Finding our purpose in Marera

This is my third trip to Kenya. When I visited in 2009 and 2010 I had a very clear idea of exactly what I would be doing here long before I arrived. During those years I had a mission but no calling. I went from place to place and did the things I was supposed to do and experienced as much of Kenya as I could experience, but I did not feel called to the people.

 This year is different. This year I feel a very strong calling to the people of the little community of Marera. I feel called to pray with them and to help them grow in their faith. I feel called to bless their homes and bless their children and bless their relationships. And I am convinced that my beautiful family can be a light in this community. Kerith has so much love to share with these children. (Yesterday she spent an hour standing at the fence of our guest house and talking to dozens of Kenyan children who gathered around to see her. She kept running into the house, excited to tell us what all they had been talking about, and then she would run back outside again.) Katherine, also, has so much to share with the ladies here. This society is so male-dominated, and I'm so excited about Katherine being able to minister to these women, to share her deep faith with them and to talk with them about her passions.

So, this year I felt a strong calling to the people, but we had no actual plan or mission. In fact, in the period leading up to our departure, Katherine and I laughed about being unable to answer the frequently asked question "So, what are you going to do in Kenya?" Because we didn't actually know for sure what we were going to be doing. We only knew that we were going to minister in some way to the community of Marera.

As soon as we arrived in Rongo, we sat down with some of the leaders of the small Kenyan church we are visiting, Marera Church of Christ. We had some very long conversations with them to discuss the spiritual needs of the community, and then the church leaders took the initiative to make out an itinerary for my family for the rest of our stay. They were very considerate of the needs of my family and our small children and they have wisely left us a lot of free time in our schedule. And I am so happy that we did not have to make out the schedule ourselves, because we would have been unable to know what would best meet the needs of the community.

Most of our time will be spent walking around the area surrounding Sam's Place and visiting with and praying with the people of the community. On different days we will have various members of the church with us to translate for us. Many of the people here can speak English, but the ones who have never finished school can only speak Luo, their tribal language. They have also planned for us to host a three-day gospel seminar at the church here. I will preach the general sessions, and then we will break into smaller classes. Lauren is planning to teach the children, Katherine will teach the ladies, and I will teach the men. The theme of the seminar will be "Living a life of worship". We will learn about practicing the presence of God throughout the day so that every moment of every day becomes an act of worship.

It is also very exciting that we are going to have a "widow's day" led by Alice Caughfield. As a widow herself, Alice is particularly passionate about ministering to widows. So, the entire day of May 31 will be devoted to ministering to widows in their grief and helping them to learn to live again.

So, in case you are interested in what we will be doing each day, here is our full itinerary (in my own words). Of course, this is Africa, so everything is subject to change at any time. But as of today, this is what we plan to be up to...


May 17, 2012 Fly out of Dallas
May 18, 2012 Land in Nairobi
May 19, 2012 Visiting the animal orphanage and the giraffe center
May 20, 2012 Worshipping at Eastleigh with the Conways
May 21, 2012 Traveling to Rongo
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May 22, 2012 Meeting with Marera church leaders
May 23, 2012 Purchasing maize, rice and beans in bulk at the Rongo market
May 24, 2012 Discussion of the gospel program, meeting the area sub-chiefs
May 25, 2012 Visiting Nakumatt supermarket in Kisii
May 26, 2012 Preparing for Sunday's worship service
May 27, 2012 Jeff preaches at Marera Church of Christ
May 28, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
May 29, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
May 30, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
May 31, 2012 Widow’s day (led by Alice Caughfield)
Jun 1, 2012 Possibly tour Rusinga Island in Lake Victoria?
Jun 2, 2012 Meeting the orphans of Marera
Jun 3, 2012 Jeff preaches at Marera Church of Christ
Jun 4, 2012 Arrival of our teammates, the Greeks and the Clares
Jun 5, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 6, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 7, 2012 Gospel seminar at Marera Church of Christ (classes taught by us)
Jun 8, 2012 Gospel seminar at Marera Church of Christ (classes taught by us)
Jun 9, 2012 Gospel seminar at Marera Church of Christ (classes taught by us)
Jun 10, 2012 Jeff preaches at Marera Church of Christ
Jun 11, 2012 Safari at Masai Mara (unless we decide to skip it)
Jun 12, 2012 Safari at Masai Mara (unless we decide to skip it)
Jun 13, 2012 Safari at Masai Mara (unless we decide to skip it)
Jun 14, 2012 Unscheduled
Jun 15, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 16, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 17, 2012 Jeff preaches at Mogesa Church of Christ in Kisii
Jun 18, 2012 Leader's discussion (Strategic plan for the community)
Jun 19, 2012 Special prayer service for the needy at Marera C of C
Jun 20, 2012 Special prayer service for the needy at Marera C of C
Jun 21, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 22, 2012 Visiting and praying door-to-door
Jun 23, 2012 Preparing for Sunday's worship service
Jun 24, 2012 Jeff preaches at Marera Church of Christ
Jun 25, 2012 Preparation for our departure
Jun 26, 2012 Travel back to Nairobi airport
Jun 27, 2012 Land in Dallas