Kenya Trip (08/15/11)

Shalom,

The trip is going well. Here's the report so far. See you in early September.

The trip over was good in general. It was the normal long and tedious day and a half to get to Kenya, but it was certainly good to travel with Justin. Having someone to talk with and to break the monotony of sitting and waiting in airports was a blessing. There were several opportunities to talk with other travelers during the trip that were interesting. I was able to talk about the work in Kenya and discuss other spiritual issues.
We made an easy connection to Kisumu from Nairobi. Bishop Obiero met us and helped us get to the other terminal. Peter's whole family is at home right now. Kerry and Becky are on their school break. They both attend boarding schools and are home only three months out of the year. All the kids have noticeably grown. Sorry Jonathan, but Kerry is as tall as me so unless you've grown since I left, he's now taller than you. Precious didn't have any trouble warming up to Justin and I. She's a little chatterbox but we struggle with her switching between languages.

Aug 2: I went with Peter on a business run. We visited some government offices, the Joy School, and traveled with an officer from the Agricultural Ministry to Peter's farmland above Mirogi. He's leased 5 acres of good black soil there. The Agricultura officer said that maize and beans were a good choice for the soil and gave Peter some advice about planting.
We returned to Ndhiwa and took Justin to the Teacher's College at Joy Schools. He began teaching on Typology and the tabernacle.

Aug 3: Peter took me to a conference in Minyere. We both preached during the afternoon session. I was well received as usual. There were several pastors there hat I knew from past visits. There were probably around 100 people in attendance. This was another place well off the main road, even Peter began to wonder if he was on the right track.
After returning to Ndhiwa and picking up Justin at Joy schools we had an interesting encounter on our way home. We saw a large snake crossing the road just before the turn to Peter's house. It must have been 7-8 feet long. Peter said it was a Black Mamba, a very poisonous snake. We haven't seen any sign of since.

Aug 4: We went to Minyere again I preached about priestly call to keep our fires burning. There was an altar call and many came forward for prayer. This time the gathering was outdoors and it seemed that there were more people than yesterday.

Aug 5: This time both Justin and I went to Minyere with Peter. The local people and leaders seem impressed that Justin was a real Hebrew. We both spoke during the afternoon session. There was also a gathering of the regional PEFA leadership. We had lunch with them in the home of the local government leader.
On our way to Peters house this evening we saw what Peter called a wildcat. It was large cat sized, but very round with a long and thick tail. I'll have to look it up when I get home to get the right name.

Aug 6: Peter brought both Justin and I to the home of his friend, Pastor Dan. He pastors with AFCEA (Africa Christian' Evangelical Association). We were brought to an almost open-sided church in a minor slum. Justin spoke during the afternoon and a lady pastor from Uganda (Pastor Jovlet) took the evening session. We spent about 8 hours in church this day.

Aug 7: Today turned out to be an even longer day than yesterday. We went to the conference at 9AM. I reached during the early session. The praise and worship lasted for a long time. Then Pastor Jovlet spoke. This session ended about 2PM. From there we went to Pastor Dan's home for lunch.
We returned for the next session about 4PM. I preached again because Justin wasn't feeling well. This session of praise and worship and Word lasted until 8:30PM. Justin and I participated n several times of praying over people for healing, blessing, and direction. Our 9 and a half hour day in church was tiring to both of us. We're both inclined to let people know that our services most definitely don't go too long after our experience this weekend.

Aug 8: Just a travel day back to Ndhiwa.

Aug 9: A day of rest. No preaching or teaching for me. We met Pastor Tom and Doctor Ann Corey from Saratoga. They've been on a medical mission in the Rift Valley for two weeks.

