Mega-update: Back in Kenya Section

OK, so what's this about Nancy speaking in a Hindu temple? We'll get to that in a minute. When we got back to ANU, or shortly thereafter, some things had changed. Here are some key items, good and bad:

• LACK OF RAIN--When we left, it was green and lush in Kenya. When we returned, it was brown and dry and lots of people were suffering. Only yesterday, we saw two dead Maasai cows in a ditch on the way home. The herd of goats, cattle and sheep that used to pass at a distance from Mark's office window, isn't doing so any more. People and animals are really struggling. Please pray for rain and for enough food for the people to survive until new crops can be planted or harvested.

• WATER AND ELECTRICITY RATIONING--Because some electricity is generated by hydro-electric dams, the lack of water is creating a lack of electricity. Here's another instance where good planning on the campus insulates us from challenges: the University dam on the Mbagathi River means the plants and grass get watered and the generators fill the gaps in most electrical coverage. Nairobi is a different matter. People in the city often have electricity only every other day and are dealing with water rationing as well.
• TARMACK! It's true that it's on the street to the LEFT of the front gate not Maasai Lodge Road, and it's true that the treatment is kind of "thickness challenged", but it's black and smooth and we're really pleased. (Pictured below: white metal ANU gate to the left. Black tarmack beyond the barrels directly ahead.) Keep praying that Maasai Lodge Road is next.

• ZEBRAS--No question zebras are cute and we're seeing lots more of their cuteness these days--up until we left, we'd seen zebras from our balcony a couple of times--and at a looooong distance. Since we got back, we're seeing them directly across the canyon and perhaps a football field and a half away.

• MORE INTERVIEWS--We had explained in this blog earlier that we did 10 interviews with current and future Nazarene leaders in Africa as part of editing a book of interviews for Nazarene Missions International. Without going into much detail right now, we're being asked to do more interviews. Dr. Filimao Chambo, our new Regional Director, has agreed to be one of these, so "watch this space" for more interviews with current and future Nazarene leaders in Africa.

OK, now about that speaking engagement in a Hindu temple: We've mentioned earlier that we've struck up a friendship with Mr. Vayas, an active member of Arya Samaj, which means kind of "Aryan community." Last week, Mark got a call from Mr. Vayas inviting us to a celebration of their 106th anniversary as a religious community in Nairobi and a request for Nancy, as an ordained Nazarene minister, to be part of a panel addressing the question, "What can the world religions do to encourage peace in Kenya and the world?"

Before the time of the panel, we were invited into their religious service in another part of the building: religious songs being sung by groups of 3-5 children, women and elderly people sitting on mats around firepots raising aromatic smoke. After that, a world-class cute group of kindergarten and pre-school children presented a one-hour variety show. There was singing and dancing and recitation of what we used to call "pieces." Also, though, in the "we're not making this up" department, one of the features was a 5-year old dressed up like Ghandi and giving advice to the audience.

The panel was the last item of the morning. The other panel members included the chairman of the Hindu Council in Kenya, the education director of the Seventh Day Adventists, a pentecostal bishop, the chair of the department ofr religion at the University of Nairobi, and three other Hindus. Nan (Mark is saying here) did a really wonderful job, and got a big round of applause when she said we were going to have an Indian daughter-in-law in August.

After the panel, we were invited to a great, spicey vegetarian meal. Anyone who thinks vegetarian food has to be wimpy and flavorless hasn't had really good Indian food.

Soooo--that brings us up to date on our own activites. As promised earlier, we'll follow up with our interview with John Yual, DS in the Sudan. We love what we're doing, but if you're reading time is short--skip what we say and read what John Yual says.

Have we mentioned to you lately how much we appreciate your prayers and reading (at least some part of ) the blog? Over and over during our home assignment you reminded us that you are praying for us and the work we've been called to do. Thanks so much. Regarding things to pray about: as we mentioned earlier, please pray for the good American pastors and churches we visited on our home assignment. Please join us in praying for our children. It's hard to be a young (or old) adult these days. Finally, please pray for rain, and in the meantime, for the rural people in Kenya. We know of a bi-vocational pastor who was counting on a sugar cane crop that has failed because of the lack of rain. We have student families who are struggling more than usual with school fees because crops that were the source of payment have failed.

Thanks again for your faithfulness. We are honored by your interest and by the privilege of working and serving in Africa