S.O.S.?

Back In The States Again!!!

Today I Wednesday I think, I also believe I am coherent enough to post a blog. We’ll know for sure in just a few minutes. I used to laugh at people who would talk of such nonsense as jet lag and proclaim in a loud youthful voice," “it’s just in them old people’s head”. Now that I am officially an old people I would like to retract any stupid statement of my youth. Jet lag MAY be in you head but it also drifts down over the rest of your body and causes havoc with the biological clock and all the confusion that brings.

I don’t remember laying down last night in my big plush king size bed, however I do recall waking up as if an alarm had gone off after a wonderful mid day nap. My “alarm” went off at exactly 3:28AM. I proceeded to unpack all my luggage put things in their appropriate places, sort and rearrange all my medicines in their proper places, took a shower, walked the dog, went to our child care ministry all before 8:00AM.  I then proceeded to answer emails, do other office things that needed my attention placed a called to my family in Nakuru and am now in the process of writing this blog for my first post on American soil in three months. I’m doing all this so the rest of my day will have no obstacles to hinder me from getting on my 2003 Harley Davidson Road King Police Edition and getting a comfortable seat, a handful of throttle and riding till I’m finished.

For those who don’t ride, you have no idea what you’re missing. I know this will sound a bit foolish but the thing I miss most when I’m in Africa, other than my family are my motorcycles. The day we were leaving Nakuru we Johnny and Ali and I met a young man going up Crater Road toward our house on what looked like about a 600 black, no emblems or markings, crotch rocket that was scootin’. I told the guys, other than that type bike, there I go on Wednesday. So I must be a man of my word.

Johnny, Ali….This ride is for you!!! If Mama Mercy has not had little Christine yet find that guy on the crotch rocket, I got a feelin’ he could help things along. Loving to ride but missing you guys in Nakuru and Lanet. I ain’t gonna lean em’ up, I’m gonna let the wind blow em’ off.

Grace, Irene, Millie, Sarah A., Mercy Mcubwa, Sarah M., Beatrice, Edith, Mercy Kidogo, George, Geoffery, Gregory, Joyce. And I cannot leave out Andrew, McKenna, Butterfly, and Emma and the two that are in the oven. (Christine & Little Brooksy) this is what Babu does when He is away on Business…..One is old business and the other is ne business. Decisions, decisions… Pray for the warmth of Nakuru Kenya to invade Beaver Dam, Kentucky.  Nanaya don’t ride much anymore she’s just cool. You can see here purple Chrysler PT Cruiser behind me in the center photo.

 

Babu Lonnie & Nanaya Patti

Saying Goodbye (temporarily) To Kenya

     It is Thursday evening about 10:45 PM here in Nakuru and I most likely won't do many more, if any posts from here. I want to take a little time and tell all those who read this blog, if you are ever in Kenya and are interested in seeing how to be a home for orphans....Come and See!
     Johnny and Kate Brooks are two of the most awesome young folks I have ever come across. They are being what most only dream of. They are allowing themselves to be made into something that really doesn't fit in most of our western religious way of thinking. They are literally becoming the hope of the hopeless, the help for the helpless and lovers of those who yet have no love to give. I don't by any means want to put them on a pedestal, I've lived with them long enough to see who they really are. Like Jesus they are flesh and blood that has become the house that God lives in.
     Speaking of pedestals, I think the people we put on pedestals are there because we aren't willing to rise up in the equality we've been given. So other than rise up and stand up for our King and His kingdom we allow those we placed on pedestals or thrones to keep us beat down as their spiritual slaves instead of rising up and being HIS bond slave.
     Johnny and Kate along with Ben and Pauline, Ali and Virginia have shown me things that I have only talked and read about. It is absolutely satisfying to actually show people what you have been talking about every Sunday and Wednesday for over thirty years. It is not true what has been said! On the contrary you CAN teach an old dog new tricks. I'm living proof, I just had to be shown how to stop growling at all the other dogs that weren't in my yard or wasn't the same breed, I had to be more than willing, I had to equally not only share my food but learn to eat from the bowl of other who were sharing,  I had to realize where home really was and stop allowing myself to be pinned up when I should be out looking for others to build relationships with and reproduce.
     These are hard lessons to learn for an old dog like me, but this new breed of pups coming along have some thing that will add life to us old ones if we will allow it. The six that I just mentioned have shown me how not to bark (or bite) at those who aren't like me and don't live in my pin, they have let me experience how to be fed as well as feed, and they helped me come to the realization that there is a freedom in Christ that most of us only talk about but have not experienced.
     We sing a song around where I'm from in Kentucky, called "It's All About Jesus", if it really is. let's live like it! That means we take it past this WWJD stuff...for me it's WWBD, what would Babu do? Jesus already did it. Now it's our turn to be the house that God lives in and go where He says go, do what He says do, speak what He says to speak. When we do there will be no pedestals or thrones left for us because we will be lifting HIM up and He will draw ALL men unto Himself. To Him who sits on the throne be glory and honor for ever and ever, amen.

Babu Lonnie
PS: There is a time when the old dogs will pass away as we experienced here with the passing of "Old Lightening"  but there is now a new sheriff in town   

Welcome to Kenya (part 26)

I have been so bless this week with some visitors from the U.S. They are not just any visitors they are fellow Kentuckians. Both these ladies are on their spring break from their respective schools and can only stay with us this one week. Both are working on their Master's Degree from Murray State Universality.

