Back to Kenya

"When Jeremiah saw the vision of the presence of God suspended over Babylon as well as over Jerusalem, he realized that he had to give up everything he had ever thought about Israel, about God, about the world. Until that moment, a Jerusalemite, he had been convinced that YHWH shone about Jerusalem alone and for the Jews only. But now, seeing the presence of God poised protectively over Babylon ... he also realized that what he got instead was a God who was greater, a people that was broader, and a world that was holier than he had ever imagined."

"The "other" is the one who teaches us that we are not the whole world. We are only a piece of it waiting for the "Other" to make us more than we were when we began. Alleluia."

These words were written by Rowan Williams and Joan Chittister, from their book, For All That Has Been, Thanks (Growing a Sense of Gratitude)

"The more insignificant your brother, the stronger Jesus comes to the fore." St. Chrysostom.


On our travels in Kenya, Greg and I were given the gift of glimpsing a God who is greater, a people that is broader, and a world that is holier than we had ever imagined.

It happened mostly in Hannah's garden. Hannah is a farmer. At the death of her brother, for whom she had faithfully cared for many years, Hannah received a small piece of land. Through a local partner (the Anglican Church) of CRWRC, she learned about something called conservation gardening. Hannah employed every strategy she could, including using compost and manure instead of expensive fertilizer. She mulched her garden and planted to optimally utilize the land available to her. She told us her plants were not looking "smart" right now because it hadn't rained for 2 weeks and the pipe that sometimes brought water from the city was broken. Despite this, Hannah was very hopeful her garden would flourish - as rain was expected soon and if it didn't come she could now afford to purchase some water if needed. Hannah exuded joy and confidence in what she had accomplished, yet gave the glory and thanks to God. Along with James from CRWRC and Lois from the local partner, Greg and I held hands with Hannah (reminding us that our faith family is broader than we imagined), in the middle of her garden (a place holier than we imagined), and prayed a prayer of thanks to the God who is greater than any of us can imagine.

Hannah sent us off with gifts of produce from her garden. Hospitality beyond measure.

While in Kenya we also met up with Davis Omanyo, other CRWRC staff from Kenya, as well as a friend, Anna Katavi, who works with the Timothy Institute in east and southern Africa.

We are thankful for the work they do and pray that God will continue to smile on each one of them, on Hannah, and on God's image bearers in all of Kenya.

Again, pictures.
1. Before going to Hannah's garden, we sat in on a training for conservation farming.
2.The group was so welcoming and gave gifts of mangos to us.
3. Davis Omanyo works for CRWRC in Uganda. Neland is one of his supporting churches.
4. James Mwangi (CRWRC) and Anna Katavi (Timothy Institute).
5. Hannah and her farm. The picture doesn't do justice to Hannah's garden as it doesn't include the large part that was flourishing the most. Hannah also raises rabbits and chickens to sell in the market.