Day 3 Thursday Returning from overnight in Kissi
Amazing days! The people in Kisii were so welcoming and appreciative of our choosing to get to know them better. You know, they are amazed that there are people coming into Torah in America; not just in Kenya! Funny how we are always thinking that our experience defines everyone else’s experience! Both Peter’s put their heads together and were finally able to make the online stick work, so I am trying to write about this last day while we are on the four hour drive home. I hope to be able eto upload these words into the blog, too.
It is so hot today that the Kenyan’s are complaining….so I am most certainly uncomfortable. The red dust is blowing and just seems to be in everything. My white canvas shoes arent’ white anymore so I may have something to ask Jane to see if she can do anything with them. I think I have had 4 bottles of water so far and I am still dry. The computer keyboard feels a little gritty too. I almost brought along a cleaning rag; now wish that I had done so.
I have to mention our driver who is called Francis, not to be confused with Francis/ Chege who is one of the elders of Set Apart here in Kenya. This Francis has taken this car through places we would call a path; not really a street or a road. I will try to include some pictures; especially the short portion where everyone in the back seat got out to walk, but they insisted I stay in and ride. When he’s not navigating around rocks and tree stumps, he is equally comfortable navigating around people, vehicles, bumps and potholes. As we are going along the highway at anywhere from 80-120 KPH he still manages to do the weaving back and forth that seems like a dance here, as all drivers work around the potholes and pass anyone slower than them at the first chance. He also knows the location of every speed bump along this whole highway and slows down long enough to gentle navigate over each one; and there are many!
Last night, Peter, Francis/chege and I came down the hill to go to a hotel for the night, while Francis and Mama Kamau who accompanied us stayed with friends there. It was difficult enough getting into the settlement area in the daylight, and even more so coming through it after dark. On the way back up this mornining, Peter happened to land on several rocks right under my feet and sideswiped a tree trunk that dented the left front door so that I couldn’t get out when we arrived. I have a picture that seems like a universal one to me: men standing around shaking their heads at what has happened and doing what is necessary to get the car back on the road. They had it fixed and looking like new by the time we were ready to leave today!
But I am getting ahead of myself! After my first rest day at Peter’s brothers’ apartment, we left to make the four hour trip to Kisii. After the delays trying to get the computer to work, and various other little things along the way, we arrived at 3 rather than at noon. We stopped at a western supermarket and I was able to find some tuna fish, which they’d never head of, as well as some Sprite and juice and ultra pasteurized milk in a carton to use with my Herbal Life shakes. We had traveled through the Rift Valley and I will try to put a few pictures in here. It is magnificent. Several of the elders did know that this valley is part of the same geological fault line as the Dead Sea and Jordan River in Israel. We went through the Massai Reserve as well, and saw many Massai tribes people and herders. Peter explained that they choose to do all things the same, and still favor the same red clothing of generations. They are like the Bedoins in Israel in their nomadic lifestyle. Of course, there are “tourist” gift shops along the road where the local people offer a good view for pictures, and various souvenieers of the “big five” animals.
Several times Peter said we were getting close; the last time was when we turned off the paved road to a dirt road, which just continued to get smaller and more rough until it truly was little more than a trail that mountain goats were have trouble with. Usually, he and the other elders travel by public transportation, and the walk up this last few miles that took us an hour to navigate. A new business venture has been the purchase of motorcycles/mopeds which people can either rent for the day or hitch a ride on, rather than walking up to the village. Peter expressed his concern several times that these drivers have no special training and are dangerous! He isn’t any happier with them than he is with the public buses. After the first “wild ride” from the airport in the dark, I could now see more of these buses, many of whom are big vans, with the sliding door have hanging off the track.
Samuel says if you take care of your car and make “repairs and repairs’ you can make a car last up to 20 years here! I am amazed they’d last a year, having ridden in one going up these paths and hearing all the protests of the vehicle. Peter tells me that the final stretch of road to each of the more rural places we will be going will be of the same poor quality. This trip was just the longest at 4 hours driving time.
