I have a lot to say in a few short minutes.
We've been in the Turkana village for a whole week and just returned to Kijabe yesterday. I learned a lot can happen in one week.
The first two days we were there, we were made aware of how dry it was by the sound of childrens' coughs, and the dirt that would fly in our eyes with a gust of wind. From door to door ministry, we learned that it hadn't rained for 3 months. The people in the village rely heavily on crops to sell and to feed their families. No rain=no crops. The 2nd day, we fasted dinner and prayed for God's rain to nourish the land. After only about an hour of praying, God began providing. It rained, it poured all night that night. From there on, it rained every. single. night we were there. I've prayed before and seen God's hand at work, but never really in a physical, obvious tangible way. God really does provide.
God revealed a passion to me while we were in Turkana. People need Bibles. Most of Kenya is Christian but I don't think many of them understand what it means to follow Christ. Bibles are expensive so most Kenyans don't have Bibles, but they are hungry for his word. They want to understand. From door to door ministry, we met a Kenyan man named John. He was so awesome. This guy has killed a lion before! He was the friendliest Kenyan I had met thus far. He told me I looked like I understood Swahili just because I looked at him the whole time he talked. I couldn't take my eyes off him though. He was so animated and full of life. He was a follower of Jesus but didn't have a Bible. We asked one of our translators if he could have one of theirs. I've never seen anyone that excited to recieve the Word of God. Tears streamed down my face as John said with an energetic smile, 'You have given me what I need to fight off Satan.' I think we forget how powerful God's truth is sometimes but it is just that; what we need to fight off Satan.
One day while we were doing door to door ministry, we came across this Masai woman named Magdalene. Her son was very sick. She said he couldn't stand up. My team and I went inside her house and read scripture over her and her family. We prayed for her son's health and asked God to proclaim healing in their house. We went outside her house and were about to say goodbye when Magdalene threw a camel hyde Masai necklace around my neck. It was beautiful and so intricately crafted with many different colored beads. I thought she just wanted me to wear it for a second but then she said, "This is for you when you go back to America. This is for you to remember us, to remember what you were doing this day and to remember to always preach the Gospel where ever you go." I couldn't believe it. Those beads are my prized posession now. I've gotten gifts from people that say, "This is to remember me by" but never a gift that says, "Remember to preach the Gospel". I can't wait for you guys to see them.
Well, next week we'll be working in IDP camps, and we leave for the Masai tribe on Thursday and we'll be there for a week.
Hope all is well!
-Louanne
