This is a summary of this years trip from SCOTT’S
perspective.
We left Heathrow on Sunday evening flying out to Nairobi
Kenya. The flight was full and we had some problems
checking in baggage. Both Julie and I felt that another
time we would forget the idea of a night flight out,
early Monday morning is definitely far more preferable.
Arriving in Nairobi we fought morning traffic and
eventually got to the Methodist Guest House around 9am.
With a quick turn around I was teaching by 10.30am in
Kwarangare slum. Julie however got stuck in the most
monstrous traffic jam and didn’t arrive in Dandora until
gone lunchtime.
Over the next three days we covered two, two day
conferences at Dandora and Kawangare and on Wednesday
when Margaret and Hilary arrived we ventured out into
new (for us) territory to take a conference in Kibera
and Mathare – which is the largest slum in Nairobi
boasting nearly 1 million souls living in a valley of
filth, crime and tin housing. Yet even here the welcome
was warm (lit.) and the hunger for the word of God and
materials to truly disciple the church simply drew the
teaching out of us. Throughout the trip I focused on
discipleship and used the Freedom In Christ materials by
Neil Anderson and Steve Goss. At each conference I left
a training manual and photocopiable resources for all
the pastors – hoping that once I’d gone they’d have
something to work on all year with their congregations.
On Thursday we flew to Kisumu and it was like coming
home. We were so excited to meet James and Rose and
everyone at the airport and very surprised to be met by
4 Maasai Warriors, two of whom apparently, are now the
official security at the orphanage! Over the coming days
both Julie and I had the wonderful privilege of sharing
the gospel and bible stories with 10-12 of these amazing
folk, at least one of whom gave his life to Christ (Johanne)
and another already growing in God who we were able to
give a bible too (Lazarus).
During the following 6 days the team stayed at the Dal
Hotel (a fairly new, small but clean guest house in the
centre of Kisumu) together, but each day we mostly went
separate ways. My role was mainly focused on the Pastors
conference at the Ofafa Hall in Kisumu. On the first day
I was surprised to discover 182 attending and had to
revise the numbers of notes etc. Personally I came under
attack the night before starting my series with them –
just a bout of sickness but God strengthened me and by
the afternoon was able to open the material and prepare
the ground for the main teaching time on Saturday.
Whilst Julie taught the women separately, I had the male
pastors, bishops and church members and we dug into the
word to discover who we were “in Christ”. On the Sunday
I preached in Nashon and Monica’s church – on Psalm 107
and in the afternoon we all met up back at Bandani and
played with the orphans while “tag team” preaching to
the adults that had gathered there! A frustration for me
was that Hilary and Margaret had been kept from meeting
the orphanage children by their programme until this
afternoon. But once we were all together we had a great
time playing with them. More and more it felt like being
at home- being were God had prepared a place... On the
Tuesday we even had a big party there – with cake and
craft, volleyball and skipping! Of course there was all
the photo taking in the afternoon and I came away with a
catalogue of 116 photos of orphans, and another 10 or
students! NB.Since returning 75 orphans are now
sponsored and nearly all 10 students are prayed for if
not directly financially supported.
On the Thursday we spent a very special day just with
James and Rose, looking through the finances and
rejoicing with them that God has constantly been their
provider and protector. Despite a year when they’ve had
twice as many orphans as sponsors and had various
attacks upon the orphanage and their character – their
testimony is that Jesus is Lord and that God has
provided for all their needs in Christ Jesus.
This coming year looks to be one of growth and change –
since James and Rose continue to walk by faith – God is
releasing new resources into the work. We were able to
leave them gifts to help outreach projects, to buy
further livestock and a significant amount to help
finish the second stage of their building project –
which will provide widow accommodation and a carpentry
workshop in which they can train fledgling carpenters,
whilst making a small profit for the orphanage. Through
another independent donor, a two story hall and office
space may well be provided early next year – it’s
purpose mainly as a bible college but also useful for
conferences which can now take place on site at no
rental cost, and still be used as a primary school hall,
office for James and Living Hope, a pharmacy helping the
local community and even a church on Sunday! Once this
work is completed a proper compound and campus could be
developed to give added security and safety for the
children. Perhaps there’s even the potential for a small
UK team to take part in this development.
Leaving aside reporting on how the orphanage progresses
I would like to highlight one further point from the
trip. On the Wednesday I was able to join the medical
team and visit an area called Chiga. Here one of the
older orphans arranged the medical visit to a church
that he was helping to pastor! Here was a truly holistic
approach – I preached the word, and offered prayer for
healing. Then Hilary taught on malaria, Margaret taught
on HIV and AIDS and after questions the whole team
distributed medicines, mosquito nets and showed Christ’s
practical love for the community. The impact of this
Christ inspired and prayer powered work must not be
underestimated. Going to a community linked to the
orphanage that God had drawn us into partnership with,
and taking the whole gospel was I believe incredibly
powerful – Thank you for those reading this report that
through your giving and prayer made it possible for us
to go and go taking gifts and love.
And thank you Lord for the privilege of calling us into
such a work and experience.
All glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Kenya highlights from Julie's perspective
The trip began well before we even left Heathrow with a
Hindu girl asking me unprompted what being a Christian
really meant! I just had time to give her a tract and
board the plane.
The Pastor’s conferences in slum areas of Nairobi went
well. We landed at 7am on the Monday drove to the
Methodist Guest House (getting stuck in a traffic jam on
the way) changed clothes and I went off to one slum
area, Dandora and Scott to another, Kawangare. On the
way, the ‘bishop’ and I got stuck in the worst traffic
jam in Nairobi for 15 years. The ‘bishop’ thought it
better to go up side streets - so did everyone else! We
were all jammed solid and no-one could move anywhere for
a couple of hours. It was really hot, I couldn’t open
the windows because it was dangerous, I was two hours
late and we wondered what God was allowing this for.
