A Short Synopsis of My Experiences Traveling With
Agape in Action in Africa

By Jane Samwell

I arrived in Nairobi the afternoon of June 23rd. The drive to Jacob and Edith’s home was handled with daring and skill by Jeannie, who challenged her right to pass and turn with the best of the chaotic Nairobi traffic. I was very impressed and glad it wasn’t me driving.

We spent 5 nights with Jacob and Edith and their 2 children. It was from their house that we ran the first W@W weekend which officially began Saturday morning and finished with lunch Sunday. There were about 14 sisters present, some having travelled a long way from very poor and drought-stricken areas. They appeared thin, weary and disheartened. Our hearts went out to them. By the end of the weekend with full stomachs, lots of good fellowship and, hopefully, some worthwhile spiritual input, they were much chirpier and left with bus fare and fond farewells. Some had a 5-hour journey ahead of them back to a life of deprivation and hardship.

Early the following Monday morning, Jeannie, Mary and I took off for our drive to Mombasa. Andrew Fotheringham had left Jeannie a Toyota diesel van to use. It is an amazing vehicle, withstanding the terrible roads we needed to use and the large amount of people we crammed into it. Only the tires let us down with 8 punctures while I was there. (I refused to go out and collect children without a male to change the tire if I was faced with another flat!!)

We arrived in Mombasa after an 11-hour trip, which was slow but quite enjoyable. We spent the night with Zakoya and Teresa Mutunga who have a house full of relatives and children but still found very comfortable accommodation for us. We often used their home when we came back to “ the big smoke” and were always made most welcome

That weekend Jeannie and I ran the second W@W gathering, this time for 60 – 75 sisters, young women and little kids. It was crowded but lively with a very positive atmosphere. The 4 studies were around the fruit of the spirit from Galatians 5. Jeannie did the love languages with them for a lighter Saturday night and for recreation many walked down to the sea where they went in the water, regardless of dress. It was the first time for many! To our delight, the sisters sang whenever the mood took them. It was at this weekend that we began to appreciate the beautiful harmonies of the sisters singing and gentle rhythmic movements that accompanied them. We never tired of hearing and watching them.

After the sister’s weekend, after we had stocked up on water and other supermarket necessities, we drove south for an hour towards the Tanzanian border , then west for 50 minutes to an area called Mwandeo. It is green and lush this time of the year with plots of ripening maize between palms, cashew and mango trees. Small herds of precious cows and the ubiquitous goats and chooks were always a part of the scene. Dotted everywhere were modest African farmhouses and the occasional village. Here, and in many neighbouring rural areas, live 300 Christadelphians, many young people and countless children.

It was mainly because of the children that we were there. Many are sponsored by brothers and sisters from western countries through Agape in Action (AinA). One of the tasks of AinA is to make sure these sponsored children enjoy as good a health as possible. Jeannie had volunteered to give the children health checks and take what measures were necessary to get them the appropriate medication if necessary.

We needed the help of Bro Sammy Mutunga to organize this. Bro Sammy is the Agape in Action Rep for the coastal region. He and his wife, Christine are an amazing couple. They have become a much trusted and very caring pair who have the welfare of the brothers and sisters at heart, often spending a lot of time assisting those in need. Mary, Jeannie and I lived with them and the 7 or 8 children also living there, for the 4 weeks I was down there. Their house is on a typical farm (shamba) surrounded by patches of maize ,cows in their bare yard not far from the back door, chooks wandering at will, and all and sundry passing any time of the day. There was always something of interest going on.

We adjusted quite well to the different food and way of living I think, even though it wasn’t easy at times. Water was always difficult as it had to be brought to the house from the river or well in drums on the bullock cart. We were very careful to use as little as possible when (bird) bathing or clothes washing, but I’m sure the Kenyans thought we were extravagant. We drank bottled water that could be bought only in Mombasa. Any thing else was asking for trouble.

