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

By Robyn Anderson

I have just returned home from what has been for me probably the most rewarding experience of my life to date. Earlier in the year, Jeannie asked if I was able to join her and Lynn for two weeks during her stay in Kenya. I have always harboured a dream of one-day being able to do some worthwhile work in the service of the Truth overseas however I always felt that there was little that I could contribute. I have no great qualifications such as nursing, or teaching, or for that matter, administration skills however I do enjoy story telling and have taught Sunday school for many years of my life. I was assured that this was, "just the thing" and so my Kenyan adventure began.

Our flight was uneventful as far as flights go and so finally we were descending into Nairobi International Airport. Lynn was able to identify the Game Reserve from the air and we were both surprised with how drought stricken the area seemed to be. Except for the presence of Africa's beautiful "Umbrella Trees", we could have been touching down in any rural Australian town. Immediately, I was aware that we were in a developing country. Some of the faded international flags which moved slightly in the warm air were in tatters. To quote an Australian brother, “They had a form of prosperity but denied the power thereof”. While not feeling threatened I was aware of being somewhat of a "curiosity" as now Lynn and I were in the minority in a crowd of dark skinned, brightly clothed people. The traffic jam leaving the airport was just of foretaste of things to come! Never have I seen such disorder on the roads as lane markings disappeared and three lanes became six, no five and a half, watch out!!! I am not the calmest of passengers, and faith in the driver took on new meaning as we wove our way through the foray of vehicles, motor bikes and hawkers who descend on mass at red lights (which by the way have little meaning on the weekends). If you can acquire a driver's licence in Kenya seems to me you shouldn't have to apply for an international one - you could drive anywhere!

It is quite a drive across town to the home of Bro Jacob's and Sis Edith's home, and so I was able to marvel at the contrasts of large western type warehouses, tall commercial buildings and the smaller business houses with their faded or broken facades and the rusty corrugated roofs. As we moved in and out of business districts the scenery would change to lush green trees and shrubs dotted here and there by the vibrant colours of bougainvillea and other exotic flowers. The roads were paralleled with Kenyans walking or cycling in a steady stream to goodness knows where. For a country, which has a 50 - 60% unemployment rate, I was never able to figure out just where these people were going. With the ever present Matutu's (mini buses for public transport) blaring rap music and horns, people crammed in every available space, the constant stream of pedestrians and animals, Nairobi and for that matter Kenya is a busy place. However, having said that, the traffic seems to be the only aspect of life not effected by the "African Time Syndrome"!

We were the guests of Bro Jacob and Sis Edith for three nights. Tears of joy flooded as we met with Jeannie and Lynn was able to meet again Jacob, Edith, Charles, Lucy, Shadrach and for the first time Baby Andrew.

Sunday morning memorial meeting was a very moving experience for me. Josiah, a young brother from Canada who was travelling with Josh Thurlow and Abbi von Heerden, gave the Bible Class talk before the Memorial Meeting began and Josh was our exhorter. Slowly the dark, tin hall filled with shy brothers and sisters and we were able to join that choir of beautiful voices giving praise to our Lord and our Father. The collection for that morning, if you were able, was to assist the travelling costs of members to and from the meeting! The words of one of the hymns we later sang, certainly took on new meaning - "Count Your Blessings".

We then found that the whole ecclesia were invited to the home of Simon and Shiela who were welcoming the arrival of their first child, a georgeous little girl, Abigail. It is customary to share a meal, give thanks to our Father in prayer and, of course, song. As the guests leave, they tuck a monetary gift into the child's clothing. We drove for ages along the most unbelievable roads, crowded markets and slums. Simon, a teacher and Sheila crowded a large number of us into a room slightly bigger than our bathroom. It was divided by a curtain into a living room and a bedroom. The cooking and washing was done in the communal courtyard below. They consider themselves blessed as they are now on the second floor and feel safe!

