A Joy To Behold: Nairobi 2008

By Jay Pearson

The wheels sang their rotating tune with contact to the runway, and the engines roared in the African night. With the song’s tempo eased and the roar reduced to a moan we taxied to the gate. Our stewardess said, “Karibu,” meaning “Welcome.” We exited the plane and maneuvered our way to the Customs area. This procedure went pretty much as usual with lots of jockeying for a favorable position in line and waiting for our visas. Then Tim, my wife Jerelyn, and I retrieved our luggage and headed toward the exit area of the airport. Tim had received a text message that Pastor Boniface was waiting for us. Boniface and company lit up the Nairobi Airport with their smiles and immediately pounced on our luggage like the godly servants they are. We exchanged hellos and welcomes and were off to the big Glory Church Ministries Bus that awaited us. We each had a seat, our luggage had a seat, each of those who came to welcome us had a seat, and only one third of the bus was filled. As those who have traveled with us before know, transportation once we get to Africa is always a challenge in the days that follow our 30 hours of flights to get there. This was not the case this time. Our transportation was much less confining than the planes we had ridden on to get to this point. The bus ride was peaceful and perfect.

As we traveled the streets of Nairobi toward the mission compound, my thoughts drifted to my presentation material. Had I prepared enough? Was it what the Lord wanted me to do? Would the students like the material and me too? These were the questions haunting my soul. I decided prayer was in order. I thanked God for peace and that his will would be done. The bus slowed and turned into the driveway and through the gate opened by the guard of the compound. At the first intersection of the compound a large sign was illuminated by the headlights of the bus directly in front of us. On the sign was the following verse.

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

The latter part of this verse was the whole essence of the message I had brought to share. We shall be witnesses and we have been sent on a journey. With this sign the Lord gave me peace.

The bus was too large to negotiate the turns that led to the guesthouse for front door service, but it was a short stroll to the front of the guesthouse. We were not allowed to carry our luggage on this stroll to the comfortable three-bedroom guesthouse with large living room and comfortable kitchen. We were greeted by James Yoon, the Director of the complex. Tim, Evan, Steve, and I had met James on an earlier trip to Kenya. We sat on large sofas and enjoyed fruit juice and conversation for a short time before we retired to our quarters for a good night’s rest.

Morning started with the distant sound of gospel music coming from the chapel on the grounds. We started our day with a simple scrambled egg and hotdog breakfast that Tim prepared, accompanied by African instant coffee. The refrigerator was stocked with hotdogs, frozen French-fries, juices, and milk. Our hosts had assumed the only things we Americans would want to eat were steak and French fries. They were relieved to know we preferred their own cuisine. Pastor Boniface told us the class would start after the lunch meal. The students were involved in other scheduled events. Our arrival having being postponed from a week earlier had changed the necessity of scheduling of the students that live on campus.

By this time I was getting a little nervous, knowing I would be opening the first series of sessions. This was my first experience at teaching more than a 20-minute church lesson.

I opened my presentation of “Questions Seldom Asked and Answers Seldom Heard” at 1:30 PM. Tim and Jerelyn sat in on the class and I was thankful for their presence and prayer support. The approximately 40 students in the class were very enthusiastic and hungry for the word I brought to them. My nervousness was eased shortly after opening. It was so refreshing to see young men and women of God so committed to learning. I was thankful for my hours of preparation because it gave me the confidence to seek the Lord for wisdom and guidance on how to deliver my material moment by moment and session by session.

I handed out a copy of my book at the end of the class. It was a joy to see some of the students the next day carrying those books with them as they went out to witness and evangelize in town. My joy was not that they carried my book, but for the Word of God they had connected with in the book.

The next morning I helped Jerelyn start her class of Sunday school teachers and helpers of the orphaned children. Her class was a tremendous success. I’ll let her tell you about it.

After Jerelyn was settled into her class, I joined Tim in his class. I was thrilled to be in “If You Do These Things You Will Never Fall.” I believe this is essential for every Bible student, man, women, or child that is interested in staying their coarse and finishing in victory. The students were excited and empowered with the Word of God taught.

We toured one of the schools that Grace Ministries maintains for middle-school-age students in Kenya at Kibera, the second largest slum area in Africa. Over one million people live in this very small area. It was a glory to God to see these children clothed and fed and learning in such an environment. My heart was moved watching the attentive faces of these children as Tim taught on the need to pray for Wisdom. Afterwards Tim and I had the privilege to minister to a few of the students that came forward.

James Yoon, the Director of the Glory Ministries’ work in Kenya, carries an amazing amount of responsibility to serve God’s children. It is all accomplished without the Kenyan government’s aid. They receive support from California and Korea based Churches. James and Pastor Boniface along with his wife Julie and their newborn son were a blessing hard to express fully. They loved us with the love of God that can’t be expressed in words. We would also like to express our thanks to David and Jasper, James’ helpers, for their company and the excellent cuisine. My sincere thanks to our hosts and every one of you at home who travel with us in heart and prayer. Thank you.

 

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From the November 2008 edition of the Vine & Branches