WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED IN KENYA, I found myself living on a windy hilltop in a very rural and poor area of the country. I had been given an old and derelict Chief's Camp comprising a number of rather decayed and neglected colonial brick buildings. I was using them to take care of some 39 destitute boys. I had little money and no support for this venture, and as the only one of distinctive colour and little cultural knowledge I often found myself getting into problems with the local community. THEY welcomed us with open arms, and were really very charming, but they thought I had come to develop their area, and in particular the Old Chief's Camp by providing a hoped for Medical Centre, School, and even more! This stemmed from their own private assumptions and dreams - I, meanwhile, just thought their interest and friendliness was due to an inborn kindness and charitableness, that was appreciative that I had come to use the run down centre to help homeless children. One day after I had been there about three months, I was approached by the Chief of the area who asked if I would mind holding a Barazza (a Meeting) with the local people and leaders. Again I thought this was a good thing that interest was growing, and I happily agreed. The Day arrived and my compound of some 5 acres was half filled with folk from all around. After some little polite pre-amble, the elderly Chief stood up and commenced his Speech. He said. "We have come today to complain. When we saw you come into our midst we thought you would lift us up and prosper us, in our long struggle against poverty. But instead you take our water, and import children who are not from this place to mingle with our own to bring bad manners. Bwana Green, you are a 'Teapot without any Tea'" and he sat down amidst considerable applause. I was very much taken aback; in fact I did not immediately see what he was saying =- But of course I quickly realised that I had disappointed the whole community by not coming up to their expectations. They had seen a hopeful source of comfort and provision. It looked good on the outside - a white man always has money, influence contacts. Surely one adventuring into the undeveloped countryside MUST have MORE money and plans to build, expand and develop. Soon the shillings would be poured out, signs of building commence - but NO, we just sat and did nothing. The Teapot looked enticing and profitable but when it came to it, there was no Tea inside it. It was EMPTY! And so we had to be informed and warned that we were not welcomed any longer unless we could fill the Teapot with Tea that could be enjoyed by all. WOW!
Soon after that we moved to Elgonview in Eldoret.
Are YOU a Teapot without Tea? Does you outward 'image' promote hope where there is NO hope?
Do you encourage Faith in your ability to make a difference when in fact you lack the ability to make that difference. Isn't this very often at the bottom of getting elected to a Board of Management, or even to Government. Elect me and I will............. BUT will you in fact do so...are you ABLE to do so.....do you INTEND to do so? Are you a man or woman of your word? Are doing what you do in order to attract attention to yourself, or are you doing it solely to put YOUR shoulder toward helping the community as a whole. WHEN I took Testimony Faith Homes to the rural area I imagined they would sympathise with my small effort to help the homeless - even their own homeless. I thought they would encourage me AND the children with me. I though WE would encourage them by demonstrating how to overcome misfortune and human hurt, It just did not work out that way. Everyone was looking at US to improve themselves, without any thought of joining hands with us to help reclaim broken lives. I suppose this is the same with the People and the Government. The People WANT assistance. They look at the Government to BRING and PROVIDE the assistance - immediately, overnight and without delay. The government knows this, all those vying for election to some post or other know it. They say "Elect me, I will build you a road, a school, a medical centre! I will bring industry and provide jobs........" And if they don't ? Well then there must be a Barazza and a confrontation of dissatisfaction.
I was a Teapot without TEA. Sure I WAS in fact a Teapot, but the Tea was not made. The tea leaves were there, and maybe even the milk and sugar were to hand, but there was NO HOT WATER yet; it had not come to the boil..........and those who were thirsty were lacking in patience because their need as for NOW, and they would not wait. PERHAPS, if they had, then Testimony Faith Homes and School would be THERE, and not in Eldoret. Their impatience LOST them what they needed - at least for that time, and from us. Voters and Governments often suffer the same way. The People think 'heaven' will come the day after the Elections, and governments forget to explain BEFORE Elections, that it takes time to produce and supply what has been promised. Much is often lost in the process.
I have a lady friend in England. A married lady with family. Since she was a teenager she was fascinated with Teapots and she began to collect different shapes, colours, sizes that she came across. She had hundreds of them now, and they are stacked up shelves in her home in a kind of display.They are quite interesting to look at - BUT they are ALL empty! NONE of them them has ever had tea leaves or even hot water inside them - they have always been and always will be empty, and thus of little practical USE. Just ornaments? Well, yes I suppose so - but can really admire what is of no use.
God made us all to be Teapots; teapots with a high potential to be of use and benefit to the world around us. How goes it with us? Do we live to be admired? Or are we constantly being filled in order to be poured out to satisfy the NEED of those around us. Think about it.
No comments:
Post a Comment