Unexpected Day of Rest

From a journal entry on Ocrober 13th, 2014:

After yesterday's worship at AIC Oreteti Church and Maasai cooking lessons from a twelve year old friend named Raeli, we had a good night's sleep. This morning started out differently than the previous ones. Chase's stomach wasn't feeling great so he took some visits to the cho (a bathroom, essentially an enclosed area with a hole). Benson, a long time friend, graciously offered to take us to the nearest town to get the car inspected. We began having issues the day we arrived here as we drove in sight of our friends' church. After some suggestions were made at the mechanic, we had a cup of chai with Pastor Benson in Kiserian, checked our emails quickly for 16 KSH (about 20 cents) and came back home so that Chase could rest. We suspected that his stomach was cramping due to something he'd eaten the night before. While he rested in our bedroom at our friend Jeremy's house, I read a book called Accidental Missionaries about some missionaries named the Grindolls to the Maasai in the 70s. Inside was a picture of Samuel Pulei, who we learned is our friend Moses Pulei's uncle. The book covered the tensions, joys, and challenges of the developments in the Ooloshoibor area, not far from where we are staying now. There were a number of familiar names and places in the book. The copyright was dated 1990, which seemed weird to me since that's the year I was born. 

After Chase's rest, we went to visit Jeremy's parents who live in the neighboring compound. His father, Sailoji, was dressed in traditional attire with reds shukas covering his chest, cloths draping his body, and beads dangling from his stretched earlobes. His second wife, Maria, was working diligently on beadwork to sell in the Nairobi Maasai market. The colors of her beads, the stark contrast of her beautiful white smile against her perfectly dark skin, captured my attention. I couldn't say much more than a greeting, but I think she knew I was admiring her. We tried our best to explain that we were going to see the sunset. We said "Olesere" (goodbye in Maa) and went on our way. 

As I watched the sun fall behind the mountains over the Rift Valley, a deep comfort filled my spirit. Although we are mourning in some senses the loss of the familiar and our families, friends, and community, God is lavishing us with reminders of his sovereignty, his grace, his faithfulness, and his ability to meet our every need. Emesisi Enkai. (Let us praise God). 

(For pictures showing things I have mentioned in this post, take a look at my last FB post of pictures!)

We're Quick Learners, But Only Because We Make Mistakes

Let's just say that we've learned a lot in these last two weeks...

1. Always bring a razor. By the end of the two weeks, Chase ended up looking like Robinson Crusoe and my new adolescent Kenyan friends were all so astounded by my leg hair. Really, though, people it had probably grown at least a centimeter long. Whoa.

2. Remember or save your Safaricom pin numbers. If not, you will not be able to get into your phone and internet connection when the devices turn off until you get back to Nairobi. Whoops!

3. Have a flashlight handy. You never know when you'll get stranded somewhere because of the downpour and have to walk two miles home in the pouring rain.

4. Egg is not an adequate substitute for cooking oil.

5. You can't light the gas canister without it first being turned on. Just holding a match there won't do the trick. 

6. When a shopping center has a male and female security guard at the door, it is culturally inappropriate to follow Chase into the line with the male security guard. 

7. The passenger's side is on the LEFT. Let me practice saying it so I can remember... it's on the LEFT.

8. NEVER cut a hot chili pepper and then wipe the edge of your nose. In fact, I'm not sure I'm ever cutting one again.

9. Extra water is pretty important. It is good to keep hydrated, if you do not you may overheat, it is also equally important to keep the car hydrated, because if you don't it too will overheat.

10. Don't drink beverages after 6pm. If you do, you'll be forced to go out alone in the dark to the cho  (the bathroom ie. a hole in the ground) in the middle of the night or wake up a grumpy husband to accompany you.

