Kenya 2008 (Part 4)

Watching documentaries of free spirited animals roaming in the vast open lands can leave you in awe at their beauty, stature, grace of movement and nonchalant manner. Wild, unsubdued and poised for a kill or to be another's dinner. The safari. We were there in Amboseli National Park!




The reserve is famous for being the best place in Africa to get close to free-ranging elephants and we truly weren't disappointed. The park, over more than 39,000 hectares in size, spans Kenya and Tanzania. The semi-gravel semi-dirt track into the safari (within which was our accommodation - Amboseli Serena Safari Lodge) was long, winding and bumpy. It was akin to having a full-body massage while seated. Our bus took to the rough and windy track like cheese over a grater.


It seemed forever and the land stretched beyond what the eye can see. There was no landmark aside from mountains (including Mount Kilimanjaro) way in the distance. Almost suddenly, the bus turns into a driveway. It almost seemed like an oasis after travelling hours in the dessert, but this stunning hotel wasn't a figment of our imagination.



The local people are largely Maasai - a semi-nomadic indigenous ethnic group. Their brightly-coloured (mostly red) dressing consists drape-overs, accessories, a stick and the sporting of a huge hole in their earlobes.

Increasingly, this group is being exposed to trade and do not survive merely on the simple crops they plant, nor their cattle produce. In fact, a Maasai was scrubbing the floor at the resort while we were tucking into our breakfast. Looks like they can be found in the hospitality and tourism sectors too nowadays!


Back to the animals, they were aplenty and looked content grazing. The zebras, the wildebeest, antelopes were the most numerous animals we saw.









We spotted ostriches that reminded me of can-can girls showing off their long legs. We caught a 'hurray' of hippos basking in the sun and a herd of buffalos staring us down.

Then there were the prowlers and those that tagged along to feed on the spoils. That's Lion King, Dr 'Jackal' and Mr 'Hyena'.

Kenya 2008 (Part 3)

(left: Josephine and Samson)

One of the joys this trip was to once again be found in the fellowship of friends I'd made during my previous two visits. There was Samuel and Samson at Kavingoni; I was glad to still see familiar faces amongst the youth there. The youth were predominantly those I'd interacted with on my previous trips.

(left: Samuel & James)

And what a joy to see Patrick at Ngoleni. He'd travelled up just to meet the team although he works in the Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa.

What a joy also to see Benjamin there. Just a day before departing Kavingoni for Ngoleni, his mother and sister had told me that Ben won't be meeting us this time around.

(top: Samuel, Myriam and Patrick)
(top right: Ben)

I guess he wanted to surprise us by turning up unannounced. I won't forget the sacrifice he made just to spend half a day with us after travelling a few hours from Nairobi where he's pursuing his undergrad studies in Commerce. That brother even had an exam paper to sit for the following morning yet made the effort to visit us at the highland village. Thank God He's been keeping all these friends well for the time we've been apart.

Another encouragement was Peter, who's in his final months of completing his theological studies. Thereafter, he'll go where the Lord leads Him to serve. With two new churches now at Mwisa and Ngoleni, Pastor Richard could do with more help in the vast fields to sow seeds for the Kingdom.

This trip, I also got a chance to meet newer members of the church in Kavingoni like James. I also got to know another Peter better too; he'd been a new member to the church on my previous trip.

(left: Shadrach & Bernard)


Then there was Josephine, Mutuko, Shadrach, Bernard and another Patrick, and brothers Paul and Able. Then there were Michael who was helping to build the boarding school's kitchen block and heading the project was Justus from Kitui.

Among the boarders at Aunty Jenny's school (Chosen Christian School) who were just such bright kids were Naomi and younger sister, Mercy. Then there was Lydia and Derrck - the quieter two of the four. By the way, we double-checked if Derrck had an 'i' in his name but he was sure of the spelling of his name, so we didn't push it.

(left: Naomi, Derrck, Lydia & Mercy)


The kids have also grown up and what a joy to see those same bright smiling faces gleam in the sun. Mbovi was in the place of younger brother Charlo on my last visit (i.e. on the back of big sister Esther) and now, he's making up his own games to play! A boy of little words but ingenious! Then there were the two bright girls, Naomi and Rachel, who two years ago, were helping to intepret English to Ki Kamba for the younger ones at Sunday School. It was great to see them doing well too.

