Another week has passed here in Malindi, and it was the most exhausting one thus far. Monday we went snorkeling, or at least attempted to go snorkeling. We arrived to the ocean where a boat was waiting for us. We got on and waited for a few minutes while our guides got all of our snorkels and flippers. It began to rain and it was rather cold. Once we started moving, the sun finally popped out and it began to warm up. After a short ride, we arrived and jumped in. The coral was really pretty and it was a good snorkel. We got to see lots of fish and even a sea turtle. We snorkeled for about thirty minutes and then the wind and waves picked up. At that point, we all decided that it'd be best to get back in the boat. All twenty of us got back in the boat, and we began driving down the coast towards our lunch spot. It started raining again and it wasn't a pleasant ride. We rode for what seemed to be an hour down the coast, and finally our guides picked a spot for lunch. I'm not sure why we went so far because any spot on the sand would've done. We parked and all got out and ran under a big rock overhang to try to stay dry and warm. The rain kept coming down and it was pretty cold. A few of us attempted to start a fire, and after about thirty minutes we succeeded with the help of a local woman. As soon as we got it going, our guides told us to get back on the boat (which was covered) because they were about to serve lunch. For lunch, we feasted: all kinds of fish, lobster, and shrimp, as much as we could eat. It was delicious. During lunch, the rain stopped and the sun occasionally peaked out. After about an hour and a half for lunch, we were ready to head back out for more snorkeling since our morning got cut short by the rain. We all got ready to go, and then our guides informed us that the tide had gone out too far. Our boat was sitting in just a couple inches of water, and we would have to wait for the tide to come back in. So we got out and played in the water and sand. An hour later, the tide had gone out even further. The boat was basically on dry ground. We knew that this wasn't good and that we weren't going anywhere anytime soon. That was around 3:30 P.M. Kenya looked up on her phone when the tide was supposed to come back in. Bad news: It wouldn't go fully out until 5:45 P.M., and then it would start coming back in. I'd be lying if I said it wasn't somewhat frustrating. James called our bus driver and told him where we were. After another hour, we grabbed our stuff and abandoned ship. We started walking inland and about half a mile down the dirt road, we saw our bus coming. Overall, the snorkeling and food were good, but the rest of the trip was pretty tough.
Monday was to be our day of rest and relaxation while snorkeling before heading to the village. Needless to say, it was far from that. Nonetheless, we got back to the compound Monday night and packed our bags. Early Tuesday morning, we hit the road for Singwaya. It was about a two hour drive to the village down the dirt roads. Tuesday through Friday we did a basketball camp at the primary school in Singwaya. We'd have one class in the morning and one in the afternoon. The groups varied anywhere from about 40 to 150. Brittany and I were at a station of passing and defense. We were given a sheet of drills and games. We used some and made some up as we went. On Friday afternoon, we played a game against each grade. The whole school of almost 600 kids plus teachers came out to the dirt court that we made throughout the week. We played a short scrimmage game for guys and girls for every class from 2 to 8 (basically 2nd to 8th grade). It was exhausting but was a fun time for the kids to see how the game is really played. After playing all the kids, we scrimmaged the teachers. The kids laughed and screamed and cheered as we scrimmaged the teachers. They loved every bit of it. Afterwards, we had a closing assembly where we donated two basketball goals and several basketballs to the school. The students and teachers were very appreciative of our donations.
Friday night we set up a screen and showed the Jesus Film in Giriama, the local language. Although it was hard to tell, there seemed to be anywhere between 300 and 600 people there. One of the national pastors led an invitation, and 34 people came forward for salvation. Their information was given to the pastor of the church there in Singwaya. Hopefully the church will see much growth as a result of the basketball camp and the Jesus Film. The church has been meeting at the school, but recently bought a plot to put their own building. This morning the 20 from our group plus about 20 from the church cleared off about a half-acre of land so that they can begin their building. Wangiri, the pastor, was extremely appreciative of our efforts throughout the week as were the other church members. We have been praying that the Lord would grow the church in Singwaya and that many people would come to know Jesus.
