Very Pleased

Desperate Cries

The needs here in Kawangware are many. As the people open up their hearts to us we hear their desperate cry for help.  So many serious needs are placed before us.

 

A mother opens a back door & asks us to pray for her son.  A strong 35 yr old man spends every day in his bed.  Four years ago he disappeared for over a month.  His mother found him being cared for in a hospital.  He had been brutally attacked by machetes. There were injuries to his brain, legs and other parts of his body. His thought process, speech, and limb functions on longer work properly. With tears in her eyes this mother shows us a treasured picture wrapped in plastic of a son she has already buried. She wants to die now.  She tells us her plan of death.

 

In the next home we visit with a mother of 5 children. Some time ago her husband left her and the children. She still loves him as he dies with AIDS.

 

A matatu (transportation van) has an accident and leaves one woman with a swollen face & head injuries.

 

Parents of a 5 yr old boy who has not been normal since birth want us to come and pray.  He won't eat food but he will sit outside and eat dirt. He doesn't speak. He doesn't walk properly. He suffers with convulsions. He smiles and tries to claw my face.

 

Then there are those along the way that try to cover their suffering with the home brew. As we walked away from one such man we hear him say…. "I think I made a mistake by talking to her.  I think I'm converted now."

 

The children suffer and need prayer too.  A little 2 or 3 yr old girl has spilled boiling water onto her hand and arm.  The raw open flesh is left to heal on its own.

 

PSM 46:1

God is our refuge and strength an ever present help in trouble.

A Gift From The Heart

We got caught in a down pour this morning.  We were on our way to church in the slums. It began to "fall" & fall hard. Everyone stopped what they were doing and found shelter until we had gentle rains.  We had a lot of rain throughout the day.

 

The church has new people coming. We are so happy to see faces that we've prayed with throughout the past weeks. The Lord Worship Center has only been established in this area for 3 months. The church moved from its previous location so that they could have more room. This morning I spoke from Gen 18 "Giving God Your Best".

 

There are many days I skip lunch, it is common here in Africa, but today I ate.  I wanted to cry when a mother of 3 small children brought me a hot dish of food after church. It was a mix of beans, corn, potatoes & cabbage.  I know she did not have the extra to give but she gave anyway.  It was a true gift from the heart. Her husband recently kicked her & the 3 children out into the streets with only the clothes they had on their backs.  Presently they are living in a little room attached to the church.  She hasn't any income and jobs a hard to find.

Mark 12:44b ...but she out of her poverty, put in everything- all she
had to live on.

Rain & Mud

Friday we walked through muddy alley ways & streets. It rained hard last night. Rain here always interferes with the power. So my lights have been on & off. The generators are running again. Today many needed prayer for malaria. One mother was burning up with fever. Police with AK47s were walking in the slums today. This is the first time I have seen them here. It's the season for kittens & baby goats. They are adorable as they try out their wobbly legs.

I ride the matatu to the slums. It is about a 20 min ride. You always say a quick prayer for protection once you're seated and they close the side door. Matatus are not in the best running condition. The drivers make up their own rules for driving. They will make a new lane for traffic during rush hour. Usually this lane is right down the middle of the road. "Beep" "Beep" means I'm not stopping. We have made U turns in the middle of the road without warning. This usually means there is a police stop up ahead! The side door of the matatu has actually fallen off. People have gotten out of the matatu so it can make it up the hill. Once the driver took a short cut. (a road he wasn't suppose to be on) There was a police car sitting on the side of the road. Our driver quickly puts it in reverse but the traffic behind us forbids him to move. The police pulls up in front of the matatu. The side door of the matatu opens and the guy that collects the money from us jumps out and takes off running. We all exit as the policeman slides into the front seat with the driver. The short cut will cost the driver some money. Either by way of a bribe or a ticket.

