Grasshopper Snack
By James Taylor | June 15, 2009
Wednesday 6/10/09
Wednesday afternoon we continued our preparations for Mazeras and loaded the truck up. Silas, Moses, and I ran to town and picked up some Bibles that we had sent in from
Silas was completely lost in it all and bored out of his mind. He did get some excitement watching the squirrel size rats run around the top of the walls and a spider that danced under my chair. He was a trooper I am glad he came to be a part of the meeting.
When we returned William Karisa passed by to talk to me before heading back to Singuaya. He had not eaten so he ate supper with us before leaving I knew he had not eaten and probably would not if he did not eat with us. He and Mama Faith seem to be doing well in Singuaya.
Thursday 6/11/09
Early morning I did some more studying and the final preparations for our departure to Mazeras. We headed out at about 8:30am. When we arrived at Mazeras we passed by the primary school and gave the Class 7-8 English New Testaments. We did not have enough the last trip so we brought them with us this time. We also gave the class 6 Swahili John and Romans and gave the teachers English NT. The English NT came from the FISH Ministry in
When we arrived at Juma's place we greeted everyone and then went to setting up our tents. We put our tents inside Juma's unfinished house. They are really close to finishing the house but it still lacks a little on the roof. Once we were set up we all sat down for lunch of sukuma and ugali. It was Silas' first official village meal and he did great eating with his hands. While we were eating Salim asked me about Nicodemus and the second birth. As we ate we talked about what it was and about the second death and how it all fit together. It was great. I love to hear Salim's questions they are so sincere and with a desire to understand. Salim told us he would not be with us on Friday because he had to go to a seminar all day but would be back on Friday. We worked on a teaching schedule and plan all together.
Juma's dad was not there when we arrived he had gotten some work in town for the next few days so we did not get to see him much but he was there in the evenings. After lunch and our planning we sat down for a time of teaching with those that were there. We just took time to answer any questions. We spoke more on what it meant to be born again and about what John the Baptist was talking about when he said the one after him would baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire. It was a great time of teaching. There was a lady who came from one of the Pentecostal churches close by who was really pushing the questions about the Holy Spirit. When we finished teaching the Pentecostal laid said why don't we sing and jump and play a little before the teaching? I replied that if she wanted to jump and play she could do that with her children before she came but to worship the Lord in song was not bad but we just were using all our time on teaching. I honestly prayed after we dispersed that the Lord would not bring her back. The folks that we have been working with do not need confusion that someone like her could bring.
Moses, Silas, Juma, and I went for a long walk down and around the river, just to get out a little and say hi to folks along the way. We also were seeing Jacob off. He lives on the other side of the river valley. He and his wife Mwaka were saved during one of our meetings and he asked us to come to their place next time we came so the folks there could hear the preaching. We told him good-bye and continued walking along the river. It was really nice. The river is still low even though we are in the rain season but there is still much activity by the river with people getting sand and rocks out. Also we saw the little shacks where ladies and children use hammers to make gravel out of the big rocks to sell. When we got back we greeted Juma's dad who was glad to see us and very tired. With the rains coming everyone is working in the shamba's (farmland). Juma's dad is getting up early and working in the shamba and then going and working all day as a casual laborer. He is a good man and a hard worker. That first night he was beat!
We all ate supper together. We had beans and rice. Silas was introduced to the village portions of food. He did his best to finish his but just could not. It was funny to see him try. After we ate we visited a bit by the light of the lantern. We also talked a bit about the meeting with Mama Naomi to see what Juma's dad would advise to do next. Oh and while we were eating we were attacked savagely by grasshoppers and all sorts of bugs. Juma told us that the grasshoppers were mboga (vegetables). I said, “you eat them?” He said that children love to catch them and eat them. I told him that I would have to try them if they got some. When we all got settled and finished visiting we gathered all together and Moses read the story of Daniel and the lions den and made some comments. When we finished we called it a night.
Friday 6/12/09
We got up Friday to find that it was raining and would continue throughout the morning. We had Breakfast in a little room that had been added on the front of Juma's parents house to house the goats and chickens at night. They swept it out before we ate inside. We had chapattis and hot tea. It was so good. Silas ate several Chapattis because when he would finish one Juma would add another one. He told us later he learned that the faster you eat the more you get. We just laughed and told him he was catching on. Titus joined us for breakfast soaking wet. He was working in his shamba and passed by to see what time we would be teaching. It was good to see him he is really eager to learn since he got saved. It rained most of the morning so we could not go out and invite folks to study with us as we had hoped. So we used the morning to study and rest a little. We did walk up to the school to try and get a letter for Juma that he needs to get an ID card.
When we returned from the school we noticed some of the children out in the field collecting Grasshoppers. They were like little hunter carrying their spoils on a grasshopper stringer. Juma said they were getting them to have for lunch. I went and talked to one of the little girls and asked her how she would cook them? She said they take off the legs and the wings then fry them in oil and salt. I told her when she fried hers to bring me one to taste she giggled and said she would.
We had ugali and Beans for lunch. When they put Silas' ugali in front of him he said, "Are we sharing this?" to which we just laughed. Silas is a tall drink of water but even at our house he did not eat a lot so the portions were a bit much for him. He did great eating beans with ugali with no spoon!
