Homa Bay back to Nairobi

The countryside of Kenya is beautiful with rolling mountains, green everywhere, tea fields, and so on.  As we made our way from Homa Bay (West Kenya) to East Kenya (Nairobi) we passed through Luhya land through several Kissi villages, through the Rift Valley (where we met our Maasai friends.  We have seen so much this week in terms of the different landscapes, the different socio-economic classes, the beautiful tribes and languages, the different types of food consumed here, but overall...overwhelmed by just 2 things.  The first being the overwhelming poverty everywhere in this country.  Sure, there are a few spots of living above the poverty level, but the sheer amount of people living on very little, working so hard and not being able to rise above it, have shaken us.  The second, and more important to us is this...  the heart of God that lives in Kenya.  These people...no matter what tribe or tongue, love God, love each other and have such a sweet spirit about them that we cannot easily understand it.  Even in the midst of a traffic jam, they don't yell at each other, they joke with one another and seem to have a sort of laid back, cooperative Spirit about everything they do.  I believe this to be a reflection of a nation that embraces the teachings of Christ. 

During the riots following the elections last year, the spiritual leaders of Kenya rose up and placed the Tribe of Christ above the individual tribes that exist in Kenya.  I watched as Pastor Peter stood before a Luhya congregation and introduced our driver to them.  Our driver, Martin, is Kikuyu.  He stood before all of them and said that we are all God's children and we all matter to God.  WE are all a part of the tribe of Christ and there is no room for division amongst God's people.  Then he told them how he loved Martin and that Martin was his brother.  This was perfect example of what it looks like when Jesus reigns over the things that would otherwise divide us.  I have seen Christ yet again in Kenya.

On a lighter note...during our 6 hour drive from Homa Bay to Nairobi, we stopped at what I will call a Kenyan version of fast food.  We pulled through the drive through and ordered chicken and Mangos, and Sugar Cane.  The only difference is that this drive through sold live chickens that Peter would have to take home to his family and friends to be cooked there.  Apparently, he ordered the family bucket because he didn't just by one chicken, he bought the value meal of 3 chickens (coo coos as the Kenyans call them).  It was an interesting ride home for the remaining 3 hours as we would occassionally hear the coo coo's squawk at one another from the front seat.  This has been such a great and interesting trip.  I love Kenya and look forward to returning with some of you so that you can experience what we have on this trip.