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Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:37:54 +0300
From: Lisa Stewart <beachplumlisa@bellsouth.net>
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Status:   

There were about 80 pastors, from all over Central Yearly Meeting's 
monthly meetings, gathered in a large stonework church that was built by 
early missionaries approximately 100 years ago. Also on the grounds now 
are several buildings including some schools, a soon-to-be vernacular 
(mother tongue) radio station financed by UNICEF, a soon to be clinic 
and other buildings I cannot remember what for. To get there we took a 
tarmac-badly-in-need-of-repair road and then a dirt road way into the 
country. It blows my mind how these loving, dedicated Quakers live 
without amenities, wear mostly mitumba, and travel for miles by foot and 
public transportation when their church has a function. I did not see 
one "new outfit" nor one automobile. The only car there was the one 
Raymond borrowed to fetch me and take me home. (I must remember to tell 
you about Raymond.)

When I arrived they were in the midst of working on some Bible verses 
and personal inventories of their spiritual lives. Then it was my turn. 
My heart was thumping and my mouth was dry but that passed and I went 
into a comfortable pace. I had prepared well so felt fairly sure about 
what I would say about Quakerism. I no way attempted to cover everything 
so focused on a little each early Quaker history, silent worship, the 
inward Light, meeting for business and the Testimonies. With every 
phrase needing translation into Kiswahili and answering all the 
questions, the total time took 2 1/2hours. Most were attentive and many 
asked some really good questions that indicated an eagerness to learn 
and to understand. I would not be at all surprised if they tried some 
silence now and then and I'm certain they will share with their meetings 
what they learned about early Quakers and Quaker Testimonies. I felt 
they were excited to be able to pinpoint some of what is different and 
unique about Friends. They asked how do we know if someone is born 
again, how do we baptize, do we have special programs, does everyone 
speak at the same time during worship and what do we do about Friends 
falling asleep. I thought all the questions were very good and showed 
keen interest rather than a rejection of what they heard as being weird 
or not right. I had told them how we raise our arms and twist our hands 
when we wanted to clap without making a lot of noise so when I was 
finished they all stood up and did exactly that! It was wonderful and, 
yes, I did get a photo. Before I left some asked about the origin of 
other names of the months and weekdays besides August and July so I 
Googled that and sent it to them today.

In general, I find Africans, Kenyans anyway, highly respectful of 
anything educational and eager for knowledge. One of the women (many had 
on SFWI head scarfs) asked for a copy of my notes and for books on 
Quakerism. I was excited to be able to tell her we are in the process of 
starting to do just that. I see there is a real need here for someone to 
rewrite the Quakerism 101 Curriculum in an an African context. As good 
as it is, the one we use in the U.S. is too oriented toward us Americans 
and doesn't take into account where African Friends are now, how they 
came to be and what is their common religious experience. But the better 
reason for doing this is that the Quakers here want this so much. There 
is a real void to be filled.

When I got home I was totally wiped out. I didn't realize until then how 
nervous I had been about not making a mess of things and had not slept 
past 4:00 am. Today Eden and I both played catch up. James has gone to 
the U.S. to attend a wedding and a college reunion and to take care of 
some business with the rebuilding of their house in Maine that burned 
down at the end of last summer. The family will all reunite when we all 
leave here at the end of June.

Raymond is a young man who works at the Kakamega Orphanage and who drove 
a few of us all around last Feb. during the General Board meetings. He 
noticed that I was upset about how one business session went and became 
rather solicitous. I found him to be exceptionally bright and sensible 
so we struck up a friendship. He calls me his "Mum" and says he is, to 
my children, their "brother from another mother". Raymond is also very 
gifted in computers.  Eden has hired him to be the point man for setting 
up a computer program at the Lugulu Hospital (USAID grant) and she is 
hoping to help him establish himself as the expert in this region on 
hospital computer systems. I do hope things work out for him because he 
truly has gifts for one so young and has such an amazing generous spirit.

Well, now I am finally caught up and am going to make hamburgers for 
supper  - REAL hamburgers. Praise God - no collard greens nor ugali!

Lots of love to everyone. I'm beginning to miss you.
Lisa