In sports, we constantly hear about ?€œplaying with purpose?€ť and a team or player that is ?€œon a mission.?€ť There?€™s discussion of ?€œsacrifice?€ť and ?€œunselfishness,?€ť and usually success has plenty to do with being ?€œfocused.?€ť
All of those phrases and descriptions fit Joe Peterson quite well while he was a graduate assistant basketball coach on Mike McConathy?€™s staff at Northwestern in 1999-2001. Smiling and soft-spoken, quick with a laugh and a helping hand, ?€œJumpin?€™ Joe?€ť contributed subtly but significantly to the feeling of family around the 2001 Demons who had a magical March to the NCAA Tournament.
All of those phrases and descriptions apply even more accurately to Joe Peterson today. On this Easter weekend, when his former peers in college hoops are reflecting on the latest edition of March Madness and looking ahead to signing day next week, Joe Peterson is on a mission of the most profound kind -- in Mbita, Kenya.
Peterson left NSU grudgingly, and he never really disconnected from Coach Mike and his friends here. He tried moving up the college hoops ladder as an assistant coach at Charleston Southern, but didn?€™t find the satisfaction that professional advancement usually provides.
Now, instead of coaching basketball players, he?€™s coaching kids -- in the game of life, where the rules are radically different than what we take for granted here at home. Joe Peterson has given up his hoop dreams and accepted a calling as a missionary, working for Christ?€™s Gift Academy in Kenya.
On Jan. 3, after 55 hours of travel from Atlanta to Amsterdam to Nairobi, he arrived for his second tour of service, this one to last at least throughout 2004. Last year?€™s trip was sort of a trial run. This one is simply a trial of faith and determination, filled with wonder and worry that Joe passes along to his friends from NSU and elsewhere with monthly e-mails.
Peterson?€™s passion pours through in these dispatches, parts of which follow in a tribute to our friend and his mission.
JANUARY - "Karibu!? Karibu!
?€œI have heard that many times since I arrived in Kenya last Saturday night.?
It is Swahili for welcome.? Kenyans are known for their generous hospitality
and they have lived up to their billing in my first week in Kenya.
?€œAs I write this e-mail to you, I am actually thinking in a British accent
already.? You probably would not even recognize my voice if I called you.? I
promise that all of my e-mails will not be this long, but I wanted to
attempt to paint a picture for you to imagine what this year in Kenya will
be like for me.
?€œI had a wonderful time at Urbana (missions conference in Urbana, Ill.).? I learned much about God's heart for the
world and my role in that plan.? As the clock struck midnight on New Year's
Eve, we had just finished taking communion with 20,000 delegates and were
singing a song called "Lord of the Harvest."? How fitting that was.? Soon
after, Adrian (another missionary) and I jumped in the car and drove 6 hours through the night to
return to Nashville so I could catch my flight.? After stops in Atlanta,
Milan, and 20 hours in Amsterdam, I finally arrived in Nairobi 55 hours
later.? It wasn't the ideal itinerary, but it worked well.
?€œThat is until I got sick the next evening.? It might have been a lack of
sleep, or the travel, or the new surroundings, or most likely the changing
weather patterns.? Sunday night I felt sick and Monday morning I felt much
worse.? I ended up knocked out on the couch for a day and a half recovering
from a throbbing headache, queasy stomach, achiness all over my body, runny
nose, dizziness and a bad cough.? I feel much better now; the hundreds of
mosquito bites on my arms are quickly disappearing and I am no longer sick,
except I can't seem to shake my cough.? Oh, and a certain part of my gums
seem to bubble up in the mornings as I wake up, but I have no idea what that
is all about.
?€œAh, the life of a missionary!? I have tried many new foods that haven't
always agreed with my stomach, felt lost many times, and have had trouble
speaking to people even when they speak my language, because of the accent
(kind of like my time in Louisiana).? I have already had experiences that
many of you will never be able to duplicate.? Such as at the hotel last
night in Kisumu where the shower head came out of the ceiling in the middle
of the bathroom.? I was able to brush my teeth, shower and use the toilet
all at the same time.
?€œKenya is a sharp parody.? As we drove almost 7 hours from Nairobi to Kisumu
yesterday, we could see some of the slums in Nairobi (2nd biggest in the
world), and then later we could see the lookout point for the Majestic Rift
Valley, which puts the Grand Canyon and the mountains of Colorado and
Montana to shame.? As you approach some cities you see entire hills littered
with trash and then you see beautiful green rolling hills covered with tea
fields.? Houses made of tin sheets and others composed of a mixture of mud
and cow dung line the streets.
