ELDORET, KENYA
RECONCILIATION MISSION
The Purpose
As many will know that there were elections in Kenya at the end of last year. There were many claims of corruption. Some were blaming people belonging to different tribes for this corruption and caused these different tribes to fight each other. (This is a simplistic but accurate explanation that will make due for this purpose) Many were killed. Thousands were injured physically and thousands were and still are forced out of their homes and continue to live in tents.
This violence even though it has calmed down has left many emotional, physical and spiritual scars. The Anglican Church was one of the largest denominations in Kenya. The Diocese of Eldoret had members of the church on both sides of the conflict. In many places people of both sides are members of the same parish. This has caused anger, distrust and worry in many places. In some cases parish priests can not go back to their parish because of the lack of trust and risk of violence.
The Bishop of Eldoret, Rt. Rev. Kogo called Invitation to Live Ministries (ITL Ministries) to come and have what he called Missions of Reconciliation around the Diocese. The head of the ITL Ministries, The Rev. Dr. Marney Patterson (an Evangelist, Anglican priest and long time friend of the Diocese of the Arctic), contacted me and asked if I would be part of the mission team. Feeling honoured and rather inadequate I accepted the opportunity
Over the time there we visited 10 areas of the diocese and in each we held workshops in Reconciliation with the various leaders of the parish that will last all day. Those coming had to walk, some many miles. We began with a clergy conference including the wives with the same topics. The workshops were on various topics regarding Reconciliation. The workshop that I conducted was called Learning to Forgive Those Who Abuse or Hurt You.
(Jn 10:10 CEV) Jesus said, “I came so that everyone would have life, and have it in its fullest.” It is Christ’s desire that his people should be healthy and whole. Please pray that God may use the team to reach out with his healing power to bring wholeness to many that are hurt.
Susan Grizdale, Rev. Lyionel Pye, Emma Marsh, Joan Patterson, Rev. Marney Patterson, Bishop Eddy Marsh.
Missing - Bishop Larry Robertson
The Clergy and Spouses Conference
On our first day in the Diocese of Eldoret we had and Clergy Conference in the Cathedral in the town of Eldoret. All together there was about 100 clergy and spouses. They had come from all over the diocese and some many hours over the roughest roads I have ever seen. (I have seen some very rough roads) they came ready to listen and hear the word of God.
The conference held the theme of Reconciliation. Dr Patterson began as he began most of our workshop speaking of forgiveness from what he called the “Sin of Tribalism”, where one tribe is exalted or favored over another. As he spoke I realized that this is not something confined to Kenya. Even in Canada, we may not call them tribes but we often exalt one group over another resulting in a sense of superiority from one group and inferiority from another. As he spoke you could see the nodding of heads and the silent tears that fell as participants considered their actions.
Despite the gravity of the subjects when they got up to sing you could hear the joy that comes from having a Saviour that will carry them through the troubles trials and tribulations of this life. One of the things that have amazed me is the strong faith of many of the clergy and wives. They have almost nothing, low pay when they did get paid which often they did not. Many of these people have been through the violence of the last year and have come out that much stronger. Their joy and their personal commitment to Jesus Christ is an example to us in Canada
Rom 5:1-5 KJV
(1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
(2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
(3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
(4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
(5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
The Commitment of the Clergy
I use to think that those of us who are ministers in Canada or the US make great sacrifices in accepting lower salaries then those of other professions. This I thought was only right, we are servants of God and we most be willing to make sacrifices to serve God’s people and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with the world. I confess that I was even a little proud of it and let others know of the sacrifices I made for the glory of God. Then I went to Kenya and met with the clergy there. I came back ashamed of my thoughts and very repentant.
I realized how blessed we are in Canada as clergy. For the most part we have a set income that comes each week. Although we might not have all the special things and possessions that others have, we have enough to eat. We have shelter. We have a guaranteed income. In Canada we have unemployment insurance while we are between calls or positions. We have medical care. Overall we have enough so that we are free to minister to the people around with very little fear.
Kenya as well as other places like Sudan the clergy get around $200 CDN a month. That’s about a 20th of what some Canadian clergy gets. Food in Kenya seemed to be about 80% of what it is in Canada. This means that most food is out of the reach of most clergy families. Their main diet is maize (a sort of corn mush). When we visited the churches they told me it was like Christmas because they had rice and chicken. Any kind of meat is a very special treat. They have no medical insurance. People die because they can not afford to buy medicine.
Yet we saw great joy among the clergy. One said that it is not what we have that brings us joy, it is who we have Jesus. He brings us Joy. By our standards many clergy live in poverty, but they are rich in faith. They know Jesus. They know Him as Lord, Saviour and Friend. They have the assurance that they are a part of the family of God.
I experienced in Kenya a vibrant living faith. A faith that depended on Jesus for all things. That very dependence brought them assurance and assurance brought the peace.
The Kenyan Church reminds us that joy does not come having possessions, but joy comes from possessing the Lord Jesus Christ by faith. May we all come to faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and we will be rich
 Kenya has the roughest roads I have ever seen. |
Participants of the Clergy Conference. |
Simon and the Love to Forgive
The talk that I give in the Mission of Reconciliation is “Learning to Forgive the One Who Hurt You”. In this talk I outline how I came to forgive the man who sexually abused me. I talk about the command of scripture to love and forgive those who persecute you. It was through prayer and obedience to Jesus that God soften my heart and enabled me to love and forgive my abuser.
