Planting Seeds

The weeks are counting down. As most of you reading this blog have been following and supporting us since December…well, how can so much time go by so quickly? Maybe you feel like we do scrambling to do years worth of work in such a sort time. Stefan wrote a recent blog talking about the Pastors’ meeting we were so privileged to be part of. It was a step for history in this community and we are really blessed to have been there and able to see God’s mighty hand move very intentionally. On Friday we had a second meeting with them as a follow-up to the first meeting so that we could immediately begin on the foundation set Monday. Chaired by Pastor George, we were happy to see all the “executive members” that were elected to their positions show up and show enthusiasm and vision for this new alliance. That ball is rolling so we look to what else we can do in the short time that is left. The rest of the week was a lot of resting and preparing for a trip to Nairobi to meeting some EMM and KMC (Kenya Mennonite Church) leadership to discuss ways to help and encourage George and the ministry in Chepilat once our team leaves.
With so many great stories just in our rearview I confess this week may seem somewhat bland but be assured God is still moving and teaching. Therefore instead this week I will share about my reflections on the ministry and work in Kenya to-date.

So much of what we have done in Chepilat has been planting seeds. Not a day goes by that we don’t have opportunities to share a portion of Christ with someone and give blessings to those around us. Some days we visit homes, we encourage believers to persevere and hold on to the Hope we always have. Other homes are those of the community that have yet to accept Christ or have fallen from their commitment to God and are plainly struggling to continue through each hour of every day. In between homes and stretches of our walks we encounter conversations with so many people looking for so much from us yet so little for worldly standards and even less in God’s standards. We’ve played soccer with many of the local guys and even started a youth meeting on Tuesday afternoons. The pastor’s alliance has been set and all in all our relationships with so many people seem to be established. All that I’ve said above and all that comes through my mind involves the planting of spiritual seeds. But a nagging thought asks what happens when we leave? What will hold and what seeds have fallen on the rocks or on the dry ground? As I write politicians are resigning from the Kenyan government and rumblings of a divided and frustrated government persist once again. You can bet that the people of this good country are unsettled too. It is just a reminder that things here are not yet resolved and much is yet to be done. The question also nags of what this could mean for Chepilat, will everything we have done and all that has been put in place hold? Will the things hold if and when the waters come crashing down? I ask these things because they are a clear reminder to me of my place. It is my job to plant the seeds of Christ, share them with all that have been placed in my path and sometimes even strengthen them but it is not to grow them. What God asks of us is not force grow anything but only to do what he asks in planting them. When we plant something in a garden, we do it in faith that it will grow into what it should but we have no control over how fast it grows or even how high it grows. That is God’s job and only He will ever see the completed growth through to the end while we see such a minimal portion of it all. I share this as it is a reminded encouragement to me that the work we have done and are doing is not ours to “complete to accomplishment” but only ours to begin. Beginning is where we found the Spirit of God moving in Chepilat and Kenya and beginning is where we will also leave it five months later. God has provided us with the seeds to plant for a plentiful harvest but it is our choice to make and once we decide to, we plant and then move on. No more. Our God is big and His ways are beyond our understanding and as I am reminded of this I reflect on our time so far and I encourage you to not be discouraged as you plant your own seeds but just to trust that God will grow them into exactly what He intended, a creation of His eternal Kingdom. A world of seeds today will mean a harvest tomorrow.
All for His glory,
Colin


Praises:
-A great week with the Chepilat area pastors
-the enthusiasm of church leadership for progress and growth
-safety
-time for rest and relaxation

Requests:
-focus in our final two and one half weeks of ministry in Chepilat
-that God would call someone to Chepilat (missionary)
-success in George's new business proposal
-continued safety and good health
-peace within the Kenyan government