The day started with Wakey getting a call from Joseph to say his car had broken down. He'd be delayed beyond the nine o'clock we'd agreed. So breakfast was a pleasantly leisurely affair. We exchanged impressions so far. Jason had got angry about the billboards advertising the consumer dream - new cars, phones with two SIMs, etc, "As if that's any kind of lifestyle for them to be aiming at, when they've got so much in their lives together." Wakey shared the feeling that Jason had expressed last night about being served. John simply felt the time had been almost overwhelming.
We finally got underway in a car Joseph had managed to borrow and headed out on the A104 Kisumu road towards the Rift Valley. This requires a bit of geography. East Africa is riven for about 3,500 miles by this dramatic feature. In fact modern Nairobi came in to being as a rail stop on the Mombasa to Uganda railway project that British engineers ran in the late 19th century. The steep landscape of the Valley finally defeated them at the point we overlooked from the roadside viewing platform. As soon as the car pulled up traders appeared from nowhere, offering carvings and other local craft items. Their persistence proved tricky for everyone, despite the fact that I was the only one possessing Kenya shillings! It was amusing to see the many donkey-drawn carts. They took whichever side of the road was more convenient, regardless of traffic.
We had lunch at Java Cafe, Westgate, back in town again. The guys prayed for Hezron, the waiter who'd served yesterday too. Joseph spoke to a church-going waitress who'd observed this, and wanted to know about getting born again.
We headed for the Umbrella conference venue, and set up our projector etc, to get the right position for the presentations. We needed every bit of kit we'd brought. Heavy rain broke out when we got to Gregory's church centre. It was dark before we reached his home for evening meal. He'd been joined by three pastors from Kimilili, including Dan, who'll be looking after Jonny and Jason next week. I was ready for a cup of chai, and Wakey was looking forward to more boiled bananas. Jonny had commented to Wakey, "I'm was glad that someone representing the Farm had finally come on a Multiply event." Wakey recognised that, to date, this had been a weakness. He resolved to have people staying for the May/June MILC conference.
A young guy called Carlson drove us home. He opinionated about corrupt council officials and minibus drivers. He'd have the lot of them shot. "Hmm," I mused to the guys later: "A strong sense of justice; and the black-and-white mindset of a prophetic type." Thereafter Wakey sought to win him, and he became almost part of the team.
We were quite late getting back to Musmark, but the first day of the conference meant an early start in the morning.
We finally got underway in a car Joseph had managed to borrow and headed out on the A104 Kisumu road towards the Rift Valley. This requires a bit of geography. East Africa is riven for about 3,500 miles by this dramatic feature. In fact modern Nairobi came in to being as a rail stop on the Mombasa to Uganda railway project that British engineers ran in the late 19th century. The steep landscape of the Valley finally defeated them at the point we overlooked from the roadside viewing platform. As soon as the car pulled up traders appeared from nowhere, offering carvings and other local craft items. Their persistence proved tricky for everyone, despite the fact that I was the only one possessing Kenya shillings! It was amusing to see the many donkey-drawn carts. They took whichever side of the road was more convenient, regardless of traffic.We had lunch at Java Cafe, Westgate, back in town again. The guys prayed for Hezron, the waiter who'd served yesterday too. Joseph spoke to a church-going waitress who'd observed this, and wanted to know about getting born again.
A young guy called Carlson drove us home. He opinionated about corrupt council officials and minibus drivers. He'd have the lot of them shot. "Hmm," I mused to the guys later: "A strong sense of justice; and the black-and-white mindset of a prophetic type." Thereafter Wakey sought to win him, and he became almost part of the team.
We were quite late getting back to Musmark, but the first day of the conference meant an early start in the morning.
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