November 23, 2009

We left Nairobi, Kenya early this morning and arrived in Cape Town, South Africa a few hours ago. Let me share some impressions about our days in Kenya.

We spent the first full day with Sammy and Shannon Murithi learning about their ministry. We mostly listened and asked questions. Sammy is involved with leadership training. His passion is to coach Kenyan national pastors helping them to achieve greater effectiveness in their efforts to advance God's purposes. We spent the day talking at a small game reserve located not far from Nairobi. It was a very African environment to discover more about their ministry.
                                                                                               

Pam with Sammy and Shannon Murithi

While we were spending the day together we began to see the first of many, many African animals we saw during our time in Kenya. On this day we saw zebras, giraffes and water bucks.

Saturday morning we met two men that Sammy and Shannon work with in leadership training. Both men are engaged in efforts to reach people for Christ in northern Kenya and southern Ethiopia. They thrilled us with inspiring stories of how the Lord was working. This past August their efforts resulted in over twenty small new churches being established primarily among unreached peoples.

Steve, Pam, Pastor I, Pastor G and Sammy

Saturday afternoon and Sunday we ventured into Massai country which is out in the bush. We drove two hours on pavement and then two hours on a very rough "sort of" road which led us to a small town called Naarosura. We spent the night in a very nice home (by Massai standards) owned by a man named Sammy (not Murithi...another Sammy). He is Massai but you would never know it. He is a very prosperous famer who has two children studying in the university. Sammy has worked with many missions organizations over the years and offered great insights into how to effectively help people. Sammy and his wife served us a wonderful meal. By the time Pam and I hit the sack we were really, really tired.

Pam, Emily, Sammy and Richard (our Massai translator)

Sunday morning we went to the place where Summit built two water wells for the Massai. They had prepared a special service to thank us for Summit's concern and investment. The wells have been recently damaged by the local elephant population and we discussed ways that Summit might provide a more permanent solution to their water shortage. Water is life and when draught hits it can be terrible. The road was littered with cows that had died due to the recent draught. The highlight was being in a church service with the local Massai people.

Sunday morning Massai church service

Steve preaching...the adults were in the back.

Massai folks gathered after church service.

We had a great time with Sammy and Shannon and their two twin boys. We bid good-bye to Kenya this morning and now are in Cape Town. We are very excited to see the ministry here.

More later.

In Christ's love,

Steve and Pam