Sights and Sounds

It’s easy to get so caught up in logistics and ministry and write only about those things but as I find myself missing some sights and sounds of California I thought it would be good to write about what we see and experience everyday here. Some of our fellow missionary friends included a description in one of their newsletters about the streets of Kisumu. It was so well written I thought I would post it here. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

“Street scenes in Kisumu are beyond anything you could imagine. The crowds of people, cows, goats, pigs, huge cargo and fuel trucks, cars, matatus (passenger vans), tuk-tuks (three wheeled, three passenger vehicles with what amount to lawnmower motors), pickie-pickies (motor bikes), and boda-bodas (bicycles) all weaving in and out determined to get around whomever and whatever is in front of them is something to behold. Not to mention very stressful to drive through! Driving here is like being part of an old Keystone Cops chase scene from the movies—chaos everywhere with disaster narrowly being avoided at every moment. Boda-bodas are bicycles with a passenger seat on the back. You would not believe the things we have seen being transported on a boda. We have seen as many as four passengers. We have seen individual children so small we can’t imagine how they hang on. We have seen large pigs draped over the seat, cases of sodas (24 sodas per case) stacked up to five high, lumber, couches, roofing sheets, and even coffins. Things like wood, roofing sheets (called mabati here), couches, and coffins are strapped onto the seat, but always perpendicular to the line of travel, so they occupy 6 to 8 feet of width in the road. How many times have you had to dodge a coffin on your way to work?” The only thing I could add is the challenge of dodging many pot holes and finding speed bumps on just about every street. It is amazing that driving in the above description just becomes a way of life, though a simple drive can really tire you out."

There is so much incredible wildlife here in Kisumu; birds, monkeys, hippos, snakes, jumping spiders (though small have little pinchers), large lizards, large ants, little ants, bugs of course, as well as the typical farm animals that seem to roam wild. It is very common to hear a bird that sounds like a monkey and to hear a flock of birds that sound like children crying. It’s always a bit of a start when you hear these birds in the middle of the night. A fun sound we all enjoy is the sound of the lion from a nearby park. It’s groaning and occasional roaring at night make us smile and wonder about him. (We just this week went to visit him on our family day and found him to be amazing.) And then there are the unique sounds to Kenya like the sound of a stick broom being brushed on the cement vigorously, or a crowd banging drums and chanting off in the distance, or the truck parades driving by with their rather loud music and shouts of an advertisement or preaching. It is life for us here in Kenya and though it has become common, I find myself hearing a lawn mower in the distance, a water pump that sounds like a Jacuzzi turning on, the sound of seagull or pigeon and I am all of a sudden transported back to the States and the familiar sounds I once knew. I am reminded that truly the sights and sounds here are unique to what I have known and so worth writing about.

Peg for The P4

Christ Visible

With almost four Sundays under way for church services, it is easy to see our Mighty God at work here in Kisumu. As I reminisce and think back to three years ago when we were in Kisumu for our second visit I am so amazed at all God has done. It was that second visit to Kisumu that we met Stephen and I remember hearing his heart for Kisumu and his friends and family here to know Christ and to know His Word. He seemed so excited for us to come and begin a Calvary Chapel. I’ll never forget Matt asking him why he wasn’t pastoring or why he wouldn’t start a church and be the pastor. He told us at that time that he felt he should be an assistant. However God used our time during language school to really form and shape the vision for Calvary Chapel Lakeside. During our time in language and cultural school, we knew we wanted Christ to be visible more than anything and since we are white (wazungu) Christ is not always what people see first. (They often see money, resources or opportunities.) As God worked in all of our hearts we knew that having a National pastor would really make Christ the most visible to the people of Kisumu.

Here we are three years later and not only is Pastor Stephen Otieno the senior pastor, he is an amazing Bible teacher who is feeding people the meat of the Word. 2nd Timothy 2:14-15 says, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” Pastor Stephen is one who does this very thing. The response from the Sunday morning teachings has been remarkable. As I told a friend, people are being blessed because it is the Word of God going forth and not unprofitable words. Big smile.

Some people may ask why Matt is not pastoring the church. We truly believe that God wants us to disciple His people here in Kisumu to use their gifts and minister to their own people in ways we never can. It has been such a blessing to invest spiritually in the Otieno family, encourage them, and advise them where needed. Personally meeting with Maureen, Pastor Stephen’s, wife has been an honor as we go through the Word and encourage one another in the ministry and as wives and mamas. There are two other women who attend the ladies Bible study and their heart for God’s Word and to study it is amazing. They also love to worship and learn new worship songs. For those of you who know, “This is me saying thank you,” and “Break my heart,” these are some of their favorites. When Matt plays worship on Sunday and plays these songs, one mama looks at me and smiles big. We look forward to more discipleship as God brings people to Calvary Chapel Lakeside.

On a final note, it was such a blessing to see the Lord provide a location, a tent, chairs, a podium, tithe bags, and a sign for that first Sunday. As I sit under the simple tent, in plastic chairs, with a simple podium in front, listening to Matt lead worship in Kiswahili and Pastor Stephen rightly dividing the Word of Truth (and watching Kenya Grace run around with the other small children) I truly see Christ Visible! And Glory to God!

Calvary Chapel Lakeside, Kisumu, Kenya

It is with great pleasure and delight that I get to share that Calvary Chapel Lakeside in Kisumu, Kenya, has officially been started. Our first visit to Kisumu was in February 2007, and from that time the Lord had burdened our hearts for there to be a solid Bible teaching church in this city. We weren't sure all the details of how the church would start, who would be pastoring it, where it would be located, and many other details; but God has finally given us the means to move forward. When we first left our home in California we had thought that I (Matt) would be the pastor of this church, but as we got here to Kenya, the Lord clearly showed us that wisdom would be to have a Kenyan pastor leading the church, even from the the get-go. God had already connected us with the person who we saw as that man, and slowly but surely God confirmed that he was the one to lead this church. Pastor Stephen Otieno was originally from the area of Kisumu, but the Lord had lead him to C.I.F. near Nairobi, Kenya; a church that is pastored by a good missionary friend of ours. So the Lord brought all of us together to begin this new work in Kisumu. This past Sunday (Easter Sunday) we held our first service. It was such a blessing, and we were all so excited for all that the Lord is doing. Most of those who have been faithfully coming to the Bible Study that meets at Pastor Stephen's house were there for church, and have all voiced that they are excited to have a church that teaches the Word of God. Here in Kenya there are many many churches that "preach" but do not "teach" the Word. In fact, it is commonly thought that if the pastor has not lost his voice by the end of his message that he wasn't "anointed" (due to yelling). I do believe that this church is very different than the way Kenyan's are used to 'church'. All of us were blessed by the message that Pastor Stephen taught (John 20) last week, and starting this coming Sunday we will begin going through the gospel of John, verse by verse, chapter by chapter. We are so thankful for the Lord's grace in helping get started. We are trusting the Lord as we make many decisions in this early stage of the church. We are praying about direction regarding language, having 2 services, and children's ministry (to name a few things). We appreciate all the prayer and support and encouragement that we've been getting. Praise the Lord!