?€œI didn't end up traveling on the public bus system with chickens on my lap,
but I did travel in a small SUV with 3 other people and all of their bags.?
Instead of chickens, I had my carry-on in my lap and a wall of bags between
me and the other person in the back seat.? Good thing I am not
claustrophobic.? It was an extremely bumpy ride that you can only experience
in a third world country, with occasional stops on the road for a crossing
zebra, baboon, or vendor.? Many parts of the road are so bad that they drive
off the road because it is smoother.? Their public buses, called Mutatus,
will pass by at 60 mph with people hanging out the doors and others standing
on the bumpers.
?€œI finally arrived in Mbita Thursday morning, January 8th by ferry.? It
almost feels like home already.? My apartment is nice, but the best part is
the breathtaking view of Lake Victoria and the mountains.? God has blessed
me with that view every morning as I wake up!
?€œMy two checked bags have not arrived yet, but hopefully will by next week.?
Until then, I will be living out of my carry-on.? Who needs clean clothes??
Even with clean clothes in Kenya you start smelling bad by 10 a.m. anyway!
?€œIt has been a great first week.? I am so excited to finally arrive in Mbita
and see some familiar faces.? School has been postponed and will start on
Monday, so I didn't miss anything.? To see those children's faces and put my
arms around them will make it all worth it!
?€œIt is very freeing to wake up every morning and cry out to God for help.? I
put on the full armor of God, and invite the Holy Spirit to fill me, and ask
God to teach me and use me however he wants to this day.? I know I can't do
it on my own strength, wisdom and intelligence!? It is only through God!?
Total Dependence!? I love it!
?€œSo after traveling by automobiles, planes, buses, trains and a ferry; and
with much prayer, support, encouragement, and help from many of you, here I
am in Mbita, Kenya.? This is the exact spot God has called me to and the
work He has set aside for me.
?€œAll of this has happened in one week; I can't imagine what this year holds
in store!
?€œOh, one more thing.There is nothing better in Africa than an ice cold 300 ml
Fanta Orange!? Wow!? I have had two this morning before noon.
FEBRUARY - ?€œ Hello from Kenya!? It has been over a month since I first landed in Nairobi and it has gone by so quickly.? ? The first three months? in a foreign country, people usually go through? a honeymoon period where? they fall in love with the culture, customs and the people.? They adapt well to the differences in culture and even enjoy the differences.? That is very true of me thus far.? ? Culture Shock doesn't usually hit until after three months so I have two more months to enjoy before it hits!? Just kidding.?
?€œI am realizing that everything in a third world country takes a little more time to do such as traveling, communicating, getting on-line (6 a.m. is about the only time I can get on-line), washing clothes, cooking, and? doing the? dishes.? My day goes by very quickly.? I wake up at 6, walk 30 minutes to school, spend 30 minutes in staff devotions, start school, drink some porridge mid-morning, teach some more, eat some sort of Kenyan dish for lunch with the children (I could explain but you wouldn't understand what we actually eat), finish the school day,? start heading home around 4:00 which usually takes an hour or longer because of? stops at food stands on the road or visits to people's homes. Once I get home I usually? watch the sunset from my balcony, and then figure something out for dinner, and by the time we are finished washing dishes it is usually around 8.? ?
?€œIf you ever feel sorry for me because of the food I am eating, the long walks to and from school every day, or the lack of a Wal-mart in Kenya; just consider the view I come home to every day.? In the midst of extreme poverty and disease,? God has given us an incredible mountain view to look at every day? which speaks? of His Glory.?
?€œI am currently teaching 6th grade math, helping to teach 5th and 6th grade Bible, starting a Bible study for the male teachers, and? assisting with a lot of the administrative duties.? I have spent much of the first month working on my computer and doing paperwork for the school.? It is a big task to run? a school for 260 children with 24? teachers and staff, and also coordinate all the sponsors? and orphan responsibilities.? I hope? and pray I can take some of that burden off Judi while I am here and also help to improve their current system to make it easier to use and less time consuming.? I have also had a couple of opportunities to share? at a crusade on Rusinga Island? and with a? secondary school? boys group.? It looks like I will have more opportunities? in the upcoming weekends to share with secondary schools and challenge them to be Godly men and women instead of just "Christians" in name only.? ? ? ? ?
?€œI feel like every day God gives me so many opportunities to positively impact these children's lives for Him? through the situations that arise.? I love being able to sit down and talk? with a child one one one, or being able to? walk to and from school with students listening to them and sharing with them.?
