Kenya cont.

There are three main area we visit in Kenya. The third area is under the direction of Pastor Fredrick. Here are some updates from his area taken from Dennis Hilman's facebook posts!

Terri Hilman greeting the children in front of the church when we arrived in Ichuni. And oh how they love to be noticed and greeted! The head pastor in this area is Pastor Frederik. He and many other pastors in Kenya are intent on bringing blessings upon their congregations through the grace of God and and organization called the Apostolic Lutheran Mission of Kenya. 

"LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH!" Just give me a green pasture in a lovely natural setting with 50 attentive young people and my joy is complete. This photo is taken by Julie Matson earlier in the day while the sun was still shining. These youth responded to the teaching from 1 Timothy 4:12 with many questions. This is one of the various seminar teachings conducted by different members of our team for different groups - pastors, women, children and youth - during our 3-day stay in Ichuni.

MARKET FIELD CRUSADE. The big event on both afternoons in this area was a revival service on a grassy slope which is also the market square in the neighboring village of Nyakembene. The first day when I spoke the afternoon rain threatened ominously but somehow passed with only a few drops.

"AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO SIT DOWN ON THE GREEN GRASS". That's the way Jesus fed the multitude and that's the way we did it on the market field in Nyakembene. As I began to speak the first day there were more than 200 people and we fed them with the Bread of Life and gave them the Living Water to drink. 

The second afternoon the rain came in force right in the middle of everything. Here it is raining hard and the attendants are trying to rescue the speakers, keyboard and other sensitive equipment. Photo Julie Matson.

UNDER COVER. Most of us headed for cover that afternoon under the porch overhangs of the shops and homes around the field. We spent our time singing spiritual songs together with the Kenyans when we could find melodies that we all knew. Later the rain passed and these hardy people just went right back out onto the field where Leona Matson engaged what must have been a 100 children in a rousing Bible story before John Ruotsala spoke - to a crowd that was even bigger than the day before. Photo Julie Matson.

 25 BAPTISMS IN ICHUNI, KENYA ON SUNDAY!! The people in this village have a great hungering and thirsting after the Word. Three days of seminars and services here brought many to the throne of grace and baptism. In a muddy pond outside I baptized 14 adults, youth and older children in accordance with their usual custom. An hour or so later I baptized 11 infants in the church in the way that we are accustomed to - reminding everyone that it is not the amount of water that is decisive but the water together with the Word in both instances. The church was so packed when John Ruotsala spoke after the baptisms that people were trying to push in through the jammed doors.