Wednesday was a very "hot" day. I do believe it was the hottest day since I arrived. Even though the sun beat down on us we continued to go door to door. We walked through one area where the doors started to shut from the inside. There are many cults here in Kawangware. Some of the cults forbid their members to visit with outsiders. We continued on and before the day was over one mother accepted Jesus into her heart.

Dollar Bill's Discount World

Linda Gove Ministries would like to thank Billy Burke owner of Dollar Bill's Discount World. He made a generous donation of over 900 Glasses to benefit the people of East Africa. His store is located at 133 Rockingham Road, Derry, NH. If you have a chance stop by and check out his store. His commercials on tv are entertaining. The you tube clip below is a clip of some of his comercials.

Day of Learning

Tuesday I was invited to a different part of Nairobi.  Pastor Margaret welcomed me into her home. There were other pastors and friends that joined us for lunch and the afternoon. It was a day of learning as I listened to the pastors share some of their experiences.  It was also a time to wish Pastor Margaret a "Happy Birthday".

Reading Glasses Bless Many

It is a hot Monday here in Africa.  Last night brought heavy showers and now there are many puddles to avoid. I walked with Pastor Adrian today.  Pastor Chris has returned to his home village. It is a 6 hour bus ride from here. Last week two of his cousins died.  One cousin died of a short illness. The other cousin died here in Nairobi. Gangsters shot & killed him. He was working as a guard.  When he opened the gate they shot him.  Please pray for Pastor Chris & his family.

 

We continue to visit door to door.  Many people ask me to pray that they will find work. There are marriages that need healing.  There are physical needs that only God can heal. I continue to pray for every need placed before me.  I hold the hands of those who are hungry. I look into the faces of those who are thrown out of their homes.  I sit and hear the cry of mothers for their sick babies. I ask God to open the womb of those who want children.  I hug the mother that has lost a child. My heart breaks.  My strength comes from above. It comes from the one I love.

 

The angels are rejoicing!  One young woman in her early twenties accepted Jesus into her heart today.

 

SUNDAY morning I spoke at "The Lord Worship Center" in Kawangware.  It was so good to see new faces join us. My heart sang when Rose joined us again. She is a new Christian with many needs. She always looks for me when she is feeling troubled. We have prayed together many times. I know God has something very special for "Rose". I spoke on Acts 12 & Heb 11:5  "Pleasing God".  As I described Peter knocking at the door I went from English into Swahili.  I wish you could have seen their faces light up. There were smiles on every face.  It is only a few Swahili words here and there but it brings them great joy. The pastors have also tried to make me as African as possible. They have taken me to a seamstress to be measured & fitted. They want me to wear African clothes when I preach. They want me to look "smart" & "African".

 

I have given out many reading glasses. They are treasured by those who received them. The glasses were collected by Newington Town Church in Newington, NH. The people here are very thankful for the gift.  Many pastors have found a pair that helps them read easier. It is such a tremendous gift for them to be able to read again. Many thanks!

Sunday Worship

A Time To Celebrate

Pastoral Leadership Graduates

Friday was a day of celebration in Kawangware. Ten students graduated from a two year study program in pastoral leadership. I was invited to attend and speak at their graduation ceremony.  I encouraged them from Daniel 1:8:20 "A Decision of the Heart".

I had one little girl try to pick the skin off my arm.  I guess she thought I must be black underneath J

 

Wed & Thurs we continued to visit people within Kawangware.  On Wednesday a 19 yr old young man accepted Jesus into his heart also a young mother. I am happy to report that on Thursday one more man accepted Jesus as his Savior. This week 6 people have opened up the hearts to Jesus.

 

We rejoice with what God is doing.

 

Thursday evening many of us thought there was trouble in the area. It sounded as if machine guns were being used.  We have been told it is a special Hindu holiday. There is a big Hindu temple not far from here. They celebrate through out the night by setting off firecrackers.

Slipper Socks

This photo is the children with their slippers.  Linda's Mom made the slippers for the children.  To read what Linda has written about the slippers in a past post  click here. 

