Mission Korogocho: Nairobi, Kenya

There is, as always, far too much to write about, so I'm especially grateful to Justin for recapping some of yesterday's events! I am sitting in my room at Ufungamano House (our lodging for this part of the trip, on the University of Nairobi campus) waiting for today's work to start, so I thought I would briefly add a few reflections to Justin's recap.

The morning Pastors’ session had a very diverse group of attendees, from senior pastors to young men and women to community leaders and teachers. Pastor David's words were very well-received, and we're looking forward to today when we can have more attendees and also more discussion to really address the Biblical questions people here have on their hearts and minds...and there are a lot of questions. It is truly incredible how hungry people in Kenya are for the Word of God, and how much they want to understand it. You could literally have church all day every day and the building would remain full. Of course in this case they got lunch out of the deal, but not a particularly nice lunch, and other than that there was no “catch” – people really are that excited to be taught God’s Word. And remember, this isn't a church building like the ones we have come to demand in order to be able to have an adequate church experience. It was a packed one-room church with terrible lighting, no A/C, and the smell of the slum surrounding it. The whole thing was incredibly humbling, encouraging, and challenging all at once, and also makes me a little bit sad to think about how dead most US churches are in comparison. I’ve been ruined by the African passion for God - both in their worship and in their eager study of the Word - and I hope and pray that God would continue to transfer that passion to me and to this team, and from there back to the church in New Mexico.

The afternoon session was equally well-attended and people were just as engaged, despite the vast majority being women with small children on their laps. The audience was radically different than what we're used to, and each day I believe we'll get better at communicating through our translators, and understanding what questions and interaction style resonates with the listeners, but in any case God’s Word was received by hundreds of people today and that was powerful. I can say that confidently because it seems people here really believe that when God’s Word is spoken they receive power. Not because the speaker was compelling or the message was especially relevant, but power because it's God's Word and that has power. And not in some abstract, ill-defined way, but real, true, life-giving power. If the topic and speaker are good, that’s a bonus, but they believe the very act of receiving the Word of God changes them. We Americans are so entitled, thinking the Word only has power if it is brought in a way that is tailored to be comfortable, exciting, or enjoyable to us. Lord I pray that You would humble us and give us a faith like our family here in Africa!