1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Look, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed. In a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

Deep into the heart of Kenya lives a people who experience heaven on earth. Drum beats join with their feet pounding to the natural rhythm of their souls. My spirit awakens within me as I join them, a fresh freedom is here! Voices like angels singing in a choir immerse my very being in song. We sing, we shout, we clap, we dance, we cry, we kneel, we bow, we raise our hands as high as they can reach and we touch the sky together. We are one, nothing divides us because we have entered in to the Holy place into the presence of a King, our King.

Psalm 47:7 For God is the King of all the earth; sing to him a psalm of praise.

Psalm 149:3 Let them praise His name with dancing.

Joy unspeakable lives here too. Never mind the obvious needs all around. Some need shoes, clothes, food or healing. Some need parents because they have no one to care for them. Some need a husband because he has passed on. Some need shelter or clean water. Never mind since their eyes are bright with joy, they choose joy! They laugh and they dance with total abandon because they dance before the Lord. Their faces are full of the life and light of Jesus. Joy is now a personal and permanent decision for me.

Psalm 30:10-12 Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me; O Lord, be my help. You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.

Deep love pours out of their hearts. They show love to their children, to one another and especially to our team. They know we have traveled far to be with them and they welcome us royally with open arms, abundant grace and pure love. My soul is full of the love they poured into our lives. Hugs are too numerous to count. We hold hands, greet and smile. We are the only white people there for days on end. They see no color and we see no color because love covers us.

Song of Songs 2:4 His banner over me is love.

Food and fellowship are priority for them. We were served delicious meals of rice, potatoes, beans, plantain, ugali (white cornmeal paste), spinach and some beef or chicken. Those serving us would run, actually run to fetch water or bring us a napkin. We sit and we talk and talk some more. We fellowship with no fear of time or hurry, only time for one another. Relaxing over hot tea and more time for community. We were introduced to a slow pace that brings friendship around the table.

1 John 1:3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you may have fellowship with us.

Majestic land for a majestic God. Bright blue skies, mountains, flowers, sunshine and rain. Everything is magnified here. The land is stunningly beautiful with nature in all its glory. Large animals roam freely. We witnessed the great Lion, tall stately Giraffe families and herds of giant Elephants roaming with their children while caring for each one. Funny monkeys by the dozen entertained us for hours with their humor! The monkeys would pick bugs off one another and eat them as a snack, they ran, climbed trees and played together. We also enjoyed the ostrich, jackal, laughing hyena, gazelle, storks, striped zebra, exotic blue birds, buffalos and bugs of all color and kinds. God’s creative creations live here. He is mighty in all the earth!

Psalm 8:1 O Lord, our Lord how majestic is Your name in all the earth.

Generous grace. Everywhere we went we experienced their graciousness. Good manners in abundance. We were warmly welcomed and hosted with please and thank you. Generosity rules even where poverty is evident. They bring offerings, the “widows mite”, they brought chickens and money again and again. All they have is brought to God and He is a present for them in return.

Luke 11:41 But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.

1 Timothy 6:18 Command them to do good, be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

Out of suffering comes brokenness yet through it all shines the quality of humility. Humble attitudes abound here. They come to the altar with a willingness that I’ve never witnessed. Ready to receive, ready to change, they want to be healed. They come asking for a blessing, for anointing, to be a servant of God, to forgive and be forgiven. Freely they come and freely they receive. God is tangible at their altar. His power is explosive and you can feel his very breath breathing life into the room, into diseased bodies and touching souls. The desperation is real, survival for some is daily, pain in their bodies or broken hearts over their lives. God meets them. They fully rely on Him. We see the Holy Spirit baptizing them, healing them and freeing them to go out and be renewed once again. They sing, “One more time, one more time … Jesus touch me” and He does again and again.

Proverbs 3:4 Humility is the fear of the Lord; it’s wages are riches and honor and life.

Philippians 2:1-3 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

~ Jennifer Jackson 2023

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