With the Pokot - One more from Becca

I am typing this while sitting on Mauryn's back porch. She is in the kitchen singing while she cooks dinner. She brought me a cup of chai – she spoils me. I can hear children playing, the cat meowing, birds chirping and fresh laundry dripping on the line beside me. (Props for Mbuvi for hanging it up.) Understand why this feels like home? I love it here.

 

I will try to catch up where Tim left off so this is going to be quite long … Tim, Bernard, Stephen and I left Eldoret early Monday morning for the long, hard but beautiful drive to Kinyach Orphanage in the Kerio Valley, home of the Pokot tribe. We stopped at the Kolol View Point overlooking the valley – a breathtaking view that again makes my heart sing "How Great Thou Art." How great He is indeed.

 

We were warmly greeted by Wilson and his lovely wife Helen and Jackson who is a chief and also a church elder. Jackson donated the land for the orphanage. They showed us the community owned guest house where we would sleep for the night and then took us to the orphanage where we were welcomed by a church member, Eunice, and the widows: Flora, Benestine, Julianna and Maureen. They gave us a wonderful "snack" of chai, chapati and fruit that would have been more than enough for lunch. Tim warned me that more food was coming but I couldn't resist the mango and chai! The children arrived home for lunch while we were eating and sat in rows of chairs facing us.  All their beautiful brown eyes were on us – some were smiling and some were trying to hide their faces – it was awkward for us until they were served their lunch. Can you imagine eating in front of them?

 

The children went back to school and we went to see the bee hives. We were given  some honey to take home! After our walk, we sat for a while under an arbor covered with branches of leaves that serves as the Kimnai church. We were silent, just taking it all in. Sitting nearby was Eunice. Of course, we started talking. I was admiring her fancy toenails and her beautiful necklace. We became instant friends. The next thing I knew she was taking off her necklace and putting it on me. I tried to refuse, but Tim gently reminded me that it is good to accept gifts. She kissed me on the cheek and told me she wanted me to have it because she loved me. A moment like that is God kissing me on the cheek and telling me He is giving me a gift because He loves me. Overwhelming love. He loves us, oh how He loves us …

 

Next we traveled to town to see the Kinyach church. The outdoor church looked as if it had just grown there naturally. Wooden logs and benches covered by trees. Time stood still while we prayed and fellowshipped together joined by another chief and church member.  It was hard to leave, but Jackson had invited us to have a soda at his "hotel." We sat around a table under a grass hut and enjoyed our sodas. It was market day, so several people came over to greet us. Tim is becoming more Kenyan every day – he bought some rubber shoes at the market that most of the children in the orphanage wear. We even got to meet Jackson's father who was 93 years old. I am learning to be careful to say if I like something because our sweet friends will do everything they can to make sure we have one! I admired the grandfather's tiny stool that he carries around so he can rest. The next day we stopped by the hotel and Jackson came out with a stool for me. I don't know if someone made it or if it belongs to him, but either way it is awesome! Tim is kind of jealous, I think. I can't wait to use is when I'm gardening. It is a treasure.

 

The children were back from school and were ready to sing for us. Their singing was so beautiful that it was hard for me to breathe – my heart was taking up all the space. I took the younger children out to play so Tim could record the older children. We tried playing quietly – follow the leader, Simon says, but ended up singing too!  They sang their ABC's, counted to 10, and were able to name their ears, eyes, etc in English! They sang "Jesus Loves Me" and then sang "Ni wewe Bwana" with me. It means "It's only you Lord." Those are powerful words coming out of the mouths of His precious children. Huge blessing.

 

We joined the older children and several of us spoke to the children. I have learned from Tim not to worry too much about what to say. God gives us the words. I shared my testimony with them and hope they were encouraged. Stephen interpreted my "Texas" English so they could understand. Later I thought of more that I wanted to say, but I hope that they heard how much they are loved. When we left to go to dinner at the guest house, the children all shook our hands, curtsied and bowed. Again, I heard "accept the gift." That was hard to accept.

 

After dinner, Stephen and I went back to the children for a question and answer time. They wanted to know about America and about my family. My all time favorite question was, "Are there police in the sky to stop the airplanes if they are going too fast?" The little ones were up way past their bedtimes, but the older ones could have talked all night. We walked back to the guest house where I took an awesome shower (tub of hot water) under the stars and went to bed.

 

The next morning (Tuesday) my sweet sister Benestine was pleased to see me wearing the beautiful skirt she made for me. It is truly beautiful and I will treasure it and her kindness always. It was quite a sacrifice for her to make as there is no electricity there. After breakfast, we spent some time in worship. Helen spoke beautifully to us. She is soft-spoken, well educated (perfect English), kind, loving, hard-working and a such a humble servant. Everything Proverbs 31 describes is Helen. She apologized for the condition of their orphanage, saying it was immature and asked us for ways to make it better.

 

God responded powerfully to her through Tim as he spoke next. He told her it was we who are immature. They are teaching us so much. We (Americans) are selfish and it is they who are teaching us how to love and how to give. The women all lowered their eyes and mine filled with tears as they are now. Truth. Powerful truth. Convicting. There I sat looking into the eyes of these women who had shown me unselfish love. I hugged them all goodbye and Helen wiped my tears with her fingers. It was hard to leave.

 

We continued on to nearby Kimnai Feeding Station for a quick visit and to see their camel and her baby. One of the widows brought out a cup to milk the camel! That was something to see. Then we all got lessons on shooting a bow and arrow before we left. We were just about to leave when it was announced that our Chai was ready; our camel milk chai. It was very good – tasted just like cow's milk.

 

We stopped for a soda when we got to town and said goodbye to Bernard who caught a mutatu the rest of the way home. We got back on the road to Nakuru where we stayed at the familiar Kunste Hotel. Along the way, Tim stopped and bought a sheepskin to cover the driver's seat. I'm telling you; he's turning Kenyan more and more every day.

 

We met Mbuvi in Nairobi at the Capital Center Mall. Conveniently, he was working in Eastleigh today so he could catch a matatu and join us. Whenever food is involved, Mbuvi will be there! He showed me pictures of the boys he shared with today. One of them was holding his glue bottle under his nose in the picture. (They usually try to hide them.) Mbuvi is doing a powerful work. He is a great father to his two boys and countless others who look up to him.

 

We are now home in Kamulu. Home. Tomorrow we are very excited to meet with a representative at the CURE International Hospital of Kenya. Please be praying for us as this could mean great things for our Medical program. God continues to provide. Tim will fill you in on our meeting as I am flying home tomorrow night after the medical team arrives. I will enjoy my last day here in a place that I love with people  I love deeply.

 

Blessings and love from Kenya,

Becca