DAN'S BLOG...as the Spirit moves.: Looking In from the Outside

It is now Wednesday morning, 2-20-08. Monday and Tuesday was the Pastors Retreat for forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. We planned for 50-60; there were over 100! PTL. I cannot capture the necessity for this in words. I did not understand until I heard pastors telling their stories. I can't express how deep the tribal history is in everyone's lives. How one church is made up of Kikuyus, another of Luos, another of other tribes, and some with mixed tribes in the churches where members attacked members, etc. Some pastors looted along with members; some ran, some stayed and remained strong. This was a healing time, and a call for servant leadership to start with them.

JP and I left at noon on Monday to work on a major USAID grant that had to be submitted by midnight Monday night. At 9PM we ordered pizza delivered...yes, here in Africa! we finished at 10PM, prayed over the work, and sent it off. It was a 15 hour day I will never forget.

Here are some photos and brief comments regarding the retreat. JP and I returned for the full day on Tuesday. My role? I got to do flip chart note taking, much photography, and was honored to do the closing prayer on Tuesday. How do you pray in front of senior leaders from all over Kenya? Let go and let God. (Dr. Celestin picked on me as the 'white American' several times...I loved it.

You can click on the pictures and enlarge them; I posted 'small' so it wouldn't take so long to download)

Jean Paul gave the first day's opening devotion, based on LOVE (from Gospel of John) and related to his own story of being a refugee in Rwanda.

Dr. Celestin Musekura, key note speaker, spoke with authority and knowledge; he was a refugee during the Rwanda genecide in 1994; he also was good friends with JP's dad during that time. Unbeliveable stories of how God worked in all of that. Dr. Celestin is President of ALARM (African Leadership and Reconciliation Ministries. He has offices in Dallas and in Nairobi.

Opening group prayer

The Hope for Kenya Forum members--the group that organized the Pastors' retreat in just a 2 week period. The members are all missionary agencies in Nairobi...their mission was to provide a safe environment for the Pastors to come together for a time of foregiveness, healing, and reconciliation; then for them to start the same in their churches and communities.

Dr. Celestin and Pastor Nixon

Small groups start Monday afternoon

Dr. Celestin and me. We had time to talk and find out we had mutual friends! He attended DTS, knows Dan Crane, etc. He is an extremely knowledgable man of God.

O.K. family, I had to sneak in ONE flower picture

After the small groups shared the first day, the Pastors were asked to write a note on their reflections/feelings. Read carefully...they are very revealing.