Dinner with Friends / Microfinance / Greenlees

Hey, sorry for the lack of posts this week.  We’ve been busy and then on the road for meetings.  Click HERE for a hilarious album of pictures of a few of the Baby Center kids playing with sidewalk chalk - more chalk made it onto the kids than the sidewalk! Here’s a few highlights from recently:

Last week we had dinner at the home of some Kenyan friends, the Muchiras, from church which was wonderful – we ate a whole fish with our hands and it was so good!  Fortunately, we avoided the head and the tail… We had some great conversation with our hosts and learned more about the violent clashes in Kenya during the election two years ago.  Much of the conflict was tribal based, so it was interesting to hear the Muchiras perspective since they are an inter-tribal couple.  During the fighting, people had been friendly neighbors for years were suddenly aggressive enemies because of tribal and political pressure; some people displaced from there homes during that time are still living in camps with no home to return to.  The next presidential elections are in 2012, and there are many who think the violence will be even worse then.  The only real hope for the country is if enough people have a change of heart and realize that tribal allegiance is … The churches of Kenya need to be the leader of this revolution of thinking, and many of them are working towards changing attitudes through the love of Christ.  However, even in the body of believers, some tribal tensions are often just below the surface, so we need to be praying that the love and unity found in Christ penetrates deep into the hearts and psyche of this culture.  

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to accompany Eliud Muchira (the friend at who’s house we had dinner) to a microfinance ministry that he helps facilitate in a poorer area of Nakuru called Shabob.  The ministry gives financial guidance, spiritual encouragement, and small-business loans to women with little shops (called “dukas”).  The program provides funding to those who need it at a much lower interest rate than a bank, but requires that they present a business plan and holds them accountable for repayment.  The 40 or so women meet twice a month for encouragement, both spiritual and business-oriented, and for scheduled payments.  I loved the meeting, because the women praised the Lord with such passion and really wanted to better their lives.  The picture above is Eliud sharing with the group, and below is the women worshipping the Lord.

I had the opportunity to (impromptu) share with them, and I spoke on the story of Joseph – how God made him second in command of Egypt, showed him that there was going to be 7 years of plenty followed by 7 years of famine, and used him to bless his family and nation because he planned ahead.  Foresight is something that some Kenyans really struggle with, so I used an example from scripture of preparing for the feast during the famine.  We also discussed how, because of his preparation, Joseph was able to bless his family and friends.  “As you have opportunity, do good to all people, especially to the family of believers.”  Galatians 6:10  I am so excited to be involved in

 On Sunday, the Greenlees, who were volunteers with WGM like us, left to go back to the US after serving in Kenya for 9 months at the Baby Center and Ngata AGC.  HERE is an album of pictures from the Greenlees farewell at the Baby Center.The picture at left is the Greenlees with the Muchiras.  We will miss having another young couple like them around and hope that the Lord continues to lead their lives.  They are prayerfully considering returning to Kenya, but don’t know what the Lord has for them.  The church service on Sunday was a typical Kenyan farewell to them complete with traditional African dress (for Jeremy and Nicole), speeches, presentation, prayers, gifts, dancing, and (of course) chai!  Needless to say, it wasn’t a short service : ) , but it was a great send-off.  They will be missed! 

That’s all for now – as always, thanks for reading!