Joe's Most Memorable Stories

My [Joe] 11 years of serving here in Kenya are winding down.  By the middle of August we will say our last Goodbye and board the plane to go back to America.  As I reflect on all that has transpired since I arrived in Kenya on January 1st, 2004, I recognize that I am a much different person.  I have matured and grown in so many ways.  And hopefully God has used me to impact lives here for His glory.

For my own sake (and anyone else who is interested), I decided to look back on the most memorable stories of the past 11 years.  It has been good for me to reflect back over the years.  Some of the stories are good, positive and encouraging; others are heartbreaking.  But all are memorable.  For those of you who have been journeying with me since the beginning, these will be stories you have heard before (maybe even many times).  For those of you who have joined along the way, they might be new stories to you.  As I read through them again, some bring tears to my eyes, others bring a smile to my face.   

For those who read this, I hope it will also stir some emotions within you.  Maybe it will encourage you to put your heart on the line more often because it seems like the more of your heart you put into something, the deeper the sorrow you might feel, but also the greater the joy God rewards you with

My Most Memorable Stories... 

Face to Face with the Mob - Every Kenyan and every person who was in Kenya during the after-math of the election in 2007 has their own story.  Mine consisted of looters threatening me with machetes and rioters chasing my vehicle with torches to burn it, but ultimately it was a story of God coming through for me once again!

The Run-Away - She was a CGA student and a Suba Laker who I was close to.  She was so talented and had a bright future ahead of her, but after making a few mistakes, she ran away.  I searched the country for weeks to try and find her.  Though I never succeeded in locating her, the chase gave me an opportunity to save the future of another young girl in a similar situation.  

Almost Blood Brothers - In an attempt to save the life of one of our CGA students, I threw him in the vehicle with a couple of family members to rush him to a nearby town with a better hospital in the middle of the night on New Year’s Eve.  I did everything I could including giving blood, but it wasn’t enough!  

National Champions - Our Suba Laker girls have struggled to prove they are some of the best in Kenya.  After falling short for many years at the Primary School Nationals, the Suba Lakers finally helped the Lake Region team win Nationals for the first time ever.

Elephants, Flat-tires and IV’s - It was a story that included a little of everything.  It was definitely not how I planned to return to Kenya, but God was able to use all of those negatives to teach me something positive. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Losing Your Only Loved One -  With all of the death here, I have been to dozens (or maybe hundreds) of funerals in Kenya; including old people and young people, those I knew very well and those who I didn’t know very well, but knew their family.  None of them impacted me the way the funeral of our 1st grader’s mom did. 

Sentenced in Court - A little fender bender turned into a big fiasco that ended with me thinking I was headed to jail for one month.  Let’s just say that the police, judicial system and jails are a little different in Kenya than they are in America.  Part 1, Part 2 

Being on Top of Africa - Climbing Kenya’s tallest mountain and Africa’s 2nd highest peak is always an adventure, but doing it during rainy season makes it a little more exciting than normal! 

Biting the Hand that Feeds You -  A former student that CGA had invested so much time and energy in, decided that he wanted to get more out of CGA.  Unfortunately, it left me chasing him through the bushes and eventually facing him in the police cell.  

Lessons from a Dead Mouse - Life is challenging no matter where you live, but sometimes in a foreign culture it can increase the stress level and the disappointment.  With that being the case, it is important to look for mini victories… even the death of a mouse.

The Martyr - My good friend and mentor that came with me to Kenya the first time , helped me to hear the voice of God and even housed me for quite a while lived an extraordinary life.  And he died an extraordinary death.
 

Playing Detective and Police - Selling my old vehicle should have been a simple thing until a mechanic tried to pull a fast one.  The police required my help in apprehending the criminal and putting him in jail.  

A Comeback for the Ages - Being down 2-0 against the reigning champions in the 2nd half of the semifinals at Nationals, it would have been easy to give up.  I’m glad we didn’t because it turned out to be one of the most exciting experiences in the lives of those young primary school girls.   

This Little Light of Mine - I was escorting one of our young Suba Lakers home after arriving late from a tournament.  I have given many gifts away during my time in Kenya, but this one was clearly directed by God, a little painful to me, but so rewarding for everyone.   

