Since we were late for everything these children waited for us for several hours – makes me wonder about our concept of time.
Here is a blast from the past -2012 to exact.
Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16As it is, you boast and brag. All such boasting is evil. 17Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.
We have had a lot of talk about Africa time and our American fixation with wanting stuff done “yesterday”. Even Stephanie Erlandson remarked upon this in her blog, which is worth a visit by the way……http://www.letsblendout.blogspot.com/ see the post for Jan 30. Someone told me that for the Africans time is cyclical and if you don’t get it done today you can do it tommorow or the next day. We are linear in our thinking. I see it in those around me. My wife will start down this path of step by step instructions for the day that covers a myriad of little things that add up to the result that I will have beef sirloin roast for supper. Every step depends on the proper and timely completion of the step before it. I don’t work that way but….
We have talked on this blog about the theological implications of planning (see Novemebr 20, 2011). We need to plan and hold each other accountable but…. I fear that when working with partners we may get so impatient that we forget the reason that we do what we do, and that is to do God’s will and sometimes God’s will doesn’t match up with ours. My advice to you is get used to it because God always wins.
So we fretted and fussed over the fact that Kisumu, Mambo Leo, was done and was ready for children and then a storm hit and yada yada yada. The simple fact is that God had other plans – get used to it…. This from GEO Tim Dooms who was going to start teaching at Kisumu in January.
I have begun working again at the Lutheran Non-Formal School there on the compound in Kisumu Town. While the unfinished Rescue Center is frustrating, it is neat to see and be a part of how God works through all things for His good. Having the opportunity to return to the Non-Formal School came at a critical time for the staff there, as the head teacher may soon be absorbed into work in a government school and another teacher is on maternity leave. I’ve also been working with the staff to increase a culture and atmosphere of literacy. So while my original plans have been delayed, God certainly has been active and I feel I am in a place that is helpful.
So for those of you freting over what you see as a lack of progress, consider this; maybe your job is to plan and support and to pray, the ELCK job is to get the project done to God’s glory and the benefit of the children, and somehow despite the weakness and slowness of all of us, God blesses, and His will is done.
