Prayers from Mayfield - Kenyan Style
Stories from the Week:
I have now spent almost two months in Kenya. I never would have thought that was something I would do in my life. Kenya is quite different from Madagascar. In fact, I would say it is closer to the States in terms of it's development. We can talk about this fact later, but what sticks out to me as the major difference is the hospitality. The people here know how to take care of others. They say "hi" when you walk by and take time to chat with you easily. This is not something we do in America. For example, I went into a pharmacy today to buy eye drops. My first words were, "do you have allergy medicine?" I thought I was being rather polite, until the next customer came in behind me. His first words where, "how are you?" Man, do we miss the mark in the States.
I was walking and praying the other day when I over took a lady on her way home for lunch. I asked if I could walk with her and we easily began to talk. Our conversation quickly turned to the difference between the States and Kenya. She said, not to pay attention to the politics in Kenya, that the people were very welcoming. I explained that politics aside the people in the States were not as nice as Kenyans. She asked me why, to which I explained that many of them don't have Jesus in the States. The next words out of her month shocked me. "Send them to Kenya, we will tell them about Jesus" - I love it. She went on to preach that things are always good when you have God. She explained that life is still hard, but it's still always good with God. Amen sister, that's exactly what I needed to hear.
As few days later I went shopping in the local second hand market. I ended up coming across a wonderful young gal selling t-shirts. As she helped me pick out a t-shirt I was able to ask her about herself. I asked if she had any girls of her own, her response brought me joy. She said, "no, but you can pray for me." I ended up sitting with her for a while because another vender was looking for the match to a shoe I liked. As I waited we talked about life and somehow started talking about Jesus. As a Muslim young adult began to ask about the God and Jesus, I was trying to explain that they were the same thing. My new friend said, "Yeah, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are God - the Trinity." Preach it sister! This is what I love, just talking to people and letting them proclaim the truth to each other and to my heart.
These wonderful encounters have caused me to try to get to know Kenya better. Follow my inquiry about the church in Kenya to the Joshua Project website, as we pray for the church in Kenya to grow and to reach out to those around them.
I have now spent almost two months in Kenya. I never would have thought that was something I would do in my life. Kenya is quite different from Madagascar. In fact, I would say it is closer to the States in terms of it's development. We can talk about this fact later, but what sticks out to me as the major difference is the hospitality. The people here know how to take care of others. They say "hi" when you walk by and take time to chat with you easily. This is not something we do in America. For example, I went into a pharmacy today to buy eye drops. My first words were, "do you have allergy medicine?" I thought I was being rather polite, until the next customer came in behind me. His first words where, "how are you?" Man, do we miss the mark in the States.
I was walking and praying the other day when I over took a lady on her way home for lunch. I asked if I could walk with her and we easily began to talk. Our conversation quickly turned to the difference between the States and Kenya. She said, not to pay attention to the politics in Kenya, that the people were very welcoming. I explained that politics aside the people in the States were not as nice as Kenyans. She asked me why, to which I explained that many of them don't have Jesus in the States. The next words out of her month shocked me. "Send them to Kenya, we will tell them about Jesus" - I love it. She went on to preach that things are always good when you have God. She explained that life is still hard, but it's still always good with God. Amen sister, that's exactly what I needed to hear.
As few days later I went shopping in the local second hand market. I ended up coming across a wonderful young gal selling t-shirts. As she helped me pick out a t-shirt I was able to ask her about herself. I asked if she had any girls of her own, her response brought me joy. She said, "no, but you can pray for me." I ended up sitting with her for a while because another vender was looking for the match to a shoe I liked. As I waited we talked about life and somehow started talking about Jesus. As a Muslim young adult began to ask about the God and Jesus, I was trying to explain that they were the same thing. My new friend said, "Yeah, God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit, are God - the Trinity." Preach it sister! This is what I love, just talking to people and letting them proclaim the truth to each other and to my heart.
These wonderful encounters have caused me to try to get to know Kenya better. Follow my inquiry about the church in Kenya to the Joshua Project website, as we pray for the church in Kenya to grow and to reach out to those around them.
I have always wanted to do a missions trip to Africa and other areas of the world. This post is encouraging.
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