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By Devin Ivany
After three months of teaching here in Korr, Kenya I have been entrenched in situations requiring a greater sense of sensitivity and self-awareness than I am used to. I have learned that you cannot love God without loving His people and you cannot love His people without loving Him.
The main groups I interact with are students, teachers, missionaries and locals. I have realized the more I grow to know these people the more I grow to love each one of them. The more I grow to love each one of them the more I grow to love God. My favourite scriptures in the Bible are Matthew 22:34-40 and Luke 13:34. This month they have truly come to life in my heart as I realize that Jesus is a king who came as a carpenter and instead of asking us to bow down he bowed down and washed our feet. As I continue to the end of this term I hope and pray that God will continue to show me His love and then I can reciprocate that love to His beautiful people not just in Kenya but everywhere I go.
you cannot love God without loving His people and you cannot love His people without loving Him.
This month has been hard. I find myself continuously exhausted, but I find that through these low times something happens that is even more uplifting! Matthew 11:29: “Take my yoke up on you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”
The school has been a tremendous place for getting to know people. I have heard quite a few testimonies from teachers and students. They share their life struggles, and they have heard mine. I have been able to develop some great bonds with people here that I hope will last a lifetime. This month I had the privilege to go swimming in Northern Kenya! I got a chance to go to Ngurunit (pronounced IN-GUR-NIT), the home of a fellow teacher named Abednego Omarre. This adventure was with my friend Megan, my school father Kombe and our driver Marusie. Marusie, famous for saying, “it’s a terrible life in Northern Kenya,” enjoyed himself so much that he said “it’s a great life in Northern Kenya” (before reverting to his usual tune on the drive home).
Just when you (think you) have life figured out here in Korr, you're liable to be shocked to reality. A few nights ago I was leaving the Kuku house (where I eat and play) to my sleeping quarters when something unexpected happened. As I was walking out to the gate I heard some rustling. I turned to my right to see a tree. “It must be the wind,” I concluded, and continued walking. But the rustling continued, more aggressive this time. Suspicious, I kept my camera trained on the tree. I took two more steps and out from behind the tree appeared a dog-shaped shadow. A Hyena! I turned and ran, and look back to see the hyena following me. I stormed into the Kuku house to tell the night guard. And this amazing man, who has defended himself from hyenas in the past, walked me to my place of rest.
A few nights later we had a film crew with us. One man, using the toilet, began shouting about a crab-sized spider. Alarmed, I jumped out of bed thinking it might be the “Beneharto”-- a spider whose venom can kill within 30 minutes. But it was just a run-of-the-mill a camel spider, an ugly creature that looks menacing, but is rather harmless. Before bidding the crew goodnight, I showed off my personal collection of spiders and scorpions.
I didn't mention the hyena.
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