What a GREAT day! This morning, my friends from dinner the other night picked me up to go to the far side of town. There, we met Sam and Sarah, some friends of some friends of mine back home. They have been living overseas for a long time now, having different roles and living in different places. Now, though, I think they have found their niche. They have started a business here in Nairobi that combines business and ministry. It may sound like a funny principle, but it WORKS.
Sam and Sarah wanted to allow national believers the opportunity to share their faith, while still making a living that provides for their families. After a LOT of research and experience, they developed a plan to connect with many churches in the city who nominated key members of their body, whether deacons or just natural leaders, who could lead a house group and take initiative in new neighborhoods to build relationships and establish a believing community. After an intense selection process with interviews, a group of around 15 men were chosen. These men were hired by Sam and Sarah to learn about leather as a trade. They spent weeks being trained and now work Monday through Thursday as a group making ornaments, luggage tags, key chains, picture frames and more. All that they make with the leather is sold throughout town and has begun to be sold in places like the States as well. The money provides for an income for these men so that they can care for their family. Then, on Friday and Saturday, these men are expected to be in a neighborhood that each is assigned to so they can meet people to make friends and ultimately share Christ with. During the week, the men are encouraged and held accountable to each other. They learn the Bible in stories that they can share since stories are a great way to share Christ with others in their culture.
I spent the morning with the men, watching them work and hearing their stories. Before my friends and I left, we all sat down together to take a break and formally introduce ourselves. This was one of the most incredible experiences on my journey. My friends and I introduced ourselves first, telling where we were from and what we did... everything you would expect from a typical introduction... in the States. We each were asked to stand as we spoke and all of the Kenyan men were so respectful of us, smiling at us and saying “Amen” or “Praise God” wherever appropriate. THEY ATTRIBUTE ALL GOOD THINGS TO GOD. And... shouldn’t we all? I sat down from telling a little about myself seeing God in things I was involved in... just from hearing these men react to my story. Next, the Kenyans each took a turn and stood. They started their introductions by telling first that they were a believer. THAT is how they identified themselves. And, after each one said so, the rest said: “Praise God.” They were so earnest and simple and honestly, they were HIS. It was so apparent to me from listening to them speak and watching their eyes look at each other as their bright white teeth glowed against their dark skin. I don’t think I could forget these moments. After they each claimed that they were a Christian and that God saved and rescued them, they told a little about their families and the people that they are ministering to. I guess my words can’t begin to explain. It’s just that... They couldn’t stop being thankful for Jesus.
When I left, they encouraged me in what I am doing and who I am serving and presented an ornament to me as a gift. Then, they smiled and waved me on... and I was definitely changed.
When it came time for lunch, I went to the Sam and Sarah’s house for stew and more telling stories. I really enjoyed my time with this incredible couple and was very encouraged by what they are doing and the successes that they have had.
After a great morning and a great lunch, I went off on my own again. While I had a successful experience, it was CRAZY CHAOS. I went curio shopping. Now, I still don’t really understand what curio shopping is... but I do know it is crazy. The shopping is in an outdoor open-air market on the top deck of one of the big malls here. So, I headed to that mall and rode the elevator to the top floor. My plan was to look like I knew what I was doing (as my plan usually has been here) and to just walk around all of the booths to just peek at the types of things people were selling. Though I wanted to buy some things to take back home, I didn’t want to let that on, knowing they would be on me before I knew it, convincing me to buy from them. Well, my plan was foiled. There is no way I could look like I knew what I was doing. NO WAY. It was chaos. There is no better way to explain it. I am sure I looked like a deer in headlights at first. I spent about fifteen minutes walking around, trying to look at what people were selling, but spending most of my time telling people, “No, no, I am not interested!”
