By Wairimu D Kanau, Kenyan Member Care Network

Rain-drenched Pink Trumpet Vine

In Nairobi, the first Covid 19 lockdown was in March 2020. Psychologically and emotionally, it felt to me like the announcement of a political state of emergency, except that this was a health-related emergency, unfamiliar and frightening, expecting to see armed soldiers walking on main roads stopping anyone who was foolish enough to venture outside. I looked forward to the afternoon three o’clock government update that gave critical information because I didn’t want to be unprepared for any eventuality, especially since I am also a caregiver of an elderly parent who wonders why we should keep away from others (social distancing) since we have no quarrel with them. We stocked up on dry foods, fuel, medicine, mpesa (phone money) and backup electric gadgets. It was then and to some extent remains stressful today.

Morning Glory in the shade

Looking back, a sort of new awareness of the space around me emerged. The silence grew louder as conversation decreased. Till this day, many people in my neighborhood are indoors by dark even though curfew hours are fewer than ever before. All the same, the flowers I took pictures of and derived much joy from seemed more beautiful against the backdrop of dark leaves and bush around them perhaps because I took the time to see and look at them, reflecting on who the creator God is. Through this new hobby, I discovered what the fuss around powerful cameras on smartphones is all about when my pictures filled my phone with brilliant natural colors. It has helped me to take long walks, do breathing exercises and appreciate God’s mercy on our lives during this new dispensation, knowing that many people around the world have lost many family members to Covid 19.

I developed my voice in singing to the audience of one (God). I translate into my mother tongue (Gikuyu) songs by some of my favorite Kiswahili gospel artists such as Doudou Manengu, Eunice Njeri, Reuben Kigame and Marggie Dawn. I was amazed at how much I was strengthened by this exercise on regularly focusing my time in sung worship as I walked, believing in the sound of my own voice and enjoying this time with God without distractions, praying in joy to the Lord as he strengthened me for the challenges around me. On these deserted roads, there was no-one to frown on my voice when out of tune.

I have taken time to focus on and evaluate my selfcare plan as against ministry demands. While I prefer evening Bible study, I introduced extended time in the morning to make sure the thoughts that dominate my mind throughout the day are from the Scriptures I am studying and not from the challenges I face from higher bills and decreased income. My new motto became “Being with Jesus is just as important as working for Jesus.” I have weekly and quarterly breaks scheduled in for the year so that appointments schedule around them.

Sun-kissed Tecoma Capensis

Our church which regularly encourages us to use our gifts and training (1Peter 4:10) assigned a number of health practitioners to teach on how to cope with Covid and to explain concepts such as whether the vaccine interferes with DNA. We have always shared material things with impoverished families in our neighborhoods through the partner ministry LoveInc that vets them and through direct church foodbanks. Generosity is encouraged (2Cor. 8:1-5 and it helps us to see and experience a kingdom perspective to our own struggles. This week we are praying for God’s mercy on the natives and residents in Afghanistan. What I have learnt is the importance of having at least one or two friends with whom I debrief my journey. It helps me separate problems and issues in life from personal identity as a child of God. I also offer debriefing particularly to African missionaries on pro-bon basis.

A rose by any other name…

It became apparent to me when the first Covid lockdown required physical meetings to close, that continuity required heads of households […] to establish or continue family altars responsibilities, expressed as the coming together in conversation around meals, intimate prayer, Bible reading and study regularly and increased one to one conversation. This is in marked contrast to the busy lives we are used to living where the most meaningful family conversations may be restricted to traffic jams on the way to and from school and work for those who do that together. This lockdown model may be the rebirth of the early church (Acts 2:40-47) where household congregations consisted of families, friends and itinerant evangelists and missionaries staying for some time and everyone getting the opportunity to speak and be heard.

During Covid, far too many churches are playing the waiting game to normalcy rather than seizing the opportunity to grow deep through home church discipleship. At home, everyone should have the opportunity to develop spiritual disciplines and stewardship through participation. In this way, we open our eyes to see more clearly the opportunities that come with the challenges of sickness and death, financial loss and poverty but also the hope and expectation that God is opening us to new ways of living and serving. This is the practice- ground for leadership skills and qualifications listed in Titus 1:5-9. This, I am really passionate about. Covid 19 lockdown required and transferred back this Christian leadership responsibility to the household, including the celebration of the Lord’s table, the baptism of new believers and the instruction of children in the ways of the Lordship. Even as we grieve the loss of more than a million people worldwide to this pandemic, we must open our eyes to the opportunities for discipleship that the restrictions offer.

Let us expect God who is still on his throne, to use this pandemic that he has allowed, to plant in us new resolve, strength, knowledge, new good hobbies in our lives. It will take a while but because we live on faith in the Word of God, not on bread alone (Matthew 4:4), whose character is the epitome of love (1John 4:7-21), he makes it possible. Let us expect God to keep his children safe in the big picture of eternity for those who believe, which requires that we mobilize all those called to Christian mission, to take the truth of God’s nature, Word and love to the unreached so that they also may be assured of this eternal life in God, forever (John 5:24). Live not only in hope, but in expectation of God’s intervention.