We Went to Work Today

Our youngest team members

Today was our first day of work on our many projects - building a study hall, along with assorted tables and benches, building two homes and repainting the interior of Comet House.  While it is a lot of work - it goes quickly with twenty people.  We worked together side by side with local villagers, learned new skills and enjoyed wonderful Kenyan cooking.  Below is a reflection from Julia Reddish, one of our 15 year old missioners, along with some pictures from the day.

It took a team to build desks and benches for the study hall

Peggy showed no fear of heights!

Julia's Reflection

Once upon a time in a country far far away--two plane trips and seven time zones away, there is Kenya. When you look on a map the whole world seems small and close packed, easily accessible. I have traveled all over the United States but I have never been so far from where I know.  When you are far from what you know everything is different with a dash of the similar.

In Kenya I can look out the window and look at the plants, birds and even the dirt and not recognize a thing. It brings a completely new thrill to me. Looking around the only plant I can identify is the grass on the roadside. I am so removed from my element that if I think on it for too long my head starts to spin. The dirt is a different color--a beautiful shade of maroon in some places, and in others it has an almost Georgian clay color, but it is different. The birds sing up in the trees, but they sing songs I have never heard. Everything has been flipped and shaken just enough to make it alien. I am far from what I know and everything is different.

I was working today in The Comet house's yard sawing pipes to make tetherball posts. To cut the poles I used a homemade hacksaw that was better than any bought saw I had ever used. Someone had crafted it by welding pieces of rebar and scrap steel together, It was still a saw and it worked beautifully for the task. Flashing about in golden yellow and browns, a menagerie of small birds dart about in the trees. I have never seen any of them before and their songs are strange but they are bird shaped and can fly about. Everything is different with a dash of the similar.

But that is ok. It's fun to be out of your own world for a while it is exhilarating to be learning so many new things everyday. The trees may be different but they still throw shade. I may not be able to recognize the birdsong but it is still sweet, I can't name the flowers but I can see their beauty. When you are far from what you know everything is different with a dash of the similar.

Reflection on Day One by Ruth Pattison

Our First Day

24 hours or more of transportation and transition. airports and security and traveling through time, and tedious lines through customs and kind people who say 'thank you for paying taxes'. Upside down and inside out and changing rooms around at Karen Inn to get the beds right and sleeping needs attended to. Mosquito nets for everyone and the girls' bunk room adorned with nets like a fairy princess extravaganza.  

So that is the fodder of our conversation tonight after dinner.  With the discomforts of jet lag, diet, and disorientation that seem to rule the day, still. . . after a day of worship and shared meals and the hospitality of those with so little who give so much, we were all lifted as some among us said:  "I felt loved", and another, "I felt joy". And that is why we're here, isn't it? To find love. To find joy. To see the face of the God we never knew before today.

We brought a way to play together- SpikeBall, courtesy of Annie Dimon, and spent the afternoon as the children we are, playing.  Most of our group (those who aren't afraid of heights) climbed the water tower structure at the Comet House - for the view, and the climb. and the challenge. 

And isn't that the crux of it all, our life in the spirit. We play. We sing and dance by the moving of the holy spirit in worship and we play dusty games for the fun of it, and take it on for the challenge of it. We have come to know each other in new ways. Each other,  and God, and our own group, and the boys we have come to serve.

One little boy took Benno's hand at the end of the afternoon to get his attention until he looked him in the eye so he could ask: "Are you going to come back tomorrow?".
And that, indeed, is the crux of it all. To come back tomorrow. 
We don't know what tomorrow will hold, but we will come back. Because today has been full and rich and exhausting, just in such a way that gives us hope for tomorrow
and the courage to come back.

Ruth+

Arrival and First Day - Finding the Face of God in Kenya

                  After almost 24 hours of traveling we arrived in Nairobi.  We  loaded our 40+ bags onto the bus for the final leg of our journey, tired and thankful to be here.

Sunday morning we were up for church at the Rev Musa Gitau Presbyterian Church.

We were welcomed and felt so loved and were given small flowers and cards.  The children braided Alexandra's hair which made her feel loved.

Caroline ran into Sylvester, a friend from 2012, when she visited Kikuyu to help build the public library which gets heavy use.

The church was full (those empty seats are ours when we were called up for introduction).  In what has become a tradition for those who return more than once, Trey and Caroline were given Kikuyu names.

The church was filled with the Spirit and music on Women's Guild Day.  The women behind Ruth wearing the blue bandanas are members the Guild who run most of the mission and outreach for the church.

The church was filling with lively praise. We were moved by the expression of faith of the community.

We visited the The Rev Musa Gitau/Atlanta Public Library built in 2012 by another St. Anne's Mission Team.  The library, which is normally closed on Sundays, was filled with children when the librarian unlocked the library to give us a tour.  They flooded in, running for the shelves, found books and sat down to read.  A new addition are the computers.

Lunch was at the Comet House prepared by Fredrick's Mom and then an opportunity

to meet and play with the boys and feed the Comet House donkey

and play Spike Ball

As we reflected on our busy day, still a bit jet lagged, we are touched by the community into which we have been welcomed and St Anne's relationship with them. For many of us it is good to be home.  Thanks to the Lily Grant that brought many of us here.

St Anne's missioners are on their way