Day 1Recap

Rev. Boniface Osoti laughed as he told me, "Next time your friends in America complain of a pothole, tell this about this. This is a real pothole." And we continued to bump along the road towards his church... road, ok I use that word in the most general sense possible. We went over, around and through things, following a route that would challenge most 4-wheel mudders in the USA; all this in a compact car.

Boniface and I met up about noon. We visited briefly in the office for his ministries, Victory Evangelistic Ministries, which is sort of an umbrella for his sports camp outreach ministries, his church, his weekly radio address and his role as a bishop giving guidance and support to over a dozen other ministers and their work. In a space about the size of 2 walk in closets they support all of this.

Before lunch we spent about 45 min. at a service led by "Bro. Joe," a highly respected minister in the country. Meeting in a rented hall across from the national High Court, there were probably 600-800 gathered for an encouraging message and a little singing.

Afterwards we went to the Kenyatta International Conference Center and paid to be escorted to the top floor. And I mean top floor, as in the helipad and nothing else, but from there, about 30 stories, there was an incredible view of this sprawling and magnificent city.

In the afternoon we went to visit Boniface's church. It is a simple tin-sided, pole supported structure that would hold a couple of hundred. Currently they are doing wonderful ministry in a low-income area, offering early education to about 45 children daily and a monthly Sat. program which reaches about 200 with a meal, some fun and Bible teaching. But this ministry is under tremendous pressure, needing to purchase the land they are using and secure the neighboring lots before the Muslims moving into the area are able to find a way to oust them and use the land to build a mosque. (Boniface says that many of the Muslims are Somalis who are able to buy land and build because of pirate money.)

That evening we spent time in the home, visiting with one of the pastors under his guidance and having a delightful meal with his family. It was my first opportunity to eat "ugalii," a Kenyan staple. It is a simple maize meal dish, rather like a dumpling or extra firm grits, except cooked in a single pot and scooped out. Kenyan runners say it is one of their main energy sources. We will see how I run tomorrow :)

Boniface shared from his heart about the needs of the various ministries, the need to hire more teachers for example. There are so many needs and opportunities for involvement. The question is where is God leading me/us?