This week our team had the opportunity to spend a week with the Turkana tribe in the Maai Mahiu region. We usually spend Tuesdays ministering to this community so we have been able to build close relationships with our translators and the Pastor of our church.
The Maai Mahiu region where the Turkana tribe live is a very rural area located in the Rift Valley. Poverty is extremely widespread, and most people commute to different places for work. Many people rely on selling crops (corn, bananas, onions, etc.) and animals (goats, cattle, and sheep).
Pastor James is the pastor of the AIC (African Inland Church) located in this region. He has a big family of seven children along with his wife Susan. Because the church body cannot support him financially he must travel to Kijabe every week to work as gatekeeper at the hospital. His job limits the time he can spend with his family and church to Sundays. We got to meet him one night and he shared a little bit of his life and his dreams for his community. His wish is to be with his community from “Mondays to Mondays” so that he can fully serve not only the members but the surrounding region especially to those who have spiritual needs. He was so genuine with our group that it was quite easy to see how brokenhearted he is over his current situation. He continues to pray that a door will open so that he can remain in the region permanently.
Simon, 22, is one of our amazing translators who has a gentle spirit but is so on fire for God. I got the chance to speak with him alot this week and found out that he is just now completing secondary school (African version of high school) and is about 4 years behind most students. I also learned that both of his parents are jobless as well. Simon shared with me his dreams of going to college to become a civil engineer so that he can support his family (parents and younger siblings). It was so evident how smart, bright, and curious he was. He constantly asked question after question about everything-politics, biology, genetics, history-literally EVERYTHING! He told me that he loved to learn and believes that one day God will provide him with the opportunity to attend college.
You may be wondering where I am going with these stories and how they relate. Pastor James has the biggest heart for his people yet he cannot fully serve (as he believes) because of the opportunity gap that exists in Kenya. Simon has the true heart of a student and so passionately wants to learn about so much, but in reality, he may never get the chance. My question is: will God ever provide these opportunities or “open doors” for these two Godly men to pursue their dreams?
Throughout the entire week I wrestled with God’s providence for these people who follow Him so fervently. Why do they have to live in poverty when milliions of people around the world have jobs, homes, cars, and amazing education opportunities? Why does God allow this to happen? These questions make me want to scream out to God on behalf of these two men! I may never know God’s reasons yet I know that I have no right to question his “good, pleasing, and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).
Sunset over the Rift Valley
God has been teaching me a lot about his reasons behind why things happen and why he gives and takes away. However, it is not necessarily about how much “stuff” we have-whether it is materialistic things or opportunities, but it is the way we rejoice in the Lord throughout the different situations he presents in our lives. I saw this rejoicing in the most magnificent way on Sunday (the last day of our trip). I wish there was a better way to fully convey the atmosphere of the church on Sunday but I will try my best: benches filled with God-consumed people. Men, women, and children who truly believe that God is their provider praised God for two hours. They joyously worshipped, prayed, and encouraged others as they all united under Christ.
The entire Turkana tribe-especially Simon and Pastor James- proved how being rich in spirit is more important than being rich in the things of this world. Matthew 6:19-21 talks about not storing our treasures with things of this world but in heaven. God revealed to me in such a huge way how blessed those are who may not have many worldy things but are extremely rich in the Spirit.
