I have spent the last seven weeks "tending the garden" (the campus) of the Lutheran School of Theology in Kimuka, Kenya.
It was a new experience, with new challenges, new skills, and many occasions to pray. And it was quite a vote of confidence from Rev. James May, the Executive Director of Lutherans In Africa, especially since I have a history of "blowing up" things on the site (plugging expensive tools into outlets without a voltage converter).
While Rev. May and his family were in the United States visiting donor congregations, I was responsible for the pastoral care of the LST staff and the overall care of the campus, the farm, the animals, the maintenance of the buildings, and heavy machinery.
In some ways I felt like Adam in the Garden of Eden ...
... picking papayas, pomegranates, figs directly from the trees;
... surrounded by exotic birds and a herd of giraffes;
... roses, birds of paradise, flowers unseen in the USA.
And all of this while sitting at the foot of the Ngong Hills, nested above the great Rift Valley, the home of Isak Dinesen's (Karen Blixen) Out of Africa and Beryl Markham's West With the Night.
But it didn't take long for me to learn that we are not in Eden anymore. The thorns and thistles, the curse of the ground, and the sweat of the brow have come to this paradise as well.
And yet, in the midst of the curse, the Triune God holds nothing back.
The Father continues to open His hand and gives all of His creation. The Lord Jesus, from nail pierced hands, gives all of His redemptive work. And the Holy Spirit delivers into our hands all of His gifts for our salvation, our faith, and the work of the Kingdom.
You can access the video about "tending the garden" of the Lutheran School of Theology below.
It was a new experience, with new challenges, new skills, and many occasions to pray. And it was quite a vote of confidence from Rev. James May, the Executive Director of Lutherans In Africa, especially since I have a history of "blowing up" things on the site (plugging expensive tools into outlets without a voltage converter).
While Rev. May and his family were in the United States visiting donor congregations, I was responsible for the pastoral care of the LST staff and the overall care of the campus, the farm, the animals, the maintenance of the buildings, and heavy machinery.
In some ways I felt like Adam in the Garden of Eden ...
... picking papayas, pomegranates, figs directly from the trees;
... surrounded by exotic birds and a herd of giraffes;
... roses, birds of paradise, flowers unseen in the USA.
And all of this while sitting at the foot of the Ngong Hills, nested above the great Rift Valley, the home of Isak Dinesen's (Karen Blixen) Out of Africa and Beryl Markham's West With the Night.
But it didn't take long for me to learn that we are not in Eden anymore. The thorns and thistles, the curse of the ground, and the sweat of the brow have come to this paradise as well.
And yet, in the midst of the curse, the Triune God holds nothing back.
The Father continues to open His hand and gives all of His creation. The Lord Jesus, from nail pierced hands, gives all of His redemptive work. And the Holy Spirit delivers into our hands all of His gifts for our salvation, our faith, and the work of the Kingdom.
You can access the video about "tending the garden" of the Lutheran School of Theology below.
UPDATE: Soon after my return to the United States I received a WhatsApp group text from the LST staff:
"The power house is on fire!"
From what I understand, the solar grid received a surge of electricity and the circuit breakers failed. Praise be to the Triune God that the fire was contained and that the batteries and converters were spared any damage. This would have been a catastrophic incident for the school.
Here's picture of the failed and charred circuit breakers.
Thank you for your continued prayers and gracious support. You can access the full video library for our work with Lutherans In Africa here.
Paul
To learn more about our work in Africa, sign up for email updates, access all of our teaching resources, and financially support the Missionary at Large position through East Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Detroit, you can go to the all links and resources page (here).