Blog 5 – New Home, New life, New Challenge!

Tuesday 25th March 2008

Hamjambo? (How are you?)

Does anyone really read blogs? All the way through?
Why?
Is it that we are nosey or genuinely interested in that person's experience?
What is it about us mortals that we want to open up the diary of someone we may never have met or ever will meet?
And if we do meet that person, what might be the details in the diary that have had any impact on our life.
Deep stuff first:-
When I physically die (Peter), there are a three things I would like to leave with you knowing that my life was not in vain...
That I have 'run the race with Jesus and won'.
That I was unafraid to take risks – not regretting or worrying.
That I have left an eternal destiny with God for those left behind
New Home:- God's provision!
We are ensconced in a beautifully furnished 4/5 bedroom first floor apartment, belonging to Agape Ministries. The kitchen is better equipped than our home in Fareham!
Outside, facing south, sitting on papyrus made seats with cushions, we look down from the long back verandah onto a mature 1/8 acre garden, where 6 playful puppies and their 2 year old black Labrador cross Alsation mother gambol across the lawn.
The front veranda overlooks a small yard, for parking vehicles. Surrounding the entire compound is a high bougainvillea perimeter fence. A guard is stationed near the large grey metal double gate that gives the only access onto a tarmacadam road.
A street seller arrives and sets up her stall at the nearby road junction. Many are making their way to work, walking, or taking 'boda-bodas' or tuk-tuks. Matatus are not so common here, but the blaring horn announces one is nearby. Large cars; Toyota Hilux are more common.
Milimani is a highly sought after area in Kisumu. Safe and well cared for, with little need to look over your shoulder. Water pumped from the nearby Lake and electricity rarely go down. There are no street lights here as is the case in all the surrounding districts – few are found in the town 1 ½ km away.
No shanty dwellings here!
New Life: God's revelation
Deep stuff again...
Why are we here? I mean, why are we here on planet earth? Wherever? What is this life all about?
We all ask this question at times I'm sure.
Then we try to answer it by filling in the BIG yawning gap with 'stuff'!
Work, religion, leisure pursuits, hopes, dreams, relationships...
Today we read in our daily Bible reading a remarkable line spoken by Jesus, the Son of God, 2000 years ago...
”This is eternal life, that they may know You, (Father) the only true God, and Jesus whom you have sent.”
It still blows my mind away trying to even begin to consider the incredible plan Jesus made with His heavenly Father just for us.
Think for a moment if you will...
...the awesome creator of the cosmos, who has created millions
upon billions
upon trillions
upon zillions
upon septillions...
...of stars; and He who knows each one by name, is actually in love with me.
Jesus proved it. That's what Easter is all about.
Try to let that sink in if you can.
I mean doesn't that begin to blow your mind away if you try to even start to meditate on it.
And there's more...what more? Yes...
...He says I know all your thoughts. I want to set you free. Oh wow! Do I really want Him to know 'all' my thoughts? What about...? Do I want to be free?
I am distracted by the uniquely coloured yellow butterfly passing by; the noisy weaver birds, and the soaring black kites overhead. The incredible pattern and variety of nearby palm trees and jacaranda and bougainvillea and banana and mango and guava; the ants of all sizes unceasingly working.
The list is endless...
All creation points to the creator and none have an excuse - in believing.
There is no randomness, only order and purpose and immense beauty.
And we are His pinnacle, His workmanship, His passion – our lover!
Mind-blowing or what!?
Let Him be!
Let go to...
The Truth.
Be!
New Challenge – What next?
Hey are you still reading this Blog? I'm impressed. No really. To keep going requires a certain amount of time and interest and love.
Yes, love. The Bible says, 'Love endures all things!'
We come to a close this week on the redecoration programme of the administration building at the new school site.
Oh by the way, since the last Blog 4, the sewerage problem has mainly been sorted out by KIWASCO (Kisumu Water & Sewerage Company). The site is dry!
The 90+ children will be moving en mass after their Easter holiday, the beginning of May.
There is a 'well' half finished that must be completed soon.
TKWL have purchased a plot (100 sq. metres) of land adjacent to the new site which will be used to build a permanent Nursery School – once the permanent Primary two storey building has been completed for 240 children, aged between 7 and 13 years.
Our new challenge now is how can we be most effective in supporting Chris Wheat the UK coordinator and headmaster of the Primary School; our line manager. Great guy.
Pastoral care and the training/equipping of staff seem to be the most needy to which we will try to respond. We will move forward with wisdom, prioritising the needs.
Even with each other as company, life can be challenging. Just why are we here?
Wherever you are in the world, as a Christian, we can connect in with the family of God. This has been our experience, and you know that you are not alone. Friendships are slowly growing, with locals and 'missionaries' nearby. Our guards are reliable!
Where we are staying is a brilliant base from which we can become more effective in the work we believe He is opening doors for us to go through.
By getting to 'know His voice' each day we can with confidence proceed in life's journey.
Manyatta, where we are serving, is not somewhere you would choose to visit, let alone want to work. However, when you know God's calling and leading, then it doesn't really matter where on earth you serve Him. The children are unbelievably friendly!
It's a pleasure to live and work among such poor, precious God-fearing people.
Pete & Paula xx