Scripture Reading
2 Corinthians 8:1-5
And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.
Culture Reading
Read in Culture Smart: Kenya, Chapter 2, p. 49-56.
o Kenyans are a modest people. They do not shout. They dress conservatively in terms of body coverage. The colors of their clothing is anything but Western conservative, thought. They tend to dress more formally, even with uniforms at school. Keep in mind that most Kenyans have only a few sets of clothes to wear for everyday life.
o Bribery is a way of life, supplementing meager pay for government officials.
o Poverty is an ever-present problem. Many Kenyans live in poverty, especially in rural areas of inner city slums. Begging is frowned upon, and hard work is considered the best way to avoid hunger.
Devotional Thought
Traveling in Kenya can be a lesson in contrasts. We will be in one of the largest urban centers in the Africa. Nairobi is home to over 4 million people. There are beautiful buildings throughout the city, and you can get lost in the modern feel of it, forgetting that you are right next door to one of the largest safari centers in East Africa. Modern transportation is readily available. Matatus (Kenyan taxi vans), buses, bota botas (motorcycle taxis) and tuk-tuks (three-wheeled and covered motorcycle transport) run rampant throughout the city. Large freeways criss-cross the city, while modern shopping malls and open-air markets dot the landscape. There are major universities throughout the city, along with major temples, mosques, churches, and other places of worship through Nairobi. The wealth of the city is unmistakable.
And yet, tucked away in the city are places of great poverty. The Kibera Slum is one of the largest in the world, containing close to 2.5 million people who represent almost 60% of Nairobi’s total population. It is full of refuges from Somalia and Ethiopia, and it home to some of the poorest Kenyans as well. There are random slums throughout the city as well—often started in open fields or in empty lots. Most of these slums are characterized by a lack of clean water, little or no electrical access, and no public services. Many of the families in these slums live on less than $1 a day.
And we will find ourselves working with Kenyan who have established themselves with some measure of economic security—and yet facing the prospect of financial hardship on a daily basis. Most Kenyans live from field to market to table on a daily basis. Most have food insecurity, and most have suffered illness with no surety of medicine or medical insurance.
As we journey for a brief moment in their lives, let us keep our eyes and ears open. We can marvel at the contrasts we see—but let us be kind and merciful in our observations about their daily circumstances. When they offer food, it will be the best they have—and perhaps all they have. When they offer to spend time with you, they may be giving up personal productivity to do so. When they offer to bless you with a smile, comment, or service, keep in mind that their personal circumstances may be unbelievably difficult. Let us bless our hosts as much as they bless us. Let generosity flow from our thankful hearts.
Reflection and Prayer
·Pray that we will appreciate the sights and sounds of Kenya—and also be gracious in our enjoyment of the experience.
Pray that we will be gracious in the face of strange foods, new experience, different sights and sounds, and unique ways of seeing the world
·Pray that our generosity and service will bless our hosts and their ministries.
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