The (Bear) Necessities

Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities, old Mother Nature's recipes
That brings the bare necessities of life

Wherever I wander, wherever I roam. I couldn't be fonder of my big home
The bees are buzzin' in the tree, to make some honey just for me
When you look under the rocks and plants and take a glance at the fancy ants
Then maybe try a few. The bare necessities of life will come to you…
So just try and relax, yeah cool it, Fall apart in my backyard
'Cause let me tell you something little britches
If you act like that bee acts, uh uh, you're working too hard
And don't spend your time lookin' around for something you want that can't be found.
When you find out you can live without it and go along not thinkin' about it
I'll tell you something true, the bare necessities of life will come to you

Look for the bare necessities, the simple bare necessities
Forget about your worries and your strife
I mean the bare necessities, that's why a bear can rest at ease
With just the bare necessities of life

I love this song, I have since I was a child, although I have always found it strange that Baloo was a bear in the jungle where there are not many bears are to be found. On top of that, this bear was singing about the bare necessities, which always gave me a homophonic chuckle.   So I wanted to play on that some today (yes I know I spelled bare wrong in the title) as I myself am struggling with some bare necessities, and noticing what a bear and a burden those can be if one does not bear them correctly.  Still with me?  So if you have just woken up and are on your morning coffee, clicking through your morning tabs, blogs, or emails, you may have to give it a second read, but it will come to you, they’ll come to you…

Over the last few days, through our Kenya preparations, our packing, weaning down to the essentials, and our first couple days in Kenya, I am refocusing and relearning on what the bare essentials are for me.  I have noticed in the last few hours that often the main essentials I focus on back home are only a piece of what I am focusing on here because the others are not as readily met here.  While others struggle with their needs being met in the states, I typically do not.  For I have the basic needs easily met, due to the privileged life I have been blessed with and I am thankful for this.  I have never had to worry about my next meal, nor where I would rest my head, but there are many of those who have and who do.  So I do not write this as “This only happens in Africa”, but rather that I am experiencing a piece of it here. 

I have found myself in the last few days like a laptop.  Traveling for 24+ hours has completely drained my battery to the reserves and I have gone into power save mode.  Being in need of a charge leaves me asking what are my critical functions, and how can I recharge?   To some it may seem obvious we should seek recharging from something or rather Someone above ourselves, but I must admit this was not my first thought or choice after not sleeping for almost two days.  I went straight to embrace of the nearest bed, once I awoke though (I was thinking more clearly) and did what I should have done first, thanking God for where we were and what He has done. 

It has come to my attention, and I believe Fred Foy, David Bevins, Will Brimer, Blake Patrick, and myself were joking about it last time we were in Kenya, that as a man we do not have many needs.  However, two needs that are at the very top are food and sleep.  Without these two I tend to not be as cordial as my normally charming self (ha).  My wife has noticed this too believe me.  Food, sleep, and time with My Creator, I would say, are some of my essentials that are at the top of the list.  Those three also affect my fourth very big essential, which is amplified if those three are not met, which is quiet.  As an introvert, and I am sure many other introverts can attest to my plight, until all my systems are at full operation level (and sometimes not even then) I do not care to talk to another living person.  It takes too much energy to keep up a conversation, and when you are drained, it is not happening. 

As a man, and a married man at that, I have also learned that I tend to hear my wife’s processing (talking out loud) about what is going on around her, as a “to do” list for me or something to fix.  Many of the times it is not meant that way at all, but as a guy that is how it is processed in my male, fix-it, can-do, brain.  This too can cause stress, since there are many things that are new and different that need to be processed by each of us, which means my brain is working overtime fixing things, that do not need, nor or really wanting to be fixed. 

So what are the essentials for me as of now?  Sleep (getting back on a normal routine, making up for lost sleep, and overcoming jet lag.)  Food (again overcoming deprivation and introducing new things to my sensitive wazungu stomach).  Quiet (the need to sit, be still, reflect, pray, and come to my senses.  Not necessarily alone, but in silence.)   I think honestly this is it for me right now, and may be for most.  I think back home I only tend to ever struggle with the need for quiet since the other two are so easily met.  However, they are all needs and are of different importance for others in varied contexts.  Yet when they are drained we re-evaluate and must go straight to our Power Source and begin the recharging process.  Then the bare necessities of life will come to you, they’ll come to you…

Prayers & Preparations

Precious family, friends, partners, and readers. Words simply fail me here. I can't begin to adequately thank each of you for your calls, video chats, kind words, hugs, gifts, encouragement, and faithful prayers as we have prepared for this. You are an active part of this and a VITAL part of this call. By your sending us, you are going WITH us to do this! We are grateful to God for his faithfulness in providing for us and leading us on. We love you all and thank God for you!

