Saturday, December 5, 2009
Our "swan song" - December 2009
Kenya Journal*
December 2009
Well, this is it! After having “penned” over 50 editions of the Journal during our 25 months here in Kenya, it looks like we have finally reached the concluding one, as in a few short days we will be returning to the States and our time on Kenya soil will have ended (our time in Kenya soil will continue for several months thereafter, as we will carry it back with us in our lungs, clothes, and many other possessions!). And, since I have a few more days left, what better way to end it than to “torture” you one more time with the stories of our experience? As usual, buckle on your seat belts, as we’re ready to take a journey over the bumpy roads of Kenya!
November is all about Commissioning and all the preparations necessary for it, as we come to the end of the training year and we push both sessions out of the “nest” – the Prayer Warriors received their first appointments, and the Ambassadors of Holiness went out to their Out Training appointments. Making this occasion all the more exciting is the fact that it was held in Kakamega and the Kenya West Territory for the first time ever. And, this also means that in order to get to Kakamega, one has the privilege of driving over some of the worst roads in Kenya, and missing vital turns here and there because there are no road signs, so you end up with a journey in which there are no dull moments! Needless to say, we were glad to make a few stops along the way. The young man on the left is one of the reasons why we made one stop, as this was the home of my namesake: Roy Witness Omulubi. His mother and father were Cadets at the college last year, and were a part of the brigade we supervised, so they honored me by naming their first-born son after me and the name of their session (Witnesses for Christ). Like a true Johnson kid, he had a runny nose, and was sans pants.
Another stop along the way was for the mandatory cup of tea, and so we stopped at a sleazy hotel in Kapsobet, where I was aurally abused by having to listen to Country Western music. I know I will upset a few of you, but I hate Country Western music, and who in their wildest dreams could ever imagine travelling 7,000 miles to Africa to be serenaded by Dolly Parton! Now those of you who love Country Western music will think that this should have been the highlight of my time in Kenya, but believe you me, it was no fun having I’ve Been Married Just as Long as You have blasted in your face while trying to be civil over a cup of tea! Mercifully, the bumps in the road thereafter quickly helped to bring healing to my ears. The next stop was the conference center at Kakamega, and a chance to relax and prepare for the coming days.
On Saturday we had quite a gathering at the Corps next to the recently completed THQ, as the families of the Cadets came to see their “children” honored for their accomplishments during their two years of training. There were over 1,000 people at this celebration, and among them were these well-dressed scouts who escorted the families and soldiers into the hall. We are now entering the summer season, so it was hot, hot, hot in the meeting!
On Sunday, we moved outdoors to Bukhungu stadium where it was estimated that 7,000 to 10,000 people attended the Commissioning of the Prayer Warriors. Once again, it was hot, hot, hot, and I don’t know how these people were able to endure 4 ½ hours out in the blazing sun, but they did. Most meetings of this kind are always preceded by a review past the Territorial Commanders, and it took about an hour for all the Salvationists to march past the review stand. Once the meeting got started it flowed pretty well, and I was rather pleased with how everything turned out. Commissioner Roberts preached a good message, and there was a good response to it. The highlight of the meeting for me was getting to hold the microphone for the Commissioners during the Ordination and Appointment services. As usual at events like this, the audio/visual is where Satan dwells, and the sound company we hired neglected to bring any microphone stands. Not to worry, as my previous experience holding a triangle back in my days with the Chicago Staff Band, prepared me well for this moment! It also gave me a chance to see the appointments of the Lieutenants before they were given. After 4 ½ hours out in the heat and the sun, we were glad to make a quick retreat back to the conference center where we could cool off and have a final meal together. All in all, everything went very well, and this inaugural venture was considered a success.
The trip back to Thika was quite a bit better, as we were able to find the right roads, and we were able to make it back home in good time without having to endure another assault on my ears as well!. Back at the campus we began completing our final renovation project, as we had the ceiling replaced in the Health Office where Jackie had been working for the past two years. The ceilings in all of our buildings are constructed from a flimsy paper fiber board, and the end up being uneven and water-stained, so they do not make for a good presentation or work environment. Jackie had wanted to repair the ceiling in her office ever since we came here, but since it wasn’t exactly a high-priority project that needed to be done, we waited until we had taken care of some other projects. We replaced the paper fiber board with a vinyl paneling that really looks nice and will be easy to clean if and when water leaks occur. All of these projects have been the result of donations we received from friends and family back in the States, and we are so grateful for the difference these donations have made in the appearance and function of the campus. There is so much more that can be done in this regard, but that will now have to be undertaken by someone else.
As our time has been drawing to a conclusion, we have had a number of farewell functions to attend, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to say farewell to the new friends we have made here. There are a number of expatriates who are also farewelling at the same time as well are, so there will be a significant exodus in this regard over the next five months. This is a picture of all of the expats who will either be returning to their homes, or will be going on furlough soon, and this will leave quite a “hole” in the leadership of the Kenya East Territory, as most of us were involved in positions at the territorial level. Two expatriates we met during our time in Kenya and who are remaining, are the Bullianas. They are from the Mizoram state of India, and they will remain another two years so their boys can finish their education at the American school in Nairobi. We enjoyed a terrific farewell dinner at their house, and learned quite a bit about TSA in their state. When we first met them we thought they were Filipino, as their physical appearance closely resembles them – their ancestors came from China and interbred with the Burmese - but they consider themselves to be Indians as this is the county of their political and Army alignment. They serve in the finance department at territorial headquarters.
