Catch Up!

I have not written since I came back to Kampala from working in Kenya.  Actually, it’s been since October 17!  There are many reasons why I have not written, not the least of which is that I was not sure what I should write about.  I had so much to process when I returned from Kenya, and it has taken me some time to reflect on my experience.

On November 11, I returned from a 6 week trip to Kenya working with the Christian Reform World Relief Committee (CRWRC) on projects designed to provide drought relief for some the people of the Pwani (Coast) region.  (See “relief & development” post from October 2 for more).  My time in Kenya was a season of intense spiritual growth.  It proved to be both very difficult and incredibly rewarding, as things from God often are. 

On a typical eMi project trip, a staff member assembles a team of design professionals to travel to a site and complete a project for the ministry.  The key word here is TEAM.  Since this was a disaster relief project, I was sent as a consultant to Kenya to help CRWRC as the lone eMi volunteer.  The plan was for me to join a volunteer retired couple representing CRWRC as International Relief Managers (IRMs) and a Kenyan national WASH (water, sanitation, & hygiene) engineer.  I was to serve in a support role, assisting the Kenyan engineer. 

Having lunch with Lee and Sue Mys, CRWRC International Relief Managers, who I lived and worked with on the project.

A few days after I arrived in Mombasa on October 3, we learned that our Kenyan WASH engineer was not able to come.  I had some water design experience in the States, but none in Africa and certainly not enough to take the lead on the project.  CRWRC began to look for a replacement immediately, but it took some time, and he was set to arrive after one month, around November 1. 

There are so many cultural distinctions that result in minor variations in planning and implementation of projects here in Africa.  It is easy to get off on the wrong foot and then very difficult to make up for it if you do.  For this reason, and because I am new to Africa, we were hesitant to make any major decisions on how to proceed with the project because we wanted to wait for the Kenyan engineer to arrive and get his expertise.  

"Helping" build the foundation for one of the new water tanks at Palakumi Primary School.

Until then, I struggled to find my place on the project.  My role was not well defined and most of the time I felt like I was tagging along, as the IRM's began their work of starting the other aspects of the project.  Thankfully, I was able to begin some work on the rainwater harvesting system design, including the foundation design for the water tanks.   Adding to the lack of work were the security issues.  There were 2 bombings by Al-Shabab in Nairobi in October and it was not safe to travel around Mombasa by myself.  I was limited to spending most of my time alone when I was not working. 

During this time, I was forced to rely on God for everything, including companionship, something I have never had to do.  I am blessed with a huge network of friends and family.  Even moving to Uganda, I made friends quickly and never went without company.  Being isolated was testing.  It taught me so much about the nature of Jesus.  He is a real person and He wants to be our best friend.  For the first time in my life, the song “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” was very real to me:

Can we find a friend so faithful,
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness;
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

I wish I could adequately explain the change that took place in me in Kenya:  the growth of my faith in Jesus and the absolute trust in the fact that He is all I need, ever!  There is so much joy that comes from serving Him.  I want everyone to have it!  It is so difficult to put into words, and I am afraid that I’m not conveying it well.  (I will just blame it on my affinity for numbers and not language!) 

So this verse pretty much sums up my time in Kenya:

Hebrews 12:11   Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

With Grace, a parent, and her child and teacher at Maktau Primary School.

So now, I am able to do this:

James 1:2   My brethren, count it all JOY when you fall into various trials.

I am so thankful for the privilege to be here working for the Lord and for His patience with me as He molds me into the person that He wants me to be.  I am a work in progress!