Showers of Blessings

Many a man curses the rain that falls upon his head,

and knows not that it brings abundance to drive away the hunger. 

Saint Basil

 

 

How many officers and employess does it take to get Territorial leaders into their vehicle during a fierce rain storm?  Well, it takes one to fetch the vehicle, another to turn it around, a third to hold the umbrella while Mama is climbing in, a fourth to help Ken get in on his side, a fifth to put our briefcases in the back, and one more to open the gate, give us a smart salute, and wave goodbye with a broad smile.  Boy, how I love my Kenyan family!
 

Over the last few months, which have been characterized by sweltering heat, I have been dreaming of the cooler days that accompany the 'long rains' of March through May.  I think it is now safe to say that they have arrived.  Last night, for example, there was lots of thunder and lightning, and it rained so long and so hard that Ken and I ended up praying earnestly that the Lord would protect our home and Headquarters building.  A quick inspection this morning revealed that our prayers were answered, as our home suffered no damage, and we found nothing at THQ that was completely under water.  In fact, God went above and beyond and actually provided electricity to our home throughout the storm, something which my colleagues tell me is a true miracle. 

 

The long rains are late here in Kakamega, but thankfully, we need no longer fear that the farmers (and our officers) will lose their crops.  So everyone seems to be breathing a sigh of relief.  Indeed, we are all thanking the Lord for His provision.




The Hodder's banana tree on our shamba (farm plot)

Still, even as we celebrate the heavy rains, my heart aches for our people who live in Turkana, a remote and arid part of the Territory.  According to Oxfam International , Turkana has suffered greatly over the past twenty years due to climate change, and water is very scarce.  As the rivers dry up, open-pit wells are dug in order to water livestock and obtain drinking water.  There are only a handful of such wells, though, and families must often travel several hours with their small herds in order to reach them.  On top of that, the water is often contaminated. 

 

So whenever our staff visits any village or town in Turkana,  the entire community shows up, all of them hoping to get a bite of food and a little water.  And the officers who serve there often go without fruit or vegetables on their dinner tables.

 

Children collecting water from The Salvation Army mobile water tank.

The Army does everything we can to help our people.  But even when our limited resources run low, we still distribute hope.  That's because we always share the gospel, the source of living water.

 

Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said,
 rivers of living water will flow from within them.

John 7:38 (NIV)

Thank you, Lord, for the showers of blessings that are promised to those who look to you. 

Our Precious Children

Whoever receives a little child because of me, receives me.

Matthew 18:5 (NLT)

 

The Salvation Army is known in this Territory for its operation and sponsorship of more than 800 schools.  This includes kindergartens, primary schools, and secondary schools, as well as a range of special institutions for those who are disabled, deaf, blind, or mentally challenged.  In sum, the Army supervises the education of more than 288,000 students every year in Kenya West, and so it is not uncommon for a businessman or woman to walk up to Ken and me and proudly tell us which Army school they attended.

But, as you can imagine, the responsibility of caring for so many children is often overwhelming.

 

Recently our Mayoyo School heard about some deaf children living nearby in the bush.  They were not going to school.  So without thinking how they would be housed or fed, the staff simply went out and brought them in.  Now, the children are being educated, but at night, they have to sleep on the floor in a room that serves both as a library and a classroom under the watchful eye of a volunteer.  We hope to build a dormitory and purchase proper beds. 

 

 

One of the biggest challenges in our schools is the chigoe flea, which is very common in western Kenya.  It's a small flea that lives in the dirt and will burrow into exposed skin in order to lay its eggs.  Once there, a chigoe flea can do a great deal of damage.  So at our Emuhaya Primary School, the children bring cow dung from home every Friday to spread on the ground.  In the absence of a floor, it's the best way to protect their feet.  The dung is smeared over the dirt floor of the classrooms and then allowed to dry over the weekend.  Needless to say, we're looking for funds to provide concrete floors instead.

  

 

 

 

Illula Special Primary is our school for albino children.  Albinos face a good deal of discrimination in African society, and because some witchcraft cults consider their organs to have magical powers, they often face physical danger as well.  So Illula Primary is where these children come to be protected, accepted, and educated.  We work hard to see that they have a good supply of hats and sunscreen!
 

 

Sochoi Primary School is one of those places that desperately needs new facilities.  Its timber structures, which are still in use, were built in 1953.  Here's a picture of the dormitory in which the boarding students live.

 

 

 

These are just a few of our special cases.  More generally, it's absolutely routine for our children to walk to school barefoot.  Many also arrive hungry.  And all of them need love.  In fact, for those who are orphans, the Army is the only family they will ever know. 

So while it is clearly a privilege to be entrusted with these children, it is also a great responsibility.  Magic Johnson once said, "All kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody to believe in them."  That's true, but I also think that man can't do it alone.  This place has taught me that it takes more than programmes and well-wishers.  It takes the Lord.