We also had an official farewell at THQ, where the territory said farewell to the nine officers and volunteers who were leaving the territory (three were being transferred to the Kenya West Territory, and the other six were returning to America). They have a tradition of having the line manager of the farewelling officers/person serve them a piece of cake as token of their appreciation, and here is Major Enock Lufumbu, the Training Principal, feeding us a piece of cake. Fortunately, it’s not like the custom of smashing it into your face as happens at weddings, so it a pleasant experience, and the cake was pretty tasty as well. Commissioner Hezekiel Anzeze seemed to be genuinely saddened by the departure of so many from his command, but he did not stand in the way of any of us returning home. I think he understands the power of that calling, as he himself is quite eager to retire and return to his home in the Kenya West Territory, but when Kenya was divided into two territories he was asked by the General to extend his term for another two years, so he will not get to go home for a while longer. He has been a good and kind man to work for, and has given good leadership to the territory, but it would probably be good for him to either retire or receive another appointment as he has been in this position for a long time. As a matter of trivia, I think he is the only person to be a Territorial Commander in three different territories without ever leaving his home country! He has been the TC of the East Africa, Kenya, and Kenya East territories.
We are leaving Kenya during a time of transition and uncertainty – both politically and in the Salvation Army – and in some respects it would be good for us to stay, but the time is also right for us to return home. While we wonder about how things will work out at the college and in the two territories, we are confident and assured that God is sufficient to meet their needs if they seek His face and wisdom. This will be the final year that the National Officers’ Training College will exist, as both territories will have their own training colleges in 2011, so this will be a year planning and transition for both territories. In many respects we understand why this is necessary, but in other respects we think it will be detrimental for this to take place as it will reinforce the harmful tribal distinctions and boundaries that were largely transcended when Cadets from both territories attended a national college together. It is unfortunate that the very same elements of tribalism that contributed to the political unrest we experienced in January 2008, have now surfaced in the Army, and will be a significant hurdle for them to overcome as they move forward.
In spite of the negative things we have experienced, I would still have to say that we have enjoyed and benefitted much from our time in Kenya, and our overall memories of our experience will be good. The Kenyans are a warm and loving people, who often live under very difficult circumstances, but continue to be a happy and resilient people anyway. We have been greatly impressed by the dedication and sacrifice of Kenyan Salvationists, and have enjoyed their freedom and exuberance in worship. They are far less inhibited in their expression than we Westerners, and we could benefit from a good dose of that in our worship services! They are a people who deserve better than what they have been given by their political leaders, and we pray that Godly leaders will arise.
And, from another perspective, our Kenyan experience has reminded up of how privileged we are to be Americans, how rich our Army is, and how precious it is to be blessed with a good family. There is no country on the face of the earth like America, and we are both proud and blessed to be a product of this rich opportunity and heritage. While our Salvation Army in America may not be the biggest in the world, there is no question in my mind that it is the best, and it is to a large degree the “engine” that powers the rest of the Army world. The opportunity to be a Salvation Army officer and serve in America is a privileged position indeed, and one of enormous reward. I haven’t always been aware of that during my years of service at home, but a few days of service outside our boundaries quickly open your eyes to just how blessed we are to have this privilege!
Most of all, I have come to appreciate my family. When all is said and done, what do you really have in this world besides those who are closest to you? This experience has shown me just how blessed I am to be able to share my life with someone like Jackie – she makes living so worthwhile and enjoyable. To have also been given the privilege of having three wonderful children with her, is another blessing more than I deserve. They are the ones who have brought such joy and fulfillment to our life, and also the ones to whom we feel called to return to at this point in time. The world may have many attractions, but outside of the Christ, His church, and one’s own family there is no greater blessing to be found!
We conclude our Kenya experience with grateful appreciation to our God for considering us worthy to be two simple earthen vessels in whom such an incredible treasure resides – Jesus, who is the source of our life …our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30 ESV). What more can any of us ask for?
Friends, we thank you for your faithfulness in regard to your support and friendship during our time away from home, and we eagerly look forward to seeing each of you once again. You are precious to us!
Blessings! See you back home.
Roy & Jackie
(We’ll leave it to you to figure out which one of the two animals have become each of our favorites)
December 2009
Well, this is it! After having “penned” over 50 editions of the Journal during our 25 months here in Kenya, it looks like we have finally reached the concluding one, as in a few short days we will be returning to the States and our time on Kenya soil will have ended (our time in Kenya soil will continue for several months thereafter, as we will carry it back with us in our lungs, clothes, and many other possessions!). And, since I have a few more days left, what better way to end it than to “torture” you one more time with the stories of our experience? As usual, buckle on your seat belts, as we’re ready to take a journey over the bumpy roads of Kenya!
