The first of two conferences here in Kenya has come to an end.  For three days, I joined 30 other workers as we prayed and strategized how best to help and engage a people-group in North Africa who are marginalized by the world around them and unreached by the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I mostly listened but was able to lead the group – along with a South African pastor (pictured with me and his wife) – in a sweet time of communion and prayer at the conclusion of the conference.

When the conference concluded, the worker I’m here with and I called a taxi and headed down the mountain into Nairobi for dinner together.  It was a good time to debrief the first conference and prepare for the second one – which will be much larger as the focus is on a broader group of unreached people.  Some 100 workers are expected to attend.

Nairobi is known as being a very dangerous city – one of the most dangerous in all of Africa, especially at night.  We knew that the market we went to for dinner would be safe, however, because it is guarded and patrolled by men carrying AK-47s.  My friend and I asked two of the guards if we could get our pictures taken with them, but they said that they could not allow it as it was “not legal.”  So, much to my delight (as you can see from the picture), my friend told the guards that he would just take my picture by the elephant, but I could tell that he was aiming at the guards as well!  We fought the law…and we won!

On the way back to the conference center, we had a brush with the frightening Nairobi night life.  The roads inside and outside Nairobi are atrocious – potholes everywhere.  We had just passed a township full of people roaming the streets, some of whom looked shifty – seeking opportunities to steal from foreigners like me and my friend!  The rain was falling and the road once again became dark as we left the lights of the township.  As our driver sped up, trying to avoid the deep potholes, he accidently struck one, and our back tire popped.  We were forced to pull over and replace the flat tire with the undependable spare from the trunk.  It was pitch black, and the driver and my friend both expressed concern for our safety.  As we were digging through the trunk for the spare, two large men from a nearby compound approached us.  I wanted to yell, “Friend or foe?!” before they got close so I would know whether or not I needed to jump back into the car…but I refrained!

We were relieved when the men identified themselves as night guards and helped us by giving us light from their flashlights.  Once we got back in the car for the final 10 minute drive to the conference center, my friend told me that upon pulling over, he had taken his wallet out and put it in his shoe.  He lives in Africa and knows how these things go down, and he thought for sure that we were being set up.  Thank God the flat was legitimate and the guards were helpful!

More and more people are arriving and the second conference is about to begin.  My friend and I will not be venturing into Nai-robbery – I mean Nairobi – until Saturday, so the AK-47 and robbery-threat level is low until then.  Please keep praying for us!