Day 14: You Want Me to Do What?

Our first house visit

We often hiked up and down valleys like this

Today was the day that Dylan and I actually began our ministry with Pastor Mwiti and what a day it was. The day started with Pastor Mwiti telling Dylan and me that we would be making a house visit today to a family that was being "attacked." I'm not sure what Dylan was thinking, but my first thought was: "Wait...what?!? Dang, are we going to be casting out demons or something?" As we traveled to the family's shamba via motorbike (those things were pretty fun to ride on the back of), I couldn't help but feel some trepidation. Once we arrive, we meet the family and hear their story. Some of their farm animals had been dying/killed and their daughter had also suffered through some physical conditions (her feet were swelling). Later, Pastor suddenly turns to us and asks me and Dylan to each share a word with the family. Before we left for our ministry assignments, Brian (our director) had warned us to always be ready to share with people at any time. So Dylan and I pulled out our Bibles and shared Luke 8 and Joshua 1, respectively. After that, Pastor started talking in Swahili with the family while Dylan and I sat there taking in their expressions and gestures. Then Pastor turned to us and told us that the husband, Douglass, wanted to rededicate his life to Jesus. So Dylan, Pastor, and I end our time by praying over the family, their home, and their shamba. When we were heading back home, Pastor led us through a "shortcut" which basically involved us walking down a steep valley, jumping over a small creek, and then hiking up the other side. Dylan and I would eventually come to really love these treks to and from people's homes, because Weru is a beautiful, green, picturesque region.

Once we returned home, it was time for us to prepare for that evening's "kesha" service which is basically an overnight prayer meeting. Yes, you read that right-an overnight prayer meeting. In the U.S., I would be surprised to attend a prayer meeting that lasts over an hours, but dang, an overnight prayer meeting? Fortunately, Pastor told me and Dylan that it would be cool if we left at midnight which was a mere two hours into the meeting. Pastor also asked us to give a message and to say a prayer for those people attending the meeting.

So around 10 that night, Dylan and I walk over to the church (which is only about a 30 seconds walk from our house) with our flashlights because it's pitch black. Inside the church, there are a few people there and Pastor is upfront with a single lamp which is the only source of light in the church. Pastor opens with a time of worship and then I step up to the podium to give a message on Paul and Silas in the prison (Acts 16:16-40). After my message on praying to and praising God throughout our trials, Dylan steps up and prays for those gathered at the kesha. After that, we head home after our first full day of ministry, knowing that Pastor and others would be up for several more hours just worshiping and praying to God.

As we prepared to sleep, I couldn't help but feel relieved having been through my first day of ministering to people. I just prayed that God would use me and Dylan as His mouthpieces and that we would only speak what God wanted us to say. I also began to really admire Pastor's passion and convictions. Though I initially thought him to be a quite, reserved guy, he really was a man of God who really wasn't afraid to speak truth. Would that I could be more like Pastor Mwiti.

P.S. If any of you ever get the chance, ask me about when I tried riding a motorbike. The operative word being "tried."