November is all about Commissioning and all the preparations necessary for it, as we come to the end of the training year and we push both sessions out of the “nest” – the Prayer Warriors received their first appointments, and the Ambassadors of Holiness went out to their Out Training appointments. Making this occasion all the more exciting is the fact that it was held in Kakamega and the Kenya West Territory for the first time ever. And, this also means that in order to get to Kakamega, one has the privilege of driving over some of the worst roads in Kenya, and missing vital turns here and there because there are no road signs, so you end up with a journey in which there are no dull moments! Needless to say, we were glad to make a few stops along the way. The young man on the left is one of the reasons why we made one stop, as this was the home of my namesake: Roy Witness Omulubi. His mother and father were Cadets at the college last year, and were a part of the brigade we supervised, so they honored me by naming their first-born son after me and the name of their session (Witnesses for Christ). Like a true Johnson kid, he had a runny nose, and was sans pants.
Another stop along the way was for the mandatory cup of tea, and so we stopped at a sleazy hotel in Kapsobet, where I was aurally abused by having to listen to Country Western music. I know I will upset a few of you, but I hate Country Western music, and who in their wildest dreams could ever imagine travelling 7,000 miles to Africa to be serenaded by Dolly Parton! Now those of you who love Country Western music will think that this should have been the highlight of my time in Kenya, but believe you me, it was no fun having I’ve Been Married Just as Long as You have blasted in your face while trying to be civil over a cup of tea! Mercifully, the bumps in the road thereafter quickly helped to bring healing to my ears. The next stop was the conference center at Kakamega, and a chance to relax and prepare for the coming days.
On Saturday we had quite a gathering at the Corps next to the recently completed THQ, as the families of the Cadets came to see their “children” honored for their accomplishments during their two years of training. There were over 1,000 people at this celebration, and among them were these well-dressed scouts who escorted the families and soldiers into the hall. We are now entering the summer season, so it was hot, hot, hot in the meeting!
On Sunday, we moved outdoors to Bukhungu stadium where it was estimated that 7,000 to 10,000 people attended the Commissioning of the Prayer Warriors. Once again, it was hot, hot, hot, and I don’t know how these people were able to endure 4 ½ hours out in the blazing sun, but they did. Most meetings of this kind are always preceded by a review past the Territorial Commanders, and it took about an hour for all the Salvationists to march past the review stand. Once the meeting got started it flowed pretty well, and I was rather pleased with how everything turned out. Commissioner Roberts preached a good message, and there was a good response to it. The highlight of the meeting for me was getting to hold the microphone for the Commissioners during the Ordination and Appointment services. As usual at events like this, the audio/visual is where Satan dwells, and the sound company we hired neglected to bring any microphone stands. Not to worry, as my previous experience holding a triangle back in my days with the Chicago Staff Band, prepared me well for this moment! It also gave me a chance to see the appointments of the Lieutenants before they were given. After 4 ½ hours out in the heat and the sun, we were glad to make a quick retreat back to the conference center where we could cool off and have a final meal together. All in all, everything went very well, and this inaugural venture was considered a success.
The trip back to Thika was quite a bit better, as we were able to find the right roads, and we were able to make it back home in good time without having to endure another assault on my ears as well!. Back at the campus we began completing our final renovation project, as we had the ceiling replaced in the Health Office where Jackie had been working for the past two years. The ceilings in all of our buildings are constructed from a flimsy paper fiber board, and the end up being uneven and water-stained, so they do not make for a good presentation or work environment. Jackie had wanted to repair the ceiling in her office ever since we came here, but since it wasn’t exactly a high-priority project that needed to be done, we waited until we had taken care of some other projects. We replaced the paper fiber board with a vinyl paneling that really looks nice and will be easy to clean if and when water leaks occur. All of these projects have been the result of donations we received from friends and family back in the States, and we are so grateful for the difference these donations have made in the appearance and function of the campus. There is so much more that can be done in this regard, but that will now have to be undertaken by someone else.
As our time has been drawing to a conclusion, we have had a number of farewell functions to attend, and we have enjoyed the opportunity to say farewell to the new friends we have made here. There are a number of expatriates who are also farewelling at the same time as well are, so there will be a significant exodus in this regard over the next five months. This is a picture of all of the expats who will either be returning to their homes, or will be going on furlough soon, and this will leave quite a “hole” in the leadership of the Kenya East Territory, as most of us were involved in positions at the territorial level. Two expatriates we met during our time in Kenya and who are remaining, are the Bullianas. They are from the Mizoram state of India, and they will remain another two years so their boys can finish their education at the American school in Nairobi. We enjoyed a terrific farewell dinner at their house, and learned quite a bit about TSA in their state. When we first met them we thought they were Filipino, as their physical appearance closely resembles them – their ancestors came from China and interbred with the Burmese - but they consider themselves to be Indians as this is the county of their political and Army alignment. They serve in the finance department at territorial headquarters.