Aug 10: I spoke at Peter's monthly Local Leadership Meeting. He tries to gather as many of his pastors and elders regularly to build them up. He asked me to teach about spiritual authority and being an example to the people they lead. It was a good session and I got to see Daniel there. We had a good talk during lunch.
For the afternoon I went to Bishop Awallakoora's conference to preach. I met him in 2008 and he's on my mailing list for the Monday postings. The people responded well and a large group came forward for prayer. Some came forward for salvation and others for
healing. There was a lot of tears and rejoicing among those who came for healing, but I think they were more for being prayed over by the "mizungu," the white man. This was in another part of Ndhiwa.
Opake Yesu) and thank you (Erocomono) in the Luo language. Several pastors say it helps their people know I care about them, that I'm not a high and mighty white man coming to the poor black people.

Aug 11: I woke up hardly able to speak. It was good that I wasn't scheduled to speak anywhere. We all went to Peter's home village to bless the ground for a planned medical clinic. Peter's whole family, Justin, the Corey's and I went. Dr. Anne haded out vitamins and worm pills, also giving a talk about improved hygiene. Pastor Tom was in charge of giving away reading glasses. Kerry helped by controlling the line and interpreting. All four of us "mizungus" planted trees to symbolize growth and stability. Mine was an avocado tree.
It was interesting to see the home Peter grew up in. The house was very small and humble. The area is filled with his aunts and uncles and cousins. We had a nice lunch in his mother's new home.

Aug 12: Got another day of rest to try to overcome my nasty case of laryngitis. Walked around with Peter near his property. There's a spring and a well just down the hill from his property. The spring continued to flow even during the worst of this year's drought. Peter talked about the possibility of harnessing this as a source of clean water for the whole community. Many use the small pool formed by it for their cooking, cleaning, and drinking water. It wasn't very lean in the pool because many people stir it up filling their water jugs and animals drink from it.
The well was put their before Peter bought his property by an international organization. There's no plaque or identifying mark to know who this organization was. It's a nice pump well, but currently something is broken. It's a "community" well and no one feels responsible for it. Peter had it fixed once, but after a year it broke again. It's a shame that the organization who built it didn't make provision for ongoing repair.

Aug 13: Peter had a PEFA leadership meeting in Migori, and he left Justin and I at a conference of the 4 Migori PEFA churches. The church building is a work in progress. It currently has no roof. It has two levels set up in a kind of amphitheater fashion. There are two levels with an open area in the middle including the platform.
Justin spoke first and then I did. They then fed us a nice lunch. During the afternoon it got really interesting. In the afternoon sessions they'd been teaching on biblical relationships among differing age groups. Justin was assigned o the 25-40 year olds,
and I was given the 40 and up group. We were asked to share on right sexual behavior according to the Bible. I started by sharing as I would with an engaged couple or a couple with marital struggles. Sharing on what the Bible instructs the husband and wife to do, using some Family Life symbolism, I made a connection with them. The Question and Answer time at the end was really interesting. I had questions about polygamy, overcoming stress, an inattentive husband, a wife who says she's too old for sex, and widows.

Aug 14: I rode on a motorbike to preach the Sunday service at De De (Day Day). The ride took about an hour to go the 40Km. One of Peter's Ndhiwa assistants, Peter Okoth, took me and served as my translator. We had a flat on he way there, but were blessed that it
happened in his wife's home town. We got quick service. The worker found three holes that needed to be patched. It cost 50Ks per patch (about 55 cents).
With our late arrival we almost went straight into the preaching. The worship time was over, but two specials were done. The youth sang and did a skit (Jesus is the answer). I just happened to be wearing my Yesi Ni Jibu shirt (it means Jesus is the answer).
Then one of the women sang. The message was well received and as usual I was asked how soon I could return. The ride was uneventful.

I'm scheduled to speak at a conference near Lake Victoria on Wednesday and Thursday. Then I will go to with Bishop Obiero to Kandiege. I was there for two days in 2008, and will be there Friday and Saturday. I'll be preaching at the Ndhiwa church on Sunday. We finish up with the big PEFA conference in Migori all of next week. Peter says we'll be teaching and preaching throughout the week. I've had a smaller schedule so far, but the last two weeks may have me speaking at least twice daily. It's been great so far. Thanks for all your prayers.

Blessings & Peace, Mike