Search for A Kingdom

       After trying to sleep some in our tent, which could be described as a human-sized sardine can, we woke up and hiked toward some mountains in the distance.  We eventually ran into a large river, which we later identified as the Nile, and could go no further.  We began our hike back to the road and after about half an hour some dark clouds rolled to a halt above us before opening up into a powerful thunderstorm.  In the midst of this downpour we came across an old farmer who directed us to a path that would lead to the road.  After giving him a couple of our machetes as a thank you, we headed to the road.  After waiting a little bit we landed a sweet ride that was headed all the way back to Kampala.  Better yet, they were late so they would be driving pretty fast.  We hopped in the back of the truck were greeted by three more smiling Africans who were also riding in the back.  They were quite suprised that we would be their new traveling companions. The ride home is something that words cannot fully describe and photographs cannot entirely illustrate.  However we will give our best attempt at trying to convey what  we feel were glimpses of the kingdom of heaven. 

       The truck took off and began driving down the bumpy dirt road.  For about 30 minutes we sat on the floor of the flatbed, getting pounded by every bump in the road.  A few times we hit a pot-hole or jut in the road going 40 or 50 mph resulting in a foot or two of air before landing back on our rear-ends on the truck.  Felt like what I imagined being body slammed by a full-grown man would feel like.  After a couple of those brutal instances we transitioned to sitting on our packs.  This too was pretty brutal so Andrew decided to stand up and hold onto the side.  We saw that while unorthodox, this may in fact be the best and most comfortable way to ride back.  So we stood for the next few hours.  At this point the blank canvas that was the sky before the storm was stained with a plethora of colors originating from the sun setting behind the mountains in the distance.  This scene screamed Romans 1 where it says “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” (v.20)  This was something  in this world but too vivid and majestic to be of this world.  A glimpse of something greater. 

       As we traveled on we watched as African children would run out of their huts to the side of the road and frantically wave at us.  Men and women walking down the road and see us standing on the back of this speeding truck and initially be quite puzzled.  As we drive by we would flash a quick smile or wave and their face would completely light up, leaving us smiling more than before.  It was crazy to think of how different these rural village people were, half a world away, different language, but a smile is universal.  A realization of how complex yet simple humanity is.  Another one of those glimpses.    

       We live in a broken and imperfect world where we dont have all the answers.  We werent designed to be able to know everything.  Thats what these little pieces or realizations, however complete or incomplete, of something greater than ourselves are so important.

       Because while these may be only glimpses, sometimes a glimpse is all thats needed to remind you who deserves all the glory. 

Africa Team

-L4L

Cliche Africa

Before I came here, everyone kept telling me, “Don’t go with any expectations.” So I tried my hardest not to. All I had ever heard about Africa was the cliche, stereotypical things. So I figured this advice was most applicable to me because I probably had a very ignorant and closed-minded view. 

I spoke to the friends of mine often that had just gotten back from Kampala, Uganda (the country next door to Kenya) and asked questions about the culture, what was appropriate to wear, and what I should and should not do to be most loving to these people. I was surprised to hear of ATM machines and other western culture ideas that were very prevalent in this city. I began to ask God to prepare my heart by removing any ignorant thoughts or misconceptions so that I could serve effectively and, at the same time, not be offensive. I was under the impression that this area of the neighboring country had to be similar.

Flash forward. 

For the next little bit of my life, I will live at this camp in South Horr, Kenya. In order to get here, I drove through the real-life version of Lion King. I have seen more goats, camels, and donkeys than I care to mention. I live in a cement hut with a straw roof and no electricity. I wash in dirty, cold water that literally stops working about 5 times each time I try to shower. I do everything outside except sleep: eat, shower, wash my hands, use the bathroom, brush my teeth, even cook (when Natalina and the other ladies let me help). What’s more mind boggling is that I am falling in love with these living conditions and the people I am living among. 

I live among the Samburu tribe. About 50% of these people wear Westernized (or “normal” as ‘ignorant me’ used to say) clothes, and the rest wear traditional tribal attire. The women have little to no hair and the men mostly have long red hair or short hair with red paint around their heads and shoulders. The men wear wraps and beaded straps around their chest. The women wear BEAUTIFUL colored wraps and many beaded wire necklaces around their necks. Yesterday, I attended the last part of a 2 day Smburu wedding ceremony among these people. This didn’t include the cow slaughtering that I missed or the drinking of the goat blood (true story). There was cliche African chanting, cliche African dancing, and even the occasional cliche African topless woman. 

Every child that I see seems to have been hand plucked from a Christian Children’s Fund commercial. Very few wear shoes, many at the wedding ceremony were naked or only wearing a shirt. Although the children that live here at the camp (which is open and free for all members of this tribe which means that any given morning I will eat breakfast next to a decked out Samburu warrior) are wearing a full outfit, the poverty is still very prevalent. Again - cliche.