We also had an official farewell at THQ, where the territory said farewell to the nine officers and volunteers who were leaving the territory (three were being transferred to the Kenya West Territory, and the other six were returning to America). They have a tradition of having the line manager of the farewelling officers/person serve them a piece of cake as token of their appreciation, and here is Major Enock Lufumbu, the Training Principal, feeding us a piece of cake. Fortunately, it’s not like the custom of smashing it into your face as happens at weddings, so it a pleasant experience, and the cake was pretty tasty as well. Commissioner Hezekiel Anzeze seemed to be genuinely saddened by the departure of so many from his command, but he did not stand in the way of any of us returning home. I think he understands the power of that calling, as he himself is quite eager to retire and return to his home in the Kenya West Territory, but when Kenya was divided into two territories he was asked by the General to extend his term for another two years, so he will not get to go home for a while longer. He has been a good and kind man to work for, and has given good leadership to the territory, but it would probably be good for him to either retire or receive another appointment as he has been in this position for a long time. As a matter of trivia, I think he is the only person to be a Territorial Commander in three different territories without ever leaving his home country! He has been the TC of the East Africa, Kenya, and Kenya East territories.
We are leaving Kenya during a time of transition and uncertainty – both politically and in the Salvation Army – and in some respects it would be good for us to stay, but the time is also right for us to return home. While we wonder about how things will work out at the college and in the two territories, we are confident and assured that God is sufficient to meet their needs if they seek His face and wisdom. This will be the final year that the National Officers’ Training College will exist, as both territories will have their own training colleges in 2011, so this will be a year planning and transition for both territories. In many respects we understand why this is necessary, but in other respects we think it will be detrimental for this to take place as it will reinforce the harmful tribal distinctions and boundaries that were largely transcended when Cadets from both territories attended a national college together. It is unfortunate that the very same elements of tribalism that contributed to the political unrest we experienced in January 2008, have now surfaced in the Army, and will be a significant hurdle for them to overcome as they move forward.
In spite of the negative things we have experienced, I would still have to say that we have enjoyed and benefitted much from our time in Kenya, and our overall memories of our experience will be good. The Kenyans are a warm and loving people, who often live under very difficult circumstances, but continue to be a happy and resilient people anyway. We have been greatly impressed by the dedication and sacrifice of Kenyan Salvationists, and have enjoyed their freedom and exuberance in worship. They are far less inhibited in their expression than we Westerners, and we could benefit from a good dose of that in our worship services! They are a people who deserve better than what they have been given by their political leaders, and we pray that Godly leaders will arise.
And, from another perspective, our Kenyan experience has reminded up of how privileged we are to be Americans, how rich our Army is, and how precious it is to be blessed with a good family. There is no country on the face of the earth like America, and we are both proud and blessed to be a product of this rich opportunity and heritage. While our Salvation Army in America may not be the biggest in the world, there is no question in my mind that it is the best, and it is to a large degree the “engine” that powers the rest of the Army world. The opportunity to be a Salvation Army officer and serve in America is a privileged position indeed, and one of enormous reward. I haven’t always been aware of that during my years of service at home, but a few days of service outside our boundaries quickly open your eyes to just how blessed we are to have this privilege!
Most of all, I have come to appreciate my family. When all is said and done, what do you really have in this world besides those who are closest to you? This experience has shown me just how blessed I am to be able to share my life with someone like Jackie – she makes living so worthwhile and enjoyable. To have also been given the privilege of having three wonderful children with her, is another blessing more than I deserve. They are the ones who have brought such joy and fulfillment to our life, and also the ones to whom we feel called to return to at this point in time. The world may have many attractions, but outside of the Christ, His church, and one’s own family there is no greater blessing to be found!
We conclude our Kenya experience with grateful appreciation to our God for considering us worthy to be two simple earthen vessels in whom such an incredible treasure resides – Jesus, who is the source of our life …our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30 ESV). What more can any of us ask for?
Friends, we thank you for your faithfulness in regard to your support and friendship during our time away from home, and we eagerly look forward to seeing each of you once again. You are precious to us!
Blessings! See you back home.
Roy & Jackie
(We’ll leave it to you to figure out which one of the two animals have become each of our favorites)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Kenya Journal - September 2009
A lot has happened since the Kenya Journal last popped in to your Inbox, so if you’re up to it, strap yourself in and let’s go for a ride together!
Most of you have probably heard that much of Kenya is experiencing a severe drought, and while this has caused some tremendous food problems, it has also caused a pretty difficult situation with power as well. It turns out that much of Kenya’s power is hydro generated, and the decreasing water levels at several reservoirs/dams, has caused for drastic cutbacks in service. We have experienced periodic disruptions in service, but nothing like Nairobi, where they have been restricted to four days of service every week. Because of this THQ has had to alter their work week to Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, as they are without power Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Needless to say, this has really been disruptive to not only the operations of The Salvation Army, but to many businesses and industries across the country as well. We still have a number of manual typewriters and adding machines here at the college that we could lend them, but the computer has pretty much ruined even that option, as all of our records are kept there, and we don’t know how to operate these machines anymore!
You will also know that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, visited Kenya during August, and while she was here she was quite a hit with “the natives.” But, she also hit a nerve with the politicians and the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, as he told her to “Quit lecturing Africa on politics/governance.” In typical African style, he very politely told her that Kenya wants American aide, but we don’t want you telling us what to do with it! Kenyan politicians are bit sensitive right now, as a number of them are fearing an indictment from the International Court regarding their involvement in the political conflict after the 2007 elections, and some of them have also been named in a very damning exposé by Michela Wrong entitle It’s Our Turn to Eat. Kenyan politicians have long been feeding at the “trough” of public funds and bribes, and this book has scared many of them to such an extent that it has essentially been banned in the country. The only place you can buy it is from “hawkers” on the street. Anyway, back to Hillary . . . . Sad to say, she didn’t pay us a visit in Thika, but I’m sure we’re on her schedule for the next time she comes!
