KESACHI TETA (Kipsigis for: Cow Dedication) (Written by Tammy)

TABITHA MINISTRY

On Sunday, our family had the opportunity to attend a Cow Dedication Ceremony. Prior to our trip to Kenya, our kids colored and painted pictures of cows and sold each one for a dollar. They were able to raise $300 in 6 months! We purchased a cow for a family in need through Tabitha Ministry. Tabitha Ministry began as a small Bible study led by a Tenwek missionary, Linda Spriegel. This small group quickly grew and has continued to grow over the past ten years. They now have 250 studies with over 2,000 women involved! There are several levels of leadership and accountability within the ministry. Tabitha Ministry provides participants with Bibles once they memorize a designated set of scriptures. The ministry also coordinates with churches to provide houses and cows for families in need. For more information about Tabitha Ministry click here: http://tabithakenya.blogspot.co.ke/

OUR DAY WITH TABITHA MINISTRY / COW DEDICATION

CLICK HERE TO SEE OUR COW DEDICATION VIDEO!

Our day with Tabitha Ministry was a day spent fully immersed in Kenyan culture. As Linda was not able to go with us, we were on our own to navigate our way through the day. We left Tenwek at 9:15am and didn’t get back until 5pm. After picking up some Tabitha Ministry leaders, our driver carefully made his way over bumpy Kenyan roads for the next hour and a half to the village of Sogoet. We were greeted while we were still in the car and then greeted again by several individuals as we got out. These were the first of about 15 formal greetings and welcomings that we would receive throughout the service.

The service started at 10am and we arrived 45 minutes late. Originally Matt and I thought: Oh good, we’ll only have to make it through the last portion of the service with the kids. Little did we know; the service was just beginning. They moved chairs up onto the stage and directed our family to those chairs while the congregation continued to sing. I had a minor panic attack thinking about trying to manage my two youngsters on the stage as over one hundred Kenyans stare at the first white family to ever attend their church.

Sanctuary at the beginning of the service.

Sanctuary by the end of the service...gotta love Kenyan time!

Our kids managed pretty well (for American kids) and made it through over an hour of the service. They were entertained as numerous groups of individuals (the women, the elders, the youth, members from another church who came to visit, etc.) would come to the front of the church and sing a hymn, welcome our family, and show us how honored they were to have us worship with them. Most of the songs would begin with a caller singing a particular line and the congregation responding along with a drum beat. They did have hymnals and Matt and I even recognized one of the hymns, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. Although the service seemed to be haphazard to me, I am sure there was some organization to it. When one group would finish singing, one of the women would stand up and begin leading another song while the next group prepared to take the stage. It continued on in this format for over an hour!

During offering a bowl was placed on a table at the front of the church. Individuals would bring up money to put in the bowl. Others, who did not have money to give, brought bags of avocados or passion fruit to the table. Then, a woman would hold up the fruit and others would purchase the food, giving their money as an offering to the church. People literally brought whatever they had back to the Lord as an offering.

One funny moment during the service: A donkey tied outside the window loudly brayed. Both of our kids jumped up and craned their necks to see what was making all the noise outside the window. Everyone started to laugh at their bewilderment. :)

I eventually had to take our antsy kids outside. We were then joined by more and more Kenyan children as they came to inspect the wazungu (white people). I got out some bubbles and after overcoming their initial fear of them, the 50+ Kenyan kids were soooo excited. Once their enthusiasm about the bubbles decreased, they began probing our blonde-haired, blue-eyed, white-skinned kids. They would touch Elana’s hair and squeeze MJ’s skin out of curiosity. Elana and MJ were very patient as they were followed around the church yard being poked, but we ended up taking a potty break just to get a little relief from all of the attention. Just to show you how desperate we were for a little space, this is where we chose to take our time going potty.

Kenyan outhouse.

We spent the next 2 hours surrounded by kids while Matt sat on the stage front and center. At one-point Matt came out and brought us back into the service so we could formally greet and introduce our family. As I attempted to persuade our kids to sit in the service for another minute or two, a woman brought them warm milk to drink. While it offered a temporary distraction, it didn’t last long and we ended up outside in the middle of the mob again. : ) Thankfully, I packed PB&J and some other snacks for the kids because the service wasn’t over until 2:30! Every time I reached into my bag to get the kids food or a wipe to clean them up, the crowd of Kenyan kids would push in to see what I was bringing out of my bag. I felt like my bag was the magical Barney bag.

