Afica Expedition 2025
Today was a great day here in Africa!
Until your in a Kenyan church I don’t think you can understand the energy with which they sing, dance and worship. But today we were there. Everything is so formal in Kenya, so we were seated in the green room (hot box as some call it). A small sheet iron and brick building used for visitors, meetings, and pastor office space, when Pastor Ezekiel popped his head in the door and asked Faith and Uriah to come out and teach Sunday school. With no hesitation they agreed and grabbed their bags and headed out. Rachel followed first then Chip, and then I found myself heading in the direction also. Before they started teaching Brian, Robert and April had joined us and Uriah was up. He was prepared with his own planned, written lessons and he told them the story of Moses. Ezekiel then took time to speak freely to the children about the lesson and soon Faith was ready to go. She shared about the talking donkey, her favorite story, and then once again the pastor took over and answered some questions that were being asked. It was great to see them teaching, in fact they were the first to get to speak this year, we we’re all so proud of the job they did this morning.
Afterwards we found ourselves back in the hotbox, but only for a moment before being ushered in to the church. We took our seats in the front, as is the tradition, and we were there witnessing all the most energetic group of people worship Jesus. They sang loud, they danced, Robert put Mrs. April in the conga line that was snaking its way through the small church building front to back and across the front of the stage. Faith and Uriah found themselves dragged into the excitement as we watched their awkward attempts to bob their heads like the massai, though it was a noble attempt, it fell short of anything resembling the native dancing. Once the fifteen minute song was completed it was off to the preaching.
Bro. Brian spoke first about stewardship of spiritual gifting, the church responded well and were blessed by the message. Brian had such a great word teaching them about spiritual gifts being given not earned…that we are to mange the gifts not own them…and that the gifts were for us to use as service to others not to promote ourselves. The message was powerful and really seemed to grab at the hearts of the men and women who were there to hear it.
Afterwards there was a time of worship in song and dance, followed by a time of introduction. I was able to introduce our team and share a brief testimony and word with the church at that time.
Robert was up after that. He put a song on the “loud speakers” and danced for the Kenyans…you had to be there…But It was to be a two sermon Sunday and Robert was up for the challenge. He started his teaching by defining world stewardship and biblical stewardship. He explained that all things, regardless of what they are belong to God, and that we are gifted these things to use to grow the kingdom. He gave them six great scriptures to read about the topic and assigned them the homework of reading it tonight. Then, in typical Robert fashion, he made a direct modulation to the question “Do you have the Spirit of God inside of you?”. Then finishing up in Ephesians he knocked it out of the park.
Ezekiel then came up and gave instruction and prayed over the meal, but just before releasing everyone to eat he remembered a conversation he had the night before with Uriah and Chip about sharing testimony. Uriah was up now, as he had volunteered himself at the dinner table last evening, and Ezekiel was not about to forget.
Uriah, again having a pre-written testimony, was afforded the chance to stand in the church in Kilgoris on day one and share a testimony of himself being a part of a school mates salvation several years ago. He finished up by telling them that God could and would use anyone, we just have to be willing and not afraid. It was a great moment for him, and I have never been more proud of him than I was in that moment.
We soon found church dismissed, back in the hot box, and the ladies swarming us to take the traditional meal with them. We agreed to take lunch and were blessed with great fellowship and conversation around the small tables in the stuffy small hot office room we are all piled into.
After lunch we went into Kilgoris to visit Pastor Ezekiels nephew who had somehow gotten into some poison and was not doing well. We went in and prayed over him and I would ask you all to keep him in your prayers as well. His name is Josh, and that is all I know about the topic.
We then went up to the school we helped them start in 2019 and to visit Ezekiel’s home. After a nice walk on the mountain and a nice visit at the pastors home we returned to our rooms, exhausted, dirty, sweaty, hungry, but feeling very satisfied with the days events.
Its been a great time here already and its only day one. Already we know tomorrow holds some unknowns but that is the nature of Kenya missions, and if you can’t be flexible in scheduling this isn’t the place for you.
Ill ask that you pray for us for tomorrow, we are going to a boarding school to speak to 500 students 8-15 years old. Pray for Josh, that he will recover, he isn’t doing very well. Pray for the people we will speak too that their ears will be open and they will listen to the gospel with a receptive heart.
I know this was a long post, and if all goes as I expect, tomorrows will be as well.
