This will be our last update before we get home. It has been such a blessing for us to be able to share the work God is doing in this beautiful land and among these amazing people.
On Saturday, while the Madoya team was heading down to Narok to meet us, we went and visited a well from the Pure Water for Kenya project that Dan Crum and John Keshe started. The block of concrete with the plaid shawl on it is a part of the old well, which an elephant destroyed. They can smell the water and will tear the wells apart trying to get to it. For that reason, some wells have fencing around them. Families, especially children, come from all around to fill these jugs, carrying them back on their backs, heads or burrows.
We also had the joy of interviewing another former student, as well as John and Paris Keshe. Her name is Eunice and she has become a teacher in the Ewaso Ngiro community. John and Paris began this sponsorship program in response to the marginalization of girls in education as well as basic rights. He and his family have sacrificed much to meet the needs of the girls, often using their own money, traveling great distances to pick up girls from remote villages (often needing police presence to help), and even now allowing some girls to call his home their own while on break. These interviews will share more about the vision and scope of the program as his waiting list of girls wanting to further their education is growing.
When we were reunited with the rest of our team, we headed out to Basecamp Maasai Mara. It is a camp near the national reserve. We will stay here until we head home on Tuesday morning.
We did church on Sunday, and boy, did we DO CHURCH! The Maasai don’t mess around with their worship. Watching the joy with which they worship our God in the midst of struggles and trials beyond our comprehension was both encouraging and humbling. Jeremiah 17:7-8 says, “Blessed is the man whose hope is in the Lord.” Watching men, women and children who don’t have two shillings to rub together praise the God of the universe with joy and hope separated bone from marrow like a double-edge sword, judging our thoughts and attitudes. (Hebrews 4:12-13) We sat, both broken and grateful, as our brothers and sisters from the other side of the globe taught us about true joy and boundless hope.
The afternoon brought a wonderful experience–jumping and dancing with the people of the village of Ole Sairowua brought much laughter! Chief Sairowua and his sons welcomed us and talked to us about their village and the importance of education to them. We were also able to shop at their market, which directly supports their children’s education at the local primary school. “Feel most welcome.” “You are most loved and welcome here.” This was the constant message from these Christian leaders.
Monday was spent on the reserve looking for every kind of wildlife we could. The grandeur of God’s creation, both earth and animal, never ceases to amaze. He is creativity itself, and it certainly shows–from the antelope to the zebra. What a blessing it was to spend time in awe of his handiwork!
Tomorrow, we are heading home. It will be a long journey – 26 hours – but we are anxious to see our friends and family and “tell of all the wonderful things we have seen and heard.” (Actos 4:20) Thank you for following along with us! Grace and peace to you all.
WRITER: Zan Lyons
Zan is on staff at Connection Pointe and serves as Program Manager on the Community Impact Team. This trip to Kenya is Zan’s first international mission trip.
