Kenya Report & Pictures (9/5/11)

Shalom,

I'm back in upstate New York safe and sound. The trip was great. I shared 25 times on this trip. As always it was a great blessing to teach these hungry people. They really need preachers and teachers who can open up the Word to them. Some of their pastors are really trying to disciple them, but others are stuck in the "old-time Pentecostal" mode. They shout and work at their emotions to get them to respond, but they aren't really challenging the people to grow and mature in their faith.

There is a problem of not enough people having their own Bibles. Some have to choose between buying and Bible or buying food for their families. What becomes difficult in this is that many only read their native Luo language and those Bibles are more expensive. Pray that they can acquire their own Bibles so they have the Word for themselves.

Here's the rest of the daily events.

Aug 15: This is what can happen in a normal day in Kenya. The trip to Kisii should have only taken half the day.

Peter Midodo had to go to Kisii to get fertilizer and herbicide for his fields. Justin and I went along so we could stop at the soapstone carvers on the way back to Ndhiwa. There's been an ongoing problem with the horn on Peter's car. Some springs within the steering column have failed or fallen out and the horn sounds at odd times. Almost every time a right turn is made or a hard enough bump is struck, the horn blares. Peter dropped Justin, his wife Rachel, and I off at the Nakumatt, the Kenyan version of Wal-Mart. We shopped and waited at the store while Peter got the supplies he came for and tried to get the horn fixed. Right after picking us up Peter suddenly pulled into a tire store to get a front end alignment and to ask questions about tractor tires. His tractor has been getting a lot of flats due to the extremely hard and sharp volcanic rocks in the fields. The man doing the alignment was pretty flustered by the horn sounding so much, but he got the work done.

Our stop at the soapstone carvers was good, as it has always been in the past. The man is a friend of Peter and we got the Kenyan price, not the tourist price. I bought 9 items and spent about $30. We had to wait an extra half hour because a friend had come along with Peter to help him in purchasing the fertilizer and herbicide. He allowed the man to use his car to visit family while we were shopping.

On our return trip to Ndhiwa we had trouble finding gas. Prices are increasing in Kenya and some stations will only sell small amounts. One place would only sell one liter per customer. We finally found some in Rodi and were able to get 14 liters (about 4 gallons). While there Peter tracked down his electrical "fundi." Fundi is the generic name for a handyman. He negotiated to get the parts to put the horn on the dash and to disconnect things in the steering column. As we entered Mirogi, a town about 5K (3 miles) from Ndhiwa, Peter got a call from his tractor operator about another flat tire. He got out there and Rachel drove us home. We arrived in Ndhiwa about 4:30PM.

I wrote all this out to give you some idea of how things go in Kenya. A trip that should have been over in 5-6 hours, turned into an all day affair. And much of what causes this is the stops along the way. Peter isn't any different than other Kenyans. They all stop to talk to people they know or see something and realize they need to stop what they're doing to deal with another issue.

 

Aug 16: A day of rest.

 

Aug 17: Today I traveled to Onger (Monkey). This was another long motorbike trip of around 45K (28 miles). We had an interesting mix-up upon arrival. The town is spread out on both sides of a river. We ended up on the wrong side and at the wrong church conference. After Pastor Emmanuel, my interpreter for the day, had some discussion with the leaders and made a phone call to Peter M, we went back across the river and found the PEFA church. The leader of the other conference tried to convince us that the Holy Spirit had brought us to them so we should stay and share. We had to apologize and move on because we were already late.

At Onger I shared on the Widow's Oil and the people responded very well. Everyone who spoke to me afterwards said they were greatly blessed and looking forward to my return tomorrow.

Aug 18: The second day at Onger went more smoothly than the first. We arrived just in time for the morning message. I wasn't expecting to speak so soon after arriving, but the Holy Spirit led me to share on Fatalism. Again, the people responded very well and the pastors said it was a timely message. 15-20 people came forward for prayer, mostly for guidance or healing.

In the afternoon I shared from Isaiah 40:31 and asked whether they desired to be an Eagle or a Chicken. The local bishop, Daniel Owaga, was translating and he got very excited. The comparison of being an eagle or chicken seemed to come across very clearly. There were probably at least 200 people present.

The motorbike ride home was a bit adventurous because some places between Onger and NdhiwaMidodo home.

Aug 19: Bishop Salmon Obiero came to Peter's home to bring me to Kandiege. It was interesting to go back there after 3 years. Many people were glad to see me again, especially Morris who was the groom in the wedding they had me preach for the last time I was there. He excitedly gave me hug and told me he and his wife now have one child. I remembered many faces, but had to be reacquainted with the names that went with them. They started calling me Pastor Mike Odhiambo. This is the Luo designation based on what time of day you were born. I was born at 5PM, therefore afternoon.

I preached Dirty Laundry in the Throne Room. The people responded strongly to a call to pray about being quicker to seek cleansing from their sin. Many came forward. I laid hands on and prayed for as many as I could.

We ate supper at Bishop Obiero's sister-in-law's home. It's the same home I stayed at during my last visit to Kandiege. A strong thunderstorm hit while we were eating, and we didn't return for the evening session because Salmon didn't want to get stuck in the mud.

Aug 20: I preached Mountains & Dreams during the morning session. This is the story of Caleb taking claim to the hill country of Hebron that Yahweh had promised to him. Again there was a strong response to the prayer call. Almost everyone there wanted to be prayed for. Bishop Obiero stressed to them that the dream must come from our Lord first, not our own desires or imaginations.