It feels good to be back in Malindi and have a nice shower. The food in the village was rough for me. Luckily, I brought enough food to survive the week. We slaughtered a goat on Thursday and ate the good meat Thursday night. For lunch of Friday we were served what the locals call "matumbo." It is goat intestines, liver, kidneys, etc. chopped up in a soup. No, I did not eat it. Friday nights here at the Taylors are usually Taco Nights. Since we were gone last night, tonight will be our Taco Night. I can't wait to eat a full meal for the first time in several days!
Saturday, June 22, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Samson, Serah, and Singwaya
The past few days have been a blur in preparation for the first short-term team to arrive. Wednesday we finished as much as possible around the compound. Thursday was our day of rest. All the girls went and got massages and pedicures while James, Josiah, Samuel and I stayed at the house and watched movies all afternoon. Our theme was natural disasters; first we watched Twister, and then we watched The Impossible. Friday morning we got up and headed to Mombasa around 10 A.M. to pick up the teams. We arrived at the airport around 12:30, expecting the flight to land at 1. They didn't arrive until almost 3, and so we spent a couple hours in the airport waiting on them. We ordered some pizza and just waited on them. Once they arrived, we made a stop in Mombasa and then headed to back to Malindi. We had some bus issues on the way, and so the drive was around three hours instead of two. We finally got back to Malindi, and after a few snacks everyone pretty much crashed.
Today we got up and Gertrude came to the house for a Swahili class this morning for the group. The interns sat in on the class but we weren't too involved since we had the lesson two weeks ago. About an hour into the lesson, James called us and said he wanted us to come to the church property because some kids were there for choir practice. The four of us loaded up the van and went to the church. I've been driving a few times this week and I'm starting to get used to it. It's a little different since here you drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Also, there are cars, motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians everywhere and they typically aren't too concerned with getting out of your way. It's been an adjustment to say the least, but I love learning to drive here. Julie, Brittany and Ashley had choir practice with the kids at the church. James and Clayton had a fire going and we were just watching it burn. Most of the time there I spent talking with a 17 year-old kid named Samson. He regularly attends the church here in Malindi but I'm not sure if he is a believer. James has briefly talked to him but isn't sure if he is saved or not. I'm hoping to grow closer with him so that I can talk to him about salvation. He speaks decent English but it is still hard to communicate. I'm praying that we will be able to understand each other when talking about God.
We came back to the compound for lunch and then everyone went back to the church to hand out invitations to church along with the books of John and Romans. We handed out about 1,200 total invites to church in about an hour and a half. I was in a group with Brittany, a girl named Ally, and Godfrey, a member of the church in Malindi. I had some really good conversations with Godfrey this afternoon. His two month old daughter, Serah, was born blind. She was supposed to have a cornea transplant a couple weeks ago, but the doctor would not do it because she was so young. On Tuesday, they are taking her to a different doctor in hopes of them cutting holes in her cornea so that she can have partial vision. Godfrey seemed a little nervous because he is not sure what the doctor will say on Tuesday. The church has been praying for Serah, and so we will see what happens on Tuesday.
Tomorrow, we will be at church in Malindi. Afterwards, we are getting everything packed up to go to Singwaya for the basketball camp from Tuesday until Saturday. Monday will be a fun day. We are going snorkeling and possibly going to a crocodile farm. Then early Tuesday morning we will head to the village for the basketball camp. Friday night we will show the Jesus Film in the local language. Afterwards, I'll be giving a short message and we'll have an invitation. Our hope for the week is to see souls saved and the church in Singwaya to grow.
Today we got up and Gertrude came to the house for a Swahili class this morning for the group. The interns sat in on the class but we weren't too involved since we had the lesson two weeks ago. About an hour into the lesson, James called us and said he wanted us to come to the church property because some kids were there for choir practice. The four of us loaded up the van and went to the church. I've been driving a few times this week and I'm starting to get used to it. It's a little different since here you drive on the left side of the road and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Also, there are cars, motorcycles, bikes, and pedestrians everywhere and they typically aren't too concerned with getting out of your way. It's been an adjustment to say the least, but I love learning to drive here. Julie, Brittany and Ashley had choir practice with the kids at the church. James and Clayton had a fire going and we were just watching it burn. Most of the time there I spent talking with a 17 year-old kid named Samson. He regularly attends the church here in Malindi but I'm not sure if he is a believer. James has briefly talked to him but isn't sure if he is saved or not. I'm hoping to grow closer with him so that I can talk to him about salvation. He speaks decent English but it is still hard to communicate. I'm praying that we will be able to understand each other when talking about God.