Young Players Maturing - The goal of competing in sports is winning, but ultimately it is in glorifying God and growing as a person.  During the KYFA tournament, a few individual stories helped to encourage me that the club is doing the right thing.

Caught with His Pants Down - One of our CGA secondary students thought he was much more clever than the rest of us until his pants came down in the police station and the truth was ultimately revealed!

Would You Rather Take These 300 Students and Educate ThemYourself? - CGA faced many battles in trying to register the school with the Kenyan government.  None of those battles were as fierce as this one with some of the community leaders who were standing in our way.  The school was almost shutdown, but God came through in the end. 

Champions at Last - Two of our Suba Lakers have overcome great odds to reach the end of High School and also to reach the Secondary School Nationals in their final year.  Hear their story of perseverance and determination.  

To Bribe or Not to Bribe - Helping a student required mud-bogging, posting bail and a lot of time and energy, but it is all worth it. The Conclusion of the Story.


God is My Provider - After much prayer, God provided the perfect vehicle in a way that only He can.  He has done it so much in my life that it shouldn’t surprise me anymore, but it still does!  

What’s Most Important? - A heartbreaking loss in the Finals gave me an opportunity to share the Gospel with this young group of girls football players, some of who had never heard the Gospel before.  This was one of our big motivators for starting the Suba Lakers Football Club. 


It was challenging to narrow down this list to these stories.  A few more of my memorable stories are summarized in another blog.

Most Memorable Stories: Honorable Mentions

It was difficult going through all of my old stories from my time in Kenya to come up with the "Most Memorable" ones.  The following are more good stories that didn’t make the cut to be on the top list so we are giving them an "Honorable Mention.”

Overcoming Challenges

God Opening Doors - One of our Suba Lakers didn’t have much hope to continue her education after high school, but through her faithful service, God opened doors for Lizzy that no one else expected him to. This is one story which represents so many stories of our girls.  

Correcting Before It’s Too Late - She already had one baby when she was young.  Without some correcting and rebuking she was headed in the direction to repeat the same mistake.

Determination and Perseverance - The Magero children lost their mother in 2005 and then their father in 2012.  Daisy’s lost all of her belongings when her dorm was burnt down in school, but they keep struggling to do their best and continue on in their education. 

Making a Difference - A week that was full of visiting the homes of our Suba Lakers helps me to see the extreme challenges most of them are facing and realize all that the club is doing to make a difference in their lives.

Dire Circumstances - Working at school every day, I sometimes forget the type of homes and family situations these students come from.  Visiting some of our girls on Rusinga reminded me of how dire their circumstances are at times. 

Sharing the Gospel

A Life-Changing Decision - During a Bible study with some of our CGA Alumni, Stephen shared his story of when he accepted Christ in my 7th Grade Class. 

Witnessing through Football - One of the biggest joys as a coach is seeing your players reach out to players from other teams to encourage them and pray with them.  

A God Moment While Awaiting the VIP - On a Sunday morning, our Suba Lakers were waiting for an important female politician to come and speak with them.  Before she came, we had an impromptu Church service together.  It was a life-changing moment for several of the girls. 

Deaths

A Life Taken Too Soon - She was a sweet little girl who had changed so much in only 1 year at CGA, but due to poor health care, her life was cut short.

Making the Most of His Few Years - He had a sweet caring personality that touched the lives of everyone he knew, but he came up short in his battle against cancer. 

Corruption

We Earned that Money - Most people would assume that a tournament would award teams the prizes they promised when the teams were invited.  That isn’t always true in Kenya and sometimes it takes a lot of effort to just get some of the promised prizes!
 

Just Give Me Some Gas - It should be pretty simple to fill up a tank of gas so that we can drive back home from Kisumu to Mbita.  This time it wasn’t, but it gave an opportunity for God to show me how He answers prayers. 
 

If You Want Me to Leave, Just Tell Me - I didn’t have any problems getting a work permit when I came to Kenya and then renewing it multiple times, until they lost my file.  Then it took a lot of stair climbing, begging and a few tears to find it.
 

