Village homes

With the conclusion of the conference, we began our drive down the mountain, past small villages with mud huts and small farms.Most of the homes here are made with mud and stick or with home-made bricks. Their grass roofs are surprisingly sturdy and water-proof; however, they do tend to be the habitation of a few critters, as well.

Blessing us on our way

We so enjoyed Conference #3. The people warmly welcomed us again to the beautiful Rift Valley of Manyara Region.

When the conference was finished, they all prayed for us, blessing us on your "safari" (Swahili for "journey").

This conference was a beautiful gift from God. . .not just for them, but also for us.

Thank you for praying and/or donating. These three conferences were a huge effort for all of us.

Children watching the visitors

There were several children who seemed captivated by the presence of the Mzungu. Even during the hours of teaching, the children wanted to peek-in on the interesting visitors who had come to their village.

Don and Susan seemed to be captivated by them, as well. On several occasions, Susan tried to take their pictures; however, when she pulled out her camera, they scattered with shrieks and dust.

Another name

Pastor Don received a new name from the chairman of the Unity Committee.

(It is not unusual for new names to be taken at special occasions.)

We now call him Pastor Don “Lohay” Ketcham. (pronounced “Low-high”)

The chairman pressed Don and Susan into seeing the possibility of returning again.

Audio Scriptures

Two more “Tape Talk” Bible players and 4 small “Megavoice” Bible players were given away to pastors who were willing to use them as public evangelism tools. (www.asmtoday.org) These total 18 units installed in the last three months digitally speaking the Word to people who cannot read. Pleasant, though early results were told us from those who already used them for a month. Groups of villagers are forming to listen regularly.

Listening and responding with repentance

Near the end of the seminar, Susan spoke a prophetic word over the listening pastors. By far the majority of the word was an encouragement, but there was also a solemn warning “There is a wolf here among the sheep.”

The pastors took the word so seriously that the chairman led the entire crowd of 165 to bow to the ground and repent asking God “Is it I?”

Movies for the masses

We showed 3 presentations over two nights on the outside of the church building to the village people. The native people laughed their way through the antics of the Swahili speaking characters. Not many had seen a movie before much less a Christian movie! We knew that a crowd had formed in the pitch black night, but we were amazed when someone turned on a light. There had to be 600-700 men, women, and children watching a seven foot diagonal screen, listening to small computer speakers with “no personal space required.” The feature presentation humorously modeled a bull headed husband in severe marital strain until he learned to live quietly and respectfully with his wife. Afterward, we were surprised to see one of the pastors spring to his feet and lead 100’s of people through a prayer of repentance for mistreating each other in the family. The town’s people did not just intellectualize the movie or say “That’s a nice story.” Instead, they took it in immediately and repented because they felt it was true of them.

Weaving the Words

The four of us speakers traded places on the floor seamlessly as the Spirit led. Pastors saw from the rapid change of presenter that no one lecturer insisted on his/her own way. No one demanded the floor. Instead, they heard once from a teacher, then from a prophet, then from an evangelist.

We all remarked that “It was so easy!” Once the anointing was present and all five offices were ready to speak, it could not have been easier. The hours flew by.

Clean feet and respectful models

Pastors Don and Susan modeled mutual submission, mutual respect, and servant leadership as Don washed his wife’s feet in public. It was such a simple act, and yet so strange to the culture that most of the pastors stood to their feet, straining to see. The men were curiously fascinated. Submitting to one’s wife and serving her are simply not widely practiced in this East African culture.

Within 10 minutes, Susan herself was washing another woman’s feet. A pastor sprang up from the audience and asked if he could take over washing the woman’s feet since he was her husband. He did so looking over his shoulder and laughing nervously from embarrassment.

Several Activations

Two apostles were identified dramatically. Several pastors discovered they were actually prophets. The new prophets immediately exercised their office, laying hands on the rest of the willing audience. People were hearing personal words from God spoken over them for the very first time. Some had that wide-eyed “How did you know?!” look all over them.

Pastors learned about their strengths and weaknesses and how much they need a teacher, an evangelist, and a prophet among the people they lead.