Witnessing Something So Special, It is Hard to Hold Back the Tears

Today was one of those days that I got to witness a young man of about 19 years of age bring such words of encouragement to a young boy of thirteen.  George Asimba met Johnkeen Glyn for the first time today. George is a member of Ring Road Church of Christ and is an inspiration to all who know him.  He wanted to meet Johnkeen so that he could share his life story after becoming paralyzed right before going to high school. As you might remember from one of my earlier posts, Johnkeen was paralyzed the second week that Greg and I arrived in Kisumu.  We took him to Kijabe Hospital and they said that his spinal cord would never work again.  You can imagine the devastation of his parents!  They are still trying to come to terms with this and are searching for ways to help Johnkeen, as any parent would do. George offered to go talk to Johnkeen and his parents so that he could encourage him to be all that he can be and that life does go on after being paralyzed.

George shared with Johnkeen and his parents that he began to feel a weakness in his lower extremities and it gradually worsened until he was fully paralyzed from the waist down.  He was an active boy and had not had any problems beforehand.  He does not know what caused him to be paralyzed and had to come to terms with it.  George decided to attend Joyland School for the Handicapped in Kisumu.  He adapted very well and is now planning to go to college in Nairobi and major in Criminal Justice.  

As I sat and listened to George talk directly to Johnkeen and his parents, it was hard to hold back the tears.  George began by sharing John 9:1-3. "As he went along, he saw a man blind from birth.  His disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?  Neither this man nor his parents sinned, said Jesus, but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." Michael and Florence (Johnkeen's parents) listened intently and asked many questions.  You could clearly see that they were uplifted.  George challenged them to not give Johnkeen sympathy, but empathy, so that he would not be dependent and be secure in who he is.  Michael and Florence have been unable to find a school for Johnkeen, so he has been out of school since he became paralyzed; but George was so strong that their should not be discrimination against the handicapped that I believe Johnkeen's parents will be renewed in finding a good school for him.  George also quoted the scripture in 1 Corinthians 1:18-20 where Paul is talking about the wisdom of God is foolishness to the world. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.  For it is written:  'I will destroy the wisdom of the wise ; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.'  Where is the wise man?  Where is the scholar?  Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?"  He told Johnkeen man doesn't always understand why God allows things to happen.  What we consider wisdom is not what God considers wise!

I love this little boy so much.  As I leave Kisumu, I don't know if I will ever see him again, because of the many health issues that come along with this type of handicap.  But, as I listened to George admonish and encourage Johnkeen and his family, I know that God is in control of Johnkeen.   He is such a little guy with such a big heart!  I truly believe that "the work of God is being displayed in his life".  

Please keep Johnkeen and his precious family in your prayers.

The African Woman: "Strength and Dignity are Her Clothing"

Most of my time in Africa has been spent with the women and children of Kenya.  Here it is definitely not about the "outward adornment-the braiding of hair, the putting on of gold or the clothing that you wear."  You can not walk past a woman here without noticing the character of her face, the "hidden person of the heart." Many of the women that I have met have faced such losses and tragedies, but yet, there is still such strength and dignity in every curve of the faces of these women.  When I pass a woman on the street that I don't know, I always try to look at her in her eyes.  I want her to know that we feel the same things.  On the inside we are alike.  On the outside our skin color may be different and our cultures may be worlds apart, but we have the same heart.  We have a heart that loves our husbands and our children; we have a heart that cries over the atrocities of this world and the pain of losing a loved one.  I want her to know that as God's women, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made"; that He values us as His children.

In getting to know many ladies personally, and hearing their stories of life and love; it amazes me how much courage and fortitude that the Kenyan women possess.  I am in awe.  Many of my friends here rise way before sunrise to prepare food to sell at kiosks along the road and then head to other jobs that they work at until late in the evening.  When they prepare food for their family, it is not on a nice electric or gas range, it is on a "giko" (a coal burning grill).  There are no prepackaged meals or fast food for these ladies to prepare.  All of their laundry is done by hand in buckets and they have to go get the water from a pump.  Kenyan women are the perfect example of Proverbs 31:17: "She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks."

I have been blessed to be able to speak at several of the Ladie's Day Meetings that the women hold once a month to be uplifted spiritually.  This is a time for all of the women to get together and share scriptures, sing, fellowship and enjoy a meal together.  This is such an important ministry, because many of these women are in small rural village churches.  As I have been privileged to be a part of this ministry, it has allowed me to see how much these women love the Lord and want to serve Him.

