Our squad was worshipping in a huge tent in Nairobi, Kenya. Several tents surrounded ours. Our worship music was being offered up just as the hymns of Kenyan women, working songs of harmonic Kenyan men, Contemporary Gospel of young Kenyans and prayers of many. Three different services and two choir rehearsals were all happening at once, yet all complimenting the other.
Liz Norris, our squad leader, was up speaking on weighing the words of others. The more she spoke and the more the Kenyan women sung out of turn, the more my whole body began to shake and my stomach felt queasy. I knew I had to get up. I was being led to the women in the other tent. I kept fighting, not wanting to be rude to a speaker. Megan Rouse scooted beside me, “Is God telling you to go?” I knew He was, “I can’t. People will think I’m rude for leaving.” “You can’t worry about the perceptions of others. Just do what God is telling you.”
Megan and I walked out as Liz was continuing to speak. The closer I got to the sound of the women singing, the calmer I felt. We were welcomed in as family. Women were singing, clapping and swaying in a circle. There was one leading and the others followed with harmony. The mother to my left whispered the meaning of the Swahili songs, “Build your house on a solid foundation so you won’t feel the storm,” she sang. During the next song her daughter, Esther interpreted the song for me, “With everything going on in my life I will never stop praising God.”
Esther pulled Megan and I aside, “See that picture over there.” We had just noticed the picture. “He was my grandfather and today we are celebrating his death.” We were both taken aback at the thought that God had just sent us to a funeral. But in that moment God told me to speak.
The Pastor got everyone silent. I told them, “For more than five months I have longed to see someone who looked like me. I have longed to worship in a style I’ve been accustomed to back home. Lately I have been dead in my worship. Today God used this funeral celebration to give life. I can’t tell anyone has died. You are not weeping. You are rejoicing and praising the Lord for all He has done.”
After speaking the women continued singing and clapping. This time they sang, “God has answered your prayers.” I couldn’t help but praise the Lord.
All in one night I received the life I needed in my praise to God and I realized how much I love Kenya.