Call Out His Name

I bought some "American" food today. (Tuesday) Pastor Alfred & one of his elders walked with me into the Westlands shopping area.  I have dried soups, popcorn, spaghetti, peanut butter and plum jam. J  I also found an umbrella & rubber boots for walking in the mud. 

 

In the afternoon I went back into the slums of Kawangware. I was sad to hear about a six year old girl that had died. She was walking behind her mom & she slipped into the drainage ditch. The rains have made the ditches higher and faster running.  She could not be found when her mom realized she was missing. The current had taken her away. They found her two days later but in a different area.

 

It is so good to hear my name called out as I walk the streets of Kawangware.  Some of the women will leave their stands to great me as I walk by. Every now & then my path crosses with those that have recently accepted Jesus. They take a minute to visit before they continue on.  Children walking home from school run to grab my hand.  It is not just my hand any more, they know me by name.  I walk to town, miles from Kawangware, a man stops me and thanks me for praying for him.

 

How happy Jesus must be when we call out his name! How it must touch his heart when we take a few minutes from our busy day and talk to him. How our hearts would sing if we would remember to grab his hand and walk with him.

 

I can not remember all the people I have prayed for. I have prayed for so many. I am so thankful for the opportunity to walk with them and to see their needs. I've cared about them deeply but today I feel their pain. I pray for them knowing God is all powerful.

 

At the close of the day I can rejoice as I have two new brothers in Christ.  A young man 21 yrs old & his neighbor accepted Jesus into their heart today.

 

My feet are tired but my heart is happy.

Abandoned & Orphaned but Loved

Monday I visited "New Life Homes" in Kilimani, Nairobi. They care for abandoned and orphaned babies. Many of the babies test positive for HIV/AIDS.  The babies are kept until they are 3 years old.  If they have not been adopted by the age of 3 they then go into a foster home. 

www.newlifehometrust.org

 

I also went to Kibera slums.  I am told Kibera is the largest slum in Africa.  It used to be the 2^nd largest but that is no longer the case.  We walk to  "Tunza Children Center". Diminah, a woman who has not attended school, cares for 235 children. She has a beautiful heart full of love for abandoned, orphaned and children who have been sold for labor. Her challenges are many.  Each day she trusts God to supply; food, clothes, medical care, volunteers and more space.

 

The children are loved, fed, clothed and given an education. They have a safe place to sleep.  They stay with her until they are old enough to step out on their own. No child is turned away.

 

It is hard to comprehend how someone can throw a baby in the trash or the toilet.  It is a big problem her in Africa.

 

I heard about a dog who found an abandoned baby.  He carried the baby back to his master.  The baby was taken to the hospital. She is doing good. They have given her the name of "Angel". The dog is well cared for now because of his kindness to this child.

 

While in Kibera we watch the sky.  Floods of water roll down into Kibera when it rains.  I'm told I might have to spend the night if I'm caught here in the rain.

 

Late afternoon brings open blue skis & sunshine. We walk the tracks out.

God Cares About The "One"

I thank God for the opportunity to speak at "The Lord Worship Center" in Kawangware Sunday morning. I spoke about God being an "Individual God".  He cares about the "one".

 

After the morning service we visited "individual" homes and prayed for many.

 

It was a good day in the Lord.  Most of all I thank Him for the "one" who accepted Jesus into her heart today.

 

Also on Saturday during the rains, one young mother asked Jesus into her heart.  She no longer has to pay money to a man to pray for her. She can use the money to buy her children food.

 

God still moves in the hearts even when the weather is bad.

Usable Water?

Click on picture for a larger view.

The Rains Are Here

The rains are here! I've learned the "short rains" do not mean

"short showers" but it means it will only last a couple months.

Yesterday, Saturday, we were visiting door to door in

Kawangware & the "short rains" moved in on us. It began

to "fall" hard and fast. They don't call it rain. They say

it is going to "fall". It did just that. I was completely soaked.

