torch bearer: September 2009

I have never heard such an amazing rendition of this song as I did tonight. The song itself is powerful when you know why it was written. The man had lost everything in the Chicago fire, his son was sick and died and then his family (minus his wife) was killed when their boat sank. He penned the words to the song when the only thing left he had to cling to was his trust in God. When peace like a river attendeth my soul… He knew that his peace only came from God. Well, tonight I heard it sang by someone who has all the reason in the world to sing it. Not only did she have the voice of an angel, she has lived the life of the devil. When an ex-stripper, ex-prostitute, mother in a hospital for the insane, family dead from AIDS, tried to commit suicide, people chasing her from her past and abusive father young woman sings this…it has real meaning. She sang this for us as we were heading home from an outreach tonight. She has a voice that is pure but a past that is not. However, in May, this all changed. She gave her life to Jesus and it has all turned around. She still has a hard time with things, but knows that her peace is in Jesus. We asked her if she would sing us a song (because we had heard a video she made) and she said "I will sing you my favorite song." When she got done, I couldn't help but have tears in my eyes. She understands peace. I will never be able to hear this song again without thinking of this young lady.

We have had a few days of outreaches that have gone well. We were in Imara Daima for a couple days worth of outreaches. Good stuff, hard crowd. Total spirit of fear in the men of that town. They knew they needed and wanted something more, but couldn't bring their selves to come and really make a commitment for Jesus. Be in prayer for Pastor William of the Deliverance Church. Tough town. He is also needing prayer for finances to finish going to bible college through East Africa Theology. This college is ran by the Kenyan Assemblies of God and he will be graduating from Global University, the same University as me! Funny thing happened there though. We had a herd of Massai cows come wander through where we were setting up our breaks. Remember, we were right in town doing this outreach. So, the cows come through and we were worried that they were going to knock down our stuff before we started. Good news…they didn't. Bad news…one peed right where we were having to stand for one of the breaks!

Today we went to a Nazarene school in the Kibera slums. Wow! That is about the only word to describe this place. Think bad and multiply it by a never ending exponent. I will get pics up on photobucket soon. (www.photobucket.com/EldonKelley. And yes, this works now.) We had 200 kids packed into a room that was only about 20 x 60 at most. This slum has well over a million people in it and it is no bigger than Colville proper. The kids were very sweet. I think I want to bring some of these beauties back home with me. Is that ok Amy? The kids taught us the Mosquito Clap! I will have to show you when I get home.

Then tonight we went and did an outreach at Central Nazarene. They had a basketball thing going that we came along side of and did our thing. Met Myke "The Kenyan Connection" tonight. He is part of our team down here in Kenya. What a great man of God. He can play some B Ball! He has played professional basketball for 12 years in Kenya. He brought the Word tonight, and he does that with even more intensity than playing hoops.

Tomorrow we are going to ANU (Africa Nazarene University) to do chapel for them. Cool thing about this school. They allow anyone to attend their school. Anyone meaning Christian, Muslim, Catholic, pagan… Each person HAS to take several Christian courses to complete their schooling as well as go to chapel. They have had Muslims give their life to Christ because of what they learn in their college courses. So, we are giving a complete gospel message tomorrow. Should be amazing! Another great thing about this university…$10,000…………FOR ALL FOUR YEARS! Find that in the USA.

Then tomorrow afternoon, we are going to hang out with the Kenyan national rugby team, Rugby 7. We are going to do some teamwork building with them and also share the gospel with them. Some are Christians already, but the whole team needs a relationship with Him.

This weekend we start the Battle Cry at Central Nazarene in Nairobi. This will be a great time to impact a church who is struggling to say the least. We are trusting for a great time of transformation in men's lives as they step up into becoming the men that God has called them to be. Please be in prayer for this weekend.

Then Monday morning, we are heading to Naaoosura (common spelling) out with the Massai. We have figured out that the final count will be that we are bringing enough food to feed 500 families for 1 month. That is around 3,000 people! We are going to be in the heart of things here. I will give more details in the next few days, but it is safe to say that we are going to need tons of prayer this next week. Spiritual battles. Physical battles. Emotional battles. Like I said, I will give more details before I leave.

Well, it is very late on Wednesday night here and I need to go to bed. I have so much to say that I could write forever, but my eyes tell me not to. I am amazed that God would use a guy like me to minister to the amazing people of Kenya. I say it every time I go somewhere…I go to minister to them and instead I get ministered to. The things that I worry about at home are so little compared to daily living here. My life with Jesus has become so precious that I couldn't consider trading it for anything else. In my times of worry or concern, all I need to do is remember the voice that I heard tonight singing…It is well, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul!

Until next time

Bearing His torch (in Kenya)

Eldon

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9/08/2009 05:46:00 AM

Waiting in Imara Daima 4 outreach to start. A cow Peed where we are standing 4 one of the breaks.

