A First and The Last

Greetings Friends,

Well, last week got by without a new entry.  It was the first since I began doing this.  My apologies.  I was just too busy (which you will read about below).  And, this will be my last entry from Kenya, God willing.  I am scheduled to fly from Nairobi this coming Tuesday night and arrive back home on Wednesday evening.  I will be sad to leave.  I am missing the students and our program already.  Joseph and I will meet to share his final evaluation Friday morning and then we are going out to celebrate Friday evening.  Then is all done but the packing and cleaning. [Elders Simon, Sophia, and Watson accept gift from my "pastor's purse."]

Sunday a week ago I visited the Kahethu PCEA Church which is about fifty miles from here, north of Nairobi and north of Thika.  This was my first venture into truly rural countryside.  Electric power has not reached there yet and there are no paved roads.  Of course it rained Saturday night and continued well into Sunday.  We made it to the church, but dared not attempt to drive to Daniel’s home more than a half mile on down the road.  So, we left the car at the church after the service and went “slippin and a slidin” down to his house.  [Daniel was one of our six students.  I had sent a gift to his congregation for the purchase of a few chairs - they are furnishing the sancturary.  Then I got so sick I couldn't go with him to take the gift.  I am glad I could do it now.]

The  “new”church is nearly 15 years in the making and nearly complete.  The old, sheet metal church where they began has become a place the children play and have Sunday School.  The new church is built of the gray stone one sees everywhere around here.  It is octagonal in form with a soaring roof.  The service was all in Kikuyu except for the small parts given to me.  The people were grateful and welcoming.  There was a lot of singing accompanied only by drums, which suited me wonderfully.

Monday and Tuesday were finishing up days with final seminars.  Wednesday morning we began with our last chapel service at the Kikuyu Mission Hospital (Patrick, Joseph, and Gladys sing as Lucy leads us)  After the service we made our way to Rafiki for evaluation presentations.  We heard three students on Wednesday and three on Thursday to finish the group.  Friday morning we did the group review and closing, followed by the students presenting their review of the program to a few guests.  Then they were left to do their exit interview with three members of the Professional Advisory Committee.  I understand that was a good experience.

On Saturday we gathered in the Administration Building Chapel for a graduation ceremony.  Pictured here is the small congregation being “warmed up” with group singing, as is the custom here.  The leader, standing apart from the others is Lucy Karaba again.  She has a talent for getting people singing and clapping.  I was sad to be singing with her for the last time, but very happy to be part of the ceremony.  It meant a great deal to these students who had worked so hard since mid-January.  Folowing several speeches and the presentation of certificates from the University of Louisville Health Care ACPE program, we adjourned to a lovely lunch.  The event was made all the more special by the presense and particiapation of the moderator of the PCEA, the Vice Chancellor of the University, the head of the Theology Department, and the CPE leadership: Professor Kirika, Lyle and Terry Dykstra, Joseph Mothaly, and myself.  The students were permitted to invite three guests to celebrate their achievement.

Bright and early Sunday morning Joseph and I headed out for the Olepolos PCEA Church in Maasai land.  He was preaching and I was carrying another small gift.  This is a struggling congregation as a result of a split that occured a few years ago.  The denomination leadership seems to have treated the pastor badly.  He happened to be Maasai and a great loss to the PCEA.  When he left he took more than half the congregation with him.  The current pastor (this is one of four churches he serves) is Edward Magiri and a delightful young man whose wife, Ruth is also a pastor.  Joseph did the preaching and translated my greeting message.  As you may recall from an earlier blog, I just love this country in and near the Rift Valley.  I took many pictures and will miss seeing this beauty.

After the service we were served a nice lunch of very tasty beef stew.  Then Sophia, one of the three active elders, led us to a nearby shopping area where we picked up her friend who was our guide for an afternoon with the Maasai.  This group has taken up the task of preserving and interpreting Maasai culture.  They have built a small, demonstration village.  We were able to sit inside a manyata (below)  and learn about some of their traditions.  Then we went outside for some traditional singing and dancing which I dearly loved.  I was even invited to participate.  Joseph told me later that old guys like me are not allowed to dance.  They are supposed to sit and appreciate the warriors and maidens.

