Janice Reynolds' Perspective and Notes

Below are some notes that describe one of my co-travelers, Janice Reynolds', experience of our Africa Mission Trip.

Today was our first day on the African church job site. It was nothing like what we have experienced in Brazil! Because the building stones were so large and heavy (not like the terra cotta bricks we use in Brazil!), the women on our team did other things. We saw the Kenyan women bringing water to make the mud. We were curious from where they were getting the water, so we followed them. We walked up the road, through someone's back yard, and down a very long, steep hill to a small dirty stream (which was across from the city dump). The women would fill the 5 lb. water jugs, seal them with a dried avocado, and either carry them on their heads or on their backs with a piece of rope or fabric. I am filled with a new admiration for African women! It was pointed out to us that the men NEVER carry water! In a typical day, a women will haul water 5 or more times a day for cooking, cleaning, and drinking. Women seem to be no more than an infra-structure in this society.

The wooden crosses that Al Michel made were a big hit. One young man came up to me and said in hallting English, This is bling!

There was a baby crying hard when we first came, so I gave him a teddy bear. Of course, then all the children wanted one, and all through the day, mothers came to me asking for a bear for their baby. (And why was the baby crying so hard? Because there were so many of us mzungus-white people- around and he was scared!)

The children love to sing, and I asked them to sing a song in Swahili; they asked if they could sing in Kikuiu (one of the larger tribes in Kenya). They seem to have so much joy that they cannot contain it, so they dance when they sing. Joseph Highley and I asked them to teach us to dance, which they did enthusiastically.

In the afternoon, Pastor Winterle presented a youth group and a ladies group each with a "Proclaimer" with the New Testament recorded that we had brought from the United States. The program was recommended by Pastor Maas and is to allow people to come to faith through listening. I so wish that all of you could have seen and heard the people when they heard the Gospel in their own language of Swahili! They applauded and said, "Yes, this is what we need!" Praise God !!

The mission field is ripe in Kenya, and we are thankful for this opportunity and privilege of being sent here. We are also very thankful and appreciative of Redeemer's support. We ask your continued prayers for our team and for these beutiful people.

In Christ,
Janice Reynolds