Polepole

(Great photo, Kevin Anderson!)

Here’s a shocker for you....another great day in Maua, Kenya.  Half of our group went back to work on the AIDS Orphanage House where they completed that majority of the work on the house.  Tomorrow, I will be joining them and we will finish it up and dedicate it to the family tomorrow afternoon. The team that worked on the house had a bit of an eventful day.  Apparently, they have received somewhat of a celebrity status.  Teens and young adults from the surrounding neighborhoods gathered to watch as they worked diligently on the house.  In fact, our very own Eric Douglas, was even proposed to.  Until she found out he was slightly over 21 that is.

Back at the Hospital Compound, we continued our work on the rock wall.  We lifted rocks, mixed cement, pushed wheelbarrows full of cement over the rough terrain from the mixer to the wall, and made great friends with Pyus, Patrick, and Samson.

Pyus and Patrick are on the work team at the wall and are just as patient as they a lot of fun to be around. Samson has patiently (and safely) driven us around Kenya for the trip. They calmly teach us to do the task at hand, but the most frequent Swahili we hear is “polepole.”  This means, “slow.”  Pyus reminded me of the obvious.  If we hurry and rush the process, the wall will fall and we will only end up having to do it again.  Polepole!  We want to keep the momentum on the task and even complete it if possible.  Unfortunately, this also means we tend to get in a hurry which can lead to sloppy work that many times has to be redone.  

Of course, it is always better to do things right the first time.  In America, however, we seem to have an addiction with getting things done quicker.  The result?  The quality is held captive by the quantity.  Samson, Pyus, and Patrick are always kind in reminding us “polepole.”  

As I reflect more on the week, I think there may be more here for us.  Our verse last night for our devotional was Psalm 46:10.  “Be still and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in all the earth.  The Lord Of Hosts is with us.”

How many time do we rush through something just to get it done and move on to the next task? What are we missing out on when we are less “in the moment,” and more “in the task?”  This is not just about building a rock wall.  This applies to when we are with our children, spouses........or, dare I say....God?  Perhaps our new friends Samson, Pyus, and Patrick have a bit of instruction for us.  When we are tucking our kids in at night, spending time with our spouse, interacting with coworkers, going about the various tasks in our day, and even when we are spending time with our Creator.... polepole!  Savor it....be in the moment.  Thank you Samson, Pyus, and Patrick!