Day 24: Who's Blessing Whom?

Visiting Javin's shamba (he's the one on the far right)
From left to right: Me, Edith, and Betty as we're on our way to Javin's shamba

There have been very few tragedies in my life. For all 21 years of my life so far, nothing has really hindered me from focusing on accomplishing my goals, fulfilling my own desires, and watching out for number one. I've totally forgotten to love God and others-if I ever even knew how to at all. But in Kenya, people's lives are filled with poverty, sadness, and heartbreak. They never really get the chance to focus on bettering their own situations-it's just waking up everyday and surviving. It is seriously by God's grace that I can minister at all to these people whose eyes are filled with tiredness and the realization that they will never not be tired.

Today, Dylan and I made several house visits with Edith since Pastor Mwiti would be gone for a few days. Dylan and I taught at Motiguru in the morning and then we went around and about visiting church members, listening to their stories, and praying for them. I often felt like a fool as I tried to offer encouragement or words from the Bible to people who go through more crap in a year than I do in 21 years. These people include:

1) The kids I teach at school. A few of them got whacked today for not bringing materials to school. They will probably never get a decent education. i'm guessing most will end up working in their own shambas around the Weru area. They're good kids; it's just that the opportunities are just not there.

2) Margaret. Her family has been afflicted by so many injuries, sickness, and struggles. What can a foolish American college student possibly say to her amidst her trials? I really hope that God comes through for her and her family, because a lesser person would have given up already. May her faith be rewarded.

3) Church members like Betty, Javin, and Edith. They're people who have nothing better to do on Mondays than to fellowship and pray for another, and you know what? There is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

As much as Dylan and I hoped that what we did and said to these people somehow touched them, we know in our hearts that we are the ones who have been touched by their faith and humanity. Humanity is not sitting in a room doing random crap on a computer; it's what people like Kenyans do as they struggle to find joy and happiness (and they do) amidst their terrible conditions and difficult lives.