Our schedule has slightly changed since our last post. Ann will now be teaching Thursday and Friday and the students will be teaching about purity Sunday after church. These will be great opportunities!
I will let Stephen Husk fill you in on how tutoring and VBS has been going:
On Tuesday we began our children soccer (football) VBS, and our tutoring program. We were very skeptical on how we could teach children who could not understand us but we trusted God and so far the VBS has gone very well. We began VBS with football. The people here have played soccer since a very young age and they are very good. We don't have to take it easy on them because many are better than we are. Unlike many American children they don't cry if they lose or if the ball is taken from them, they are good sports. It is very fun to play with them and build relationships with them. We yell Beet (I dont know how its spelled but that's how it is pronounced) to get them to come to us.
For our lesson, one of us speaks in English and one of the older boys (18-22 years old) translates in Luo. Our first day Milton and Seth translated for us. Milton and Seth are good friends and very good hosts. They enjoy teaching us their language as well as giving us tours of the area. Me and Matt have become very good friends with them and I'm sure the others have as well. We have many stories with them but I wont go into those now. Anyways, Milton and Seth were a gift from God because they are strong Christians and they are very good with the kids. They also know English very well. Ashley taught the first lesson on teamwork. Milton and Seth helped explain to the children how using your God given talents together accomplishes a lot. It reminded me a lot of our mission team and how we are all very gifted in many ways, and we are accomplishing much here in Kenya. The second lesson was taught by Nathan about perseverance. Habakuk translated this time with help from Seth and Milton. It is amazing how these young adults care enough about their village to volunteer their time helping us teach the kids. They could be doing other things but they came to our rescue without us even asking.
The children love our music. We have taught them “Everlasting Love” and “Every Move I Make”. They cant understand what we are singing but they love the motions and they understand the concept. Whenever we jump up and down the children laugh and jump and scream. It really refreshes my soul to see the kids so happy.
Tutoring is also a fun experience. We are teaching the young adults how to type. They know nothing about these computers, but they are so excited to learn. Milton and Seth came into our house yesterday night for dinner and Seth said Milton had been practicing as they did night guard duty. He made such a funny impression and the whole family laughed until tears came. It was a great moment. Anyways the young adults are anxious to learn and very patient with us.
Finally I will explain a little of how Matt, Jay, and I are living. We are staying with a family called the Ogal's. They have welcomed us into their family as their family and we love them. Our living is without electricity, dirt floors, and mud walls. 
It is an interesting experience. Today we washed clothes manually and it was very difficult for us to do. Agatha (our host) says she does it for 4 hours. We are very impressed at how strong their backs are, we get tired after several minutes! We love our family, and I have found their way of living difficult but refreshing. There life is much more simple than ours and there are much less distractions. The family has shown us the love of Jesus every day and I'm learning so much from them.
And right now I am typing this blog as Tom Odhiambo sits next to me. I have just met him today and he is excellent at typing. He is a good friend and I hope to see him more this week. The people here are amazing and I cant wait to share the many great stories when I return home!
Your prayers are working, so keep it up!!
In Christ,
Stephen Husk
Loved your post Stephen! Isn't it amazing how experiencing another culture helps to make our huge world smaller? While learning about the Kenya ways of life you are also learning that we share so much common ground. I would have loved to watch you all play soccer! And, I would also have loved to watch you all teach the songs to the children. Isn't it cool how God uses this common ground as a pathway to ultimately draw people to Him? Just look at all the life changing experiences you have already encountered after only a few days into the trip. I can't to hear about what happens next!
ReplyDeleteLove to all of you today :)
Awesome write-up Stevie. I'm proud of you! And tell mom she taking some great pictures. I'm praying for all you. (From Mark)
ReplyDeleteWow, it is so great to hear what you are doing in the village. Lifting you all up in prayer.
ReplyDeleteMarcy (mom)