February 11, 2012 Saturday
Pastor Winnie invited us to join her for a crusade that was starting in the late afternoon. The sun was low in the sky as we traveled a short ways out of Kitale to a section called Mitume. A big truck sat in the open field with banners which told of the speakers of the night. The side of truck opened and it became the platform for those singing and preaching.
There were people sitting along the edge of the field. The children gathered and excitement shown on each of their faces. As the singing started more and more came. Some came and stood others broke into a time of dance.
Earlier we had met with Rev. Carl Bauman, an Assembly of God pastor and missionary from, New Mexico. As he opened the service up for a time for prayer. We gathered around the truck to pray with those in need of healing, salvation and victory over the problems in their life.
February 15, 2012 Wednesday
I met Gladys, my interpreter and friend, in town at her hairdressing shop. We then walked the tracks to the matatu stage. After the van is full they always squeeze four or five more people in. It is not uncommon to share a matatu (public transportation van) with twenty other adults.
It was a beautiful day and we arrived safely in Moi’s Bridge but we weren’t at the place where the women were meeting yet. We found two motorbikes and traveled twenty more minutes out into the country. The quiet rural life is so beautiful but so very hard. As we enter the little village we had to stop as there was a rope pulled across the road. Two town officials sat on each side. The motorbikes had to pay a fee to enter! I think it is the Kenyan version of a “toll booth.” We have not seen rain for over two months now and the dust swirls around us as the winds pick up.
The women had gathered inside a home and their singing could be heard at the road.The room was full of women and later on a man that had been standing outside listening decided to join us. It was good to see the mamas eager to learn and continue on serving the Lord Jesus Christ. I had spoken to these women on my last trip to Kenya and they had not forgotten. The room made from the mud of the earth was dark and to make it easier for everyone to read we pushed open the little wooden window and left the door open. The light was needed but as the wind blew on the outside the dust rolled into the room.
Each one received a New Testament to keep with them where ever they traveled. They were encouraged to have their children sit with them and read one chapter a day. Their voices joined together as their hearts expressed their thanksgiving to God for such a gift. Many thanks are sent to Craig Hardy for donating so many Bibles to the work here in Africa.
It was time to return home. The motorbikes were called but were nowhere to be seen so we started to walk. Gladys wrapped her head in beautiful green cloth to avoid as much dust as possible. Little children gathered at the roadside with big smiles and a quick “mazungu, how are you?” was sung into the air as we walked by. Motorbikes soon approached us and we were given a ride to the main road. Once at the main road we would wait for a matatu to take us the rest of the way back. Today we didn’t have to wait long, we only had to make a choice of which driver was going to carry us in his vehicle. I am almost always honored with the front seat. It is not necessary but the driver insists and even has people move for me. Prices for the ride started dropping as each driver hurried our way to try to capture our attention. Competition is not a bad thing but they started to get physical. Pushing and shoving and loud voices started to take over the peaceful day, they were ready to fight for the right to have us in their vehicle. We quickly walked away and found another transportation van up the road a bit.
The marvelous beauty of God’s creation surrounded us as another busy day came to an end. We enjoyed the peace and quietness at the lodge in the evening as the sun set behind us and the moon in its brilliance came up over mountain range in front us.
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
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