Overcoming

The day at Rift Valley Fellowship began with some serious praise and worship. The crowd was jumping up and down and hootnin' and hollerin' - we've experienced an entirely new level of praise and worship! 

Praise and worship - RVF

Kristin gave her personal testimony of low self-worth for which she looked to people, things and circumstances for her hope and value. God frustrated Kristin's attempts to find true satisfaction apart from him and she experienced seasons of intense depression. For a period of time, The Lord stripped her of practically everything in order to show her that He alone is enough for her. Kristin knows now that she is a daughter in God's family. Her value is that God chose her, loves her and that Christ died for her - not what she believes others think of her. 

Kristin giving her testimony

Our last day of the recovery conference ended with abuse. Michael started with drawings about who is on the throne of our personal lives. We are either 1) apart from Christ and in our natural sinful state (self-centered), 2) Christians living by the flesh (self-centered), or 3) Christians walking by the Spirit (God-centered). 

Michael teaching today's lesson

Pride is when we put ourselves on the throne and idolatry is when we put others or things on the throne. The results are the Deeds of the Flesh, which include abuse. By nature, all sin is abusive. 

We cannot overcome our own sin and the sin of others against us apart from Jesus.

God's heart to the abused
Psalm 10:17-18 

Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
You will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
So that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

This was a spirit filled teaching by Michael. People don't usually speak of such things here in Kenya, although abuse is a common problem.

Our conference ended with the incredible testimony of Sam. Sam's family was a missionary family. His father was a pastor. Sam was severely abused physically, sexually, and emotionally. Eventually, Sam married and had 3 children but his marriage ended after 15 years. Sam did not know God, and chased after things of this world.

Sam giving his testimony

Sam was a flight attendant and thought he could clean up his life on his own. But...God had His own plans. On a flight into Dallas, Sam had a stroke and was paralyzed on the right side of his body. During this time doctors told him he was HIV positive, and given 30 days to live. Shortly after, he began attending The Village Church with Pastor Tim. God saved Sam during this time. Eventually, he was able to regain his strength and motor skills without ever having therapy. Sam will always be HIV positive, however,  the doctors can no longer find the virus in his blood. Since so many people in the town of Maai Mahiu struggle with drinking and drugs and are HIV positive, the impact Sam's testimony had on them was profound. 

An interesting thing happened in the middle of Sam's testimony, a strong wind blew through Rift Valley Fellowship. The tent rattled, people were startled and babies were crying. We had to close our eyes for the dust blowing around. It was quite a moment during a powerful testimony, almost as if The Lord wanted to get our attention. 

IDP Camp

That afternoon we visited another IDP camp. This is a camp that is not recognized by the Kenyan government and therefore they receive no assistance from the government. The people who live here have been in tents since 2008. When we entered the camp we could not help but notice how tattered the tents are and how little they have. The village itself currently has no water at all. 

IDP Camp

We were invited into a few tents to pray. The first tent was that of an elderly woman named Ann. She requested prayers for food and permanent housing. Inside her tent was just a mattress and a pot to cook over coals outside, she had few other things. Ann was so grateful for us coming to visit her that she blessed us. Pastor Joseph did all the translating. 

Inside a tent at the IDP Camp

Next, we visited with Samuel.  Samuel is living in a tent with his 4 children and wife. He showed us pictures of the camp and documents that were taken to Nairobi on Monday to the governors office by a group of IDP's that are wanting the government to recognize them. They are waiting to hear if the government will give them aid. Samuel's prayers are for God to hear the cries of his people and move the government to see these people deserve more than a tent. 

We gathered outside with the members of this community to join hands and pray for God's provision and blessings for these people who are still worshipping The Lord and have so little. We gave them all the water we had in our bottles and later that evening John had the men bring the whole village water and bread.

We enjoyed a great meal then the team split up for the night. The men went with Isaac to meet the street boys. Ryan shared his testimony with them and Pastor Joseph taught them. The had an awesome night of fellowship. 

As the boys were meeting, the women on our team fellowshipped with Ester, Pastor Isaac's wife, at their home. We sipped on chai tea, coca-cola, and chewed on sugar cane. We were so blessed and inspired to hear of Ester's ministries to the women at the IDP camp, Maai Mahiu, the teenagers and young girls. 

In the town of Maai Mahiu there is a population of 20,000 people. There are over 600 women that report their business as sex walker (prostitute), that does not include the young girls and boys who are forced by their mothers into this business. One year ago, Esther began visiting women in the IDP camps and Maai Mahui town. She befriended and listened to them and after the women felt safe, the flood gates opened up and they poured out their stories to Esther. Most of them were prostitutes that were completely overlooked by society. Ester began meeting with the women as a group every week to pray and encourage one another. They are called the Women of Courage.