Michael Smith and Doug Wall traveled to Kenya in late April for
ministers’ meetings and gospel outreach meetings. We spent the first
night in Nairobi, then traveled to Stelah in southwest Kenya, which
is not far from the border of Tanzania. The trip from Nairobi to
Stelah covers some beautiful terrain. Descending the mountain road
from the high elevation of Nairobi into the flat lands of the Masai
tribe provides spectacular views into the distance, like the view
from an airplane window.
The Masai are tall, nomadic people. Many still wear traditional
clothing - brilliantly colored wraps, an abundance of ornaments, and
have ears that are slit and stretched into long loops. The men carry
sticks and manage herds of goats and cattle. The flat lands were
especially dry. Dust twisters spun across the open expanses, drawing
light tan colors up into air like small tornadoes. Umbrella Thorn
trees served as a reminder that we were back in the beautiful land
of the zebras, gazelles, and wildebeests. On past trips, we saw
these animals from the road, but perhaps the land was too dry and
they were closer to waterholes this time.
The terrain changed again as we traveled to the southwest, from flat
lands to tall hills with excellent views. We left the main highway
and were approaching the chapel and church school. The church school
children, many of whom are orphans, were waiting for us beside the
road. They began singing “Welcome, welcome, our visitors. Happy to
see you, happy to see you...” Many of the children piled in to the
van with us, continuing to sing as we proceeded to the church
property. We felt very welcome!
In keeping with African hospitality, our hosts carried our luggage
for us a considerable distance to Peter’s home. We set up camp in
Peter’s home, which is a traditional home of mud and stick
construction, but modernized in that it has a corrugated sheet metal
roof rather than grass thatch. We set up our mosquito tents inside
the hut.
We had an outdoor meeting at Stelah since the chapel had been
divided into schoolrooms. Each day of the meeting was divided into
several sessions, covering topics such as the Church of God,
salvation, holiness, baptism, sanctification, dealing with
temptation, the end of time, and Revelation. Time for questions and
answers was given, and there were plenty of questions!
Invitations were given for people needing spiritual help or healing.
Those that came forward would kneel on a cane mat. There was no
altar for prayer, but the seekers would remain upright while
kneeling. It was especially touching to see a woman praying for
forgiveness of sins with tears streaming down her cheeks. John the
Baptist told some that came to his baptism to “bring forth fruits
meet for repentance.” Godly sorrow for sins is a fruit of a
repentant heart, and will definitely touch the heart of God. A
number of people sought salvation or healing at the various
meetings.
Many of the questions concerning Bible doctrines arise from
traditions and beliefs in Africa. Some believe that no one dies
unless they are bewitched by someone else. So when someone dies,
they become suspicious of who did the bewitching, and the suspicions
have resulted in many cases of families separating or neighbors
becoming enemies.
The work of the Lord has suffered much damage in Kenya from false
teachings and false prophets. Some religious figures are charging
for baptism - if you don’t pay we won’t baptize you!
After service one day, a violent storm struck. There was lightening,
thunder, driving rain, and marble-sized hail. Water ran in a rapidly
flowing stream down the main path that leads to Peter’s house. The
wind was so violent, it appeared to be of hurricane force, bending
the corn stalks over and driving rain into the open windows of the
school building. We gathered in a room of the building for
protection until the storm eased. Now we understand how the rains
take down the mud construction homes and chapel.
On Sunday morning, Michael left to return to Nairobi so he could fly
to Malawi for a ministers’ meeting there.
While Michael was in Malawi, Doug went to town with some of the
brethren to conduct church business - purchasing orphan and school
supplies, and banking. Doug also made visits to other congregations
for preaching and teaching sessions.
Orphanage and school supplies that we purchased included school text
books, notebooks, pens, pencils, mattresses, household items,
blankets, sheets, cookware, and construction materials such as metal
roofing, sand, cement, wire mesh, and window glass. The ladies were
given money to buy clothing for the orphans, and they went across
the Tanzanian border to find much cheaper prices.
One afternoon the teachers were giving stickers to students whom had
excelled in their studies. A child in the United States had sent the
stickers for the children in Kenya. Pictures were taken of the
students and teachers after the teachers placed the stickers on the
school notebooks. The children were proud of their stickers.
While we were giving the sticker awards, the children began yelling
and running. The pickup with 40 orphan mattresses was arriving. The
foam mattresses were covered with brightly colored fabric. The
orphans were so excited, they were jumping up and down and yelling
with delight. It was very touching to see how something so small
meant so much to them. They were asking if they could sleep at the
church facility instead of the homes where people had taken them in.