While I was outside, Matt enjoyed the message given by Paris (a Tabitha Ministry leader). Matt was also given the opportunity to speak to the congregation and he explained how our kids raised the money to purchase the cow. Near the end of the service, we were once again asked to come inside so that the congregation could give us a “token of appreciation.” We stood on the stage as the congregation began to sing and dance around the church. Individuals would dance their way up to us and give us a gift. All of this dancing and singing was a struggle as we attempted to balance our kids and the gifts we were handed. We were given two bags of tea, a basket, and a container for milk made out of a gourd.

Our "token of appreciation"

Toward the end of the service, our driver offered to let the kids take a break in the car. They gladly accepted. Although it was a rest from all of the touching, the car was still surrounded by kids as they reached in the windows. As I was standing in the car door with my arms across to hold the Kenyan kiddos back, I thought…this must be what it is like to be a celebrity and have everyone watching you constantly…or maybe just how it feels to be a goat at the petting zoo. :)

After over a four-hour service, it was finally time for the Cow Dedication. The congregation came outside and surrounded the cow who was grazing outside of the church during the service. Paris prayed over the family and the cow. The cow was given to a single mother and her daughter. The church also gave them a pressure washer which is required to spray the cow with a chemical solution weekly to clean the cow and keep the surrounding area sanitary. We then took pictures with the family and the cow. Somehow I was given the place of honor right behind the cow’s back end. When I saw the tail lift, I jumped backwards as the cow started to urinate. Everyone thought this was hilarious (myself included). MJ has been repeating this phrase all day: “Cow pee Mommy.”

Family that received the cow: Mother (Rachel) in the middle, daughter on the right

Paris & Beatrice (Tabitha leaders), our family, the new cow owners

The Kenyan we lent our camera to got a little artsy. :) 

Matt filming the ceremony, surrounded by the congregation. 

Tabitha Ministry & church leaders with the family

We finished up at the church by eating lunch (on stage…in front of everyone…again). We ate rice, beans, goat meat, and of course, chai. Following lunch, we packed into our car and went to a house that was recently mudded for a House Dedication. Another group of volunteers mudded the house earlier in the week for a widow and her three children. We prayed over the home and the family and returned to our car to head back to our own home. By this point it was 3:30pm and our kids were exhausted. MJ was asleep a few minutes into the bumpy drive.

Mother & kids who received a new home

House that was mudded by Tabitha Ministry

Check out the view from this house!

THANK YOU!!!!!

We want to offer a big thank you to those of you who purchased artwork from Elana and MJ. Your donations went to an awesome cause and will definitely have a lasting impact on this family.

ADDITIONAL PICTURES FROM OUR WEEK:

Elana visited the Pediatric Ward to hand out her "Melty Bead" (Perler bead) crafts that she made.

We went on a walk down to the Mara River on Saturday.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Pray for the Tenwek missionaries who continue to dedicate their lives to reaching the people in Bomet and the surrounding areas.

Pray for our family as we leave Tenwek on Thursday. Pray for protection as we go on a safari and throughout our travels. We will be leaving Nairobi on Saturday, have a 22-hour layover in London on July 3^rd, and head home on July 4^th.

Pray for the Tabitha Ministry; that it may continue to empower women and spread the love of Christ.

Tea, Totes, Toilets, & Toys! (Written by Tammy)

Daily life in Kenya is becoming our new normal. I know which days the egg guy, chip lady, and sweet banana lady will come by (and I even know all of their names), who makes the best bagels, which duka (small stand) to buy flour and other items from, to wash the kids’ sheets first thing in the morning so that they have time to dry before nap time, and how to make numerous desserts from scratch (I think my addiction to sweets will be the hardest part of the mission field for me).