Too soon we bid farewell to these folk and made our way to the home of Kimani and Jane Chege.  He is a member of our Professional Advisory Committee and sits with the Supervision Consultation Group.  He happens to be of the Meru people.  When I met Jane a couple of weeks earlier, she told me they had a five acre shamba on which they kept cattle and dairy goats.  I am sorry I have no pictures from that visit, but it was delightful.  I even got to sample some of their goat milk which brought back memories of our life in Florida in the 80s when we kept dairy goats.

Joseph’s family arrived from Maralal in time for the graduation.  His daughter, Julia, was expecting and having some difficulties.  She went to the hospital and delivered a sweet baby boy – about six weeks early.  So there is one more joy for Joseph to remember with this time.  Now I am busy writing a final evaluation for Joseph and a program report for the ACPE New Generation committee.  Then I have a couple of days to pack and catch my flight.  I will surely make at least one additional entry from Indiana in a week or so.  In the meantime, thanks for following this adventure with me.  Prayers for safe travel would be welcome, along with continued prayers for the people and church of Kenya.  Peace, Cal Brand

Last REGULAR Week for CPE

It seems incredible that we are so near completion of this unit of CPE.  I have found myself in the paradox of time passing quickly and slowly at the same time.  It hardly seems possible that the coming week will include Final Evaluations and Graduation.  And it seems like a very long time since I arrived here on January 13^th.  Regardless, there is both sadness and excitement in the group.  Evaluations have been turned in to Martha, the CPE secretary, for typing and copying.  They will be shared in the group beginning Wednesday.

It has continued raining.  I thought you might like to have a look at the muddy, red road.  The first photo actually shows Alice (lady who does my laundry) making her way up the road from Rafiki to work at the Dykstras’ – in the rain.  The second photo is the view coming home from the hospital.  I had Joseph take the final shot (below) during a brief pause in the rain.  It shows this old muzungo (Kiswahili for white man) preparing to enjoy tea and a mendazi.

I did manage to collect the remaining three students’ notes on their experience.  I am hoping to have some excerpts of their evaluations in a subsequent post, assuming I receive permission.

 Susan Kamwara has also just completed her BTh and is awaiting assignment at the end of CPE.  She and Daniel are both members of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa.  She writes: “First of all I would like to thank all the organizers of this program – everybody who has participated for the well being of the program.  This program of CPE Level 1 has been of very great importance to me both to me as a person and for my ministry.  I feel that the program has really helped me a lot in many ways.

To start with the program has enabled me to meet both my personal and professional goals.  I feel that I have grown in these areas.  Again, I have gone through different didactic seminars which were very important to me.  These seminars have shed light to me in a great way.  More than this, I have had a humble time to be with patients and this has given me experience on how to give pastoral care to patients and listen to them.  Anyway, I would like to say that the program is very important.  I thank God for my supervisors including Cal, who is always with us and of a great help to our group.  I am looking forward if God can open another chance to do CPE Level 2, and I can be grateful.  May God bless you mightily.”

 Patrick Kinuanjui is a 60 year old lay minister of pastoral care in a large parish in Nakuru.  He writes: “When I consider what I have learned in CPE I would want to say frankly that it is a very commendable course for all clergy.  It is a ver resourceful endeavor meant to help people who are going through many crises in life.  It is a very objective and timely especially this time that I have a big congregation that is beset with all kinds of responsibilities.  Life is stressful so much that we need to equip ourselves with enough knowledge to handle the emerging situations which are very threatening.  I am confident that armed with this knowledge, I will be useful to someone.

I would wish to relate my gratitude to everyone who participated either materially or spiritually in the CPE program.  It has been a source of spiritual growth to me and my family, and more importantly to those whom I wll be able to serve.  Thank you.  Patrick”

Daniel Njenga was a school teacher, then a career soldier prior to receiving a call to the ministry.  Daniel is awaiting assignment to a parish when CPE is concluded.  He writes: “I have learned a lot (in CPE).  The program has been quite helpful as far as my pastoral programme is concerned . . . we have benefited a lot as a group through the intensive programme.  When I reflect back (over) the course, I am well equipped as far as pastoral care is concerned.  I would call all ministers to enroll with the programme and they will experience a great difference in the services they render (to their parishioners).  I would like to thank Rev. Cal Brand for offering his wealth of knowledge to come and supervise Rev. Mothaly, the only single supervisor-in-making in Kenya.  I would humbly request many others to be enabled (to become supervisors) so that they can be of help to others who need to learn CPE.  May God bless all those who promote the CPE programmes.”

