I've been thinking a lot about friendships this week. I took some time away from the office to meet up with some friends from high school. We've been staying in Nairobi, mostly just hanging out and catching up on each other's lives.
As we've discussed what we've each experienced over the past 8 years I must confess there's been a tinge of guilt that's come to me. Each of us have been through times when we needed a friend to lean on and there seemed to be none around. Hearing such stories I was reminded of the kinds of heartfelt friendship promises I made around our graduation. Promises like, "Just let me know what you need and I'm there."
Looking back on the years since high school I now realize that with the exception of a few phone calls, several emails, and prayer, I've never really been able to keep those promises. I've never heard that a friend was sick or hurt and been on the first plane across the country or around the world.
For a few moments I really felt I'd let my friends down, but then God reminded me that I'm human. (It's a good thing to keep in mind) As humans it is in our nature to let others down. Being human is not an excuse to disappoint others, but it's something we all do because of our nature and our limitations.
I took little comfort in knowing I wasn't the only one to let others down.
Next God reminded me of the most significant point. I am, and all other people are, human and we will all fail our friends, but He is NOT and He won't. Now, as I listened to my friend's stories, I heard that when they felt lonely God was there with them! In scripture He promises that "Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you," (Hebrews 13:5 NIV). Thank God HE is true to HIS word when WE are not true to OURS. I realize now that I cannot be the perfect friend to anyone, but I also rejoice that I do have a perfect friend.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Looking back a couple weeks
In the first week of September my co-worker John and I were privileged to join the AGC missions department for a trip to one of their fields. We went to the Silango church in Marigat district. This area of Kenya has been among those stricken by drought throughout this year. The missions department was going there to distribute food to the people living in the area. John and I went along to see the distribution and film for a short video on famine relief.
The area was so barren it had a strange beauty to it, they had bushes not much taller than myself which must have grown up in a time when there was rain and they were now waiting for the rains to return, but there was no grass, the ground was all just dust and rocks. Though the sun was bright and hot, you didn't feel sweaty. My theory on this phenomenon is that the air was so dry it would soak up and absorb your sweat as soon as it was available. One of the men who greeted us told me that the only good thing about this place was that building materials are readily available. At first I didn't know what he meant, but when I looked at their houses they are formed out of sticks, rocks, and mud, and that's about all there is in the landscape.
One of the most striking events of the day was when David Mutai, the mission’s director, was giving food to the first couple people. They started with some of the oldest women in the community and when David had measured out 5 large cans of maize (corn) for the very first woman he shook her hand and said thank you. This old woman very enthusiastically shook his hand and said "Asante kwa Mungu! (Thanks be to God!)" Then she surprised everyone by giving David a hug and I was told later that in that moment she told him that if it had not been for the last gift of food that was sent by AGC missions through the church here in Kericho (Immanuel AGC) back in March, she would be dead today. She was so thankful for the past donation and this one she could not contain herself, and it really touched David to see some direct fruit of his labor.
The gift of maize that we took to these people in Silango came through various donors. The maize did not magically appear in David's office but people in other AGC churches and even some in the US who are connected to WGM provided funds to buy 50 bags of Maize and bring it out to this very rural community and those gifts are saving lives. Remember that next time there's a food drive at your church.
The area was so barren it had a strange beauty to it, they had bushes not much taller than myself which must have grown up in a time when there was rain and they were now waiting for the rains to return, but there was no grass, the ground was all just dust and rocks. Though the sun was bright and hot, you didn't feel sweaty. My theory on this phenomenon is that the air was so dry it would soak up and absorb your sweat as soon as it was available. One of the men who greeted us told me that the only good thing about this place was that building materials are readily available. At first I didn't know what he meant, but when I looked at their houses they are formed out of sticks, rocks, and mud, and that's about all there is in the landscape.
One of the most striking events of the day was when David Mutai, the mission’s director, was giving food to the first couple people. They started with some of the oldest women in the community and when David had measured out 5 large cans of maize (corn) for the very first woman he shook her hand and said thank you. This old woman very enthusiastically shook his hand and said "Asante kwa Mungu! (Thanks be to God!)" Then she surprised everyone by giving David a hug and I was told later that in that moment she told him that if it had not been for the last gift of food that was sent by AGC missions through the church here in Kericho (Immanuel AGC) back in March, she would be dead today. She was so thankful for the past donation and this one she could not contain herself, and it really touched David to see some direct fruit of his labor.
The gift of maize that we took to these people in Silango came through various donors. The maize did not magically appear in David's office but people in other AGC churches and even some in the US who are connected to WGM provided funds to buy 50 bags of Maize and bring it out to this very rural community and those gifts are saving lives. Remember that next time there's a food drive at your church.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)