Yesterday three teammates and I had the opportunity to go to Deliverance Church in Matayos to share testimonies and preach. Pastor Gideon, our contact in Busia, spoke for a bit before we were invited to speak. The structure we were in was made up of small sticks and was about the size of a typical American master bedroom. If a strong wind came through there is no doubt that this structure would topple over. There were about fifteen people attending service. Pastor Gideon spoke of how our God is a big God. He is not poor but very rich. In America we might take a lot of what they preach here as a prosperity gospel. But do we know what it is to be the poorest of the poor? We want the fullness of God and want to walk in all He is, and so do they. Granted there is all stuff we can learn from each other, but their passion to see the fullness of God in their lives is beautiful. They know that they know that they know that they serve a big God. I love seeing the signs that say "He is Able", knowing they believe He is.
After church, Pastor Gideon and his wife Jane took us out to eat for chips and soda then back to their house. Pastor was telling of his vision for the church and his vision for the people of Busia. He told us the problem with Kenya is all the corruption. His view is that you can't stop it from those already grown, but teach the children in the way they should go and you will change the nation. He wants to start schools where they can be taught a specific trade, computer rooms, a library and a massive building on their church property many stories high where the children can come and learn and not be corrupted. The corruption here is so obvious, "Pay me this much and I'll let you through." "Sleep with me and I'll sign this paper." You get the point. So I asked pastor, since his heart seemed to be moved for the children, "Are there many orphans in Busia?" He said oh yes many many. So I asked, knowing there are hardly any orphanages in the area but naive about everything else, "How do you know they are orphans?" He said they may not have a mother or a father, but Africans take care of family. Africans are raised to live in community, so if a child's parents die they are still taken care of. The problem comes when that family has no money to support themselves and the child. But here, the orphanages are so corrupt that they are looked at with disgust. They were saying a Westerner might come and start an orphanage or support the children financially, but if they are not living here they are tricked. They come and visit and everything looks good, but once they leave the person in charge hoards all the money and the children go hungry, sick and dirty… basically in the same or worse situation before.
The people of Kenya are hurt from the corruption whether they see it or not. I could since the pain of it all as I spoke with Pastor and his wife yesterday. But our God is able to restore!
I was honestly a bit discouraged after our conversation and went to the Lord and asked, "So You really want me to start an orphanage in Kenya? Is that really the best idea? I mean they hate orphanages here." How naive am I? God said, "I will use this home for orphans and the home your friends are building to bring restoration. I am a God of restoration. Show them my love." Good thing He's in control and I'm not. It would be so easy to just back away…ya know… let's not cause too much commotion. But God's on the move in Kenya and I want to be totally surrendered to Him knowing HE IS ABLE!
