God Has a Task for Me to Finish! by Susan Jackson Dowd and Anna Bedford

It all started when his mother brought him a tee shirt and a pair of shorts. When young Moses Ole Kinayia put them on, he felt like a schoolboy. At that moment, he made up his mind he was going to school.

Putting on school clothes helps many American youngsters get ready for school, but few in this country must overcome the obstacles Moses faced in Kenya. No one in his extended family had been to school; none had chosen to abandon the traditional Maasai life of herding cattle.

Times were changing, though. A proud people, the Maasai once roamed freely through the fertile valley of the Ngong Hills. Water was plentiful; the cows were sleek. But the Maasai were eventually confined in a reserve; settled agriculture and the rapidly growing city of Nairobi were encroaching; the Ngong Hills were dotted with the mansions and farms of Nairobi’s elite. Grazing land was sparse, and Maasai women had to walk many miles to get even polluted water for their families to drink.

Despite these challenges, Moses’ father valued the traditions of his people and he did everything within his power to prevent his son from betraying them. But beatings only increased Moses’ determination. Scoldings gave him courage to stand up for himself. To arguments that he would lose his love of cows if he were educated, young Moses answered, “I do love cows, and if I get an education I will be able to buy better cows!”

Find out if Moses attends school and where else God calls him—read the full text of this article in the MarchApril issue of Horizons.

Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping).

Beth Pyles is PW Communications Coordinator in Louisville, and Anna H. Bedford, a former youth worker in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, lives in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Photos courtesy of Christian Peacemaker Team

Other Articles Online This Issue


Find out if Moses attends school and where else God calls him—read the full text of this article in the MarchApril issue of Horizons. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping).	God Has a Task for Me to Finish! Following His Call to Ministry, a Kenyan Crosses Cultures and Continents by Susan Jackson Dowd and Anna H. Bedford It all started when his mother brought him a tee shirt and a pair of shorts. When young Moses Ole Kinayia put them on, he felt like a schoolboy. At that moment, he made up his mind he was going to school. Putting on school clothes helps many American youngsters get ready for school, but few in this country must overcome the obstacles Moses faced in Kenya. No one in his extended family had been to school; none had chosen to abandon the traditional Maasai life of herding cattle. Times were changing, though. A proud people, the Maasai once roamed freely through the fertile valley of the Ngong Hills. Water was plentiful; the cows were sleek. But the Maasai were eventually confined in a reserve; settled agriculture and the rapidly growing city of Nairobi were encroaching; the Ngong Hills were dotted with the mansions and farms of Nairobi’s elite. Grazing land was sparse, and Maasai women had to walk many miles to get even polluted water for their families to drink. Despite these challenges, Moses’ father valued the traditions of his people and he did everything within his power to prevent his son from betraying them. But beatings only increased Moses’ determination. Scoldings gave him courage to stand up for himself. To arguments that he would lose his love of cows if he were educated, young Moses answered, “I do love cows, and if I get an education I will be able to buy better cows!” Find out if Moses attends school and where else God calls him—read the full text of this article in the MarchApril issue of Horizons. Call (800) 524-2612 or subscribe to Horizons or order the March/April 2008 issue (HZN-08-210; $4 plus shipping). Beth Pyles is PW Communications Coordinator in Louisville, and Anna H. Bedford, a former youth worker in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, lives in Little Rock, Arkansas. Photos courtesy of Christian Peacemaker Team Other Articles Online This Issue Vocation—Who, Me? PLSE: A New Program Helps Young Presbyterians Catch the Beat of Christian Service The Call Toward Joy God Called, I Answered! Am I a Leader? God Has Done Great Things for Me! It Hurts to Be Real "God Has a Task for Me to Finish!" Toward a More Colorful Vision of Vocation Installation Service for Presbyterian Women Dispatch from Forbearance Presbyterian Church Nurturing Our Faith Health Connections Mosaic	Current Issue MAR/APR 2008 About This Issue Contents FREE Resource How to Use In Our Next Issue Items underlined can be seen in this Web site, all others appear in the March/April 2008 (HZN-08-210) issue of Horizons magazine. to Horizons, call (800) 524-2612 or this issue ($4 plus shipping/handling)

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