BIBLE STUDY ON WEDNESDAYS

Every Wednesday afternoon the Kajulu church has a Bible Study of about an hour or longer depends how sleepy the listener may be. This is held either at church or in someone's home. It's always special to be invited to a home because you will get a meal there. Many of these people don't have enough to eat and a host would never consider having guests without feeding them before they leave. Also if you are invited, the host needs to release you before you may depart. This is abit trying sometimes and can get to be somewhat of a control issue. Nevertheless these mid-week meetings often draw the same, small crowd of kindred souls and we enjoy learning to know them in a more informal atmosphere.

Daniel (14), at Bible study, trying to stay focused.

Kajulu ladies (Wilburforce's wife, Rose, in lavender)
Wilburforce is our language teacher.

Monica holding Caroline's little "boy" in a pink dress


Last week, Sam and I, Glen and Rosanna Helmuth and a few others were involved in legalizing a marriage. Irene, an attractive young mother with her small son named "Barack Obama", is in the instruction class and one of the requirements is to be 'married properly and not just 'shack up' before baptism. Since it is the custom for the girl's parents to sign the documents, we had to travel to her home area. It was quite awhile since Irene had been home so she and no one else knew exactly where we were going. Her 'husband' Michael never was there so he didn't know either. We just headed out in the general direction under the impression it was about a 1-2 hour drive. We finally arrived 3 hours later in the boonies very close to the Uganda border. The last 20, bumpy,dirt miles ended in a cow/foot path.

We were warmly welcomed and treated royally by the whole clan of 30+ people. We soon saw these folks were of a more aristocratic nature, poised, self-confident, 'rich' and well-dressed. We were fed the usual chapaties and chai along with white bread and soda pop for the Americans. (note title 'soda' for our Eastern friends and 'pop' for our western friends). We finally got to our legal procedures and Michael agreed to pay his dowry of a cow for his wife, and no , the cow may not be hauled in. She needs to be bought locally and has to walk through the gate on her four legs. Custom is custom. Dad had died and mom appeared to not be too willing to let Michael go without leaving at least something. She, and the deceased eldest brother did sign off and were very grateful, however, that Irene is attending the CBF (Christian Believers Fellowship) church and not living the life of an alcoholic. Most all who had some say of authority spoke his/her word. It seemed ironic that in such a primitive mud hut setting under a thatched roof that we hold a court-style meeting. The whole clan was very gracious and all want to attend the small church wedding some time in the future.

It was getting dark and we had to leave. We don't practice driving at night because of so many dangers involved. Black people walking the black, unmarked roads. Poor lights everywhere. Thugging tendancies. But, no, we had to eat first! We HAD just eaten......but here comes the pile of rice, the mound of ugali, the millet, the beef and chicken parts. Only this time it was the whole chicken, the feet and the head including the comb. (I had a fleeting curosity of what a rooster's comb would taste like, but thought then was not a good time to find out). We did managed to taste the food alittle and had to leave because of the pending thunder storm. It was a stressful, ride home we don't want to do often. The first miles it rained hard and washed gullies into the road.

Some of you know we are still missing a piece of luggage since our arrival to Kenya 3 weeks ago. There are a varity of items that are immaterial and can be replaced; tools, cookbooks, some school books, including 3 of Daniel's Abeka DVDs, clothing items and etc. But, there are 2 items that tug at my heart. I had done a cross-stitch sampler for our four oldest children and during my 3 month stay in Ukraine I also did one each for Mryna and David. They weren't quite finished and I brought them along. Now they are in this missing tub. It may seem trivial, but we keep praying about it. We know that it did arrive a day after we did and that it was shipped to one of the many guest houses in Nairobi. But, no one seems to know anything about it!!!

I also had my first hospital experience today. After a weakening week of food turning to water we were advised to go for tests. The results: water-laden parasites (probably chai) that need docking or they will keep producing more of their kind. UGH! Typical aclimating to Africa they say.


Martina leaving church

Watch for next week's post on MUDDING A HOUSE
"Oriti" (goodbye)

Mattie Kauffman