 

When I leave Kenya, I can truly say that I have made wonderful friends here.  We may be very different in many ways, but I know that inside we are alike.  We share our hearts with each other and that is what matters.  If we were never to meet again, I have been forever changed by these beautiful, courageous women.  Rafiki zangu (my friends)!

My Friend, Johnkeen Glynn

Always a smile

When I came on my second trip to Kisumu, I knew that I was going to be here for one month and would be working directly with Ring Road Orphanage.  When you come upon this compound, you are struck first of all by the number of children there are (over 400) and second, by their faces.  They are full of joy, most have a twinkle in their eyes and they want you to know them by name.  They always remember your name because you are one, but it is much more difficult to remember 400 children's names!  There was this one little boy, you know the one that you just look at and fall instantly in love with.  His name is Johnkeen.  We became instant friends.  I found myself looking for him every day and just checking to see how he was doing.  You see, Johnkeen has some difficult health issues. At two years old he was struck with an illness that severely affected his spine.  His spine looks like the pipes that are under a sink.  I really have never seen anything like it!  But, this little boy has more "gumption" and spirit than anyone I know.  Johnkeen is now 13 years old and has dealt with all of the other problems that have come along with this type of curvature.  On this trip he invited me to his home in Nyamasaria, which is about 30 minutes outside of Kisumu.  Cindy Kahn and I were blessed to go visit with he, his Mom, his Aunt and their babies.  When we arrived they prayed upon entrance and then served us warm peanuts (which they call "ground nuts").  We took pictures, talked and just enjoyed each others company.  You see, every day his Mama makes sure that Johnkeen gets on a matatu (crowded van), then catches a tuk tuk (a motorized three-wheeler), and then a 1/2 mile walk to the school.  He starts very early and leaves the school around 3 p.m. while the other children stay until 6:00 p.m.  He begins that trek back home with several friends walking him to the junction and carrying his backpack.  I am sharing all of these details because it shows you the kind of spirit that Johnkeen has and how much his Mama supports him.

Well, my month was up in Kisumu and I said good-bye to all of the children, Johnkeen included and told them that I would be back in August of this year.  I was very excited for Greg to meet Johnkeen and get to know he and his family as I had.  He sent a letter to to me by Cindy and he asked me for a Bible and electricity.  The Bible I could handle, but not the electricity :)!  So, I told him that I would give him a headlamp so that he could read his Bible at night!  I sent the Bible by a good friend, Vince Barker on his trip in June.

Reuniting

Greg and I arrive in Kisumu on August 17th and we found that the schools were on a mandatory break by the government, so the children were not there.  I could not remember exactly how to get to Johnkeen's house and the Nicholson's were in Nairobi having Ruth Michael.  I knew that it wouldn't be long until we would see all of the children, Johnkeen included!  But, everyday as we waited for school to start we would have a handful of children arrive at our doorstep wanting to see us.  Finally, we said that we would have to only see children on certain days.  Well, one day a man who works at our apartment came to our door and told us that their were some children wanting in and we told him to tell them to come back another day.  So, he did as we asked and about 30 minutes later he knocked on our door and said this child had traveled very far to see us and he was crying!  You can imagine our horror!  Greg went and checked and it was Johnkeen and his 4 year old brother!  Oh my goodness; you have never seen someone so happy!  We fed them and gave them drink and just talked and Greg got to know them.  They had traveled so far by themselves with their Mama's permission.

Headed to Kijabe Mission Hospital

Initial exam by the nurse

Greg, Mama Florence and Johnkeen

About 4 or 5 days later, I got this phone call at about 7:00 a.m. It was Johnkeen's Mama.  John had fallen and he was in the hospital and had no feeling from his waist down.  We were so scared!  Chris, Greg and I went to see John in the hospital and he was in the bed with an elderly man (they put several people in a bed here).  The doctors were not attending to him and he was in pain.  It took us about five days to get him out of that hospital and back home.  We found out through a friend of Buddy Jones (Sarah's Daddy), that their was a Pediatric Neurosurgeon in Kijabe, Kenya where there was a Mission Hospital.  So, Greg, Mama Johnkeen, Johnkeen and myself take off on this trip to Kijabe which is about a 7 hour trip.  We left very early and arrived around 2:30 p.m. and they took him right in.  God was truly with us, because usually you are waiting in many lines for hours and hours.  Two wonderful doctors attended to John and shared the terrible news that he would be paralyzed from now on and that no operation could correct it.  As you can imagine, there were tears from Mama Johnkeen, but she was incredibly strong and I told her that she must tell John what was going on.  She told him and he understood and was such a little man about it.  I think he was more worried about his Mama than himself.  The nurses then came and taught Florence how to take care of John and what she would need to do daily for him.  Their lives changed forever!  They have such a strong faith in God, that they believe one day he will walk again.  What hope!  But, I also knew what the doctors had said, but I would never want to dash their hopes and faith in God!  Who am I to say what God will or will not do?

