ON TO KITALE

Throw-back Tuesday

I woke in Nairobi to a cool, gentle rain. It would have been a perfect day to open the patio doors, pull the covers back up and do one final battle with the last bits of jet lag. But, today is a travel day. A short flight up to Eldoret and then the dreaded Kenyan roads from Eldoret to Kitale. It is only 78 kilometers, but the trip will take at least two hours. An inexperienced driver will destroy the vehicle’s suspension and finish off the few functional discs that still work in my back.

As Jospeh, my up-country driver today, awfully dodged wheel barrow sized potholes, I thought back to days when there were no short flights up country. Then, the drive was from Nairobi. 8-10 of pure punishment. I am so thankful that Kenya’s development has brought the addition of some local airlines. For a while I could fly direct into the small air strip in Kitale. But, the airline servicing Kitale became totally unreliable. If their passenger load did not make them a profit, they simply cancel the flight leaving you standing in Nairobi with no recourse. Travel is always the “fly in the ointment that sends forth the stinking savor…” (credit to
Jeremiah).

The gift of hospitality

Richard and Hellen have that gift in spades!

The Rehema house has become my ministry headquarters and my personal refuge for all my work in Kenya.

Richard and Hellen took the gift the Lord provided of a mid 1900’s English estate on the edge of town and have developed it into a 4 star guest house. The rooms are clean. Unlimited hot water. Good wifi, by Kenyan standards. And now, a beautiful three story conference center which we will utilize next week when our pastor arrive for the conference.

But tonight, I have it to myself. Just the rain and a few birds that need to make one final statement before they give it up for their evening perch.

Hellen grabbed family photos from Teresa’s Facebook and had them enlarged on canvas. They are scattered around the room and decorate the hallway and reception landing outside my room (where I meet with visiting local pastors.)

A spacious shower with ample hotter may be my favorite thing at Rehema House. But, the garden views from the old metal frame windows where I shave run a close second.

To put it simply…I ain’t suffering for Jesus when I am at the Rehema House.

We are headed to Mount Elgon today. The shower, the view, and the serenade from the late afternoon birds will be welcome. I usually have a lot of Mount Elgon to wash off and a lot of thoughts and visuals to process from the day.