If home is where the heart is, I am certainly at home in Kitale, Kenya. The pastor’s wife met our team at the bus station where we immediately smiled, laughed and hugged. By the time we walked in the door of their house I realized I had been smiling for the majority of the ride home. We have been welcomed in with such grace and hospitality. Bishop Moses’ wife, Rosalyn, keeps on smiling sweetly and telling us: “You are welcome, you are welcome.” She has such a gentle and pure spirit about her. As we were coming down the driveway Edwin, one of the children in the family, ran beside the car to usher us in. Everything about this home oozes with Jesus. Last night we were able to meet Bishop Moses, as he had been teaching in another town on the day we arrived. There is so much of the Spirit in him. He again told us we were welcome in his home and that everything that he has been blessed with comes from the Lord. He is full of life and his family is full of love. It’s not hard to feel at home in a place like this.
I was pondering last night at team time when Brandon asked what the Lord had been teaching us individually. My response was that I was simply amazed at the hospitality and true generosity busting from this house and family. I know that they love well just like Jesus did. They put people first. They love conversations rather than time schedules, like true Africans! I was greatly encouraged by this family that I’d only known for 24 hours and I know the Lord is teaching me to love like them…with a pure and open heart.
When I do have a home and family of my own I can only hope that people are drawn in by the love of Christ. Lord, let me love people like You do!
This house is only the place where we are sleeping at night…we haven’t even touched into our ministry yet. Today we were able to visit a church about 20km away. The church was filled from wall to wall and front to back with Africans ready to worship. I had no idea what to expect but when we walked into the room there was such a peace, joy, hope, expectation, energy, passion….I can’t really describe it all. Again, we were welcomed and treated with such grace and hospitality. But the best part about the entire service was the times of worship.
I’ve heard praises sung in a few different languages now and nothing compares to what I heard today. I once attended a Hillsong concert in Atlanta that was the closest to heaven I’ve ever been. Such a heart for worship of the Lord and a desire to praise Him was in that place. Today was a similar experience. The front was not cluttered with many instruments, nor were there matching choir robes or sheet music…all that was needed was a heart for worship. The praise team leader sang one line and all of a sudden the congregations’ voice rang loud and true. It was beautiful. Throughout the entire time there was lots of clapping, shouting, hands lifted and dancing. There was so much joy in the place. Still, at the close of the service a song rose up out of the depths of our hearts: “Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art.” As beautiful as this was, it was acapella and in Swahili…and it blessed the heart of the Lord. I know that He smiled down upon His Church today as His children sang praises that went up as a sweet aroma to His throne in heaven.
It’s only been a few days since we’ve entered Kenya, but the Spirit of the Lord is here. And we know that “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17)
I choose to live and be at home in that freedom.
Here’s a video with a glimpse of the freedom I was talking about… the chorus says, “Jesus is my light.”
