Ramblings from Community Spiritual Director
Matthew 28:18-20 – Jesus gives the Great Commission
Dear Friends,
As some of you know Larry and I, along with 14 others, just returned from a mission trip to Kenya, E. Africa. It is one of those times I was not expecting to go and I was telling God, "It is okay if I don't go, even though Larry is going." But God had other plans for me when someone came to me and said "I believe God wants both of you to go on this mission." Well, by this time the team was full, so I am telling God, "God, if You want me to go, I know You will work it out." God did do just that, even though I did not want anyone to have to drop out, it did happen. So now I want to share some of the experiences that God allowed me and 15 others to have, because here in America we take so for granted what we are blessed with.
Our team of 16 left Midland on Thursday, September 6, and arrived in Nariobi, Kenya on Saturday, September 8. I was not prepared for what we saw when we arrived in Nariobi. There was more poverty than any of us could ever imagine, although their new president has helped and more people are able to rise out of their poverty. Of course, there were many areas that were middle class to the upper class.
From Nairobi, we traveled a day's ride in vans to a town called Maua, Kenya. We arrived on Saturday and arose early to go to church, which was a great blessing. We arrived at the church for SS with the children. They asked us to join them to sing and to sing a song to them. Then they sang to us a song which ended with them throwing many blessings which we were supposed to catch as many as possible to put in our pockets, or wherever we could put them to bring back to share with all our church friends. Then we attended the regular church service which began with praises and lasted three hours. How many of us here would have stayed for the whole three hours? Yet they were there to praise the Lord and to do the Lord's work. Even in Swahili we were blessed more than words can express. It was similar to Acts where all are speaking in many languages.
Maua is where we would do most of our mission work through the Methodist Hospital there where Bill and Jerri Savuto are missionaries. Every morning began with early breakfast, followed with worship in the hospital Chapel service at 7:30. There were various kinds of work – building a small two-room house (10x20) which, as it was dedicated, the lady in her wheelchair, which would receive it told us that she prayed for a miracle and this house was her miracle. She praised God for this miracle. Then there were some who worked at the hospital compound, building a covered walkway over the walks between the many buildings for the hospital; some of us worked in the hospital pharmacy sorting the various medical supplies that we were able to take with us.
Then I was allowed to make rounds with one of the hospital chaplains who is a Kenyan. She taught me so much as she prayed in Swahili. Even though I did not understand all of her words, I felt God's presence in a mighty way. Sometimes she would ask me to pray in the wards where they all could understand English or she would interpret for them (most of the Kenyans speak English as it is taught in schools). As we toured the hospital, they were so happy that I was with the chaplain. In the maternity wards, the babies were all in bed with their mothers unless the mother was too ill. The mothers wanted me to bless their babies and offer a prayer for all of them. Why did God offer me this experience? It certainly humbled me and touched me in a very powerful way. Why didn't we just send them the money that we spent to make the trip? We are told that our presence there did more than just money could, it was a visible means of HOPE to them.
As I went through the maternity wards and touched every baby and asked God to bless them, I received a blessing like never before. In Matthew 25:31-36, Jesus says, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory... all the nations will be gathered in his presence... and separate them as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep at his right hand and the goats at his left. Then the King will say to those on the right, 'Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you...' For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger and you invited me into your home. I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you cared for me..." As I reflected on this scripture, it made me wonder how God looks on what was the reason for me being there? These people even in their poverty, were a delightful people. What a privilege it was for me to even consider that I may have offered even a small bit of HOPE to them. What a privilege when they asked me to pray and to bless their babies. One lady even asked me if I would hold her twins and bless them, another even wanted me to take her picture with her twin girls. What small things I could do, yet to them it was a Means of Grace that offered a glimmer of HOPE and blessing. They asked us to pray for them and asked our churches to pray for them.
We walked (3/4-1mi.) from our hotel to the hospital on dirt roads which were littered with garbage and animals running loose, and many folks sitting on a blanket selling their wares, with the open sewer ditches alongside the roads. We would encounter many who would speak and give a great big smile, when we spoke to them. On their way to school, the children in their uniforms wanted just to shake our hands, which as we understand, is like we are giving them a gift to shake their hands. This all is not to put down our way of life, although we are blessed (and a bit spoiled), it is an experience to show us how God is present wherever God's people will praise the Lord!
As I close these ramblings, you are charged as always to PRAY constantly. I would ask that when you think of the people in Kenya, pray for them. Pray that God will continue to bring people to give them HOPE. Remember the scripture in Matthew 5 which tells us that God blesses those who are hungry, who are poor or in need, for the Kingdom of heaven will be given to them. In the midst of all this poverty and need, I experienced the Kingdom of God in Kenya, E. Africa, just as I do on a Walk to Emmaus. A God of all!!!
There is a plaque hanging in the Redbird Mission in Kentucky which is appropriate for me in all of this:
"WHEN YOUR FEET ARE NOT WHERE YOU EXPECTED THEM TO BE, THEN YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN THE WILL OF GOD!"
On October 20, 2007 we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of Hi Sky Emmaus Community may we all give thanks for what the Lord has done in our midst and gather together to rejoice and praise the Lord!
May God's grace, peace and love be with you all,
Carol Crumpton, SD
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