Day 13: Pastor Karau's Hometown

Inside of Weru Worship Centre

Pastor Mwiti and I

Pastor Karau and one of the children at Sanctuary of Hope

So you all remember Pastor Karau? If not, please refer to Day 5: Mathare Valley (Part II). So it turns out he's actually from Weru, and Dylan and I were actually staying in his old house. Pastor Karau actually dedicated sizable chunk of land from his shamba (farm) to build a church. We were told that some people thought Pastor Karau was foolish since he gave up fertile land to build a church, but hey, Pastor Karau only lives to please the Man upstairs.

The church is called Weru Worship Centre (WWC) and it's one of the most beautiful churches I've ever seen. Pastor Mwiti is the primary preacher at WWC because Pastor Karau does most of his ministry in Nairobi in the slums and with Sanctuary of Hope. But Pastor Karau frequently comes back to his hometown to visit people and to see how WWC is doing.

Today was our first full day in Weru. The kids (who I will definitely talk about in another post) woke up early to go to school, and Doris was up and about way before Dylan and I got up. As Dylan and I are getting used to things, we have visitors! Pastor Karau had driven out from Nairobi to Weru with his wife and another lady named Rose.

We spent the day hanging out and talking with Pastor Karau, Rose (who is also a Pastor), and Mama Karau. Later on, we went with Pastor Mwiti to Chogoria to run some errands. It was a pretty chill day and later on that night, Pastor Karau shared his testimony with us and led us in a time of devotion (still a foreign concept to me).

Two things really stuck with me that night. First off, I don't want to go into details, but it was amazing to hear how God had transformed Pastor Karau's life. He's definitely an older fellow but he's only been a pastor for about two decades or so (I think). As he shared his life story, it was apparent to me that it was God alone who had intervened in Pastor Karau's life and who had ultimately brought about radical change in his life. Secondly, as we all sat around the dining table in the dimly lit room, I could't help but notice the scene: Kenyans and Americans sharing a meal and then reading the Word together. Pastors, students, family, and friends all seeking God and being a community.

What a testament of God's power. That He can change people so radically that they love Him and others more than they love themselves. That He can unite people who live across the world from each other and whose only commonality is Him. All glory to Him.