Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Back at Home

We made it home safe and sound yesterday after an incredible trip. Please continue to pray for us as we adjust both physically and emotionally to being back in the US. Pray for good rest and quick adjustment of our days and nights reversing back to CA time. Pray for us as we continue to process the experiences we had and are able to share them with others.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

Headed Home

We are back in Nairobi waiting for our flight this evening. Our debrief went well and processing continues. We are looking forward to being back home and then coming back!

Please pray for travel mercies, on time flights and connections and that our luggage makes it home with us too.

Thursday, March 11, 2010

It is finished, at the cross

And let the spiritual warfare begin... Fortunately we put on our full armour at breakfast so we were ready for it. First the power strip went out, then power went out, then we realized that we had the wrong certificates for the class and little time to correct it. Interruption after interruption all day long. God prevailed.

We taught about amends and forgiveness and WOW, what a new way at looking at things. It touched so many and gave hope. Then we put it all together and talked about the practical steps of starting the program in their churches and prisons. They had break out times to plan how they would start. Many presented their plans with some start days soon.

We had a great time of worship and reflection before nailing our hurts to the cross. It was powerful. We went outside and stood in a circle and burned the papers from the cross. The class broke out in a Swahili song saying "It is finished at the cross" WOW!

We went to Purpose Driven Academy so I could see Margaret for a few minutes and spend some time with my 4 kids. It was a hard goodbye but had some consolation since I am coming back in August. It's hard to believe that our trip is coming to an end, it has really flown by.

Praise report - we can feel your prayers every day and feel God's presence and leading. We have had surprisingly good energy, great team dynamics, good health and a lot of fun. There have been so many really obvious answered prayers, the type of people at the seminar, open hearts, technical challenges and even a misplaced cell phone. The answers were almost immediate for so many prayers. Keep them coming!

Prayer requests - we have one more stop in Kitale tomorrow morning before leaving for our R&R in Nakuru. We are visiting the Kitale Women's Prison to drop off a few things then the Provincial Chaplain from Nakuru who attended the seminar is riding with us. Pray for our time together. Pray for our 2 days of R&R in Nakuru, that we are able to put this trip in perspective and find words to express it when we get home.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Day 3 - Wooowwweeee Wednesday

Where to start.... Today was all about us stepping out of the way and letting God take over. They led the step study groups and did an awesome job. Joann shared her testimony which was right on and perfect timing. I spoke during chapel about CR for the ICM students and staff. John taught about the 4th step. We gave them some free time to start doing their inventories and WOW! So much writing, so many tears, so many break throughs, so much healing.

Please pray for our final day together at the seminar. Pray that we are able to effectively teach and motivate them to start CR in their church or prison. Pray that they are open to starting this ministry to bring the healing to others. Pray that we don't leave before the seminar is over. Pray for two teams from the US that are traveling to Africa to introduce CR, one to Uganda and another to Nigeria.

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Day 2 - Woooooowwww

Tuesday is normally a pretty reserved day and people are still unsure of this program called Celebrate Recovery. This is not a "normal" Tuesday. Wooooowwww. They get it. They are very open to what CR has to offer. Close to 100 people are here and we expected about 80. God brought just the right people.

They loved watching the new video of Kenyans talking about their healing through CR. They were blown away by Richard's testimony, especially considering the way they view ex-prisoners. It really opened their eyes and challenged their thinking. John's testimony was a real wake up call for them too. Both testimonies demonstrated that strong men have big tears.

The worship and prayer walking demonstrates the sweetness of God's presence. He is obviously here. Before we came we prayed that we would bring the the spark of a wildfire that will spread across this country. Today a pastor told us that we were the tip of the flame and that CR would be a fire across the country. God is good.

The prayers are working, keep them coming. Pray for the people as they continue digging deep in their step studies and begin their inventories tomorrow. Please pray for the fire to build and build until it seems out of control as it sweeps across Kenya, East Africa and the continent. Asante sana Bwana!!

Monday, March 8, 2010

Day 1 of CR Seminar

Thanks so much for your prayers. People traveled from as far away as Nairobi (an overnight bus ride) and arrived safely. We had a good turn out. As we waited for the seminar to begin (Kenya time) we prayer walked the campus watching our steps for the cow patties.

One of the great gifts we receive is listening to Kenyan worship. People were open and receptive to CR. They loved hearing our testimonies and realized that we were not so different and saw the possibilities of how this could help people here. The microphone went out and it reminded us to keep our armour on. It was a great opportunity to talk about spiritual warfare. It was a great first day and very encouraging, for us and them :-). We can't wait to see what God is going to do this week. Noah sends his greetings.

Please continue to pray for those attending, that they are open to CR and their personal healing so they make take this to others in their churches and prisons. Pray for us to have continued good health and energy.

PS - thanks for the new comments!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

The Road to Eldoret

The stagecoach ride to Eldoret was dusty, bumpy, long and did I mention bumpy? But the rewards were waiting at the end of the road. We were met at IVC (International Vision Center) church with awesome worship music overflowing from their huge tent. They were kicking off a worship conference. The music and dancing was a great precursor to an inspiring message on worship. We had a chance to talk about CR and the senior pastor is very exciting to get it started in his church after some key leaders attend the training which starts tomorrow. It filled us and rejuvenated our souls.

