Greg Cain
TODAY I DANCED FOR A GOAT. I always keep a journal when I travel. The first sentence from Tuesday, August 20, 2019, is the highlight from a day chock-full of vivid memories.
We are out to visit two teams that have come together at one mountainous location to meet with us to ensure our having the opportunity to spend time with each of four of the teams sponsored through our combined efforts.
We turned off the paved road onto a dusty curvy mountain road and pull off the side after bouncing along for a couple of miles. We hop the narrow ditch and start along a dirt path. Soon we hear singing and teams Blessing Nthangarine and Vision Mwerokieni pop out of the trees ahead, dancing their way to greet us and envelop us in a sea of color and sound while escorting us to our outdoor meeting place.
The singing and dancing continues for some time before all eventually take seats and settle in. We received translated greetings from each of the team chairmen, a homily for the team pastor and detailed team meeting minutes are read by the team secretaries. Several team members introduced themselves and tell us about their business success and what they learned through the process of getting them up and running.
The ladies of the village have made huge pots of mashed potatoes, lentils and vegetables, but before we feast the teams present us with gifts. The presentation of gifts is accomplished with a customary tradition of celebratory dance taking place between giver and receiver.
Susan G. as our group leader participates and is provided crafted goods. Then suddenly a young man pulls me from my chair. Since I had chosen that day to be the one to bring greetings from our group to the teams and provide the segue to us individually introducing ourselves with a brief bio, I become the designated receiver of the next gift.
We dance. As we sway, he presents me with the looped end of a piece of twine. Firmly affixed to the other end of twine some six feet away is, you guessed it, a goat. They are giving us a goat. What on earth are we going to do with a goat? Reegan, the ZOE Kenya leader, confided his first thought – dinner.
During the midday meal we discuss what options we can consider. Obviously, we have no reasonable means to keep the billy (yes, it’s definitely a male). But to not accept the gift would be insulting at best and possibly perceived as simply arrogant. We devise a plan.
I thank the teams for their gracious gift and remark on the tremendous sacrifice it represents; after all wealth here is measured by the number of chickens, goats and cows each household can claim. This is no small overture, the surrendering of a goat.
Reegan takes over and explains our inability to board a goat on British Airways and transfer it through Heathrow. He offers several options for the teams to consider regarding the animal’s ultimate fate. They decide that the goat will go to the owner of the house which we dedicated a few hours earlier located on our meeting site. It certainly seems beyond coincidence – more like God at play – that the owner of the house is the same young man who an hour earlier had danced the goat into my possession.
What goes ‘round comes ‘round.