They are very eager to see the orphanage taking shape. We would like
to help the saints build another addition to the orphanage as funds
are made available for that endeavor.
One morning Peter and Doug did a water well survey for the area.
Doug had contacted mission organizations prior to the trip to see
about having a water well dug. There are four water sources in the
valley that serve an estimated 3000 people.
One well is uncased, about 10 feet deep and had about 4 feet of
water. The second is uncased, about 9 feet deep and was full of
water close to the surface. The third is concrete-cased, about 20
feet deep, and has a hand pump. The fourth location is a small
concrete dam, with water flowing from a pipe at the base of the dam.
Some walk as far as 3 kilometers for water. During the drought a few
months ago, people had to walk as far as 8 miles for water. They
waited in line to fill their jerry cans, and some would go at night
to avoid the lines.
One day, a man came to see Peter. He had only one thumb and no
fingers. His hands were swollen like stubs. The condition may have
been caused by leprosy. Doug gave him a package of crackers while he
awaited Peter’s return, and he fished the crackers out with his
thumb while holding the package down with his other stub-like hand.
The man was hoping for some financial assistance.
One evening, Doug went to see Eunice, a little old lady that Lenita
had befriended on a previous trip. She was delighted to get a copy
of the picture of Lenita and her together from our previous trip.
Eunice had been out gathering firewood. She had been living in a
grass hut, but the congregation helped build her a tiny mud hut with
a metal roof. Rain penetrated the grass roof of her previous house.
Eunice insisted that we come into her tiny hut, so we did, and sat
on low benches in her living room that was about 5 feet by 8 feet.
She apologized for not having food to offer. She asked if Lenita was
alive, and was pleased to hear that she was.
A couple of young men liked to spend time around us where we stayed.
If there was something in the work of the Lord to be done, they were
eager to do it. One was William, who is 15 years old. William’s
testimony is that he has not sinned since the time he was baptized
in 2007. He had been going to school, but they turned him away due
to a lack of money for tuition.
Peter said they went to pray for a demon-possessed man. When they
started praying, bees entered the house, and all but three that were
there for prayer ran out of the house.
In the past, Peter held a street meeting in the nearest city -
Migori. Of the 21 that were saved, four joined Peter’s congregation.
The cost of the P.A. system was 6000 KES per day (almost $80), which
is exorbitant, and hinders them from having more street meetings.
At Peter’s there are 13 orphan girls, 27 orphan boys, and 60 others
from single parent homes that are being fed by the church. The
school attendance is 290. Peter could easily have 250 orphans, but
is limited based on facilities and funds.
At Bartholomew’s, there are 10 orphans. The congregation size is 42.
There was some confusion in translation of “orphan”. Those with one
living parent were also being called orphans.
At Wilson’s, they are feeding and schooling 45 orphans and 15 single
parent children. These children stay in sponsors’ homes. In addition
to providing lunch, the church also provides uniforms and books.
At Joseph’s, they are feeding and schooling 24 orphans and 4 single
parent children. They have four teachers, including Joseph.
On Thursday, we walked to Bartholomew’s chapel. It was surprising to
see that pole-framed building was still almost totally open, like
last year. There were no walls and the roof was only covered by
corrugated sheet metal for 8 feet or so. The rest of the building
had no roof, and the poles were showing signs of age due to weather
exposure.
The congregation was small, but it was touching to see the entire
congregation with the exception of the pastor come forward for
prayer and forgiveness from sin. In a later session, more people had
arrived, and many of them came forward for prayer as well.
That evening, Peter and Doug took motorcycle taxis to see Nick, a
young man that showed great interest in the meeting and asked many
questions. Nick had requested a visit to his home, and we were glad
to be able to visit him there and have a Bible discussion with him
and some of his family.
On Friday, Doug and group of saints went in a hired car to Wilson’s
congregation. The police stops along the road were frequent, and the
driver left small payments behind to avoid further hassles. Services
began in the morning, and after lunch, Doug demonstrated a “Proclaimer”,
which is an audio Bible that is solar powered. The idea is that a
listening group meets each week to listen to the Bible with a follow
up question and answer session. Proclaimers were left at three
different congregations in Kenya.
On Saturday, we went to Joseph’s for services. Joseph lost access to
the chapel after the property donor joined a religious denomination.
