Who Do We Look to for Change?

There is a lot of frustration among our island friends and neighbors. They don’t like what has been happening in their country. They don’t think it’s right, but at the same time we sense in many a resignation settling in. They don’t know where to look to for change.

Our beautiful island home

We recently finished watching a mini-series documentary on the Civil Rights Movement in the US. So at our last English Club, we highlighted Martin Luther King Jr’s ‘I Have A Dream’ speech and encouraged our club members to practice their English by expressing their dreams, their dreams for their communities, country and the world. We heard some beautiful dreams, big dreams. But sadly, it seems like most islanders don’t really feel like those dreams will happen. Most don’t think that change is really possible here.

One friend just today kept telling me that it would take a foreigner coming in and taking over for there to be change here. She said that those in power are too strong and rich. They had won and there was nothing that the poor islanders could do about it. I told her that realistically, I didn’t think that foreign powers were likely to swoop in and overturn the country.  She agreed, but persisted in saying that’s what they needed here for change to happen.

The Civili Rights documentary that we watched focused on the nonviolent movement, which was full of people who were looking to God and calling on God for change and justice. Now, one wise person once told us that if you start praying to God about something then you better be willing to be part of the solution, because often God responds to our prayers by asking us to do something about it. And similarly, the Civil Rights movement was not passively asking God, it was full of action, but always with the hope in God that love and light would triumph over hate and darkness.  

When I have mentioned looking to God for change, islanders readily agree, but quickly take the conversation in a different direction than what I think of when I think of looking to God. They don’t think about love and light conquering over hate and darkness. Instead, they usually immediately start to talk about God smiting and cursing people, people dying in accidents because of God’s judgment. They look for change to come in the death and downfall of those currently in power,. So they talk about praying to God, but sadly there is a hate and vehemence in their words as they talk about waiting for vengeance to come down from God.

Our English club members discussing

We pray and wait on God, but we also pray that the hate and darkness that pervades so much of the world will not enter our hearts.  We do have beautiful dreams for the islands and the world. Lord, help us to be used of you to spread your light and love.

Martin Luther King Jr:
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
The rains have let up so homes and roads on Clove Island have been able to dry out. The schools reopened and kids were back to school last week. Tom was able to do the bank handover without having to go to the big island! God is good! The medical team was able to come down to the capital and we were able to have time all together for the first time in over a month.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Keep praying for the islands. The courts validated the election results and while people are upset, an increased military presence in the cities has stopped most demonstrations of unrest. We continue to pray that peaceful protest would be allowed and that more islanders would have hope. Two of our island sisters are struggling with health problems that have left them in pain. They are both hoping that surgery won’t be necessary. Pray for their healing, relief from pain, and wisdom about what treatments to pursue. Megan will travel to the plateau to help the team there with local language grammar. Pray that her back would be okay with 5+ hours of riding in taxi buses that she’ll have to do over rain-damaged roads. We have had an increase in people asking us for food— pray that the island economy would improve so that more people could find jobs and be able to reliably feed their families.  Tom will travel on Saturday for some meetings in mainland Africa.  Pray that he would have uneventful travel, including a same-day connection on the big island on Saturday (not always a sure thing even with a long layover). Before Tom leaves, he will say goodbye to one of our teammates who will leave for her home country before he returns— pray that our last time together as a whole team would be good.

Elections

According to a number of news sources, this year is a big year for elections.  Time Magazine’s website says, “Globally, more voters than ever in history will head to the polls as at least 64 countries (plus the European Union)—representing a combined population of about 49% of the people in the world—are meant to hold national elections, the results of which, for many, will prove consequential for years to come."

Campaign parade stopped by our house

Growing up in America, election day was not that big a deal.  People still went to school and work, but the evening was certainly exciting—people watching the news, following the state by state tally.  There were cries of joy and groans of despair.  It was a lot like watching the Superbowl or some other big game.  There were winners and losers, but it did not disrupt normal running of life beyond that day.  No one thought, “Election day today—I better stay home from work tomorrow.”

We’ve lived on the islands long enough now to have experienced a number of elections.  The experience feels very different than in America.  At first it feels akin to the ‘big game’ analogy.  When campaign season arrives, everyone is wearing their party colors.  Campaign music blares, campaign offices pop up all over town, and speeches and parades become commonplace.  People get excited, they dance and chant slogans.  They get free swag—t-shirts and baseball caps with their party candidates on them.  The mood is festive and fun.  

Wearing earplugs to block our campaign noise

But as the day of the election approaches, it stops feeling like everyone is getting ready for the big game and instead it is a lot more like getting ready for a hurricane.  As the election day approaches, everyone starts to get nervous.  Neighbors tell you to start stocking up, as they themselves go to the stores and buy nonperishables.  Elections are coming, you need to be ready.  

