Mud of Honor – by Chad

This week, Africa celebrates the life of one of her “seven good men”. Larry Kitchel, the co-founder and director of Christian Mission Aid was truly a champion of the poor. In his life, he heard and answered the cry of the orphan and the widow. Over the last twenty-five years, his commitment to share the good news of Christ and demonstrate the love of God throughout eastern Africa has remained steadfast. Larry’s life was spent in the labor of love while he discovered, trained, and equipped other good men and women to continue the work so that an increasing number of lives might be reached.

To me Larry was a friend and a mentor. The days that I was able to spend with him last November were precious and few. During the ten day visit, he shared some of the lessons learned over the years. Several times I felt my heart being stirred as he passionately expounded on the guiding values that have kept the vision of CMA on track. Through these discussions, I found answers to questions that I had been personally wrestling with.

As is often the case, the greatest lesson that I learned was the lesson “caught” not “taught”. Certainly, the way that we live our life serves either to amplify or discredit the words that we speak. Larry’s life most definitely amplified the words that he spoke to me in Kenya. The great lesson that I “caught” came while traveling through the rural communities of the Nyanza district. I noticed how Larry took genuine interest in the lives of people as we visited widows, orphans, rural pastors, and community leaders. As the director of a large organization Larry still found the time to stop for the one in need. I watched carefully. Even after twenty-five years working in Africa, his heart still broke over the suffering that remained. And I noticed more than once that tears of joy formed in the corners of his eyes when someone thanked him and shared how their life has been changed for the good.

On the last full day of the trip, our 4X4 got stuck in a particularly swampy area. While navigating through the bush, we made the mistake of stopping. The truck immediately began to sink into the soft earth of November’s rainy season. The problem compounded as the tires spun and dug deeper into the mud. It was then that I saw Larry step in, shoulder to shoulder with the other men that had come from the surrounding community to help us. On the final push, as the truck rocked back and forth, the driver unknowingly turned the front wheels just before it broke loose. Larry was left standing in line with the mud that was thrown as the truck began to make forward momentum.

In times like this we really see what a man is made of. Larry simply smiled as Roselyne Njino, who was traveling with us, insisted on taking his picture. When he asked why she wanted the picture, Rosie replied, “Larry we have to take your picture. It’s mud of honor.”

“Mud” is the stuff of life that we encounter when we make an effort to roll up our sleeves and do something about the injustice in the world around us. “Honor” is for the one who is willing to do what it takes to truly demonstrate love for others regardless of the cost. I believe that it is impossible to help someone and stay completely unaffected by their situation. Many people talk about making a difference in the world, but few are actually willing to roll up their sleeves, stand shoulder to shoulder in the mud and push though until things begin to change. In my short time with Larry Kitchel, I discovered that he is one of the few.

This is how I will always remember him.

Last Sunday, March 27^th at 12:35 PM Nairobi time, Larry traded his mud of honor for a crown of glory.