I knew before I came here that God would use me as a role model for the boys at CGA, which He has done so far.? ? What I did not know was how he wanted to use me to affirm and build up the girls at CGA.? Most of them do not have any type of male figure in their home.? God has shown me that most of them have been affirmed by? other women in their lives such as? their moms or? Judi, etc.? But most of them have? never had a man tell them they are beautiful, special and God's precious? child, or even had a man put his arms around them in a loving way.? I can tell by the wonderful smiles on their faces that it means a lot to them.? ? ? ?
?€œThere is no doubt that I am exactly where God has called me.? I feel like I was created and have gone through the life experiences to prepare me for this very moment in time I am living in.?
MARCH - ?€œHow in the world can I condense a month of ministry in Kenya into one short e-mail update?? The successes, failures, attacks from Satan, experiences in different churches, visiting the homes of friends, walking 5 miles a day with huge blisters on both feet, and having my own pet chicken (given to me as a gift) for a few days.? It is impossible, but I will try.
?
?€œIt all hit me a few days ago when I was talking to one of my sixth grade students.? I asked her if she knew how long I had been in Kenya.? She responded by saying, ?€˜You arrived in Mbita 50 days ago.?€™? When I started calculating it, she was exactly right.? I was blown away that she has been counting how many days I have been here.? I realized that God is using me to love these children, bless them, encourage them, teach them and be an example to them.?
?€œIn many ways, CGA is very similar to an inner city school in the states.? The children are from very poor backgrounds, most don?€™t have parents at home that support them and discipline them, and there is not much hope for a better future.? It seems like much of my day at school is spent disciplining children.? Most of these children don?€™t receive discipline anywhere else, so it is even more important to correct mistakes and teach them biblical ways.? Outside of school, everything around them is contrary to the word of God.? This culture can be so deceitful and dishonest; people are constantly spreading rumors and talking behind people?€™s backs.? Everything revolves around sex.? Polygamy is still practiced and young girls are used by men for their pleasure.? Even the widows will prostitute themselves to the fishermen so that they can get fish to sell at the market to feed their family.? This is, of course, why AIDS has spread so rapidly and killed so many people.? I am amazed when I hear almost every day a student or teacher tell me that they have to attend a funeral of a family member or friend.? Death is all around.?
?€œWith so many negative influences, it is a battle every day to reach these children for Christ.? These orphans are being fed physical food and spiritual food every day at CGA and Satan does not like it.? He is attacking us from every angle to keep us from doing the Lord?€™s work.? Our only hope is to depend on God to meet our every need as we continue to grow closer to Him, teach His word, speak words of truth into these children?€™s lives, and set an example for them.? There are many frustrating days when I come home totally exhausted and feeling defeated.? God?€™s strength and His promises keep me pressing on towards the goal.? It is a spiritual war going on here for these children?€™s lives and we need your prayers!? Thank you for lifting us up!? We are ?€œmore than conquerors?€ť in Christ!? ? ? ?
?€œThis past week I caught a student cheating on a Bible test in Grade 4.? It was obvious; there was no doubt about it, yet he could not admit that he did anything wrong.? He gave excuses, he blamed other people, he called it different names; but would not admit he cheated.? Finally, after about 30 minutes, he quietly admitted that he made a mistake.? As I showed him 1 John chapter 1, I realized that there is a certain pride in people that will not allow them to confess their sins to God or to others.? That pride separates us from Jesus.? His word says, ?€œWhoever claims to be without sin makes Jesus out to be a liar and His word has no place in their life.?€ť? Vincent is one of our best students and when we had him re-take the test, he scored a 96.? But that pride is rooted deep in his heart.? ? ? ? ? ? ?
?€œThere are many great things happening here.? I am excited about the Bible Study we have recently started with some of the teachers.? We are doing a study on Galatians and Ephesians called Breaking Free from Bondage.? The first week we discussed not being slaves to the law anymore, what the true ?€œGospel?€ť is, how God?€™s love for us never changes, and that we can?€™t ?€œearn?€ť His love or our Salvation.? All of these issues are so pertinent in a culture that is very legalistic and where people live in fear of losing their salvation every day.? We also do staff devotions every morning and other biblical training weekly with the staff and teachers.? We want to continue to dive into the word of God so it will take root in their lives.? People here have a pretty good knowledge of the Bible, but very few really live out what God?€™s word says.? To them, Christianity is a religion and something you do on Sunday, not a lifestyle.?
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If you want information on how to help with donations, visit www.christsgiftacademy.com, or you can write Joe directly? at rockylj@hotmail.com.? Please do not include pictures and delete any signatures files that may be sent with the e-mails as this can cause very long delays in his downloads.
Take a moment and send "Jumpin' Joe" a note if this story touched your heart.
Happy Easter!?