"For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body--whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free and we were all given the one Spirit to drink." 1 Corinthians 12:13

The song below has encouraged me as we make this transition. If you're interested, click the link below. I've provided the lyrics to the song too!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_vgsfgy-rsIn the process 

In the process

In the waiting
You're making melodies over me
And your presence
is the promise
For I am a pilgrim on a journey

You will lift my head above the mighty waves
You are able to keep me from stumbling
And in my weakness
you are the strength that comes from within
Good shepherd of my soul
Take my hand and lead me on

You make my footsteps and my path secure
So walking on water is just the beginning
Cause my faith to arise, stand at attention
For You are calling me to greater things

Oh

how I love You
how I love You
You have not forsaken me

Oh
How I love You
how I love You
With you is where I want to be

Making the World a Little Brighter

GO therefore and make disciples of all nations.

The ring of the great commission is always in my ears.  Recently, when talking with friends I heard someone say, “I am glad I am not called to go.  I would much rather pray or give than go.”  Hearing this, I felt myself start to cringe.  Knowing this individual’s heart, I don’t think that it was meant in the way it sounded; however, I feel it is important to use this statement to bring to light a thought that I feel is prevalent in some believers’ minds.

I think some Christians use prayer or giving as an excuse to run away from the great commission.  Not that these are not important and do not play a large part in missions (we, ourselves, could not survive without these two).  Also, I do not aim to offend any of those who are praying or giving towards what God is doing among us in Kenya. We are all a part; it is not us going, others giving, or those praying, but God doing the work in Kenya.  However, I do not think that giving or praying gets an individual out of going- not that going means moving overseas, leaving your family, or going without electricity.  Rather the command GO seems to mean to go into the world and be a light.  The world is a dark and sick place, but it also can be filled with hope.  We are called into every corner of it as a light, be that in the workplace, the marketplace, or overseas.  The call to go is immanent.  You may not have to go far, but you must go nonetheless.  I have seen some of the people I admire most be lights in their places of work, the places they visit, and are lights in everything they do; without ever stepping foot overseas.  

 

This brings us to the original purpose of this post- the things that keep us from going.  Recently I have recognized more and more things in my life that make it harder to go.  Not that I have ever felt like I should not go, however, there are many things that tug at my heart strings and make it hard to let go, and GO to the world.  Family is a huge thing; probably one of the hardest things for Audrey and me is leaving our families for a long period of time and leaving them in God’s hands.  It is not even half as hard as it was for others before us, now that we have new technology, cheap phone rates and skype.  We can still keep in touch and it is only a small sacrifice, but many before us have had to forsake loved ones for the sake of the gospel.  Leaving family is hard; through sickness, disease, old age, and difficulties, we want to be there for the ones we love, and it does not seem to be a bad thing, but it is something that keeps believers from going.  We see this struggle in Luke 14 when Christ says one must be able to put his family second and follow Christ foremost.  

We struggle with other more insignificant things too: work, career, houses, babies, friends, and so on.  What will we do when we return?  Will we be able to have decent jobs?  Do we make a career of missions?  Will we ever be able to retire, if we never have a real job in the states?  Will we be able to buy a house and provide for kids?  Just as with family, we are missing out on our friends’ lives, marriages, holidays, and babies- all the fun milestones that many enjoy.  Will we be able to reintegrate back into society, or will we be (even more so) the weird kids on the block? 

My point is that it is hard to go!  It seems, especially as it grows closer, there are so many things that pop up and entice us not to go, or at least make it more difficult to go.  Also, I do not believe it is any easier to be a light here.  Going into your neighborhood, workplace, or marketplace is just as scary (just in a different way).  Instead of snakes you have social perceptions, instead of malaria you have ostracization.  These are very real fears that keep us from being lights. 

I guess in all of this, my point is that we are all called to go.  No one call is greater than another.  Some are called overseas and some are called nearer to home, but do not let excuses keep you from going and being a light.  Some are called to give, others to pray, some to go overseas, but all are called to be lights of the world.  So be lights to the places that you have been called, be lights in the dark places.  Go unto the world and be lights. 