It is "falling" a lot lately, every day it "falls".

The power here is off a lot because of the rains. Generators are

being used in many areas.

The ground in Kawangware is a mess after it rains. It is muddy

and slippery. Each step is planned carefully as you feel the

earth grabbing to keep your shoes. Red mud is caked to everyone's

shoes. Puddles develop quickly as the clay like earth refuses

to let the rain down into the ground.

Women begin to gather water from the muddy diseased puddles.

Life becomes harder for the people of Kawangware .

They continue on.

Pastor Alfred & Pastor Shuls

A Time Past but Not Forgotten

Friday morning I attended a the Kawangware Pastors Fellowship. About 80-100 attended. It was a time of prayer, worship, learning & fellowship. The focus of the fellowship this year is to teach the pastors how to start a business and rise above their circumstances. With jobs along side of their church responsibilities they will be an example of how to care for their families. They would also be able to help others in a time of need. After lunch with the pastors we returned to house to house visitations.

I was greeted in the road & hugged tightly by a woman we had prayed for many days ago. She had asked God if he was not going to heal her to please take her home that day. That day was the day we prayed for her. Her lungs were not working properly & she had all she could do to catch a breath. God did heal her that day and her face is shining.

We visited a very small hospital in Kawangware. A young child under the age of one with malaria had been admitted. He doesn't move a muscle as we pray to for God to heal his body. We walk through an area of ruins. As I hear about the burning of homes that took place during the political uprising. I hear how no one dared to leave their home for weeks for fear of being killed. I hear how the roads were closed, no one traveled. They went without food for days. I visit with a young woman who lost her husband during this time of conflict to a stray bullet.

I hear how Pastor Alfred's 6 month old son dies because they can not get him to the hospital in time. Pastor Chris tells me how his church was surrounded by armed men. They all feared for their lives. They pray for God's protection together and begin to run from the church. God's hand saw them to safety.

A time past but not forgotten.

God's Love

My arms are brown.

My sneakers dirty.

My ankle socks will never

be white again.

I'm thinner now

than when I came.

I'm walking 20 miles a day

they say.

My diet has changed,

rice, kale, cabbage, potatoes,

bananas, carrots & tomatoes.

I don't complain.

God's love remains the same!

The roads are becoming familiar.

Tuesday I walked with Pastor Chris & Pastor Felix in Kawangware. I am starting to know my way around now. The path ways and roads are becoming familiar. I enjoy the door to door visits. We entered the home of the woman who accepted Jesus when I spoke at the crusade. She had been involved in the occult and suffered because of it. She told us that since we prayed she has had peace. Her eyes shine bright now. The confused and troubled look on her face is gone. Great work has been done all because of the name of Jesus.

There have been many babies born here in the last two weeks. I have had the pleasure to pray a blessing upon many of them. Some babies are given black bracelets to wear from the witch doctor. They wear these bracelets night & day because they think it brings protection.

We went into the Congo area and visited many homes and also a school. There are many people here who are controlled by substance abuse. Bars line the dusty dirty pathway. Men are passed out here & there with the hot sun beating down on them. You’ll see a bottle in their hand or close by.

I have seen many different kinds of food. Today someone was roasting chicken feet over an open fire. You will see the intestinal lining of cows and goats for sale. Sugar cane stalks are cut and chewed. Ugali is a favorite meal consisting of white corn meal (cooked like instant potatoes), with tomatoes boiled to a sauce for the top. Maybe some greens (something like kale) and sometimes goat or beef pieces.

One lady I met today was selling white grainy rocks at her stand. The rocks are small enough to hold two or three in your hand. Women who want to have a baby will eat these rocks. Once they are pregnant they will continue to eat the rocks until the baby is born.

