Beauty in the Desert

Yesterday I took a walk outside. I stopped to watch two squirrels playing, chattering, and chasing each other. I went a bit farther to stand under a tree and listen to the babbling creek as it slowly flowed by. Then I made a path walking back and forth through the fallen leaves on the grass. I enjoyed their crunching with each and every step I took. The smell of “fall” hung in the air. My spirit lifted and my heart filled with joy. 

I have only experienced fall in the US one other time in the past 7 years. I am so happy to be back here to experience fall and to have a break from the dry, dusty, heat of Turkana, the desert mission field where God sent me. 

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of the dust.

You make beautiful things, you make beautiful things out of us.

From the song: Beautiful Things 

By: Gungor

From the outside Turkana may look like a place where it is always hot, dry, dusty, windy, dirty, and brown. However, after moving there I soon began to appreciate the subtle changes that brought relief from the strong winds and heat. The random rains that brought cooler temperatures, and the occasional cloudy days were so refreshing. I learned that 30-45 minutes difference in the length of a day can be experienced and enjoyed and how the stars shine so brightly when you are in the bush and there are few lights anywhere that obscure them.   

There are seasonal type changes that happen with the trees that bring new growth and blooms with seeds falling to the ground that quickly sprout into new trees. This is especially true for neem trees, which are abundantly planted in compounds and gardens around Turkana. Often those baby neem trees get carefully dug up and replanted other place throughout our compound and shared with others, to fill in spaces and provide more shade. I am so thankful for the neem trees in Turkana, which seem to easily grow with minimal watering in a barren dry land. It is a tree with possibly more than forty medicinal and agricultural uses that the Swahili name for it is simply the word “forty”. 

Later in the “season” the neem leaves turn yellow and begin to fall. I always think of that time as “fall” in Turkana no matter when it happens or what the temperature outside is. So many leaves fall off that you can hear them blowing, and they crunch beneath my flip flops as I walk through them. I love raking them up to be used as “God’s blanket” (mulch) to put around all the plants, flowers, and trees to help prevent water evaporation and provide nourishment as the leaves decay. We also use the fresh green neem leaves from pruned branches and I learned that laying the larger branches on the leaves, after I removed them, was helpful in preventing them from blowing away with the next strong wind.

Rains are generally few and far between, but even short rains clean the air and plants of dust. The sky looks bluer and the plants all greener until the dust stirs up again. This year brought more heavy rains and flooding, which caused damage and loss. Yet, at the same time, I have never seen things as green in Turkana, and the animals are all fat and happy, with many areas to graze.  

In the midst of a pandemic year, I found beauty in adapting and changing. Change was something that needed to happen in our program and likely it would have been harder without the prompting of the pandemic and lockdowns. I am thankful that our lifestyles in Turkana allowed us to still gather safely to work and learn. I taught sewing as we made masks that were donated to anyone and everyone who needed one. We made a space for a bee yard and set up a hive. To date we still do not have bees there, but we are prepared and have all learned a lot. Last month we discovered a hive had colonized a prior missionary house and I hope to be able to set up a hive near the house, yet far enough away to have a safe place for the bees to live and make the house usable again. I’m praying for someone from that
village to step up and be interested in learning so they can be the bee keeper for that area.

We revived our garden, did more container planting, and have more new ideas about ways to plant better to conserve water. We trimmed weeds and made the compound less habitable for the snakes that seemed to be taking over, while also helping the other flowering trees grow and bloom. It was exciting to see the vegetables we planted sprout and grow. It was also an excellent lesson in patience and dealing with bad situations as floods that repeatedly washed away seeds and plants, and locusts and mites that killed others. My workers were amazed by how much work it takes just to get a few tomatoes. Granted we were not extremely prolific gardeners, but I did enjoy spinach every week and 2
very small tomatoes, and the peppers are hopefully being enjoyed by someone now. 

As a veterinarian, animals are my life and I thrive in their presence. I knew my cats and guard dogs had sizeable personalities, but I never realized how personable chickens could be. Once I got chicks I was hooked and in love with them. It has not been easy and we have had disease and loss, but those birds helped get me through the tough times this year. They talk and talk back to me and each other. They peck me when they don’t agree with me wanting to pick them up to examine them or just hug them. The roosters especially strut around all day trying to impress the hens and at the same time taunting my dogs, who I have worked so hard to protect them from.  I am thankful I was able to build a coop strong enough to withstand my dogs (so far). Maximus, my alpha guard dog, still stands and watches the chickens while licking his lips and drooling! But I also know he will protect them from other creatures who might try to do them harm. 

