We’re off to go to our first mission field
– in Nairutia, Nyeri. It was a police officer Bro. Duncan Awino, who invited
Kenneth to do a two-week evangelistic meeting in the place. When Kenneth informed
us about it, it was precisely after the culmination of the Missionary Kids
Training so we invited ourselves to go. Praise God for filling up our calendar
of undertakings!
The Place
It took us an around 6 hours of travel
going there. We dwelt in the compound where Nairutia Police Station was, so
security was fully secured! Our house was that of the Kikuyu village houses (as you can see in the picture). This is what we also saw in Bomas of Kenya except that it was not made of mud but of iron
sheets. It was in the midst of Mount Kenya and the Abedare mountain ranges: which contributed to the coldness, with the addition of a windy environment.
The Site
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(Left to right) The pioneering five:
Mama Helen, Mama Alice, Bro. Duncan (wife of Mama Helen),
Bro. Duncan (our host), & Mama Mary |
There’s no church there, yet the brethren
are privileged to gather and worship in a hall within the compound. Merely 5
members comprised it; and they have been gathering for only three months since we arrived in the place. No wonder why the Lord led us there!
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| The view infront of where we preached |
The hall was not suitable to hold the
meetings at; since gathering the people there would quite be hard. Thus, we go
where the people are – in the marketplace! Yes, we preached in front of the
market: where we face the road, the trees and mountains, and animals and
vehicles passing by; while up above was the beautiful sky – beholding God’s
approval of the work at hand!
Because it’s in the open, we are challenged
of rain! There was only one night when we had to cancel the meeting because it
didn’t stop until around 9 pm. God was faithful in hearing His servants’ plea.
Since then, He withheld the rain for us until we ended the meetings: not
even a drop fell during the presentations; so often, the rain stops before we
begin or falls again after we end. We have faith that the voice who commanded
the raging seas, “Peace, be still!” was the same voice which commanded the rain
to keep still!
Challenges
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| In full armor to fight the cold! |
Uninformed of the weather, I find myself
unprepared! So, it was more of a struggle for me. We have experienced up to 16°C
– seriously very cold and water is like ice! During the few days, I was almost
to quit because I don’t think I have enough fats to fight against the cold; but
Praise God for the thick blanket and 3 jackets – which kept me warm though I
still sleep like an embryo. Likewise, I’m grateful that we have a heater in the
house that warmed us before we go to bed; however, I’ve lost my body
alarm in the morning.
Another challenge was the toilet.
Ohhh…should I continue this part? Anyway, it’s a first time experience using a
wooden toilet. No seating, no flushing, just tissue, it falls direct to the
ground (I don’t exactly know how deep it is but it’s made to be filled for few
years), and the breath-holding odor (I'm so glad I've learned holding my breath underneath the water or else I won't survive). Even though, I thank God for we came here
during this time that they already have such. I just can’t imagine when the first
missionaries came, where and how they do it when they have bowel movements. Praise God, indeed!
With water, its brown when it rains; so
boiled drinking water was necessary. My body was struggling with not enough
water intake. From 2.5 liters which I use to drink in a day, the most that I
got was 1 liter or less. For 6 days, that is, until the end of the meetings, we
didn’t have water. Nonetheless, Praise God for accessibility of water in the
neighboring school; but we still have to conserve for bathing (half bucket is
enough) and washing some clothes. With electricity, we experienced times when
it was out; but again, Praise God for it didn’t interrupt most of the meetings.
It had constantly been my experience that
when God prepares me for something, He always had me go through struggles or
challenges to be more equipped to face another. What and where could He be
preparing me of? Trusting in His leading!
Children’s Program
Location-wise, we decided not to do the crafts anymore due to inconvenience on the
part of the kids. During the first sessions in the open, we decided to do it at
6:30 pm for the little ones to see the projection on the screen. We saw the
children’s awe when they saw the pictures and hear the stories, though it was
quite hard for them to learn the songs because of their mother tongue. We also
saw the kids’ enthusiasm as they come early for the meetings – eager to hear
and learn more from the program. Challenged with the weather and ending late,
we decided to transfer it to the hall: at the start around 20 kids showed
until only one came. However, it’s not a reason to stop. It was brought back to
the site and started earlier even without the screen projection; and Praise God, the
children were back!
One day, on our way to visit interests, we pass by a
kindergarten school and the teacher invited us to teach the kids. There were 30
small students there. Ate Maya taught them a nature nugget on the second coming
topic. When she asked where Jesus lives, the small minds’ answer was: “In the jw,” which means “up there!”
Oh how I felt the need to teach these children
more about the One “up there!”
Health Lecture
The right arm of the gospel had truly been
a great help in the area. I was so blessed being an evangelist/cook/health
lecturer in this mission trip.
