Greetings from Nairobi on our off day!
The past two weeks consisted of a variety of ministries. Two weeks ago we spent a week in an IDP camp helping out a medical team from America. I got to play pharmacist for a week which was great because that's what I wanted to do in 11th grade. Then I took chemistry and realized that such a vigorous education should not be required to count pills. I'm living proof that you can be horrible at high school chemistry and still be a pharmacist.
Anyway, this past week was spent in the Masai village. We definitely had our work cut out for us there. Allow me to explain.
The whole week was heavy; full of brokeness. On the last day, we had just come from a house where a woman brewed alcohol for a living and there was a man there that said, "Let me think about getting saved." I didn't think it could get more heart wrenching until we came to the house of Mareko. He invited us in and welcomed us to sit on his furniture. Our translator introduced us to the man as missionaries and we gave our names. After the introduction, the floor is usually open for discussion. I looked down at my watch to see there was only 30 minutes until lunch. I decided to delve deep fast with, "Are you saved?" Mareko looked at me wearily and said in English,"If you preach, I will make it." We asked him to speak in swahili to the translator for some clarity. She told us that he was trying to say, "If you preach, I will receive Him." At this time, one of my team mates Beau looked to me and whispered, "I think he's drunk." I didn't want to make assumptions so I asked our translator to ask him if he was drunk. He understood my question without it being translated and said,"Yes I'm an alcoholic." My heart sunk. I can't bring this man to God if he's making the decision in drunkenness I thought. We began to give him verses we felt that were applicable to his life. He then expressed the desire to have a Bible. We told him we didn't have one. He got up and walked out if his house. I expected him to come back. Kenyans randomly leave convos all the time to answer cell phones. But Mareko didn't come back. I saw him drive past his threshold on a bike. We learned afterwards that we had offended him. No preaching, no Bible.
Unfortunately hearing the word if God and owning the word of God won't bring anyone salvation. You have to want Jesus in your heart. That is something that I can't desire for anyone. Only God can put that in a person. After we left I prayed that God would chase Mareko in that bike and burden him with His love.
There was so much to be taught in the village. The concept of grace, the concept of wanting a personal relationship with God, the concept that we should love God because He is God (versus: "I love God because He will give me a "good life"). I felt so burdened with all of this until I realized that I can't do everything. Its selfish and prideful for me to think so. I gave up. I give up. I give up these peoples' burdens to God. I've done what He has called us to do. It doesn't matter if the things I spoke to these people don't resonate for another 15 years. Everything is working in the Lord's divine timing. I just have to give up the fact that I can't know it all. Give up that I won't always see prompt results. This is the Lord's work; not mine. God has started a good work in me and he will see it through.
May God continue to bless those of you at home. I can't believe there are only 3 weeks left.
-Louanne
