Welcome to the National Officers Training College

On Sunday 5 July 2009, I took my first unaccompanied drive out of Nairobi and made my way to the city of Thika. This is where the National Officers Training College is located. It took me just about an hour to get there. The NOTC serves both the Kenya East and Kenya West Territories. With the Envoys who are being trained through a module system, there are a total of just over 100 in training.

The purpose of my trip was to conduct a Spiritual Day at the NOTC. This was a last minute change in the schedule so Janice was not able to be there. She was in another city at one of her regional welcomes as the Territorial Leader for Women's Ministries. As this was my first visit to the NOTC as Chief Secretary, they gave me the grand welcome and really rolled out the red carpet.

As I approached the NOTC through a pineapple plantation, I received a call to tell me to stop a few hundred yards outside of the gate and allow the motorcycles to accompany me into the compound. At the gate they had me get out of the car and walk the rest of the way in with an escort of cadets toward where I would meet the Training Principal and the rest of the staff. After being greeted by the staff, the cadets then performed a timbrel drill and a small group presented a vocal number. It is interesting to note that both men and women enjoy playing the timbrel here.

Overall it was a good day and a great opportunity to learn a bit more about how the training programme works here. As the cadets are required to have a good handle on English, I was able to preach without translation--which I must say is quite a bit easier than with translation, but I think that I'll get used to being translated.

Doing The Most Good

Borrowing the America brand for the Army, the Army in Kenya East is also “Doing the Most Good”. Doing the Most Good with the resources they have for the needs of the Army in this part of the world. Steve and I traveled to Thika to visit several Army sites – Variety Village (vocational school), primary and secondary schools for the blind, schools for the handicapped, and the National Officers Training College. I was proud to be a Christian, I was proud to be part of the Army, I was heartbroken, and I was blessed. Allow me to explain…

At Variety Village most of the students were on break. These are students who may not have the grades to continue their formal education, but the Army is teaching them a trade at this boarding school. They have the choice to learn carpentry, metal work, leathering, machine knitting, sewing, etc. The Village produces shoes, flags, furniture, etc. They sell items both internally and to the community.

At the school for the blind the children were excited as they were preparing to attend a regional musical festival, which happened to be held this year at another Army facility in Thika. I saw children helping each other to move from place to place. Some are visually impaired and others are totally blind. Some have been blind from birth and others were not blinded until later. Armida must have been reading my mind when she asked one of the teachers if the children could sing for us. They immediately headed to the auditorium to sing. Wow! The beauty that came from their voices was amazing. The words were in Swahili, but I could read their faces and thus their hearts. They were singing to the Lord. As I looked at these children I saw glass eyes and missing eyes, I saw eyeglasses and rolling eyes; but above all, I saw Jesus Himself. Jesus loving these children through one another, through their teachers, through the Army officer chaplains. I saw children who were being given an education and food and love and a change for their future.

We were greeted at Joytown (for handicapped children) not only by the officer but also by Julia Kelly. Julia is in Kenya East on an internship from Biola University. It was great to see her beautiful smile and learn that she had conducted chapel/assembly this morning – maybe her first but definitely not her last sermon. As we walked around the property we were surrounded by swarms of school children from throughout the region who were part of the regional musical festival…children in school uniforms, children in costumes, children eating lollipops, children who were eager to speak English. At one point we made our way into a special building for the younger severely disabled children. The children were tended by two women who have to have hearts of gold to give endless hours to assist these children. Some were seated at a table, some in special chairs, some on the floor, and one on a mat. My heart was broken, not because the children are handicapped, but because I saw needs that could be met. I prayed a very familiar prayer of mine - that our God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills would connect the givers with the needs. The schools do everything they know how to make ends meet, but there simply is not enough. I wanted to run out the door before the tears streamed down my face, but again Armida came to my rescue by asking one of the children to sing; and so this little bright smiling girl sang Jesus Loves Me. Oh yes He does! I could not join in as the lump in my throat was so large that I was sure that it could be visually seen.

As we continued our tour, I wondered why God has brought me to this place - for my heart to see the needs, for me to communicate the needs, for another reason? I don’t know but I am open to whatever He wants me to learn. There were many children in wheelchairs sitting in groups around a drum or sitting in the shade. I watched Steve shake hands, touch, and speak to several of the children. What work does the Lord want to do in and through him?

We drove through the pineapple plantations where the staff from the National Officers Training College was prepared to meet and feed their guests. We had previously met the Principal and Assistant Principal. Familiar faces are always welcomed in land of “everything and everyone is new”. It was also great to see a former ICO delegate, Veronicah, and to meet her husband. God knows what I need and when I need it. I thanked Him for the time with the staff.

Our last stop was to drop Julia off at her temporary home. May God use this opportunity in her life to be more than a school assignment. For the past three years, I have read our predecessors’ (Ken and Jolene Hodder) newsletter from Kenya. Over the past two years I have read Armida’s newsletters. During the past three years I have listened to and viewed photos from ICO delegates from Kenya. It is easy to see that God has been preparing me/us for this appointment. I am clay in the Potter’s hands. Break me, melt me, mold me, use me…I am Yours.

Watch this slide show on YouTube to see more of our photos...

JAH

Welcome Sunday at Nairobi Central Corps

On 14 June 2009, we were welcomed to the Kenya East Territory in a meeting at the Nairobi Central Corps. The corps has over 3,000 soldiers -- many of them attend one of the several outposts of the corps. I think that their chapel will seat 1,300 to 1,500. In the two videos, you will see snippets from different parts of the program for the day. Enjoy!!!

Part 1


Part 2