Jan. 4 – This is a good reminder for me before I enter a prison. Kitale Med. Men Prison & Kitale Main Prison

 Ministry Partners,

It was a bright sunny morning today in Kitale, Kenya and although I am still having issues I had a much better sleep by drinking more water with additional electrolytes.

Breakfast was not the best and all of us left considerable food on the plates that they served us. I ate the pineapple, carrots, 1 sm. Beef sausage, ½ a scrambled egg and French toast. I prefer to serve myself so that food is not wasted but when they bring an already prepared plate there is not much of a choice.

This is a good reminder for me before I enter a prison.

Edward returned from getting supplies for the two prisons today and first took us to Kitale Med. Men’s Prison of 350. We were greeted by a women officer and five chaplains, one said he remembered me from many years ago when he was at a different prison. The chaplains were from different denominations.  I wonder how it sits with them when I clearly share some things that differ from their religion, yet they sit behind me on the platform, stand and pray through the invitations for salvation and forgiveness right along with all the other inmates.

The common area inside the prison was small, surrounded by individual wards but with a fair size, opened sided covered area right in the middle so most of the prisoners, of every denomination, sat in the shade with us. The four male officers who sat behind the group of inmates remained through the entire crusade.

The men were singing and dancing when we arrived and Alfred joined right in as Aaron attached my headphone equipment to their system. But I was concerned that I might trip over the mic cords laying on the cement platform floor so Alfred got our two cordless microphones for Aaron and he to use while interpreting into Swahili for me. Edward introduced me to the inmates by saying, “Your Mom has come to visit you today.”

Inmates who gave a testimony after wards said how today’s message had changed their life moving forward while one inmate quoted from memory a lengthy poem he had written concerning his life and time in prison. One of the chaplains had some very kind words to say about my teachings and he said how the faces of the inmates were sad when they entered but now they were smiling and happy.

Edward and two of the chaplains left right after I started to preach to go to the next prison and to get them prepared for us. Then they went to their own church but told us to arrive at 2:00pm so we went back to our hotel to rest until 1:30 when we will leave to be at Kitale Main Men’s Prison of 1,500. We were met by a nice chaplain who took us inside where 1,250 prisoners that were assembled from all denominations. One half of the prisoners were convicted inmates in their black and white stripped clothing while the other half of the inmates were remand prisoners in their street clothing. Remand prisoners are ones who have not yet had a trial. Each group sat to themselves and did not mix with each other.

Right before I started to speak a group of five in street clothes entered, it looked like 20-23 year olds but I am not a good judge of age here. Aaron said they were new guards, 4 men and the woman was a wife to one of the men

I just love the interaction I got from all the inmates today. The covered meeting place was very large and could have held more inmates. The raised concrete platform had lovely tiles on top so I did not have to worry about tripping or stumbling over a rocky rough area, I was able to just focus on sharing all four messages in our crusade. Edward appeared as I started to share about Forgiveness and translated for me into Swahili just as Aaron had been doing. The prisoners laughed when I told them, “It’s not often a Bishop translates for a Bishop.” Chaplain Edward has become a Bishop since I was last here.

Hearing almost every prisoners boldly pray to receive Christ as Savior was such a joy, followed by praying the Forgiveness prayer. It was something to watch as all the prisoners stood, extended their hand and apologized to other inmates they had argued or fought with, ending with huge smiles on their faces. It was 4pm when we finished and I had an absolutely wonderful time today.

We headed back to the hotel and ordered dinner and Edward went to do other errands, he will order his dinner when he arrives. As I wait for dinner, it takes a while; I will try to finish this blog and get my suitcase packed because tomorrow we will be traveling to Eldorate to do one prison tomorrow. We will stay there for a couple of days doing additional prisons in that area.

Dinner was good; the guys had fish and local foods while I had a BBQ Pork Chop, small seasoned potatoes, salad and broccoli with cheese. The BBQ sauce was not anything I recognized but it was very good. At dinner, Aaron explained that the Swahili he speaks when translating for me in Uganda is different from the Swahili he needs to speak here in Kenya. I am really blessed to have Alfred and Aaron traveling with me, they take care of all the many details.

Please pray for:

• Safety for both vehicles as we travel the next few days
•  Open hearts for the Gospel
•  A fresh anointing for the team
•  Health and safety for the team

That none would be lost,

Arlene