Hospitality

“Turn to a stranger, take his hand, maybe then you’ll understand” –Jones Street Station

Hospitality, or philoxenia in the Greek (love to strangers), has been a common theme in my life lately. I have never paid much attention to it in the past, but have often been blessed by its appearance in others.   Hospitality seems to be a prominent command appearing throughout scripture; from the qualities that one must look for in church leadership (1 Timothy), to how people were to treat sojourners in a foreign land, as well as helping the poor and needy.  It has often included providing food, lodging, clothing, protection and excess. We see the command in Hebrews “…do not be forgetful to entertain strangers...” It also seems to be the pitfall of Sodom that they “did not consider those in need”.  Christ often commands us to watch out for the widows, orphans and those in need, and those are often whom we see his heart go out to.  Ultimately we see it is all summed up in His great command to love one another. 

Over our journey of fundraising and preparation, I have experienced and been overwhelmed by the hospitality of people in a variety of ways.  Friends, families, and churches have come alongside us financially and in prayer. We have received support from families taking us in while we have been traveling, helping us move, feeding us, listening to us vent, and hearing our concerns.  Individuals have taken time out of their schedule to give us advice and counsel and have put us in contact with people that can enhance our ministry, taught us the language and farming methods, even including how to milk a goat and make cheese.  They have made us prayer quilts, sent us Maasai Bibles, language tools from Kenya, and far exceeded any command to love and show hospitality that I can comprehend.  I have been overwhelmed and surrounded in Christ’s love through them and you. Thank you.

In light of this, hospitality has been ever present on my mind and the topic recently presented itself to me again when I was talking with a good friend and mentor who has worked with the Maasai for many years.  I asked what advice he may have for our ministry over the next couple years and what important things he thought I ought to know about working missions in Kenya. (Some background: I have recently been struggling with how to adapt my culture to better present the gospel and work alongside the Maasai, such as finding a cheap car vs. something that may last longer or what appliances our house may need). He replied, that in his mind, it is important not to live extravagantly and to live contextually.  However, within reason, the little expense we try to save in buying or building is not helpful if it inhibits our ministry.  All the Maasai really notice is “have and have not”.  The mere fact that we have a car or a different house sets us apart and even within their own culture there are many different economic and social levels of Maasai people who have an array of possessions.  He continued to say he did not feel that stressing over these small details was an important part of our ministry or that it ultimately made a large impact in the grand scheme of things. Rather, the most important part of our ministry and the way we could be most effective would be learning the language well and being hospitable to the people we serve.  What kind of neighbors would we be to the Maasai?  Essentially the message was that our hospitality and our love for the people would ultimately cover and overshadow many of the faults and mistakes we will make in our ministry along the way.  The Maasai do not expect us to become Maasai, and often enjoy us for our differences.   Our love defines our ministry. 

This point was later driven home again when I was emailing some missionaries in Kenya about opportunities to work alongside others there.  She wrote this in regards to her journey to assimilate in language and culture, “…I really pushed myself to be uncomfortable and to let go of my culture and my sense of self.  Then God told me He did not expect me to become Maasai.  Christ incarnated himself, and He did it completely.  I don't need to duplicate it.  I am to be who he made me.  That has really blessed me and helped my ministry.  So don't make decisions from a sense of obligation, but really look at what will give you the most long term stability and joy.”

These things have been a blessing in the last couple of weeks in Audrey and my apprehensions about making choices to live a culturally contextual lifestyle with the Maasai in Kenya.  It’s not to say that we shouldn’t live to some degree on a similar standard, but that at the same time we are not expected to become Maasai.  In the book, “This Our Exile” the author speaks of a man who has “gone native”, having the cornrows, garb, weapons, and shoes of the Maasai.  The man asks one of his friends what they thought of this man “going native” and he replied, “Ridiculous…do they (these Americans trying to be Africans) forget who they are?”  I am reminded of this and how no matter how hard I try or uncomfortable I make myself I will never become Maasai. For one, our skin tones contrast greatly and we stick out like an elephant on an escalator.  When we try to completely assimilate, we in some ways deny our culture, which to the Maasai looks and seems ridiculous. We should not become something we are not, and cannot become.  While we should try to be contextually appropriate in our teaching and some ways in our living, we should not deny who we are for this only leads to frustration and exhaustion.  As we try not to westernize others, we should not try to fully Africanize ourselves.  We should embrace the culture of each, growing together in this bicultural community, celebrating the work of Christ which transcends all culture but is expressed through each person uniquely. 