Ken and I pray every day that, through what our colleagues are doing here, the children will find hope, a better future, and ultimately, a relationship with God through Christ.

Dear God, help us to care for your children!

 

Just Enough Faith

Show me loving-kindness, O God, show me loving-kindness.
For my soul goes to You to be safe. And I will be safe in the shadow of Your wings until the trouble has passed. 

Psalm 57:1 (NLV)

 



As he held me in his arms and kissed me goodbye, Ken looked directly into my eyes and gave me the warning he gives every time he leaves the compound:  "Stay on the path."  I have to admit that the first few times he gave me that warning, I quickly dismissed his words from my mind.  But since learning recently that this area is known for its cobras and vipers, I've started to pay attention. 

 

Of course, I have my warnings for Ken too.  Whenever he attempts to fix anything electrical or climbs on a ladder, I run to his side with the words, "Be careful!"  Then I remind him how far away the nearest emergency facilities are.

 

We also received a series of warnings before the recent elections.  Frankly, there was a lot of fear in Kenya leading up to that process.  Schools and business closed, and residents stocked up on supplies.  Since I was designated by the American Embassy as the warden for this area, I tried to track down some of the other Americans living here.  I found that many had already left the country, and that most others were planning to leave.  It just wasn't considered a good time to be in Kenya.

 



Political demonstration in Kakamega

 

The Salvation Army's March for Peace in Kakamega



Election Day was declared a national holiday, which gave citizens an opportunity to make the safari back to their homes in order to vote.  For several days, the streets were strangely quiet . . . too quiet, really, as the community braced itself for a repeat of the violence that took place after the 2007 election.  Ken and I were glued to the TV, and I ran to my phone every time I received a text update from the Embassy. 

 

The results were finally announced last Saturday, and despite the fact that there will be an appeal by the losing side to the Supreme Court, there was no violence, and the streets of Kakamega have slowly returned to normal.  Still, since our newly elected President and Vice President are scheduled to go on trial in the International Criminal Court later this year, who knows what the future holds?

 

It's a simple fact of life.  There will always be fear.  I will always be afraid of snakes and large spiders.  I will always worry about my husband, and I will always be concerned about those whom I love and serve.

But if I make sure that my faith is always just slightly bigger than my fear, I will be just fine.  So I ask the Lord every day to give me the confidence that comes only from relying upon Him.  When I do, fear is gone.

 

 

 



God's Gracious Gift

You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.

Desmond Tutu

The Chief of the Staff and the World President of Women's Ministries, Commissioners Andre and Silvia Cox, arrived last Friday morning at the little airport in Kisumu.  Their arrival had been delayed because the air traffic controller became ill, but once the plane did touch down, Ken and I welcomed the Commissioners warmly on the tarmac.  After a few minutes with the Territorial cabinet in the VIP lounge, our leaders exited the terminal to the cheers of hundreds of uniformed Salvationists.  Following a short greeting and two excellent musical presentations, we were then whisked away in a caravan of cars escorted by police.  Thirty minutes into our journey to Kakamega, we had to pull over as another large delegation of Salvationists had assembled to greet us.

On Saturday, 750 Salvation Army officers crowded into Kakamega Central Corps to hear our guests speak.  Despite the sweltering heat, they were not disappointed.  It was a simply wonderful meeting, which ended with a large number at the altar.  Commissioners Cox, Ken and I then danced out of the hall to the delight of the assembly.  Who knew that four old "mazungu" could dance?

But the highlight of the weekend was the Installation and Welcome of Cadets at Bukhungu Stadium on Sunday.  Despite the anticipated tension of Monday's election, almost 15,000 Salvationists came to Kakamega and marched into the stadium as Commissioners Cox and Lt. Colonels Wolayo (our Chief Secretary and Territorial Secretary of Women's Ministries) joined Ken and me to take the salute. 

It was a day of real celebration and great spiritual significance.  I will never forget the moment that the Chief of the Staff presented Ken and me to the congregation after the installation ceremony.  Instantly, a group of women placed a shawl on my shoulders, and the men placed an African cane in Ken's hand.  With shouts of jubilation, our African family then surrounded us and led us as their spiritual parents in a celebratory walk around the stadium, singing and dancing in order to thank God for bringing us together.

Immediately following that special moment, Ken and I performed our first official duty by welcoming the new cadets into our Army family.   Ken formally accepted them and charged the Training Principal with the responsibility of preparing them for ministry.  I had the honor of pinning their session banner to the Training College flag, and once again, the crowd roared. 

The Apostle Paul had it right when he wrote:

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family

 by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.  So we praise God for the glorious grace

 he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.

^{Ephesians 1:5-6, NLT}

 

 My heart is full of gratitude today for the family God chose for me.  It is a gift I will cherish.