The other evening I had one of those déjà vu moments when upon hearing the bass drum beating for the evening chapel, I was transported back to the Clearwater Corps circa 1978-79, and hearing Chuck Uden lead testimonies by singing: I’m going to the Army, The Salvation Army! I’m going where the greatest blessings flow. I hear the big drum beating, it’s calling me to meeting. I’ve got the Army fever, and I must go! Oh hallelujah, hallelujah, I’ve got the Army fever and I must go! Our days in Clearwater – both as soldiers and as the Corps Officers – were precious days for us, and reliving this experience reminded me of how blest we are in The Salvation Army and the great heritage we have. If this part of the kingdom has been so rich and beautiful, can you imagine what the “heavenly quilt” will be like when all the pieces are sewn together! I can hardly wait!
During August, the Cadets embarked on a 10-day evangelistic campaign to Western Kenya, and carried out ministry in 7 divisions/districts and 16 Corps. The statistics from this excursion are pretty impressive, as they touched the lives of over 54,700 persons. In particular, 14,321 individuals were visited in their homes, and almost 5,000 souls came to the altar in some kind of an act of faith. Jackie and I stayed home this time around, and served as the “parents” and guardians to those remaining behind. Each of the four officer couples who went out on brigades left their children behind, and it was our duty to visit them on a regular basis and do the grocery run for them as needed. It was also my job during this time to serve as the campus repair man, as I tackled a number of small projects – like repairing our washing machine - and helping to restore water to the campus when our supply pipe was broken. I’ve documented a little bit about my journey across the river to make this repair, and I’ve also placed some more pictures of it on our blog if you are interested (http://johnsonsgallimaufry.blogspot.com/). In addition to those roles, I also served in a veterinary responsibility, as I had to call the vet when our male calf – fondly named “Kofi Annan” – had an accident of some kind and banged up its leg so badly that it could hardly walk. The vet eventually ended up putting cast on it, so hopefully it will heal over time.
And speaking of cows, the male Cadets enjoyed a traditional feast recently, as one of our dairy cows went to “Cow Heaven,” and its head and hoofs were used to make a “delicious” soup that is considered a delicacy. It is kind of a rite that is only enjoyed by the men, and the head and hoofs of a different animal might be used according to your tribe, but it will still be restricted to just the men. I participated in this delicacy and rite back in 2007, so I didn’t feel obligated to indulge in it this time around. I know that the photos are pretty disgusting, but it’s all part of the African experience, and you would miss out on the full joy of the rite without them. So, forgive me.
Keeping with an animal theme, we have seen a number of interesting birds during this month, and this continues to be one of the great joys of living here in Kenya. When we went to Kabete to visit John and Ruth Vincent after they returned from a furlough in England, we spotted this amazing African Grey Hornbill up in the tree. It’s the first one we’ve seen since we’ve been here. It was pretty neat. A little closer to home, we’ve seen the Hildebrandt’s Starling on the left, some kind of green bee eaters like the ones pictured here on the right, and a host of sun birds that we watch at the feeder outside our house. This has been a nice relaxing way for us to decompress at the end of every day. We’ll miss this treat when we return home, as the birds of East Africa are pretty vibrant in their colorings.
One more animal story . . . we operated a cat maternity ward this month, as we had nine (9) kittens born to the two female cats we have been feeding. Fortunately, we have been able to find homes for all of them except one, and since we can’t find him we assume that he/she may have found a home in “Cat Heaven”. The “mama” cat that was the first to appear at our door, has become pretty domesticated and she has comfortably been sitting in Jackie’s lap during the evening as we have been bird-watching. Hopefully, this will keep her from engaging in any more hanky-panky or bird catching for a while! Ironically, neither of us are “cat people,” but they have adopted us anyway!
A couple of milestones of note were achieved this month: we celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary; and, the Kenya East Territory approved the wearing of pants (trousers) for women officers. Since we live in a very rural part of Kenya, it has been pretty difficult for us to do anything special for the anniversaries we have “celebrated” here, but we did find an excellent Japanese restaurant in Nairobi where we enjoyed a delicious meal and good fellowship together, and for about $5 we were able to throw in the roses pictured here. Flowers like this are incredibly cheap, and readily available. The Vincents were also kind, and gave us a nice bowl in remembrance of our anniversary. Once Jackie heard that the wearing of pants was approved, she and the Territorial Leader of Women’s Ministry went out and bought a pair. It was good timing since it has been a little chilly lately, and hopefully this will bring some comfort and warmth to her during these waning days of winter.
Let me tell you about one last item of business before I turn to some personal items in closing. During August, we commissioned six Envoys, who had taken an alternate training route to becoming commissioned officers. Some of them began this process back in 2005, while others began in 2006, and they finally reached their goal this year. It was a good moment for the Kenya East Territory and these six new officers, and it was rewarding for us at the College to now see another batch of “cadets” successfully trained. The Kenya West Territory will be commissioning nine new Lts. in September who were also a part of this “session,” so that will also be another milestone in the life of these two territories as well as the Army world, for these are the first Prayer Warriors to be commissioned.
