I was reminded of the account of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-40 as Neil and the pastors traveled to the conference on Monday. Kenya shares part of its northern border with Ethiopia. The Holy Spirit told Philip to stay near the eunuch's chariot, where Philip heard the eunuch reading from Isaiah 53:7-8. Verse 7 is:
“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. [NIV]
and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
so he did not open his mouth. [NIV]
The eunuch asked Philip to help him understand what he was reading. So, Philip told the eunuch that the passage described Jesus and then shared the good news about Jesus. The eunuch saw some water and asked Philip to baptize him. When Philip left, he was miraculously transported by the Holy Spirit to Azotus, which is now known as Ashdod, a city in Israel.
Neil and the pastors were not similarly translated to Port Victoria for their conference. They started out Monday morning around 9:00 a.m., picking up donuts for breakfast and Kenyan French fries for lunch. In Cosmas' van, Atkinson from Sengera drove with Francis as the co-pilot. Neil, Jim, and Clinton (the new convert) were in the middle seat. They arrived at Port Victoria around 5:30 p.m. Kenya time (9:30 a.m. Morris, MN time). Neil's text reported only two traffic tickets (for too many passengers for a private vehicle license). Also, a man darted out into the street before they could entirely avoid him and was clipped by the mirror. Ouch.
Arriving safe and sound at Port Victoria, they found a hotel accommodation for $15/night. Neil soon found a little child to hold in his lap as they waited for supper to be prepared. Francis said Neil even preached with the child in his arms. The conference opened Monday night. They got to bed around 10:30 p.m. Kenya time and had breakfast together on Tuesday morning.
After Neil and a local speaker named Osborne spoke at the Tuesday morning conference meetings, the team was fed a delicious lunch of boiled bananas, potato chips, lentils (a type of small bean), rice, deep-fried fresh fish, and little fishies (like dehydrated smelt). The worship leader is their "chef" this year. She had a cesarian nine months ago. Neil said she must have recovered because she really moved during worship. Joyce's nephew Clinton, who was just saved, responds well to the messages.
Wycliffe, Maurice Opondo's friend, sends greetings. Rather than sit in front alongside Cosmas and the "big men," Neil and Jim sit further back with the little people. That has its benefits. The children come to sit in their laps. Eunice Mbanda, the woman pastor from a Ugandan island whose church received funds for a new roof, and Habakkuk will arrive Wednesday. When Eunice's daughter was sponsored by N&N Larson last year, Eunice sent a text with a "Thank You" message.
Prayer:
- Thank God for Monday's safe travel
- For Clinton, Joyce's nephew, to experience further deliverance and hold on to the teachings at the conference
- For Neil and Jim to adjust to the Kenyan food and to sleep well
- For Kenyan pastors to become role models in caring for their wives and children
Love,
Ruth