Neil works with about 8 churches in the Kisii District, which he has visited yearly for the past 20 years. Neil thought Tuesday morning’s pastors' meeting was one of the best ever. There were a few sticky wickets, including a bad leadership situation that needed discipline. A rather winsome pastor had been removed from leadership because he had been beating his wife and indulging in extra-marital trysts. His wife had shut down, was not able to speak or function in her home, and has been receiving mental health treatment. All the church members had begun attending other churches, and the man already had plans to put the church to use for his purposes. To avoid the loss of face in his village, the man asked the other pastors for forgiveness. They thought they were obligated to welcome him back as a pastor.
Neil sent word ahead of his trip that they would discuss the difference between forgiveness that must be given and the need for proving yourself trustworthy as a process of restoring responsibility. The pastors were willing to hold off on allowing that man to serve as a pastor. They also agreed to dismantle his church's new roofing panels and put up a church building in another location.
The pastors had sent a list of items they would like to purchase for their churches. For example, Mary’s school needs a latrine. Some churches would like sturdy plastic chairs that are comfortable and easy to clean and store. The items listed were reasonable requests but outside of their budgets. Neil has been encouraging them that there is freedom in fiscal responsibility. The pastors agreed to prioritize spending and set aside funds to cover their conferences first, where they will have access to good Bible teachers, and wait with the other items until the tithes can cover them.
Neil had a story about the little girls who washed the mud off his shoes and socks after he and Francis had arrived. Neil had nothing to lean on for balance while putting them on again the next day. When the little girls saw him struggling, they rushed over and put his socks and shoes on for him. Tuesday morning, he was still chuckling about that scene, wondering why they were so kind. A little girl flashed him a bright smile and said, “Cause we love you!” as she wiped tears from his eyes.
Neil returned to the van before it started raining and backed it down the hill with the left side in the shallow ditch that had begun to dry. The van came out fine since the mud was no longer slick on the road surface. No problem. Furthermore, Atkinson from the Sengera church has agreed to drive Neil and Francis around in his car until they use the van to return to Nairobi next Monday.
At lunchtime, 6 kids got saved in a house Outfitters put a roof on, which is on the top of a huge hill. Neil gave $300 USA dollars to a woman on top of the hill whose disabled son Lamach is receiving ROCK support. She will use the money to buy a heifer to sell the extra milk to help support her children. She literally lives in the land of rocks that now includes a cow.
Wherever Neil and Francis have been teaching, children respond to the invitation to give their hearts to Jesus. 6 more children gave their lives to Jesus at Henry’s church. They left the church to return to Mary’s house at 10:20 p.m. Neil said, “Hell lost another one. Rack them up, Jesus!”
Neil said it was as if God had choreographed the end of the service. People began seeing unbelievers through God’s eyes. At the final invitation, a stumbling drunk came up to give his life to Jesus. When a titter of laughter began, Neil stopped them and said we all started in that condition. The drunken man understood English. Neil led him through the prayer in English, and he repeated it in Swahili so the rest of the crowd understood. The man followed Neil home and said he would see him on Wednesday.
Neil is very much at peace on this trip. He even has a hungry kitty at his feet
to win over with bits of food. Neil and Francis finished interviews of people
who showed up in Mary’s church. When they returned to Mary’s church, it was
raining. Neil asked the pastors to pick a chapter from our book to preach on.
Christopher chose the chapters on Faith. A gentle rain continued as Neil and
Francis worked well together, with Neil teaching in short phrases and Francis translating
into Swahili.
Neil, Francis, and Atkinson drove to Kenyenya to buy new tires for Atkinson’s car on Wednesday morning. His old tires were bald. On Thursday, they will drive to Tanzania on a very rough road. Wednesday was market day in Kenyenya, with a crush of people and lots of noise. The tire change is done in the open air in front of the motorcycle hangar. Neil picked a spot to sit out of the way on the concrete foundation. Francis said it would take about an hour. Neil reminded Francis that they are in Kenya. The tires were changed while the heavy rain about half a mile to the SE held off just long enough for the outdoor version of Brownies Tires to finish his work. The rain was so heavy the hill disappeared from view.
Neil was explaining this over the
phone. I asked Neil how they would get Atkinson’s car up Mary’s hill in the deep
mud from the heavy rain. Neil said, “Well, the boys decided to try the hill
against my wise counsel. Atkinson’s car is now precisely in the spot the van had
been in on Monday night. When they asked Neil to help push, he didn’t say a
word as he gathered his stuff and trudged the last half mile up the muddy hill
to Mary’s house. Some of the boys in her school ran down the hill to assist so Francis
and Atkinson weren’t abandoned. They got the car out of the mud.
Neil is well into Thursday on their way to Tanzania. They started off at 4:00 a.m. Kenya time, and are now on tar roads. Atkinson is driving with Francis riding in front. In the back with Neil are Henry and Bill, the pastor from Sengera. Neil has only had to request that Atkinson slow down once. By 6:20 a.m. Kenya time, they were only minutes from Richard Chacha's house (Kenyan pastor). It has taken them only about two and a half hours. Neil says it is amazing the difference when a vehicle runs and has no flat tires.
Prayers:
- Lord, thank you that Atkinson's car has new tires for the trip to the Tanzania border.
- Prepare the hearts of the people there to welcome Neil and the others, and to soak in your teachings.
- Lord, we ask for more people who will dedicate their lives to Jesus, and for more people to be healed and delivered.