Jan. 3 – Kenya - Kitale Med. Men’s Prison and Kitale Women’s Prison

Ministry Partners,

I will not go into detail but last night was one of the worst for me so far with leg cramps and pain. I am adding one more bottle of water daily and more electrolytes to see if that helps.

Chaplain Edward was gone when Alfred, Aaron and I went for our good but not elaborate breakfast as Alfred said he ate early and then went to purchase the supplies we are required to provide for each prison, today it was cases of soap.

 IRM’s first prison visit in Kenya

Edward returned before 10 to lead the team to our first prison crusade in Kenya at Kitale Annex prison where we found 700 inmates already gathered inside a medium size building and we could hear them singing and dancing before we ever entered the room. Alfred joined in the singing and dancing as soon as we entered while Aaron was connecting my headset equipment to their sound system. Four prison chaplains were also there along with a mama kitty and her kittens.

Aaron mostly interpreted into Swahili for me while Alfred helped with object lessons. Once again, I watched a number of prisoners nodding in agreement, as I spoke and shared scriptures. There were times they said, “Amen” and other times applauded. It was good morning as the men responded to all three invitations; salvation, forgiveness and apologizing (what a joy that is to watch).

Then we had a little over an hour to wait until we could enter the women’s prison of 300 so we followed Edward there and parked in the shade. It was nice to get a bit of a rest since I did not get much sleep last night.

When we arrived inside the women’s prison we were greeted by a lovely elderly woman chaplain that Edward said had work thirty years for prisons. She gave us a powerful testimony at the end of how our time together had spoken to her. Alfred said Swahili here in Kenya is different than Swahili in Uganda because the women were so funny when we did the “Forgiveness and Apology” skits where Alfred has to talk and act mean to me. They let him know they did not like him being mean to me. It was a very good day of ministry today.

Dinner was ok but not as good as last night since the beef was not very tender and I ordered salad for first choice with broccoli as a second choice. I got broccoli but both Alfred and Aaron got salad. It was nice of them to also bring me salad when I asked them about it.

Because Edward canceled a couple of our days, he has redone our schedule as follows:

• Jan. 4 – Kitale Main + Kitale Med. Men
•  Jan. 5 – Eldorate
•  Jan. 6 – Eldorate Women and Ngeria
•  Jan. 7 – Kabarnet and Tambach
•  Jan. 8 – Bugoma Main and Bugoma Women
•  Jan. 9 – Shikusa Farm and Shikusa Boys  
•  Jan. 10 – Return to Kampala

I am looking forward to finishing this blog, showering and getting to bed early tonight. I will be preaching 2 crusades tomorrow.

Please pray that:

• Many would receive Christ as Savior in our remaining days in Kenya
•  We would have travel safety for both vehicles
•  Health and a fresh anointing for the team

That none would be lost,

Arlene