Sorry. Time has passed. And now it's time for me to leave. I know I haven't done the greatest job of keeping you posted on what's going here. But let me give you a recap over the last few months.
In December, the boys were off of school. We spent most of the month getting ready for our two Christmas outreaches that were to happen at the end of the month. We had an evening of fun planned for our neighbors, and for the street community, which included dinner, fun games, and the showing of "The Passion of the Christ". We built a stage for the fun and entertainment part, and then projected on the side of our house the movie. With over 200 people attending our 2nd outreach, it wasn't as rowdy as expected.
Christmas day with the boys (and Laci came for the 2nd half of December :) ) was relaxing with a day of food and movies. New Years as well was a family affair, on our roof, talking about New Year's resolutions, while watching off-in-the-distance fireworks.
Then the month of January begins school. This year, we stepped it up a bit, sending a total of 17 people to school, 6 of whom don't live with us. So I was quite busy getting them ready, buying uniforms, paying school fees, visiting schools and teachers. It was quite the adventure, and kept me occupied. While school started at the beginning of the year, some of them started school last week. Thank the Lord though that everyone is now in school. Here at the Rapha House, we actually started our own Bible school. There are three boys, all who live with us (one released from prison in Nov, and one released from prison just this month), who are participating, and have become Rapha House interns.
And now here it is. My last few hours in Mombasa at the Rapha House. 6 months - hast it really passed? Seems much longer, like I've lived here for years. I can't explain the mix of emotions going through my head right now. Excited for the cold weather at home. Excited to get back to America, where there's TV, internet at my fingertips, my motorcycle, a place without mosquitos. But then I think again. Are those things truly worth it? I mean, can they really replace John's ballerina dancing, or Issa's constant jesting, or Mario's infectious laughter? The Rapha House of Prayer is definitely composed of uniquely created Men of God, each one with a great purpose for living here. It's sad for me to leave this place, although it's been one of the most challenging places to live. Weird huh? How can getting verbally abused, being constantly disrespected, getting annoyed at perpetual requests (living in this heat!) be one of the places that I've loved living the most? Nothing to say but the presence of God is here in the Rapha House. No doubt God is omnipresent, but my eyes have been open to Him more since living here. And I think that there is complete truth when Jesus says "For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few" (Mt. 7:13). When I was working in Chicago, prior to Mombasa, I lived a typical American life - 9-5 job. Come home and eat. Watch some TV. Repeat. I didn't do anything that was "hard". I didn't necessarily go out of my way to help people. I wasn't learning how to love God, and allow Him to work through me. My complacency was not leading me through the narrow gate, but instead secretly and slowly pulling me down the wide and easy gate.
As I come back to the States, I wonder to myself, will I be the same Brandon who enjoyed a life of complacency, who went to church on Sundays, and an occasional BIble study, but applied nothing to my life or the life of others? Will I go out of my way to show love to my neighbors, and to love the poor as I'm called? Will I allow the Spirit to control my life, and the Bible teachings and devotions to change the way I live? The latter I pray.
The girls at the Rapha House have got it going on. Not that I don't want to come back to Mombasa, but there's no reason it only be when I'm half way across the world for me to live such a life.