Goodnight from Africa church,
Todd Crabtree
Until your in a Kenyan church I don’t think you can understand the energy with which they sing, dance and worship. But today we were there. Everything is so formal in Kenya, so we were seated in the green room (hot box as some call it). A small sheet iron and brick building used for visitors, meetings, and pastor office space, when Pastor Ezekiel popped his head in the door and asked Faith and Uriah to come out and teach Sunday school. With no hesitation they agreed and grabbed their bags and headed out. Rachel followed first then Chip, and then I found myself heading in the direction also. Before they started teaching Brian, Robert and April had joined us and Uriah was up. He was prepared with his own planned, written lessons and he told them the story of Moses. Ezekiel then took time to speak freely to the children about the lesson and soon Faith was ready to go. She shared about the talking donkey, her favorite story, and then once again the pastor took over and answered some questions that were being asked. It was great to see them teaching, in fact they were the first to get to speak this year, we we’re all so proud of the job they did this morning.
Afterwards we found ourselves back in the hotbox, but only for a moment before being ushered in to the church. We took our seats in the front, as is the tradition, and we were there witnessing all the most energetic group of people worship Jesus. They sang loud, they danced, Robert put Mrs. April in the conga line that was snaking its way through the small church building front to back and across the front of the stage. Faith and Uriah found themselves dragged into the excitement as we watched their awkward attempts to bob their heads like the massai, though it was a noble attempt, it fell short of anything resembling the native dancing. Once the fifteen minute song was completed it was off to the preaching.
Bro. Brian spoke first about stewardship of spiritual gifting, the church responded well and were blessed by the message. Brian had such a great word teaching them about spiritual gifts being given not earned…that we are to mange the gifts not own them…and that the gifts were for us to use as service to others not to promote ourselves. The message was powerful and really seemed to grab at the hearts of the men and women who were there to hear it.
Afterwards there was a time of worship in song and dance, followed by a time of introduction. I was able to introduce our team and share a brief testimony and word with the church at that time.
Robert was up after that. He put a song on the “loud speakers” and danced for the Kenyans…you had to be there…But It was to be a two sermon Sunday and Robert was up for the challenge. He started his teaching by defining world stewardship and biblical stewardship. He explained that all things, regardless of what they are belong to God, and that we are gifted these things to use to grow the kingdom. He gave them six great scriptures to read about the topic and assigned them the homework of reading it tonight. Then, in typical Robert fashion, he made a direct modulation to the question “Do you have the Spirit of God inside of you?”. Then finishing up in Ephesians he knocked it out of the park.
Ezekiel then came up and gave instruction and prayed over the meal, but just before releasing everyone to eat he remembered a conversation he had the night before with Uriah and Chip about sharing testimony. Uriah was up now, as he had volunteered himself at the dinner table last evening, and Ezekiel was not about to forget.
Uriah, again having a pre-written testimony, was afforded the chance to stand in the church in Kilgoris on day one and share a testimony of himself being a part of a school mates salvation several years ago. He finished up by telling them that God could and would use anyone, we just have to be willing and not afraid. It was a great moment for him, and I have never been more proud of him than I was in that moment.
We soon found church dismissed, back in the hot box, and the ladies swarming us to take the traditional meal with them. We agreed to take lunch and were blessed with great fellowship and conversation around the small tables in the stuffy small hot office room we are all piled into.
After lunch we went into Kilgoris to visit Pastor Ezekiels nephew who had somehow gotten into some poison and was not doing well. We went in and prayed over him and I would ask you all to keep him in your prayers as well. His name is Josh, and that is all I know about the topic.
We then went up to the school we helped them start in 2019 and to visit Ezekiel’s home. After a nice walk on the mountain and a nice visit at the pastors home we returned to our rooms, exhausted, dirty, sweaty, hungry, but feeling very satisfied with the days events.
Its been a great time here already and its only day one. Already we know tomorrow holds some unknowns but that is the nature of Kenya missions, and if you can’t be flexible in scheduling this isn’t the place for you.
Ill ask that you pray for us for tomorrow, we are going to a boarding school to speak to 500 students 8-15 years old. Pray for Josh, that he will recover, he isn’t doing very well. Pray for the people we will speak too that their ears will be open and they will listen to the gospel with a receptive heart.
I know this was a long post, and if all goes as I expect, tomorrows will be as well.
Goodnight from Africa church,
Todd Crabtree
Posted in Africa Updates