When Christi Anna was asked to speak at the USFWI Triennials in Kenya, I began to feel a nudge to go. Even though the first date in 2020 was cancelled, something inside of me never lost that desire. Since I had met Quakers from Kenya on different occasions, their spirit drew me to worship with them and to experience their exuberant joy and enthusiasm for Jesus.
Christi Anna was again scheduled when the conference was reset for July, 2023. I continued to feel compelled to go with her. Over the years I have learned that when an idea or drawing to do a certain thing is persistent, it is worthy of my attention, and very well could be the Spirit speaking to me. I have also known for several years that my mission here is to pray for and support my children and grandchildren. I want to be faithful to my own calling. So, then I asked my sister, "Do you want to go with me to Africa?" When she said, "I'm afraid to ask.....what are the details?" Right then I knew we were going. If you know her history, you will remember that she was in Kapanga, Ziare when rebel forces from Angola tried to take over the country and seized the mission station where she lived. She was held under house arrest, many times at gunpoint, with bombing surrounding the station for three long months. She was in the company of 9 other missionaries, her pilot husband was away on assignment, and she was in her first trimester of pregnancy with her first child. It was 1977. 8 of the missionaries were finally released, but the missionary doctor that she served along side was killed. Why would she even consider going back?
We booked our flights and asked some friends to go too, but only only one said yes. Lois Welborn accomanied us, and even our flight booking was orchastrated by God Himself. One highlight of his favor to us was the accidental extra day we got in London, where we met Christi Anna Coats! We met her early in the morning and got to have a guided tour of Kinsington Palace, high tea, see Buckingham Plalce, Westminster Abby and take a river cruise before experiencing fish and chips at the oldest Pub in London and enjoy an amazing night's rest before we got on our second 9-hour flight.
Arriving in Nairobi late at night, we faced the culture head-on as we entered our hotel near the airport. We carried our baggage (which was an issue for many of us Americans for the endurance of the trip...) up two and three flights of steps. We didn't get much sleep once we were settled, because the locals were celebrating their joy with loud talking and noise all night long. We got up early dressed and ready to meet our ride, due to pick us up at 7:00 am. They arrived about 10. :). Welcome to Africa. We learned early that the African culture goes by the "day." (We learned from them that we go by the "time."). How insightful!
Finally, we began the bumpy ride to Nakuru where we had been told that some of the women from the local Quaker churches would have an all day prayer meeting. After five hours, (with no bathroom break………………) we arrived at a little church with a huge welcome. We were greeted by big bright smiles of many children who created an archway for us to enter. Our hearts were so warmed, engaged and inspired by the women who were interceding for their families, their churches, their country, their issues. Oh, but not without praise! And always time for welcoming guests royally! At one point they called us up front, had us introduce ourselves, sang and danced with us and all around us, then tied a huge African scarf around each one of us. I have never received a more sincere and extravagant welcome anywhere in the world at anytime in my relatively long life. They fed us a meal they had prepared after the service and insisted that we go home with them and eat again. We split into twos and went into their homes where we were received with open arms and undivided attention. The family who's home Lois and I visited, with Redemptor & Eric, and her beautiful mother, prayed for us as we entered their home. After our visit they asked us to pray for them, then they took us back to the hotel at the end of the first day in Kenya. Our entire stay was greeted with the most genuine and beautiful hospitality.
Day two began with registration and introduction to Karabak University where our Triennial Sessions were held. Quakers from countries and yearly meetings gathered in a large meeting room where songs of praise and prayers of intercession continued throughout the conference. Speakers called us into action, to Come, Abide and Go. We heard amazing reports of missions stations from Ramallah, Belize, Tanzania, Jamaica. God is working among Friends across the world and His gospel is being advanced daily!
We noticed among Kenyan Friends, their lives were radiant and powerful. Their introductions were so interesting. When any of them would be called on for recognition, they would always say “Praise God!” (…with such enthusiasm) then, my name is_________________ (with such humility.). Their lives showed such evidence of a Spirit-filled living. They glowed with Light and reflected such an image of Christ. Their witness was undeniable. Did you know that 80% of Kenya is Christian?
The Guest House at the university was our “home” for the week. As we entered back after a long session or event, the servers greeted us with a warm eucalyptus wash cloths. (What a refreshing tradition!) There we met a humble servant named Kelvin. When we were not at the university for some of the meals, he served us in the lovely courtyard of the Guest House. It was rather like a sanctuary with the still breeze, warm afternoon sun and colorful birds that flitted about with their own array of music. We became so fond of Kelvin and looked forward to our encounters with him. His warm and contagious smile warmed our hearts and comforted us in a strange land. His words and attitude were consistent, “It was my hope that you would enjoy your meal!” On the last day in Nakuru, he gave us an African name. Mine was Jabet, meaning kind and generous lady. How thoughtful and honoring. I learned so much from him and his culture.
Oh how we enjoyed the colors of the country! True bright red, yellow, green, blue, & orange! The whole country looks like a crayon box. Even though poverty is blatent as one travels down the streets of the city and country sides, the bright colors of the laundry drying on the lines or trees and bushes outside symbolizes the joy contained by these hard working people. The water supply and systems of this growing infrastructure has not kept up with the needs of the 5.25 million people in Nairobi alone, so you can imagine the challenges the Americans had with bathrooms. Well, actually, you can’t…unless you have been there. We learned to ask for bathroom breaks before we started for any outing and made sure we had tissues and hand sanitizer with us. Many times we were greeted by locals who would carry water to flush our toilets. Even those people greeted us with cordial smiles and the very best customer service. How grateful I am to have met them!
Have I mentioned to you the spirit in which they worship? I know that my Facebook posts were all about that, but oh how I wish you could have been there in the midst of their praise and worship. It was truly about God. It was truly about the joy bubbling up from their soul. It was so contagious. They could not stop singing. They could not stop praying. And their songs erupted from the very core of their being and included mind, body, soul and spirit. You had to have been there to really experience what we saw, because the words just don’t convey it. One morning during worship with just the women, the songs continued for a very long time, although it didn’t seem long. Worship was given over to disparate prayer, hearts crying out to God from all over the room asking for God’s presence. Women were on their faces, some with hands lifted high, some kneeling, but all engaged. His presence was already so thick in the room that I felt like we were experiencing what we read about in the Old Testament when "His glory filled the temple." The glorious presence of the living God met us there, and I would not trade that day for any other event, experience, or memory of my entire lifetime.
Travel is inconvenient. It is expensive. It is uncomfortable. So is following Jesus. I choose obedience. Obedience is where we find deep joy and satisfaction. For me, this journey was an act of obedience, of following Jesus' call to me personally. The Kenyan people left their mark on my soul. I will never be the same person who left America two weeks ago. My heart was stirred to the point of transformation and to the point of changing the way I live, think and breathe. May the joy that I experienced from my new friends in Kenya and the undeniable power of the Mighty Holy Spirit continue to stir a spark in my own heart and fan His flame in all that I say and do for the rest of my days in this life.
