Sabbath at Ogembo

19 April - It isn't clear who started the fricassee, since nobody was awake. Perhaps it was an intruding animal, or just the bright moon. Whatever it was, I caught on when the four neighbor dogs erupted in a chorus of long howls, barking, yapping and generally whooping it up. That challenged the rooster right outside Ed's open window to outdo them. But the two cows couldn't keep back some full-lunged bellows to establish themselves as nosiest of all. My cell phone erupted about the same time wrestling me from bed to fetch it. And I was up. The sun wasn't yet but even it couldn't seem to wait. Sabbath morning is a peaceful time for God's people, but a busy time for pastors. After a quick one-dish "Ed" breakfast of chili beans with jalapeños, eggs, onions, zucchini and fresh garlic, we headed out to visit our largest UCG congregation. At Kisii town we picked up deacon Moses Meraba Nyaira and drove into higher mountainous terrain to the village of Ogembo. Here we are gathered for Sabbath services with 126 in their beautifully landscaped church hall located a mile from town in a lush tropical setting. After services Ed and I counseled six for baptism and three were ready. Using the 4x4 we drove down the mountain to the river where we baptized them and afterwards departed for Migori with Mr. & Mrs. Nyaira and Charles Kisembo, our church contact in Kampala, Uganda. As we drove through Migori, Moses pointed out many Kikuyu shops that had been looted and destroyed by the local Luo. A noise told me that we had a flat tire and when we stopped the car was directly across from a tire repair shop. A few minutes later we drove the last mile to the Maranatha compound and enjoyed a sumptuous African Night to Be Much Observed with the local brethren and church leaders from around the region. Roasted goat, chipati bread, and chopped tomato, onion and chilies called, "kachumbari" was served to the congregation and leaders invited for the first DUB. We fell into bed exhausted from the day and the hours of pounding across very rough roads.

Moses Nyaira

Ogembo Congregation and hall

Ogembo Hymn

Ogembo with Ed Dowd and Antonio Ndung'u