One of the young ladies I just met when they arrived on Monday. In three short busy days I have seen characteristics of Jesus in her, and she has displayed them well. Her name is Dusty and she has taken a sabbatical from a teaching career to finish her education. She is a beautiful twenty something year old single follower of Jesus. I have become more and more interested in spending time with her ever day. She is a woman who speaks her mind and she and I have had a number of good theological, morale and ethical discussions. Not that our theological, morale and ethical views are so different we both just enjoy expressing our opinions. And then there is that old saying about opinions, no I won't go there! I will always consider Dusty a new found jewel that God has placed in my life to sparkle and bring light to any of us who are willing to open our eyes. Dusty is developing into a mighty woman of God, and if she were here in the office as I write this post I would offer her the following advice, don't ever let anybody intimidate you girl, you got a message to share. I am thankful that our paths have crossed to sharpen each other and to tune our ears to His voice. I have to remind myself often that, He said nothing He didn't hear His Father say. Our message must be from Him, His voice is sometimes heard through one of His children, and sometimes His children try and speak for Him and take His name in vain. There has been such a counterfeit produced that knowing His voice is not always easy. But once you hear, that changes everything. Dusty I love you and thank you for coming.

The other young lady is also a twenty something year old beautiful single follower of Jesus. But this one I've know for over twenty years. Her family has been a friend to me all these years even after I did all I knew to do to serve them as a pastor for five years. It was my first senior pastorate and this young lady is living proof of God's grace and mercy. I realize now I knew nothing but what I was taught by other men. It was the beginning of my "full time" pastoral ministry. What it turned out to be was the beginning of about thirty years of parroting what others said with maybe my particular perception of it from time to time, but a parrot none the less. I am so thankful that God has proven Himself once again. He has used a donkey, a chicken and a parrot to turn people toward Him. Miranda has become an amazing young lady. She has spent two years in Brazil serving with a missions organization. She teaches special education near by where both of our families presently live. I saw things in her yesterday that made me so proud, the smile of her mom the wit of her dad but the most outstanding thing was her hand out stretched to the sick and then in the next breath that same hand reach out to the throng of children that surrounded her. I saw the hand of God yesterday though a little girl I once knew but now has grown into quite a woman. Most of you reading this won't understand this personal note so just bear with me please. Brenda, it's alright all is well, Randy you'll have to work hard to be as proud as I am today. Miranda I've known since she was three years old and she knows I love you without saying it, but I just like saying it...I love you, thanks for investing in my life by coming.

These young ladies knowingly or not have been on display as the Body of Christ in action, and they have worked and represented Him well. His Kingdom has come and His will was done yesterday in Rhonda Estates in Nakuru Kenya, I saw, I was there, I experienced it and no one or nothing will ever take that away from me. I have accepted His invitation to Come and See. I came and I saw. Thanks Dusty and Miranda for coming I pray you saw Him in your visit with us.

Babu Lonnie

Welcome to Kenya (part 25)

     I want to share with you a side of the prevailing religious system the rules a vast majority (in my estimation) of Kenyan and other churches around the world. What is unfortunate is they have been taught this an know nothing else. I'm talking about the lack of care for people and the promotion and protection of a system that continues to fed on it's self.
     The following is a portion of an email I received from a pastor here in Nakuru, who is most likely a part of an organization or fellowship that should be dealing with these issues internally if they are truly doing what God and scripture says the church must be doing.
Hello!
     How are you today?  hope all is well with you.We are also fine despite the challenges each day and we look unto God to fight for us at this hour of trial and prophetic fulfillment. It  is long since we heard from you and how is the going? Tell us more as per your family situation. Please i do need your help. Our girl needs help to pursue her education and request you to connect her to any charity organization or Para church ministry that may help. All details are provided and kindly do your best. My personal situation is very bad but will trust God to help us move forward. God bless you richly.
     Before you read my response to his email. I want to explain that it was written with love and concern for his problem, and it is a problem. I love this pastor, I just feel sorry for him as I believe he is one of the many victims of a religious system that supports, protects and promotes it's self rather than the people it is supposed to be serving.
Dear Pastor,
     I am sorry to hear about the shortage you are experiencing concerning your daughters education. I am aware and very sympathetic about the future of young Kenyans who aren't afforded a proper education. It is for that reason we are assisting in the lives of over twenty students, most of them are orphans. We are assisting them by offering them more than just money, school fees, uniforms, food, clothing and shelter. We have provided homes with fathers and mothers that love them and hold them when they hurt and laugh when they are happy. I am proud to be a part of offering these young people a future and a hope that they would not otherwise have had.
     We are building a new nursery school to help prepare the little ones for their formal education. Our goal is to provide milk and vitamin daily to a well balanced menu that will support not only their bodies but clear their minds of the stress of a poor diet in order that they may achieve a standard of academic excellence that will propel them into the educational system.
Because of my commitment to the orphans and other students, the nursery school and the over three hundred HIV/AIDS victims we care for with medicines, visits and love I am sorry to tell you all our funds are already allocated for the purpose, use and benefit I have just shared with you.
     I am presently in Nakuru, and have been for almost three months, I will be going back to the U.S.A. at the end of April.  I am sorry I am not able to help you with your need but I am sure there will be someone you sent this letter to that is doing absolutely nothing for the Kingdom of God. I hope that the Spirit of God will prick their hearts to help you solve your problem.
I would suggest you ask those who are building their own kingdoms to stop wasting money building buildings for meetings, sound equipment for people with no a message, holding crusades to advance the spirit of competition instead of promoting unity and a spirit of completion. I suggest that we call the church to a fast not to manipulate God but to gather the food we would have eaten or the money we would have spent on food and feed some folks who have nothing to eat. I would also suggest that all those self appointed apostles, prophets, evangelist, pastors and teachers begin to humble themselves to the position of servanthood those titles Biblically carry and stop this nonsense about the high and holy office they hold. They need to begin investing in others as scripture fully supports. Your daughter seems to be a good place for them to start their investment.
A Follower of Jesus,
Babu Lonnie