Jamba...Bisimono... Hello and Goodbye from Kenya

JAMBA….BISIMONO…. Hello and Good bye from Kenya! We obviously have not had internet connection so it has been silent, but we are alive and well. Actually I am typing in the Airport awaiting our fight to Addis. It has a been a long….4 day journey to say the very least. We have had some ups and downs and even downer (that is my new word), then up…and down again. However before I begin, I must praise the Lord for our safety and for the miracles He has preformed. Before we left for Africa, we had prayed over and over aging that the Lords glory would be shown to everyone we meet. Also that the people would see Jesus not us. We prayed for Gods will in everything. I had to be reminded of this the very first day in Nairobi. Our travels were long of course but we arrived in time into Nairobi. Pastor Cyrus was an absolute joy to meet. We found him holding a big yellow sign that said WELCOME BROTHER BRYAN, SISTER CORAL, BROTHER CADENN, AND SISTER ANDREA Welcome to Kenya. We were immediately warmed and greeted by big hugs and smiles. We rented a car in advance from a Christian organization and the driver and Ginny (a missionary) were there to greet us also. We arrived late so we drove to the worst part of town and there was our hotel.. Ginny warned us to stay with Cyrus and to hold on tight to our things…we were not to walk in Nairobi, we would be robbed. As you can imagine, we were not comforted. However, God is good and we were protected. We had a good night’s sleep and early the next morning we were off to the village. The drive was long about 8 hours. Cadenn sat up front with the driver, Evans, and Coral and I in the middle and Pastor and Pastor Bryan in the back seat. The towns were beautiful, and poverty overwhelming. I have seen poor, or so I thought…nothing could touch this. Kisii is thick with green and trees. There are huge banana trees, pineapple bushes (no they don’t grow on trees), tea farms, canopy trees, pine the whole gamete. The beauty of the rolling hills could not distract us from the lack of resources such as housing, food, water and clothing. About 30 minutes from home, we were coming down one of the hills at about 80 klm, that is 60 mph. when we would have to learn quickly what truly leaning on God meant. In Kenya, you drive on the left side of the road. Everywhere you pass there are people and children, walking to get water, or going to school. It seems the children know not to cross, or at least look both ways. There was nothing to prepare us for what happened next. There were three little boys on the right side of the road waiting to cross. Just as we were coming up on them at about 60 mph., one little boy ran out in front of the car. Evans stopped as hard as he could without rolling the van and we hit the boy, straight on, on the driver’s side going about 55 mph. Water from his jug splashed all over the window shield. His body flew to the left shoulder of the road and there he lay. His head was split open in several different spots, and I knew he was dead. Cyrus told Bryan that the boy was gone…no way he survived. We began to stop and Pastor told Evans to keep going. Cadenn, Evans and I were the only ones to actually see the boy get hit, and I was hysterically crying out to the Lord. Confused and listening to Swahili being shouted, I didn’t understand what was going on and why we would leave this boy. Cadenn was traumatized to say the very least, and in a shock like state..he didn’t even remember where we were going. We drove to the police to report the accident and then to the police station. Evans was immediately taken into custody, we were left by ourselves in the van crying and begging God for healing for this boy. This is where the miracles begin. First we are white skinned deep into Kenya, and we were not questioned as would have been normally. Secondly, sometimes the government will do more than just question, they will detain, arrest and interrogate. None of that happened. The reverse actually. The cousin of the fathers boy, actually came up to the car and saw us praying and crying and told Cyrus, that the boy was alive because we are pastors. Cyrus, told us that we needed to pray and then “Let God work”. The police came and released us and told us to go home. Cyrus arranged to get us to the village safely. We were all so sick to our stomachs, and Cadenn had broken down by this point. The ride to the village was sickening and I wanted to quit. How were we to go on and smile and be welcomed by the kids. The children were there, and the first thing we did was to gather the children and all, hold hand and sing, Nothing but the Blood of Jesus. The next miracle, they do trust Jesus. Not like I thought I did. They really trust. They pray ask for healing and then leave it with God. I trusted God could heal, but would he? What about my boy, what did he