This morning, Stakwell took us to church (In Africa - “chach”). I entered a covered area with cement floors and waist-high walls (which is preferable because of the breeze and the breath-taking view of the Samburu hills surrounding us). We, a group of white Americans, entered and sat down. A few people that worked at the camp entered closely behind us speaking to us in broken English. Then a handful of the tribal women and warriors entered as well in their beautiful, unmistakable attire. Stakwell’s friend initiated the service and led most of it. The entire service, with the exception of our introductions and greetings which was translated, was in Samburu. I figured out after a few minutes that “Jessu” is Samburu for Jesus as it was the subject of many songs, chants, and parts of the sermon. I have never felt so moved. 

Our God is so awesome that he used Stakwell, a native of the Samburu tribe and non-believer until he was in secondary school, to bring Christ to this unknown corner of the earth. This cliche idea of Africa that we think is outdated and no longer existing. The same God that I have worshipped my whole life in a Southern Baptist Church in Wayne County is being worshipped on the same day of the week, 7 hours earlier, by people that I thought only existed in legends and history books. 

I could obviously write more but I’m going to save some energy for when I start working with the Special Education program at the school tomorrow (PS - among the tribal children was a young man with Downs Syndrome so I look forward to seeing if he attends school and I will work with him or if he works with his family). I found out that this school has a Special Ed teacher who is Samburu. When I asked Stakwell how developed the program was he replied, “Is Nothing.” I can’t wait to see what God does there. 

Andrew and Ben are great. No need to worry about these guys. They were built for this. Andrew made this statement to me last night, “It’s safer to live in a dangerous place within God’s will, than to sit at home on your sofa out of God’s will.” What encouragement. 

Keep my family back home in your prayers as well. My sister will deliver any day now! (Love you my sissy and I can’t wait to meet Claire)

Erin Gamble

Server of Jessu

Surreal

If there was ever a doubt that God was calling me here, that has been alleviated. There is no way that I would have the kind of peace that I have consistently had otherwise. But now that I have been here for 2 days, that aspect of God's provision has been blown out of the dirty, undrinkable water.

The night that I arrived, I waited for an hour for my luggage which was a blast. The moment I found had my bags, I turned toward the exit and I see Andrew's dread locks sticking out because he made SURE to make himself visible so I wouldn't freak out. He and Ben have taken care of me so well. I am so glad that God chose my first African experience to be with these two amazing men of God. We stayed at a missionary's house in Nairobi that night. Irene and Ken are from the western US. Their house was REALLY nice. It was as if God was saying, "Hey. Erin. I realize that the 23 hour flying time and smelly Nairobi airport was a lot of breaking you in. So here is a super nice place for you to crash the first night." (And by super nice, He means my own room, a real toilet, and WARM WATER)

The next day, we traveled with Stakwell (who likes meat. camel meat.) to Nanyuki which is about 4 hours away. We stayed there for the night at a hotel with no toilet seat. BUT it did have hot water. At this point God was saying, "Ok. this is REAL Africa but this is just your first full day so I will continue to break you in easily." We went to the markets, and to Nakumatt which is like African WalMart. After an interesting night with crappy mosquito nets, we began our journey to South Horr this morning at 6:00. Imagine driving from Raleigh to Florida. Now imagine a 5 seated Land Rover with 3 Americans and 3 Kenyans. Now imagine that only 2 of the 10 hours are on paved roads but the rest is straight through paths with rocks and pot holes. Dusty, dirty pot holes. 

Needless to say we are in South Horr safely and I am learning so much about this culture. I am also learning about God's love for me, Ben and Andrew, and these people I never even knew existed on the other side of the globe. Danielle Vuke prayed that I would have the right emotions that I needed and then reassured me that I "lacked no good thing." I have had such a spirit of contentment since I boarded the plane at RDU. Regardless of my fear of connections (thanks for the prayers for that by the way), regardless of the extreme lack of luxuries that I am used to, regardless of the bugs that were crawling over the china that our breakfast was served on this morning, and regardless of 10 hours in what would be considered in the US "miserable conditions." God is humbling me, educating me, and hopefully, beginning tomorrow (my first day of NO traveling), he will begin to use me in BIG ways at the school and here at the camp. 

Peace and Blessings and thanks SO much to our families, supporters, friends, and all those that keep us in your thoughts and prayers constantly. It is such a comfort and we LOVE YOU:)

Erin Gamble

Mzungu

Erin is in Kenya

Erin Gamble made it safely to Nairobi, Kenya this afternoon.  I think that making all of the connections and finding Andrew and Ben at the airport in Nairobi were two of Erin's biggest concerns, so it is a huge relief to know that everything went well.  I am sure that Erin is exhausted from the trip, but I'll try to get a longer update from the team soon.

Alison
Co-Founder