On Sunday morning, the day 5 grand finale of Mega Fest, most of the team spread out and went into Kibera to preach at local churches. Papa Randy and I visited one of the churches there. Neither one of us had ever seen a place like Kibera before. A mini-world of small, low ceilinged shacks, all crushed together on each side of the narrow dirt roads. The shacks were made of tin, wood, mud; really any kind of scrap that might keep the weather out. Kibera has a very distinctive look, and while we were there it was absolutely buzzing with life and the business of life.
The church we visited was a pretty good size for Kibera; around 200 people filled the long, narrow space. We were generously welcomed by the bishop, and had a wonderful time worshipping God together. After that I got up to share a message on receiving God’s love. At the end of it, I intended to sing Amazing Grace a capella. But the band had already started playing as they sensed I was winding down to finish speaking. Now this band was extremely enthusiastic, but I was pretty sure we wouldn’t succeed together in our attempt at Amazing Grace. Instead I decided to follow them… The keyboard player had an organ sound going, so I just add-libbed to it. Randy got a real kick out of that and thought I should share it with you. :)
When Randy got to the podium, he spoke kindly but with such spiritual authority that I was sitting in my chair responding, “yes, sir!”
After the service, we prayed a blessing on the Pastor and his wife, and then wound our way back through Kibera. It seems that wherever we go whether in Africa or at home, God keeps connecting us with new brothers and sisters. People who we may or may not have much in common with on the surface, but people who share our core values and our deepest held beliefs. The Gospel of Christ will bring you the richest of relationships. For so many of us it has brought us our husbands and wives, replaced missing family members, added best friends and allies, mentors and peers. How great is our God!
