More healing and reconciliation in Kenya

Following the workshop in Zimbabwe a healing and reconciliation workshop was help in Nakuru in Kenya's Rift valley. Tensions are still high there after the post-election violence. Wounds are still open and festering.

47 people from 6 different tribes in the Kericho diocese attended the workshop and the atmosphere at first was tense and uneasy. Anastase from Rwanda and Basara from Congo joined me to run the workshop, and 2 participants from the previous MU workshop also came to help. As in Zimbabwe, the Thief session was very significant with the tribes listing their losses and later taking them to the cross. In the cross workshop the tribes are deliberately mixed in small groups. Their response to this was one of shock. Before they had hardly shared their pains and sorrows even with their own tribes. Now they were so shocked that they had sat with their 'enemies' and poured out their hearts to each other! They had even wept together and prayed together! They declared that this had been nothing short of a miracle! Some were so excited that they began to phone home, not only to tell their friends and families, but also to call their enemies to see if they could meet and work things out. The next day so many of them testified of a change of heart and the freedom to forgive. They said they were seeing the other tribes as brothers for the first time.

During the repentance time I again felt I should wash the feet of the most senior member as a sign of deep repentance for the way we British had ruled them. As idid so he kept speaking out words of forgiveness while many began to weep. Then for the next hour and a half, the various tribes began to come forard confessing the sins of their tribes. Other came forward to embrace and forgive.

The King's Table celebration of unity was like a big party - full of joy! After each tribe was affirmed and blessed, each tribe gave a demonstration of praise in their culture, and everyone else joined in the singing and dancing. The following morning they divided into groups to amke plans of how they would take the message into their communities. Each group lifted up a lit candle as symbol that they would 'rise and shine' in their localites.

Healing and Reconciliation in Zimbabwe

At a recent healing and reconciliation workshop in Matapos, 24 participants found deep healing at the Cross. Shona, Ndebele and Whites drew up a list of what the Thief (Jn 10:10) had stolen from their peoplegroup down the generations and what their resulting false beliefs were. Much pain became evident. All this as well as personal painful histories were nailed to a Cross as they entrusted themselves and their peoplegroups to the crucified but risen Lord.
The next day I felt constrained as a British citizen to wash the feet of a leading Shona and Ndebele in an attitude of repentance for our history of oppressive colonial rule there. Many began to weep and some began to declare forgiveness. Following this Shona and Ndebele began to spontaneously wash each other's feet and this went on for more than an hour.
That evening was a joyous celebration of new-found unity at the King's Table where the tribes affirmed and blessed each other. They are now eager to be trained to run the workshop themselves and take the message of healing and reconciliation throughout Zimbabwe.

It was a joy to have maria from the team in South Africa join me as co-facilitator. She was a great blessing to all.

Regional Chiefs reconciliation workshop

In Dec 2006 two regional chiefs from opposite sides of the conflict met in a workshop. There they were reconciled together at the cross. As a result they called Daniel, saying that if they could be reconciled, why not all the regional chiefs? The war would then end! Would the team be willing to conduct the workshop for all the regional chiefs? They could also invite heads of police, army and local government, as well as some pastors. The team buy now were full of faith as they had seen the wonderful works of God, and agreed. They requested that the workshop be held in the still standing church in the ruined town of Nyankunde.

This workshop took place in March 2007 and included the 24 regional chiefs of the southern part of Ituri. Armed bodyguards surrounded the church as together the chiefs and other leaders took the sins and suffering of their tribes to the cross. On the third day, there was a profound repentance time which ended in the chiefs holding hands in a circle, pledging friendship from then on. The war in Ituri stopped the following week.

Militia march of repentance

On Friday 28th 2008, we had a training day with 200 militia who had repented after attending the workshops. Many more militia have repented, but these were chosen because they are now actively involved in churches and have already joined intercession groups. In the morning I taught on God’s weapon of love. It became very clear that there can be no lasting change in Ituri unless family life is healed. When we enquired, not one of these ex-militia had grown up feeling loved. As we explored God’s Father heart and His ideal plan for family relationships, many were deeply touched. We had a ministry time to receive God’s love and then to express it to one another. In the afternoon a Congolese brother taught on the effect on a nation of shedding innocent blood and of rape. Following this, they spent the whole night crying out to God for mercy, asking Him to cleanse and sanctify the land.
The next day, we all marched through Bunia waving Jesus flags, the ex-militia singing and dancing as we went. We ended in a public place where the ex-militia sang songs they had written. One song described how they were the ones who had troubled the region by killing, raping, and looting, but now they had found a great Saviour. Now they wished to be ambassadors of peace. Several of them testified of their involvement in the war, relying on the power of sorcery, but how Jesus had set them completely free. What an amazing privilege it was to be there! The teams will follow them up and seek to disciple them further.

Kenya Mothers Union Training

Next week I return to Kenya to help Joseph to run a training week for the Mothers Union ladies who attended our workshop in November. I leave for Nairobi on Thursday, flying overnight. On Saturday the team will meet in Nairobi to finalise our planning together. Daniel will also join us from the DRC, but Joseph will be the main trainer. Don Brewin from the UK will be with us again. He is the one who has helped to make this vision a reality. We will begin the training course in Naivasha on Sunday evening, and continue until Saturday morning 21st. Please pray that this will be an effective equipping and empowering time for these precious ladies. They can be dynamite within the nation! There is increasing evidence that the conflict in Kenya is by no means over and that trouble is still brewing underneath the surface. We therefore have a sense of urgency about this training. We have also received an invitation from TearFund in Kenya to conduct another HWEC workshop there for Christian leaders, possibly in May, so please pray for God’s best as possibilities are investigated.