The day of elections, the islands shut down.  There is only limited amounts of travel allowed.  You are supposed to be in the town where you are registered to vote and you are supposed to stay there.  Then inevitably at some point during that day you start to hear about trouble.

There is no expectation on the islands that elections will be “free and fair.”  People expect the opposite.  Soon social media is covered with evidence of fraud and inconsistency.  Sometimes fighting breaks out in villages where fraud is most conspicuous.  As people wait for election results, there is a great sense of tension.  Once the preliminary results are in, we expect unrest.  We expect our children will stay at home from school a few days.  We expect shops to be closed and for protests, both peaceful and violent, to occur.

After a week, back in school uniform

It is only January in this great year of elections around the globe. We know that in some countries, elections may still be the peaceful days we remember from our childhoods, but we know that in many countries it is even more tense and volatile than the islands. We know even in America, the climate around elections has changed.  As we have talked with our island friends and neighbors, we keep repeating a sentiment that we will continue to pray for all countries: That there would peace and justice, that change would be found without violence and that those in leadership would be good people that seek what is good for their people and their countries.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
On Clove Island, schools reopened today after a week of being closed post-election. We are thankful to see kids back studying. Throughout the week, several times it seemed that God brought downpours of rain to help calm unrest— thank God for rain! Our son at boarding school had some direct answers to prayer— finding encouragement after having felt discouraged.

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Continue to pray for the islands.  Schools and many businesses were closed all week. Clove Island hasn’t had any unrest for a number of days, but on the big island there has continued to be trouble. The courts are supposed to announce this week whether they will validate the election results. Pray that peaceful protest would be allowed. Pray for peace and stability on the islands, as well as justice and good governance. Tom is meant to go to the big island for the admin handover this week, but it is unclear whether the political situation or the weather will be calm enough for him to go. Pray for wisdom about how to proceed and perhaps for a way to open up for Tom to do the handover (the banking handover especially), without having to leave Clove Island. The islands have been getting a lot of rain and wind (edges of a cyclone in the region) and it looks like they will get more this week. Pray for all of those whose homes are badly leaking or have suffered damage in the storms.

Seeping Through

 Our roof leaks.

Rainbow shines out during break from rain

It’s made of a concrete slab, probably installed at least 20 years ago.  Over time, with sun and settling, cracks have developed in that slab and water seeps through.  When the rains come (and the rains have certainly come this year) the water pools up, seeps down and drips into our house.  Thankfully, it doesn’t drip anywhere important.  Our beds and our dressers are drip free.  But our back hallway develops a series of puddles after a storm.  It seems like each year we’ve been here we see new puddles—new trouble spots emerge.  We’ve told the landlord about it—reminded him that cracks only get bigger unless you do something about them.  But in classic island fashion, as it doesn’t seem to be bothering us too much, and it’s not causing damage to any of his furniture, he hasn’t made any move to fix it.

Water spot in kitchen

We’ve got another problem spot in the kitchen, too, but that one is a bit different.  There’s a pipe that climbs over the kitchen roof that leaks.  There is a constant drip up there that the landlord has never bothered to fix.  It’s not enough to bother about.  It makes a small puddle on our roof that is mostly dried up by the sun.  But the constant wet has slowly made it’s way down into the concrete.  I don’t think there is any sort of crack there, just the work of slow osmosis.  But the result is a water stain in the corner of a kitchen ceiling that never goes away.

It got me to thinking about slow change.  We have lived on Clove Island for ten years.  For all of that time I have been friends with Bako.  We’ve written about Bako before, but to refresh your memory, he’s a man in his thirties, average height and build, with a slow and thoughtful fastidiousness to all that he does.  He dresses carefully and speaks with a deep, slow, deliberate delivery, and teaches English and lives his life the same way.  We’ve known him since he was a young single bachelor.  Now he is married with two small children.  He cares about what is good and correct, and believes what he has been taught.  He is not open to new ideas or challenges to his worldview.

Many times I’ve tried to share things with Bako on a deeper level.  Many times I’ve seen it roll off like water against stone.  Nothing seems to penetrate.  There are no cracks in that wall.  But last week as we were discussing some opportunities that may or may not be coming his way he said to me, in his slow resonant voice,

“Sir, whatever happens, it will be okay.  Because ‘All the time, God is good.’  That is what you have told me: God is always good.”

I smiled and agreed with him.  It’s true.  It’s very true!  And it means something got through!  After ten years one important truth has seeped through.  And it is no small truth.  It is not a truth islanders teach or are taught.  No, this truth has been learned from the steady drip of ten years, seeping through to my friend Bako’s heart.  And it gives me hope.