Mohammad, a Muslim leader approached me today. He had been drinking. He started asking me questions. I knew immediately he was trying to trick me and the wrong answer would be used to cause trouble. He did not succeed. God is faithful.

We cross areas where the drainage runs deep and stepping stones will not work. In these areas they make little wooden foot bridges. As I step onto the bridge and look down between the cracks I silently pray “Lord please don’t let it break now”.

I met a man selling tooth brushes. He had made them out of branches the size of a writing pen. One end he frayed it a bit so that it would clean a wider area. He even gave me a demonstration.

Another little boy tried to sell me a puppy for 75 cents US. I have a soft heart for puppies but I don’t have any place for one here. It did make me think for a minute though. My husband will be happy to hear that the puppy is still in Kawangware.

Pastor Alfred’s little daughter, Rebecca, is almost 3. She is telling everyone that I am her “Aunt”. I guess I’ve been adopted into the family. Her love is beautiful.

Happiness and a baby that's only 3 days old

I think this picture speaks for itself. Please continue to pray for Linda.

VISIBLE LOVE

Pastor Alfred invited me to speak at his church Sunday morning. Greater Love Church sits on top of a hill in Kawangware. The sounds of praise music, African style, echoed through out the different walk ways in the slums.

I spoke on "Visible Love" and in so doing I thanked everyone for the love that has been shown to me.

1. I have had many hands reach out to hold mine.
2. I've been given hand made gifts.
3. I've been invited into many homes. They have openly shared their hurts, troubles and pains with me.
4. They have offered to cook for me and fix me tea.
5. So many have thanked me for coming and spending time with them.

Their love has been expressed in so many ways. God has certainly blessed me.

After the service I spent the afternoon at Pastor Alfred's home with his wife and three daughters. We discussed the "dump babies". They are the babies that are left in the dump to die. They are unwanted and discarded, literally thrown away. Pastor Alfred explained to me the process to go through should I find one of these babies. Unfortunately many times the dogs will find the babies first.

We had several stop and visit during the afternoon. One lady who sat with us was in need of prayer. Perhaps she had AIDS or TB, maybe she had both. Her body was wasted away. Her cough was so deep and full. Each breath she took used all the energy remaining in her body. We prayed for God to perform a miracle with in her body.

Pastor Alfred, Pastor Chris and Pastor Shuls have helped me in so many ways. They have walked with me and introduced me to the ways of life here in the Nairobi slums. I have learned so much from them. I thank God for their dedication and love that is extended to the people here.

Kibera Africa's 2nd Largest Slum

Saturday I went with Pastor Alfred & Pastor Shuls to Kibera. It took several matatus to get to the other side of Nairobi. Kibera is Africa's second largest slum with a population of one million people. Walking steadily down into Kibera we are met by people coming and going. Shops & stands line both sides of the street. Pots, pans,veggies, flip flops, material, anything you might needs lines the walk way. We walk down, down, down and further into Kibera.

We find the railroad tracks and begin to walk them. We are not alone as the tracks are used for a main path with more shops, stands and homes only steps away from the rail. You will feel the ground tremble when the train gets close. There is a ditch with drainage flowing that runs parallel to the tracks. An electric wire that sparks when it rains is laid on top of the ground for miles.

Goats and chickens search for food in the mounds of garbage. There isn't one blade of grass to be seen. Rubbish covers the earth beneath my feet and is displayed around me. Strategically placed rocks are a must to cross the bubbling brooks of waste.

Children run with happy faces to reach out and touch me. They are anxious to try out their one phrase of English on me. "How are you?" comes from all sides. They are surprised and pleased to hear me answer them in Kiswahili.

We walk passed the charred and demolished homes burnt during the political uprising. We have traveled through many small and narrow alley ways. We have entered through three foot tall entrances to visit and pray with people. We spent time with a woman with HIV who cares for many orphans in Kibera.

The hot sun beats down on us and we are refreshed with soda and sweet bread.

