We’ll be doing a variety of ministry this month in Busia, Kenya. Yesterday we spent some time doing construction at the church which was pretty fun. This past Sunday our two teams split up in groups of 4 and traveled to 3 different churches in the area. We preached, shared our testimonies, sang some songs and got to know the congregation. The pastor of the church we were visiting invited our group back to his home for lunch which was amazing. The people here are so hospitable and welcoming, and we are so thankful to be a part of what they’re doing here. This coming Sunday we’ll switch churches and do it all over again. It’s amazing to be welcomed into a place so foreign from home and feel so much like part of the family.
Today we split up into 4 teams and went into the neighborhoods to evangelize. I absolutely loved this. My group consisted of Jeremiah, Rachelle, Wycliff (from their church) and I. One challenge that we would run into was the fact that many of the people here are quick to say they’re already believers or they’ll quickly become a believer but that would be it. A relationship with Christ would never be developed and they would never truly understand how much God loves them, that He could be their strength that pulls them through their struggles, that He is their only way to salvation, along with everything else that He does for us. So we wanted to make sure that in every conversation we had, we were intentional at digging deeper to make sure that they really understood who God is.
The first person we met was Moses. He’s the father of four children and has a wife that he works two jobs to support. Moses first said that he didn’t have time to talk because he was working, but then changed his mind and said that God is more important than work. Amen! He knew of God, but he didn’t have a relationship with him. We invited him to church but he said that he didn’t feel comfortable going because he was an alcoholic and he didn’t think he’d be accepted. We explained that God didn’t come for people that had it all together, just as those that are well don’t go to the doctor for healing. We shared the gospel with him and he accepted the Christ into his heart as his Lord and Savior. We prayed over Moses and asked God to grant him freedom from alcoholism and that he and his family would be blessed. I know God was listening and He’ll answer our prayers. Moses said him and his family would be at church on Sunday! Hooray! Wycliff and Moses exchanged phone numbers so they could keep in touch. Wycliff said that he would call Moses as a reminder for church, and Moses said that he would call Wycliff if he forgot haha J The Holy Spirit was definitely at work prior to us meeting Moses. After we got back home for lunch, Wycliff told me that Moses had already called him to wish us well and to say that he was so happy that we met today. Praise God!!!
I’m not sure which part of evangelizing I liked more today. I loved talking to the people we met along the way, but I also really enjoyed getting to know Wycliff. He’s an amazing man of God that’s working to change lives of those in his community, specifically those infected with HIV and kids that have dropped out of school. I learned all about his family and his fiancé that he’ll be marrying on December 11th! He invited us to his wedding but unfortunately we’ll be in Thailand at that point, so he’s going to let me know how it went through email. He’s also keeping in touch with those that we’re meeting evangelizing so he’s already promised to keep me updated on their walk with Christ as well. Hooray! J
I wouldn’t say that going door to door is something that I’ve ever loved doing or longed to do, mostly because sometimes it feels like a forced conversation and all that some people care about are the number of converts, but that’s so different than what we’re doing here in Busia. Reverend Gideon and Steve truly want to build relationships with the people that we’re talking to and they’ve confirmed many times that they’ll continue following up with them long after we’re gone. They’re also very strong in the belief that it doesn’t really matter what we say or how we say it, the important thing is that we share God’s word and spread His love and then it’s up to the Holy Spirit to take it from there. Talk about taking some of the pressure off!
I’m really looking forward to going out tomorrow. I believe God will continue setting up divine appointments and the Holy Spirit will continue working in the lives of those that we’ll meet.
Other than that, it’s just another day in Kenya 😉 …another ridiculously, amazing day in Kenya J
I love you all so much!! Thank you for your continued prayers, please keep them coming <3
