His Work Among the Luo People Of Kenya Go ... and make disciples of all nations Matthew 28:19
April 1, 1989

Fraley's Chapel Church of Christ
c/o Jim Brown
Rt. #8 Box 29A
Corinth, Mississippi  38834

                                                       A LESSON IN GIVING

   A new Christian, one we had never met before, attended the teachers meeting that was held in our home in January.  His name is Ombado.  Even in all the hustle and bustle of trying to feed and arrange to sleep 50   people, Ombado drew my attention very quickly.  You see, Ombado is a handicapped man.   His legs are extremely deformed (I suppose he was that way from birth) and I immediately noticed him because he walked on his hands.   Wheelchairs are very impractical on this terrain, so Ombado wears shoes on his hands and walks just as quickly and efficiently as we do.   I also noticed fairly quickly that Ombado was well accepted by the other men and took an active part in the weekend meeting.
   A week after the meeting, Ombado showed up at our gate again one morning   He had been to Homa Bay to do some business and stopped by to talk to us before returning home.  It seems that Ombado decided to donate a piece of his land so that the Nyafare congregation could build a building on it.  He went to Homa Bay to see about transferring the title to the land into the church's name.  In the process, he discovered that it would cost to make the transfer and he had no money so he came to us.   "Could you give me 100 shillings ($5.50) so I can pay the title transfer and we can begin building for the church?", he asked.   Barry explained, very politely, that we could not donate to any building projects while the church registration was still under investigation by the Kenya Government.  Ombado accepted that with a smile and went on his way, without the 100 shillings.
   "Give me, Give me, give me!"  Barry and I grumbled after Ombado left.  "When is someone ever going to come to our home and not ask for anything?"  We ranted and raved in that fashion for the whole day and for a few days afterwards.  We just couldn't understand why he couldn't come up with a 100 shillings if he could donate a whole  piece of land.  You see, Luo's truly live by the expression, it never hurts to ask , and we don't.  It does hurt to ask, when everyday someone is at your gate asking for school fees, or transport money, or money for medicine, or money to start a business.  Ombado is just one of one million Luo's who all think it never hurts to ask, and we are just one family.  "We can't help everyone!", we tell ourselves everyday. "When are these people going to learn the talent of giving instead of asking all the time?"  Barry and I went on and on until we got it out of our systems and then didn't give it another thought.
   Since that time we have gotten to know Ombado better.  He does have a talent for teaching and he's willing to help whenever asked to teach.  He's a meek and mild mannered man who tries to get along with everyone and show a spirit of brotherhood.  He attends all meetings.  Last month he walked over 20 kilometers (on his hands) to attend a weekend meeting, and he didn't even ask for a ride.  And he's always eager to learn.  There's one other thing I noticed about Ombado over the months.  Every time I see him, he is wearing the same tattered shorts and shredded red shirt.  I have wondered how he manages to keep it on his body at all.
   And now, I'm terribly ashamed of myself for begrudging Ombado the 100 shillings.   Last week Barry delivered some corn to Ombado's house.  It was the first time he visited there.  And what he found really surprised him.  Ombado, his wife, and five children are living in a 9 by 10 foot shell of a house with gaping holes in the thatch roof.  Another Christian explained to us that Ombado is unable to get up on his roof to do the necessary repairs, and he has no income to pay to have it done.  He also has much difficulty getting his farming done and feeding his family even in a time of good harvest.  Barry was quick to point out to the man, that the church could help Ombado by fixing the roof for him, and re-mudding the walls.  It wouldn't cost them anything and their labor would be a service for Christ.
   Last week, Ombado's youngest child died, and we paid for the burial expenses, but it was Ombado who taught us the real lesson of giving.  He was willing to give to the church, everything he had.  If Christ was walking and teaching on earth today, I'm sure he would use Ombado as an example of giving just as he did the poor widow.  Ombado was willing to give everything he had for Christ, and I was not.
   We are fine, and are trying to learn to live more as Christ would have us live everyday.  Please pray for us as we try to give more of ourselves daily for Christ.  You are in our prayers as you try to perfect you walk with Him.
   April will be another month of weekend meetings for us.  The 7th through the 11th, we will be sharing together at a ladies retreat.  Our sisters in Christ are very excited about spending the weekend together with Hana, Dorcas
Priscilla, Lydia, and some of our other Bible sisters, as we study how to become better women for the cause of Christ.  The 21st through the 23rd will be spent with a cluster of four churches who plan to retreat together, and the 27th through May 5th will be used to teach a Luo course of Back to the Bible designed to reach World Bible School Contacts.  Please pray also for the growth and strength of God s Kingdom here in South Nyanza.

Love,
 
 

Barry, Stacy and Kit