While the Cadets were gone on campaigns, I took advantage of their absence to see if I could still grow some facial hair, as. I’ve not been too successful in this regard when it comes to the top of my head. At the end of it all, I realized that I can still grow hair on my face, but that, it also comes at the expense of my “youthful” appearance – it doesn’t do anything but make me look old! So, I buzzed it off the other day, and am back to my smooth “baby face” again. I think you can tell from the picture that Jackie was more than happy to oblige in this regard!
Now, I didn’t engage in this exercise because of any kind of a mid-life crisis, or ego trip – just for fun – but on a more serious note, I have found myself thinking about how far I’ve come since May 2007, and how far I have yet to go. Like most men, I have struggled with the issue of position, as our position somehow falsely contributes to the self-identity we have of ourselves. To be truthful, it was extremely difficult for me to accept this appointment, as I thought it was an appointment “beneath” me – it was kind of a “been-there-done-that” kind of thing, and quite honestly, I didn’t want to do it again. It took me a long time to work through this issue and come to terms with, as it really bruised my ego. But, in working through this issue, I came to realize that I had foolishly been more interested in a position than a Person, and I had to come back to the fundamental issue of being a disciple: it’s a calling to following a Person, not achieve a position. Now, I wish I could tell you that I am forever done with this issue, but pride is the old “cat of nine-lives” that keeps coming back to life, and it frequently continues to “purr” outside my door. But, after two years of wrestling with this issue, I am quite at peace with where I am right now, and am grateful for the lessons this appointment has taught me.
As a result of this process, I’ve come to realize that it is a very foolish thing to sacrifice your personhood in order to gain a position. It is far better to become the person you want/ought to be, as you will be that for a far longer time than you will be any position, and ultimately you are going to have to be able to live with yourself. Whether I become a Divisional Commander, Territorial Commander, or General (none of which are very likely to happen at this juncture), I will only be that for a brief period of time in my life, but who I am – my personhood -. I will be that for the rest of my life – I will never cease to be me! So, it is far better to become the person that you ought to be, rather than sacrifice this for a position that you will ultimately have to vacate. Now, I’m not saying that one can’t be in a significant position and also be the person that they ought to be, but that, one cannot afford to get these two aspects out of order in their life. The being is always more important that the doing, and who I am must always precede and be more important than what I do! It’s so easy to forget this, and I am grateful that my African experience is helping to remind me of this truth. For that lesson alone, coming to Africa is worth the price.
Two verses from song #485 have become very meaningful to me in this regard, and I’ll close with them . . . perhaps they are what you need to be reminded of well?
So I ask Thee for the daily strength,
To none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space,
If Thou be glorified.
Wherever in the world I am,
In whatso’er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate,
A work of lowly love to do
For him on whom I wait.
Until next month . . . “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord!” (1Cor. 15:58)
Most of you have probably heard that much of Kenya is experiencing a severe drought, and while this has caused some tremendous food problems, it has also caused a pretty difficult situation with power as well. It turns out that much of Kenya’s power is hydro generated, and the decreasing water levels at several reservoirs/dams, has caused for drastic cutbacks in service. We have experienced periodic disruptions in service, but nothing like Nairobi, where they have been restricted to four days of service every week. Because of this THQ has had to alter their work week to Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday, as they are without power Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Needless to say, this has really been disruptive to not only the operations of The Salvation Army, but to many businesses and industries across the country as well. We still have a number of manual typewriters and adding machines here at the college that we could lend them, but the computer has pretty much ruined even that option, as all of our records are kept there, and we don’t know how to operate these machines anymore!
You will also know that the Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, visited Kenya during August, and while she was here she was quite a hit with “the natives.” But, she also hit a nerve with the politicians and the Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, as he told her to “Quit lecturing Africa on politics/governance.” In typical African style, he very politely told her that Kenya wants American aide, but we don’t want you telling us what to do with it! Kenyan politicians are bit sensitive right now, as a number of them are fearing an indictment from the International Court regarding their involvement in the political conflict after the 2007 elections, and some of them have also been named in a very damning exposé by Michela Wrong entitle It’s Our Turn to Eat. Kenyan politicians have long been feeding at the “trough” of public funds and bribes, and this book has scared many of them to such an extent that it has essentially been banned in the country. The only place you can buy it is from “hawkers” on the street. Anyway, back to Hillary . . . . Sad to say, she didn’t pay us a visit in Thika, but I’m sure we’re on her schedule for the next time she comes!
The other evening I had one of those déjà vu moments when upon hearing the bass drum beating for the evening chapel, I was transported back to the Clearwater Corps circa 1978-79, and hearing Chuck Uden lead testimonies by singing: I’m going to the Army, The Salvation Army! I’m going where the greatest blessings flow. I hear the big drum beating, it’s calling me to meeting. I’ve got the Army fever, and I must go! Oh hallelujah, hallelujah, I’ve got the Army fever and I must go! Our days in Clearwater – both as soldiers and as the Corps Officers – were precious days for us, and reliving this experience reminded me of how blest we are in The Salvation Army and the great heritage we have. If this part of the kingdom has been so rich and beautiful, can you imagine what the “heavenly quilt” will be like when all the pieces are sewn together! I can hardly wait!