Impacting Young Lives

A Proud Father - For the first time I was able to accompany some of our girls to the Primary School Nationals as an assistant coach.  Their play on the field made me proud, but the character they showed was even more rewarding. 

The V.I.P.’s Visit - The Suba Lakers were so excited to finally meet one of their hero’s, Millie Odhiambo.  She is from Mbita, and now a Member of the Kenyan Parliament.  It took her a long time to arrive, but it was worth the wait.
 

Learning to “Beg” - The process of finishing 8th grade and joining high schools in Kenya is overwhelming for most parents and guardians.  Trying to find high schools for a whole class of over 20 is even more overwhelming, but because of our love we try to help these young ones however we can.  

Others

Denying the Obvious - There are many mistakes that you can hide from others.  Getting pregnant is not usually one of them, but this young 7th Grader tried her best to hide it.  

Cheated Again - Our Under 14 Suba Laker Girls were actually the right age for the Under 14 Coca Cola Tournament as opposed to all of the other overage teams.  They played their hearts out and deserved to win the championship and proceed to the National Finals in Nairobi.  Unfortunately, 1 man stood in the way.  

Searching for a Lost Sheep - The disappearance of Sharon was heartbreaking to me.  I was teaching her and coaching her, and she was doing well in school as she prepared to take her 8th Grade National Exams within a few months. 

Bitter Sweet

Joe has served Mbita, Kenya for the past 11 years and Daneen for over a year now.  Departures and transitions are often bitter sweet; filled with sadness over the things and people you will miss, but equally filled with excitement for the future and a new adventure.  As we finish our commitment here and prepare to return home to America in August, there are numerous things we will miss about this place and our lives here, and other things we won’t.

What We Will Miss the Most About Living in Kenya:

-  Big avocados and mangos for a really cheap price

-  Seeing the development of the young children; academically, athletically and in their character

-  The generosity and hospitality of the Kenyan people

-  The community centered culture where everyone works together whether it’s raising children, herding cows, or sharing food.

-  “Harambee”.  In Kiswahili, it means: “pull together”.  In times of need and tragedy, everyone comes together to help others

-  The smiling faces of the little ones
-  Watching the football girls Joe helped develop as they play for their secondary schools

-  Hearing a little voice shout out, “UNCLE JOE” or “AUNTIE DANEEN” as we walk down the road

-  Competing against other schools in math exams (Joe loves winning!) 

-  Being a part of helping young disadvantaged children rise above their situations to build a better future

-  The simple life.  A simple home, simple lifestyle and little need for material “stuff”.

-  No American lifestyle (always-must-be-busy-and-doing-stuff) demands.  This allows for many quiet, restful nights at home and plenty of quality time together (great for newlyweds!)

-  Easily accessible public transportation

-  Amazing sunsets over Lake Victoria

What We Will NOT Miss About Living in Kenya:

-  Lake flies- the equivalent of gnats in America during summer but they arrive in large swarms of tornado-looking clouds from across the lake

-  Malaria, worms and amoebas

-  Living in a fishbowl- as one of the very few white people in a small town, you are like a celebrity with everyone is watching your every move

-  Death and Funerals- they are too common with an average of attending at least 1 funeral a month; often times we’re asked to use our vehicle to transport the person to/from the mortuary.  Funerals are a full-day event after a week of fundraising activities, often times including loud music played all night long, heard for miles.

-  3-4 hour long church services.

-  The Roads- so many horrible, rough, unpaved, pothole covered roads and other “roads” which are merely wide paths in between houses and farms.

-  Speed Bumps- on the nicely paved roads, there are frequent speed pumps.  Each is a different size and they’re almost always unmarked with no forewarning.

-  Cold showers on mornings when the electricity is out.

-  “Mzungu” – it’s never enjoyable to walk to the market or school and deal with people (kids and adults) shouting at you “Mzungu, mzungu!” simply because you’re different. Mzungu means foreigner or white person.

-  Corruption and bribe culture- it exists from the highest government offices and officials down to local police, hospital workers and even schools and churches.