Each time we went out to an area to check the children Sammy rang the day before to advise their teachers. They met at the local ecclesial hall. First off Mary and I would check eyes, while Jeannie would do ears. Then the medical technician who had travelled with us ran urine and stool checks as Bilharzia, Malaria and worms are fairly common and need treatment if the child is to have good health. When all the kids had been tested, those with problems would be taken by Jeannie to the local clinic, seen by a nurse and obtain their medication. Fortunately it is supplied free in Kenya and the cost of the visit is not large.

Sometimes we would be out all day if there were many children and the distances great. We didn’t go out every day though as there was preparation to do for our talks and the usual mundane jobs to catch up with.

Jeannie did a series of talks at the sister’s class at Mwandeo , our “home” ecclesia, on parenting, taken from the excellent course “Growing Kids God’s Way”. This aroused much interest, as did her course for the youth titled “No Apologies”, which encourages abstinence among the single young people. Up to 150 youth came from near and (very) far for 5 weekends to attend. Those who travelled Saturday stayed over night at the hall which provided several hours to discuss what they had been taught – and there was a LOT of discussion. We felt this was perhaps the first time the subject had been discussed in such detail with no holds barred.

While Jeannie was using the senior Sunday School slot to run the Sunday session of the course I taught the juniors. As there were about 70 in that class with no resources or material. My methods were limited but we had a worthwhile time looking at people of faith. We sang with gusto, listened well, enjoyed the quizzes and prizes and memorized the Bible verses. Good fun!

While we were there the ecclesia asked us to attend 2 funerals and a wake. Sadly 2 young Christadelphian parents of different families died within 3 weeks of each other. Funerals are huge, with many travelling a long way to attend as well as all the locals including the village headman. They take place on the family’s shamba where there is a designated place for burials. The service includes a lot of music and singing, testimonies and speeches. We were impressed by the care and practical and emotional support shown to the grieving relatives, not only before the funeral but afterwards too. The elders and extended family met for hours with the bereft father in one family working out a solution as to the care of his young family. Sammy often arrived home very late because of pastoral duties like this.

A week and a bit before I was to leave Warren, Jeannie’s husband, arrived with Sue Witton and her friend Bev. Jeannie, especially was very happy to see them as she had been there since April mostly alone. Warren wasn’t given much rest as he was roped in to give talks and lead studies almost from the minute he arrived. His handy man skills were put to good use in inspecting and repairing our trusty van as well as travelling to Godo with 2 local carpenters to make desks and benches for the Agape in Action Nursery School and ecclesial hall.

Sue and Bev had brought 7 donated sewing machines of various vintages as well as kilos of material and all the bits and pieces one needs to sew. They were to run 3 sewing courses a day for 4 weeks for the sisters and young people being supported through Agape in Action’s Atashinda Education Fund, to learn enough to perhaps set up small businesses. They were to begin the day after I left and teachers and students alike were very keen.

It was the last weekend of my stay that we ran the 3rd W@W at the Mwandeo Hall. They told us 200 would attend but I think it was less than that – still a lot of women! As it began Thursday evening and finished Sunday after lunch we had to fill out the program we used for the other two. That wasn’t difficult as several Kenyan sisters are quite capable of speaking and leading, and Jeannie and Sue offered to give a talk too. In addition there were walks, sports, crafts, readings and singing, which were all enjoyed immensely. Time went fast!

That Sunday was my last in Mwandeo and although I was looking forward to moving on it was sad to say goodbye and more of a wrench to leave than I’d thought it would be. I had learnt such a lot about African life, about doing without and about myself! It was an experience I’d not miss; meeting so many keen and faithful sisters especially, working with Jeannie who is a marvel, and experiencing the many kindnesses of Mary who made day-to-day life a bit easier for us.

I had prayed about 2 things especially: that my time there would be profitable and that I wouldn’t get sick. Both prayers were answered (the first according to Jeannie). I also asked for other help, all of which was granted! My faith was strengthened and my zeal increased.

I pray that the Kenyan brothers and sisters continue to live by the spirit, producing its fruit, and that we in the West have the wisdom and will to help them where and how they need it.