I have always loved learning about animal behavior from a scientific standpoint. Then last year one of my workers began sharing with me some of the Turkana stories they use to explain animal behaviors and I was enthralled. I kept asking all my workers to tell more and more, until they were tired of thinking of them. I even wrote a blog about the stories, including a recording of one and a written narration of another, involving chickens and the reason they scratch the ground. I loved learning those stories and thinking about how the Turkana lifestyle and culture has influenced the perspective they have on those behaviors. 

(matt for extra shade on coop)

Beauty is in people also and the Turkana are creative. I often remind them of this with the example of how they can follow tracks of animals, whether groups together, lost individual animals, or those with humans who possibly stole them. Often we drive and they say follow the tracks (of a vehicle) and I can’t even see those in the sand! They understand the land and telling time by the sun better than anyone I’ve ever known. They make matts, baskets, trivets, and brooms all from the dried leaves of the desert palm trees. This is something that is not easy to do. I have tried to make them all, with varying degrees of success. It is hard to get the leaves cut as they have many spikes on the stem that must be cut off, then you must dry them (without them molding, as happened to mine), then strip them and prepare them for making whichever item you need. My broom making lesson was probably my biggest failure as I was quickly demoted to only trying the last knots and I am pretty sure the lady teaching me went back and redid all my knots after I left. These items are beautiful and come from something as simple as leaves, provided by God and the knowledge and creativity he bestowed upon those Turkana women, which they share and pass down from generation to generation. 

Throughout my time in Turkana God has been teaching me to look for beauty in unexpected places, like the small red flowers that bloom on the thorn plants we walk through to get to many of the homes where we treat animals in the villages. The chance to sit under trees and teach lessons, because their shade was wonderful and there was such a nice breeze blowing. The laughter of children in the midst of a locust. Yes even that. 

The day of our last big locust infestation when they covered the sky and all the trees, I stood outside with my guard and neighbors, banging metal bowls and yelling to try to scare them away. It did not work. Eventually we all quieted and all that remained was the sound of the locusts and children laughing as they ran and jumped and played with the locusts which were also all over the ground. They were amazed at something they had never seen before. Oh to be a child and have that kind of joy in such a bad and destructive situation. Again perspective really is everything and all they saw was new and beautiful and fun and at that moment it was likely the most fun they had had in quite a while. Even now I have to admit those locusts are quite beautiful creatures and it was an awesome site to see them swarm in the sky that day.  

Hey Shannon, How Are You and What's Happening Over There? Keep Reading to Find the Answers!

I know the world is a bit crazy right now. I know many are struggling and suffering on so many levels. I pray for you all and the whole world every day. I know many are praying for me and providing support in so many ways, social, emotional, spiritual, and financial. I feel all the love you send to me and I am so so thankful for you all. Thank you for reading my blogs and posts, sending messages of encouragement, and supporting the work here financially. Knowing you still think of me is important as I stay over here and do my best to stay safe and still have a ministry. 

Since Kenya shut down in March, and I have not been able to travel out of Lodwar, I have been able to continue to encourage many of our partners and pastors through text messages and scriptures. It may not seem like much, but it has been encouraging for me to receive responses from those who are able and random encouraging Bible verses in return. I have prayed with and for them through many struggles. Just as I am encouraged by your contacting me, I believe they are being encouraged when I contact them. 

I have also been able feel a bit normal, by continuing to do surgeries on some of the cats and dogs of other missionaries/friends. Three cats spayed, one cat neutered, and one dog neutered. Again it may not seem like much, but pets reproducing is an exponential thing, so even these five being spayed and neutered does make a difference. 

Karibuni means Welcome in Swahili
The plastic was for protection during another heavy rain.

