Visiting Ngomongo Church

I am coming to the end of my classes. I have two hours to teach today, but not until mid-morning. The class goes well; I think I will be able to finish all the material I was hoping to cover. There are a lot of good questions, especially about the meaning and mode of baptism.

We have lunch at the Kim’s: lasagna! Nurse Pui Meng’ is there also, from Kiluani Clinic. After lunch I return to my room to prepare a quiz for the next morning and to begin on writing my final exam, so I can afford to be away this weekend.

Soon Eben Yoon is at my door to tell me that he is taking me to Kimongo Clinic to see the work there. When I protest that I have these tests to prepare he reminds me that I can write the final exam on the weekend when I am up in Kitui; that sounds reasonable, so I get into the van with Eben and his family and off we go. It’s not so very far away by foot, but by van we must go around a valley that separates that work from the college. We drive past some coffee plantations where a number of the Ngomongo church members work, especially the children. We come to the compound where we meet Pastor Francis. I enter his home and meet his wife Violet and their daughter Hannah. I take their picture and pray with them. Then the pastor shows me the church. It is a grand structure that takes advantage of the sloping landscape to create theater-style seating. On the hill just above it there is a primary school and kindergarten. All the students are asleep on mats. I am introduced to his assistant, Deacon Francis. I meet his family in their home also and pray with them. Their homes are just two-room buildings with corrugated tin roofs. They show me the clinic where Byung Kim was ministering till recently when he left for Cambodia. Then we go to visit a couple of church members: Monica and her mother who live in one room, which is very smoke filled because they are starting on supper. I enter and pray with them. Other church members are not home, so we get back into the van and return to the college.

We have supper at Pastor Lazarus’s house. Patricia asks if we mind eating African tonight. I am confused, as it looks like the same food we’ve been eating there before. Ah, she means the style of eating: using hands. Ugali is best eaten with the hands, rolling it in your hands so it becomes a doughy ball. Then dipping it into the meat and rice mixture. It really does taste better this way – I’m not kidding!

In the evening Andrew Matoke drops by. He is interested in the Online Bible program. I refer him to Pastor Lazarus, but we talk for a while as I make copies of some e-text files of reformed books. Andrew has a background in computer work and he loves the Linux operating system. His family is discouraged because he has left this vocation, which has so much potential for him to earn money, and has pursued the ministry which offers very little financially. If the Lord lets him, he hopes to pursue the ministry. He has a keen love of the Scriptures and also a great burden for young people. When he leaves he tells me to greet the young people in Edmonton.

I manage to finish writing my quiz, as well as one extra page of notes for the last day of classes, but Eben does not come home until late. I hope it will work to get it printed in the morning.