It took Eden students and faculty almost 24 hours to journey from St. Louis to Nairobi. We were greeted joyfully by our hosts at the airport, then made our way to Rosa Mystica Retreat Center for a short but welcome rest. Wasting no time, we set out Friday morning to see the sprawling metropolis. It was a day full of contrasts: the site of the 1998 bomb blast, a drive through Kibera (the largest slum of the city), and then to Karen for lunch and a visit to a giraffe sanctuary where we could feed the animals by hand.
We travelled several hours northwest to Uasin Gishu County on Saturday, stopping on the escarpment of The Rift Valley to take in extraordinary views and pick up a few souvenirs. We found our way to the Reformed Institute of Theological Training outside of Eldoret, a place we would call home for the next week.
The following day, three Eden students and two faculty were invited to preach and share worship leadership, Sunday School teaching, mission interpretation, and fellowship in five local RCEA congregations. We returned from these experiences with stories of extraordinary hospitality, Spirit-filled worship, and gratitude for opportunities to learn from our hosts.
After a full and beautiful day, the RITT staff and faculty joined us as we shared and processed. Dr. Julius Kithinji challenged us to consider our experiences in light of African theology and spirituality.
Over the next days, we had the opportunity to engage Kenyan history, culture, and spirituality in the classroom, as well as through the stories of newly-ordained women in the Reformed Church of East Africa. We took day trips to Eldoret town, the RCEA denominational headquarters, the Koitalel Samoei Museum and the Kerio Valley, and we enjoyed meeting the beautiful people and landscapes around RITT.
The faculty, staff, and students of RITT were extraordinary hosts. We were grateful for many lovingly-prepared meals, morning buckets of hot water, and one-on-one sharing and reflection. The Rev. Musa Maina, former Moderator of the RCEA, helped create a rich, immersive itinerary for us, and we were grateful for visits from local pastors (many of them Eden Seminary alumni) throughout the week.
Early Saturday morning we drove further north to West Pokot, a remote, desert-like region of Kenya. We stayed at the Marich Pass Field Studies Center, a rustic retreat space lovingly tended by Dr. Paul and Hidat Rodin along a river with a stunning mountain backdrop. On Sunday morning, students and faculty were shuttled via pickup truck to four RCEA congregations in the area. The range of experiences was stunning - worship under the shelter of trees, ecstatic praise and dance, and generous hospitality, as always.
The last days of the trip were full of travel - first back to RITT to say our goodbyes and for a tree planting to celebrate the bonds of friendship we shared.
We continued south to Nakuru for a refreshing stay at a hotel (the first of the trip!) and a beautiful visit to Lake Nakuru National Park, where we saw zebra, water buffalo, rhino, waterbuck, gazelle, and a host of smaller animals. Even when our plans shifted because the bus broke down, the group stayed positive and flexible.
Our final destination was St. Paul's University in Limuru (just outside Nairobi), where our guide and seminar instructor Dr. Julius Kithinji is on faculty. We enjoyed dinner together in his home, received a grand tour of the University, attended the groundbreaking for their new theology building as well as several lectures, and took time to process, reflect, and set our sights toward home.
It was a gift to share this experience together and we want to express deepest thanks to Dr. Julius Kithinji, The Rev. Musa Maina, the General Secretary and staff of the RCEA, the faculty, staff, and students of RITT, and the many pastors and congregations that extended hospitality to us. Our time in Kenya gave the framing text of our seminar rich meaning and new depth: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus." (Galatians 3:28)
Credits:
Photos by Paul Vasile, Gabrielle Smith Kennedy, Renee Johnson, Nancy Neal, Diane Yanczer, Deborah Krause, and Breona Hawkins. Text by Paul Vasile and Deborah Krause