Gulp - I met that goat earlier today! - Saturday in Kenya

We rearranged the schedule today. We had planned to work a half day beginning at 8:30, but we were invited to see the operation of a coffee farm co-op. This was pretty interesting and depressing. The plantation is a fair-trade certified factory, yet a pound of coffee sells for 20 cents. The cartel of coffee has too many brokers who cash-in while the kenyan coffee farmers are shortchanged. The best way to stop this is to connect with a farmer and buy direct, roast and grind your own. 

Following the coffee tour, we went to work for one-half day starting at 9:30. We were able to finish everything and depart by 1:00. We left the home and returned to our quarters for lunch and some rest. 

We planned to return to Morning Star for supper that evening. We helped to purchase two live goats for supper! Yes, they were living. I will refrain from details, but Shawn slit the animal's throat and drained the blood. Then the rest of the process prior to throwing ALL of the meat into a boiling pot. Mix this with vegetables and salt and we have goat stew served over rice.

We made a mid-afternoon stop between work and dinner. As mentioned before, Reah operates a children's home called Morning Star; she, along with Francis, also operates a home for high school boys called Stars for Jesus. We had not seen the boys home. So we walked from our quarters to Stars for Jesus. What a blessing these guys were. 22 high school boys live in a tiny dormitory while they are home from school (high school in Kenya is a boarding school situation). This community could easily be the Lord of the Flies, but instead it is a community of young men caring for one another. It was clean and orderly, and the boys were extremely hospitable. 

We distributed new shoes to them that were donated by a man in the US. We also sat around and shared stories, they sang to us, and we prayed for them. My greatest memory was Bill Deetjen leading these boys in calisthenics. I am not sure how he did it, but he simply said, loudly, follow me. Then he began the Alabama Quick, to which each and everyone of the 22 boys followed along. The first unbelievable act was Bill doing the Alabama quick. The second was how quickly Bill was able to invite them into participate with him! I was overjoyed to see Bill light up in the community with the younger men. He truly is gifted as a disciple and mentor.

I must tell you about our dinner with the goats. We arrived to the home thinking we were coming for dinner. However, as we pulled into Morning Star, we noticed a large truck in the driveway - it was the well drilling company. Also, to our right, the water tank had been delivered. Our work was done, but we had been waiting all week for these two things. They came at the last possible moment, and we rejoiced that they had arrived. I was reminded of the Passover call to be content in all circumstances.

Once we rejoiced over the well and water tank, we entered the dining hall for dinner. I was skeptical about eating the goat. Shawn told us that the WHOLE goat was boiled in one pot, including the less-than-clean intestines. Thanks be to God that Bekah had separated some of the goat for us, and she cooked it in a safer and healthier way. Otherwise, the kid's rejoiced over the meat and ate every last bite. The end of the meal included a parade. Paul, a staff person, walked the dining hall with a bowl of goat bones. The children sucked the meat off of the bones and proceeded to eat the marrow. It was a delicacy. We were overjoyed that they were so blessed by the meal. God is good.