Gateway Missions - Kenya
- An Artist (Jon)
- A Cage-Fighter (Rudy)
- A Computer Programmer (Todd)
- A Film-Maker (Rob)
- A Mentor (Barry)
- A Pastor (Blake)
- A Pulitzer Prize Winning Photographer (Rick)
- A Web Designer (Steve)
Does that sound like the next cast for the TV series LOST or what?
No, this was our team. A group of 8 men from widely different backgrounds who had one thing in common – a desire to share God’s love with Kenya and to have their own hearts changed in the process. We succeeded in both.
The trip began with an 8-hour flight to London. I watched in envy as Todd slept for about 5 of those hours. I slept for about one. I wanted to flick him on the nose or something so he wouldn’t look so peaceful. But that wouldn’t be very pastor-like, would it?
We made it to London and had 3 hours to get from Gatwick Airport to Heathrow Airport. It is a 45- minute drive when traffic is light. Traffic was not light. In fact, it took nearly 2 hours to make the trip. Needless to say, we missed our connecting flight to Nairobi.
British Air took full responsibility for our missing the flight since they booked the two flights so closely. They put us up in the Renaissance Hotel and provided dinner and breakfast coupons. It was the first of many unexpected blessings God gave us on this trip. You know, those little things that don’t seem like a big deal at the time, but if you listen closely you can hear God whispering, “Remember how much I love you.”
We got to see London and have “fish and chips” in a traditional British pub. And more importantly, we got to walk around a lot. After sitting on the plane for 8 hours, I was ready to walk around a lot. That night we slept well and made it to the airport in plenty of time to catch our 11 a.m. flight to Nairobi.
I am so grateful for the unexpected blessing of an extra day in London. We felt much more rested upon our arrival in Kenya than we would have felt otherwise. That’s a good thing since we arrived at our resting place around 1:00 a.m. Friday morning. We woke up around 6:30 a.m. and had a quick breakfast before leaving for Amboseli to visit a game park and to minister to the Massai people.
The 5-hour van ride was more than I could handle. They had torrential rains the day before we arrived and most of the roads were completely washed out. We did some amazing 4-wheeling to get to our destination. After about 2-3 hours of bumping up and down my stomach decided it had enough. I earned myself the nickname “Pastor Chuck.”
We were scheduled to show the Jesus film at a particular Massai village on Friday night, but we couldn’t make it there due to the roads being wash out. Two young men from that tribe ran about 8 miles to inform us that the roads were washed out. Running like that is just a part of their lives. I guess that explains why they don’t weigh 100 pounds soaking wet. But their hearts are huge!
On the way back to our lodge we had to stop to allow elephants to cross the road. I’m not kidding. We saw all kinds of wildlife just walking along the side of the road – giraffes, zebras, baboons. It was truly incredible.
That day we went to a Massai village and shared Bible stories in their little church. Worshiping with them was amazing. Their enthusiasm was contagious and we had a great time worshiping and sharing God’s Word with them. They are a mostly illiterate society, so they learn through hearing Bible stories.
We returned after dark to show the Jesus film in their native dialect. We tacked a white sheet on the side of a mud hut and showed the Jesus film. It was the first time they had ever seen it in their mother tongue. We began with only a few adults and several children, but soon adults we standing about 5 deep watching the film. The goats and cows seemed to enjoy it as well. It was an amazing experience.
While we were waiting I struck up a conversation with our driver, Wilson. I asked if he was a Christian and he said yes. In that culture many folks think they are “Christian” if they are born into a Christian family. When I probed a little further he told me he wasn’t saved. He knew all the answers, but just hadn’t received the gift of salvation yet. We talked about it a while and I left him a tract. I don’t know whether or not he accepted Jesus after we left, but I know God used me to plant a seed.
I had a similar conversation on the flight from Nairobi to Eldoret. I spoke with a woman whose father was very active in church and she said she believed in God. When I asked her if she believed in Jesus she said she was skeptical. We had a good conversation before boarding the plane.
