Nairobi - Day 3 and Final Day

We are back at the Hampton House after a full day. The Lord has fully blessed these past two weeks in ministry to these servant leaders of the flock in Kenya.

The day started with a breakfast of mandazi’s and coffee. Mandazi’s are like square donut holes, and they are excellent warmed in the microwave for about 20 seconds. They were fresh last night for dessert before we left the church, and we took some to have for breakfast this morning.

We got to the church late, as usual – or maybe on time Kenya time. Doug started right off with a quick review of some basics of prayer, and said some really powerful but simple statements based on Romans 12. He shared that prayer is not magic. It is welcoming the Lord to participate in transforming and renewing our mind. His second statement was that it is not our job to parent people. The Lord never takes away our free will and ability to choose, so we can just help clarify their belief system and see if they have been believing lies that are not in accordance with the Word.

We then broke into four groups with each of us leading one plus a pastor from Mombasa who has followed us here leading the fourth. There was so much ministry taking place during the prayer time. The Lord was healing broken and wounded hearts all throughout the building.

I wrapped up the meeting with a teaching from Luke 6 about giving. They have an interesting and uncomfortable way of taking an offering here, so I received permission to bless the pastors by giving what would normally have come in the offering and then teaching on the joy of giving. I encouraged each one to take what they were going to put in the offering and pray, watching and listening to the Holy Spirit to see who he wanted them to bless, not expecting anything in return. They had never experienced anything like this. It was like a shock wave to them, but they got it and I pray they will follow through with it.

Emmanuel Chai, the overseer of 70 churches, closed out by giving a quick encouragement from Genesis 26:22 about digging a new well with fresh water, and challenging the pastors to put into practice what they have learned. It was very encouraging.

We were able to pray for a few more people after we were done, had lunch at the church, and then came back to the Hampton House for a quick clean-up. While there, Richard and I prayed with one of the employees here. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia and the doctors have said there is nothing they can do, so she is experiencing fear, depression, and anxiety. As we prayed, the Lord showed her that she was in fear but he was speaking for her not to be afraid; that he was protecting her. She then shared about an earlier time when she felt the same way, and the Lord healed that fear in her heart. She said she was feeling a pain in her heart, physically, but that was all. Then we just asked if there was anyone she needed to forgive and if the Lord would show her the source of the pain. The tears started flowing and she gave the details of a situation where she was holding a deep grudge. She was able to forgive and pray a blessing over the person and the pain in her heart was gone. You call it what you want, but she was healed and joy was fully restored in her countenance.

It’s been fun asking people about their relationship with the Lord. Our waitress at Java House last night, Mercy, is not born again but told us she would really think about it during the night. We had a different driver, John, tonight and he said he is thinking about it also.

Well tonight was a real treat because our “Hotel Bishop”, Richard, made arrangements to eat at the Carnivore restaurant. It is well known and serves non-stop meat as long as the flag is up. We took Emmanuel, Albert and Nancy (none had ever been) and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. Albert and Nancy rarely have the opportunity to eat like this, and were very appreciative.

We made it back to Hampton House about 10:15, writing the update, then going to bed. The Lord gave Doug this scripture: Isaiah 25:1 – O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago.”

This will likely be the last update until I am back in US airspace on Sunday where my cell phone works. Richard and Doug plan on sending updates for posting during their last week in Eldoret.

I thank you, Lord, for the marvelous things you have shown me and giving me the humbling privilege of watching you at work. I pray I will be faithful with the knowledge and experience you have shown me and what you have confirmed in my heart.