We move on to a church in Kibera where I speaked to a HIV/AIDS group. Many in the group ask for prayer before before we leave.

Night is upon us and we find the tracks. With many others we begin the long walk. As we journey out and we find ourselves on higher ground you can look out over the roof tops of Kibera. They are so close and so many it appears that it is one massive piece of sheet metal.

I look to the other side and view the rich green grass of a golf course.

House to House

Monday I took a bus and traveled back to Kenya. My seat was directly behind the bus driver. I had a great view of the landscape of Tanzania as we traveled toward Nairobi. With bikes, people, cows and goats walking the roads it made for an exciting trip. I observed the hardships of the people; children gathering water from an algae covered pond, groups bathing in muddy water, the rush of people to the bus when it stopped in hopes that we would buy fish, bananas, cabbage or what ever they had to sell.

It was a sixteen hour bus trip and we only broke down once. The accelerator broke. They went under the bus and tied a strap to the accelerator and then pulled the strap up through the trap door in the floor. For the next few miles we had two bus drivers, one controlled the speed of the bus by pulling on the strap while the bus driver controlled the steering wheel…..only in Africa!

I have been blessed with a one room apartment here in Nairobi. It is all that I need and more. I can cook my own meals. I have access to clean water. It is gated and has a guard on duty 24/7. God is so good!

Wednesday and Thursday I have worked along side on Pastor Alfred in Kawangware slums. We have gone door to door through out the slums praying for the needs of the people. I also visited two church schools of about 50 students each. A school day runs from eight to four in the afternoon. The floors of these schools are dirt. Each morning the teachers will take water and sprinkle over the dirt to keep the dust down while the students are there. This helps them not to cough as much. They have very little to work with. The classroom contains only one black board and wooden benches for the children to sit on. Three or four classes are taught at the same time. There are no learning charts and books for the children. The children come to school hungry. We have agreed in prayer that God will bless these two schools with rice and beans so the teachers can give the children one meal a day. If we can take the pain of hunger away they will be able to concentrate better.

Proverbs 22:9

A generous man will be blessed for he shares his food with the poor.

Points of Interest

Kenya – Points of Interest www.travax.com

One drives on the left side of the road.

Police checks are common.

Coastal areas are predominantly Islamic.

Smoking in Nairobi, Nakuru, & Mombassa is illegal.

First offenders can expect a fine of 2,000 KSH (approx $30) or 6 months imprisonment.

Possession of pornographic material is forbidden.

Homosexual activity is illegal.

Photography of official buildings forbidden.

Rainy seasons are October to November & late March to mid June.

During rainy season many unpaved roads are passable only

with four wheel drive vehicles with high clearance.

Natural disasters are possible due to regional volcanic activity.

Recommended shots for traveling into Kenya;

Yellow fever, Hepatitis A, Typhoid, Hepatitis B, Rabies, Meningococcal Meningitis, Influenza / routine shots; tetanus/diphtheria, measles, polio, varicella, pneumococcal. and a Malaria preventative.

Kenya Health Issues:

Travelers Diarrhea, HIV/AIDS, Dengue Fever, African Trypanosomiasis,

Leishmaniasis, Tuberculosis (Kenya is in the highest World Health Org. risk category

The Rocks Cry Out

Who can doubt that there is a God when they view the boulders displayed through out Tanzania. Each boulder so uniquely placed in awe. Massive in size they are stacked one upon the other. It is an obvious betrayal of the laws of nature. No credit can be given to human strength. There is no logic as to how they balance so delicately.

Do not the rocks cry out, " There is a God "

Luke 19:40
If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.

Deut 32:4
He is the Rock his works are perfect, and all his ways are just a faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

Sunday Worship With Song & Dance

Sunday morning I spoke at Pastor Simone Masungulwa's church in Nyakato. He has a very active and growing church that loves to worship in song & dance. Nyakato is a small village about a fifteen minute ride out of Mwanza, Tanzania. In the afternoon I enjoyed lunch at the Pastor's home with his wife and children. I've been asked to return and do a week long open air crusade in the market area sometime in the future.