We arrived in Eldoret and made the 1 ½ hour drive to Kitale, where we stayed at a Christian retreat center. Let’s just say that it was a bit of a change of pace from our previous living arrangements. The beds weren’t quite as plush and we didn’t have running water. They usually do have water there, but the water company didn’t pay their electric bill. Go figure.
On Monday and Tuesday we spent time loving on about 22 adorable children – m6ost of whom are orphans. All of them have been through more tragedy than most of us will experience in a lifetime, but you wouldn’t know if from the smiles on their faces.
Children in Africa aren’t like children in America. If you have children, they probably are the center of your world. In Africa they aren’t the center of anything. They don’t receive much love or attention from adults – especially men. So you can imagine the impact of 8 men taking time to play with them and love on them. It was wonderful.
We had the opportunity to take them to the Kitale Club. On Monday they ate lunch at the club. Heather said for most of them it would be the first time they had ever eaten at a restaurant. You would never know it. When we served them their food they just sat there. I know they were hungry. But they didn’t touch their food until given permission to do so. Then they ate everything on their plates and went back for seconds.
On Tuesday we took them swimming. Boy, was that water cold! But being in it with them made it all worth while. They had so much fun. They laughed and splashed and had a great time. The smiles on their faces were contagious. Come to think of it, these kids who had so little smiled a lot more than American kids who have so much. I wonder why…
On Wednesday and Thursday we taught classes to a group of 19 pastors. They recently established a training center on Mt. Elgon and we originally planned to go teach at that center. Our plans changed when fighting broke out and many people were killed. The Jamisons arranged for them to come to us instead.
These men have a passion for God. They truly want to serve Him with all their hearts. They simply lack training. The topic for our 2 days was marriage and family. Keep in mind that these men live in a culture where wives are considered to be a possession and children are basically ignored.
We spent 2 days talking about the biblical concept of serving our wives. We talked about how the Bible says we should lift up our wives and serve them like Christ served the church. This was a revolutionary concept for them, but they embraced it whole-heartedly. You could see light bulbs going off above their heads all over the room.
I wish our hearts were as responsive to God’s truth as the hearts of these men. They sincerely wanted to learn what God wanted them to do. I left truly believing that what we taught will make a lasting difference. Perhaps it will even be the catalyst in a long process of changing the way their culture views women and children.
On Friday morning we had a closing ceremony. We presented the men with gifts of watches and ties and many of our clothes that we decided to leave with them. From their response, you would think they just won the lottery. They were elated and so grateful. It made me wish I had cleaned out my closet so I could have given them a lot more. I think this is what God meant when He talks about giving to the poor being like giving to God Himself.
On Friday afternoon 5 of us flew from Eldoret to Nairobi. Again, I was so thankful not to have to make the drive. And I was so grateful to Jon and Rudy, who did make the drive early that morning. I owe you, guys!
Our plane was scheduled to leave around 11:30 p.m. Friday night, but our flight got delayed. We were two hours late leaving and once again missed our connecting flight in London. It seemed like nothing on this trip went according to schedule. I think God was reminding us that He is in control and we need to just go with His plan.
On the flight from Nairobi to London an amazing thing happened. I actually got some sleep. In fact, I slept about 5 of the 8 hours. Boy, am I glad Todd didn’t flick me on the nose. It was nice being the one asleep.
We caught a flight from London to Chicago and then flew from Chicago to DFW. We arrived around 8:30 p.m., about 6 hours later than originally scheduled. We traveled for a total of 40 hours straight and we sure were glad to be back!
I missed Shawn and Brooke and Autumn so much. I’m so thankful that they let me go and I’m so grateful to all of you who prayed for them and checked in on them while I was gone. Being away from them for 12 days was terribly difficult, but I’m so glad I went. I now have a better appreciation for just how big God’s heart is. I know God changed all 8 of us through this trip, and I pray that he used us to make a change in Kenya as well. I believe He did.
