After 7 days here and several trips to
town in our Lori-car, Peter and I decided to walk today. It's a
beautiful walk first on dirt roads with birds and flowers, then dirt
trails with people and noise. About a mile in, we began encountering
curious faces. We were
greeted by a group of students. We spoke cordially and continued on
our way. They followed close behind. I became uncomfortable (my Dad always says, "be aware of your surroundings donna" - i am Dad)... I
paused to pretend I wanted to take a picture... they should pass on
by... they didn't. They asked if we would take a “nap” with them.
What? I asked why we would take a “nap” in the morning? They
looked baffled; so did we. Finally Peter deciphered the confusion and
said, “Do you want us to take a picture of you?” --- they looked
relieved and with bright smiles exclaimed, “Yes, a snap...” We
all laughed uproariously! How many times do we think we understand
something when in fact we are confused? I love God's reminders to me
that I do not understand what I sometimes think I do.
Photos were taken, more laughter was
shared. Then they asked the normal questions, “Where are you from?
Why are you here?” We answered. Then they asked something new ---
“Will you please give us something we can show to others to prove
we have shared time together?” Ah... there it was, almost always
here, someone will ask for “something”. Peter pulled from his
pocket an old, expired Walmart gift card. Bless his heart, he likely
felt sentimental in some way regarding the card --- but his heart
quickly releases “things” when it comes to people – i've
learned this about him. They were thrilled to have the card as we
explained what Walmart is --- they said, “Your supermarket at
home?” we smiled and nodded.
They asked more questions --- about why
we lived here now.
I shared with them our ministry name
--- Kweli Moyo. They quickly deciphered it's meaning in their Swahili
language. “Moyo means heart”. “Yes”, I said, “but what of
Kweli?” They talked among themselves finally concluding, “Kweli
means truth”. “Well done! You are right. We are hear to help grow
hearts that are truthful. And how can a heart become more truthful?”
The baffled look came again. And I shared, “In the Bible we are
told that all our hearts are deceitful; our hearts will trick us. My
'heart' might cause my mind to think thoughts that are not true at
all. When we believe untrue things we live a very sad, confused,
lonely life. But the Bible is filled with God's Truth for us. So, to
have a 'Kweli Moyo' we must look to God and the Bible to help us know
what is right and true and good”.
They were taking it in, I felt Abba
near.
We talked a bit more.
A man on a bike, a street boy sniffing
blue, more students --- all had stopped to hear what was being said.
When too large a crowd gathers, and you're in the center of it --- it
becomes quite uncomfortable. We gave cordial goodbyes and continued
our walk. They headed back to where they had come from. The street
boy shouted at us with garbled words, the others continued on their
way.
Walking with Peter is a joy to my
heart.
We made our way to the Post office but
just as we were about to walk inside the man on the bike appeared
again. In a quiet, timid way he said, “When you were speaking to
the children, I heard your words. You spoke of a heart that is true
and God's Word. I was on my way to Marsabit (a town FAR north of
here) and after you walked on, I continued on my way. But then I
knew, I needed to know more about how a heart can actually become
truthful and good.” Oh Lord... this man needs You – don't let me
fail you now...
Two weeks ago in church here, another
man had stood and quietly read scripture i'd never settled on before.
He read from Acts 28:30-31. It's was our first Sunday here after our
move, we needed deep encouragement --- God gave it to us with these
words...
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.”
We were awed at the clarity and
closeness of the words.
Oh Lord, you called us to rent a home
for two years here in Kitale. We are eager to welcome all who come to
see us. Thank you for letting us see here that Paul did the same –
he surely must have felt some of the same things we now feel. Oh help
us Lord --- we don't feel like a “Paul”, but we want to be able
to boldly and without hindrance teach and preach about your Kingdom
and your Son...
With this man on the bike before me
------ I heard the words roll through me again ----
teach him about my Son donna, teach him about the One who loves
him... it's why you are here daughter.
Timothy holding his stool which he gave to Peter to sit on -- street boys on the steps. |
So with Peter near I asked if
we could sit to talk.
He agreed.
We sat on the steps outside a business
we had frequented – I knew the men inside were friends and would be
watchful over us.
I leaned into Peter and whispered
softly, “Pray son, pray as I share, ok?” He smiled and nodded.
And so I began by asking, “What do
you want to know?”
He had many questions. I worked to
respond in ways that would not get lost in language translations. He
spoke English --- but not proficiently.
I prayed as we talked --- “Lord
help me. Put Your Words on this tongue of mine. You know what is
needed most...”
We learned his name was Timothy Too
(pronounced Taw).
He knew of God as the Creator.
He knew little of Jesus.
Oh Lord, Jesus is the way, the
TRUTH, and the LIFE ---- help me introduce him...
And so
I shared of God's great love.
“God
made you Timothy so He could love you and so you could love Him...”
I
shared of how most people struggle to accept and believe that they
are truly loved.
We
talked of the Old Testament --- he knew a bit about it.
Then
we talked of the New Testament --- he knew less.
We
talked of Jesus and his willingness to leave his home in Heaven and
come live in a troubled world. He came to help us understand God and
bring answers for the confused; He taught about God's love. He never
sinned. We sin. He loved us anyway --- but He wanted to show us a
better way to live.
Timothy
said, “i've tried to go to church, i've visited many different ones
in many different towns. I know I need something that I do not have.
But when I sit in this church they say one thing, and then I sit in
another church and they say something different. This church
criticizes that church and that church criticizes the others. So I
came to believe no one really knows anything and God is too far
away.”
I
understood ---- I ached as we talked --- we people have done such a
terrible job of living out the love of our Savior.
But my
good God was pursuing this Timothy ---- he was at least still willing
to ask...
He
asked, “So what is the procedure to knowing this Savior?” I
smiled and answered, “God's Word says, “If you believe in your
heart, and confess with your mouth... you will be saved.”
“But
Timothy --- you must truly believe. You can not simply say you
believe and speak words with your mouth. Your heart must be Kweli
Moyo --- it must be truthful. Believe truly and with your tongue
confess, invite Jesus to be your Savior, and He will be with you
always, you will become His child.”
He
smiled. I smiled. Peter smiled.
By
this time we had another crowd of street boys sitting all around
Peter. It was becoming noisy --- and distracting.
Timothy
looked away.
I
prayed silently for him.
Oh God --- is this to be a time of
harvest or a time of planting. You decide – give me your words.
I told
Timothy we had to be going soon, my dear husband was coming to pick
us and we did not need to be late. But if he wanted to pray with us
now and invite Jesus into his heart, we could do so together. He
looked away. Then I offered, or “if you would like for me to pray
for you that God will continue to send others to you that will speak
Truth, and give you more chances to understand and receive God's gift
of Salvation, then I would do so”. He smiled and said, “My heart
is not truthful yet, but if you will pray for me now, I will think on
all you've said and see what God will do.”
Oh Lord... a seed has been planted
---- may it settle on good soil inside of Timothy.
We
prayed.
The
street boys wanted food.
We
kindly said our goodbyes.
We
walked on to the Post Office.
And I
rolled the words again through myself --- “Boldly and without
hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord
Jesus Christ.”
….
whether it's for planting, tending, or harvesting ----- may I
without hindrance and with loving boldness attend to the portion that
is placed before me. Abba presides over it all and ONLY Abba grows beautiful things out of the dust.
©2013 Donna Taylor/Reaching for the Robe