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January 2009

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JANUARY 2009

January 2009
My first Big Crusade in Africa. On January 13th I traveled with a team of 20 people from the Eldoret area back into the bush to a place in Kenya called Mt. Elgon. We would hold a week long crusade in a small village called Cheptise, nestled at the base of a beautiful mountainside. Many small mountains with many small villages make up this area of Kenya. It is also known throughout Kenya for powerful witchcraft and challenges in the Spiritual realm. Even this last year of violence in 2008 began here with many hundreds of people being killed and thrown into caves in the side of the mountains. My heart was challenged as to what I might expect in the week before us.

As the land Rover pulled into the small village, I saw a huge banner that hung over the center of town announcing the crusade. My heart leaped within me. Wow! A real crusade in Africa! What was God going to do? Part of this team had been in the area for over 2 weeks. They had showed films about Jesus in preparations for the meeting as well as unifying the local Pastors, requesting permission to come from the District Army Officials and conducting heavy intercessory warfare prayer. Now it was time to begin.

The first mission was to unload and get settled wherever it might be. The vehicle was guided down a side street that passed through the market area. Normal sights and sounds of most market areas lined the street. People crowded around different small kiosk shops with goods displayed in the open air. The rough dirt terrain allowed the size of the vehicle to pass by barely missing children who played and people watching us pass. Many of them stared, waved or smiled at the "mazungus" in the car. Another turn into what appeared to be an alley way sloped road brought the vehicle to a stop in front of a pile of rocks and sand. There stood a small concrete building that had the word Computers painted on the front of it. Two separate red metal doors opened into the building. No one in this vehicle knew what waited on the inside but it would be alright. I was pleasantly surprised as I entered one of the doors into a small room. As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw several tables and chairs crowded together. This is where the team would eat, meet and share devotions each day. The walls had been covered with a light brown paper from the ceiling down to just below table height. I smiled to myself for I knew it was not finished to a "mazungu" but someone had really tried to make it nice. It was pleasant delight to the eye.

The four of us were escorted through this room and another small one where the cooking would be done. The small room opened out into a long hallway with open sky above. On each side of the concrete hall were long concrete buildings with many metal doors. A bright gold padlock hung from each door. When I opened my door, I found a tiny room big enough for a bed and a chair with a bright pink mosquito net but it was clean and secure. At the end of the long hall stood 4 separate stalls joined together under the open sky but enclosed by high concrete walls. Off to the right there was a large sink and one door made of metal bars that went to the outside. I later would discover this area would be for bathing and other needs.

Now, off to the Pastor's meeting and registration at the D.O.'s office. Every one of us had to sign the book of registration and make things official if the crusade was to go on.

Evening sat on us quickly but through the dim lights God proved himself mighty in the meeting of the Pastors. God rested over us and when the altar time came many responded. It was evident that there was unity among us and an anticipation of the week ahead hung in the air. That night was peaceful as all slept but no one knew what would come tomorrow.

My alarm went off at 5:30 am. It was dark outside but most of the team, some pastors and whoever else would meet arrived at the church for prayer from 6:00 am until 7:00 am today and every day until the crusade was over. So the week had begun.

From the first full day session, there was a mighty move of God but also evidence of the powerful stronghold of the enemy. I personally encountered many who were demon possessed from the first morning but through the mighty hand of God, they were set free. Thank goodness for those in my own ministry who had been interceding for me before I had even come on this trip. Prayer is vital to all children of God but especially when you are in a third world country. Every morning we would arise before sunrise and meet in the small church to pray for the day's activities.

We started sessions of training and teaching from 9 am until 12:30 pm, then to lunch and then to the crusade grounds to conduct Children's Ministry until 4 pm when the actual main service would begin...

Shall I tell you the devil was mad and perhaps the third night of the meeting, I was awakened from sleep to hear beating just outside the building next to my bedroom wall. Over and over it continued getting louder and then quiet. It only stopped for chanting and some loud noise. After what seemed an eternity as I lay there praying and asking God to cover all of us in His precious blood, I heard a loud scream from an animal and then silence. The witchcraft orgy had completed perhaps a sacrifice not far from our building. But God continued to reign over that mountain side and change the atmosphere around us.

For even that next night, He moved more powerfully. What a wonderful sight I beheld. I saw hundreds and then thousands gather to hear the Word of God and then to be set free from bondages, be saved and delivered from many diseases.

On one such evening toward the end of the week, God gloriously moved and I saw those blind be healed with new eye sight, those deaf have their ears opened, I even watched as a paralytic man that had no strength and to frail in body to even sit up from the beginning of the week change before my eyes�. God touched his body. He sat up in a chair, he held his own head up and then he even begin to move his arms. With great effort at first and then a smile, he moved his whole arm and touched Peter's hand. Amazingly, every day his countenance had changed. His once emancipated body had grown in the physical besides his appearance changing. What a wonderful loving God we have. IF ONLY PEOPLE WOULD BELIEVE HE HAS NOT CHANGED!!!!! HE STILL WORKS MIRACLES TODAY!!!

On Sunday morning, Peter asked me and 5 others to travel with him and the small truck up higher into the mountain to a remote place called Kaptaboi. We would conduct an open air service to whoever would come from the mountains. I would present children's ministry first and then he would preach to the people. I wept as I stood before the mass of people that had gathered. I saw the brokenness, I felt as if I could feel the pain within each of them, especially the children. Hundreds of children had lost both of their parents or one during the past violence. Now they sat on the small hillside and heard this lady sharing the love of Jesus. Jesus could change their life and give them love. Oh, how Our Savior must weep when he watches what people do to each other!

Somehow I know I will return to this spot, perhaps periodically to continue to share God's love. Many on that morning gave their lives to God, they renounced the devil and asked forgiveness for killing. And I know Jesus has begun something "New" there on that mountain, one of the many called Mt. Elgon.

For even later in the afternoon as I ministered to the children, His presence came down on the field in Chaptise. I watched as hundreds of children, men and women wept and prayed before Him. An absolute "hush" hovered over all of us as everyone there experienced the mighty presence of God.

The GFI Ministry has been doing Crusades for over 11 years in Kenya plus many other countries. Peter and Becky Franz are my friends and dedicated individuals with a heart for ALL people in ALL denominations. What an exciting, challenging and HEART WRENCHING experience God allowed me to be a part of in January. I can truthfully say that it was an honor to serve with this Ministry for one week and I pray that there will be many more opportunities to go again. Thank you, family, for making another moment possible to share God's love with many.