Bicycles a la BKB

Another day, another adventure. No classes at Tumaini this morning because of the Muslim holiday, so we accompanied Don and Dennis from Bega Kwa Bega to the bicycle emporium of the central market place and negotiated for 18 bicycles and repair kits. On Thursday we'll follow the truck to Isimani to deliver them to Pastor Chaula and his evangelists.

Speaking of Muslim holidays, we're discovering that water department workers have the day off. This is problematic for us because due to mud in the lines, we have had no water in the house since yesterday afternoon. No water today; no water tomorrow. I find it's a great excuse to eat out.

Last Sunday we again ventured out into the countryside with BKB folks, this time to Nganegae in the mountains, a little further than our trip the previous Sunday to Kilolo. It's a six- or seven-hour event beginning with breakfast at the pastor's house, singing and dancing to take us to church, a three-hour service with singing and dancing, more singing and dancing outside afterwards, an auction for the chickens and corn brought to offering, singing and dancing, and finally lunch at the pastor's house, with singing and dancing. Did we mention the singing and dancing?

Each time we do this, we're treated to a wonderful sermon with translation. In effect, we hear the sermon twice, both times with a liberal amount of playacting to get the points across. Don or Gary preaches...Pastor Msigwa improves on the message! Stewardship has been the theme each day: the widow's mite, Zachaeus, every tenth ear of corn for the church until the pile at the altar grows to the ceiling.

Tomorrow, hopefully, classes resume. By the end of the week we should have our full complement of students.