Week Six – My Small Corner

Hi everyone!  Greetings from Kenya!

Another week – another letter – and another month.  It’s hard to believe it’s May already.  Today is Labour Day in Kenya – a national holiday – so a great day to set aside some time to write …

Yesterday I woke up with a song in my head – Jesus Bids Us Shine – of all things!  I’m starting to be more and more convinced that this is one way God speaks to me – by giving me words to think about and ponder as I go through my day.  And I had been feeling a bit discouraged and bewildered – the language barrier is taking its toll I think.  The words really helped me.  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that these words were just what I needed to hear.   I really do feel like I’m in my small corner – a place where I am meant to be, at least for now, but one that feels a long way from home.  I remember this children’s hymn from Sunday School days – and from my grandmother singing it to us (in her warbling soprano!)  Maybe you know it too……

Jesus bids us shine
With a pure, clear light,
Like a little candle
Burning in the night.
In this world of darkness
So let us shine
You in your small corner,
And I in mine.

There is no doubt that there is darkness here – and the longer I spend here the more I am aware of it.  A student in my class wrote a composition about witchcraft – this weekend a woman accused another of being a witch, a form of mob violence broke out and the person was severely injured and died.  Darkness, for sure.  And the new boy Francis that arrived last week?  He is a victim of terrible abuse at the hands of his step-mother.  His back is covered with bite marks she inflicted on him.  Darkness, for sure.  (Caning at school – a traditional form of discipline in Kenya – pales in comparison.)  And there is despair as people struggle to eke out a living.  Darkness, for sure.But light?  Yes, there is that too.  In abundance.  I feel it as my neighbours greet me, as the children entertain me with their singing and dancing, as the children I am teaching show sparks of understanding.  And I feel that perhaps that here, in my small corner, I am helping to spread just a little of that light around.  Just by being here I am able to be a bit of an encouragement, giving a little boost to the people I meet and spend my days with.  Just being interested in what they are doing, open to learning about their life, and helping them with daily tasks – I am hopefully bringing a bit of light to this community.   I can’t really do much – help with a little homework here,  a little budgetting, book-keeping and priority-setting there – but I know they appreciate it.  So here I am, in my small corner, doing small things.

So what have I been up to this week?  School continues – and I feel I am getting better and better at relating to the children and teaching them in a way that makes sense.  I had a great time visiting the Class One (grade ones) and helping their teacher with some reading.  Tomorrow marks my last day helping out with the extra tuition time at Loma Academy – I am off to another school next week when the regular term begins again – have to share the ‘muzunga’ around the community…!

Friday was a ‘rain day’!  It poured rain all night and well into the morning –  making it too difficult to walk in the mud.  So I played the ‘old lady’ card and stayed home.  Saturday was exciting – I had a lovely, long, complete bucket bath.  That may not sound exciting to you, but trust me – it was a high point !!  I’ll spare you the details – but suffice it to say that it was a long time in coming….

Sunday, Pastor Opin, Massai and I walked several kilometres with the oldest 18 children to another orphanage in Kisii to share worship with them.  This orphanage has several more children than we do and has been in operation for 40 years. They have many buildings and a large piece of land – unfair to compare with our crowded, rented facility.  And, they had a swing set!!  That was a huge hit with our kids.   During our worship time it was great to hear the children sing – you just can’t beat these enthusiastic and heart-felt voices.  I shared the story of Zaccheus – and taught them the song to go with it.  It was a great opportunity to get together – the children have met on one occasion before and more visits are planned.  For me, it was good to talk with the staff of another orphanage and discuss the challenges both places face – the price of food, discipline of older children –  and share different approaches.

 

After lunch with them, both groups of children walked into Kisii town to play a game of football (soccer).  The game ended in a tie (fortunately!) and we rushed home through the pouring rain.  Once again, the ‘old lady’ card came in handy – Pastor Opin paid for me to return part-way in a taxi.

Maxwell, the manager,  seems to enjoy having me around and is learning to tease me mercilessly.  Monday he insisited I watch as the vet impregnated the cow Artificial-Insemination style.  Amazingly enough the sperm came from Canada!!  The vet and the staff got a kick out of my reaction to the process!  The cow will likely be sold soon – she eats more than she produces – but a pregnant cow will fetch a better price.

As I said, today is Labour Day.  The kids did some ‘labour’ to celebrate – clearing up the grounds, picking vegetables from the nearby patch of rented land where they grow greens, and sorting out a bedroom or two.  They were well rewarded with sweets – the least I could offer!

 

And so another week comes to a close.  Here, in my small corner, life is generally good.  I hope you, in your small corner, are also doing well!!

Until the next time….
Cathy