Later it proved to be the perfect illustration for my
topic of being ‘in the kiln’ of trials and how we react
to them! The next day Scott and I swapped venues and on
the third day I, with Margaret, went to a new place,
Kibera where the obvious unity of the pastors was
unprecedented and the Holy Spirit moved in power.
We travelled down to Kisumu with Margaret and Hilary and
were met by the usual people plus 4 Masai warriors. They
had been coming to the orphanage to learn about Jesus
and it was thrilling to be involved with them and see
one come to Christ.
The following day I taught at the pastors conference and
then at a crusade outdoors near the orphanage in the
evening when 4 people received Jesus into their hearts.
Saturday was the Ladies conference. A few were as yet
unsaved and came forward for salvation and deliverance.
One woman was heavily manifesting demons and the African
ladies circled her and shouted profusely at the demons
to come out of her. They stood no chance with these
powerful shrieking ladies and left the woman in peace!
I preached at the church at the orphanage on the Sunday
morning and afternoon.
On Monday I went to Siaya. I visited a small orphanage
we visit each year and then this time because of Muslim
uprising in the town we had a tent meeting in the bush
near a school. At the end of the day hundreds of school
children had also joined us outside and there was
suddenly an amazing move of God’s Spirit. Everyone
started singing Hallulujah, Hosanna over and over and
over again for about 30 minutes - we couldn’t stop and
God ‘inhabited the praises of his people’. There was
such joy and wonder experienced by all. It’s a moment I
will never forget.
I spent all Tuesday morning getting the children to
write letters to their sponsors and all afternoon
writing down their names and the 50 others while Scott
tried to photograph each one.
Wednesday was a mind boggling day with an unexpected
development of a new stage in these missions- church
planting. The oldest orphan, David now 23, is trying to
return to his own village an hour or so away from the
orphanage (where we found Faith, Hope and Joel last
year). He is trying to reclaim his parent’s land after
being chased away at 12 when they died of Aids. He has a
heart for the village and wants to start a church there.
He asked me to come for the first ever tent meeting and
Life Church was formed!
On the way back, the beaten up van broke down twice and
we ended up walking to another village where a Christian
lady lived. She was pregnant and her husband died of
Aids 4 months ago. Opposite her house was a house where
one of James’ orphans had lived until her parents died.
For 3 years everyone had been terrified to go in as 2
people died there.
As we waited for the van to arrive, people gathered
round, I taught them for a while,
2 got healed of ankle and leg pain and leapt about and
God gave me a prophetic word about one young man
becoming a worship leader. It turned out that he was a
Christian whose name was Benjamin and he did like to
worship.
James said they needed now a church in that village but
they had nowhere to meet. I suggested we prayed in the
‘demonised’ hut and asked Jesus to cleanse it so we
could use it as a church. Everyone agreed, crammed in,
we prayed and then I asked Benjamin to lead us in
worship.
Freedom Church was born and we promised Benjamin a
Bible. James and his team would continue to support and
follow them up and I would go back next year.
Thank you for all your love, support and prayer which
made this mission trip possible. To God be the glory.
TRIP TO KENYA OCTOBER 2006
Margaret Boorman and Hilary Smith joined the Lenten
Community Rescue Group to participate in an HIV-AIDS and
Malaria Awareness Campaign. (The Lenten Group operates
under the auspices of Life Development Project headed by
James Osare).
The team was led by Roy Samo and comprised a doctor, two
counsellors, a nurse, two interpreters, a pastor and
varying numbers of helpers/volunteers assisting with
audio/visual recordings, distribution of supplies etc…
Margaret and Hilary taught on HIV-AIDS and Malaria
respectively.
We visited 5 villages: Miwani, Got Nyabondo, Bandani
(orphanage location), Manyetta and Chiga. The villagers
were very welcoming, and very willing to engage in
discussion. They found Margaret’s presentation on the
use of condoms entertaining as well as helpful! We were
able to distribute mosquito nets and basic medicines:
paracetamol, brufen and linctus. In Bandani we also gave
out water purifying solution. Basic wounds were cleansed
as required but no dressings were available. The clinics
were rather caotic with so many pressing in to see the
doctor/nurse and receive the free medications/nets. This
made it difficult to pray for people specifically for
healing, although we did have opportunity to do so for
one lady.
It was beneficial to see first hand the plight and needs
of the people in these areas. It was evident that the
key requirements are: more teaching aids/materials for
the team, including the modes of cross infection and
aseptic techniques; access to free condoms/
anti-malarial medication and especially more mosquito
nets.
At Chiga it was considered to be very positive combining
the biblical teaching (Scott) and the medical teaching
(Margaret and Hilary) in the same location.
We believe the team was encouraged in its work and so
too were the villagers. We were certainly blessed by the
people we met by their welcome, hospitality and
generosity,
The one cause for concern was the expectation of the
team that we would return to the UK to influence the
Government and provide financial support! We explained
that the purpose of our visit was to encourage the team
in its work and to gain a better understanding of the
needs of the people to report back to LIFE Church, but
we could make no guarantees concerning future financial
support. They were assured of our prayers.
We do not feel there would be a need to return to do the
same work, as the team is well equipped with those able
to teach in these areas. It may be beneficial to perhaps
help with practical aspects in a village, eg setting up
of clinic/boundary fencing at Bandani/assisting with
clearing swamps…?. We will keep in contact with Roy and
see how things develop over the intervening months.
We would like to thank you all for you support,
encouragement and prayers. It was really much
appreciated. Bless you. Margaret and Hilary.
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