“Can people really live here?” Those were the first words out of my mouth, as the family got out of the car and gazed at the desolate scene before us. This was our 1 acre plot, part of the 10 acres near Daystar University, Athi River campus, purchased by the 9 families from church. This was where the dream, the vision Chip and I were certain God gave us for a mentoring ministry for young adults was to be located. But what I saw was quite discouraging…dry, hard packed earth, cracked from drought; a blazing sun cooking everything, with not a cloud in the sky; not a drop of water in sight. How could anyone live in such an inhospitable environment? I began to question whether we had ‘heard’ correctly.
But, we started building with savings and a small inheritance Chip received, step-by-step, as funds came in. With time, each visit to the site brought fresh certainty that this indeed was what God was calling us to. Now when I’d visit the land, I would get a certain feeling of peace about the place, knowing that Ukarimu House (what we decided to call the home and ministry center) would be a place of peace, of healing, of growth. Ukarimu, for those who do not know, means hospitality or generosity, in Swahili.
In one trip to the U.S., as we continued to pray about how to go about this vision, we were in a service in which a couple who had an international student ministry in a secular university were speaking. In my mind, I pictured us building the ministry center, then jumping right into ministry. Naturally, it would have to be a big place to accommodate everything we envisioned. But how on earth were we to get the funds for such a place? I puzzled greatly over this. But in this service where the couple was speaking, they shared how God had led them to this ministry, which they had been hosting from their home, and how now the ministry had grown so much, they had to add a floor to their existing home to accommodate everyone. At that point, things became clear in my mind. We were not to build the place first, then begin the work. We were instead to build our small home and start ministering right where we were, and God would give the increase as needed. We were building a tiny, 2 bedroom home. I wondered how ministry could be done from that, but then again, I was certain God had given the next step.
So, that’s what we did. We finished building our tiny home and moved in, May 2004. OK…now what? Chip came up with the idea of the first fellowship we would host, Praxis Fellowship, where students would learn how to be salt and light in their communities, even as they became involved in community projects and grew in their faith in the process. By 2007, Praxis was going well but I sensed a need for deeper mentoring opportunities, where students could feel free to really open up about their challenges in life. But, how to start?
On a subsequent furlough to the States, I was at a ladies sewing fellowship in a supporting church and was marveling at how this group ministered to the ladies’ various needs, while helping them grow in their faith. Suddenly I had a mental picture of me sitting in Kenya with a bunch of university ladies, sewing or cooking, and discussing life. That’s it…this could be replicated in Kenya! But how to start? I got back and was one day working on a cross-stitch project just before Praxis Fellowship, when a couple ladies came by early. They oooohed and aaahed over my project and begged me to teach them to do that. Thus, Serefatha Sisters was born. Because the ladies wanted to discuss intimate matters on relationships, they decided to keep it ladies only. A couple times, a guy would come by and discover the ladies baking something and would beg to be allowed to attend. The girls were adamant – no men! “Go start your own men’s group, if you want something like this”, said one lady. So, the guys approached Chip, and they started the Lugus Brotherhood, later becoming Iron Men.
So, the student arm of Ukarimu Ministries was going strong. Numbers were increasing. Community projects were happening. Students were being challenged to grow in their faith and leadership skills. Emotional and social healing was taking place. We figured this was right where God wanted us. But, God had more in mind that we did not see at the time…
0 Comments