Alien Praying

A good training session today. Four pastors plus Eunice, Emily & myself. After reviewing the teaching briefly, we then plunged in with some practical trials. Two of the pastors watched as they hadn't been at the last training, and the others of us split into two groups - Pastor Shadrack, Pastor Alex & Emily in one group, Eunice and myself in the other.

We had four guinea pigs, so opportunities for four of us to take the lead in the praying. It was very interesting to see different people at different levels of comfort with the style of praying - some more able to be patient, others needing to fill space with words. But we had a great time, and two of the people we prayed for could feel the Holy Spirit at work on the areas we were ministering to.

We'll be training again next week - too many of us are still having to refer to the notes to try to make sure we don't forget stuff! Also next week I think we'll be looking for a suitable venue in Mashimoni.

All in all a very encouraging and exciting day - everyone seems very enthusiastic, and willing to learn and grasp this new style of praying, however alien it may feel to them. In time it will become more natural no doubt, but at the moment it's great just to see their desire, and their shared heart for the people of Kibera.

I feel privileged to be involved with them all.

Shrieking demons!

So we were due to do some more training this morning, but vehicle problems have prevented us. Rescheduled for next Tuesday, so the impetus will continue. I'm thinking that we'll hopefully get out on the streets of Kibera for the first time on 1st Feb - two weeks today.

I've been reading in Acts about how after Stephen died, Philip went and started preaching, and demons were shrieking as they came out. Did some more 'claiming Kibera prayer for God' today and was taking authority over Satan and sending him out of Kibera - obviously not in any of my own power, but it's great to know that he's already lost the battle, and that if we are standing with Jesus we have His authority and can basically order Satan or one of his demons to flee, and they have to obey.

I'm praying for that sort of power in Jesus' name in Kibera - whether it be through the HotS or some other means - but that Kibera would become a place that is known for Jesus, that it would be a place where people know the freedom that comes through knowing Jesus, and where Satan would have no more strongholds, but where he would know he has no place.

Now that would be a different Kibera! Am I being naive? Do I really think that my prayers, together with the prayers of a few pastors and others, can have that impact? I wonder whether the first apostles also had these sorts of questions? Did they doubt a person would be healed when they declared it? Did they fear taking authority over demons and casting them out, afraid of what the demons may do to them?

We're not told about the apostles having doubts, but they were human, so I imagine they did at first, but maybe after a few instances of taking authority they started to get confidence in God's power, and in their own ability to hear and discern God's voice telling them who to zap, and who not to. The healing of the man who went 'walking and leaping' by Peter and John I find interesting because I wonder, 'what was different that day?' They had walked past this man on countless other days, and not healed him. Why that day? I can only conclude that they discerned that it was on that day that God wanted to heal him, and on previous days He hadn't! Why? Only God knows.

And only God knows what'll happen when we start praying for people in Kibera on Feb 1st.

Clean hands

So, we went through the teaching on the 'Healing on the Streets' prayer ministry model. Some laughs, which always helps, but the guys seem to have grasped some of the main differences between this method and how they usually do prayer ministry - lots of volume and lots of preaching.

We had a practice on one person which went well - no amazing healing to report, but it was great to see they'd taken the teaching on board. They struggled a bit to keep their eyes open when praying, but even I find it a bit unnatural to talk to God whilst looking at others.

All in all a very positive time, and the preparations continue. Banner should be ready in the next few days, stuff to give to people we've prayed for has been identified and is readily available, and we've got another teaching / practice session lined up for next Monday.

After that it's the real thing. Exciting, and I think I've made up my mind that I will be involved, rather than just supporting from the sidelines. I guess that means I'll be getting my hands clean?

My fasting is not slowing

So, attempting to do training on the first day back after the Christmas and New Year break was not one of my better ideas. One pastor turned up 1 hour late, the others haven't shown yet. Consequently we have postponed the training till next week.

And that gives me more time to reconsider what I'm reconsidering, that is my decision that I and Emily shouldn't be personally involved in the Healing in the Streets ministry. I have been feeling that my decision may have been based on worldly wisdom, rather than it being what God wants. I've been feeling again that God wants me to be personally involved, rather than just supporting on the sidelines. Much as I would like to, I continue to argue with myself about why I should need to be involved. But maybe that's asking the wrong question. Yes, God can do it through Kenyans. Of course He doesn't need me to be involved. But maybe He wants to bless me by allowing me to see God working powerfully at first hand, through me?

Having fasted every Monday since the start of September, I had a break last Monday when we were away for a few days in Naivasha, and I ate. Interesting - I missed fasting. I'm not quite sure exactly what I missed about it, but my week felt different, not having fasted. And I was keen to get to today so I could fast again.

Having never fasted before, I find I'm still enjoying it, and I feel much more spiritually aware and alive on the days and weeks when I have fasted.

So my weekly fast continues.