During August, the Cadets embarked on a 10-day evangelistic campaign to Western Kenya, and carried out ministry in 7 divisions/districts and 16 Corps. The statistics from this excursion are pretty impressive, as they touched the lives of over 54,700 persons. In particular, 14,321 individuals were visited in their homes, and almost 5,000 souls came to the altar in some kind of an act of faith. Jackie and I stayed home this time around, and served as the “parents” and guardians to those remaining behind. Each of the four officer couples who went out on brigades left their children behind, and it was our duty to visit them on a regular basis and do the grocery run for them as needed. It was also my job during this time to serve as the campus repair man, as I tackled a number of small projects – like repairing our washing machine - and helping to restore water to the campus when our supply pipe was broken. I’ve documented a little bit about my journey across the river to make this repair, and I’ve also placed some more pictures of it on our blog if you are interested (http://johnsonsgallimaufry.blogspot.com/). In addition to those roles, I also served in a veterinary responsibility, as I had to call the vet when our male calf – fondly named “Kofi Annan” – had an accident of some kind and banged up its leg so badly that it could hardly walk. The vet eventually ended up putting cast on it, so hopefully it will heal over time.
And speaking of cows, the male Cadets enjoyed a traditional feast recently, as one of our dairy cows went to “Cow Heaven,” and its head and hoofs were used to make a “delicious” soup that is considered a delicacy. It is kind of a rite that is only enjoyed by the men, and the head and hoofs of a different animal might be used according to your tribe, but it will still be restricted to just the men. I participated in this delicacy and rite back in 2007, so I didn’t feel obligated to indulge in it this time around. I know that the photos are pretty disgusting, but it’s all part of the African experience, and you would miss out on the full joy of the rite without them. So, forgive me.
Keeping with an animal theme, we have seen a number of interesting birds during this month, and this continues to be one of the great joys of living here in Kenya. When we went to Kabete to visit John and Ruth Vincent after they returned from a furlough in England, we spotted this amazing African Grey Hornbill up in the tree. It’s the first one we’ve seen since we’ve been here. It was pretty neat. A little closer to home, we’ve seen the Hildebrandt’s Starling on the left, some kind of green bee eaters like the ones pictured here on the right, and a host of sun birds that we watch at the feeder outside our house. This has been a nice relaxing way for us to decompress at the end of every day. We’ll miss this treat when we return home, as the birds of East Africa are pretty vibrant in their colorings.
One more animal story . . . we operated a cat maternity ward this month, as we had nine (9) kittens born to the two female cats we have been feeding. Fortunately, we have been able to find homes for all of them except one, and since we can’t find him we assume that he/she may have found a home in “Cat Heaven”. The “mama” cat that was the first to appear at our door, has become pretty domesticated and she has comfortably been sitting in Jackie’s lap during the evening as we have been bird-watching. Hopefully, this will keep her from engaging in any more hanky-panky or bird catching for a while! Ironically, neither of us are “cat people,” but they have adopted us anyway!
A couple of milestones of note were achieved this month: we celebrated our 31st wedding anniversary; and, the Kenya East Territory approved the wearing of pants (trousers) for women officers. Since we live in a very rural part of Kenya, it has been pretty difficult for us to do anything special for the anniversaries we have “celebrated” here, but we did find an excellent Japanese restaurant in Nairobi where we enjoyed a delicious meal and good fellowship together, and for about $5 we were able to throw in the roses pictured here. Flowers like this are incredibly cheap, and readily available. The Vincents were also kind, and gave us a nice bowl in remembrance of our anniversary. Once Jackie heard that the wearing of pants was approved, she and the Territorial Leader of Women’s Ministry went out and bought a pair. It was good timing since it has been a little chilly lately, and hopefully this will bring some comfort and warmth to her during these waning days of winter.
Let me tell you about one last item of business before I turn to some personal items in closing. During August, we commissioned six Envoys, who had taken an alternate training route to becoming commissioned officers. Some of them began this process back in 2005, while others began in 2006, and they finally reached their goal this year. It was a good moment for the Kenya East Territory and these six new officers, and it was rewarding for us at the College to now see another batch of “cadets” successfully trained. The Kenya West Territory will be commissioning nine new Lts. in September who were also a part of this “session,” so that will also be another milestone in the life of these two territories as well as the Army world, for these are the first Prayer Warriors to be commissioned.
While the Cadets were gone on campaigns, I took advantage of their absence to see if I could still grow some facial hair, as. I’ve not been too successful in this regard when it comes to the top of my head. At the end of it all, I realized that I can still grow hair on my face, but that, it also comes at the expense of my “youthful” appearance – it doesn’t do anything but make me look old! So, I buzzed it off the other day, and am back to my smooth “baby face” again. I think you can tell from the picture that Jackie was more than happy to oblige in this regard!
