Report From Kenya!

Kenya 2009

Tuesday PM:

Bernard, Joseph, and Martin greeted us at the Airport and we loaded up the Safari vehicle and headed for the Hampton House. Being back at the Baptist Guest House was like coming home. The rooms are furnished with a very nice bathroom, dressing and closet area and your own private dining room. You share a kitchen with the apartment on the other side of the kitchen area. When we arrived everyone immediately headed to the kitchen and shared snacks and colas. It was fun to finally be back in Kenya.

Wednesday:

This morning we headed down to the reception desk and Salina greeted us with a smile and also shared with us the breakfast foods that were available for purchase to fix in your kitchen. I saw individual sized breakfast cereals and purchased Joan a box of Coco Pops, and for myself - Frosted Flakes. They also had fresh milk and Diet Cokes.

We loaded up and left the Hampton House around 10:00. We had not gone 1 mile when Bernard pulled over and got some gas. It always amazes me that we sit around waiting for everyone to get ready and there is plenty of time to wash the windows, go get gas, etc. but we always seem to follow this same routine. It probably has something to do with not wanting to waste any money on the gas it would take to get there. Fuel is so expensive.

The ride from Nairobi to Eldoret was beautiful, and bumpy. As we drove through the Serengeti Plain and the Great Rift Valley we safe plush valleys and beautiful mountains. We also saw Zebra running free and baboons all up and down the road. Joan was having a time. One actually came right up to our window. I did not want to share an apple I had bought so it quickly headed to he next vehicle.

We stopped in Nekuru and ate lunch. We had the best grilled chicken and chips. Then we got back on the road. About 30 minutes out from Eldoret we experienced car trouble. We had overheated. Fortunately we were able to get water back into the van and were quickly back on the road again.

Once in Eldoret we pulled into the Eldoret Club, our home away from home for our time in the area. This is an old golf club with cottages for rent. While the area is beautiful and the course is great the rooms are normal for Eldoret. We at least have a private bathroom and we are told the hot water will come out after a long wait. Ha.

After we checked in we headed to town to buy water. In town we saw the poster for the women's event all over the streets. Proud of Joan. She is going to do great.

Diner was grand as Joan and I ate Spaghetti and so did Shelia and Laurie. Shad had his usual Pepper Steak.

Tonight as we prepare for bed, the birds are making noises, the animals are prowling, it feels quite like Africa. Usually we stay in the city and miss the country sounds and smells. The city is full of gas fumes, smoke, garbage, and sewage. Hundreds of people per square inch. Out here it is peaceful.

Thursday AM

Today we start our mission. After a good rest we are rewarded with hot water and a great breakfast. Everyone is ready to get to the work at hand. Ben Bahati comes on time to take us to the Women's Confererence.

There are over 600 ladies staying at the lodging provided by the ministry. That is not counting the ladies who live In the area or who are staying at hotels and with friends.

Joan and Shelia are ready and the crowd is excited to hear what is on their hearts. Joan did fantastic. The ladies loved the song I Command my body. Joan really connects with the women as she tells stories from around the world. Her humor and Biblical application really gets the ladies to open up. The women are from all around Kenya, and even from some other countries. They are quickly becoming friends and enjoying the conference.

During the second session in the afternoon, Sheila and Joan really hit their stride and minister to the ladies. Sheila shares on the deeper life and Joan shares on Nehemiah. She expands the ladies vision to see the wordly voices that are calling out to distract people from hearing God's voice. It was fantastic. At the close of the session Joan invites the women to come to the altar and get right with God - hundreds come to confess sin, come to Christ, and surrender their will to His.

After a great dinner of Chicken sandwiches and tomato soup, I head out alone to preach at the Jesus Film. When I arrive the film is almost over so I have to jump up and start sharing almost immediately. It is very cold - in the 50's but the crowd stands and listens with rapt attention. They are seeing on the film what I am talking to them about. At the time of decision over 150 people respond to give their lives to Christ. Because it is cold and they still have several minutes of the film left to see, I do the followup myself and share with them how to fill their hearts with the spiritual disciplines., prayer, study, church, and sharing their new faith. I get them all to turn to someone and say "I prayed and asked Jesus to be may Saviour. I am going to heaven when I die!" They loved it and all boldly shared with their neighbors.