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| My amazing 16-year old translator, Dennis! |
It was only once when I had the children’s story and
Ate Maya took over for I did all the health lectures for the entire 2 weeks. I’ve
seen that there’s a great need for health restoration in the community – how
much more in the vastness of the earth! The health lectures was on practical
topics as water, water treatments, and what best foods to eat; and common
diseases and natural remedies for diabetes, high blood pressure, cough, colds,
and flu. Praise God for impressing me to discuss on those because quite a
number of people are sick with those particular diseases! When we encouraged
the listeners to ask questions on health, one by one they came. I was
approached by a drunk man with two children having diabetes; a man who belongs
to the African Church of the Holy Spirit and suffering from arthritis; an owner
of a salon who has high BP; a mother with diabetes, whose left eye was affected
and now totally blind; a woman suffering from bronchitis for already 21 years;
and even a passer-by who just heard a lecture and asked a treatment of her
sore throat.
Pondering upon Jesus ministry of healing
before, multitudes were gathered to Him and desired for His restoring power. He
didn’t just heal them physically but total restoration took place – physical,
mental and spiritual healing. I Praise the Lord for the light in medical
missionary work that He has given the SDA church. In the presentation of health
principles, united with the proclamation of the gospel message, the way was
paved to reach the hearts of the people and direct them to the Great Physician! When they approached me, I felt the compassion
Jesus had to those sick people He had encountered before. Hope rested before
their countenances as I shared that God’s healing would be upon them as long as
they cooperate with Him, with nature, and be determined to follow His ideals
on living a healthy lifestyle. It’s such a blessing to follow the footsteps of
Jesus through imparting how diseases can be treated the natural way, as He did;
and a comfort that with the Divine aid and human efforts, the promised of
healing will transpire!
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Explaining about bronchitis to the woman suffering from it
for 21 years, and its natural remedies; with the guy as translator |
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| Demonstrating how to do the heating compress |
I further Praise the Lord for the
privileges He has given me to do health lectures to a group of tertiary
students and to the brethren on Sabbath afternoon. With them asking questions,
the Word of God and the statements from the pen of inspiration have been my
guide and their confidence.
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| Teaching about the frontal lobe |
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| The tertiary student listeners |
Cooking the healthy way was another
responsibility that I have to take care. Since God had already trained me for
this task, I guess He wants me to teach everyone how to do it wherever He sends
me. Grateful for the gift of ten talents! I was privileged to work with the
mothers in cooking our food. I taught them about healthy substitutes, to cook
without oil, and without using refined sugar. In the course of cooking
instructions, I didn’t simply left their minds hanging with questions; I likewise
told them the how and why principles behind everything. I was really blessed
how the mothers are eager and quick to learn. Now, they know how to prepare
delicious and healthy African food for their families!
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Mama Helen already learned cooking
chapati (one of African's specialty),
"apana mafuta" meaning "without oil" |
One of the mothers, Mama Helen, who’s helping
us in the kitchen, has a husband who was first diagnosed of lung cancer and
suffered from tuberculosis for 11 years; moreover, it was only for the past 2
years that he stopped smoking, drinking, and eating meat. He was seriously ill but
when I shared God’s prescription to go back to His original diet for disease
reversal: he was full of hope and faith in God and even expressed his
determination to change his diet and forget the medicines that he was taking. During the meetings, I saw this man full of vigor as he helps out in setting
the PA system. He was also grateful because Mama Helen can now cook healthy
food for him that would bring back his strength and go to work as usual.
I truly Praise the Lord for the
instrumentality of sharing His health principles and many people were educated.
Though I can’t personally witness the health improvements of those people because
of our short stay there; I could only pray that God would guide them in choosing the best food to eat to live healthy, happy, and long lives; and that He would totally heal them.
Adult’s Prophecy Lectures
Our adult evangelist was Kenneth. On our
second week, we've got a challenge with the PA system. Suddenly, it just
stopped working properly. With a Pastor's help, we Praise God because we were able to borrow a good one from Mweiga Adventist Secondary School. Before we went there, we
have faith that God went ahead of us; hence, we didn't have a hard time trying
to talk to the principal. It was a manifestation of unconditional trust and
dedication to lend for God’s work.
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With the secretary (between Ate Maya and I)
and the principal (beside Kenneth) |
Because of the coldness of the place,
especially at night, I can’t bear to stay in the site until the meetings end.
So, right after my health lecture, Ate Maya accompanies me in going back to the
house. People in the place admitted that it’s really cold there at night. Thus,
only few people could stand out in the cold to listen to the gospel. I thank
God for empowering Kenneth by His Spirit and for giving him the commitment and perseverance to
preach boldly even amidst the cold.
Though we really haven’t witnessed how the
meetings went on each night, there is one thing that Kenneth told us that
really enthralled me: When people one by one walked away, there is a young
person who stays to listen faithfully until the end! What a sight to behold!
