spring 2010

Smoke, Singing, Bows and Arrows, Camels... Quite an Adventure

by Nancy Smith-Mather

(A Disclaimer: to my friends writing to me that their lives are “predictable” and my life seems exciting, please realize stories like this one are the exception for me. My normal day is spent in an office cubicle. Consequently, my relationships with co-workers in the office have the greatest impact on me, and those are the relationships I will carry home with me.)

Shortly after we started our journey to visit water program sites, the engine started smoking, and we pulled over. I stood on the roadside beside the car and, unsurprisingly, some young children stopped to stare at me. The children were on their way to gather water, and consequently were not in school that morning. The children were not going to stop staring until we departed, so I tried to make the most of the opportunity. We turned the roadside into a small classroom. We started with mathematics using tiny rocks. I put two rocks in one small boy’s hand and three in the other hand... ngapi? (how many?).

We read all the words visible on the car, and then I pulled out the only reading material handy, a small blue passport. The passport has phrases from US history written on each page. An older girl, who joined the class after the boys, was able to read the sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal...”  As I listened, I felt proud of the ideals my country strives to uphold and grateful for the opportunity to discuss them with these eager learners.

After an hour, we were on the road again. We passed a community with a Church World Service (CWS) supported program and decided to stop. The children quickly lined up outside their mud school building and sang us a beautiful song translated to mean: “Sing with joy because God has given us life.” Not wanting to be outdone by school children, fellow American Henry and I decided we would also sing a song in our mother-tongue with an equally inspiring message. We sang and danced “the Hokey Pokey.” After initial shock and confusion, the children joined in with the motions. Good times.

We had not gone too much further down the road when we were stopped by a group of boys with bows and arrows, dressed in brown, and accompanied by an older man in camouflage. The boys gathered beside the car, and the man spoke to us in Pokot. Fortunately, our friend Deborah Katina, the director of a local community organization, was with us and speaks Pokot. Unsure of what they were saying, I assumed they were a greeting party. Then we gave the boys some bread and water. Deborah asked if we could take their photo, and they agreed. The boys covered their faces with rope headdresses and lined up in front of us singing: “We are powerful, more powerful than the wild animals because we live in the bush.” (To listen to their song: click here)

The car continued to climb the mountains on a bumpy dirt road. We passed camels, stopped to clear branches from the road, and walked when the car could not carry our weight up a steep hill. We finally arrived at our destination and received an amazing greeting. A group of about 75 adults and children were on the road singing: “Welcome, welcome our visitors. God knows how God will bless you for coming here.” (To listen: click here)

As we walked together to their water source, they sang: “Let God’s will be done here. Let God’s will be done in our community. Let God’s will be done in our homes ...” At the community meeting, the children sang about David and Goliath and about walking in the light of God (To listen: click here). They ended with the following lyrics: “Bring all the children to school, so that they can build our country, so they can be doctors, so they can be teachers, so they can be like Deborah....” Deborah grew up in West Pokot, is committed to increasing educational opportunities for girls, and is a role model, providing inspiration to many. (For a Recent Public Radio International program on Deborah: click here).

On our way down the mountain, we stopped to visit one more community. They also showed us their current water source, which was filled with bees (To view: click here). The children there are stung daily, as the bees compete with the people for the short supply of water.

As we left, some community members asked Deborah what tribe I was from. Deborah explained to me that tribes have symbols: the tribe of the lion, the ant, thunder, etc. I thought about it and responded that I did not know the symbol of my tribe. With joy, they quickly decided to give me one. The people looked around and noticed the setting sun. “You are from the tribe of the sun,” they said, “because you have come with the sun.”

We rode down the mountain encouraged by the beauty, hospitality, and faith of the people we met. I was grateful for the mountains, for the opportunity to play a small role in water relief programs, and mostly for God’s love that speaks through people of all languages and life experiences.

Nancy and Shelvis Smith Mather and were sweethearts in high school at Westminster. They have since married and, after seminary, were both ordained in the Presbyterian Church before leaving the United States for mission work with various service organizations in Africa. Nancy served as Refugee Ministries Coordinator at All Saints' for two years.

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