Now, I didn’t engage in this exercise because of any kind of a mid-life crisis, or ego trip – just for fun – but on a more serious note, I have found myself thinking about how far I’ve come since May 2007, and how far I have yet to go. Like most men, I have struggled with the issue of position, as our position somehow falsely contributes to the self-identity we have of ourselves. To be truthful, it was extremely difficult for me to accept this appointment, as I thought it was an appointment “beneath” me – it was kind of a “been-there-done-that” kind of thing, and quite honestly, I didn’t want to do it again. It took me a long time to work through this issue and come to terms with, as it really bruised my ego. But, in working through this issue, I came to realize that I had foolishly been more interested in a position than a Person, and I had to come back to the fundamental issue of being a disciple: it’s a calling to following a Person, not achieve a position. Now, I wish I could tell you that I am forever done with this issue, but pride is the old “cat of nine-lives” that keeps coming back to life, and it frequently continues to “purr” outside my door. But, after two years of wrestling with this issue, I am quite at peace with where I am right now, and am grateful for the lessons this appointment has taught me.
As a result of this process, I’ve come to realize that it is a very foolish thing to sacrifice your personhood in order to gain a position. It is far better to become the person you want/ought to be, as you will be that for a far longer time than you will be any position, and ultimately you are going to have to be able to live with yourself. Whether I become a Divisional Commander, Territorial Commander, or General (none of which are very likely to happen at this juncture), I will only be that for a brief period of time in my life, but who I am – my personhood -. I will be that for the rest of my life – I will never cease to be me! So, it is far better to become the person that you ought to be, rather than sacrifice this for a position that you will ultimately have to vacate. Now, I’m not saying that one can’t be in a significant position and also be the person that they ought to be, but that, one cannot afford to get these two aspects out of order in their life. The being is always more important that the doing, and who I am must always precede and be more important than what I do! It’s so easy to forget this, and I am grateful that my African experience is helping to remind me of this truth. For that lesson alone, coming to Africa is worth the price.
Two verses from song #485 have become very meaningful to me in this regard, and I’ll close with them . . . perhaps they are what you need to be reminded of well?
So I ask Thee for the daily strength,
To none that ask denied,
And a mind to blend with outward life
While keeping at Thy side;
Content to fill a little space,
If Thou be glorified.
Wherever in the world I am,
In whatso’er estate,
I have a fellowship with hearts
To keep and cultivate,
A work of lowly love to do
For him on whom I wait.
Until next month . . . “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord!” (1Cor. 15:58)
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
What did you do today?
Well, today I became a plumber. All of the Cadets, Officers, and most of the employees are off-campus this week, so this week I have been wearing many different hats according to the emergency of the moment. Today's emergency was to restore our water supply, as the feed line had been broken yesterday, and we had no water. Kenya is experiencing a pretty serious drought, so the Masai are driving their cattle all over the country in search of grazing land, and more than likely one of the cows step on the exposed pipe and cracked it. And as usual, they (the Masai)are not very polite to either fix what their cattle have damaged, or notify us about it.
So, off we went this morning on an expedition to repair the pipe. After hearing a description of the damage, I immediately thought in my American-let's-go-to-Lowe's-and-buy-the-necessary-parts mindset, but the Kenyans are far more ingenious than that as there is no Lowe's to go to in the bush, and we went with some PVC pipe, a hacksaw, matches, and some glue! The journey was half the fun, as we had to go down the canyon, cross the Chania River, and then go back up the canyon. Lots of fun!
Once we spotted the damaged section of pipe, Joseph, Julius, and Moses immediately set about removing the rocks and cutting out the bad section, and preparing it for a new piece. Back home we would go to the hardware store and buy couplings to join the pipes together, but since they can't just run down to the hardware store, they made their own "couplings". They used the PVC glue to start a fire, and then heated one end of the pipe until it became soft and pliable so they could jam another piece of pipe in it in order to form a "female" end for the joint. Pretty amazing and ingenious! I was amazed.
After forming the coupling on both ends, we were ready to make the repair, and within minutes the job was done. All that was left to do was to test the joint to see if it was solid. The test results were good, so the mission was accomplished and we returned to the campus as heroes. All in a days work.
What did you do today?
So, off we went this morning on an expedition to repair the pipe. After hearing a description of the damage, I immediately thought in my American-let's-go-to-Lowe's-and-buy-the-necessary-parts mindset, but the Kenyans are far more ingenious than that as there is no Lowe's to go to in the bush, and we went with some PVC pipe, a hacksaw, matches, and some glue! The journey was half the fun, as we had to go down the canyon, cross the Chania River, and then go back up the canyon. Lots of fun!
Once we spotted the damaged section of pipe, Joseph, Julius, and Moses immediately set about removing the rocks and cutting out the bad section, and preparing it for a new piece. Back home we would go to the hardware store and buy couplings to join the pipes together, but since they can't just run down to the hardware store, they made their own "couplings". They used the PVC glue to start a fire, and then heated one end of the pipe until it became soft and pliable so they could jam another piece of pipe in it in order to form a "female" end for the joint. Pretty amazing and ingenious! I was amazed.
After forming the coupling on both ends, we were ready to make the repair, and within minutes the job was done. All that was left to do was to test the joint to see if it was solid. The test results were good, so the mission was accomplished and we returned to the campus as heroes. All in a days work.
What did you do today?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