Then the experience of the 3 Hebrew young men was brought to my mind – when all
others bowed down to the image, they were left standing for the truth and for
their God! This same man, 17 years of age, came to the house as he was
determined to be baptized; and Kenneth gave him further Bible studies to
strengthen his decision. We might not know the reason why he can’t be reached
through his mobile on the day of baptism; but we believe that this young person
can make it through someday, by God’s grace and will stand for the truth and for Jesus
– though the heavens fall!
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| The man who promised to donate a piece of land is the one in the middle |
Before the end of the meetings, there was a
man who promised to donate a portion of his land for church building. We visited this man before we left; prayed for him and his family;
and thanked him for his generosity. Praises to God for soon a church will
be established in the place, as the brethren and we have asked! Lo, how the wealth of the gentiles will be used for the cause of God. May
our good Lord ever bless this man and call him to be one of His sheeps.
Sabbaths
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| Congregation during second Sabbath |
At last, it was an experience of the real African
Sabbath! Brethren gathered together and visitors came, with the farthest from 16
km away. This time, we had almost an hour of singing! Wondering if they want us
to finish the whole hymnal. Haha! Sabbath School ended 11 am and hour of worship
at past 2 pm already. At lunch time, people find their comfort in sitting on
the grasses under the heat of the sun. And the real African men just sit and wait until served first by the mothers, then their children.
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| I found this man happily eating, with his food inside the plastic bag |
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Some of the brethren having lunch while sitting on the grasses,
used to the heat of the sun |
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| TheAfrican men waiting to be served by the African mothers |
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| Kenneth preaching with his translator, Bro. Julius |
The second Sabbath was the culmination and
baptism. The hall was fully packed with God’s people! The current district
Pastor with his assistant, and the incoming with his family joined us in
worship too! We were all blessed for the holy convocation that day; and we
Praise God for the 3 souls who were baptized! We just felt sad about the two
souls who were supposed to be in the fold that day, but didn’t show up. Moreover,
we are all blessed today for we saw the victory that Christ has wrought over
those souls who repented and accepted Him as their personal Savior and Lord.
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| Ate Maya did the children's story |
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I was teaching the Sabbath school lesson
with the class who understands english |
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| Gathered at the river for baptism! |
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| The blessed team! Free ride on our way back to the house |
Visitations
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| with Bro. Julius, Mama Lucy, and Grace |
One woman we visited was Mama Lucy. She
has diabetes, 68 years old, 103 kilograms, her left eye totally blind, and
right eye partially blind – oh, how sweet her blood really is! We really pitied
her condition for she doesn’t have someone who knows how to cook healthy food
for her, accompany her to walk even 30 minutes a day, and look after the food
that she eats. Is her case hopeless? God only knows! Kenneth had a Bible study
on her about baptism but she said that their church taught them that they will
go to hell when rebaptized – another strange doctrine! It is our prayer that she will accept the light that she had heard and become part of the movement soon.
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| with Mama Winnie |
Another mother that we visited was Mama Winnie. She was a former
Adventist and active in church activities; but has been in the Full Gospel Baptist Church for more than 5 years.
We had a short Bible study with her calling her back to the fold again; but she said that it’s hard for her to go back since she has already given a responsibility in
the Women’s Ministry in their church. We felt so sad about it; but having confidence in God that He would bring her back to serve His commandment-keeping people and lead others to Jesus!
Blessings and Adventure
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with the Chief Inspector Police (between Ate Maya and I)
and our policemen friends |
Being in the compound where the Police
Station was situated, we were so blessed to have police officers as our
neighbors. We greet them, talk to them, laugh with them, and even I had the
chance to teach them of our youth organization handshake in college. We had
also been visited by the deputy station commander for few mornings in the house
to check if we’re doing well. What a hospitality! We also thanked the Chief
Inspector of Police for the accommodation that we had in the compound. We Praise
God for knowing a police officer, Bro. Duncan, who has the passion and spirit
of working for God; and his companions who are so kind and friendly to us!
What more? Serving the Lord is always
accompanied with nature escapades – as what we have experienced! It was a
non-Adventist mother (we called her Madam) who offered to take us there: what a benevolent heart she
has! It was really a delightful day when we visited Thomson Falls in Nyahururu:
more than an hour drive from our place. We had dancing along with the Kikuyu tribal
people there; I’ve experienced for the first time holding a chameleon; and it
was an wonderful trek to the falls – magnificent one! Looking at it, I just
can’t visualize how enormous will the falls in heaven be. Looking forward to see the things that “no eye
has not seen yet!”
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At Thomson Falls: with Christine, a policewoman (in brown blazer);
Madam (wearing all black); and kids, Grace and Fanis |
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| Group picture with the Kikuyu tribal people |
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I like for my new pet - chameleon!
I wish I could take you to the Philippines! |
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| So blessed by God's marvelous work - nature! |