Jeannie opted to drive the first leg of our journey to Kamakuywa in order to get a “feel” of the vehicle before her mentor (Josh) left our company. After an amazing packing feat by Josh and prayer we settled back to enjoy the journey, as much as the roads would allow! I was amazed as the country opened up before us. Beautiful plains, distant mountains, people going here, going there and overriding it all the frustration of the lost potential of this country. I was almost breathless as for the first time I gazed on the Great Rift Valley. This enormous scar on the earth’s crust, running as it does from Syria, through Israel into Africa down onto Mozambique. We stopped for photos and while trying to take in the panorama before me my mind drifted to the Scriptures – “And His feet shall stand on that day on the Mount of Olives …and the Mount of Olives will be split in two from east to west… The Lord will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and his name the only name.” In that great upheaval, how will this great valley be affected? I imagined the enormous eruptions that formed it in the first place and shuddered at the thought that it may happen again. We passed acres of hot houses where Lynn informed me flowers for the export market were grown, the burnt out shells of dwellings from last year’s riots and the accompanying tents where people have made their homes while reconstruction takes place.

Excitement grew as we drove up the pot-holed lanes to the home of our hosts. Ready and waiting for us were a group of young people who quickly grouped themselves together and began their “welcome song” for us. It is a stony heart indeed that doesn’t muster a tear or more to hear the beautiful voices in harmony and the joy on their faces. Hugs and handshakes followed as each of them came forward to greet us. Jeannie’s and Lynn’s joy was overwhelming as they explored the improvements at Justus’ and Annette’s shamba. Kimbilio, the home for these young people is a “ Refuge Home “ indeed. It is my prayer that AGAPE and CBM UK will receive the wisdom from our Father and the necessary funds from us to be able to continue the work that has been done. The young people excitedly took us from the girls’ dorm to the boys’ dorm, showing us their individual beds complete with sheets and blankets, mosquito nets and pillows. Separating the two is the communal area where homework is done and is a place just to “hang out” when time permits. Jeannie, with eyes glowing said time and again “Rob, this time last year none of this was here” - almost as though she could not believe the transformation. It is with great joy that we can thank our heavenly Father and those who have worked so tirelessly to make this dream come to fruition. The girls have planted gardens, neatly bordered with diagonal bricks so that,” their home could be pretty.” As if this was not enough we were then taken to “Lela” where again we were welcomed with young voices in song.”Lela” in Swahili means “Caring” and it is a true blessing that we have been given the opportunity to share in the caring of these children. I met Francis, Augustine and Gibson for the first time and as I worked with these men in the days following my admiration for them grew. Francis walks and talks music – I still shake my head in amazement at how quickly he has these children harmonising new songs. His joy at receiving some simple songs on sheet music for the children was unbelievable and in the week that followed, he compiled new stanzas and worked tirelessly with the children to learn their “memory verses” set to music for our concert.

That evening as we sat around the dinner table we were able to put together a programme for the forthcoming fortnight which, more or less, went to plan. As we sat time tabling our activities, once again the sound of the children singing drifted through the open window. It is their daily “treat” to be able to do their Bible readings, followed by half an hour singing before bed! What do they sing? Hymns. Can you imagine how much joy this must give our Father? The routine at Kimbilio seems to run like clockwork. The young people have their individual jobs to do and not once did I see any ill feeling or reticence regarding work. Clothes are hand washed in large bowls much as grandmothers would have used two generations ago, going through wash water through two bowls of rinse water and then onto the line. Although stools have been bought for them to ease the strain on their backs, I think that the girls are finding old habits hard to break. The Dorms are swept and mopped before school each day, toilets cleaned and help is given in the kitchen. The compound and the fowl yard are swept daily – not that that rooster deserves it – I really do wish he could reset his “crowing” clock!