I preached the Widow's Oil message in the afternoon session. The people were excited about how Yahweh can take the little we have and multiply it. There was another mass move to prayer. As I did each time before, I laid hands on as many as I could and prayed for them.

Before leaving there was a special time of prayer with the pastors and leaders. One of them in particular wanted me to pray over him to walk in right authority because he was blessed to know I had been in the military. He's a supervisor within the Kenyan police and works basically as their sergeant-at-arms during conferences.

On the way back to Ndhiwa we stopped at Pastor Gabriel's new house to bless it. I was asked to share and bless the home and family. It's amazing that they moved into it already. The walls, windows, doors, and roof are all that's complete. There's still a dirt floor and only rough brick walls. I was given a Kenyan hoe as a gift. They make them in the little village the house is in. Pastor Gabriel's father said they were giving it to me because I planted such good seed in my teaching. He said to remember them when I used it at my home.

Aug 21: I preached Sacrifice & Responsibility in the Ndhiwa church this morning. It was good to be back among many people I know and who know me. About 25 people came forward for prayer for anything from deeper surrender to healing.

Justin and I were asked to pray for the representatives of the Ndhiwa cell groups as they brought their gifts forward for the Migori Conference. There are thirteen of them.

Peter took us to the new Village Resort in Ndhiwa. It's being built by the local MP serving in parliament for the Nyanza district. We met him while waiting for our lunch, and he spoke very highly of Peter.

Peter shared with Justin and I that he's lost a lot of his support recently. One of the groups said his home was too extravagant, that it was even better than some of theirs in the States. Knowing how Peter uses his home to house missionaries and his care of orphans, it's disappointing that some don't have the vision to see the bigger picture of his ministry.

Aug 22: Preparation day for the Migori Conference. The Midodo household was a beehive of activity. For Justin and I it was a nice day of rest.

Aug 23: I preached the Eagle or Chicken message for the evening session. The hired cooks/caterers put the conference way behind schedule. I didn't start speaking until 10PM. There was a good response in spite of a very tired audience.

Justin and I found a Pinecrest poster hanging in the office. The place is the Migori School of Ministry International. It was interesting to find something from "back home" 7500 miles away.

Aug 24: Shared on the Fruit of the Spirit in the afternoon session. From there we went into workshops on Family Relationships. After sharing on the proper biblical Husband/Wife relationship from Eph 5, we went into a question and answer period.

The Q & A took many twists and turns. There were cultural issues concerning dowries and polygamy. There were the usual questions about what submission really means. There were questions about unbelieving spouses which included how to deal with alcoholism, a man sleeping around and getting AIDS, and how much influence in-laws are allowed to have. The group said they wanted another session to ask more questions. I shared Titus 2, where the older men and women are told to instruct the younger men and women about marriage and relationships. I told them they need to set up these mentoring relationships in their churches.

Aug 25: Shared on Giving & Receiving in the morning session. The pastors definitely showed interest because Peter had asked me to stress supporting their local churches. Talking with some of the pastors during lunch we found out how bad their finances are. Hardly any of the churches do much more than provide for the building and electricity. Most of the pastors need to work another job to provide for their families.

Justin and I were given the night off. They had revival services where they actually intend to stir up their people to spiritual growth.

Aug 26: Shared from Mark 10 about Bartimaeus in the afternoon session. Many people threw off their beggar's cloaks when symbolically given the opportunity. You could sense that many really felt some new freedom from the issues that they felt hindered their moving forward.

Had another workshop session with the "older married's." This time we focused more on Parenting. The Lord blessed me to answer all but one of the questions thrown at me. The cultural issue of how men can send their wives away for unfaithfulness, but women have no rights to do the same was unanswerable. I gave them biblical direction, but the overriding cultural position couldn't be dealt with. The people really appreciated clear biblical answers to their questions and offered to buy me soda if I'd stay with through the supper time. I guess I didn't offend anyone with my blunt and direct information.

Aug 27: I shared Keep the Fire Burning in the morning session. The people, and especially the leadership, said the Thief in the Night illustration really was helpful. If you don't know what the real story is behind this, found in Rev 16:15, let me know and I'll share it with you.

We had more good conversations with the pastors during meals. We talked about false teachers and those who focus too much on non-essential doctrines. Most of them don't like Prosperity teachers or those who don't preach surrender and commitment. The Prosperity message is well-liked among such a poor people, but the pastors know they need their people grounded in the Word more than they need to be told they can be rich.

Aug 28: I preached the closing session of the conference. I shared the Mountains & Dreams message which is based on the key scripture and theme for the conference. Many came forward for prayer when invited to have hands laid on them to become more faithful listeners and seekers.

Many wanted to shake our hands and tell us how much they appreciated our teaching. Many asked if we'd be back next year. All the pastors asked for us to visit their churches. A group of young boys, part of one of the choirs, just wanted to shake our hands and feel the hair on our arms. No one here has hair on their arms. It's very humbling to be so appreciated by so many people.

The last few days were spent talking with Peter and preparing for the journey home. It would be good to be able to come every year, but the travel costs continue to increase. I thank you all of you who prayed for me during this trip. May our Lord bless you for your faithfulness.

Blessings & Peace, Pastor Mike Odhiambo.

P.S. I've tried every way I could to get the pictures added to this e-mail without success. Hopefully I can get them to you soon