Our first Day with Chebunge (Chuh - boon - gay)

Today was our first day working out in the community. Have you ever heard stories about "roads" that aren't really roads at all. The kinds of paths that are washed out quickly by a hard rain? Those stories are true. It takes nothing less than a Land Rover to make it up the "roads" to Chebunge Africa Gospel Church. Well - I suppose we could walk, and tomorrow we will.

The drive was better than anything Disney has to offer - and there is no minimum height requirement for the ride. Our friend, Pastor Andrew drove us out to the church this morning. We were greeted by church attenders, village members a group of uniformed preschoolers - waving WELCOME as we drove in.

Along the way we saw the local butchery with the fatted calf on the rack. We saw local children headed off to school and a beautiful countryside dotted with homes, cows, and villagers waving their hellos to the "wazungu" or people of european decent.

Once we arrived we prayed, made introductions, received out welcomes and learned about our project. Today we began making new church benches. These weren't just any benches but contoured seats with backs and racks for the books they would one day have. A man in the church had dontated eucalyptus trees for the benches, local carpenters used chain saws to cut the trees into 1X4 sticks. They used only hand tools to cut the wood into mortice and tenon pieces for the assembly. As we were working on the system - some of us went out to greet the women in the church kitchen.

The kitchen was nothing like I had ever seen. The women were cooking over two open fires making our chai for the morning break. After our chai break they began to prepare for our noon meal. At precisely 1pm, they served us a meal of rice, boiled potatoes, red beans, beef, and a traditional green - a bit like a bitter spinach. It was wonderful!! A bit better than I expected.

After the afternoon meal, we loade up into the Land Rover to head over to a primary school. We were the first "wazungu" to visit this school Their faces lit up when we arrived and stood so patiently to wait for a lesson on hand washing as a method of preventing worms, introductions, singing and a Bible Story. The oldest student was 21 and in the third grade. What courage, patience and persistence. It's not uncommon for children to go to school at different ages - sometimes due to financial hardship, or other limitations. This school has 124 students - all wearing matching uniforms and walk to school - sometimes long distances.

Our drive home was eventful. Making it clear that a good vehicle is imperative - we had to jump out of the Land Rover and Jeff and Andrew got it going again. This Land Rover, while good, didn't have a working emergency brake or 4 wheel drive. We are praying for provision for the purchase of a new Land Rover for this critical ministry, Community Health and Development. Praise the Lord, they got it back on the road and we made it home. We had our first taste of bartering for hand made goods when we arrived home. A friend of the Stanfields waited until we came home to share his wares. Beautiful hand carved animals and soap stone. Now, how to get it home without breaking.

Today made our hearts full as we met the local people in their own territory. It made me realize how important it is to reach out to get to know others - and when we choose to live in our routine, we might be missing out on incredible relationships, customs and cultures of others - even in our own neighborhoods.

God is so faithful and we heard testimony today of his blessing, healing and provision from those who have far less than we do. I was blessed by the faithfulness of this congregation to plod along for years building their church home. This gathering place is critical as they rely heavily on the community with one another.

It was extra special to hear the voices of my own boys and sweetheart this evening - their morning had begun. Our God lived this day before we did - and believed we were ready to face it. I can hardly wait to get up in the morning and do this again.

Peace to you as you consider what God is doing in your own life, Nancy