Now you have heard from all six of our students.  They are very enthusiastic in there appreciation of and endorsement for CPE.  Hopes for seeing the program succeed and expand are frequently expressed.  I share those hopes and will follow future developments with interest.                                                                          Peace, Cal Brand

Just Two Weeks to Go

Last post I referred to a Soggy Easter.  It continued to rain every night and most days until Thursday afternoon.  Thursday morning I walked in the rain and mud down to Rafiki.  I guess I was quite a sight.  To keep my attache dry, I zipped it up in my windbreaker which made me look very fat.  Totes on my feet and umbrella in hand, I walked by my favorite Acacia tree.  I look forward to seeing it nearly every day.  Its a thing of beauty, especially when the sun is shining.  Remarkably, we have now had three days and two nights without rain.  I was able to get out for an hour’s brisk walk this morning.

I have asked the students to write some notes to be included in the blog and here is the first installment.  You may remember Gladys Muchoki.  She was a school teacher before attending seminary and becoming a Presbyterian minister.  She has been posted to Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru where she will begin as chaplain at the conclusion of the program.  She notes that her area was “the most affected by the tribal clashes, and suffers frequent drought leading to hunger.  Thus, the hospital is kept quite busy.”  Through the CPE program she “has learned to handle the patients by listening” and that “patience is a primary requirement.”  “Observing the patient’s emotions and feelings is an art. . . Writing and presenting verbatims has given me a new approach to my ministry.”  CPE has “helped me deal with fear and gain self-confidence which is very useful in my ministry.  I work with about thirty volunteers who need my leadership and training.  CPE has prepared me to” provide this leadership.  “CPE encourages the pastor or pastoral care giver to see the patient ‘no matter who that patient is’ as somebody in whom the face of Christ could be seen. . . CPE trains the student to hear the patient’s story, not putting his/her agenda (on the patient so) he/she will not judge them for what they are thinking or feeling. . . CPE should be a requirement for all pastors as they serve the Lord’s people.”

Lucy Karaba is a lay minister in the Presbyterian Church.  She serves as a prison chaplain.  Like Gladys, she begins with relating how CPE helped her “learn to listen to the patient’s feelings” and never to take things for granted.”  She says, “I used to give them my own agenda, and not listening to the patients expressing his/her own agenda or feeling and emotions. . .CPE has helped me to become a better chaplain in prison and also with patients. . . I have learned from various topics presented which challenged me to grow.  My supervisors and lectures have become good role models for me. . . CPE is so relevant to Kenya and Africa because it helps to tranform hearts and minds, thereby impacting the patients, prisoners, and the society as a whole.

Leah Munio is also a lay minister serving in a ministry she founded called Healing and Revival Ministries near Nakuru.  She was raised in the Anglican Church of Kenya, though her ministry is interdenominational.  She writes that “most of the things we were taught (in CPE) ties with my ministry and the church as a whole, and even the community.  I have benefitted a lot because in the hospital I am able to move with the patients, discern their feelings and emotions, amd move with them in their valley.  CPE has helped me personally as a mother and in my ministry.  I have already started teaching my peers in the ministry how to follow one’s or another’s feelings and emotions so we may be able to help the community in our village to start with.  CPE has helped me in my learnig goals: bitterness, viewing dead bodies, and anger.  Today I am trying to overcome these weaknesses though it is a process; I can see a lot of change in me.  Soon they will be strengths.  Finally, I would congratulate all the organizers of CPE here in Kenya and outside Kenya for the good work they are doing.  Long live CPE.  Long live the whole fraternity.”

I hope you, the reader, can pick up the enthusiasm and satisfaction these ministers are sharing.  It has been a real joy for me to observe their progress and hear their plans.  I have no doubt that the general quality of pastoral care is going to be improved by them – directly and by their example.  I hope to be able to share comments from the remaining three students in next weeks blog.  When we resume seminars on Monday we will have only two weeks left.  This coming week will be our last “regular” week, followed by final evaluations.