I continue to read and learn all the time and am now putting some of the learning into practice with bees. The bee hive is completed, however we need to make a new top for the hive, as the current one is too heavy and would be hard for me to safely replace while in a suit and gloves. We have seen a few bees around the yard, so are praying for a nice swarm to come take up residence there. I have other ideas from friends on ways to help attract bees and may try smoking it as they do in West Africa.  Also the fence around the bee yard is almost complete. This is for the safety of visitors, guards, and the guard dogs. Also it makes a nice boundary for others that are here to learn, as I am inside opening the hive and demonstrating. 

The part with the platform will be covered with wood, to make a nice nesting/roosting area. The other areas will be covered with thick wire. I hope to keep 2-4 chickens and get a few eggs every week. If this goes well, we may adapt the extra car shade area for a permanent coop. 

Teaching me how to use the binding wire. 

I have also been learning more about chickens, well learning about raising them. This is something I have never done before. It has also been a good way for my helpers to learn about a new way to raise and protect chickens. Most here are free range, however, mine will need protection from my dogs. We are making a moveable chicken tractor, that could be reproduced here. This has been a good lesson for my helpers in planning, engineering, adapting plans, buying supplies, and budgeting. They are also helping me to learn about the best physical ways to put it all together here, how to properly tie the binding wire, and much more. 

We are still making masks, but have slowed down production, after cutting all the scraps and fabric pieces we had. Over 250 masks completed and given out to our ministry partners and church members. We can finish about 40 more and will likely continue making them, as I feel we will still be wearing them for quite a while up here. 

I am thankful that my home is very "open", inside layout and open to the outside. There is no glass in many of my windows, so this has allowed me to safely have my helpers coming to work and learn here 3-4 days a week during this whole time. 

It is also nice that our work for the chickens and bees has been outside, in addition to our work cleaned up the property and preparing the garden areas for planting seeds (produce and flowers). We have cut many lower hanging branches and cleared brush, which helps by reducing areas for mosquitoes to hide and breed. We have also used the branches for the fences (bee yard and extra garden areas for the guards) and for the chicken coop. I am happy to now have sunflowers coming up and some produce after another planting after the rains/floods and locusts. Sadly another heavy rain this week washed away more seeds and we have been told more locusts are coming back this way again. 

Corona cases are increasing and its a bit hard to determine exactly where those cases are and where other exposures could have taken place. They are doing more testing and contact tracing up here now, which is good. 

I post frequently on Facebook and want to also share my post for today, for those who might not see it. 

Thankful Thursday:

“What a God you are! Your path for me has been perfect! All your promises have proven true. What a secure shelter for all those who turn to hide themselves in you! You are the wrap-around God giving grace to me.” Psalms‬ ‭18:30‬ ‭TPT‬‬

Thankful for a day of rest, Gods protection from injuries and illness, and for being able to stay here to teach, learn, and encourage others.

Prayers requests:

🙏 Pray for protection for the plants as locusts are worse in many areas again. Many of our farms and church areas are affected and I’ve just replanted here for the 3rd time after the locust and floods.

🎉 Praises Kenya is taking action and will begin spraying. Prayers for people to remain safe as this happens.

🙏 Prayers for safety from illness, as mosquitoes are spreading malaria, previous floods brought more GI diseases, and Corona cases are increasing.

🎉 Praises I found some mosquito nets in our store house and will be able to share those with our guards and a few other workers. Praises that I have screens on my house and artemisia tea for prevention (and cure if needed), since I am being bitten, while wearing repellant, during the day, when we are outside working.

🙏 Prayers for safety from fires, as dry, windy days mean house fires are more common. My facilitator lost a kitchen hut last week.

🎉 Praises no one was injured and they lost minimal supplies and no other houses caught fire.

🙏 Prayers for protection against injuries, since we are building and working outside a lot. Thorns are a constant nemesis to me, scorpions are all over, and I was hit on the back and head by a large stick as we were building the chicken coop this week.

🎉 Praises for Gods protection as I encounter injuries and they continue to be mild enough that I can manage to heal well!

Thank you all for your love, support and prayers.

Love you all, Shannon

When My Prayers Become Sighs Too Deep For Words!

March 6th, that was when this picture was taken. Right now I cannot even tell you how many days ago that was, but it seems like it was a lifetime ago, as so much has happened all across the world since that day.

We had gone to a new area, shared about the CHE program, taught about the Corona Virus, did a lesson on hand washing, as well as the Lost Sheep Bible lesson. We shared that we have HOPE in the midst of the chaos because we know Jesus and he wants us all to be in his flock and not be lost.

