Yesterday was my first day as a missionary! Sure, I may have landed in Africa January 22nd….but that doesn’t matter. February 28, 2015 was my first day of being a missionary!
The day started fairly quiet. Saturdays are house-cleaning days, and this day was no different. My job…roaming the yard and picking up dog doo-doo—we have three dogs that roam to guard the property throughout the night. I have strategically renamed my job to “fecal redistribution”—this sounds so much more important!
After breakfast, we had a visit from Wanda (the resident nurse and manager of our clinic) and Linda (Wanda’s Kenyan staff, translator, and assistant). They came to Marc and myself with some questions about a mzee (and elderly respected man) and his family. We took some time to understand the concerns and create a plan of attack on the issues presented.
And this is where it got fun!
We got word that the community well, installed by KDM, had failed to produce water. We are in the dry season, so it may have went dry! But, to be certain, I went to check. Oh…I need a special tool.
Onto the motor bike to track down a special tool to take apart the pump. After a back-roads ride with Silas (a very trusted brother), many bumps, almost falling over on the roads, and many honks as we flew past herds of cows, goats, and kuku (pronounced kookoo, meaning chickens) scrambling off the road, I had tool in hand.
I pulled apart the well, not knowing anything about it, to see what I could see. But nothing looked out of place. I confirmed with the other muzungu (white people) that all the parts looked functional and in place. Put it back together with Isaiah (Marc’s eldest son) and tried the pump. A good foot of water was in the well…so we pumped…and sure enough, water was there!! ??? So, what happened?
Honestly, I believe that the Lord made the pump stop working. A trusted and loved disciple was sitting and watching as we were working on this well. I approached him to see what was going on.
“Habari” (Hello) I said.
“Not too good Tim.” He said to me in English.
This response surprised me. They are often taught in school that the appropriate response is nzuri (good) or “fine,” even if things are going poorly. But he was honest to me! As I sat and listened to his situation, I heard about a financial mix up that was going on…but even more, he was very concerned about the health….and life of his 4-month old son!
This little boy had had diarrhea for 4 days. The night before, he had hardly slept at all! This disciple didn’t want to burden us with this need, so he refused to tell us of this matter! Later, as I sat and talked with him and his wife, they had resigned that their little boy may die!
NOT ON MY WATCH!
At that moment, literally, Wanda called. We explained the situation and was given the OK to go to the local clinic/hospital for treatment. I quickly came home, got a van and took them to the tiny hospital down at the market. 
Only moments later we were heading home, medication in hand! After getting them settled in, I came to pay a visit; to check on the condition of the baby… but more importantly, the condition of our disciple and his wife. After a Coke and Fanta as we talked, I walked away feeling they were encouraged and fighting the good fight. This family is AMAZING! I love them dearly. I’d hate to have them leave our tiny village because of having fewer resources out here. I know their faith is strong.
As we talked, he shared that he felt God tell him, “if Marc, Charlton, and Tim can leave the comforts of America to bring the gospel to Africa, I can leave the comforts of the market—where everything we need is located—for the rural villages.” This is why my brother moved to be with us!
Please pray for him and his wife—I have left their names out intentionally.
I came home to a brother coming to get me to take me to his home. He lives in a mud house that was recently repaired, so it looked brand new. (This is the same home and kitchen that I showed pictures of while still in America.)
We talked about the challenges he’s been facing and where he has been since we arrived in Africa. I felt I was to share a few things with him…so I did. After challenging him, not disciplining…just a challenge right now, and encouragement, I left him. It was a great time. His English is so good, I didn’t need a translator, so it was nice to just sit and talk instead of talking in phrases as they are translated into Kiswahili.
I came home exhausted. This brief description of my “first day as a missionary” almost makes me laugh; it sounds so simple. But it was VERY full of running, motor bike driving, bouncing roads, people staring…gawking…as I walked through very rural communities, and making my way around as the new muzungu.
It was truly a great day! In the end…I don’t think anything was wrong with the well. I think it was God getting me out of my comfort of our “compound” and forcing me to interact. My brothers needed me yesterday; I can only trust that my words were not my own as there was MUCH prayer as I traveled here and there, trying to find the right words to say.
Might you be challenged to step out? Do something you’ve never done and know nothing about! You never know, God might use you in a way to encourage another. Or…maybe He’s seeing if you are willing to just step out and have YOUR first day as a missionary where you are!
Be blessed…and be a blessing to others!