"...they were at their wits' end. Then they cried out to the Lord in their troubles, and He brought them out of their distress. He turned the desert into pools of water and the parched ground into flowing springs." Psalm 107:27b-28,35
Monday, December 28, 2009
Christmas Day in the Bush
On Christmas day we went about 20 miles out away from electricity and paved roads to share some gifts with a specific community there. Our day started packing up the vehicles kids and everybody and heading out of town on a bumpy dusty road. When we pulled up the elders and chief were all present to welcome us. We had many things planned for the day but mainly we were only there to show the love of Isa(Jesus) that is it nothing more nothing less. We went right to work starting fires to cook, cutting meat and veggies, and cleaning rice. Once most of the jobs were done Bekah started doing crafts with our children. A simple craft with one of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. We never try to push our ways on anybody it doesn't work only God can reveal the truth to people. We had some great conversations and built some great friendships. Some of the crafts were confiscated and thrown away but no worries we showed unconditional love that's why we went. To let people know that we care about them because God told us to love other people as He does! In this particular community there are around 85 families and about 25 of the people living there are HIV positive. We were able to feedd the whole community and also distribute a dry food bag to each adult. We also donated some medicine to treat malaria, iron deficiency, worms and other parasites. During the time we were serving the food one of our interns placed her phone on a chair and left it unattended. During that time someone picked it up and walked away with it. I went over and talked to one of the women who we partnered with for this event. She is from a local clinic that woks with the HIV families. She approached the elders with the situation and they began their investigation. During their investigation the local witch doctor(whom I had been cooking with the whole day) decided he would do a spell on the theif that would keep him from urinating until the phone was returned. Needless to say the phone was returned within the next 15 minutes. They were so ashamed but we understand things happen they apologized many times and we used the rice to tell them we were no bothered and we would still come back we forgive and forget but the story is just funny. When you buy rice you have to clean it pick out the bad rice and the stones. You don't just throw all the rice out you pick out the bad and use the good. With that said we continued on and handed out the dry food and meds. This has become our tradition for Christmas here in Garissa but I believe the Lord will have us carry it out no matter where we are. We would like to instill it in our children and our interns as they pass through our lives.All my Christmas' in America have been so materialized and focused inward. I pray that God will remind me that it's all about Him and loving His people. Whether it is here in Africa on in Washington DC at a soup kitchen it's a time for us to remember His love and His wonderful gift to us. We should never forget the wonderful gift that He gave us and we should never keep it to ourselves!
On Christmas day we went about 20 miles out away from electricity and paved roads to share some gifts with a specific community there. Our day started packing up the vehicles kids and everybody and heading out of town on a bumpy dusty road. When we pulled up the elders and chief were all present to welcome us. We had many things planned for the day but mainly we were only there to show the love of Isa(Jesus) that is it nothing more nothing less.
We went right to work starting fires to cook, cutting meat and veggies, and cleaning rice. Once most of the jobs were done Bekah started doing crafts with our children. A simple craft with one of the wise men bringing gifts to baby Jesus. We never try to push our ways on anybody it doesn't work only God can reveal the truth to people. We had some great conversations and built some great friendships.
Some of the crafts were confiscated and thrown away but no worries we showed unconditional love that's why we went. To let people know that we care about them because God told us to love other people as He does! In this particular community there are around 85 families and about 25 of the people living there are HIV positive. We were able to feedd the whole community and also distribute a dry food bag to each adult. We also donated some medicine to treat malaria, iron deficiency, worms and other parasites. 
During the time we were serving the food one of our interns placed her phone on a chair and left it unattended. During that time someone picked it up and walked away with it. I went over and talked to one of the women who we partnered with for this event. She is from a local clinic that woks with the HIV families. She approached the elders with the situation and they began their investigation. During their investigation the local witch doctor(whom I had been cooking with the whole day) decided he would do a spell on the theif that would keep him from urinating until the phone was returned. Needless to say the phone was returned within the next 15 minutes. 
They were so ashamed but we understand things happen they apologized many times and we used the rice to tell them we were no bothered and we would still come back we forgive and forget but the story is just funny. When you buy rice you have to clean it pick out the bad rice and the stones. You don't just throw all the rice out you pick out the bad and use the good. With that said we continued on and handed out the dry food and meds. 
This has become our tradition for Christmas here in Garissa but I believe the Lord will have us carry it out no matter where we are. We would like to instill it in our children and our interns as they pass through our lives.All my Christmas' in America have been so materialized and focused inward. I pray that God will remind me that it's all about Him and loving His people. Whether it is here in Africa on in Washington DC at a soup kitchen it's a time for us to remember His love and His wonderful gift to us. We should never forget the wonderful gift that He gave us and we should never keep it to ourselves!
1 comment:
That is wonderful, so proud and amazed at what your family does. God Bless you in everything you do.
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