see? It would forever be an image in his mind, mine too for that matter. Did I really trust God? I don’t think so. All my logic was too strong and way more powerful than my Jesus, sad to say. Once we sang, Cyrus left us for the police station. The poor kids not understanding our tears, sat staring and wondering. Cyrus did return with Evans, the police released him, yet another miracle. We ate and were comforted by our new friends. Cyrus, kept telling us the boy was doing better, although I didn’t believe what he was saying. Not that I thought he was lying, but I thought he was trying to comfort us with empty words..especially Cadenn. By night’s end, we received a call from the cousin again, saying the boy was alive and being treated. He thought that he would be fine. Again, I didn’t believe, I didn’t receive the call and I knew Cyrus was so worried about me and Cadenn. That night Ginny called, and told me that this was a “demonic appointment” meant to discourage us and to drive us away. It was working. I could think about was to get on a plane to Ethiopia, and wait for our kids. No ministry, no orphanages, just hide. I was so sick, I couldn’t eat, couldn’t hardly talk…neither could Cadenn, or Coral. Ginny prayed for us that night, asking the Lord to heal the boy, Abel, and to bind that roaring lion, who only seeks to devour, kill and destroy. That night we slept better than I expected. I was worried for nightmares for the both of us…but God prevailed. The next morning, we ate with the precious children, and had to do business concerning the accident. Cyrus left us with our new friends, and we tried to relieve our minds by playing with the children. I have far too many details to share with you about the kids, and will at a later time. The next few hours were spent at the government officials office, and the police station. Cyrus always escorted us to safety a ways away from where the discussions took place because he didn’t want any problems with us. When we didn’t stop for the boy, it was the best and smartest idea, another miracle, we would have probably been mobbed by the people standing by. Cyrus knew this and decided that there were plenty of people to get the boy to the hospital, we would run and get the police (no 911 in Kenya). We got a call from the boys father saying that he was fine, and that were welcome to visit the hospital. That it was because we were pastors and praying for a miracle that the boy was still alive and healing. Now, logic….we hit this little (I mean little) 7 year old boy doing about 60 mph. He only stood at the top of the grill. We hit him so hard he flew to the side of the road. I knew he would be dead or die soon. The MIRACLE…the boy is healing well. “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding”….is truer than it has ever been before. I can believe, but I can’t. Our God is MIGHTY to SAVE…HE IS MIGHTY TO SAVE! We went to visit Abel in the hospital (which in its self is a sad site) however, he was pretty battered, swollen face and eye shut, but ALIVE and talking and taking food and drink. Cyrus talked to him and he responded. Of course I just sat and cried as I watched him sit up in bed and half way wave to us. Mama by his side looking as worried as I would be if it were my son. Cadenn found healing as did I and Evans. Thank God He is bigger than we, I had him dead for sure. He WAS VERY ALIVE. As if we didn’t have enough excitement, Coral began to pass out in the hallway of the hospital…it took several of us to keep her eyes opened, so that she wouldn’t hit the ground. All I could think of was I didn’t want them to try and check her in. Today we got another report from the father…they are sending Abel home tomorrow…THANK YOU JESUS. It just showed me, that we depend way too much on our selves, if I have a headache I take an advil…if they have a headache, they pray. This was out of my hands…I would have stopped, I would have made very wrong choices…God was in control. Since then we have heard of many stories of a person hitting someone and then being mobbed..or worse killed…God is faithful to finish His work to completion. We left the village today…with a whole other set of drama nothing in comparison to the above story, which I will spare you all the details until I arrive, let’s just suffice to say we knew we would be in a major spiritual battle, but we never dreamed it would be like this. We are in Addis now with our new friends and relaxing…thank you so much for all of your prayers. I am still trying to process the greatness of God… Tomorrow we will meet up with Erica and Dave and do some stuff around town. Then hang out a bit and have a coffee or something. We are far more exhausted than we thought we would be, so we will see how the day turns out. Good news is we can be online here. I will try and upload some pictures later…for now, I am tired and must sleep. Blessings