Before we left that day, we made plans to visit them again on the 20th (since I would be in Nairobi on the 13th). We all looked forward to it, but sadly, I returned on the 15th, needing to do the smart thing and self quarantine for 14 days. I did this to protect the people of Turkana in case I had inadvertently had any exposure during my week in Nairobi. I was all over Nairobi that week, doing government business in crowded buildings, shopping in malls, attending an international meeting, staying at a guest house where many people from all over the world were passing through from so many different countries.

Now, as I finish my self quarantine, the country has issued a 15 day shelter at home order. I agree 100% with this. I wish everyone else in the world understood this and was complying to their countries orders. So just as I had hoped to have a few people come back to my house to visit and do small trainings and sew masks (with social distancing) I do not think that will be possible in the short term. In fact right now I really do not know what ministry will look like up here when the 15 days are through or beyond that. Everything has changed so much and is changing still so much each day as the virus is spreading here.

I have been praying daily, looking to scriptures, waiting for God's voice to give me guidance on how to proceed. So far I have many ideas floating around in my head, but right now I mostly hear God saying draw closer to me, be prepared, but WAIT!

I have been staying connected to my CHE facilitators, helpers, CCC pastors, and so many others up here, by sending Bible verses or small prayer ideas by text. Most here have dumb phones, so I don't get fancy, but it does not need to be fancy. I am happy many have data and can respond to me with at least short texts. I am thankful that they have phones and texting capabilities--even though often I want to put their phones in "time out" because they answer them during trainings!

So I will continue to PRAY and WAIT to see how God is leading. I know that he has been helping me to get holistically healthy, especially over the past year, for a reason. I am ready to see how he will use me through all of this. I am thankful for these 2 weeks to stop and rest and draw near to him. I am thankful that I have had time to connect/reconnect with so many others, to check on them and encourage them to check on others. I will be thankful for the next period of shelter in place and will learn how to do that within the restrictions they have set.

As an introvert, I am really praying for you extroverts, I thought this would be easy. It is not.

I will continue to pray, I will make my life a prayer. I will praise God and thank Him every day.

"Make your life a prayer and in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God's perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes 5:17-18 (TPT) 

However, some days my prayers become "sighs too deep for words".

I am praying for moms and dads now home schooling, while working outside of the home still in essential jobs, or while working from home, in addition to the homeschooling.

I pray for those who are exposed and need to quarantine.

I pray for those who are sick and need to isolate.

I pray for those who have other health issues and cannot even get to doctors appointments in person or for telemedicine, because the system is so overwhelmed right now in so many countries.

I pray for everyone, as we all go through a broad range of emotions every day.

I pray for families that are together and under stress.

I pray for families who are separated and under even greater stress.

I pray for doctors, scientists, epidemiologists, and public health personnel who are working hard to develop a vaccine, test treatment options, and study this virus quickly, under intense pressure, to give us accurate information in a timely manner.

I pray for leaders of countries, states, counties, cities as they do what is best to protect their people.

I pray for so many other things and people and difficult situations caused by this virus or taking place in spite of this virus. 

I pray for everyone in the world, everyone, every single person, created in the image of God, that HE loves!

I pray for......

There is always a point in my prayers when it seems like too much. I can't go on. I don't have the words. I have to stop and give it all over to God. I actually wave my arms in the air and release it all to Him. It is mine to share, but not mine to keep at that point. That is when my prayers become nothing but sighs.

Sighs.

Sighs.

Father God I am thankful you are with me at that point, when I cannot even find the words to pray and all I can do is sigh.

Father God I love you and I am so thankful that you love me and everyone on the earth. I am thankful that we have your promises that you will never leaves us, especially during this time of change and challenge.

Father God I ask you to show your love to everyone, every single person on this earth today. Help them see your love through others, help them to draw near to you, help us all to draw near to you today and everyday. AMEN

"And in a similar way, the Holy Spirit takes hold of us in our human frailty to empower us in our weakness. For example, at times we don't even know how to pray, or know the best things to ask for. But the Holy Spirit rises up within us to super-intercede on our behalf, pleading to God with emotional sighs too deep for words. 

God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God's plan and our destiny. 

Romans 8:26-27