This means daily and intentionally trying to love others and trying to be the good neighbor, as hard as that may be in our individualistic culture.  This means that I will be a part of a whole that is different from myself, but uniquely shaped and reflecting pieces of His glory.  I need to be welcoming, warm, friendly and giving, plus I need to be a prayerful companion, a silent learner, and an embracer. I want to help all who are in need and searching, not always by giving them what they ask for, but by showing them love, His love, in part.  I have been greatly blessed by others and by your hospitality, so I thank you, and thank Him for you and I hope to pass that love on as we make every effort to abide in His love. 

Recent Happenings

Well friends, it's official: we have our departure date set for Saturday, October 4th around 2:30pm leaving from Greenville, SC!

Our journey will begin from Greenville, SC to Washington, DC then from DC to Zurich, Switzerland, and from there to Nairobi, Kenya arriving on October 5th. As much as this news excites me and thrills my heart, I have to say that it's completely nerve wracking too! As we say goodbye to those we love for a time, I am asking God for strength. "The joy of the Lord is my strength and my shield" Pslam 28:7. I am thankful that there are ways to communicate with family and friends, as these ways were not possible even twenty years ago. Please continue to pray for our families as we transition in these next two months. We are humbled and thankful to have so many people supporting us and sending us out. We are still in need of support and have raised 62% of our one time costs and 77% of our continual (yearly, monthly, or quarterly) costs. Please pray for our team members Cecily and Fred Foy Strang as they continue to fundraise. Our desire and hope was to begin our journey together, but we are trusting that God has a plan as our leave date likely differs at this point. Your prayers and love during this life transition phase mean more than we can say!

Now for some updates: As you may know, it has been a whirlwind in the Arndt household the past two weeks. Chase went to a training at the end of June (before we moved) at Equip International that covered farming methods. Here are a couple of photos! You'll have to ask him more about exactly what he was doing. He and Fred Foy are together in the second photo.

We moved at the end of July and were able to spend some time with the Moyer family in Castlewood, VA to learn a little bit about farming. I wondered about the possibility of making goat cheese while living in Kenya, so I had a goat milking lesson and one of the Moyer girls, Joanna, was nice enough to walk me through the process of cheese making. Here's a classic cheesy photo of me and the goat friend (below). I think her name may have been Claire? After a few well deserved chuckles from another one of the Moyer girls, I seemed to get the hang of it. Okay, not completely. But, I tried. It really makes for a great forearm workout. Chase said, "Smile!" and got this glamour shot of one of our new friends.

Chase returned from a well pump training with Equip International in Marion, NC this week and is enjoying some time in the Bristol area with friends. Cecily and I are continuing our second week at a second language acquisition course at the Center for Intercultural Training (CIT) in Union Mills, NC and will return this Friday. We'll be headed to Martinsville for a few days before James and Liza head back to college. Union Mills and Marion are so close that Chase and I were able to get together and celebrate our two year anniversary on August 5, 2014.

Here's a picture of Cecily and me with all of the homework time essentials: hot tea and various delicious snacks. We had just returned home around 3:45 after a full day of language school. It took about five tries before I could figure out how to prop up the camera to take this photo. Chase would be proud of me. I figured out how to do the self timer without any help! Also, there's a sample of our homework below. We've learned an extensive amount of material in a short amount of time. Cecily and I look forward to meeting with a linguistic instructor tomorrow to talk about the particulars of learning some of the sounds in Maa. There are few resources available to us since Maa is an oral language and the Maasai don't read or write using it.

As we finish this week, please continue to pray for us as we learn and develop skills to acquire a second language. The point of this training is to learn ways to to learn languages and develop cultural awareness while doing so. This course has taught us methods and exercises to implement when meeting with our language helpers and beginning a self taught language curriculum. It's a bit overwhelming, but Cecily and I are thankful we're in this together! 

One of my language helpers here at CIT e-mailed the group this verse and it has blessed me. It's from Isaiah 40: 4 and 5: "The Lord has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary with one word. He awakens me morning by morning. He awakens me to listen as a disciple. The Lord God has opened my ear; and I was not disobedient not did I turn back." I am clinging to this truth as I remember the importance and commitment of learning a new language in order to best serve the people I love so much. 

Until next time!

Audrey