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When Tiredness Is Worth It

9/06/2009 12:02:00 PM

I admit, I'm tired! It's been a tough week of trying to beat the jet lag. Yesterday was the first day that we all felt like we beat it. Of course then last night the bad dreams persisted and the sleep wasn't great. But I'm not complaining because this is worth it. Seeing the delight of these kids as you play football (soccer for you Americans!) with them when all they have is a plastic bag wrapped up with rope...worth the tiredness. Seeing those who have known no hope for their entire life find hope in Jesus for the first time...worth the tiredness. When you get to worship God with a church body who is really getting into the music (Angie, I took video for you!) and I have no idea what they are saying, but we are worshipping the same God...worth the tiredness. Have kids come up to you at the market place or at the restaurant and say hi because they saw us at their school...worth the tiredness. Getting to preach for the first time in a different country even though I only had 1/2 hour notice...worth the tiredness. Getting to enjoy chai and biscuts with the church body after an outreach...worth the tiredness. Walking into a shack that is a bar, telling people about my Jesus, getting to pray for a man there who wanted prayer and feeling the demonic presence in the place...worth the tiredness. Why is it worth it? Because it's not about me. It's about HIM! If I was doing this for myself it would be easy to be discouraged or just want to sit and rest for awhile, but it is about HIM being given the glory and honor. It is about people seeing the face of Jesus for the first time in their life. Even if for a brief moment. I challenge you, if you are tired for the right reason, keep going. Don't quit. You don't know when the next person you share Jesus with will be the life changing moment they have been searching for.

Tomorrow, Monday, we are off to do a school assembly at W. Nairobi School and then out to Imara Daima for the next two days. This is a "suburb" (if you would call it that) of Nairobi. We are doing 2 open air outreaches each day. Please be in prayer as this is a very poor area and as we drove through there the other night (we were totally lost and our poor driver was about to quit on us I think) I could sense the hopelessness that is there. I trust that the power of Jesus will break many strong holds in this place in the next few days.

Well, tiredness is setting in, and the very comfy bed is calling. Love all of you. Miss you my wonderful family and friends. Thanks for your support in sending me to Africa. The churches here send their blessings to you back home. I can't wait to share my experiences when I get home. I also want to be able to bring some of you with me the next time I go. There is so much need and many of you have so much to offer over here.

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9/05/2009 03:34:00 AM

Played football with kids in Athi River. Not NFL football. Battle Cry is good. Doing unplanned outreach tonight.

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1st Kenya update

9/02/2009 06:24:00 AM

Well, I am in Kenya safely. We had a great flight over the Pond. The plane rides themselves were uneventful...which is good. When we got to the airport, we found that all our luggage made it! Yeah! When we went through to customs, we noticed that they were opening all luggage and going through it. We weren't hidding anything, but we didn't want to have to open up all our stuff. When we got up there, the lady just asked if we had anything to declare (we said no) and she sent us through. She didn't even look at our passports! It was a total blessing of God.

We just got back from our first school assembly. We went to W. Nairobi Christain School (did you go there Mo?) and presented the gospel to them. The response was overwhelming. About 50 kids gave their life to Christ or recommitted it! That's what it is all about. The school was very cool. The school had kids from about 20 different nations. These are missionary kids, international businessman kids and kids from Kenya. They are an International Christian school that doesn't use the Kenyan (English) standard of schooling which is year round. They use the American standard of 2 semester years. Amy, you would love these schools. I think you would love to teach in a place like this. Most of the teachers are from the US. What an amazing ministry to reach out to these kids. They are able to learn about Jesus and then go and make differences in the nations they are from.

Tomorrow we are off to another school assembly. This one is a Christian school that has missionary kids and the kids of Ambassadors and Embassy workers. Can you imagine reaching the kids of national leaders? These kids can then reach their families who will then be able to reach their countries and the other leaders. The name of this school is Roslyn. It is also in Nairobi. We are also going to a church that is for golf caddies. These are men who are not the rich who play golf, but the poor who carry the clubs.

Pray that God will use us in each of these venues. We have seen God moving already and we expect to see more. Our prayer, as we have been talking as I am writing this, we want to be doing the will of the Father. Just as Jesus said that He came to do the will of the Father that sent Him, that is what we are wanting. We want to be able to hear what He says, and then do it right away. Pray that our ears and hearts are sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit. We want to do His will.

We have some great stuff that we planning. It looks as though we are going to be able to feed somewhere between 6,000-7,000 people in the Massai tribe! They are in the middle of a huge drought and their cattle are dying. We are praying that this will work out. Be in prayer that as we transport (a 4 hour drive one way on bad roads) the food and then deliver it, that we are safe. That is ALOT of money going down the road and could be a big target. Pray for our protection and that we will be able to deliver not only food, but the gospel as well.

Well, that is enough for now. I will stay in touch.

Bearing His torch (in Kenya right now)
Eldon

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9/01/2009 10:09:00 AM

In Kenya! Lord Jesus use us. We are willing

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It is well with my soul

When Tiredness Is Worth It

1st Kenya update

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