't know the language, I wouldn't have a clue how to begin running a bookshop, etc! But I'm supposed to take over her piano students and at least keep them moving in the right direction if nothing else -- she has 10 students at the moment -- all adults, because there's no way to choose between all the kids who want to learn! So she's begun only with adults. Kathy also trains the choir directors from several different BCFC churches -- she meets with them once a month. Today was one of these meetings. It was supposed to start at 1pm, but at 1pm no one was there yet! So around 1:45, we commenced. It was certainly an education for me. All the Kenyan believers who were there (approx 12 or 13) could "lead" music better than me (since I'd never tried it before) in that they knew how to swing their arms etc. So I pretended to concentrate on singing the Swahili words while watching them out of the corner of my eye until I had gotten the hang of it a little. Then one of the choir directors, a man called Francis who would assist Kathy, taught us all a little of the "do, re, mi" system. This was also completely new to me! I was very relieved when Kathy told me that I should probably let Francis lead the choir training meetings while she's away (since I can't speak Swahili); so my responsibilities will be to play and chip in with suggestions etc. Sounds good!
I was supposed to go with Kathy as she taught one of her piano students this morning. The lesson takes place every Saturday morning at 8:30 am -- on the side of the road! Kathy couldn't find a central location where she could set up the keyboard, so she pulls off the road at a certain point, opens the boot, and sets up the keyboard just outside it. Then Emily walks out to meet her, and they sit in the open boot and have the lesson. Only in Kenya!! I would have taken a picture for you all, but sadly Emily never showed up this morning. Whoops!
Kathy and I are going to the church in Emboghat tomorrow; Alec Wallace from our Randalstown church is going along to speak. Brian Lorimer and Jonny Blaney from Ballymena (both of whom are getting along fine by the way) are going to the church in Moi's Bridge. Jonny is due to preach. Pray for these services, that God will help the fellas as they preach, and that His Name will be glorified.
Was trying to put pictures on here, but having a bit of trouble due to slow connection. I'll try again!
Yesterday (Thursday), I spent the morning helping to get stuff ready for the BCFC Academy official opening which takes place next Friday. Sounds like it's going to be a big event! The former president of Kenya -- Mr. Moi -- is attending as well as some other officials, or maybe they're just his aides. Then there's a group of 22 people coming out from some of the Free Pres churches, and then of course a lot of parents and church members from here. Everyone has to have a name badge -- i.e. "guest", "special guest", "parent", "host", "steward", etc. So I spent a couple hours hot-glueing some badges together yesterday. Then we went into Kitale for a few hours to run some errands and for Kathy to do some business at the bookshop. Kitale is the nearest good-sized town (about half an hour away from Kapenguria), and it's also where Noreen McAfee and Rev. Dave DiCanio live. (Gillian Gillespie lives about two hours away in Mumias.) We ended up going to Dave's for dinner -- pizza which he made from scratch. Yum! Must say I was impressed with the cooking.
Everything takes so long here! Mundane things like going to the bank etc -- you feel like it's wasted time I suppose, but it's very necessary. I guess when we think of the "hardships" that missionaries put up with, we don't think of these very ordinary, day-to-day chores as being part of that, but in a real way they are because sometimes it seems like everything is a hassle. Somebody said yesterday that if living in Kenya teaches you nothing else, it teaches patience.
I'm going to be filling in for Kathy while she's home on furlough -- she leaves in a couple of weeks and will be away for 4 months. Of course, I won't be able to do some of the stuff she is responsible for -- for one reason or another: I don't know the language, I wouldn't have a clue how to begin running a bookshop, etc! But I'm supposed to take over her piano students and at least keep them moving in the right direction if nothing else -- she has 10 students at the moment -- all adults, because there's no way to choose between all the kids who want to learn! So she's begun only with adults. Kathy also trains the choir directors from several different BCFC churches -- she meets with them once a month. Today was one of these meetings. It was supposed to start at 1pm, but at 1pm no one was there yet! So around 1:45, we commenced. It was certainly an education for me. All the Kenyan believers who were there (approx 12 or 13) could "lead" music better than me (since I'd never tried it before) in that they knew how to swing their arms etc. So I pretended to concentrate on singing the Swahili words while watching them out of the corner of my eye until I had gotten the hang of it a little. Then one of the choir directors, a man called Francis who would assist Kathy, taught us all a little of the "do, re, mi" system. This was also completely new to me! I was very relieved when Kathy told me that I should probably let Francis lead the choir training meetings while she's away (since I can't speak Swahili); so my responsibilities will be to play and chip in with suggestions etc. Sounds good!
I was supposed to go with Kathy as she taught one of her piano students this morning. The lesson takes place every Saturday morning at 8:30 am -- on the side of the road! Kathy couldn't find a central location where she could set up the keyboard, so she pulls off the road at a certain point, opens the boot, and sets up the keyboard just outside it. Then Emily walks out to meet her, and they sit in the open boot and have the lesson. Only in Kenya!! I would have taken a picture for you all, but sadly Emily never showed up this morning. Whoops!
Kathy and I are going to the church in Emboghat tomorrow; Alec Wallace from our Randalstown church is going along to speak. Brian Lorimer and Jonny Blaney from Ballymena (both of whom are getting along fine by the way) are going to the church in Moi's Bridge. Jonny is due to preach. Pray for these services, that God will help the fellas as they preach, and that His Name will be glorified.
Was trying to put pictures on here, but having a bit of trouble due to slow connection. I'll try again!
Wednesday, 2 September 2009
Here I am in Kenya
I'm sitting in a guesthouse in Nairobi, using the wireless internet. Arrived early this morning, and spent the day running errands with Kathy Walker and getting stuff that won't be available in Kitale. I was able to go to the Liberian consulate here in Nairobi and get my visa for the trip to Liberia that's planned for the end of October. So at least that will cut out the hassle of doing it by post!
I'm really tired, and tomorrow we're heading down to Kitale/Kapenguria area where the missionaries live. It's a 6 hour drive, with a stop along the way to pick up some stuff for the bookshop, so I better get some sleep!
I'm really tired, and tomorrow we're heading down to Kitale/Kapenguria area where the missionaries live. It's a 6 hour drive, with a stop along the way to pick up some stuff for the bookshop, so I better get some sleep!
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