Revelation 22:14-16
"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood."I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star."
On Friday, Jordan and I taught the older students about the boy who gave his lunch to Jesus in the new testament. It was the first time that I had a chance to teach a lesson in Butula. Each time we taught the lesson I think it got a little better. One teacher did an entire reenactment with his class. He found someone to split his biscuit (cookie) with their classmates. In the combined 5th, 6th, and 7th grade class we were attacked with questions that we think the teacher was giving to the students. These questions varied from: "Where was Jesus traveling when this happened?" "How many people were following him?" "Where's Gilead on a map?" "Did the boy get in trouble for giving up his food?" "How many days was Jesus in Gilead?" "Which disciples were with Jesus during this miracle?" "What did Jesus do before?"
I personally think we came up with plausible answers for those questions and if we ever honestly didn't know we would say it does say in the Bible but that wasn't something that we felt was important for today's story, or something along those lines. The question of whether the child got in trouble for giving up their lunch has to do more with the context of their culture. Here in America giving up your lunch might seem strange or even may show signs of something deeper mentally. There it could potentially be grounds for punishment since for some people, not all, food is scarce. I never would have asked that question myself so it was nice to have a new insight.
I was more energetic that day, and had gotten used to the strange dreams I was having. The nights kept repeating their self but I was too exhausted to care and as Sevo put it "We've already won." So there was nothing to fear.
Later that night, or the night before --I'm not sure how badly I'm mixing this week together-- we went to a hotel to eat at a buffet. I ended up sitting with Tim, he was our new team member that came for the week of Butula and he is Kristina's brother; I also sat with Lance and April. There were more people at the end of the table. We had a little more variety in diet and some of the best steak I've eaten in my whole life. I also tried a quiche for the first time along with some different fruit recipes-- the pineapple or something was fried somehow. They also had French fries which they called chips. Before we even traveled to the restaurant I actually saw what life was like around Butula. It was somewhat like I had imagined. The roads were filled with holes and life for the most part was obviously rural. The houses that we traveled by were open, and interestingly decorated. There were plenty of bonfires outside, and considering it was the rainy season, and this seemed colder to them than us, they were trying to make sufficient heat.
I remember lanterns that gave off an orange and yellow like glow, and I don't remember seeing many children. The stars were brighter here than in Nairobi, of course, but from my home in Mountain Home they weren't that much easier to see. Some of us were disappointed because we expected light pollution to be decreased in comparison with America so we were expecting a spectacular sight of a sky.
At night we had a bonfire and sang worship songs. Later a few of us stayed by the fire to have a few nightly talks about church and the sort. One of Sevo's brothers told us all about Kenya and what was happening with church. He told us about jealousy in the area and how that brought, or spawned, witchcraft. Also, when Christians had originally come through Kenya many of them allowed witchcraft alongside the teachings-- which makes no sense at all considering witchcraft is about giving yourself to an unknown source and the worship of Satan.
Sevo's brother also told us about some of the things that had been happening such as people being jealous of Hekima Academy and its success. It made others jealous to see success so they did what they could to throttle that. The witches would present their selves as teachers without letting their fellow teachers fully know their background. I find it disturbing to think that a child who is innocently going to school could be taught very sinister and backwards things. In fact, that may be the darkest thing I've ever heard.
These teachers of course were trying to bring down this school and what it was offering. Some of our original plans were to go into the community around the compound to do projects to allow more people to hear the message of Christ. Sevo's parents were uncomfortable with this idea and after hearing about more of the area I can understand a little of why they would feel that way. We were stretching his parents quite a lot with the things we were doing. Also, not only were teachers coming that were disguised witches but children of these witches were sent to foil the school.
But regardless, the school kept growing and more standards (grades) were being added. It started with one child and after fighting the circumstances and being patient the school grew to 261 students by the time we had arrived. It was amazing. Of course it's tough when people are trying to scare you or destroy your plans. I wouldn't find it easy to wake up and find a chicken with its head cut off on my porch or when they go through hanging laundry, but a lot of what they are doing is just trying to scare you. I know hardly anything on this matter.
While we were there during our trip, eleven supposed witches fairly close to this area were murdered from a list of made names. I didn't know this until I started doing research at home on events that happened while we were in Kenya.
I apologize because I know that I am writing things in an incorrect order. This bonfire had to have occurred before I met with Mami when I was headed to the school to take pictures because of a pertinent part of the conversation that had built to that moment. It's unbelievable how different these two weeks panned out.
Ezekiel 13:20-21 Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against your magic charms with which you ensnare people like birds and I will tear them from your arms; I will set free the people that you ensnare like birds. 21 I will tear off your veils and save my people from your hands, and they will no longer fall prey to your power. Then you will know that I am the LORD.
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