The students are already working on their final evaluation reports.  Because of the need to have them typed, they have to be submitted by this Friday.  So, they are feeling some pressure.  They are also feeling sadness about the ending of this experience together, but it is balanced by the excitement they feel about doing ministry with new skills and confidence.  The sun is still shining.  The Son is shining through these ministers.  Peace, Cal

Happy Easter – Very Soggy One Here

            Rainy season is full upon us.  It rains every night and often during the day.  It’s a challenge to keep in dry socks and I am very grateful for the “Totes” Donna brought (called shoe gloves here) for me.  I am told this is what to expect for the month of April.  Meanwhile, I hear it is 80 degrees and sunny in Columbus, and I should be on the golf course.  O well, there it is.

            Lyle and Terry took me into Nairobi to St. Andrews PCEA Church for Good Friday services and we will be returning there for Easter services on Sunday.  One thing that made the service special was hearing the organ and choir.  Made me glad and homesick at the same time.  On the way home they drove me by UN Headquarters which is just across the street from the US Embassy.  Both compounds were quite impressive.  Since the bombing 5 years ago, the US Embassy has been rebuilt and is very secure.  We weren’t allowed through the gate for a closer look.

            Then it was back to the Maasai Market which is a wonderful craft bazaar.  I was able to pick up the few gifts Donna had missed before she returned.  The bargaining is intense and one never knows just how one came out.  It is good sport and can be a lot of fun.

            Joseph and the students have gone to their homes for the Easter holiday.  We had no seminars on Friday and will not meet on Monday.  Joseph called from Maralal to say he had made it safely.  He and his son, Ike, drove to Nayahururu where they caught a bus the rest of the way.  Though the road has been recently scraped, he said it was only barely there and they could not have made it in the little 4WD Suzuki.  I am praying he is able to make it back for seminars on Tuesday.  Though it is just over 150 miles, it is a 10 – 12 hour journey in good conditions.

            Patrick Kinanjui, one of our CPE students, was confirmed to have malaria on Wednesday.  He missed that day’s seminars but was able to be with us on Thursday.  He is expecting another two or three bad days, but then he should start feeling better.  The group observed eye surgery that day and all were very impressed with the skill of the surgeon and the teamwork of the staff.  This holiday break is serving as a “practice” termination and their anticipatory grief is evident.

            I am finally feeling almost well.  This cold has slowed me down for over a week.  I was able to complete and submit a proposal for a Masters Degree program in Pastoral Supervision as requested by Vice Chancellor Thairu.  I look forward to a meeting with him early next week to discuss it.  This is his idea of how to jump start CPE here in view of the need for additional supervisors.

            These three pictures (above) are of the old stained glass windows in the first Church of the Torch.  They were imported from Scotland along with the building itself.  They are beautifully done and you may be able to tell that many of the figures are Kikuyu people (though Jesus looks more like a Scotsman).  The remainder are of windows from the present church.  A sad anecdote: the previous moderator of the PCEA got carried away fighting the devil.  He believed he could see satanic symbols in stained glass windows.  He destroyed many beautiful windows at St. Andrews and elsewhere.  The people were able to save these at the Church of the Torch.

            The appearance of the landscape round-a-bouts has changed.  The maize is mostly harvested and beans, potatoes, and new maize plants are springing up.  It is fascinating to watch the folk in  twos and threes, mostly women, harvesting, cultivating and planting.  There is much gratitude for the rain; harvests have been plentiful.  I tend to give thanks when the sun breaks through from time to time during the day.

            Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter are a bit different here.  There remains a strong concern to be distinguished from things Roman Catholic in the PCEA.  I missed our Maundy Thursday Communion service.  I also missed participating with our choir in sharing special music with the congregation.  And, of course, I will miss a special Easter feast with Donna and family/friends.  I am grateful for the Dykstras and their care as they chauffer me to the services at St. Andrews which are more familiar.  And I send Easter greetings as we look forward to the last three weeks of this inspiring CPE program.  There have been abundant signs of new life.  Peace, Cal Brand