STAN: LIFE IN BURUBURU

PHOTOS: Teaching the teen class My new (used) desk being delivered Thanks for the emails. I haven't been spending any extra money because my rent is coming up but I have been eating well. I got a recipe for Sloppy Joes from the Internet as it has always been one of my favorites. I actually found all the ingredients here so I mix up a big batch every now and then. The Africans seem to like it as well. Dennis, Joshephat and a couple of the teens, Kennedy and Dixon all tried it and liked it. They said it would go better with Ugali than over bread like I served it but that is to be expected.

Cliff, you will be glad to know I have a new hat. The street vendor in Kayole was selling them for 50 Ksh the other day when I went by and so I went for it. That amounts to only about 75 cents so I think I got a pretty good deal. Believe it or not it is not even dorky - it says 'Old Navy' on it. At least I don't think it is. You know me - what I think is dorky isn't necessarily what everyone else thinks is dorky.

I started Swahili lessons Saturday in Kayole with Jehoshaphat. He is teaching me while we have some time between classes. He is getting me a book like his beginners use with pictures, etc. It will be good to have someone teach me which will motivate me and make it easier. It will be good to be able to use a few phrases occasionally in my classes or just to understand people. In the city it is not a problem but in the country there are many people who don't know English so it will be worth it to learn.

I still don't have the Internet hooked up. I tried to call them but the person I talked to wasn't very helpful. I will have to go downtown to their offices. I was going to do that this week but I think I will put it off till next week when my leg is better. Also, one of the guys at my Buruburu class said his brother worked for an Internet company and he is going to get me particulars about getting set up through them. So I will wait until I talk to him Friday. I also have to go to immigration downtown to register as an alien again but the guy handling my paperwork said it was no hurry for that.

I ran into a bit of a problem in my teen class. They ask a lot of questions which I like because it kind of stimulates things. One of the guys asked a question about baptism because he has just gone through it. The problem is that apparently his parents believe that you need to be baptised for forgiveness of sins. I explained it the best I could but I saw a wrinkled brow. I think he was having a hard time reconciling what I was saying with what his parents or church taught him. I just hope he is able to recognize the truth as I teach it and see it without losing respect for his parents. Oh well, I can't really worry about things like this but just teach the best I can and let the chips fall where the Holy Spirit puts them. :)

OK- I'm going to quit for now and do some research. I am at the cybercafe but one that is quite slow. The one I usually go to is actually pretty fast but it was closed for some reason. Oh, I didn't tell you that I found a great place to buy movies. It is next to the cyber cafe - 100 Ksh and best of all the quality seems to be good. I have purchased a couple of TV series and they have been pretty good quality compared to others. Bye for now. Stan in Buruburu 40 Sec. in Buruburu

PAULA: THE FACES of SHERP (Samburu Handicapped Education Rehabilitation Program)

SHERP is located in the small dusty arid market town of Maralal in Northern Kenya and was founded in 1999 by a teacher of the blind, Grace Seneiya. Samburu disabled children suffer much. Not only from conditions of poverty, drought, disease and government corruption rampant throughout Africa, but from a traditional Samburu belief that disabled children are a curse.

The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists. Cattle, as well as sheep, goats and camels, are of utmost importance to the Samburu culture and survival. Disabled children are considered a bad omen to their nomadic families and are often left behind when their families move on. Some are poisoned with tobacco, or buried alive. Grace, who is a Samburu, has rescued many such children from the brink of death.

The SHERP goal is to assist and teach children to overcome their disabilities and to live productive lives. They also advocate and educate the community to help change the stigma associated with being disabled. I had the privilege of training the staff how to use the expressive arts to help children express their pain and grief. All abilities and ages enjoyed playing with the puppets, drawing and singing to “not so great” harmonic music.

THE SAMBIRU DISTRICT-NORTHERN KENYA

The Samburu District is located north of the equator, an area about 8000 square miles (21,000 km²). The landscape offers diversity and beauty. After independence the area north of the equator was called the Northern Frontier District (NDF). Samburu district was once a large part of the NDF. Only government officials were allowed to enter and it was closed to foreigners of both European and African descent. A special permit issued by the administration was required to enter the NDF. Today the Samburu District is still a remote area
THE SAMBURU BELIEVER: Watching God's gift of pastor teacher in action by a brother in a foreign land is overwhelming! I am reminded of why, we in missions, do what we do. I met Joseph in Nairobi. He came to my classes at the Nairobi Bible Institute and I could see right away that he was a bright young man. I did not know he was from the Samburu Tribe. Most of the men in my class were from the Maasai or Luo tribes. After our five month course Joseph asked if he could drop by my apartment for some help with translating some verses of salvation into the Samburu language.

There is no doubt that Joseph is a gifted pastor/teacher. Watching him "equip and build up the body of Christ," -his fellow Samburu tribesmen- could be achieved only through such a spiritual gift. Joseph did a great job of teaching the Two Sides of The Cross. He spoke in Samburu, Maasai, and English. The Men commented on how wonderful it was to hear the salvation scriptures in Samburu

Ephesians 4:11-14 (NI V) ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

CLIFF: MAASAI PASTOR TRAINING

I could not stop the tears as I thought, 100 Maasai men. In talking to Peter Olonapa, who arranged for me to teach Maasai men this Friday and Saturday at least. I said, "what must I bring. Besides 10,000 shillings for food and transport he said "your diagram of the two sides of the cross." (Thanks Sugar. I will have to simplify). I said, "how many copies?" He said, "there will be 100 Maasais to hear you teach."

I have arrived. They are coming. One hundred Maasai men. I saw them rising up out that desert soil of rocks and sparce trees, canyons and crevices, pools of water where small boys with flocks of goats had come to drink. Men having walked for two days toward me for words of wisdom and life.They were as phantoms coming from everywhere. Some wrapped in colorful sheets with sticks. Some looking almost like colored sticks standing on one leg. Others looking as though they had been touched by the outside world. Here we are, you, my children (Holly, Daniel, Genni, Josh, Ben, Emily, and Adam), Jeannie, Steve, Stan, Bill B., Bill R., Pauline, whoever is part of us-Taylor, Lauren, Cameron, James, Riley, Grey, Milenda, Ray and so many more. Here we are! This is what it all about. 100 Maasais. This is why we train. This is why we learn. This is why we pray and give and go. This is what its all about-souls. Their souls are as cups capable of holding living water. The water is the truth of Jesus Christ. We must pray that out from them will flow this living water as they return to their places, the phantoms in the desert of Africa.

Love. Love, Cliff