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.

Praxis Kenya

Back row: Gumer (TSW Bolivia), teacher from Garissa school, Malcolm, Joseph G., Joseph M., Heather, Kristen, Dawson, Samuel, Michael, Beth, Rose, Leona, Yatanni, Claudia, Christine.

Front row: Mary, Candice, Craig, Erica, Aaron, Carolyn, Rukiya (school head mistress) and students from the Garissa school project.

We have reached the half way mark in our time with the Kenya Praxis group. We returned to Nairobi from a dusty wind swept Garissa in Kenya's Northeast Province with this intrepid team of graduate students (8 selected from across Canada, 4 from the African Bortherhood Church and 4 from the African Christian Church and Schools). Together we have been learning about Intergal mission, first through a course taught by Prof. Rupen Das of Humber College, Toronto, and now through two weeks of practical experiences in CBM's three strategic areas of ministry within Kenya.

During our visit to NEP, the praxis students were introduced to Somali ministry. Our Somali friend Muhammad shared his own faith journey and helped orientate to "what it means to be a Muslim". The Praxis participants also taught morning classes at a local primary school which The Sharing Way has been partnering. The school cares for over 230 orphans and vulnerable children living within the town of Garissa. Rukiya founded the school with a group of fifteen Somali mothers and grandmothers who came together to find ways to protect and provide for the most vulnerable children in their community.

We will return to Somali ministry on Thursday as the group shares in a project at the Eastleigh Community Centre where we serve. Today, our African team leader, Malcolm Card, brought the group to Thika to meet with the Moderator of the ACC&S, Dr. Julius Karanja, and to introduce them to the work of the ACC&S Bible School.

Please keep this group in your prayers: while one of the Canadians has recovered well from illness, Erica has needed to take three of the Kenyan participants to clinics over the past few days due to malaria. We pray that the Lord will give them strength and that he will guard us all from illness.