The Church on a Farm

A few weeks ago in Canada, when we agreed to drive one weekend to Kisii to meet Rev. Justine Magara, it was because we felt compelled to make the effort to meet fellow Unitarians in Kenya, knowing we were in for a “once in a lifetime” experience.   It was that – and more. 

  

Initially, we assumed that we were driving 3 to 4 hours southwest of Kakamega to Kisii, a large agricultural town, where we would stay in a local hotel, attend a church service on the Sunday, maybe take in some of the local soapstone scupturing, and drive back to Kakamega by the late afternoon.  Michael took over the arrangements last week, and as he spoke to Justine by phone, the weekend evolved in a new direction.  

Justine would meet us in Kisii, drive with us 45 to 60 minutes north to the village of Manga where we would meet his congregation, enjoy a meal together, participate in a worship service, walk the Ongori Farm, return for dinner – and spend the night there.  I asked Michael to remind Justine we were westerners, and he assured Michael we would be comfortable.  The next morning we would drive one hour to Ogembo, another village, for a Sunday service, lunch, and a visit to a soapstone factory.  

Well, we left Kakamega at 10 am on Saturday, picked Justine up in Nyansiongo, a village beyond Kisii, and drove on a dirt road at least 30 minutes to Manga and the Ongori farm.  My alarm bells went off.  Oh, oh, in over my head.  Bucolic.  And rural.  Rural.  I am a born and bred city girl.  By the way, the countryside in this part of Kenya is gorgeous.  It has hills and valleys, is lushness beyond Kakamega’s, and is intensely cultivated and inhabited.

Justine explained that his congregation had begun with the family members at Ongori farm, and then extended into the community, his home town, to about 50 members.  He also serves a second congregation in Ogembo, but because of  a last minute change of plans, we stayed in Manga at the farm.   When we were shown to our room, my heart sank.  The bed was exceedingly narrow, there was no sink or basin, no towels – but, yes, there was a squat toilet opposite so I didn’t have to use the outhouse.  Whew.

 

We met Julius and his mother, the next door neighbours.  Julius works in a factory in Nairobi, helping educate two younger siblings, keep his mother, and assist Justine with Unitarian organization.  Peter and Samson run the Ongori farm while their mother and two brothers are currently in the US.  Justine lives with them when not in Nairobi with his wife and children, coordinating Unitarian work in Kenya.  We met other neighbours who have joined Justine’s congregation.

What binds them?  I would say Justine’s passion and vision.  He loves to minister and is inspiring his Unitarian following to work cooperatively to develop a sustainable lifestyle.  He wants youth to be able to stay in the countryside to make a living and live a quality life.

After a late lunch, we walked the beautiful Ongori farm with Justine, Julius, Peter , Samson and one of their friends, appreciating the remarkable fauna and the endeavours to make the farm more lucrative:  a brick making operation, two eucalyptus plots, a market garden, a dairy herd, a fish farm.  Another goal is to build a church on the farm from the bricks. We later found the Ongori farm is famous  in the region, one of the few undivided homesteads purchased after independence.  

 

We enjoyed an evening of showing images of Vancouver and BC on our computer to a receptive and curious audience, another tasty meal from farm products, and a lively conversation about world affairs.    I helped make ugali in the farm kitchen over a wood fire.

 

I did sleep.  I managed without a shower or water, though the guys brought me a basin of heated water in the morning.  I learned how to make Kenyan tea in the farm kitchen but missed out on making chapatis over the open fire which, by the way, is acrid and takes getting used to.  

 

The worship service at around 11 (remember, being on time is not a Kenyan value)that included the Ongori family and friends was simple and lovely.  Michael and I gave the congregation a gift of two Unitarian songbooks, sang “One More Step” for them to join in, and then Michael, as a tribute to Kenya and this congregation, sang “We’ll Build a Land.”  They loved the hymn books and we loved their readings and the minister’s prayer of welcome and gratitude.

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 Many group photos were taken, and then Samson, who had discovered I love African dancing, joined with Julius to lead a song and dance for us

 As we prepared to drive away, I was surprised and touched  beyond words to receive tight hugs from my new young Kenyan friends, Samson, Peter and Julius.  I know I will never forget them.  I know I will help find a way to keep in touch with and support Justine.  I know that in stretching myself, I learned a little more about living in grace.

 

And on the way “home,” we took a too long detour on poor roads to see the soapstone factories and this wonderful scupture called “Defeating Literacy,”  evocative of our volunteer work in Kenya.