The meeting was held outside the mud building he now rents. It has
several rooms and is used as a school as well as a chapel. Before
services started, we went to see another congregation location on
the Tanzanian border. Someone who was saved in a previous revival
that Peter held donated about an acre of land on the border, and the
chapel at that site is simply a brush arbor. This congregation size
is about 40. About 60 people were saved in the week-long revival
Peter held.
After the last service, we stopped at Joseph’s home and saw the room
in a private school where Joseph worships. That room was made
available by another person saved in the previous revival. Joseph
has 6 orphans in his home, and would like to build a chapel and
orphanage.
Upon leaving Kenya, Michael had a full day of flying and waiting in
airports to reach Malawi. The following day, he purchased 100 Bibles
in the native language of Chichewa to take to the village for the
ministers’ meeting. He rented a vehicle in Blantyre to drive himself
to the village. The battery of the rented vehicle ran down one hour
from Blantyre. The Lord allowed two young men to be close by to help
push-start the vehicle. Michael drove back to the city and traded
for a Toyota 4x4 truck. This truck was a blessing on the rough,
difficult terrain. He had to use the four-wheel drive on two
different occasions.
It was wonderful to be back in Malawi and see again the friendly
people, the mud huts, road-side markets, children playing in the
rivers, the rough roads, and the majestic, awe-inspiring Mount
Mulanje. Upon arriving in the village, Michael was met by a group of
singing women and children. Many ministers had already gathered at
the chapel from different congregations in Malawi and Mozambique.
Their love and excitement touches our hearts every time we come to
share the gospel with them.
The next few days were full of teaching on a myriad of Biblical
subjects. The Lord blessed that there was a relaxed atmosphere and
the ministers were very free to ask questions. Many of the primary
Bible doctrines were discussed. In addition, Michael taught on many
practical subjects as questions arose concerning home life and holy
living. As HIV is a major issue in Malawi, it was requested that a
lesson be given on this subject. It cleared up confusion that some
had on how God views the children who are born with this condition
as a result of the sin of their parents.
We are unable to communicate with any of the ministers directly, as
our translator is one of the few people in the villages to speak
English. The Lord richly blessed this meeting. It was a follow-up to
the meeting we held last year. Our purpose and prayer is for the
Lord to establish the ministers in the truth. As time goes on, more
ministers and congregations are coming to hear the Bible truths that
are so scarce in a land full of religion and movements of man.
After a lesson on unrighteousness, a man stood up and confessed that
he was addicted to tobacco and needed prayer. Michael told the
ministers that it took courage to reveal this sin and that God had
deliverance for any others that had addictions or sin in their life.
A number of men came forward and repented and sought deliverance.
Praise the Lord.
Many of the ministers came very long distances to hear the gospel
and to find fellowship. Many of them traveled rough trails by
bicycles – as evidenced by over 100 bicycles lined up in the back of
the chapel.
The organization that Doug had contact with also contributed three
Proclaimers for Malawi and Mozambique. These were received with
gratitude and will be a blessing to those who are illiterate but yet
have a desire to know the Bible for themselves.
The work in Malawi continues to grow and there is a hunger for the
things of God. Michael stayed with Bro. Failos. He noted that the
walls of the house are beginning to crack and separate due to the
storms and flooding of a few months ago. Bro. Failos is concerned
that the house may collapse. Many of the chapels are without roofs
and in a state of disrepair, as most of them are constructed with
brick, mud, and sticks. As usual, there were many children playing
and sitting in the compound where Michael stayed. The children love
to laugh and play and get treats. Although many are dressed in rags
and are malnourished, they find joy in life.
Blankets had been purchased and Michael distributed them to some
orphans living nearby. Many of the children and elderly have nothing
to cover them at nights and many sleep on the hard ground. There are
many orphans who live with relatives. As it is difficult to have
enough food to feed the family, many of these orphans get the least
amount of food. It is a burden and desire of Michael and the saints
in Malawi to build a ‘Feeding Center’ where the orphans could come
and eat a balanced meal every day and be provided with school
clothes. In addition, there would be a time of Bible worship and
teaching after the meal. There are similar centers sponsored by
private organizations and churches in other parts of Malawi.
Michael flew back to Kenya and met Doug. The following evening, they
began their journey back to the United States.
God blessed the time spent in Malawi and Kenya and we thank God for
the spiritual growth and understanding that we have witnessed. The
work is great in Africa and there is no end to the call for teaching
and ministry. In addition to the ministering of the Word, we are
both very interested in seeing a growth in the humanitarian aid to
the orphans and needy on the African continent.
The trip was profitable, and we deeply appreciate God’s blessings,
inspiration, and protection. We thank each of you for your prayers
and financial support.