After lunch we gathered together for some teaching. We had slim pickings due to the rains and shamba work but we went ahead for those who showed up. I asked Silas to teach a little and introduce himself. Moses translated for him. Silas did good but is still getting used to using a translator and having your thoughts broken up. He did a good job for his first time to share. As he gets more used to things he will be more comfortable but I was glad he agreed to speak.
About the time Silas finished we could see that the rain was close and we needed to head for cover. So we went to the little chicken/goat pen again. We all squeezed in and started our lessons on Baptism. Moses and I switched back and forth on teaching and taught for a couple hours. Thankfully in the middle of the teaching we were able to return outside when the rain passed. We had a few more join as time went on. We finished teaching about 5:30 so the mamas could go do their work.
The children brought us some Nyoa (fried grasshoppers in Kiduruma)so of course we all tried them! I ate a couple, Silas ate a couple, Moses tried one, and Juma put them away! That guy and the kids were eating them like they were corn nuts. After we got finished with our snack we went for a walk again to see Juma's families land. It was nice to get out and stretch our legs and see the area a bit.
When we returned it was supper time. We had beans and rice with the optional nyoa(Fried grasshopper) side dish. We visited after we ate and Juma's dad told us what he thought was best to do with Mama Naomi. He wanted Juma's mama to return with us and for Juma, Moses, and mama to go see Mama Naomi on Sunday afternoon. He wrote a letter and gave it to Juma and everyone discussed the issue again and settled on the plan. We all gathered around the lantern again to listen to the Exodus story before going to bed.
Silas and I bathed before we went to bed. It was COLD out and the water matched the climate. We, one by one, went into the grass walled area with rocks on the ground to bathe. We were armed with a basin and our soap. I mounted the flashlight to the side of the grass wall and got my self clean. When I poured the water over my head to rinse the shampoo out it literally took my breath away! Once I finished bathing I realized I did not have a towel so I had to use my pants I was wearing to dry off, but I was at least clean. When I finished I told Silas the water was warm and ready for him. I think his experience was a lot like mine judging by the comment he made later when we got home that the shower he had after being in the village was the best shower in his life!
Saturday 6/13/09
After we tore down our camp we had another good chapatti Breakfast. We walked back up to the school and got the letter that Juma needed for his ID card and then returned to continue teaching. Moses and I taught a couple more hours and then closed out with questions. Salim was back with us so it was good to see him. He read the lessons he missed while we walked up to the school so he was on task when we started the new lessons. Before we started teaching Juma's mama asked if we would eat lunch or not because if we ate she needed to cook. I told her we did not need lunch and besides Silas had already said he did not want any lunch because they had already stuffed him.
When we finished teaching we started saying our goodbyes and making plans for a return visit. We plan to come back in a week and a half or so to spend a day and bring our families to greet everyone and make plans for another meeting next month. I also spoke to Salim about starting to meet on Sunday's using some lessons that we would leave with them. He said that would be great! I told him we would talk more and I would bring the books when we come for the day visit. I want to talk to Juma's dad also about them meeting on Sundays. We are moving slowly forward with the folks in Mazeras and God is blessing. This trip was not all I would like to have seen it be but that is due to all the shamba work and rains. Praise the Lord the rains came and there is going to be a harvest! It was still a great trip and we made some good progress. Continue to pray for this work and the Lord's direction.
We left Mazeras and hit a killer traffic jam in Mombassa but finally made it out. We dropped off Juma's mama in Temboni and finally made it to the house.
Sunday 6/14/09
We had a great service on Sunday with some visitors and Favor was back with us. It was good to see everyone. I preached on being still with God in the midst of trials, stresses, trying of the Lord, and everyday struggles. It went well. After the services we had a meeting to discuss a few things and about starting our evening studies next week.
After church we had ten kids come to our house to play along with William Nge. He and I have been trying to get together for awhile but keep missing one another so I invited him to the house for lunch after church so we could finally meet. He is doing good and making good progress in his growth there is really one issue that is really disturbing him but I think we have a plan to help him with that. I look for him to be baptized in the next few weeks and join the church.
When lunch was ready we sent all the kids home except Godfry's little boy who stayed and ate lunch with us. After lunch Silas and I visited with William a little. It was good because William likes to use English, he is the high school physics teacher. Silas enjoyed being able to know what was going on for a change. After William left Silas and I talked a little about the trip to Mazeras and about how he was doing. He is handling things good. He is having a little bit of culture shock but nothing abnormal. While Silas and I met
After our evening service we had supper. Juma passed by and shared with me about his meeting with mama Naomi. He was really happy how it all went. Things are starting to look up in that whole situation. I am glad for Juma. He is to return on Monday to see how Mama Naomi's clinic went that she has.
6/15/09
Today has been a rainy day. We slept in today and it was really nice. Once we were up and going I visited with Gertrude a little about the translating she is doing and about how Sunday's message went linguistically. I also had a good visit with Moses about the Mazeras trip, ministry in general, and doing counseling with Ricklynn and Mama Esther. Moses really is doing great. I also was able to get some good Bible reading in this morning. Silas got up at around noon and said he had been sick all night with a migraine and could not sleep. He tried to eat some lunch but just went back to bed after taking some Tylenol. Pray for him that he will get to feeling better. I have spent the afternoon typing this report and doing emails. I did get an email back from the doctor in