As the children were enjoying a break from school when we arrived, the first week of Sunday School stories went well as we had plenty of time to enjoy lots of different activities. I’m not sure what they made of these two, white, Australian “mammas” talking to each other with socks (puppets) on their hands, but as Annette translated for us, I think they were able enter into the fun of the sessions. Each day we practised songs for our upcoming concert and tried to get the mime of the capture of Jericho down pat! I’m afraid the finale never did quite go to the scriptural record! Jeannie started her sessions with the teenagers on character building and the Godly principles involved with dating, courtship and marriage. These young people have experienced first hand the trauma of AIDS as well as many of this worlds other vices. I was concerned that they would feel uncomfortable discussing such personal subjects, but they are hungry for the knowledge that will equip them against the mistakes made by previous generations. Questions flowed freely and the letter of thanks that Jeannie has received from at least one young man is quite touching. As our time progressed it became apparent that these children have never had coloured pencils with which to draw. We had to show them how they were used. They have no paper on which to do rough draughts for their homework. They don’t know how to use playing cards for Sunday School lessons; skipping ropes were new to many of them. So many of the basic pleasures of childhood have been denied these children in the battle to just survive. The children under the care of Annette, Justus and the administration teams are well off by comparison to the children in the community, still waiting for sponsors to step forward.

As the children recommenced school on the Monday of my second week, my time was free until they returned home of an evening. This enabled me to join Jeannie, Lynn and Justus as they interviewed families on the waiting list for sponsors. This was without doubt, the saddest part of my stay. As we moved from shamba to shamba, the stories varied little. Mothers, siblings, grandmothers trying to feed their children because of the results of AIDS, alcoholism, unemployment or untreated mental illness is devastating to see. Most of these children have been touched by the horror that is AIDS. They have seen their parents die and been left in the unenviable situation of being an orphan in Kenya. There is no government responsibility for these children – only Christian love in response to their situation. “Poverty” to me has a look. It is the blank stare of hopelessness. We saw it time and again in the eyes of adults and children alike. They don’t complain but just sit looking ahead and answer in short, soft voices as though this was of their making and their shame is evident. They have been deprived of almost everything. The only remaining stability being a mud hut. Clothes are often in need of repair and inappropriate for the season, food is in extremely short supply, education, health checks out of the question. It effects the psyche and robs people of their self-esteem. I compared these children to the ones under the care of AGAPE and CBM UK and the difference is outstanding. I will forever be left with the image of a little girl who just sat most of the day at Justus’ compound clutching a dirty cloth bag given to her by AGAPE last year. It contained a lice invested skirt, her only possession other than the tattered dress on her back. Bro and Sis, how do we tell these children that Jesus loves them if we don’t provide the basic necessities of life? I was so thankful when were able to bath her, give her a change of clothes, feed her and shelter her. An old Mamma, chest rife with infection gave thanks to God with arms uplifted when we were able to supply her with a warm bath, clothes from the market, a cup of tea, chapatti and some antibiotics. Would we get that reaction in Australia? I doubt it very much! The joy I felt when Justus told me that this response is not unusual; that when people are helped or even just observe the changes taking place here, they give praise to God. It is something I will not quickly forget.

Our little farewell concert for the brothers and sisters by the children was heart warming as they earnestly gave of their best (even if the residents of Jericho were also rescued with Rabab!). My stay quickly drew to a close and I had to say “Goodbye” to my new friends Bro Justus and Sis Annette. Their hospitality and care for our every need was exceptional. I was comfortable (although drop toilets are challenging), welcome, well fed and from their example I have learnt many lessons in faith and humility. In her gentle way Annette would often respond with a quiet, “If the Lord wills, Robyn”. How that took me back to my childhood to my grandmother’s using the same sentiment! And Justus with his quiet “Robyn, I love children and while I have food on my table, they will have something to eat.” I am certain that the road to this point has not been an easy one. Rarely is our journey a straight line up but this young couple have been faithful to the Lord, they have given the “cup of cold water in his Name” and through faithful persistence I am certain will achieve much more for these unfortunate children.

Brothers and Sisters, it is my hope that you can contribute to AGAPE or CBM UK to assist. Kenya is a beautiful country with enormous potential but because of the corruption, lack of vision and godlessness, people continue to suffer. We have blessings that far exceed our needs. Can you please consider helping to sponsor or donate for these children. If you are unable then please make it your earnest prayer that our Lord’s return is close at hand when “they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid:”