KENYAN EXPERIENCES

Part one

Even though life seems to be quiet in Kenya, it's far from the truth. We have been very busy, with some things pleasant and other things not so pleasant.

Martin and Kristy Bender (and Amanda-12) finished their language classes. What a relief! This will give them more devoted time to their Agape work, but alas, where is the time? There are needs here and needs there.....the destitute widows need attention and that well needs fixin'...at 41 years, Martin still has plenty of the bouncing energy and determination I well remember from childhood days.

On June 23, Amos and Sarah Kauffman (Sam's brother) and Chad and Cheryl Stoltzfus (niece and nephew) arrived after the long flight to Kenya. The cousins were so happy to see each other. Our children and Chad and Cheryl are the tail-enders of the Kauffman cousins and they have spent much time together in the past. They have numerous cousins older than their mother.
We had been waiting to visit various areas until 'Amoses come' so we had a full schedule ready for them! :) But visitors do need a few days to adjust to the time change...... meanwhile John Glicks left for America for son Laverne's wedding and plan to return in 3 weeks.
On Sunday evening, we had the compound at our house with Amos speaking and later shared snack foods together. That's always an enjoyable time.

On Monday morning early, an excited bunch headed out for Masai Mara, the game reserve in southern Kenya. It's a 5-6 hour drive with the last couple hours being all bumps. What a neck-jarring, eye-twittering ride......whew!!... but that's where the animals are! Amazing the creatures God made and how some eat each other. We saw a zebra 'kill' done by a lioness, the migration of wildebeastes, hundreds of sinister water buffaloes, lumbering elephants with their babies, the hoity-toity secretary birds, etc, etc. We stayed at a lodge within the reserve for 2 nights. There was a walkway from the lodge area to a pond where we could observe hippo activity. Upon walking back to their cabin one night, Cheryl and Monica got spooked by a hippo grazing close to their door. They are quite dangerous animals, locals say.

On July 1, former missionaries, Mark and Esther Kuepfer, Ruth, Tim and TJ arrived with Kathryn Hostetler, who is replacing Sarah Esh. On Thursday morning, Sam and Amos visited Joseph Omulla (church brother) to see his maize field. In the afternoon, Joshu and Millicent invited us for chai and chapatis. These are special times in the native's homes. On Friday, we did a baptismal interview with a lovely couple, Joseph and Rose Juma. It's an hour's drive to their house in the plains. Joeseph alreadyhas two sisters in the Kajulu church. They have 5 children but it's too far to bring them. They are very dedicated and are asking for a church in their area. On Saturday, we saw the Agape food drop at church, went to visit elderly Daudi and Perez, living on the mountian with the baboons. On the way back, Jenipher, a church sister, served us 'Pastor Sam's lemon grass tea' and mandaazis.

On Tues, the unit from Nakuru arrived for joint unit meetings. On Wed, we had the church slashing (compound cleaning). On Thur, we spent a relaxing day at beautiful Jenipher's Gardens. Early Friday, most of us went out on Lake Victoria for a boat ride to see more hippos and birds. That evening we said good-bye to Amos and Sarah and Cheryl. They flew out of our local Kisumu airport. I hope they had a good time and that we didn't wear them out. Amos said, he now knows what we do in Kenya.

Chad will be staying until the end of the month. He is getting into various jobs of helping harvest maize for a church brother, painting a church roof, loading Agape food parcels, trimming the perpetual growing hedges. There is yet a chicken butchering, cleaning chicken houses, painting a carport.....this past week the youth boys, Jevon Beachy, Jason and Matthias Peachey, Tim and TJ Kuepfer, Daniel and Chad spent a night in Nakuru Park, a smaller game reserve....they get to play sometimes....afterall, all work makes them dull boys. (No work makes them fidgety and they do silly things on the computer.)

On Sunday, the 25th of July, we are anticipating a baptismal service at Kajulu. There are 7 in the instruction class that are anticipating baptism, including Daniel and Miriam.

Chad with little Darrel (son of Paul & Mary Omino) and Franklin Bender.

Jevon Beachy agreed to take the Kauffman cousins for a hike up to Monkey Stone, a high point on the mountain range. Only the boys made it to the very tippy top, since it wasn't the best for girl's skirts.

On July 7, we had the church compound cleaning and a farewell for Sarah Esh. She served here a total of four years and 'good-byes' were difficult knowing paths with some friends may never cross again. This past Thursday, she left Kenya and flew to TN to teach school in her home area of Greenville, TN.

Amos and Sarah Kauffman at Kiboko Bay, a restaurant by Lake Victoria.

Currently we are going through some heavy-duty church issues and we are asking the people of God to pray. The meetings get long and tiring. Thomas and Joyce Oda are being confronted with some questions they keep lying about. Some Kenyans will lie until they are backed into a small, tight corner and can't lie anymore. Pray that they can SEE that lying is sin! Sometimes lying is worse than the sin if there is such a thing. There appears to be wife beating, witchcraft, embezzling Agape money and adultery involved. They finally admitted to one. Please pray, we know God answers prayers. Thomas and Joyce have a nice family of six children and they all attend church. Pastor Sam is the baby. Pray for the children. Pray for the church youth that they can remain faithful. It's difficult living a Christian life without having the teaching from childhood.

On the bright side: Brother Nehemiah Otieno found himself a prospective bride! He's 41 years old and has a handicap from polio. Millicent Akinyi is 25 years old and comes from the Chiga area. We have been involved in the traditional dialogues that marriages require according to Luo culture. Her family gives her their full blessing and aren't even asking for dowry. Millicent has moved into the area and beginning tomorrow she will be attending our church. They both decided they would prefer if she becomes a member before they get married. So we are looking forward to another wedding in 6-8 months, if all goes well.

Sam and Mattie Kauffman