Jim and the men discuss work in front of the Njewa dormitories
Photos by Chris Clark
The BRIT
He charmed us with his delightful wit and British accent. He encouraged and entertained us with his words on a variety of topics including the night sky. He blessed us with his skills as an electrician when he and the national work crew installed ceiling fans in our rooms. After our first night in an overly warm room, Jim and the work crew were in our dormitory putting in ceiling fans to help us stay cooler. When some of us moved to the nearby mud huts, he promptly had fans installed in those as well. He did not try to do all the work himself, instead with a humble and approachable attitude; he taught the men and helped troubleshoot with them until they were able to complete the jobs without him. He exemplified the COTN core value of empowering nationals. He then put his skills to good use in helping to complete the recording studio with the BROMAN team. Jeff, leader of that group, spoke for the entire group of men when he said, "We could not have done it without Jim; His being there was really a God thing." When the call for and time came for it, he prepared us a "proper cup of tea." Even without being asked, he anticipated needs in many areas and in his own quiet manner put himself in a position to help and serve. In our moments of discouragement, he said the right things that pointed us back in the right direction—of courage, trust and faith in the LORD. He never complained, he never demanded and he cheerfully smiled a lot too. At his most shinning moment he served as an escort in a busy marketplace, keeping a safeguarding eye on us while seemingly distracting us with his light-hearted talk and later, he served each one of us communion in a candlelit dinning hall on our last night together as a whole team. Over all, he was a man admired.
He charmed us with his delightful wit and British accent. He encouraged and entertained us with his words on a variety of topics including the night sky. He blessed us with his skills as an electrician when he and the national work crew installed ceiling fans in our rooms. After our first night in an overly warm room, Jim and the work crew were in our dormitory putting in ceiling fans to help us stay cooler. When some of us moved to the nearby mud huts, he promptly had fans installed in those as well. He did not try to do all the work himself, instead with a humble and approachable attitude; he taught the men and helped troubleshoot with them until they were able to complete the jobs without him. He exemplified the COTN core value of empowering nationals. He then put his skills to good use in helping to complete the recording studio with the BROMAN team. Jeff, leader of that group, spoke for the entire group of men when he said, "We could not have done it without Jim; His being there was really a God thing." When the call for and time came for it, he prepared us a "proper cup of tea." Even without being asked, he anticipated needs in many areas and in his own quiet manner put himself in a position to help and serve. In our moments of discouragement, he said the right things that pointed us back in the right direction—of courage, trust and faith in the LORD. He never complained, he never demanded and he cheerfully smiled a lot too. At his most shinning moment he served as an escort in a busy marketplace, keeping a safeguarding eye on us while seemingly distracting us with his light-hearted talk and later, he served each one of us communion in a candlelit dinning hall on our last night together as a whole team. Over all, he was a man admired.
The Brit holds one of our children
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