Missions

Praise God I’m home safely after a wonderful trip. God was so faithful in answering your prayers! We really saw His powerful intervention in both Zimbabwe and Kenya . Everything went very smoothly and the teams worked together well in both countries. I was able to meet with the South Africa team and some volunteers before going to Zimbabwe and it was a joy to hear that people were being deeply touched and changed through their workshops.

Zimbabwe.

Thankfully the situation in Zimbabwe has improved a lot in the past couple of months, so there was good security and food was plentiful. 32 were expected to attend the workshop which was held in a beautiful game lodge in scenic Matapos, much to our surprise! Sadly, someone had influenced several not to attend at the last moment, saying they had been to such seminars before and didn’t want to be confused with another one! 24 did attend, including a Govt MP, 2 local councillors, leaders of different peace-building initiatives, some leaders of church denominations as well as some of the staff of Churches in Bulawayo . A handful had to leave early. It was a joy for me to share the teaching with Maria from South Africa , and she did an excellent job.

From the start they were all very receptive and responsive. It became clear that as well as political divisions there were significant ethnic divisions, especially in the church. So this became our focus – to heal, unite and purify the church so that she could shine in the nation and lead the way to reconciliation. On the second day we looked at how the Thief (John 10:10) had robbed the Shona, Ndebele and whites. Each drew up a list of their losses and the false beliefs they have carried. This was a poignant time, and it became clear that there was much pain from past unresolved conflict that still needed healing. All this was taken to the cross later that evening.

By morning there was joy in the room! After Maria had taught on forgiveness, the afternoon was dedicated to repentance. I felt in my heart that, because of our history as British people of colonial oppression in Zimbabwe , I should come in the opposite spirit and wash the feet of representatives from the Shona and Ndebele tribes. As I did so, many began to weep. After they had spoken out forgiveness to us Brits, they began to wash each other’s feet.  This went on for more than an hour. The King’s Table in the evening was a glorious celebration of unity in diversity.

The next morning they were full of enthusiasm to take the message to their community. “Having done this workshop, we cannot but use the material to reach others. It wasn’t just information - it touched our hearts. It went right to the core of who we are. It’s like you lit a fire in us. Now we have such a drive to go out there and tell others!” We are planning to return to conduct a training workshop for them.

Kenya

The following week in Nakuru , Kenya , 53 of us attended altogether. Anastase had joined us from Rwanda and Basara from DRC, plus 2 leaders from the previous MU workshop in Kenya . The others were all working in the Kericho diocese (Rift Valley) in some capacity. This was a mixed group regarding age, ability and Christian commitment, and the first day was not so easy. Again the Thief section on the second day exposed huge wounds between the tribes, and these were all later taken to the cross. We did not realise until after the cross workshop just how needy this group was. During the cross workshop the small groups are deliberately tribally mixed, and the feedback afterwards was amazing.

-        Yesterday I decided to vomit everything on the cross. I’m so happy because every tribe brought their issues to the cross. No-one stayed back. Yesterday I

            saw other tribes as my brothers for the first time.

-        My home was totally burnt and now I’m living in an IDP camp. (Internally Displaced people). I had decided not to talk to anyone from the Kalenjin tribe. I even felt God hated me. I just wanted to die. I was so angry I was afraid that I could kill. Yesterday I could tell a Kalenjin what I really felt. It was a miracle! I can now forgive & never carry a burden again. I’m going home to visit Kalenjins!

-        My mind was very heavy. I kept thinking about what happened. I had bad feelings towards others. I feel like I have been born again through this workshop!

There are many more! If you would like the full feedback from the participants in Zimbabwe and/or Kenya , please let me know. I will try to put photos and short videos on my blog soon.

Once again I felt constrained to wash the feet of the eldest person in the workshop (79 yrs) to express my deep regret for the dominating way in which we had ruled Kenya . We committed terrible atrocities there, including a forced labour camp for men and a concentration camp for women and children, where thousands died of starvation and disease. As I was confessing these things and washing the old man’s feet he was responding saying repeatedly, “I accept your apology! I forgive you! It’s OK! We’re equal now!” This led to all the tribes coming forward one by one to ask forgiveness of each other, while the others came forward to embrace them. This continued for about 90 minutes.

The King’s Table that evening was such a joyous time with all the tribes sharing food and drink together (something I was told would never happen), singing and dancing in their own cultural way. On Friday morning, they divided into around 8 local groups to plan what they were going to do with what they had learnt and experienced, and then presented their plans to us. Then each group took a candle and we lit them as a symbol of how each group would ‘rise and shine’ in their locality. The Bishop of Kericho stayed with us throughout (though he had not planned to do so!) and testified that he had received a great deal of healing and would be backing this ministry fully. He said he wanted Kericho to become a model of healing and reconciliation that the rest of Kenya could learn from.  We will return to train workshop facilitators.

What more can I say! We are overwhelmed with gratitude and in awe of God. Before the workshops I felt God impressed Is 30:18 on me. “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion.” We are so privileged that we can be so sure of God’s intentions. Whatever the group, whatever their condition or situation, this is God’s heart towards them so we can approach them with the confidence that God will come amongst us and reveal His glory. Please pray that they will hold on to what they received and will be able to live this out in their communities. Also that it will be possible to train anointed teams in both countries.

At the end of this month I am going back to Rwanda and Congo for just under a month. I will send another update with the details before I go. In the meantime, I’m still working on the book, attending a course on mediation, and have speaking engagements…

All the teams in the different countries would value your continued prayer covering. The team in DRC especially need your prayers as they are experiencing intense spiritual warfare at present.

Thank you so much for your continuing interest, love and support.

With much love,