The morning sun was bright and vibrant. Kenya’s winter months
of July and August - typically with dreary overcast mornings and cool temperatures
- was finally giving way to warmth and exhilaration. The gorgeous day beckoned
me outdoors.
Last night, I had scoped out a possible route on Google Earth
and had dutifully printed out three Google maps, piecing them together with
tape.
This was finally my chance. I’d had good intentions over the
past several months, but something else had always come up. It had been exactly
a year since I’d moved to the Hardy area. My sense of curiosity was nagging at
me to explore the neighborhood further.
Some time ago, Kim and I had headed west and explored some
of the area on foot. Our mutual sense of wanderlust took us past Gataka, over
the stream, and into the forest. Carrying a simple sack lunch, we had
thoroughly enjoyed ourselves that day.
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| While on the hike with Kim, October 2011 |
But this time I went alone and I cycled. I left at 10:30,
more than glad to get away from the noise of two fundis (carpenters) installing
the soffits of my newly-constructed house.
My agenda was simple: explore. I had no real destination
or route. Most of the Hardy area is residential, consisting of asphalt roads,
large and immaculately landscaped compounds, several varieties of mature tropical
trees, and what are affectionately called: mansionettes. Like most anyone, I had
basically only ventured out on the main roads. Today I thought I might meander
around a bit on some of the side roads.
Additionally, my map indicated there was a way to reach
Gataka Road going a bit east and then south. From there, I imagined I might
head down the road to Gataka village. Hmm, I decided…. maybe I’ll give that a
try first.
Within five minutes of heading out, I was giddy with
delight; I love adventures and doing something out of the ordinary.
Turning off of Ushirika… I headed south down Twiga. Numerous
times in the past, I had noticed houses off in the distance across the valley. Each
time I had seen it, the view had piqued my curiosity. As I continued past the
junction with Lamwia, I thanked God for simple pleasures. I love following my nose and I love seeing
what’s around the next bend.
I headed east on Koitobos. Neither of these roads are
particularly scenic, but still… it was all new to me. I cycled to the right and past
Giraffe Center on Nyumbi Road. I observed and listened to some interesting
birds as I followed the curve of Kirma Road down to Tumbili.
However, by the time I reached the dead end on Tumbili I
hadn’t seen the road that was to lead to Gataka Road. When I asked a young man working
alongside the lane, he sort of mumbled and gestured that there was a road to
Gataka just ahead going to the right. Once again, I passed by the Maasai guard
lazily sitting in the dirt and wearing the stereotypical red-plaid shuka
(blanket).
The only road I saw was murram (dirt) and it didn’t
appear to be a through road. I continued cycling past the junction with Kirma.
There was a group of four men clustered around a game on the ground, called
Bao in Kenya; it’s considered the oldest game in the world. Two of them were
playing and the other two were observing.
Finding another dead end, I decided maybe it wasn’t so
important to find a way to Gataka. Back-tracking but not quite ready to give up,
I approached two gentlemen walking toward me. Both wore smart-looking sweaters.
After exchanging greetings, I asked, “Do you know if
there’s a way from here to Gataka Road?”
“Sorry, but we’re both new here. This is my first time to
this area and only the second time for my friend. If you continue ahead, to the
third gate on the right, you’ll see an askari (watchman). Ask him; he should
know.”
When I mentioned that I was just out exploring the area,
they amazingly said they were doing the same. I thought that was pretty cool, especially since I don't see curiosity as a common trait among Kenyans.
After finding the
uniformed guard and exchanging greetings, I asked him the same question. “I’m
sorry, but I’m new to this area. I’m just completing two weeks at this job.”
Alas, I decided I would just explore some of the other
roads I’ve never been on in Hardy. Or perhaps I would go head to Gataka Road
via the other direction.
As I headed back uphill to the “Y” junction, so I could
explore Kirma Road, I again spotted the two gentlemen in sweaters. I paused
momentarily to mention that I had been unsuccessful.
After turning around at Kirma’s dead-end, I noticed a
fifth fellow had joined the crowd around the game. Passing Giraffe Center, I took
a left onto Duma Road and again spotted the two gentlemen. They now carried their
sweaters hung over their shoulders, as the sun continued to climb higher in the
sky.
I stopped again to chat with them, asking why they had
chosen to explore this particular area of Nairobi. With a big grin, one of them explained, “We always
hear about Giraffe Center, so today we decided to see what it looked like. We’ve
been told that it’s very expensive to enter, but we came anyway just to see
where it was.”
