| Wednesday and Thursday we finished up the pastoral conference. All the men had a chance to deliver a sermon message during the 3 day conference, which were really enjoyable to listen to and hear the Bible passages they chose and the Biblical insights they shared. |
Pastor Gurath and I finished up our lessons on Jonah and the Lord’s Prayer today (Thursday) as well. Both presentations we received with enthusiasm and gratefulness, and generated much good discussion among the pastors.
We were able to distribute all of the “Good News” (“Habari Njema”in Swahili) magazines we had picked up on our first full day in Kenya. One of the issues was on the subject of prayer, so that fit in well with my presentation from this week.
 |
| “Good News” magazine on prayer. “Lord, teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1 |
It was such a blessing to get to know these men a little better over these past three days, to study the Word with them, and share in that all-too-often taken for granted gift of fellowship. “Bwana asafiwe!” (“Praise the Lord!”).
 |
| Pastors in the midst of study in the conference room. |
 |
| John, the youngest attendee at age 22, wanted a picture with the Jonah Bible Study booklet Pastor Gurath taught. (Obviously the Maasai do not always wear their traditional garments as John was wearing jeans and a Kobe Bryant jersey today. I made sure to tell him that I’m a Golden State Warriors fan and remind him that we won the championship this year :) Fun fact: Our driver Dan is also a Warriors’ fan. The NBA is fairly popular in Kenya. However, soccer (“futball”) is by far the most popular sport in Kenya.) |
 | ||
| Afterwards John insisted on having me try on some of his traditional Maasai ornaments…they barely fit, but I got them on! I told John that I am an honorary member of the Maasai tribe now. He laughed (perhaps he could just sense that my livestock herding skills aren’t up to par? 🙂) The pastors “crowned” each day with the singing of a hymn. This was Wednesday’s hymn: “God Loves Me Dearly” in Swahili. More vocabulary: Bwana = Lord Bwana asifiwe = “Praise the Lord” Mungu = God Habari Njema = “Good News” (Gospel) Maji = water Mission Helper Trip in Zambia The Mission Helper trip to Zambia has also begun. You can follow their work by clicking on this link to their blog: https://2022clcmhtzambia.blogspot.com/ May God bless our efforts to spread His Gospel message in Africa! - Pastor Luke |
On the road again
ReplyDeleteJust can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Goin' places that I've never been
Seein' things that I may never see again
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turnin' our way, and our way
Is on the road again
I just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
On the road again
Like a band of gypsies, we go down the highway
We're the best of friends
Insisting that the world keep turnin' our way, and our way
Is on the road again
Just can't wait to get on the road again
The life I love is makin' music with my friends
And I can't wait to get on the road again
And I can't wait to get on the road again
Songwriters: Willie Nelson. For non-commercial use only.
We had to sing this, this morning at fEh. We read the book of Phillipians and are praying for Unity of spirit in the direction He is guiding us. We are so blessed and say Bwana Asafiwe Mungu for hearing the Habari Nejema through your blog, our reading of Phillippians, and of your safety, health, protection, sharing of the Word with power and love, and to sense the Power of the Holy Spirit bringing even us into fellwoship with saints around the world. As we sand Willie Nelson's ditty that is a fun song when on a trip with a bunch of folks, we thought about the meaning of the words as we in Christ might see it: On the straight and narrow road, on the road to church because we are glad when someone says, let us go into the house of the Lord, on the literal road (trip) somewhere to share the Word with someone who might not have heard the Habari Nejema yet or to share with someone on a deeper level who can go and share with those who have never heard. What a gift your trip has been so far to us here. We look forward to hearing that message from John that you are getting so "down pat!" Willie sings that he loves making music with his friends and you have shared our friends in Christ (who are friends even though we have not met!) making music unto our sweet Bwana! And Willie says we are like gypsies traveling. God says we are strangers in a strange land and that we are but beggars and indeed, even fools for Christ's sake. We believe that while we miss you being near to us and are even more eagerly looking forward to your vivit here August 12, we are so glad to share you with brethrn on the other side of the great Majis divide! And as Paul talked in many of the epistles we have been reading; he longed to visit again but was content wherever he was (longing to be on the road again, he nevertheless remained in chains and could call it all gain and glory for the sake of Jesus.) we too believe we could learn to be content even if the "can't wait" gets in your blood and you did gon on that road again more often like Pastor Gurath has done.
ReplyDeleteMeanthwhile we here have people come whom many in our churches would not be comfortable living with/around. Wazungus may be a novelty to Ugandans; so homeless raggedy incoherent folks are a novelty to middle class houses and churches in America. And African people are a novelty to us in our more racially mixed culture of the US. Speaking of mixed: someone asked me today: Where are all the women? We see many men and children in your pictures and you speak of them as well. Do women come to church or classes? Do they have a role in church? Pray for Warren, he has a "congregation" in this house that is mostly women! Pray for Warren and Joy: Warren will be beginning a new Catechism class on Saturday at 2 pm while Joy resumes a class on Fasting at the same time. All our love in Him who loves us with and everlasting love so we can love! Hallelujah!
Pastor Luke, you should definitely wear the Masai ornaments when you preach at home. And you may not be so great at herding livestock but I've seen you herd children in from recess, so you're halfway there. I really enjoyed the singing, thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBeccaday, and he herds cats too! Oh and all of us, right? Gettin closer every day.
Delete