We also got to meet one-month-old baby, Alvinson. (Al)ex,Ke(vin),Nel(son) must be so honoured and thrilled to have a baby named after them when they visited the village last month. God also added to their number during our visit this month.

I also won't forget the ladies, including Beatrice's (Samuel, Patrick and Myriam's mother) invitation to her house the next time I visit. The older women folk were also such a joy and although we couldn't quite converse, just the greeting and gesticulation was enough to send us in a roar of laughter. But each time they greeted us younger members with "Wacha", all we needed to utter was 'Ah'. It's similar to how we ask, "How are you?" and the reply you'd typically get would be "I'm fine". In their culture, the younger person waits for the senior to acknowledge his presence before he greets them.

Kenya 2008 (Part 2)

You settle in quicker when you've walked the land on foreign soil and so it was for me. Ours was to have been an early Thursday morning flight out of Changi on Qatar Airways, ETD 3.20am. A send-off party of some 20-odd family and friends (including my parents and in-laws) made for merry company before we checked in our luggage at the counter.

Anyone in a vocation that's got to do with transport in the military will know what FPT is (i.e. First Parade Task). It's when you inspect your vehicle (visual inspection of external body of vehicle, including hands-on checks of oil levels, tyre pressure and all lights and lighting panel) before driving off. We operated in similar fashion, commiting the trip and each day and event in prayer right from before we departed. We knew we weren't going to be effective in the mission field if we didn't do a thorough check of ourselves, our teaching material and what else we packed. In relation to the trip, I'd prefer to see FPT as the acronym for Faith, Pray, Trust. And we had numerous occasions for these. Let me share them with you.

We didn't have to wait very long for our first FPT moment.

FPT#1 - While doing a group check-in of our luggage, our bags were found to have exceeded the permissible limit we'd be given by some 40kgs despite being carefully conservative when we packed. Thank God for giving us wisdom to list what items had gone into each bag which had been numbered. This allowed us to leave behind two bags that contained less important contents.

FPT#2 - Upon checking in, we were told our flight would be delayed by an hour. One hour turned into two hours. Not till more than three hours later did we board our plane, but we surrendered to God's purposes for the delay without getting flustered. We were however concerned about having to miss our connecting flight from Doha to Nairobi, which had initially been just about an hour apart upon arrival in Qatar had we departed on schedule. We prayed.

FPT#3 - We arrive in Qatar and were promptly whisked through the terminal and out to a waiting Emirates plane bound for Dubai. This detour was to be the next quickest passage to our final destination - Nairobi. After arriving in Dubai and about a couple of hours later, we were on a plane bound for the East African nation. Thank God for securing us seats on our final leg! It truly felt like I was competing in The Amazing Race! But with God on your team, you can't lose.

FPT#4 -Upon arrival in Nairobi, it is common practice for the team to head straight for a Nakumatt supermarket branch near the airport to buy bottles of drinking water, fruits and vegetables and other bites for the team's consumption and treats for the villagers. But seeing how we'd been set back by about 6 hours and arriving at nightfall instead of early afternoon, there'd be no way to get the items. Praise God He led Pastor Richard and auntie Jenny to buy the items during their time of waiting. No time was wasted.

FPT#5 - I'd been tasked to bring some vehicular parts (about 5kg) to a Singaporean lady who overseas the running of an ophanage in Nairobi. She attends my church. I'd initially declined to be their courier for fear of being stopped at the customs and questioned. I was also fearful of stalling the Galilee team with whom I was travelling with. Plus the parts cost more than S$2000 and what if they had wanted to tax me. But in preparation of the Bible lessons I'd be teaching on the trip, God's Word reminded me from the life of Abraham about the importance of faith. I was ashamed of my lack of it and how I wasn't living mine out. I repented and entrusted the metal components to the Lord for a safe passage across and through the customs officers. It worked!The parts in my checked-in luggage were never called into questioned! God heard my prayer and those of hundreds who prayed for these pieces to be carefully delivered to the lady who needed it urgently to get her car running again. There was a likelihood that the parts would never be received by her had they been delivered by the regular postal service.