For the evening service I traveled to Kitangiri to Hulda Kibaba's church. A young church built with small tree trunks covered with tarps. Decorations of flowers with purple & white material hanging around the inside made it a beautiful place to worship together. Neighborhood children come running to join us as music fills the air.


The children in both churches received hand made "slipper socks" made by, my mother, Charlotte Towne. One father expressed his thanks by saying "This church has never experienced such a gift as this. You have brought the children much joy and the mamas are happy too."

I spoke on Dorcas and using what God puts in your hand. Dorcas had a needle. Moses had a rod. David had a sling. What has God placed in your hand?

The evening was spent with leaders of the church. We met together at this large chicken farm and enjoyed tea and a time of prayer together.

Bugoma Hospital

This blog post was intended to be published Friday, September 19, 2008

Friday we traveled from Mwanza to Bugoma Hospital. After climbing nine flights of stairs we reached the area where the children and women stayed. There were so many tremendous needs and our prayers were welcomed. We prayed for so many with tumors; one tumor covering the whole side of the face, a tumor the size of a grapefruit on someones neck, tumors on the roof of the mouth pushing outward so that the eye protrudes. There are 8 beds to a room and sometimes 3 sharing a bed. The air was so still in this area that I found myself feeling faint. After resting a bit I went back to praying for their needs. There were children with broken bones, head injuries, cripples. I have never prayed for anyone before with such visible needs as I have seen today. As serious as they are I still know that God is able.

As I walk the streets and see the blind & crippled begging, I find myself stopping and saying a quick prayer with them. I am reminded of Peter & John in Acts 3. They took time to pray for a cripple that so many walked by. They cared, they prayed, God performed a miracle and revival spread through out the area.

We serve a powerful God.

Welcome To Church

Mobile post sent by LindaGove using Utterli. Replies. mp3

Ties for pastors

I wanted to share this photo with everyone. Linda brought a bunch of ties with her to give to the pastors. It seems like they are very interested, and if I were to guess very thankful for the ties.

Please continue to pray for Linda.

Hot Sun

Mobile post sent by LindaGoveMinistries using Utterli. Replies. mp3

This is Linda's first mobile post straight from Africa. For some reason the mobile post is not complete. As she gets the hang of it I think we will see a lot more of these in the future.

Please continue to pray for Linda.

Bus Trip to Tanzania

Tuesday evening we boarded the Abamba bus at 9:30 pm. Each one of us went through a security check as we boarded the bus. Watching the zebras and the gazelles feed beside the road helped pass the time.

The bus broke down 4 times so we arrived in Mwanza 3 hours late. We arrived in Mwanza at 3:30 Wednesday afternoon - a very long, dusty, bumpy, ride. I think I could probably ride in the rodeo now. I've learned how to hold on tight!

The bus driver did the paperwork at border of Kenya and walked into Tanzania to obtain our visas. I ran into difficulty here as they would only accept US dollars or Euro's- I had neither. They kept my passport and told me to go outside and try to fix the problem. After much prayer and communication with several people the bus driver's heart softened. The bus driver agreed to pay for my visa and take my luggage in exchange until I paid him back. I was ready to take my luggage off the bus and go back to Kenya and send Hulda to her home in Mwanza. With the Lords help, it all worked out!

On the bus trip there was a man from Germany who lost his wallet, $3,000, his camera and glasses. They had each one of us exit the bus so they could search through the luggage. I was excused from the search. They never found his items. Also someone lost their luggage at the bus station. Someone grabbed it and ran.

We were stopped several times for passport checks. The guards with spike strips in the road stopped us many times to check us over. There is a lot of security. I Arrived safely and payed the bus driver. It was hard to find a bank that would accept my card. I was very tired after the trip, but now I'm rested. I am going to pray for the sick in the hospital today at 4.

