Back from the Coastal Region

Our team of six on the Kenya Country Review split up into three teams of two and headed out of Nairobi to interview people in different parts of the country.  I was assigned to the team headed to the coastal region of Kenya where we spent Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

First stop was flying out to the coastal town of Malindi, where we were met by Scott, an SIM staff member who will soon be relocating there.  On Wednesday afternoon we drove south to Kenya’s second largest city, Mombasa.

I was out of internet contact for these days, so couldn’t provide a blog update.  Here are some photos from this region.

 

The Indian Ocean and the Kenyan coast is beautiful.  Yes, we just had to step foot out on the beach.  Matter of fact, Scott, Gillian and myself we walked down the beach to a pizza place for dinner after a full day of interviewing.   The beach reminded me of some of the wide, sandy beaches on the Carolina coast, but much less populated.

The weather was unseasonably hot - 90’s during the day with high humidity.  And no air conditioning.  I sweat for three days and two nights.  Slept under a mosquito net in a sparse room at the Lutheran Guest House.

We interviewed pastors, lay people, other ministry people, SIM staff members and some denominational leaders.  One thing we realized quickly, Nairobi is not Kenya…and Kenya is not Nairobi.  Just as Chicago, New York or Los Angeles is not the U.S.  It is so much more.

Here are some of those we interviewed

Students and faculty at Pwani Bible Institute, who are preparing to be pastors, teachers and Christian workers.

Bernard is serving as a light to the M community along the coast having received training and support from SIM and now equipping others.

These two industrious and faith-filled women are being light among women, widows and orphans.

Now I am back in Nairobi working with the team to compile our findings, list our recommendations and present our review next Wednesday.  Pray particularly as we discern “What is God’s mandate for SIM in Kenya in the coming years”?  There are many needs to serve the Church here, but what is our part.  Thank you for praying.