“Life-changing” seems to be an appropriate word to describe our time with our fellow United Methodists and the people of the Nairobi District. It was for all of us an eye-opening experience. Because of the hospitality and love we experienced from the people of Huruma Tent of Prayer UMC and others in the Nairobi District it was also a heart-warming experience. We are grateful for the leadership of District Superintendent Rev. Wilton Odongo and Pastor Rev. Davies Musigo that made this such a wonderful time of worship, ministry, and fellowship.

We came to Nairobi to be a blessing: to preach, to teach, to learn, and to give to support the ministry of Huruma Tent of Prayer and to support New Hope Education Center. God created us to be receivers of his goodness, who also give to and receive from others. While in Nairobi we all received the blessings of God in abundance through the gifts and ministries of our Kenyan sisters and brothers.

We all, both those of us from the U.S.A. and those from Kenya, have an abundance of God’s good gifts to share with each other and with the world. Our sisters and brothers in Nairobi seem to be able to do much with very little, while increasingly in the U.S. churches struggle to do little in our communities with so much. There is much churches in the U.S. need to learn from churches in Nairobi.

The children of Huruma Tent of Prayer, Highrise UMC, and those who are being educated so well at New Hope Education Center and Dr. B.T. Cooper United Methodist Educational Centre, brought us so much joy! All those precious children are in good hands under the leadership of their dedicated teachers and pastors. Our prayer is they all receive ever-increasing support to better meet the needs of children in those communities.

Our mission team from Clarksbury United Methodist Church, in partnership with Rev. Matt Reynolds of Spirit and Truth, made many wonderful memories; more importantly we made many, many wonderful friends! As Ms. Rachel Anders said, “We came to Nairobi as visitors, but we left as family.” Indeed, through faith in Christ and through the power of his blood we are all part of the family of God!

We came on a short-term mission trip, but our commitment is to a long-term mission to Huruma Tent of Prayer UMC and New Hope Education Center, as well the other churches and ministries of the Nairobi District. We will seek the support of other pastors and churches. Let us continue to pray for God to guide us and provide for us as we seek to be in mission and ministry to our communities and world together.

Above all, in the face of very, very difficult challenges, let us all remember to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matt 6:33). The challenges and difficulties are great, but our God and Father is greater! Bwana asifiwe! Amen!

And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing. Consider the ravens: they neither sow nor reap, they have neither storehouse nor barn, and yet God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds! And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? If then you are not able to do as small a thing as that, why are you anxious about the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass, which is alive in the field today, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not seek what you are to eat and what you are to drink, nor be worried. For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.
Luke 12:22-31 ESV

With much love from the Clarksbury UMC (Harmony, NC—U.S.A.) Mission Team (Rev. Cliff Wall, Ms. Rachel Anders, Ms. Carly Etzkorn, and Ms. Grace Wall), and Rev. Matt Reynolds of Spirit and Truth!