Our son sliding around on rain-soaked porch

Often we talk about the walls around peoples hearts and the cracks that form, openings we hope will widen, to let in the light, love and hope of good news.  But the good news is more powerful still.   It doesn’t even need a crack. The relentless pressure of love seeps through even the toughest walls and will one day bring it crumbling down.

Bako isn’t the only one.  We know a woman who has lived alongside and worked for families like ours for almost twenty years.  Just this past year, the walls around her heart came tumbling down and her life has been filled with a new joy.  She gives me hope too.  Change is coming and nothing can stop it.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We are thankful for the change we see in islanders, be it fast or slow.  We are thankful that Megan’s back pain has improved some— please keep praying! We were able to get a bunch of work done last week and reconnect with our team and islanders. We had lots of cooling rain this past week!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
Presidential and governor elections took place on Sunday. Pray for the islands post-election. Things are very tense. There was lots of evidence of fraud depicted on social media. Some governor results have been announced and are so far all in favor of the ruling party, not seeming to match the votes that were cast. This has been met by unrest, some violence and destruction of property. Pray that peaceful protests could happen and be heard. The presidential results have not been announced yet. We pray for peace and protection of life. Megan is meant to go up to the plateau this week and lead some concentrated sessions on the local language for the team there. Pray for wisdom about when/if/how to still do that given the unrest.  Our islands administrator (a huge blessing to us) is sadly leaving the islands this month.  Tom is meant to go to the big island next week to handover some of the banking and other admin (which needs to happen in person). Pray that national stability and weather cooperate for him to make that trip. The island body has been praying for their nation— pray that they could be a light to their neighbors and communities in uncertain times.

Sudden Uncertainty

As we were leaving the island for a short break, we didn’t expect tragedy to strike. We knew that Ma Nadjma’s husband was sick, but lots of people were sick with different flu-like illnesses and a very contagious eye infection that seemed to be impacting everyone. But he was a strong man in his 30’s, our expectation was that when we got back it would be to the news that he was recovering.

Sky above the islands at sunset

Instead, we were still away when Ma Nadjma’s messages became more dire.  Her husband had been admitted to the hospital. Then they were saying he would need to travel to the big island, but they needed to get the money to send him and an accompanying nurse. We arranged to contribute to those costs, but before he could travel the word came that he had already died. Ma Nadjma was there with him at the hospital when the power went out at 1am and he breathed his last. Their 6 year old and 1 year old were asleep at home.

We woke up to the messages on New Year’s Day— he was buried that same morning. A NewYear that might have held a lot of promise for that family is now clouded with so much uncertainty. Later that day, the message came informing us that Ma Nadjma is also pregnant.

As soon as we got back to Clove Island, I went to visit Ma Nadjma. As a widow, she is expected to stay inside for at least 40 days. Some say that she should stay inside for 4 months, others think she should be there until the baby is born.

Our son makes a friend at the aiport

I went back into the dark, hot interior room. Ma Nadjma lay with her sleeping 1 year old on a double bed which took up most of the room. Someone turned their phone light so we could see each other better.

Ma Nadjma was remarkably calm as she narrated about her husband’s illness and death. She said she cried briefly just once and since then has had a peace and calm in her heart that she credits to God. She said that islanders believe that you shouldn’t cry in your grief because if you cry then the person who died will receive wounds in the afterlife every time someone cries.  

While I thanked God for the peace she was feeling and confirmed that God can give us such peace even in the worst of circumstances, I also tried to reassure her that it is okay to cry and grieve as she mourns her the loss of her husband and as she looks ahead to an uncertain future. She talked about the uncertainty of whether her husband’s family will do their duty and help pay for her expenses related to her pregnancy and delivery. She talked about the uncertainty of what to do about work amid the cultural expectations related to being a widow. She talked about uncertainty for how her daughter will process everything, as she continues to not fully understand and cries out for her daddy.

Uncertainty is something that islanders embrace on a regular basis. Anytime you say something about the future or about something that isn’t fixed in stone yet, they are obligated to add the line, “If God wants it.” So when bad things happen, they are usually fatalistic. “It’s what God wanted,” they often say. But that phrase isn’t rooted in an understanding that God is good or that He wants what is good for us. It is rooted in a resignation that God does whatever he wants and we are just at his mercy.