Making a birthday sign for Johnkeen

Waiting to sing Happy Birthday

Mick's wonderful blue birthday cake

Well-loved by his classmates

So happy to be at school again

Johnkeen is back in Kisumu now and is using a borrowed wheelchair.  John turned 13 years old on September 15th.  His friends at Ring Road Orphanage gave him a party at school and Mick Davis provided the blue (John's favorite color :) cake.  John had been away from his friends for over a month and everyone was so glad to see him! I ask him every time that I see him, "John, how are you doing?"  And he always says, "I am fine!"  He is way beyond his years in faith and maturity and is such a great example to all that meet him.  I tell him, "John, God is going to do great things through you!"  He already is!  He has touched so many lives everywhere he goes.  People love him all over Kisumu.  His two younger brothers look up to him and adore him.  I feel so blessed that God allowed him to be a part of my life!

I am forever changed by the spirit of this little friend, Johnkeen Glynn.

Camelot

It is so hard to believe that Greg and I have been in Kenya for over three weeks now.  It is amazing how quickly you get into a routine (although I say that lightly) and figure out life in a new country.  When Greg and I were involved in our youth missions program at North Atlanta Church of Christ, we traveled to many foreign countries with our teens encouraging them to be mission-minded.  One of the great quotes we used over and over was "TRUST AND ADJUST"; well, I must say to all of those teens I "preached" that phrase to, I am reaping what I sowed!  It has never been more true than it is right now in our lives.  Every day is a completely new adventure that never seems to turn out quite as you have planned it.  Sometimes it is as simple as your hot water not working, your internet failing to connect, or waking up and something has eaten the fruit that you left on the counter. Other days it is more challenging to your heart; like the day I got a call at 7:00 a.m. and found out that my dear friend John Keen, who is 13 years old, has collapsed and is paralyzed from the waist down and is at the hospital and no one knows what to do in his case.  That is the day that you drop anything and everything that you had planned and "trust" that God will show you the way or what you can do to help John's sweet Mama through this terrible life-changing horror, and then look into those frightened big brown eyes of John's and try to tell him that everything is going to be ok.  Being in Kenya is truly teaching me how to trust God and lean on Him for all that life hands you each day.  

John Keen

Postina

One of the exciting reasons that Greg and I are here in Kenya is for Greg to help people be more self-sustaining and not have to depend on outside help for money.  A dear friend of mine here in Kisumu, whose name is Postina, has her own business (as well as the cook for Ring Road Orphanage).  Everyday she awakes at 4:00 a.m. and makes what the Kenyans call "mandazi".  It is sort of like a funnel cake, but with very little sugar.  Greg has been working with her to help her make her business more lucrative for her family.  As Greg and I try to trust and adjust to a new culture, we are learning that the Kenyan people, like Postina, are so open to try new  ideas.  One day Postina and I made the mandazi and tried putting powdered sugar on it just to "change things up" a little.  We went around Nyalenda, the area where Postina lives, and gave out free samples so that people could try them.  Oh my goodness!  We met so many people and some people liked the sweet mandazi, but many didn't.  Greg and I have found out that most Kenyan people do not like a lot of sugar. So, once again, we are "adjusting" what WE thought would work here in Kenya.  The wonderful thing that has happened during this work with Postina is that she has a renewed excitement about her business and is thinking of her future in a new way.

You may wonder why I titled this post "Camelot"?  Let me quote a verse of that song:

"Camelot! Camelot!

I know it sounds a bit bizarre,

But in Camelot, Camelot

That's how conditions are.

The rain may never fall till after sundown.

By eight in the morning fog must disappear.

In short, there's simply not 

A more congenial spot

For happily-ever-aftering than here 

In Camelot."

We feel like we are in Camelot!  The rains come and the lightening slices the sky almost every evening and then we wake up to the most gorgeous days.  It is just amazing!  It is like God replenishes the earth every night and brings on that bright sunshine every day.  So for the moment, God has allowed Greg and I to "happily-ever-after" in this most congenial spot, called Kisumu.  

