Praxis Kenya 2008

On Monday evening, we said good-bye to the Kenya Praxis team after a busy three weeks of learning together about integral mission with the African Christian Church and Schools (ACC&S) and The Africa Brotherhood Church (ABC). During this last week, we shared much of our time with the work of the ABC in rolling hill country of Ukumboni.

Along with learning, we enjoyed a lot of laughter and bonding within the team. Anyone from Atlantic Canada has probably heard of Moncton, New Brunswick's "magnetic hill": This photo was taken on a similar hillside in Machacos, Kenya. It is very impressive to see water seemingly flow up hill! The local people tell us that the hill is bewitched.

Women from a Guardians of Hope group living in the semi-arid country side of Kibwezi shared a day with us at the ABC Kibwezi farm. Together they have improved food security in their community and built a clinic. During our time with them, we had the honour of listening to their stories, songs and taking part in a naming ceremony where we were given Kikamba names. Each member of the team took turns introducing themselves and the Guardians in turn entered into a great debate over what each of us should be called. Erica was named "Muthoki" which means "a visitor who stays with us and becomes a part of the village". Aaron was named "Mwebdwa" which means "beloved one".

Water projects like this have brought life to once dry and desolate parts of Kenya. While we were visiting this newest weir, we saw children, cattle and a group of youth coming to use the rain water held in this catchment.

The Praxis group standing over a dry weir on the Kibwezi farm. Fortunately, when the water drys up here, the ABC church has been able to pump water from the nearby river to irrigate the fifty acres of crops that make up the farm. Interestingly, every pastor must spend part of their theological education here on the Kibwezi farm learning about sustainable agriculture and development.