Final days with all our kids before school restarted

As we have talked and prayed with Ma Nadjma over the years, it has always been about God who is good, God who listens to our prayers and God who loves us. We don’t know that she has embraced everything that we have ever told her, but that message seems to have sunken deep. So I didn’t sense that she was pretending to be calm, it seemed to be true. She knows that it will be hard, but she believes God will be with her through it. So we pray with her and find comfort that God can carry her through the uncertainty.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it back safely to Clove Island. We had a good vacation.  We were able to have some good check-in meetings with people on the big island as we passed through there. Our older kids made it back to Kenya for boarding school and are happy to be back with their friends there. Our youngest son got his grades back from island school and was really excited by how well he did!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
The islands are in the middle of an energetic campaign season. Elections for president and island governors will take place on Sunday. We have already heard rumors that there may be unrest this week related to the elections, and it is the general expectation that there could be unrest on election day and the following days as results are announced. We pray for peace and for good governance on the islands! Pray for Megan’s back— it has been hurting her the last few days for the first time in months. Pray for our and our kids’ transition back into normal routines this week as school and homeschool restart. There continue to be lots of illnesses on the islands, including a nasty contagious eye infection. Pray for protection against further spread of disease and for quick recoveries for those who are suffering. Our young friend, Avu, who Tom is teaching how to read, came today and said his mom started beating him because he told her he was hungry. Pray for him and his family.

Getting the Kids Involved

 “What will the kids do while the adults meet?” I remember asking at planning meeting earlier this year for a large group gathering.

Tired out kid in large gathering

“They will be with the adults, listening!” 

I imagined the kids sitting with the adults, but antsy, tired and distracted. The message being spoken would be long, over their heads, and would be switching between languages in a way that would be hard to follow. We suggested that someone do something with the kids instead and a plan was made, but ultimately the speaker forgot to dismiss the kids and so they sat with the adults, not engaged and not getting much out of it, that I could tell. But the seed was planted and at the weekly smaller gatherings in our area, an adult has started doing something specifically with the kids.

Skip ahead some months and we were preparing for the large gathering which happened a couple weeks ago. One of the kids had lived on the big island and was used to the kids preparing something to perform. So she innocently asked, “Aren’t we going to do anything?”

Consequently, perhaps guilted by the earnest question, one island sister decided that the kids would do something!

Our daughter and other kids ready to go and perform

As foreigners we don’t focus our attention on kids much. Mostly because in this culture it would be seen as highly suspect. They are wary of foreigners feeding their kids foreign ideas. So we focus on adults and if a young person starts asking us questions, we ask that we meet with their parents too, or at least get their permission first.  Sometimes kids might be around as we discuss things with the adults of their household, but they may not be absorbing much of what is said, because the way that you talk, teach and discuss things with kids and adults is different.  The kids being physically present doesn’t mean they are really included or engaged.  It takes a conscious effort to get the kids involved.

Once it was decided that they would do something for the big gathering, there were rehearsals with singing, dancing, memorized verses, and a dramatization of the story of a miraculous birth. It was much more ambitious than I would have been for the first time around!  Prayers were said with the participating kids and explanations given, then came time for the big gathering, they were there— not just tired and antsy figures in the background, but with an integral part to contribute to the proceedings. They were probably still bored when the main speaker talked, but even those that hadn’t been part of the rehearsals livened up to watch people their own age participate in the gathering.

Our family enjoying time together

This new year we are focusing our prayers in a few areas, and one of those foci is on families, that kids, youth and adults would be growing and studying together.  May it be that in all future big gathering that it isn’t just the adults going on with the kids and youth in the background, but together moving forward in knowledge, wisdom and discernment.

PRAYERS ANSWERED
We made it safely to mainland Africa for some vacation and have been enjoying our time away and as a family.  We especially enjoyed the fireworks on New Year's Eve!  We are thankful for all of God’s blessings in 2023, He was faithful!

PRAYERS REQUESTED
On New Year's Day we were greeted with some sad news.  Ma Nadjma, our house helper of many years called to let us know her husband had died.  This all happened very suddenly.  He went in the hospital around Christmas, but before hadn't been ill.  It sounds like it may have been leukemia.  Although we did not know him well, we thought of him as a kind man who loved Ma Nadjma and their children.  He was not very old, younger than us. Pray for Ma Nadjma and her two kids in this time of grief.  We said goodbye to our oldest two kids this evening, as they fly back to Kenya for their new term of boarding school. Pray for safe travels for them and a smooth transition back into school life without too much homesickness and stress. Pray for the rest of us as we travel back to Clove Island later this week that we would be able to jump back into life and work feeling rested and ready to be back. Pray for this new year of 2024— it will be a year of continued changes on the islands as a several more workers leave and some new ones are welcomed. May God’s good work continue on these islands through all that He sends here and all those that He calls from among the islands themselves.
Happy New Year!