We came back to the compound for lunch and then everyone went back to the church to hand out invitations to church along with the books of John and Romans. We handed out about 1,200 total invites to church in about an hour and a half. I was in a group with Brittany, a girl named Ally, and Godfrey, a member of the church in Malindi. I had some really good conversations with Godfrey this afternoon. His two month old daughter, Serah, was born blind. She was supposed to have a cornea transplant a couple weeks ago, but the doctor would not do it because she was so young. On Tuesday, they are taking her to a different doctor in hopes of them cutting holes in her cornea so that she can have partial vision. Godfrey seemed a little nervous because he is not sure what the doctor will say on Tuesday. The church has been praying for Serah, and so we will see what happens on Tuesday.
Tomorrow, we will be at church in Malindi. Afterwards, we are getting everything packed up to go to Singwaya for the basketball camp from Tuesday until Saturday. Monday will be a fun day. We are going snorkeling and possibly going to a crocodile farm. Then early Tuesday morning we will head to the village for the basketball camp. Friday night we will show the Jesus Film in the local language. Afterwards, I'll be giving a short message and we'll have an invitation. Our hope for the week is to see souls saved and the church in Singwaya to grow.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Two Weeks In
Well, I've been here in Malindi, Kenya for almost two weeks now. It's crazy that we have less than six weeks until we return home. So much has happened since we arrived in Kenya. A few days after we arrived in Malindi, James took us four interns on an adventure across the country. We got to see some of Nairobi, and then went to Mt. Longonot. After climbing the inactive volcano, we spent the night with the Hoppers, missionaries who have been in Kenya for 25 years. The next morning we went to a mall, ate at Java House, and got to do some bartering at the Maasi market. Then we made our two day trek back to Malindi.
We got back from the trip on Thursday and rested Friday. A missionary family that recently moved to Mombasa spent the weekend with us. They arrived Friday afternoon and left Monday morning. We enjoyed a good weekend of fellowship with them. Sunday morning I preached at the church here in Malindi. It was a new and difficult experience preaching with a translator. Philippians 3 and knowing Christ was the focus of my sermon.
The first short term team arrives on Friday and we have been trying to get as much done as possible in preparation for them. This morning, James, Brittany, and I went to Singwaya to put two poles in the ground for our basketball camp in the village next week. Thursday will be a day of rest before the team arrives on Friday.
Life in Kenya is good. It's hard at times, but it's still good. It's been a blessing to see how James and Kenya do life with their family here in Malindi. I've already learned so much about culture, churches, and relationships. On the mission field, it is so easy for me as an outsider to see the needs here in this order:
1) Physical
2) Moral
3) Spiritual
However, as Christians, it is imperative for us to see it the other way around. It's sad when someone is poor and hungry. But it's tragic when one dies without Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Logan
We got back from the trip on Thursday and rested Friday. A missionary family that recently moved to Mombasa spent the weekend with us. They arrived Friday afternoon and left Monday morning. We enjoyed a good weekend of fellowship with them. Sunday morning I preached at the church here in Malindi. It was a new and difficult experience preaching with a translator. Philippians 3 and knowing Christ was the focus of my sermon.
The first short term team arrives on Friday and we have been trying to get as much done as possible in preparation for them. This morning, James, Brittany, and I went to Singwaya to put two poles in the ground for our basketball camp in the village next week. Thursday will be a day of rest before the team arrives on Friday.
Life in Kenya is good. It's hard at times, but it's still good. It's been a blessing to see how James and Kenya do life with their family here in Malindi. I've already learned so much about culture, churches, and relationships. On the mission field, it is so easy for me as an outsider to see the needs here in this order:
1) Physical
2) Moral
3) Spiritual
However, as Christians, it is imperative for us to see it the other way around. It's sad when someone is poor and hungry. But it's tragic when one dies without Christ.
Grace and Peace,
Logan
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