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From a dairy farm to Nairobi
From July 2001 to June 2007 Kevin and Sharon Yoder lived in Nairobi, Kenya, with their three daughters, Ana, Alita, and Alena. They served with Eastern Mennonite Missions and Mennonite Mission Network as missionary representatives for EMM Kenya.
Nairobi is one of the most culturally and politically prominent cities on the continent – but also has one of the highest rates of crime and gang activity in the world. What was it like for this family that came from a dairy farm in Elkhart, Indiana?
Their children “wouldn’t trade it for the world,” says Sharon. Kevin agrees. “Our thirteen-year-old didn’t want to come back! They all thrived in the international community of missionaries. They felt connected.”
Their proximity to the edge of the city helped, and they were close to the attractive grounds of the Mennonite Guest House. “It was a safe haven in which to raise a family. We had an open back porch with greenery, birds, a tropical view,” says Kevin. Sharon echoes, “Our porch became a sacred space. Many people came through there, and we sensed God’s presence as we sat and listened to people – sometimes at a loss to know what to say, but sometimes something would come to mind that would help change the situation.”
Kevin and Sharon were also instrumental in promoting a new atmosphere of cooperation among Kenyan church leaders. They stressed that they did not take the lead in this, but simply began asking questions that stimulated their Kenyan brothers and sisters to take charge of the process.
This approach paid off. Kevin says, “I witnessed church leaders move from an inward focus to being concerned about other parts of the local church, the broader church, and the broader world.” Kevin reflects, “We were also blessed to see church leaders transition from holding onto responsibilities and positions to a willingness of relinquishing positions of responsibility and allowing others to step in.”
EMM President Richard Showalter says, “We honor the service Kevin and Sharon Yoder gave in Kenya. Their sensitive encouragement greatly enriched the Kenya Mennonite Church leadership and blessed the churches of Tanzania.” EMM representative to Africa Clair Good says, “They did an awesome job helping to bring national church leadership to a united position.”
“One of the biggest things we learned from our Kenyan friends,” Sharon says, “was the importance of relationship, and their mentality of hospitality – if someone comes to the door, they will always be told, ‘Come on in!’” Kevin says, “It was a humbling experience time and time again, being graciously – even lavishly – received even when economic situations were bad.”
The importance in putting relationships above tasks was displayed in many ways, through sharing their food with each other, to what Kevin says is “showing interest in the whole of a person. You can’t get through deep issues of church and relationship until you are interested in their children, their cows, their crops.”
Sharon says, “In North America the goal is to be self-sufficient – in Kenya, and all of Africa, the goal is interdependence, sharing resources.” Because of this interdependence, whole communities become Christian-oriented if an important older person becomes Christian.
At first, Kevin’s North American sense of being squeezed for time brought him back home soon after meetings with Kenyan church leaders. “But then I began to realize,” he says, “that the informal relationships afterwards were the most powerful and significant times. We would sit and talk and joke for many hours.” His willingness to invest more significant time in relationships gave Kevin the reputation of being accepted as “one of them.” Kevin says that “This gave us the right to speak in quiet ways.”
Because of this time of service, the interdependence between the North American and Kenyan churches has been strengthened, enriching both sides.
Now the Yoder family is settling back into rural life in Elkhart, in the same home they left six years ago. Kevin and Sharon will begin as pastors of Olive Mennonite Church on November 1. Kevin is also farming part-time, and Sharon plans to resume part-time seminary classes.
- Kenton Glick
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