Kijabe - "A Place of the Wind"

 “The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”    John 3:8

If there is one thing that I will remember and miss about Kijabe, it would be the winds.  The winds are particularly strong at night and usually by morning the winds have calmed.   The question for me and the people of the community of healing here at Kijabe are what will happen to these relationships?  What I thought about before coming and what still is on my mind...Are there ways to continue to mentor/support the individuals working here at this mission?  Even more specifically, can the task of leadership development be done at a distance?  What are the strategies and techniques of making this happen?

What I have learned and seen is that there are young physicians who are competent, compassionate and in leadership/mentoring settings.  They have been “called” and “sent” and they have not been waiting for me!  If I have served any purpose in their lives it has been to “name” what I have seen and by that naming they see God’s plans fulfilled in their work and future.

What about the institutions/programs that are here?  Like the individuals this place and programs have been commissioned to bring “Glory to God”.  There are high expectations of where God is leading this place.   Its history is a witness of what dedicated leadership and discernment have accomplished.  They have not been waiting for me to come! 

So for me, the answer is to listen carefully to what Christians believe is the work of the Spirit of God.   In contrast to our usual ideas of setting priorities to make these kinds of decisions as to the next steps, it means that by being a part of our faith communities we will be able to clearly see the direction that God is leading us.   We have seen and heard examples of this kind of faith community support and direction in lives at this place.  It works and with sometimes unexpected, unplanned and wonderful results!   If we are a part of the body of Christ and the church he established, we will be lead by the Spirit.

So my prayer for all of us is that we will listen and look carefully for the places in our lives and communities where the wind blows. 

Marv aka Dad & Poppy