Kenya 2008 (Part 1)

While the world set its sights on Beijing 2008, mine (together with 7 other pairs) were fixated on three villages, Kavingoni, Mwisa and Ngoleni. Tucked away to the southeast of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, the villagers enjoyed but the bare essentials of life. Modest living standards doesn't even seem a suitable adjective, what with no electricity and running water.

We showered with water (scoop & pail) drawn from the well carted in jerry cans by asses. {left: 5-year-old Nathaniel having his bath in the bigger pail} Dinner was prepared over lit firewood. And we depended heavily on torchlights attached to lanyards that hung around our necks. Whenever we had light not from our battery-operated torches, it emanated from the moon, the galaxy of stars, or renewable energy (thanks to solar panels transported over and hooked up by a mission team that went before mine just last month). There was also the diesel-driven generator that generated not only a lot of carbon monoxide, but noise.

It wasn't a culture shock for this urbanite. I had set foot in Kavingoni and Mwsia twice before (in 2005 & 2006) with the mission teams of my then home church Galilee Bible-Presbyterian Church. But this was a whole new experience for my wife whom I'm proud of, for putting aside her apprehension and 'roughing it out' in conditions some older team members say were reminiscent of Singapore in the 50s.

Our Mission:

1) To rejoice with Ebenezer BP Church (Kavingoni) on their 13th Anniversary
2) To conduct and witness the Dedication Service of the church in Mwisa
3) To celebrate the 1st Anniversary of the church at Ngoleni
4) To encourage our brethren there and teach God's Word
5) To be witnesses of the truth of the Gospel

Kickstarter #10 - Missions, Humanitarian Work & Volunteerism

Life can be so comfortable, so secure. The irony is that self-sufficiency can draw us into a sense of self-contentment and consequently, a sense of dissatisfaction. Being contented with oneself and one’s achievement is not a bad thing in itself. It shows you’ve worked hard to get where you are and that the effort and sacrifices you’ve made have paid off. But do you then surround yourself with these creature comforts and ‘trophies’ to show for and say, “I’ve done it all”? Then just sit back, kick your feet up and idle the days away, leaving your possessions to rot, rust and waste away?

Life isn’t an activity meant to be lived by one. If you’re feeling that life is no longer exciting because you’ve fulfilled all your personal needs, think about going beyond yourself. What are the needs of those around you? Who is worse off that you can reach out to? Which person in your office department, in your block, your community could benefit from your outstretched hand?

Don’t have the idea that handouts are the sole responsibility of governments. For humanity’s sake, it is our moral and rightful obligation to help meet the basic needs of those who struggle day to day.When was the last time you dropped a few coins into the can in exchange for a sticker? And when you did it, was it with the idea that that sticker would effectively ward off other volunteers canvassing down the road? I’ve been guilty of that, and it takes just a little change in perspective. Perhaps we can determine we’d give ten dollars for the cause and challenge ourselves to seek out five volunteers through whom we’d support with two dollars each.

Beyond money and material possessions that we donate through projects like BB’s Sharity Gift Box and organisations like The Salvation Army, we can make ourselves available. We can serve others with the time, skills and strengths that we have. The National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre will embrace a willing committed person with open arms because there are just so many needs to be met. More hands on the plow make light work.

By and large, we are an economically prosperous society with all our basic needs met and an unquenchable hunger of wants. Things works like clockwork here. Turn on the tap and there’s water. Flip the switch and there’s light. With a roof over your head and the comforts of life, this would be a dream for many beyond our shores.

If you’re sitting there wallowing in self-pity because you’ve literally got so much to brood over, start giving them away. Give yourself away to meet the simple needs of others.

Volunteer for a cause. Be a voice against poverty, join a team that helps build homes for poor villagers, sign up for a medical or disaster relief mission – there’s almost no end to what you can do, where you can render yourself and channel your resources.

Life isn’t just about you. Life is about humanity. Life is meant to be led collectively, not singly.

If life is getting you down, how about picking someone else up on the way?

PS: The author & wife jet off to Kenya for a church mission trip from 6th - 21st Aug. We ask for your coverage in prayer.