Today, the other Peter also was present and translated for me when I spoke with the people; while “our Peter” translated last night. The second Peter came in a little Toyota like we had with 5 people in it, riding with 13 people. He said he had to sit still for a little while when he arrived so that his legs got over being numb and he could walk. But again I am ahead of myself.
Since we were late, the planned schedule changed a bit. The ladies there insisted on serving us chai tea and flatbread/ what they call _____ chaple??___(Chapatti!) The Chai tea was wonderful, and since it was hot, it was something I could eat. I was really trying to be careful so as not to entertain traveler’s diarrhea but the bread seemed okay; and certainly it was part of a welcoming guests ritual, so hardly one I could refuse. I did realize that I am on antibiotics for other symptoms I had been having which worsened while flying so should probably still be okay! We sat in chairs at two tables set together, covered with a lace tablecloth, in a hut made with mud plaster, and wallpapered with newspapers. There was the usual corrugated metal roof and a curtained door to the other room. I think I have pictures that will give you an idea. It is amazing to be in such a home and also be working with the computer! Their church gathering building is of similar construction through several gardens and pasture lands and sugar cane crops and down a gravel path yet they had an electric sound system, with a keyboard for Joshua the talented musician who leads their worship, together with several others. He would like to come to America. Not only that, but I realized as I was talking and Peter was translating, that a young man was videotaping the whole thing! He even taped our walk back out to the “road” loosely speaking. Peter said he though I would be able to get a copy of that. I said you all would probably not believe me what this looked like! The simple huts with metal roofs, and wooden tables outdoors for the food, interspersed with some cattle grazing between lots, and garden plots are set in an awesome valley in which you can see the roofs dotted among the trees. They practice some kind of land management I think with all the patterns on the hill side. The ladies carry water jars on their heads as we’ve seen in movies, and sometimes even bundles of sticks. Along the way, we also saw the local children heading off to school for the day, each in their uniform. They were truly amazed to see me and some were afraid to shake hands while others eagerly reached out. (It is custom to do a handshake with a special grip here) The ladies said it is because they hadn’t seen light colored hair ( or skin either maybe?)
And when we gathered in the simple building for worship, they raised with roof with a song extolling Yahweh and Yeshua Messiah. They seem to feel strongly that they are well able to write and sing their own praise music in their style and do not need to rely on doing things in a “Jewish” way. HalleluYah!
One New Man in action, I think.
With so many leaders/pastors in the room, it is important to include as many people as possible and give them an opportunity to speak so we heard many strong messages of faith in a short time. There were 4 variations/tribal languages present there, and some of the people didn’t understand Swahili or English so Peter Ndungu W. translated for Swahili, and Peter Ndungu M. translated as best as possible for the others. It is such a blessing to hear people speak the Word and really lean into what is said and how the message of truth was brought by the Disciples. One of the elders had said that they knew they are just planting a seed and if it takes root, we praise. If people don’t want to hear, or they don’t want to receive the truth and become “set apart’ they don’ t worry about them.
Peter gave me a good introduction and spoke about the need for all people to grow together in Messiah as well as learning how to get along. Peter Ndungu M. said to them that it was amazing that MamaRachel understood Yahweh called her to come and she came to a country she didn’t know to people she’d never met by sight, and didn’t know if she would be safe or unsafe with them. He said if Set Apart Ministries in America was concerned enough about them to send her, they should be encouraged to know that they are important to Yahweh!
Peter had asked me to do the hand teaching first so that’s where we started. They were very appreciative and it was hard to say good bye even for just the night, and even though Peter was trying very hard to get us all in the car and down the road before dark. Looked like herding cats to me. I think he needs a tri broom.
I haven’t even mentioned another whole story. When I had spoken with Brad and Carol Scott about coming to Kenya, they were also concerned I was going alone and gave me the name of several men they know in Nairobi to contact them is possible. I did write an email to one Joseph O. and he did respond just one day before I left. He uses a public computer and doesn’t get there often. He did respond to this “brother” and was especially happy to visit our website and find that we share faith so he said to have the brothers’ there call him on his cell number and we would try to meet.