Although daily life seems to be settling down, we still have new experiences weekly. Here’s what we’ve been up to since my last post:

MOSOP ORPHANAGE

Last week we had the opportunity to visit an orphanage. We were delivering donations, organizing a craft for some of the kids, and playing with the rest of them. Matt and I used some of the money that we raised to purchase a small craft project for 50 kids. We had no idea the orphanage was also a school and therefore had around 200 kids! We decided to organize the craft for just one grade level. Their teacher called them into a classroom and we had fun showing them how to use glitter glue and fabric markers to design their own bags. When they were finished with the craft they wanted to sing a few songs for us. Watching 50 Kenyan kids join in song has been the highlight of my trip thus far. Click on the link below to watch a video and catch a glimpse of how we spent our afternoon at the orphanage.

Mosop Orphanage Video

Presenting our donations: Socks, calculators, pencils, sharpeners, erasers.

A big thank you to those of you who donated supplies!

Singing with the kids!

The queen on her chariot.

Nature Center in one of the classrooms!

Trying to carry a HUGE bag of corn.

Our friend who is a missionary here at Tenwek, Dean, is currently raising money to support this orphanage. He plans to climb Mount Kilimanjaro (19,341 feet) in August and is hoping to raise $1.00 per foot of his climb. If you would like to help him reach his goal you can donate online here: https://www.wgm.org/cowles

If you would like more information, click here:
https://www.facebook.com/dean.cowles?fref=ts

FRIENDS!

A few times now Milka has brought her youngest daughter over to our house to play with our kids. Phylis will be 3 next month, has the best laugh, and can throw a ball better than most two year olds that I’ve known (and I’ve known a lot of 2 year olds). : )

Phylis & Elana 

Milka & Phylis

Last Sunday we had the privilege of eating lunch in Milka’s home. We ate ugali, goat stew, kale (which is very common here because it is easily grown, not because it is trendy), and my kids’ favorite, chapati. Following our meal, we explored her neighborhood a bit, and of course enjoyed a cup of chai before going home. I have been so blessed by my friendship with Milka and we were very honored to be invited to her family’s home.

Robert, Milka, Diana & Phylis with the Woodleys!

The church where Milka attends.

The girls!

Milka's home & me stealing a baby (Milka's niece). :)

Diana & I

Elana holding Milka's niece.

On our way home our friend, Manuel, found us and once again carried MJ to the bridge.

OTHER EXCURSIONS

Prior to visiting the orphanage, a group of us stopped to tour a local tea factory. After a 30-minute wait for them to open the gate and let us in, we were informed that our kids were too young to go on the tour. So our family headed back to the van while the rest of the group toured. While we were a little disappointed, we did get to see the big trucks pulling loads of tea leaves in and buy some fresh tea!

Side note: I am usually an advocate for keeping your children away from electronics, but our iPad and Doc McStuffins has been a life saver during these TIA (“This is Africa”) moments when we are sitting around waiting for reasons that are always unclear. : )

Matt and our fellow Nazarene / Tenwek tour guide, Dean Cowles (mentioned above), go running together several mornings each week and are usually joined by kids on their way to school. Earlier this week, Dean and a group of visitors were going hiking nearby. Matt was a little late and I relayed the directions to him: “Take a left after the bridge and then your first right.” What wasn’t clear was whether a dirt path constituted as a first right or not. Needless to say, Matt got a lot of exercise trying to find and catch up with the group. As a last resort he hopped onto the back of a boda boda (motorbike taxi) and rode the remaining portion of the hike until he caught up with the group. Boda boda accidents comprise about half of casualty visits, so I’m glad he returned unharmed.  

Matt & Dean on a hike.

Matt on a boda boda

OUR MKs

Thank you for your prayers for MJ. His tantrums have decreased and both kids are now accustomed to our slightly different diet here in Kenya. We are pretty proud of our flexible children and how well they have adjusted to life in Kenya.

Watching the rain.

One of their favorite places to play...a closet in their room.

MJ is a pro at greeting now. He is always willing to shake hands and bring a smile to the Kenyans’ faces. Our Kenyan neighbors are big fans of MJ and he frequently walks into their house when the door is open and has, on occasion, attempted to allow himself in even when the door is closed. He also knows which missionaries have pet dogs and regularly stands outside of their houses waiting for the dogs to come out. He is now exceptional at chasing lizards, holding chameleons, and kicking a soccer ball.

