We finished a blessed day sharing a meal with SOMA veteran Rev Kennedy Wando and his lay minister Elias, alongside Rev Moses Kimani who had been our host, guide and ministry partner for the day. We returned to his Alma Mater, Lenana school named after a Maasai leader who had helped overthrown the colonial oppressors. The day had begun early with breakfast at the guest house prior to heading out for the morning service where I had the chance to give out more communion wafers to young men in the age bracket of 15-18 than probably received communion today in the whole Diocese of London.

I was asked to preach and interwove some of my story of school aged issues, and conversion, into the story of the last supper, and the passover, before inviting people to pray ‘come Holy Spirit’. The key verse was on betrayal in Mt 26, and just why Jesus was betrayed, including God’s part and our part in that.

After a warm greeting with both the chaplain and the headteacher we went straight out from the service on a tour to try and find St Jerome’s parish, which turned out down a small alleyway off a narrow very pedestrian road that stopped and started through ‘southern and central Africa’s largest slum’ home to 2 million residents, and backing on to quite affluent areas. We arrived in time to bring greetings and a message before heading out for lunch, only to be thwarted by several wrong turns, and a few three point turn in a slum roadside guided by a gang who were hoping their charity in helping us would lead to payment, and it was ‘only our dog collars that saved us’.

Eventually we broke free, refreshed over lunch, and after a mechanical breakdown (call an Uber not the RAC, and when they arrive get them to jumpstart you for the equivalent of your fare). Then, after a 30 minute rest, back to the school for the 4pm service, which finished at 5:30pm, but we had 2 hours of ministry and counselling afterwards that was astonishingly fruitful and brilliant to see – I must have prayed or talked to 30 boys eihter coming to Christ, being filled with the Spirit, wanting spiritual help for deeper discipleship etc… it was a real move of God, and but for the Uber man we might never have got there.

So much to bless God for today. We praise him. Tomorrow, back to Kibera Mission Area, in the slum, for what sounds like the most amazing community project.