Walking on Water in Kenya

We have a church at the Open Arms (OA) village that meets in a tent. It started out as just our Open Arms families meeting under a tree, but has expanded to include the surrounding community.

The church has grown tremendously! We cannot fit all of our attendees into one large tent. We are setting up two tents each Sunday, and the children sit on the ground outside until they leave for Sunday school.

We met with the women from the community in July 2013 to ask if they wanted to start a women’s fellowship group. Much to our delight, the group has been meeting regularly the past few months with about 12-25 in attendance. They have been meeting in women's homes.

Recently, we met in a home across the river. It looked like we were walking on water as we crossed the river. The rocks were just below the surface of the water at the top of a wide waterfall (only 2-3 feet drop). It was a great hike as we walked down the hill from the OA village, across the river, and up the hill on the other side until we got to Grace’s house.

Grace lives in a typical mud-walled, tin-roofed house for this area. A hanging cloth serves as the door that separates the sitting room from the kitchen.  (I stifled a chuckle when a chicken walked through the kitchen during the meeting.) Most of the furniture consists of a thin pad on wood slats, and a cloth thrown over top for upholstery. Many houses I have visited in the area are decorated with old calendars on the wall and greeting cards hanging on a string. Some have foil garlands draped randomly on walls or over doors.

Otherwise, it was much like the women’s fellowship I attend in Oregon, USA. We started with the singing of some hymns and praise/worship songs, and then one of the women shared a teaching from the Bible. That was followed by the sharing of prayer needs, and I was asked to say the closing prayer (such an honor my first meeting). A collection was taken to cover the expense of the food. Then the chai (Kenyan tea made with milk, water, some tea leaves, & spices) and mandazis (donuts) appeared. The women enjoyed talking while munching on the treats.  

After a sufficient time of food and conversation, we proceeded back down the hill to walk on water and return to our homes at the Open Arms village.