We visited Eldoret women's prison to bring them some Swahili Bibles bought by funds from the Saddleback recycling ministry. The Officer in Charge met us there on her day off. We were blessed with the unexpected opportunity to go inside and speak to the inmates. Not only did we distribute Bibles to the inmates, the officers were very excited to get some too. They related to Richard and his story. We were able to meet with some of the women in CR to answer a few questions as they begin doing their inventory. God is good.

The stagecoach ride back to Kitale was dusty, bumpy, long and did I mention bumpy?

Thanks so much for your encouraging comments and yes Valerie we were able to read your too. Maybe that could encourage some of you other faithful readers to leave an encouraging comment or prayer for us. We look forward to reading them.

Please pray for tomorrow (Sunday night in CA) as we begin our CR seminar. Only God knows what's in store. Pray without ceasing for the seminar, those traveling to be here, those attending and of course us. Pray for good rest tonight and energy tomorrow. Pray that we continue to be the Muppets.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

Prayer Walking Through the Slums

Friday, we began the day at Purpose Driven Academy with the the 400+ students having an assembly with prayer, singing and memory verses. Out of all the children, only 2 were being a bit disruptive. They were both my kids. I was so proud!

Joann "preached" on Ephesians 4:23, their scripture for the school year. She gave a great message, what they needed to hear.

We walked over to the group home where my 4 kids plus 16 other young children live with Pastor Joel and his wife Margaret. They have such a heart for the orphan children that they care for. I can't imagine the amount of laundry that they do each week! After spending time with them, headmaster Peter, took us for a walk around the slums. It was pretty sobering to see the obvious poverty in the neighboring communities. There are so many children that do not attend school because they cannot afford to buy a school uniform. The crumbling mud homes were a stark reality of life in the slums. We went into a home without any place for us to sit. We met a couple of single fathers struggling to feed their kids. So many stories...

We had lunch and got to play with the children at PDA. We brought a football and Frisbee and had so much fun teaching them how to play with them. It was a great way to lighten up after the reality of the slums.

Margaret took us to Endebess to visit Shalom Academy. It's a school that she started last year and has over 100 students now. It is in an area where thousands of people were displaced, living in tents, after the post-election violence 2 years ago. These children were lacking the self confidence in contrast to the children at PDA and very reserved with us. They obviously have been through a lot in their short lives.

We went for a walk in the community and saw the river where they fetch their water and another level of poverty, something that no amount of training could have prepared us for.

On the way back to Kitale we stopped at Captain Davis's which is a small animal park and took my 4 kids (and Richard) to see their first animals in the wild (including rhinos). It was great to spend some more time with my kids, even thought it seems to short.

Today we joined the Saddleback teams that are here with Pastor Steve and we experienced an even starker reality and deeper level of poverty in Kipsungu slums. We took a walk in the slums and it made the ones yesterday look pretty nice. The igloo shaped homes were made of sticks and plastic shopping bags, clothes, spare materials and things we would discard. There were a few mud huts and they looked so nice relatively speaking. There was a small market selling food that had been discarded in town, knowing that they would likely get sick from eating it but hungry enough to take the chance. The open ditch running through the community made the cement latrine at Kamiti Prison look very extravagant. What a harsh reality. The pastor that serves that community lives in the middle in a small mud hut said that we needed to have a small mind and a huge heart to be there. It's not to analyze, but to feel. We helped Sister Freda hold a medical clinic plus a vision and dental clinic. There were more people than we could possibly treat in the time we had. I think if we had stayed there for 3 days we still could not have been able to treat everyone.

In the afternoon we went to Kitale Prison with the Saddleback teams for a celebration of running water in the prison. They had a program of native singing and dancing, it was a lot of fun. It was great to see so many of the men again who are involved in CR that we saw on Thursday. Many men came to accept the Lord. The men from our teams prayed with them. It was a wonderful experience.

Water from an Artesian well is being pumped into the prison providing water for the 1300 men. They can bath for the first time in prison. They have drinking water. Before they carried water from the creek to the prison for cooking. That was the only use for the water they had. They were very happy to have running water. Now they need soap. It was a wonderful celebration and privilidge to see the fruits of the 3 year water project.

Please pray for travel mercies as we drive to Eldoret to attend IVC church tomorrow. The senoir pastor is a great supporter of CR and will send key leaders to our seminar that begins on Monday. Please continue to pray for those coming to the semianr next week and travel mercies for those coming from as far as Nairobi to attend. Pray for the many people that are less fortunate and living in the slums so close by. Pray for a time of rest and recharging for us as we prepare for teaching the CR semianr next week.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Another day in prison

After a rain delay, we were warmly welcomed at Kitale Main prison by several hundred inmates, many who had gone through CR plus many others. A few hundred men were gathered around us, others listening from across the yard and even a few sitting in the tops of trees reminding us of Zacchaeus.

