New Kenyan friends

I absolutely love Kenyan people. They are so friendly and go out of their way to make you feel like you are the most special visitor that has ever come to the city of Busia. All of it stems from their passionate love for the Lord. Everywhere you go, every person that is around comes and greets you by shaking your hand or giving you a hug. When they make eye contact with you they grin from ear to ear. The worship is absolutely incredible to where you can actually feel the Holy Spirit where ever we are. They dance, sing, jump, shout and cry in praise for the Lord. Church services last over three and a half hours; they just can’t get enough of Jesus.
 
This week we were blessed to be part of the crusades in a village called Matayos. It was in the middle of a dirt road right next to all the markets. People sat on tree stumps, on the ground and on rocks. They always made sure the guests (us) sat in the portable chairs that were there. They embody what it means to put others before yourself. The stage made of wood, and we were blessed to have music and a portable keyboard with microphones so there could be a worship team to be heard throughout the village. As time passed and worship got louder and louder, more and more people would be drawn in and join in worship.
 
I have a friend named Trish, who is part of the church body here in Busia who I met on the first day of arriving here. Ever since I got here she has gone out of her way to have a friendship with me. She comes over and visits the house some days after work and if she doesn’t get to she calls one of the kid’s phones here at the house to reach me to say sorry for not coming by. After church this past Sunday she invited Melina and myself over for lunch. When we got to her house, she immediately went to the market to get fresh food to cook for us. She made us a feast with rice, meat, a spinach dish, ugali, mango, oranges, and cookies. As grateful as we were to share a meal with her that she blessed us with, she was so happy that we came to her house so that she could serve us. That is what the people here do. We have come to serve them, but they just get such great joy in serving us.
 
I was blessed to meet and form friendships with 2 Kenyan teachers. There names are Esther and Caroline. The first day I met them they were teaching me all the African songs and dances. The language barrier was not a problem at all. Since the service was in their native language, Esther kept leaning over and translating the really important parts of the sermon so that I could also hear part of the message. On the second day she brought me 10 bags of cut up and washed sugar cane along with bananas. I remember I had asked her the day before what all the little kids were eating and that I loved the fruit here, so she decided to bless me and the rest of my group and bring these treats for us. On the third day she had my seat all ready to sit right next to her. After we talked for a little while she told me she wanted to show me around the markets. She taught me how to say some things in her language and introduced me to some of the people at the markets. On the last day she brought her only two year old daughter just so that I could meet her. When I was saying bye to her I asked her how I could bless her. She handed me a piece of paper with her address and said to me, “I am just so glad that I have made a new friendship. I would love for you to write me when you get to America and maybe we can see each other again one day. I will be praying for you and for blessings in your life.” My heart melted and I gave her a hug and  felt so loved by a woman I had only known for a few days.