Immediately after one service the interpreter, Simon came to me to speak to me. He related to me a story that saddened, angered and thrilled me.
Simon was the oldest of 5 siblings. His father was often separated from the family by many miles because of the need for work. His mother was faithful to her husband while they were separated. His father however was not faithful and while away working was infected with the HIV virus. When the father returned home although he knew he was infected did not tell his wife and soon she was infected as well.
Simon the oldest of the children was furious at his father and that fury developed into hate. He blamed his father for infecting his mother. In time the father died of aids and 3 years later the mother died of Aids. Simon was left to care for his brothers and sisters, which He does to this day. Simon was left with his father dead with his life full of hate for him.
He said "The message to forgive those who hurt you has reached my heart. I would like to forgive my father but he is dead and now it seems a burden for me. We talked of God marvelous love and that if we bring these burdens to Jesus he knowing our hearts can release us from that burden and we can know that we are forgiven. We clasp hands in prayer as he prayed asking God of forgive him and to remove this burden of guilt. Together we thanked God for his forgiveness. He said it seemed like a load has been lifted from his life. I wncouraged his to share his story. There is very few place were they can go for continued help. I encouraged Simon to continue in fellowship and prayer as he raised his family which was now his responsibility. Please lift Simon up in prayer.
Bug Nets - A must for over your bed to sleep nights. The bugs did not seem bad while I was there, but it only takes one bite to spread disease. |
People got to the meetings any way they could. Most had to walk, some for many miles. These lucky church goers got a ride via a farm tractor. Vary few people have cars or trucks. Most people walk. Many have peddle bikes. Some clergy have 10 - 15 congregations in thier parish and the only mode of travel is foot or bike. |
Displacements Camps - after many months there are still Thousands of people who were driven from their homes living in tent camps. There were several spread throughout the Diocese. These people left everything behind and they do not know when it will be safe to return to thier homes or what will be there when they
do return. These camps are been guard and fed by the United Nations. Pray for Reconiliation in the nation that will enable these persons to return safly to thier homes. |
Children are always the unfortunate victims of any conflict. These three children showed up at one of our meetings. They especially like the lunch of rice and chicken they got after words. Hunger is a great part of the problems. Hunger will make people to strange things. These little will left with a full belly at least on this day. Pray for the thousand of orphans in Kenya. Many of these are the results of the AIDs virus or of the violance that has taken place. |
An Elder Speaks At the end of each day Dr Patterson has a call for people to come forward to receive Christ in to there life. Each day there were some who would come and give thier life to Christ, some for the first time and some to rededicate their lives afresh to Jesus Christ. When they come forward we would prayer individually with them. One day an elder came forward who seem to radiate the peace that comes from Holy Spirit's dwelling within and I had a prayer of dedication with him. As people left this gentlman came to me and
said, "The message of today is not new to me. I have long known it. However today it has come with fresh meaning and power so that I will once again be follow in the path Christ gave me. As He left I got the feeling that something dramatic had happened in the elder's life. I may never know what, but then again it really does not matter in I know or not. Something happen between him and God and he was going to act upon it. |
Mothers Union - This group of women play a very important ministry in the life of the Church. Their ministry to the sick and dying (including those HIV infected), and the hungry relflect the deep love they have for their God, his son Jesus and their Church. The ministry of the Mother's Union is felt through out the diocese. Praise God for them. |
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BISHOP LARRY ROBERTSON'S
SCHEDULE
Oct 28 Toronto to London
Oct 29 London to Nairobi
Oct 30 – Nov 1 Preparation, and Orientation in Nairobi
Nov 2 Preaching in local Anglican Church, Nairobi
Fly to Eldoret – afternoon
Dinner and meeting with Bishop Kogo, Archdeacons and committee.
Nov 3 Clergy and Spouse Conference – St. Matthews Cathedral – Eldoret
Nov 4 Conference at Kamoiywo - Kebulonik Deanery – 5 parishes involved – 40 km of travel
Nov 5 Conference at Kapng’etuny – Church Deanery - 4 parishes involved – 50 km of travel
Nov 6 Conference at Tendwo – Deanery Mission – 6 parishes involved – 30 km of travel
Nov 7 Team to move to Kapsabet
Conference at Kapsabet – 8 parishes involved – 2 km of travel
Nov 8 Day Off
Nov 9 Preaching engagments
Nov 10 Team to move to Eldoret
Conference – 50 km of travel
Nov 11 Conference at St Paul’s Church, Eldoret – St Paul’s Deanery – 10 parishes involved – 40 km of travel
Nov 12 Conference at Richo Trinity Church – Moiben Deanery – 5 parishes involved
– 30 km of travel
Nov 13 Conference at St Peter’s Chepkorio Church – Chepkorio Deanery – 3 parishes involved – 30 km of travel
Nov 14 Conference at Chesegem Church – St. Matthew’s Deanery – 5 parishes involved – 10 km of travel
Nov 15 Overview Meeting until noon – rest of day off
Nov 16 Preaching Engagements
Nov 17 Rest and Packing – possible outing
Nov 18 Travel to Nairobi
Midnight Travel from Nairobi to London
Nov 19 Travel from London to Toronto
Note The milage given is for one way from residence to Church
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