And, I can’t believe I did this... but I did. I escaped to gather my senses for take two. I went to the bathroom (where it was quiet) inside the mall (and away from tons of people) and then walked back out there, with my head held high, knowing what to expect and more about how to handle myself. I bought several things, my favorites being a few nativity sets for family and close friends. The work that the people were selling was all beautiful. I wished that I could have bought more, but I didn’t spend too much. I did have to take a taxi home, after all! One of my favorite moments while curio shopping was talking to James, the man who made the nativity sets. He sat on the ground explaining each character to me and how they were a part of Jesus being born. I told him that I would buy a few and asked if he would hold onto them until I came back so I wouldn’t have to carry them. He was pleased to do so and spent my time away packing up all the pieces for me in a bag. When I came back, he was so glad to see me... I’m not sure, but he may not have expected me to return. He gave me the bag and thanked me and I paid him for his artwork. The best part of it was paying him close to what he originally asked for the sets. A friend from home told me had done that and I wanted to as well, so I bargained with James for a really cheap price and then handed him way more. He was surprised and delighted and it was worth every shilling I paid.
For dinner, I was picked up by Luke, a friend of someone I met in Northern Africa. He took me to the school where we picked up his wife, Katie, who is a teacher there. We went to their home where we made homemade pizza! It was fun to hang out with a couple who is my age and who has made a life in Kenya. They were both great people and have decided to live here for a few of their first years of marriage before moving back to the States. To get home from their place, they called a cab for me and we told the driver exactly where I lived... I even gave him a business card with my address! However, we had a bit of a problem coming home. This could be one of those stories that may concern a few of you back home, but I really was fine :). Thomas, my taxi driver, spoke a little English, but I have to admit, I was a bit concerned riding home after dark with a driver that I hadn’t met before. Then, my concern became greater when my driver asked me which way you go from the strip center nearby to get to my house. I told him that you turn right out of the strip center and you then will be to my neighborhood soon after. He nodded like he understood me, but I began to not recognize where I was. I asked him if he knew and he said he was going the direction that right would have taken us from the center. I told him that maybe we better turn around. So, we did... on a highway. Then, we drove for a long time and I asked him if he thought we were getting closer. He didn’t seem to know so I suggested that maybe we stop and ask for directions. Of course, this was eating into his time (that I had already called a price for), so I don’t know that he was too thrilled about asking for help, but said that maybe he would ask soon. I said to him that we should turn right and pull into a place that I recognized, knowing it was near the strip center. He pulled in and turned around and when I asked him to exit the strip center, I told him, “Turn right.” And guess what? He started turning LEFT! We had been having a right/left communication problem the whole way home! When he turned the wrong way, I said, “No, no, turn RIGHT. This is left!” Finally, he understand that he has had it backwards all along. We got near where I lived and he pulled into a gas station to ask for directions. I just sat in the car... waiting. He came back and said he understood and once he turned off the highway, I knew exactly where I was and was able to direct him home. He kind of believed me at first, but once almost asked a guy on the side of the road, carrying a rifle, for more help. Before he rolled down his window, though, I had him convinced that we were close to where I lived. Kind of a close call, maybe. However, just another time where I was forced to rely on God... which I suppose wasn’t half-bad, after all. :)
And a side note that has nothing to do with Africa at all: tonight, I came back to where I am staying and had plans to take a shower. I got in and began thinking to myself. I thought about how we live our lives within lines and never explore outside of what we are already familiar with. We never take a step into the unknown to try new things. And then, I did something that seemed pretty clever at the time to me: I got out of the shower (before I was finished) and brought my Mac into the bathroom, setting it on the toilet with the lid down. And then, I took a shower while watching an episode of Glee, a television show I downloaded several episodes of for my time away. The shower pressure here is next to nothing and water definitely isn’t spraying everywhere, with or without the shower curtain. I know this is a really dumb story, but I thought I would share... with hopes that we would begin to think outside of what we have been taught for the sake of making something better. Hopefully your ideas will be more like Sam and Sarah’s rather than mine... but I suppose you have to start somewhere :).
Enjoy watching television in the shower tonight... you know you want to try it now! Go ahead... I won’t tell :)
Laura
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