They had prepared a program for us with songs, poems and one inmate who is being released next week even sang a song for us about how Celebrate Recovery changed his life. What a blessing!

We shared our stories of hope. They loved hearing Richard's testimony, of his 22 years of in and out of prison until he accepted Christ in his heart. They refer to him as a "jailbird", going in and out of prison. Both the inmates and officers were really impacted. I think they will always remember this day when an ex-prisoner from the US came all the way to Kenya to encourage them. Richard got to experience for the first time what it was like to see what he looked like when he was in prison - hard hearted and full of anger. It was like looking in an old mirror.

The chaplain did an alter call and so many men (too many to count) came forward and accepted Christ. It was amazing to see some of those hard hearts soften. Richard prayed for them.

We visited the women's prison and shared our stories and encouraged them. There are fewer women now, only 47, and only 6 children staying in prison with their mothers - being raised by the village of women. My friend Carolyne is still there leading the CR group. It was great to reconnect with her. We were honored with Swahili songs and welcomed back.

We left CR materials, Swahili Bibles and a few Purpose Driven Life books for both prisons.

It was a very good day.

Please pray for us as we visit Purpose Driven Academy tomorrow and Joann "preaches" at chapel for the students. Pray as we finalize arrangements for our seminar next week and reconnect with friends.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Wednesday Night in Kitale

We made it to Kitale this morning on a 19 passenger plane with no problems. However we have had some technical challenges with my computer so here are 2 days of catch up.

Tuesday
We went to 2 prisons, and got to leave also - thank you Jesus. We arrived at Kamiti, a men's maximun security prison with about 4000 inmates, a little before our appointed time. We waited. And we waited. We waited some more. Then we were allowed access to visit the 130 men on death row. What a humbling expereince. We sat in chairs overlooking the open latrene running through the yard, with the execution chamber in clear view. The men sat on the ground or 5 gallon plastic buckets.

Their choir sang beautiful worship songs for us. The team was introduced and I gave my short testimony and then Richard spoke - wow! John & Joann gave their short testimonies too. Everyone (including the guards) was completely focused on every word. And it was right what they needed to hear. One man, James, accepted Christ while we were there and John and Richard got to hug him and pray with him as he did. Thank You God for allowing us to be the Muppets. Powerful!

We had a nice visit with the Officer In Charger (warden) and believe we will be welcomed back there any time. They were pretty impressed that a former prisoner from the US would come all the way to Kenya to share hope with the hopeless. We brought some CR materials, Bibles and Purpose Driven Life books.

We went to Langata Women's Prison and got to meet the new Senior Chaplain (the former Sr Chaplain was promoted to Provencial Chaplain) and we began building new relationships. We spoke to a large group of women, both remands and convicted. It was very encouraging to Chirstine (the CR leader) and others that we came back. It was pretty powerful. They seemed to really appreciate our visit and the CR materials and Bibles that we brought.

Today (Wednesday)
We got up very early and caught a fligt to Kitale. We went straight to Oasis of Hope, a drop in center for street kids. The children live on the street and come to Oasis for 2 meals each day, classes and Bible studies. It was a real eye opener, heart jerker, fun and emotional time. Geoffrey gave us a tour of the great facility then we got to play games with the kids. Red rover, red rover, let John come over..... What a gift to be there. The reality of their lives really hit home to us when we saw those same kids in town later, on the street where they will sleep tonight.

After lunch in town we went to Purpose Driven Academy and the rest of the team got to meet my kids. Sorry, no words to describe this.... Ok, they will help me find some. It was wonderful to share my experiencs with the team and to see how quickly they bonded with "my" kids and many others. At first the children were a bit overwhelmed by 4 mzungus but warmed up pretty fast. It was a great time of reconnection and getting acquainted.

Today was all about being "in the present". The verse for the day is "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

Please pray for our visit to Kitale Prisons tomorrow morning. Pray for our meeting at ICM as we finalize arrangements for the seminar next week. Pray for those coming to the seminar, for safe travels as they come to Kitale from around Kenya. Pray for open hearts to learn about CR. Pray for the churches and prisons across Kenay that are in various stages of starting CR.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Monday Night

God's plan for us today was to hold a meeting for people that have attended previous CR trainings plus an introduction meeting for new pastors, church leaders and prison chaplains that wanted to learn about CR. We showed up, God spoke, we left - with a few other minor details in between. The CR Africa materials were a huge hit and look great! They loved the new CR Kenya video with their testimonies. CR programs are progressing well, pole pole (slowly). It was wonderful to reconnect with so many people, and it reinforced the importance of following up. Richard shared his testimony for the first time here and it touch many people.

Richard had a new identity, it was decided that he had to have a "J" name too with John, Joann and Jana so now he is "Joe Richard".

Please pray for our meetings tomorrow as we go to Kamiti Prison, a maximum security facility here in Nairobi. Pray for David as he drives to Kitale tomorrow to meet us there when we arrive on Wednesday morning.