"Camelot"

Only When the Clock Stops Does Time Come to Life

We have been in Kenya for nine days now and that is hard to believe; time passes very quickly here.  Time in itself in Kisumu is very different.  I don't know if I am quoting this correctly, but a Kenyan once said, "A Kenyan has no watch and all the time in the world, but an American has many watches and no time."  I am beginning to understand the significance of that.  I love that you have time to talk to people every day as you walk down the street or that when you are in the market people will tell you all about their life.  The Kenyan people love conversation and enjoy getting to know you.  Even the little children who we meet in Nyalenda will yell, "Wazungu" and come running just to say, "Hello, how are you?"  Greg and I have decided that we will walk most places that we go, number one because we want to get to know the people and number two because we don't have a car.  And, it is always an adventure!  Sometimes if we are in a hurry, we will ride on a "piki piki" (a motorcycle) and get to know our driver.  This type of transportation is so important in Kisumu, because this is how many men make a living for their families and it is very reasonable to get around that way. Now, it is a little tricky, as Greg and I ride together with our driver and all of our groceries, and I always have on a skirt!  But, we fit right in, because this is very typical of all of Kisumu.  One day, Greg was busy and I wanted to walk to a market that most Kenyans use, because their prices are more reasonable; well, I started on my trek and I think I ended up walking a total that day about 8 miles!  But, once again, time was not a problem and I met many wonderful people.

Since we have been back in Kisumu a lot of our time has been spent getting reacquainted with the children and staff at Ring Road Orphanage and Day School and meeting with the leaders here.  The students have been out of school for break that is mandated by the government, which means many of the children are on their own without much food.  One of the wonderful things about Ring Road Orphanage is that they provide three meals for each orphan every day that school is in session.  I must give a BIG SHOUT OUT to all of the ladies who participated in the "Thirty One" Fundraiser for the orphanage before Greg and I left to come to Kenya.  The Director at Ring Road allowed us to use those funds to send 2 kilos of maize and 2 kilos of beans home with 200 children for this next week that the children are out of school!  I can not thank you ladies enough for all that you did to raise that money for these children!  Most of them were hungry with little resources until school resumes.  The food was distributed after worship service today.  You ladies are our heroes!

Greg and I feel truly blessed to have this opportunity to be in this place at this time.  We covet your prayers as we try to find our "place" in working alongside the leaders here and how to navigate a very different culture.  I am sure we will make many mistakes, but with God and these people who are very forgiving, we will find our way.      

Dirty Laundry

In just over a month my life will change drastically!  Greg and I will be heading to Kisumu, Kenya for three and a half months.  It feels like all of my life God has been preparing me for this stage in my life.  I remember back when my girls were toddlers, I just couldn't understand why God was not "using" me to do something magnificent or do some kind of wonderful works for Him.  What I didn't see was that God was "using" me for the greatest task that could be placed before me and that was to be the mother of two of the most compassionate, caring, spiritual young women that I know.  At that time, all I could see was dirty laundry piling up, toys to be cleaned up, boo boo's to be kissed; boy was I blind!  I was pretty thick-headed.  It took some soul searching to see that my girls were the greatest gift to me and that I could have a tremendous influence for good or bad on their little hearts and souls.  Well, once I got my head right (my heart was there), I knew what I needed to do!  Greg and I became very intentional about raising our girls to love God and love His people.  We made MANY mistakes, but God's grace was certainly way big enough to cover those mistakes. As our girls became teens we wanted them to see that not all of God's people are so blessed to have a roof over their heads, three meals a day and running water. We have been blessed to be a part of a congregation that believes that you should start your kids out young, training them to become "mission-minded"; out of themselves.  So, we went on many trips around the world.  Those were tremendous learning experiences for all of my family!  We learned so much about life, people, cultures, languages and about ourselves. Greg and I knew that one day, Lord willing, we would do missions of some sort on a more regular basis.  


Well, God heard the desires of our heart and that time has come.  Back in my 20's when all I could see was that dirty laundry, I think God was smiling and saying, "Suzy, one day you may just be doing laundry in a bucket, by a creek in some far away land." Or, "Remember those boo boo's that you kissed away, now I want you to kiss away much deeper hurts and pain of children who have not been blessed to have parents."  Was this what God was preparing Greg and I for 30 years later? C.S. Lewis writes, "You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream..."  So, here we go!  We have "lept out on faith" and are headed to Kenya to do the very thing that I believe God was preparing me for and that is to LOVE His people. This is the first post of many I pray, where I can share what God is doing in our lives.  And oh, now our daughters are the ones supporting us emotionally and spirtually as we leave.  My heart is so full, because God has a plan for each of us!  As our girls and their husbands raise their children, I look forward to seeing what God does in their lives as I am rocking on my front porch, whether that is in Atlanta, Kenya or wherever God sends us!