Modern Africa mirrors this parallel world Lewis wrote of. It is a place of brokenness. This is a place where people deal with poverty, tribalism, corruption, disease, and crushing need. Some have said that Africa is beyond repair and that the west would be better to simply turn its collective back to this misery. That further aid is useless, propagating more of the same tragic results. On the surface I understand this, but now, in my heart, I see a people full of hope, joy, and thankfulness. These are giving people that in a short time have taught me that authentic faith and friendship are expressed through living their lives for God and in Christ. They live simply, but abundantly. This is a story of hope and transition more than a story of defeat and hopelessness. This is the story of Nehemiah Center and Miwani farm.
Miwani Valley from Nehemiah
Nehemiah International Miwani Center and Miwani farm is a ministry of International Fellowship. Nehemiah is located in Miwani, Kisumu district, Kenya. The farm is a christian cooperative community centered around a working dairy that includes 4 Kenyan families who have opened their homes to 12 boys between the ages of 12 and 17. Some of the boys have been on the farm for over 5 years. While the boys are not adopted, they are receiving the same love and care as one would hope for in any family. Each of the families has committed to working the farm and participates in decision making around activities of their work, and contributing to each boy’s daily needs, formal education and technical training. The boys attend Kenyan school, and on the farm have responsibilities tending livestock and doing home and farm chores. Though the farm is communal as a working dairy, and in its Christian fellowship, each family has their own home and may keep their own livestock and grow a house garden which supplies the majority of their food. Additionally, there are several Kenyans who walk to the farm daily to assist in the dairy and with farm chores, but also participate in the fellowship on the farm. Wolfgang and Heidi Oecshlagel from Nurnberg, Germany are full time missionaries on the farm who also care for 3 of the boys. Part time missionaries include Evelyn and Josef Tschernek, also from Nurnberg. Jeff and Marit Krueger, their children Lexie and Katia from Bainbridge Island, Washington and Jeff’s parents, also serve in Africa part time, and work to raise support for the farm and its mission at home.
For me, Africa was a place to go someday. There was no timetable, no plan. That suddenly changed this last winter when my daughter Hanna chose to do a summer field study through Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. Many options were available, but she chose Africa—Rwanda specifically. Hanna also looked for opportunities to extend her African stay as she felt going to Europe or other destinations more accessible could come later; but Africa was a once in a lifetime opportunity. Her decision opened many doors for her both in Africa and at home. After making the decision to go to Rwanda to study and teach, she became a “team of one”, with the help of Jeff Lander from Children of the Nations. Her 5 week stay in Rwanda was extended to another 5 weeks doing photojournalism for COTN in Malawi. At the same time Jeff and Marit Krueger announced through Cross Sound Church on Bainbridge, that they were returning to Nehemiah for a short term mission and wanted to take a team with them in July. Hanna was open to joining them and I felt blessed to have this time to experience Africa and to spend an extended time with Hanna, working and learning together. Though the decision to leave was easy, it would not have become reality without the help of my wife Bonnie, my staff, and Dr. Jennifer Ekin. Their willingness to cover my practice allowed me this incredible opportunity.
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