I did give Peter the number and we called Joseph who then arranged to meet us on the way to Kisii with his pastor Maurice. Since we were late, they had waited for several hours, but when we met it was joyful. I learned later that Joseph hadn’t realized that Barbara was a woman’s name so was surprised to hear “a sisters’ voice” on the phone. They enjoyed meeting Peter and Francis and MamaJamai so agreed to come along to Kisii with us for the evening. They enjoyed that so much that they stayed over night to be with us this morning too. Turns out they were from Gospel Formation Conference church and their leaders had begun studying Torah several years go so they are pretty new and only knew about Tabernacles so far. They did not know that Peter and Set Apart Ministries groups were around and were so thankful for new brothers and sisters. They said how excited they were that this referral by Brad and Carol would lead them to like minded people. So I think that was one of the YHWH appointments we have been praying for. HalleluYah!They left me with greetings for our Set Apart community and thanks for making it possible for me to come.
The local congregation we were at was headed by Pastors Daniel, Ezra and various others. They too, extend their thanks and joy and appreciation for making it possible to hear about growing up in Messiah. This morning, after the trouble with the car, we got a late start again after chai tea and flatbread but people just kept coming in. Peter again spoke eloquently of how important it is for us to know that we can shine like stars in Messiah. That it is good to be different in His ways so that people will be drawn to His light in Us; not to us, but to Messiah. He said that we can shine in our own homes with our families and out in the world but we should pay attention to what our gifts are. If we are gifted at home and try to go out in the world, we will make a mess. And if we are gifted to go out in the world, but stay home we also make a mess. I don’t see how he could have presented me in any more honoring way and bless Yeshua that we were indeed correct that He is a brother in Messiah.
A pastor, DK, from a neighboring village especially spoke thanks for coming and expressed a direct request that Bob will be able to come and visit them sometime when I come back. That was a strong hint from many…WHEN you come back.
Peter and Francis had explained to me that this part of western Kenya is considered the inmost parts, and that the people here are more isolated; girls and boys marrying as young as 13 and 16 and having children, never leaving the villages during their lifetimes. They are good people and are among the newest groups to have joined Yahweh’s Set Apart Assemblies so are young in understanding of what they teach. He thought they would benefit most from the relationship teachings so we covered Understanding Self Worth and the Responsibility chart today. Once again it was well received, in the midst of such good solid instruction, and wrapped up with a few praise songs beginning and end. I think I was able to get about 10 minutes of the final song and words of several of their leaders. If I can, I will try to enter that, too!
They insisted we stay for lunch so I was treated to corn bread, kale, chicken. I am afraid I was insulting to the ladies though I tried to say they had served much more on a plate than I could eat. Peter M. insisted that I needed a picture of myself eating their corn bread and kale so he ran for the camera.
Someone always insists on carrying things for me and MamaJamai was surprised that I was so comfortable walking on paths through the sugar cane and between the hedges, even climbing through a fence. I tried to explain a little about camping and enjoying the country, but I’m not sure that the idea of camping would mean much, for people who live, camping!
So now we are on our long way home. We stopped in Bomet for some more water bottles, and like before there were some people from the Set Apart community there again. Today, I met Edward who is a welder, and have a picture, as well as shaking hands with a number of smiling children! Then a young girl was looking troubled, and Peter began to ask some questions. Turns out she was visiting her grandmother and was on her way home to her parents, but the money for her bus was missing, so she is riding home with us, now 4 people in the back seat, though not nearly like the 13 in the other car!
I see the battery is running low so I will see about entering this now before it stops entirely.
Despite little sleep, blowing sand, the strong “Kenya” wind odor, bumpy roads, and worries about illness with food, I am already so glad that YHWH called me to come and that you all made it possible for me to do it!
Watching and praying
