We made it! We arrived in Nairobi at 8:30 p.m. today (12:30 p.m., McAllen time). We are 8 hours ahead of you. As I write this blog it is just past midnight here and you are still at work or play or whatever it is you do at 4 p.m. most weekdays.
Two things hit me when I got off the plane in Nairobi: The smell and the smiles. The smell is not bad ... it's just different. It is the smell of spices cooking in the kitchen. Sometimes it smells like incense and sometimes it smells like an Indian food restaurant. Then there are the smiles. Everyone is extremely nice. They welcomed us with big, bright smiles. The Kenyan people are happy people. Nairobi has close to 2 million people, 70% of which live in "the slums" that surround the city. But you wouldn't know it at the airport. They were awesome.
The hotel accomodations are wonderful. Again, a lot of smiles and someone always ready to help you. The conference starts tomorrow and is being held here at the hotel. We are expecting a good group to show up and are looking forward to connecting with numerous pastors and medical professionals. God is already performing miracles for us. God does that when you're willing to go out on a limb for him. I'll just mention two for now:
1. Our connection in London. In Houston our airplane sat on the tarmack for 1 hour waiting for the weather to clear. That made us late to London. In London we had to get off of our airplane, go through customs, get our luggage, get in two mini-buses, drive to another airport (from Gatwick to Heathrow) that was 40 miles away, check our baggage again, go through security, and get to our gate. We had only two hours to do all that. A few of us made it to the gate on time and pleaded with them to hold the plane. They did. Our mini-bus driver told me that he never thought we would make it. We were doing all of this during 8am traffick in London. He said that he had never seen clear traffice at 8am. He also said that he had NEVER made it from Gatwick to Heathrow in less than 1 hour. But today the traffic was clear and we did it in 38 minutes. God is good!
2. Our lead team discovered today that they needed government approval from two different agencies in order to do the conference. No one had told us this. It's the day before the conference. Bob Smith worked frantically with the two government officials involved. One of them was not very cooperative at first. He told Bob we couldn't hold the conference. He said that we should have come to him sooner. But then Bob exhibited a humble and pleading spirit (not angry or accusatory) and the government official suddenly changed his tune. He approved the conference. God is good!
We know that God is with us ... and we know that your prayers are with us.
Pray for all the conference leaders. Pray for me. I am teaching two seminars: 1. Being a Missional Church, 2. Servant Leadership. I feel incredibly inadequate to teach either. Please pray that the Lord will use me in spite of my shortcomings and my lack of knowledge. Pray that the Word of God will be taught with conviction and accuracy. Pray that the Spirit of Christ will be shown through me.
I'll talk to you tomorrow and let you know how it went ... until then ...
Blessings,
pastor ellis
It is so awesome to hear God's workings! I am thankful you all arrived safely. We will all be praying for you guys as you conduct this amazing conference, I know in my heart God will use each of you in incredible ways--as He has already! Please give everyone our love from way back home and keep us updated on the things that you experience!!
Posted by: Amelia | June 14, 2006 at 04:42 PM
This is great!! We are praying for you and the teams.
Posted by: Kathy & Henry | June 14, 2006 at 09:33 PM
Pastor,
Just a note to let you know we are praying for you and miss you.
Cliff & Charlene
Posted by: Cliff and Charlene Mapes | June 14, 2006 at 11:05 PM
You all have truly proven yourselves insturments of God. Our prayer is that you continue to let God make beautiful music with all the talents He has so richley blest you with.
ps. Jordan wanted to make sure you remembered to drink lots of water 'cause that'll keep your voice strong & coffee to keep you awake!
All our love and prayers - Tommy, Esmer & Jordan Gregg
Posted by: Tommy, Esmer & Jordan | June 15, 2006 at 08:35 AM
I do not understand why you feel inadequate, or that you have a lack of knowledge. Just teach the people of Kenya what you teach us. You are awesome at teaching us that we need to be missionary minded, and that we are to be servant leaders. Do what you have here and God will truly bless those who attend. We are praying for you, with confidence that you will be as awesome there as you are at home.
George & Flor
Posted by: George & Flor | June 15, 2006 at 08:49 AM
we continue to pray and anticipate your next comment today or tomorrow. well, I know that you know God is with you, and that God speaks through you. Just go with the mind that God will and continues to speak through you just like when you speak to us here. Well believe me you have the knowledge and you might not feel all mighty of knowledge but that is why God is always speaking through you because you are not full of yourself but full of his word.
love,
flor cox &fam
Posted by: FLOR COX | June 15, 2006 at 08:54 AM
Hi! This is so exciting to read how everything is going and how God is working thru you! You are in our prayers-and we KNOW God is using all of you beyond what we can ask or imagine! Give Jeanette and Mark A. a big hug for us! God bless you! Rod & Rosanne
Posted by: Rod & Rosanne Simpson | June 15, 2006 at 09:49 PM