DAY 3 Pastor Paul's Perspective

Saturday, I think
I went to bed about 2 to the sound of African radio stations playing in my ear. I awakened around 6 to the sounds of birds singing.
It was SOOOO refreshing to finally be able to shower after what seems like weeks at this point. The shower was nice and refreshing although a little on the “hot” side, seriously.
Breakfast was at 8, consisting of toast, cereal, or anything else we brought or could find.
From there, it was next door to the church auditorium to begin the conference. I could have sworn I heard the sounds of an accordion coming from the area of the slums.
The music wass uplifting by the LifeSpring Children’s Choir and then the church praise team. Jim Womble, Sr. Pastor here did a great job on “What is the Cross”, followed by Bishop Ronald Martin of DelMarVa. The people continued to pour in. The first 318 were given tickets and I just never asked “what for?”. Pastor Sam Abbott ministered on the Power of Holy Spirit and Deborah Grey ministered on The Power to Heal. Each of these were followed by powerful altar calls.
The estimated attendance was close to 2000, and at least 200 or more dedicated their lives to the Lord. The Mission: Baltimore also ministered in some drama.
By this point it was well past the scheduled lunch time. We were able to assist with lunch. Some served; rice, a chicken dish, and cabbage. The attendees were thrilled to get a meal. I went to the dining hall to take some pictures and immediately started cleaning tables. Others were washing dishes, preparing water to drink, and trying to keep the tables cleaned as the group rotated. Everything was served in one bowl, there were no utensils, and water was poured into plastic cups as quickly as possible. It was obvious that no utensils was not a problem, and NO, Kenyans do not eat with chop sticks. Wrong continent. Several of the babies, I think every lady that walked in brought a baby or two, were eating from smaller plastic bowls and the younger babies were eating too, however not out of bowls or bottles. Many of them had eaten extensively during the service as well. I did have to stop looking at all the babies, and I quit taking pictures of those that looked so cute nestled up to mommy. Hopefully all my pics are G rated, however I do know one segment will need to be cut from the video. OOOPPPSSS.
It was quite an accomplishment seeing nearly 2000 people come thru a meal line and get fed with rotating bowls and cups. I don’t know how the dishwashers stayed ahead!
After they finished their meal, we were sent to the dining hall to eat, while they were headed back in to listen as the music started.
Just as we had started our line to eat, we heard a horrible uproar. Apparently tear gas had been shot somewhere just outside the compound and there was quiet a panic. People were screaming, trying to get our of the church building and total chaos set in.
It took a little while for security and the leadership to get everyone back in and settled down. After some more music, Catherine Hookers shared. This had been a 30 year dream come true for her. By this point it was already around 4:30 which is when the outdoor crusade had been scheduled. Considering all that still had to been and the distractions that had been encountered, it was time to dismiss the service.
Immediately following the dismissal, it was time to distribute mayse, a type of corn meal. There were several different ideas on how to handle this, but eventually it was all brought to the altar area, possibly to bless it as it went into the homes in the Kiberan Slums. We started handing it out row by row and it is amazing where people can hide 5 bags of corn meal. I know I must have given one row of 10, at least 30 bags J. Many seemed to have no problem misrepresenting the fact that they had already received. When all had hopefully been served once, everyone who did not have a yellow ticket from this morning were asked to leave. Of course some stayed w/out a ticket and there were still some that declared even tho it had been asked 3 or 4 times if all had been served, that they still didn’t receive the corn meal. After all were finally out, the doors were shut and the ticket holders remained. We were given new Bibles to pass out to the ticket holders so it was much easier to organize than the corn meal give away. (DelMarVa region donated the corn meal and the supplies for the lunch meal). It was again amazing that several of them had “lost” their ticket. After all the Bibles were distributed to the ticket holders, some had lost their Bible, their ticket, or they weren’t given the corn meal. Imagine that. Some were almost forced to leave. (And I thought it was hard to get our folks to leave service!) It is now almost 7 PM here and we are about to head to supper.
I’m hearing sounds from the slums. I’m not sure if it is a preacher on a mega phone or? It was an indescribable experience seeing and hearing such sounds of hope and joy in the church building today and at the same time looking out the doors and windows of the church into the hopelessness of the Slums.
Supper at the CARNIVORE, Nairobi - WOW. What an awesome cultural experience!
www.tamarind.co.ke If you check the web site, you’ll probably find it hard to believe that we are suffering for Jesus on the mission field. It was a good wind down from all the events of the day. It is somewhat a backward buffet style, they bring all the food to you at the table. Most of it is served and cut from long skewers. The meal began with a salad assortment consisting of garden salad, corn salad and some others that were of little or no interest to me. There were several dipping sauces brought in advance to prepare us for the main meal. This consisted of an assortment of ham, turkey, chicken, lamb, ostrich, ostrich meatballs, chicken wings, ribs, crocodile, steamed liver, and I am sure I have missed some. There was a pretty nice addition of a dessert menu to close out the meal.
After we were seated, I noticed a long tail hanging from something on the other side of the restaurant. Still not sure if it was a monkey or what? A few minutes later I apparently had some kind of neck spasm that felt like I had been hit from behind. Needless to say, everyone in our group was aware of the monkey attack/neck spasm.
After returning from supper, all the kids were brought into “The Upper Room” for a time of Kids Krusade. Again, what an amazing contrast from the sounds of laughter and then just a short distance away the sounds of restlessness, dogs howling, and a spirit of darkness and hopelessness.
I’m back in the room now, listening to an African Gospel station I think on the wind up flashlight/radio. I think it’s about shower time again. Has been a HOT day here.
Can’t wait to see what the Lord has in store for us tomorrow. The hosts told us we didn’t have to be at church until around 11, unless we were helping or wanted to go to Sunday School, so I guess I’ll just sleep in. haha NOT!
Looking forward to hearing from Jr. Talent. I do get free normal incoming text although it’s not free to respond, sooooooooooo----
Gonna call it a night after I read for a while.

Lessons learned today:
1. 2000 Kenyans can be fed in almost the same amount of time we spend ordering, eating and finishing a Sunday meal.
2. Eating utensils are not important. Just be thankful to God that you have a hot meal, even if it is all somewhat mixed together.
3. Children will love you no matter how different you may appear to be from them.
4. No matter how much you do for some people, it is never enough, but do not penalize those who need and are appreciative because of those who want to take advantage of you.
5. Be thankful for the small blessings. A hot meal, a bag of corn meal, a Bible, may not seem like a lot to us, but to others it’s a fortune. Don’t ever take the little things for granted.
6. Love conquers all. It may take a while, but just keep on loving.