Our trip to Kenya was majorly on the invitation of two people: brother Isaac Wanjala in Kitale and Brother Isaac in Webuye. These two cities are about 3 hours apart.
We arrived in the capital of Kenya, Nairobi in the night and the second day, took another flight to the cold city of Eldoret, about 45 minutes flight.
In Eldoret, Brother Noah and brother Isaac were on ground to receive us at the airport. It is interesting to know that these brothers never knew or met themselves before this time. They had both been communicating with brother David in Florida separately and when God opened the door to visit Kenya, they were linked together and they worked together to receive us. What fellowship Christ only can bring!
Brother Noah Wanjala - Maridadi Village
During the 3-Day Crusade
After resting a while and having lunch in Eldoret, we journed to Kitale by public bus, about 3 hours north of Eldoret and it was a very smooth journey. We had had the opportunity to see the beautiful landscape, terrain and the good people of Kenya.
We lodged in Kitale for the night but had to awake early the following day to go to a village of Maridadi which is about 45 minutes on a very rough road which made it look as if its forever. It was an experience. Brother David was at home because, according to him, everything there, look pretty much like the Philipines, where he had lived as a missionary for many years but in the early 80's. He said there is a strong resemblance. The meetings in this place would be held in the village of Maridadi for the next five days and we have to be going to Kitale to sleep and make the journey every day and return. What a trip! But we made it and it was all beautiful!
Brother Isaac Mukeyi - Webuye Village
We left Maridadi and headed to Webuye with brother Isaac who stayed with us throughout the five days meeting at Maridadi. It was about 3 hours drive, though exhausted, we made it. The public bus was good and the road too.
We couldn't do much when we arrived Webuye until the next day. Not because we were actually tired but we wanted to rest so that we could have more strength for the task ahead. Webuye has a very large home-cells scattered in many surrounding villages and they seemed to have a voracious appetite for the word of God and they were prepared to take as much from us as they probably could.
Brother Isaac's house was very large. A rented apartment which is a blessing to him and houses about 16 orphans and it is on a two acre of land which they use for livestock farming for sustenance and survival. We would spend another 5 days here and we couldn't wait to impart the little we have to these ones.
It was a glorious time in Kenya - 2 weeks was over and it seemed as if we just arrived.
Fellowship and Crusade
Brother Noah, as at the time, coordinate about five fellowships around this village which is near the border of Uganda. These five gatherings and others were present in the five day program. Many trecked several kilometers and several hours to attend the meeting.
The meeting was somewhat a total departure from the traditional 'church' setting as the simple house church pattern of the early disciples was introduced to the gathering which they embraced. The meeting was generally an interactive time. Questions were asked and the sincerity of the fellowship was palpable.
The fellowship was majorly in the mornings and afternoons. in the evening, there is a crusade at the village market where crowed of people gathered to listen to the gospel. Rain disturbed the first day, but subsequent days witnessed a good attendance by villagers and many who came as far as Nairobi. God touched many at the crusade, no doubt, but most importantly, God showed the organizers that fellowship is essential for discipleship. Crusade is good to gather crowd and to make a show, but ultimately, it is God that adds to the church, such as should be saved. We knew that God touched many hearts at the crusade.
At the end of the five day meeting, many renounced their church titles and traditional beliefs and doctrines of men and embraced just Jesus and fellowship with one another. The church structure was shaken to the foundation to give way to simple fellowship and the brethren relationship replaced clergy-laity. There was revival in the hearts of many. They desired more of Jesus and wished the meeting would continue, but it was time to move to brother Isaac's village of Webuye, about 3 hours drive further North.
Webuye with Brother Isaac and Sister Emile, Northern Kenya
There is a growing number of believers who meet for fellowship in the village of Webuye.
The meetings are home church and consists of many brothers who have left the organized church to find true fellowship with other brethren according to the early church pattern of the disciples.
We visited about six fellowship scattered in different villages, all looking up to Jesus for grace and praising God among themselves.
Brother Isaac is one of the brothers and God is using him to coordinate some of the meetings. He and his wife, Emily care of their immediate family and also about 16 orphans, whose parents and relatives were swept away by the flood in 2011. The Government asked them to turn the children to the street, but he couldn't, because they are mostly children of members of the gathering that meets in his house.
One of them is a member of a family of 9 but the parents as well as 6 other children were swept away. Two of the sisters who lost their husbands and other children were raped when they returned to their 'house'. They had to run back to this place, too.
One of the sisters who got pregnant through abuse gave birth to a child recently and I am carrying the baby in one of the pictures. The other who suffered similar fate is still pregnant with a child as at the time of our meeting with them in April, 2012. Pray for safe delivery.
We had a fellowship in brother Isaac's house and brethren from other gatherings joined as they usually do. Brother goes as far as 3 hours drive to other villages like Mumias to meet with other believers to have fellowship and encourage one another .
The brother has a farm in this lot and also rent other land for farming. They basically rear livestock. Bulls to plow, cows for milking and producing calf, goats, rams, dogs, chicken, turkey, etc. He also have corn plantation, beans, etc. This is where he basically take care of the large household. But it's small. the children are growing and so the challenges and needs. He sells some of these things to raise school fees for all of them. Everyone of them goes to school!!!
His wife, sister Emily is a very very hard working lady. She's the one milking the cow in the pix. If they expand, it will be a great help. They will be able to at least, feed the family. The major challenge they have is to buy the large house they are living now. A modest house on a 2 acre land. Where else could contain such a large family? I'm sure God brought them there by himself but they need to secure the house before they are sent packing. Please, pray that God will make this to happen miraculously. The funds needed to achieve this is much, but what can God not do?
"Village Life": getting familiar with the residents