27 Mar 2025

Thursday Bible Study

Pastor Mercy goes through Deuteronomy with the High School as the Bible Study. A complicated book which she tackles with clarity and solid beginner's theology. After she completed, she asked me to add anything and I added the origins of the phrase "Hallowed be thy Name" as it is directly related to the teachings proscribed to Moses after standing in front of God on Mt. Sinai.

My comments were met with genuine appreciation, and heartfelt affection from hundreds of children here in the dark backwoods of rural Africa. Intelligent, focused and hardworking, once again I am so humbled at the trust placed in me as a guest Chaplain to these minors. As you can see there are hundreds of students in the chapel who for reasons beyond my understanding cannot get enough of the basic teachings I have offered. Their responses nearly overwhelm me. I feel altered within in ways I have yet to define. Maybe upon my return, coming too soon, I will unpack this astounding felt-sense to better understand even myself.

A testimony

This wisdom from Dr. Charles is as concise and clear statement about my motivation for this experience every year. This stories never grow stale, each child transformed by the simple holding environment of love, compassion, patience, careful judgement and prudence is both unique and strikes all those who have the ears to hear and the eyes to see (empathetic awareness/sensitivity)

A walk in the park!

Yes this scene could easily be found anywhere in the world in playgrounds of simple equipment, lots of sand, and a bucket to scup the water.

A wonderful day, busy with writing, documenting and meetings. I met with all the chaplains available to look at the Mully Model Leadership Workshop. Several things were raised: next year start with train the trainers in order to ensure the large class of grade 11s are covered here and in Yatta, ensure new teachers receive the workshop, advance the question about certificates of completion, and more attention to Dr. Charles Secondary students.

Pastor David of Maasai land, whom I have mentioned before is very practical, a strong devotion and has a great realistic intellectual theology about him. He and I have developed significant friendship which we both see as a surprise and even sacred. Thank you David for a meaningful private meeting this afternoon.

I am committed as circumstances allow, to continue serving at MCF. It looks I will need 3.5 weeks in both Ndalani and Yatta, about half a week at dr. Charles School. Two Sundays each at Ndalani and Yatta, one Sunday at Dr. Charles. Possible to enjoy a four or five day visit to Maasai Land as suggested by Pastor David. I should keep a week aside for debrief and closure at Ndalani and 6 days for Nairobi Mathere Valley Slum and Riara Ridge/Banana. That is 11 weeks, and I am allowed in Kenya for maximum of 12 weeks.

I shall discuss this with Dr. Charles/Ndondo to initiate the visit of 2026.

Alas, I am unlikely to meet Dr. Charles again this trip, and remain hopeful for an in person debrief with Ndondo and her husband. I am not convinced this debrief will take place as this top level lead a frenetic and focused work life, and I am a very minor player in the scheme of things in this complicated and heavily active Mully Children's Family.

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