Boys being boys.

I love this silly kid.

MJ attempting the rope swing.

While Elana is still a little reluctant to shake hands with the Kenyans, she is super friendly and starts up a conversation with anyone who will listen. : ) She spends most of her day wandering around the compound collecting avocados that have fallen off the trees, playing with any and all kids that happen to walk by our apartment, and convincing the gardener to find her chameleons. Elana has especially surprised us with her willingness to try new foods and new things that we assumed would give her some anxiety. For example, she recently used a typical Kenyan outhouse (consisting of a hole in the floor) and wasn’t even phased by it.

WHAT I’M LEARNING FROM KENYAN KIDS: LESS IS MORE

Yesterday I noticed a group of Kenyan girls playing in the field down the hill from our house. After a few hours, I looked out the window again and sure enough they were still there. No balls. No dolls. No Shopkins. Just a big open field and some friends.

I didn’t see any toys at Milka’s house when we visited other than a tiny ball made from a plastic bag. More surprising than the lack of toys, was that that small ball was enough to provide entertainment for all four kids!

Every day between 5 and 6pm, a bunch of Kenyan kids show up outside of our apartment. Elana quickly runs inside and throws our soccer ball out the door to the kids. She loves providing this excitement for the kids and watching them play.

While we do plan on leaving a lot of toys here and Elana has already decided to whom she will give each toy, the truth is that they don’t need them. The kids in Kenya are happy and content. Growing up in a culture where things generally take a loooong time, Kenyan kids are much more patient than my own (and most American kids) ...and they don’t even need electronics to melt their brains while they wait for any and everything! In fact, I have noticed that Kenyans in general don’t have this dependence on entertainment like we have in America. Our kids always have to be playing with a toy, watching a movie, or going somewhere. Even adults in America have a need to be busy: Working, going on vacation, buying things, watching Netflix, etc. I’m not saying that any of these things are wrong, just that perhaps we are missing out on something more valuable. Anytime we have friends over to our house Matt is quick to make a stack of games, not only because he enjoys playing and winning games, but because he dreads sitting around and talking. It is so difficult for us to just sit down and have a conversation, but that is a huge component of Kenyan culture. It makes me think that less is more. We have made ourselves and our kids so busy with activities and possessions that we have sacrificed conversations, relationships, and even patience.

Elana has mastered the rope swing. However, I am still 

afraid she is going to fall down the HUGE hill it swings over.

Kenyan boys rolling paint bucket lids with sticks.

MJ's attempt at using Kenyan toys :)

WHAT I’M LEARNING FROM KENYAN ADULTS: TO MAKE GOD MY FIRST RESPONSE

I have been challenged by my interactions with Christian Kenyans. It is rare that I have had a conversation with a Kenyan and not heard mention of God.

While talking with a mother about her pregnancy:

“God has blessed me with each of my children.”

While talking with a mother of two, trying to get enough money for their school fees:

            “Pray for me, that God will provide the money needed.”

While talking with Milka:

            “I will pray that God brings your family back to Tenwek.”

Before drinking chai:

            “Pray and thank God for the rain that watered the beans I just planted.”

While I do pray often and regularly praise God for His blessings, it is usually in private. I struggle to make God my first response in public. It seems so natural and easy for the Kenyans that I have met to point to God in every situation, whether that be asking for prayer or sharing a praise. I hope to grow in this area and bring God into my conversations more frequently and with more ease.

PRAYER REQUESTS

Several Tenwek representatives recently met with the Kenyan Medical Board regarding licensure for DOs. The Board did not change their decision, however, they did agree to determine DO licensure case by case. Pray for the long-term missionary DO physicians who now have to provide extensive documentation of their credentials. Pray that the Kenyan Medical Board will recognize their qualifications and give licenses to these committed physicians.

Pray for our family as we come to an end of our time at Tenwek. Pray for Matt’s students and the friendships we have formed here. Pray for protection over us as we travel next week.

Praise! We received an email from Samaritan’s Purse last night! They received our application for the Post-Residency Program and asked us to interview with them in August. Please pray that the details for this interview will come together. Pray that if it is God’s will, we can begin our first long-term assignment through this organization.