After I finished as I was walking to the van, a man named Sammy came up to me and introduced himself. He said he was at home sleeping and he heard the movie and was drawn to come see what it was about. He said he watched it very carefully and wondered why Jesus would take a beating like He took. He then said that my explanation and sharing of the Gospel convicted his heart that he was a sinner and that he needed to be saved. He had prayed the prayer and wanted me to know he was now a true believer in Jesus Christ. As I was talking with him, Joseph came up, (not our friend Joseph) he is an area pastor. As a matter of fact our film was shown right beside his church. This church is less than 6 months old. Joseph was able to talk further with Sammy and tell him about the church and what he needed to do now.

Before getting in the vehicle I was able to encourage Joseph and get to know him better. He shared that the ground I was standing on was where the tribal wars that broke out a few months ago were really gruesome. He said they were beheading and killing people in that village and hanging the bodies and heads on the fence right behind me. As I looked around I could just imagine dead bodies stuck on the fence poles. Right behind the fence was his new church. He said God had told him to come and bring peace and hope to this scared and hurting area. The hundreds of displaced and hurting people needed Jesus. Several pastors had fled the area but God called him to brave the area and bring the message of peace and forgiveness to the people.

What a great day. The Lord is moving and when He does we are listening. Joan and I trust that all is well back in America. If something is not done to stop the direction our culture and politicians are going we are not going to have any stability, legacy, or reputation left. When society lets marketing directors, posing as politician, determine the fate of the free world - we are in big trouble. Now is not the time to ask God to move over - it is the time to ask God to take over!

Friday AM

As the morning came so did the promise of a great day from the Lord. Habakkuk 3:19 - For the Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. Today the Lord will be with us as we go out swiftly for Him. The fires went out last night that heats our water and so this morning the water was warm. We pray that the warmth of God's presence will not go cold in out walk today and that we will keep him ever in our hearts and minds. May the fires of revival and holiness never go out in our lives. God can and will sustain us as we rely on His strength and provision. It is not our knowledge, our techniques, our passion that brings about life change and decisions for Christ. It is our faithful obedience to being at His place, at His time, doing His bidding that rules the day.

The entire team feels great this morning and are ready to see God do miracles and use us mightily. Laurie's spirit is a servants spirit. I pray that she and Marty will be able to do this together one day. I pray for her strength, health and passion.

Shad and Sheila have more insight and focus than ever before. I pray that his book on Faith will reach those who have an ear to hear the word of the Lord.

Joan is a burning fire for the Lord, her passion, presence, and poise is an inspiration to the ladies here and to our team. She is growing in spiritual understanding and boldness. May she have a great day today serving Jesus.

I am mindful of the team God has given me to do the work of the evangelist in this modern day. David, Gloria, Keith Jr., Josh, Tori, Laurie, Marty, Ken, Patty, Trey, Teresa, Tekka, Jim, Annette, Charlie, and of course - Joan - All the international partners, friends, co-laborers - The USA ministries - what a great mission - what a great purpose.

Joan is speaking and bringing hope to the ladies. Her topic is Dont feed the flesh. She has used music, giving gifts, humor, joy and the word to energize the ladies. She is annointed to share the word.

The ladies head to lunch full of joy. So do we!

After lunch the rains come and force the evangelism street teams to come to a halt and while everyone would love to be doing the work of the evangelist we are glad to be going to help the ladies at the conference.

This afternoon Joan shares on being a woman of God and Sheila on how to be spirit filled. Both sessions are annointed by God. Tonight's film showing sees over 750 decisions for Christ. What a great day. So proud of the ladies - show proud of the Kenyan Christians.

