"Asiiaka"

So the MK people have a language conference every year where they gather together from all over the country. They celebrate new accomplishments, discuss current projects,  challenges, and plan for the future. There is an executive committee, commissioners, archdeacons, and villagers alike. Oh…. and one kawaijaa (white person). It is quite the event....This is where my supervisors have previously spoken, encouraged, and presented new projects.

And this year I was to be the lone representative: the childless young woman replacing the old, respected leader (good sentence, aye? ;) The chairman of the executive committee commented “Ah, we are used to your colleagues.  You are young.”

Yes, thank you kind sir for your observation. 

At some point, I know there were people thinking “Eh! We have been waiting 6 years for someone to come and help us, and this is who we get??”

Taking away the books on boda boda!!

But I am grateful for a God who moves in unexpected people. I learned the Africa style of question and answer sessions. The floor is opened with a topic and everyone is invited to comment or ask questions. Then, after about 10 people speak, you must answer all of their questions at once. It's a good thing I had a notebook and pen with me! So I played the role to the best of my ability: I gave several speeches, answered numerous questions, encouraged the people, troubleshot problems, planed for new projects, and reported on the status of current projects. After being here for only 4 months, this is my role? 

The only word that can describe this conference is surreal. Amazing, yes. Exhausting (from 9am till 7pm), most definitely. But surreal fits best.

The whole time I kept thinking, “How is it possible that I am here representing everyone, speaking in front of government officials, presenting 3 freshly translated books of the Bible, and encouraging this group of people whom everyone has labeled as ‘behind.’ How is it that I have the privilege to facilitate and bring things together and actually see progress?”

It speaks to me of how great our God is if he chooses to use me. It is one of those ‘out of body’ experiences if you will. I come to realize even more how little I have to do with anything, and how Mighty He is. I see how much he wants for his people to know him. His desire is great.

Everything went well; I was given the seal of approval from the man who told me I was ‘very young.’ I was also given a new name “Asiiaka” which means one who works in the garden. People now call me this in the market ;) I have more women coming up to me and talking to me than ever before. It’s lovely.

Oh, and it was at the end of this conference when a search party was sent out for me. We were supposed to end at 4, and it was 830 and I wasn't home yet. The phones weren’t working and it was dark and people at my compound were worried about me. So 4 people arrived to ‘rescue’ me ;) At least I know that people are concerned about me (Are you comforted Mom?) 

Some of the things we, as a team, have accomplished these past 4 months with the MK people are: translating, printing and distributing 3 new books of the bible and a song book; we sent 2 youth to a vocational school to gain life skills; we are training another youth to work with the translation project; and we have made some structural changes in the project so that we can move forward at an even quicker pace.

Once my colleague returns literacy efforts will be back in full swing.   

God is on the move.

My Life is a Circus!

I would like to share a few things that happened to me this past week:

* A little girl was named after me

* I had a search party sent out for me

* I was asked to represent a white person who came here 50 years ago. The people wanted to repent and ask for forgiveness for what they did to him. In a remote village. Can you imagine it? A huge group of Africans wailing in repentance before me. Uhhhhh…..The jury is still out on this one folks….

* I was given a new MK name: Asiiaka. It means one who works in the garden.

                       

* A friend thought it was appropriate to text me at 5:30 in the morning and tell me I looked wonderful the night before. 530 in the morning. Are you serious?

* I picked up 500 new MK books at the airstrip!! Woohoo!

* There is a brick making factory in my front yard

* I gave speeches in front of the commissioners of several cities

*  I met a girl named "Mosquito" wearing a Spiderman shirt ;)

* I got to eat green slime about 4 times

The invitation is out for anyone who wants to join the circus ;)

Part 2: It's like he's in the Mafia

And then at sundown a man shows up at my house. It was Donde!! It was him, one of my mystery people! And he is amazing. And helpful. And already has a heart for this ministry. So I met with him and his boss the next morning, which put me in contact with another group that I didn’t know about. I then solicited his boss to help me find a woman candidate, which I knew was a stretch. But I really, really wanted a woman to go and be trained. I kept praying. In the mean time I was also trying to get everything organized to send 2 people to a vocational school nearby. Visiting the school, looking at applications, making lists, getting in communication with the youth, getting information, etc etc.

And, just so you know, this whole time the cell networks are awful. The electricity and internet are off for the majority of the day because of lack of fuel for the generators because the North and South are in their perpetual dispute over oil. And it was as hot as Hades outside and there were constant dust clouds everywhere. Cheers!  J

The next day was very encouraged because I had 2 good candidates. And I was praying for a lady to appear. I texted my new favorite man Donde, to see if he had any updates on the 3^rd person. Well, he informed me that he and the lady were actually on their way to my house!!! Praise the Lord! Miraculous. You may not think that this is that big of a deal. But you would be wrong J Finding a woman who can speak good English, who is willing to commit to this without pay is like finding a needle in a haystack. Men are normally sent to trainings, even on behalf of women’s groups, because none of the women can understand the training.

I spoke with them and explained everything. I asked for their input and then left them with instructions to travel on a matatu on Sunday to go the capitol to get the ever illusive passport. But if they had any problems with our contact in the capitol they would not be able to get a hold of me because I was traveling to the bush where no communication was possible. It was all in the Lord’s hands at this point.

The same was true for my 2 youth I was sending to the vocational school. They had to leave on that same Sunday with everything they would need for the semester away from home. I put some of the MK people in charge of making sure the students had everything they needed and actually traveled to the school on Sunday because no late arrivals would be accepted. Once again, I would be in the bush when all of this was supposed to happen.

When I came back from the bush on Monday, I called to make sure all my people got where they needed to be. And, miracle of all miracles: both of my students were at the vocational school! The MK people had prayed for them, gave them advice, and sent them out as we discussed. AND both of my other people were in the capitol safe and met up with our contact no problem. Whew!! I tell you what…. He is mighty.

Amazing.

God knew what he was doing when he took me out to the bush while I thought I needed to be there to make sure everything happened.

He is the one who makes things happen. He is the mover. I am just the messenger.

Of course, this is only the beginning of these 2 projects ;)