Village Elder Rededicates His Life to Christ (STORM-2024)
STORM 2024, Team 1
First of all, I am blown away by this group’s contributions to Share International’s Storm Team and I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. The funds you give will no doubt go a long way in this organization sharing the Gospel in a place that may not be the end of the earth, but I am pretty sure you can see it from here. My assessment initially visiting the first village is, these people are living just as people did when Jesus walked the earth, in a place hostile to human survival, yet joyous, nonetheless.
Our first village visit was just north of Lodwar, Kenya only about 10 miles north of the city and a couple of miles of off road driving. It impressed on me how much of a sacrifice these people went through to travel to a somewhat central spot to be with us. This first village was a previously reached village and our role here was one of discipleship training. Teaching them how to share the Gospel with others in the village. The people were divided into 5 groups of mature men, mature women, young men, young women and children. We had a several hundred each day the two days there. My adult men group was about 15 “mature” men.
Of the 15 men, we had three who were baptized the second day along with 19 other men, women and children. Most of the men were engaging, asked and answered good questions and I must say, “got it” in regards to the need to and the ability to be disciples. What a blessing the time spent with these brothers.
I must tell you about one of the men who was an elder who was so gracious and thankful for our coming, he wanted to give us a gift. So, as we were preparing to leave here comes a man with a goat lead by a leash of pampas like grass tied around his neck, yes the man gave my two brothers and I a goat. Not sure what Delta airlines will say about that, but we now have a goat. Of course, I did not want this man who had so little giving me anything but was told there was no option not to take it. He brought his entire family out to introduce us and I prayed over him and his lovely family.
Sunday we were invited to join the Share team for a day of worship and celebration which included all their zone reps, missionaries, pastors, local staff. This included teams from South Sudan and Ethiopia as well as those in Kenya zones. Hard to describe how expressive a Kenya worship service is, but I think most marathon runners most likely don’t get their heart rate up to the level my heart attained joining them.
One other surprise was the village Elder, Michael, who gave us a goat, came down on the back of his nephew’s motorcycle on Sunday to join this celebration. What an incredible man who shared with us why he gave us the goat. Turns out he was a believer in Jesus but had been struggling with his faith. Our traveling from America caused him to listen intently and was moved by our time together. Michael recommitted his life to Jesus and committed to us to be even more focused on helping spread to Gospel to his village and those surrounding his. This man was the lead Elder in his village and respected by those villages around him. Once again my heart overflowed with the love this brother shared with us and I told him it was our blessing to have met him and to hear how God is working in his life and his people. His influence will be a tremendous help to the SHARE staff’s ongoing efforts to spread the Gospel.
– Steve Boozer, Men’s Ministry