Kimani and Samuel: Men with Stories to Share

My brother, Steve Greek, was a missionary to the deaf population in Kenya, East Africa for about twelve years.  He and his wife Claudia now live in Pioneer, Tennessee, where they are school teachers.  Most summers, Steve and Claudia return to Kenya for several weeks to assist with the continued missionary work they began many years ago.  Following is a story from Kenyan deaf culture, not like our United States culture, but recognizable world-wide by other Christians. I just received the story from Steve via email and it should be shared.

Charles Kimani’s “sign name” is really more of a motion than a hand position and placement.  To “say” Kimani’s name properly, one should put both hands in a fist-like positions and move both arms as if you were doing the breast stroke under 3 feet of water.  You also need to move your head in a dipping motion, at a slight angle that implies that you are sliding through those three feet of water to reach the surface.  Kimani explained to us that, when he was a child, he was quite a swimmer!  I have never asked why an accomplished swimmer would hold his hands in a fist-like position, but neither do I ask why Fred is called Fred, or Billy is called Billy.  It is his name!

In the first part of this report, I explained that one of his daughters has some physical impairments which necessitate her need for a wheelchair.  Kimani and his wife exhibit such devotion to their children that Claudia was reminded of Charles Kimani’s devotion to others as well.  She told a “Charles Kimani” story to our team of missionaries the other night.  It is a painful, yet beautiful story of friendship that impacted several families in powerful ways and has long lasting influence on their lives.

It was a rainy evening twenty years ago when Kimani rapped on our door.  There was an expression of urgency on his face when he indicated that our friend, Samuel, had fallen down on the side of the road in an apparent seizure.  He had been shaking violently and gone straight into an unconscious state of exhaustion.  We got into my vehicle, found him in a gully full of rushing water, and took him to a local physician who immediately admitted him in the local hospital.  He was receiving appropriate care, so I carried on with plans to go to Uganda the following day.  Before our return, three days later, I received word that Samuel had passed away with an apparent brain tumor.  

When I arrived in Eldoret, one of the first jobs we faced was negotiating with people at the morgue adjacent to the hospital.  They had refused to release Samuel’s body until a very large sum of money (for which no receipt would be given) was paid.  I scolded and pleaded with the morgue attendants who were requesting the bribe until they released the body.  That Sunday, at a memorial service, Samuel’s family and many of the deaf people in the local community attended the service.  Those who were Christians shared stories of Samuel’s faithfulness; he always had a small New Testament in his shirt pocket, he spoke of Jesus to everyone he met, he was a humble man who interacted lovingly with others.  Those who were not Christians shared stories of Samuel’s goodness, his kindness, and the respect that he deserved.

When Samuel’s family addressed the group, they indicated that, because he was deaf, and they did not know any sign language, they did not know their son.   They loved him, of course, but they were shocked and moved to know that he was a Christian and, in fact, a leader in the church among the deaf. They spoke with a few of the hearing people attending the service and made plans to learn more about their son’s Christian beliefs.   A few months later, we received word that Samuel’s family had become Christians and attended a church close to their home.

As Claudia shared the story of Kimani knocking at our door, and Samuel’s influence on his family, she emphasized that as we look out at the crowd of 106 people at the KDPL (Kenya Deaf Prayer and Learning) meeting, we are looking at many people who have a long history with the Church of Christ mission effort.  There are countless stories, most of which will never be told, but all of which should be chronicled. There are stories that make us laugh and others we hear with regret, but all are important and all are precious.

Thank you for your part in making these stories what they are,

Steve and Claudia Greek

Dear God, Help us to remember our missionaries every day, and lift them up in prayer.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, Texas