Saturday PM

What an awesome day of training. Sheila and Joan share on Faith and Taming the Tongue. Joan passed out her GRUMBLE and PRAISE cards to the ladies and they loved them. So did our USA team. All day long we would, if we said something negative, say "Oh I have to add that to my GRUMBLE CARD.

In the afternoon session Sheila continued her inspiring sessions on Faith while Joan really opens up and teaches on Being a Woman on the go. Her emphasis was on personal evangelism. She is bold as she shares the outreach techniques that we have developed down through the years that God has used all over the world. The ladies were taught about sharing their testimony, using the GoCard witnessing tool, and how to personally share their faith with others.

What a great day we have had. God has blessed this project with His favor and power. I thank God for His calling to us to train others to share the Gospel. On The GO has a mandate not only to preach to the lost but to also share with the church how to spread the good news themselves. The gift and the calling of the evangelist is not just for past generations but for this day, this hour, this generation. What an honor to follow His directive.

Sunday AM

This morning Joan taught the entire conference and Spiritual Life Center congregation about how to listen to God and not forsake His directions. She also shared how to be amazed in what Christ has done for us all. It was amazing.

Sheila finished her Faith material with power. She really brought the whole conference home with God's call to Let Go, Obey Him, and Give to Him. The altar was full.

What a great week we have had. Each day - the conference - each night the guys doing the Jesus film. The entire team, Kenyan and Americans, have worked so hard. Just one more ministry day for the On The Go Team. But the Global FIeld Team is busy working for the Lord in Kenya everyday. I am so proud to be a small part of the work here. Just to think that Shad started the work here over 24 years ago is amazing. I have been blessed each year to work with his faithful team and co-laborers. We have only been able to come along side them for specific projects and needs but Shad and Sheila have day in and day out helped fund, promote, and sponsor the work here. Now Ben and Mary have hundreds of workers and nearly as many churches all over Kenya. Praise the Lord.

Monday PM

God blessed us with a full day of evangelism. I was able to preach in three street meetings and saw well over 1,000 public decisions for Christ. Right out in the hot streets of Eldoret. The boldness of the Lord was with us all. We had glue sniffing street kids, demon possessed men, drunks, all mixed in with hundreds of hard working men and women of the city. Laurie and Joan did a fantastic job all day doing the followup and taking photos. They had worked so hard at the Conference it was great to have the with me in the streets and the guys really enjoyed their presence.

One man had walked 70 kilometers to come to the city to get a part for his work and he stopped by one of our street meetings and prayed to receive Christ. It was awesome. God is so good.

One of the evangelists that helped us was my interpreter 19 years ago. He remembered my giving him a neck tie. He also remembered a girl who gave her life to Jesus at a meeting who had come to the meeting on her way to kill herself. She was at the end of the rope and actually had the rope in her purse the she planned to hang herself with. But Jesus had other plans for her. She did come to Christ and also went on the go to Bible school.

God really uses the street meetings. Lives are changed. The Holy Spirit uses all forms of evangelism. The rational mind thinks it takes reason, deep thought, profound insight, Bible studies, and on and on but God can simply lead, draw, stop, and save anyone at any time. He uses the foolishness of preaching still today. It may not be modern or popular but it still is God's way to win the lost. Going to where the people are and sharing in the Spirit results in life change.

The group of young evangelist loved the T-Shirts we brought them. They had smiles on their faces all day long. They sing, dance, pray, protect, set up the equipment, counsel with people, pick out the best places to do the meetings, and each one is as exciting as a Billy Graham crusade or Luis Palau festival. They are anointed men and women of God. I can remember years ago holding a GoCamp and training the guys how to use drama and creative arts to draw more people to the meetings. Now not only do they do the most fantastic job of singing in the streets, they also are so creative. They write great music, sing great songs, perform great dramas, and use every available means to win the Lost. They use every tool and every idea to the maximum.

At last report, we have seen well over 4,300 decisions for Christ. Amazing. We also have trained close to 1,000 in 14 sessions.

It was sad to say goodbye to the team today - but they will be joining On The Go for our Jesus Festival and Uganda next summer and we are all planning to be working again in Eldoret next August.