In two weeks exactly I will be boarding a plane that will take me to Nairobi, Kenya for a four week stay in Africa. Like many significant events in my life, explaining how this has come to happen takes time. Suffice it to say that it is yet again one of God’s opportunities, those unusual turns of events that I used to refer to simply as coincidences! This post will be lengthy as I give you a bit of an overview. Please read on….

Dale is a long-time friend of my good friend Alison.  (Here come those coincidences….)  Dale, together with others from Cayuga United Church including Aase (pictured below) have traveedl to Nairobi for the past four summers to help with children’s programs in the slums of Nairobi.  (oops – sorry – ‘informal settlements’ – of which Nairobi has the second largest in the world.)  Perhaps thanks to kind words from  Alison and also because at the time they were the only two going this time, they agreed to let me tag along with them this summer. Their church has had a partnership with a denomination in Nairobi for several years and that church asked for assistance (the finances as well as the skills) with children’s programs – apparently this is not something churches in Africa have traditionally done.  For those of you who are familiar with Nairobi this year they will be working in the Kayoli area, a spot where they have recently planted a ‘daughter’ church. Sounded like a perfect way for me to spend part of my summer holiday didn’t it?

But soon there was more….

Edina lives in the western part of Kenya almost at Lake Victoria. I had heard about her for several years through my friend Diane and had been in email conversation with her from time to time over the last few years. She is an amazing woman of faith – 23 years old with a heart for street children and orphans.  Currently some twenty children live her and she provides whatever support she can to many others.   I say a woman of faith because how she does it could never be explained in North American terms – she says it is all thanks to God and his great goodness. Food, clothing, rent, school fees – she relies on God and on prayer for it all. My friend Diane and her Burlington home church send money from time to time, pray for each child and keep up a steady of email encouragements to Edina. I feel very honoured to be able to meet Edina and the children on behalf of Diane and her group. When I emailed Edina to tell her I was going to Nairobi and asked how far it might be for me to come out to see her she replied immediately that she would travel to Nairobi to get me (at least six hours each way I think) and that the children were already working on songs to sing for me!!  (What a lot I will learn about hospitality and friendship!) As it turns out Dale and Aase will drive with me to Edina’s place, stay a day or two and then carry on with the rest of their trip – Aase to an orphanage and Dale back to Nairobi.

But three weeks away still didn’t seem like long enough…….

Finally, the third part of my trip.  An even longer story…….!  My husband Craig traveled to Zambia and Mozambique for three weeks in May with our church The Meeting House as part of an African Learning Team. The goal of the trip to learn about the impact of HIV and AIDS on life in southern Africa and to see firsthand the work of the Mennonite Central Committee.  While he was in Zambia the bishop of the Brethren in Christ Church there (our denomination) identified his dream for some help with teacher training and Sunday Schools for children. Instantly all eyes went on Craig, his fellow travelers knowing not only of my background but also of my hope to spend much of my 2011/2012 ‘sabbatical’ year in Africa, providing I could be useful. So — already being on the same continent and never one to waste time – I inquired as to whether I might be able  to make a connection with the church in Zambia, to find out more about what they were looking for and to see if I might be a good fit by taking a ‘short’ side trip south to the capital city of Lusaka.  They kindly agreed to see me, so, providing I can re-arrange my return ticket  (the topic of another post, I’m sure!) I will spend my last week in Lusaka, Zambia meeting the MCC reps and the people of the church there.

How exciting is all of this? Exciting enough to begin counting the number of days until I leave. And as of today it’s just 14 !!

Until the next time…. Cathy