Both young men are from Kapenguria in West Pokot. When they
asked if I’d ever been there, I mentioned that I’d passed by it on my two
visits to Lodwar and Kakuma Refugee Camp. I further explained that I had once
spent the night there, before dropping down into the Rift Valley to Sigor (a very
obscure and little-known place in the Rift Valley). Not only were they beyond amazed
to find out I’d been there, but they went on to explain that’s their actual
home area!
As is normal, our conversation steered toward where I’m
originally from and why I’m in Kenya.
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| God's special agents: Sikamoi and Isaiah |
“Oh, you’re a missionary,” said the one called Sikamoi. “You
know my friend Isaiah here, his name is from the Bible. In the book of Isaiah -
chapter six and verse eight - it talks about God asking, ‘Who should I send?
Who will go?’ Isaiah’s response was, ‘Here I am. Send me.’ That’s just like
you. You told God you would come to Kenya!”
How amazing that I’ve just met these two guys and suddenly
we’re discussing God’s Word!
Isaiah probed a bit further, “And what type of work do
you do?”
After giving a brief synopsis of what God has called
me to do in Kenya, he very naturally expounded an encouraging word for me.
“It’s good to follow God’s plan for our lives. Someone
like you, coming to live in a foreign culture in obedience to God, it’s not
easy. I know you can go through discouraging times. But God knows all about the
difficult things you’ve experienced. He’s the one that knows why he sent you
here and He’s the one that knows the impact you’re making on people’s lives. You
just keep doing what he told you to do. He’s the one who knows how he’s going
to reward you.”
As Isaiah spoke to me so intently, tears came to my eyes.
I struggled to maintain my composure. Indeed, I have to admit, I do get
discouraged. Lately I had been feeling a bit overwhelmed. It had been a
difficult few months of outflow and my emotional reserve was just about
depleted.
God is so, so amazing! Here was yet another complete
stranger speaking encouragement into my life! How seemingly random it was. There
we stood - the three of us - in the hot sun on the junction of Duma and Nyumbi
Roads in our own little world, oblivious of anything going on around us.
Who would have guessed that on my supposed day of
exploring on my bike, God had this agenda in mind?
Well…. I don’t know if Sikamoi and Isaiah are really
angels - they do, after all, both have email addresses, phones, and Isaiah is
on Facebook - but I ‘entertained’ them nonetheless.
I decided these two guys should not leave Hardy
without seeing the giraffes, so I offered to pay the $2.50 entrance fee for them. I greatly admired their curiosity and the
way they had acted on it!
It was so much fun to watch them take it all in! They
were beyond amazed. I could hardly get Isaiah away from
feeding and petting the giraffes.
After listening to the brief lecture on giraffes, Sikamoi
exclaimed very animatedly, “I’ve seen and heard things today that I’ve never
known in my life! Did you hear that young man say that the heart of a giraffe
can be 15 inches long and can weigh 25 pounds? Ai… and only one hour after a
baby giraffe is born, it can run 58 kilometers per hour! And did you know that
those long necks of theirs have the same number of vertebrae that we short humans
have – only seven? Look at this book where people sign. People come to this
place from all over the world. Have you heard all the different languages being
spoken since we came?”
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| Holding the lower jaw bone of a giraffe |
It was my pleasure to also treat them to biscuits and a soda to round out
our time together. Isaiah told me he’s studying computer programming and
statistics at Kenyatta University, whereas Sikamoi is studying finance and
accounting at Daystar University. What a pleasant diversion it was to meet these two charming young men!
The icing on the cake that day was two energetic British
lads, not more than 12 or 13 years old. They had noticed I was wearing a
cycling vest. Also out on their bikes, we swapped stories of biking events we’ve
done in Kenya. As we parted company, they really wanted me to head out with
them on a rough and rugged trail. Laughing, I told them I’d rather stick with
the tarmac, as I wouldn’t be able to keep up with them. But I have to admit… it
did my 57-year old heart good to have them enthusiastically and sincerely invite me!
What a simply delightful day it had turned out to be!
Meeting Sikamoi and Isaiah wasn’t my first encounter with
a stranger sent by God specifically to encourage me.
In 2003, it was Vidzo at a crowded café, where we shared
a table and chatted over our chai and mandazi. In 2004, it was Kisiangani who
paid me an unannounced visit at my mud hut in the Mtoni area of Matunda. [In
fact, those of you that have my second book, can read about these two
encounters starting on page 82.]
It seems it’s been happening more often in recent months.
There was David Benard at the Webuye District Hospital; Jacob, the teacher on
the matatu between Kitale and Misikhu; and the elderly white Kenyan lady, named
Jenny, at the Kitale airstrip.
The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. - Isaiah 50:4
Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it. - Hebrews 13:2
I was a stranger and you invited me in. - Matthew 25:35