-  Uncountable requests for financial help- as a Westerner, many see us as an opportunity to get money or other material items
-  Never knowing the whole story. Due to our lack of understanding the local language along with unspoken cultural customs and behaviors, it seems we never get the whole picture, no matter how many questions we might ask.

As with most things in life, there are always good and bad, positive and negatives, about every place on Earth.  We will really miss our home, family and friends in Kenya, but we look forward to the positive and life-giving things about the next place we’ll live; wherever God may lead us!

Champions at Last!

For the first 3 years of high school, Belinda Awuor and Judith Mayor have played on great teams which always reached the Semifinals in the Secondary School Regional Ball-games.  But each year they fell just short of the championship. In the first two years, they lost by a goal in the semifinals.  Last year they came even closer by drawing in regulation and in extra time before narrowly losing on penalty kicks.  That was the most painful loss because they played so well and came so close; and for Judith it was even more painful because she missed a penalty kick that could have won it for them. 

This year they were determined to become champions in their final year of high school.  Judith was named the team captain and Belinda was definitely the spiritual/emotional leader of the team.  Just like in past years, they again helped Gekomoni Secondary School cruise to easy victories in the Zonal competitions, as well as the Sub-County and County tournaments.  They reached the Regional Tournament with a lot of confidence, but even more determination.  

To understand their level of determination, it is important to flashback to their childhood... 

Both girls grew up as orphans, being raised by single mothers who struggled to provide for their big families.  During primary school, Judith and Belinda both made some bad choices which brought even more challenges into their lives.  Growing up in those situations, it was difficult for them to attend school regularly which greatly affected their academic performance.  The opportunity to play football helped motivate them to stay in school.  Eventually they reached 8^th Grade and were able to take the National Exams.  When they received their results, they were far below the pass mark.  Their parents/guardians, as well as the Suba Laker Club Officials, wondered if that would be the end of their education.  Since most secondary schools don’t take students with low National Exam scores, everyone was concerned that these girls might have no option except to get married at a young age and begin a family.  It is a fate that many girls in this region accept because of various circumstances.  These two girls were not ready give up though! 

Fortunately for them, they had a talent in football.  Because of their ability, a coach from Kisii called the Suba Lakers and said he would help find a school for Belinda and Judith.  Not only did he find them a school, but he also offered to pay their school fees; all because they were good in football.  They were given the opportunity to continue playing football, but more importantly, to continue in their education. 

Four years later in 2014, they are now in their final year of high school and getting one more chance to win the Championship.  In the Regional Tournament, Gekomoni dominated their pool in the preliminaries by defeating Nyahera 1-0 in the opening game and then thrashing St. Gema 4-0 in their 2^nd game.  Having already won their pool, they lost a meaningless third game 1-0.   They had reached the semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.  In the Semifinals against Ugari, Judith atoned for last year’s failure by placing a free kick over the heads of the defenders which allowed the Gekomoni striker to outrun them and score a goal towards the end of the first half.  They held on for a 1-0 victory and had finally qualified for the Championship Game! 

For the Finals match, they were pitted against last year’s runners-up, Nyakach Girls High School.  Nyakach had won their pool and easily won their semifinal 3-0 which had led many people to pick them as the odds-on favorite.  Gekomoni didn’t worry about what others thought and came out fighting in the Finals, playing their best game of the tournament.  They showed more aggressiveness and created multiple opportunities to score, but the cross-bar and the Nyakach goalkeeper thwarted their efforts each time.  Judith was the team orchestrator in central mid-field, while Belinda was the defensive stopper that no ball could pass.  Eventually, the match went into extra time, but neither team managed to score.  This championship to determine which team would represent the Lake Region at Nationals would come down to post-match penalty kicks. 

The Gekomoni goalkeeper had a great tournament, only allowing 1 goal in 5 games.  She stepped up even more in the post-match penalty shootout by not only blocking 3 shots, but also by converting her own penalty kick.  Gekomoni took the trophy by winning 3-2 in penalty kicks.  The team and their fans celebrated by picking up Belinda and carrying her on their shoulders.  It was a glorious moment for both Judith and Belinda after having come up short in their first three tries. 

