Day of Joy

I got up after not sleeping well. I had not used my sleep aid for the first time since starting on this trip, and I paid for it. So I did not have high expectations for the day.
We were hosted at Lamu covenant church for worship service. We walked 30 minutes in heat through the crowded, narrow streets of this city built in the 1400s by arab slave traders. There are no cars on the island, only donkeys and their droppings. LECC (lamu evangelical covenant church) is a small group of believers (approx 40) in a somewhat persecuted state. The government and islamic community have been inhospitable at times.

In spite of this, we found such joy and life in their worship held in a second grade classroom! These people know poverty and strife, but by knowing their Jesu, they know real joy. We were in awe and were blessed by our time with them. After service, they fed us rice and meat (? Goat). We then walked over sand dunes in the blistering sun to the site of their new building that is being constructed from Manda coral blocks. They have to hold the title to the land in the name of the pastor, or they would not be allowed to purchase it. (yet the muslim calls to prayer ring out loudly from every mosque 5x per day) they are proud that they are able to build their new home.

Pastor john invited the church members to come to our hotel if they needed medical care later in the afternoon. So after some time for Sunday siesta, we held an impromptu medical clinic for 8 folks in the lobby of Stone House to the mild consternation of the owner. It was good that we did this, as these people all had significant needs that we could help address.

Next, we set off for an hour at the beach for some R&R. 25 minutes by slow boat, and we were aground on a sandy beach area famous with European tourists. We swam with our Kenyan friends until what did we see?? 2 camels on the beach! You don't see that everyday! We interacted with them and took pictures before home for dinner and bedtime.

Tomorrow, a travel day to Shangilia orphanage in Western Kenya. We will say farewell to our new friends. But we will take some of their joy with us while at the same time we have magnified it for them. I have observed that that's what tends to happen when we come alongside each other in mutual respect and brotherhood. Joy.