Tayla Asifiwe

So Taylor got a kid named after him.

There is a young couple living here in Chepolet named Alfio and Mary whom we were introduced to through a very good friend and church member. When we first met Mary in January, she was having complications with her pregnancy and was feeling very sick when we visited their home. We came at the request of our friend Rose, gave a short sermon, prayed over the family and their home, and moved onto the next home. Apparently, after our visit and prayer, this woman's pain went away and didn't return as it had been in the habit of doing.

After this, our presence was very much in demand at this household. We were told that every time we go over to Rose's for lunch or a visit, we are not allowed to return home without visiting Alfio and Mary. Every time we dropped in to say hi on our way home, they'd sit us down, chat with us for awhile and bestow gifts of green vegetables and guavas to eat for dinner. Taylor and I continue to play Football with Alfio and his buddies every Saturday evening. He has even started coming to church, and has been taking on responsibility by helping with administration and leading the service. It's really terribly exciting.

Anyway, Mary's child got around to being born last week and she and her husband decided to name the newborn after one of us, so on Wednesday after lunch we went over for the naming ceremony. First, they put the four names: Stefan, Colin, Taylor and Brook, on individual slips of paper. They then rounded up the baby's older brother, who was completely naked and screaming at the top of his lungs from fear of these white creatures, and had him choose a slip of paper. The word 'Taylor' appeared on that paper that the terrified child chose and from that moment on the little guy was called Taylor.

In other Taylor-related news, some of the drunk men from the town attended our youth meeting at church on Sunday. Because of Taylor's ministry. I'm not sure if its because he's the only one of us who can sport a full beard or because his name is the easiest to say, but every time we walk down the street we're bombarded with children and adults alike shouting greetings to our friend Taylor Sr. There is a group of largely idle men who hang out at the stage where the taxis and buses pick up their passengers. They are there without fail and are usually too drunk to remember any conversations they'll have, but Taylor almost always stops, sometimes much to our annoyance, and he talks to these guys to whom very few people will spare more than a passing glance.

We bought tea for some of these guys at a local hotel on Monday and chatted a bit. Taylor invited them to our youth meeting that we were holding the next day and several of them came. One even abstained from drinking his local brew for the occasion. I preached on the Prodigal Son, a sermon that was defiantly God-inspired and God-led. That meeting was a bit rowdy, but just the fact that we got them into the church was a very exciting step. It showed us and all the town that there is hope for these hopeless young men who appear to be victims of the times.

Colin, Stefan and I are having an impact here too, its just that Taylor's is a bit more exciting and blog-worthy.

Also, Brook was the second choice for the baby's name, I know you were wondering.

Praises
-Stefan has returned to Chepilat after spending a week and a half in Nariobi
-Church members becoming more involved in the services and church business
-We're gonna see some big animals this week (Lord willing)!

Requests
-Endurance and passion as we enter our last month here in Chepilat
-Team unity
-Continued protection in spiritual and physical health