In early August, they will travel with the Gekomoni team to Kakamega for the Kenya National Secondary School Finals.  It will be the 3^rd straight year that the Lake Region representative will be led by Suba Laker players.  If Judith and Belinda continue on with that same determination and perseverance, they will be successful at Nationals, but even more importantly, they will be able to graduate high school and be successful in life!  

Resources for Short Term Vision/Mission Teams

We've been on both sides.  
We've each been a part of short-term mission teams and we've also hosted teams, both separately and together. 

We personally find huge value in properly preparing a team (or individual) for a trip to a foreign country and culture.  We've discovered that setting a focus on learning and developing relationships rather than doing projects and seeking accomplishments has been a key to a "successful" mission trip.

Below are some great resources for individuals and teams.  These are intended to supplement a church mission trip training program. We do not suggest someone use only these resources. 

Articles: Short Term Team Preparation

Click on the title to read each article
10 Steps for Doing Short Term Missions - Whole, by Sarita Hartz. If you read nothing else, read this one!! Team leaders and each member!

When Rich Westerners Don't Know They are being Rich Westerners - Djibouti Jones, by Rachel Pieh Jones. Must read for each team member.

The Reasons We Go - by Addie Zierman. Good ideas for things to focus on during a trip.

Using Your Poor Kid to Teach My Rich Kid a Lesson - by Jamie, the Very Worst Missionary. Great thoughts focusing how we're all alike.  Especially good if children and youth are on a team. 

10 Things You Need to Know Before Going on a Mission Trip - Unexpected.org, by Melanie Dale. Great things to consider and help set your focus for a trip.

Short Term Mission Trips : Maximizing the Benefits - Mission Frontiers, by Glenn Schwartz. Short article about "being" rather than "doing".

The Good Missionary - Christianity Today, by Samuel Ikua Gachagua and Claire Diaz-Ortiz. An African orphan shares on what he loves (and doesn't) about short-term mission teams.

Please Don't Say They are Poor but They're Happy - A Life Overseas, by Rachel Pieh Jones. Tough truths about experiencing poverty.

Good Intention, Good Practice - Djibouti Jones, by Rachel Pieh Jones. This will make you think before you snap a photo!!

Articles: Short Term Teams Post-Trip Processing

Reverse Culture Shock - Team Pete, by Joe and Daneen Peterson.  Our personal thoughts on ways to work through reverse culture shock.

Rocky Re-entry - various articles and resources about the challenges of reverse culture shock and re-entry.

I Am a Triangle - Thrive Connection, by Deb Smith. Talks about how your worldview changes after an impactful trip to a foreign culture. 

A Life Overseas - Good stories about missionaries living overseas.

When Missionaries Leave the Field - Christian Standard, by Carla Williams from Team Expansion.  For long-term missionaries; not applicable to short term teams.

Training Resources for Teams:

Missions Dilemma video series ($30-50), by Steve Saint – Designed for group discussion.  Great for trip preparation meetings.

Helping Without Hurting in Short-term Missions ($12) - Leadership guide with video series. A paradigm-forming contemporary classic on the subject of poverty alleviation, specifically for short term trips. Avaliable on RightNow Media (free with subscription).

Roundtrip Missions Video Series ($20) - Various topics relative to short term missions.

Online videos from Roundtrip Missions (free) Various teaching modules on great topics.

Books:

- When Helping Hurts by Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert. Free online video sessions for group discussion. *Check out the updated version specific for short-term missions.

- Africa Friends and Money Matters by David E. Maranz

- The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor by Jacqueline Novogratz

- A Hole In the Gospel.  6 week study guide and DVD series for groups.
- More book suggestions on topics of missions, cross-culture, international development, Africa (by country) provided here. 

Additional Training for Individuals:

Perspectives Class - Find a class near you.

CHE Training (Community Health Evangelism) – Holistic approach to missions. Uses a model of training nationals to train other nationals. 

Training for Long term missionaries:
Mission Training International - Compass, a 4-week pre-departure training. Learn skills to survive (and thrive) long term on the mission field. ($$$) 

This is by no means an exhaustive list.  These are resources we have personally used or teams we've hosted have used.  Please comment below or email us with your favorite team preparation resources!