The nature of the people here has been a creation of Kenyan cultural traditions, evangelical missionaries and the worldly influences upon both. It's no wonder they are as confused as those who are in our country. The primary impulses of the religious realm here is Charismatic Evangelical behavior with a touch of the world peppering their music and talk.
The big difference here from where we are in the US is that there is rich fertile ground here to plant seeds. No, I'm not talking about physical agricultural considerations but spiritual considerations in respect of peoples hearts. Their faces are open and so are their minds. They are so tired of hearing the same things which are empty promises of things to come and watching the heads of those establishments fall into deceitful ways, grow rich and prance around on stages built to address their empires. They are not so easily moved by all that.
At least, this group of people the Lord is calling for his Church here is willing to listen and look to see the difference between the prideful demonstrations of the prominent prophets and bishops here against the truthful demonstration of power and life coming from us. Not that we ourselves are anything alone but rather a corporate demonstration of a life that God has given us to share with those who are here.
Today at the pastors meeting, when Noah told the pastors the story of how we became the church we are today, they were amazed that such a life could actually begin and continue for so long a time. They could hardly believe that there was something other than what they had been seeing for decades. They were glued to their seats and exclaimed afterwards that they are jealous for that kind of love and life here in Nakuru. They were given the answer of how that could happen and it was the same words that Jesus used when calling his disciples. You must be willing to give up everything that stands in the way of you having a relationship with the Author of Life and follow him everywhere He goes. Do not hesitate when He calls you to give up your traditions and religious ways. Be ready to do the hard things that God requires of you in obedience to His call.
Time will tell who will actually do it or not, but there are several men there who I believe will respond and do everything God is requiring for their own salvation and the salvation of the churches they are in care of. They are a great group of men, about 12-14 of them, who take every Wednesday morning to be with us and listen of testimonies, exhortations, teachings and ask questions about what God is doing in Nakuru. More specifically, what is God doing with them and the churches they are responsible for. September 8th will be a pastors conference where we will spend the whole day (6am to whenever the fun stops) hearing what God is saying to the church as a whole in Nakuru. Please pray for this and let others know we are asking for prayer for these men.
One amazing that has happened with George was the doors that God open for him after we had talked with him about being available for work during the week and letting us fend for ourselves with transportation. He was rather convinced that he would not be able to get work because he had previously told the people he normally works for that he would not be available until after we left. We asked him to just give them a call and find out, but he refused saying he was sure there wasn't anything. So, we back off and said "OK, we'll just trust God". No more than 30 seconds after we said that, George's phone rang. Guess who it was? Right. It was the people he normally works for and they had work for him. And not just one job but several days of work. He also got a call from a car dealer to help with a new car that they could not figure out how to get started. He figured it out and they paid him handsomely. When the phone rang and he answered it, his eyes were as big as saucers. He realized that God was in control and not him. It was an awesome thing that God did. George's faith leaped 10 feet at that moment. He's learning that God can speak through his people.
This week we went to town a couple times, visited the monkeys at the park, climbed the crater in the safari van, went to a clan meeting, a gathering, men's meeting, pastors meeting, leaders meeting and spent some time resting and eating at home.
This next week we will be starting computer lessons for the Kingdom Hikers. Seven candidates will begin and learn how to teach others to do the same. Another leaders meeting, gathering, KH meeting, men's meeting, and we will start over again with the process. But you know, it is rather enjoyable knowing that what we are doing is taken seriously by our Kenyan brothers and sisters. They are in love with our Lord and wanting to walk in His ways. We are so much alike in all those things and more.
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