Marereni is the more centrally located venue where the three
day workshop would take place. This new church boasted an iron sheet roof and
open air walls. I was thankful for those open walls in this oven-like place. Following
our time of praise and worship along with introductions, Pastor Tsofa quickly
handed the translator’s microphone to Pastor Njuguna. Pastor Njuguna came to
this three day workshop because we’d not done anything like it when I was with
him and he desired to reinforce his learning from previous workshops. By now he
has become an expert translator for me, not an easy task given the complex
business concepts to which so few people have been exposed.
Pastor Tsofa shared some of the challenges they’re
experiencing in this church and I was thankful to have the opportunity to pray
with him about those challenges. During the second day of the workshop, the
people asked for the opportunity to ask questions. As is common, the questions
surrounded the role of women in the church and in the marriage. I was honored
and blessed to provide some biblically-based teaching in this area. At one
point I could feel God really take over, as the words from my mouth could never
have been so well phrased.
Our aim was encouraging husbands to teach their wives about
church business and to hear the voice of God. We also aimed at encouraging
wives to be sensitive to the Spirit and to respond to their husbands
accordingly. I can’t begin to properly explain all that was delivered but it
was good stuff. Both the men and women received this teaching very well. The
women, though, were excited to realize they have an important role to play and
that their husbands welcome their participation. A small celebratory
gift-giving ceremony at the end of the Sunday service resulted in a beautiful
new outfit for me bought and paid for by these ladies. I am so humbled. God is
truly amazing.