16 days until Ryan's return ...

Desert Wanderings
7/20/2007 By: Rebecca, Leader

Yesterday our team got an amazing opportunity to go minister to a group of men who live in the bush outside of Eburru. We drove for about an hour, turning onto smaller and smaller dirt roads until we no longer had a road to follow. We were guided through the grass until it became impossible to drive our mutatus, at which point we set out walking.

We arrived to a clearing where a group of men had gathered to wait for us. As we approached them, the sight became more and more overwhelming. About 25 men were sitting there, ranging from 17 to 77 years old. They were all wearing clothes that were shredded apart and carrying large pombes, which are grass slashing knives (with other purposes as well I am sure.)

We made our introductions (via translators)and then began in a time of praise and prayer, drimes, which are musical dramas, and preaching. We then broke up into small groups for more specific conversation. These men seemed to be warming up to us, and before we knew it, they were leading us down a 3 mile trail to show us their homes! It was humbling for us to embark upon the road they had traveled just to meet with us.

We walked for over an hour over the most rugged and sharp volcanic rocks, twisting and turning through thorny bushes and tall grass. They showed us their huts, and even took us to visit a man who had made a small home on the side of a cave.

Being amongst these ragged and torn men in the blazing sun is perhaps one of the most confrontational moments I have experienced on this trip. They have no steady water source, eat bitter berries and baboons, and live in a world where if they are not shut tight into their homes by dark, they will most likely be killed by leapords. The fact that there is not a church within feasable traveling distance, which for a Kenyan is a wide range, would seem to be the least of their problems. But sitting amongst them, our hearts burned to give them fellowship, prayer, and the Word of God. Their eagerness for our meek offering of fellowship was inspiring. This coming Wednesday we are going to bring these men to our camp for a day of fellowship, teachings and eating together. We are also going to give them care packages of clothes, water, food and Bibles to take home. We are all looking forward to seeing them again.

We are wrapping up our ministries here, but with the mindset of finishing strong. We have just about a week left before we head to debrief and then home. I am beginning to wonder where the time has gone! We would love it if you would keep these coming weeks in your prayers as we have our last encounters with those who have become so dear to us. Thanks for you love and support!