“You will never walk alone.”

It is a rallying cry for Liverpool FC, a soccer team in the English Premier League that is very popular here in Kenya (and the arch rival of my team, Everton FC). It could also be a theme for life here in Kenya.

I’ve been here now for 4 days, and have never spent a moment alone. All of life…traveling, eating, worshiping, they are all community events. As I found out yesterday, so is death. Death is a regular part of life in the developing world.

Several days ago, the wife of a pastor in this community was killed in a failed robbery attempt. After church, a dozen of us packed into the husband’s tiny living room and sat with him as he shared the story.

In America grief, like so many other things, is considered a private affair. So yesterday it felt as if I was intruding in some way. And there were some things about the experience that are confusing, that I am still emotionally processing. However, I realized the power of the presence of others for this man. His community came to be with him. Only one other person spoke, his mentor and  fellow pastor Fred Afwai. The rest of us were just…with him.

Together in life…and in death.