Deviating From the Plan

Most of us make plans of some sort. Some have plans for the day and week, while others have plans for the month, year and the rest of our lives. We talk about our plans, get excited for them and can’t wait to be a part of them. When Tascha and I were preparing to come to Kenya, we planned what we were going do do (as much as we could) and we talked about it with everyone. We talked about how I would be doing media and youth ministry and how Tascha would be doing orphan ministry. But, now that we have been here for a month, we realize that where we are currently, orphan ministry and youth ministry are not our main focuses.

Here in Kericho, my main ministry has been guitar! I am borrowing a guitar from a fellow missionary just for my own enjoyment and personal worship to God. However, God has presented an opportunity for me to teach guitar to the students and staff here at Kenya Highlands Evangelical University. There are around 20 students and 3 staff who are taking lessons. I have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays after 4pm tea. We gather in the Chapel and split up into groups and learn songs. If there are chords they do not know in the song, then we learn them! My goal is to have the students leading worship using guitar in chapel by April.

 

These lessons are more than learning to play guitar. By these students and staff learning, they are being equipped to teach others guitar. But more than that, they have a portable instrument (tool) to lead worship anywhere. Teaching guitar to new believers is a form of discipleship, ingraining in them what it means to worship God, not only with our voice and a guitar, but with our lives.

 

For Tascha, her main ministry here in Kericho has been at Immanuel AGC, assisting with Children’s ministry. Most Wednesdays we are at the church and she and Lily (the Children’s Pastor) are coming up with ideas for the nine Sunday School lessons for that Sunday. In Sunday School, there are around 500 kids from Kindergarden to 8th grade. Not only does Tascha help plan each lesson, but also comes up with crafts for the kids to do and then prepares the crafts. She is really good at it and the kids love the crafts!

 

We can have a plan for what we want to do or what we think we are going to do. We can pray about it and doors may open or close. For us right now, we are ministering in ways we didn’t really think about because we were open and let God lead. This morning I was reading in Psalm 37 and verses 5-6 really stuck out:

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn, your justice like the noonday.”

In our everyday lives, committing each day to God for His glory and His use. Trust in Him and He will show up! It might not be in a huge glamorous way, but many times, if not most times, He shows up in the small, everyday things. 

An Unexpected Journey

I have a Type B personality. I like to help people, Im flexible, and I don’t live a very structured life. Tascha, on the other hand, has a Type AB personality. She is organized, has a plan (with a few back ups), and is very much a perfectionist. However, she also has a servants heart and thinks of others over herself. During our new missionary orientation last week, we learned this about ourselves and it was great preparation for the week ahead. 

Waterfall at Tenwek

Our original plan was to attend orientation on Friday and then head back to Kericho. Well, when the orientation was over Saturday, Jim and Alice invited us back to their house in Nakuru so we could use their fast internet to get our phones unlocked and restored. This was such a blessing because we had been trying for weeks to get them unlocked, but didn't have good enough internet. Before we left for Nakuru, Mike Davis (new missionary doc and fellow Tennessean) invited Tascha and I to the Tenwek Super Bowl party Monday night. Since the game was actually Monday morning at 2am Kenya time, they were recording it and watching it that evening. We were very excited and Alice helped us work out transportation back to Tenwek for the party. 

When we arrived in Nakuru, we met the Hages (Marvin and Miriam) who were also staying with Jim and Alice. They were leaving the next morning for Tenwek and were the ones who agreed to take us! So, the next morning, we went to church at Lakeview AGC and after a quick stop at Nakumatt and lunch at Java House, we were off to Tenwek!

Newborn in the nursery

Upon arriving at Mike and Katie’s home at Tenwek, we put our things in the guest bedroom and had dinner. It was very nice to be in the company of fellow Tennesseans! We played a little guitar and then went to bed. Monday, Tascha and I went to the nursery where all the newborns are. We didn't hold any, but it was really cool seeing the moms interact with their newborns. That night we went to the Super Bowl party. As you already know, there wasn't much of a game, but it was still fun watching it. With about 9 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, I somehow moved the wrong way and turned the power off. We quickly fixed it, but I was charged with a “delay of game” penalty. 

Tuesday we had lunch with Paul and Ashleigh Espy and their family. It was great getting to know them and meet their kids (who were some of the ones we had Mt. Hope Bible Camp campers write letters to last summer). After lunch, Ashleigh told us that there was a need for a preschool teacher for the MKs Wednesday and Thursday because the current teacher was going to Nairobi for a few days. We talked it over and agreed to stay. So, we let the Davis’ know our change of plans and they were happy to accommodate us a few extra days (gotta love that good ‘ol Southern hospitality!) 

Bible Quizzing

Since we stayed, we had the opportunity to visit the Umoja Children’s Home, about 15 minutes from Tenwek. What a blessing it was to be able to go and unleash all kinds of love and attention on these kids! The youngest was around 4 and the oldest was in Form 4 (12th grade) because they keep the kids there until university. In all, there were around 60 kids that stayed at Umoja. While we were there, we got to see some Bible quizzing practice and we were sung to right before we left. I would say that spending an hour with those kids was the highlight of our week!

     

Wednesday and Thursday, Tascha taught preschool. Thursday I went and played guitar for the 7 preschoolers and we had a blast!

Tascha teaching the 7 preschoolers

Later in the afternoon, we got a ride and came back to Kericho…just in time for guitar lessons! The students and I worked on playing “Majesty” and “Blessed Be Your Name.” These students are so smart and passionate about playing! It is an honor for me to be able to help them in their ministries. 

So originally, we were going to return to Kericho on February 1. However, God had other plans and had we not been open to other possibilities, we would have missed out on so much! In my morning devotions, I have been reminded time and time again to be open and present. If we keep our mind so focused on what we think we are here to do, we miss out on who we are here for, that is, Christ. Paul was devoted to the person of Christ, not a religion. By our openness and devotion to the person of Christ this past week, we have had the opportunity to dwell in His presence. Over the past week we have been mentored, encouraged and blessed by the people and ministries in and surrounding Tenwek. It was just what we needed!