This is a day of prayer and fasting for most Christians here. When the native people of Africa fast they don't consume water or food.

If you have a chance please leave some comments on the blog.

I'm very well. Thank you for your prayers.

New Friends

Monday

I spent the afternoon & evening with Joe & Gladys Kagendo. Their ministry is with the street people of Nairobi. God has been with them in some amazing ways. He has brought them through difficult times and spared their life over and over again. We shared and they poured into me and I them. They helped me understand the roots that so many here have tied their beliefs into. It was so good to be enriched in some areas I know nothing of. There is much to learn. Still trying to get the cell phone service & text messaging working.

Busy Sunday

They had the posters everywhere!

The are so many beautiful little children running around.
I love being around them.

At 7 am on Sunday I headed to the slums of Kawangware. It was an honor to assist in the baptism for 4 new Christians. I spoke at the morning service inside Pastor Christopher Shitambasi's church, participated in the ordination of a pastor to Mombasa and prayed for many needs. A celebration was then held at Pastor's house in Kawangware. I am told I was given a meal of honor. Rose cooked a great meal of rice with a potato /carrot topping. I am so blessed to be so well taken care of. I took a short nap there as I find all of the walking, heat and so many changes making me very tired. Shortly after my nap we continued to the stage for the ending of the crusade. One man came forward for salvation. Many prayers were said over the children & the sick. I was happy to see one of the newly saved young women return for all of the services. She still asks for prayer. We gave out many slippers that my mom made to the children of the slums. Their eyes twinkled and they held them so tightly. They call them socks! They pray that my mom will be blessed with long life. We went into a new area of the slums called the "Congo." This area is used for making their brew. I walked by the stills and watch so many stagger back and forth. I told one man that Jesus loved him and he turned and spit on the pastor that was walking with me. This pastor never once moved a muscle, only love was seen in his face. What a tremendous example of the love of Jesus I have seen flow through this man. After this red eyed, staggering man, totally out of his mind spit on the pastor he then fell to his knees and asked for prayer. We arrived back at our place of rest around 7 pm

Tired Feet, Happy Heart

Saturday I met many pastors in Kawangware. Five people accepted Jesus at the afternoon crusade. Night was upon us so I left quickly. Used the Matatoo (public transportation van) it rattled all the way back. It refused to go several times stopping in the middle of the road. On hills everyone gets out so it can make it to the top. We had 20 + people in the van at one time. My prayer life is increasing. Many find my hair very beautiful and want to touch it. Sunday is going to be an extremely busy day. My body is struggling to get use to the air I breathe, the time change, the food change, not enough water to drink and walking every where. I am a happy in the midst of people with such daily hardships that we have never seen.

Suitcases have been found

All of my suitcases have been found and delivered to me! Everything was ok. Hulda, my interpreter, has arrived from Tanzania. It has been cold here in Nairobi. Everyone has extra wraps around their shoulders. Usually the 'short rains' start in October, I am told they are starting early this year. Today we will be going door to door praying for the sick in the slums of Kawangware. I will be speaking at the crusade which starts at 4 this afternoon. I am rested, healthy and ready to go !

Africa Floods In On Me

Africa floods in on me.

The sights; those crippled by polio, so many homeless sleeping on piles of garbage, cars racing by, baskets of chickens on the way to market, the common AK47 held by guards in stores and at the gates, young people sniffing bottles of glue, no hope for tomorrow, red eyes and dazed looks.

The smells; little fires smolder through out the day and night, lungs filling from the smoke of buring garbage, dark diesel fumes fill the busy streets.

The sounds; barking dogs throughout the darkness of the night, early morning song birds, prayers ringing out from the temples, beeping horns.

The tastes; warm coca cola, bread, hard boiled eggs.

The touches; little hands reaching out for mine. Oh how good it is.