The annual Kenya medical team was a great success in so many different ways. The team of ten from Michigan and North Carolina served with local pastors, evangelists and others to share the Gospel and give medicine to treat more than 2,600 people.
Based at Chepturu in East Pokot, the team would load up their daily supply of medicine and head out each morning to a location that had been chosen by pastor Job and his evangelism team in advance.
The team quickly gelled with each other and came prepared to work. Their willing spirits combined with their compassion, patience, and desire to help the people and each other was truly remarkable. Everyone, including the interpreters and drivers, went above and beyond the call of duty so that the group, all of us working together, could help as many people as possible.
I stood off to the side one day and took in a picture of what the church is supposed to be as people, black and white, who spoke different languages come together to show the love and compassion of Christ to the people of Pokot. It was a special time that will remind me of what is possible when we work together as the Church.
People like Kapon in Chemoikut, a mother of three. Kapon stood to give testimony that her youngest child, who was less than a year old, had been sick for some time. The area lacked any medical facilities and she did not have the money for transportation or for treatment of what ended up being a very treatable ailment. Kapon was so thankful when she received word that the medical team would be conducting clinics near her home. Despite a sleepless night, she was at the clinic site with her three children and was the first to stand to give thanks to God for our coming.
When I got home I came across Isaiah 58, which resonated with me as both an encapsulation of what the team did and as a reminder to me of a greater purpose and goal for my own life.
“… you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail” Isaiah 58:9-11.
Thank you to each of the team members and the people that made it possible to be part of the team. The impact of you being there and how God used you might never be known to you. The medicine that you administered will pale in comparison to the indelible mark you made through your sacrifice and compassionate spirits.
“ No child should die from starvation or preventable disease, be denied an education, or live without Jesus”
By Peg Ohman – Coordinator /NoChild.org
Eighteen months ago I had no idea that a short-term mission trip to Kenya would change my life forever. What began as a prayer to do something of lasting value for the Kingdom became a clear calling and a passion for the children of Pokot. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to serve Him thru the NoChild initiative.
On August 5, 2011 a team from Kensington hosted by Harvesters, returned from Kenya where we updated profiles, pictures and did a medical assessment of the children at each of the children’s homes in Kodich, Kauriong and Chemolingot. We were able to see first- hand the impact the child sponsorship is having on their lives. Their love for each other, sense of community and especially their love for our Lord and Savior is more than evident in their lives. These children will be forever changed because of the loving support of our sponsors.
I personally had a chance to see the child that I sponsor. Chepkite had a feisty spirit and a beautiful smile that stole my heart on my first trip to Kenya last February. I was so happy to see her smiling face again and to spend time with her. Chepkite hasn’t lost her feisty spirit either. She managed to sneak into a game we were playing with the children after her turn was over! Sponsoring a child is more than just sending $38.00 per month. It’s a privilege to pray for her and to help give her every opportunity to succeed in life. I pray that she will grow in her love for the Lord and that she will become part of the next generation of leaders who will change her community and her world.
In the next few weeks we will be adding over 150 children to the www.nochild.org website. I look at the faces of these children every day. They have been imprinted on my heart. My prayer is that they will make a lasting impression on yours.
Each year Harvesters sends a work team into different parts of Africa. Most recently those teams have been focused on the needs of the Pokot Tribe of Northwestern Kenya. This years’ team, unlike most in the past, moved around a great deal with their focus being the needs of the orphans. They visited all the Pokot orphanages as well as the Lomut Secondary School located between East and West Pokot where some of the orphans are currently attending school.
The last orphanage visited was the Kodich orphanage in the mountains near the Uganda border. Last year, one of the work teams had installed drip irrigation on the property and helped them to plant a garden to help to feed the orphans. The report back from the team was that garden had grown to occupy most of the field and that it was being used to train some of the children in agricultural techniques. The headmaster, Yonna, has been very instrumental in advancing the work and helping the children and the community to see the great blessing this project has been.
The team had put Kodich off as the final stop as many of the students were competing in a national music competition. The group was the defending national champions and again walked away with first place honors. The team was able to catch up with the students in Nakuru where they were performing for the minister of education to determine who would be able to do a presentation before the President. The team reported that the quality of the presentations by Kodich was far superior to any of the other groups performing – they were much more polished and confident in their approach.
The other thing the team accomplished was to update biographies on orphans, and they will be adding and additional 26 children to the NoChild child sponsorship program when they return. Harvesters has also added several orphans from The Democratic Republic of Congo to our web site which will be increased after the medical team returns in the Fall.
What would you do if your grocery bill went up 250% in the matter of a couple of months? Maybe you have experienced increases like this in one or more areas of your life
East Africa has been ravaged, yet again, by a severe famine that has made food staples such as maize and beans increasingly scarce and, therefore, expensive.
Reports are coming in from the field of failing crops, despite good rains in the spring. A bag of maize used to cost K.sh. 1,500. Now the same bag of maize costs more than K.sh. 5,000.
Refugee camps in Kenya are swelling with displaced people fleeing affected areas trying to find some relief. Both East and West Pokot have been significantly affected by the situation, which is the first time in twenty years that conditions have been classified as famine. The chronic nature and scope of the situation makes it difficult for an organization like Harvesters to alleviate the suffering of these people in a meaningful, immediate way. However, there is so much that can and should be done to break the cycle of famine in this part of the world.
What can we do? What should we do? As the situation on the ground worsens, there are several meaningful things that Harvesters needs your help to accomplish through your prayers and financial support.
The most immediate need is to ensure that the more than 600 children in the care of Pokot Outreach Ministry have enough food. The sharp increase in food prices has put a significant strain on the ministry’s resources.
Area pastors and evangelist continue to minister during this time despite them and their families being significantly impacted by the situation. Their commitment to the ministry is inspiring and their sacrifice humbling.
Another, longer-term need is to continue drilling water wells to provide a reliable source of water. Wells at the Kodich and the POM mission stations are a refuge for area residents and serve as a great source of encouragement and testimony. A garden at Kodich is used to teach students small-scale farming and has been a source of fresh food for the children. Other areas in both East and West Pokot have been identified for future wells.
Your gift of any size would be helpful for the ministry to continue to encourage, assist, and support the national missionary initiative among the Pokot.
Our family is fine and are now on one side of the continent and country.
Josephine our daughter arrived on June 11 and has been in Nairobi visiting her two sisters in R.V.A. Boarding School. She just left today for Pokot. Jared and my wife Rachel have been looking forward to being with her.
I just visited Rebecca and Miriam in Boarding School two days ago and they are doing fine. I just got their school progress report and Miriam has really improved in her school work.
Josephine is busy applying to Colleges online. Please pray for wisdom in making choices as we as parents give advice.
Church Planting and Evangelism
Our congregations in Uganda are recovering from the disturbances of Uganda elections in February.
Churches in Naparakocha, Karita, Kanaranyon are now stable and refocusing on their usual habit of evangelizing their neighbors.
Reuben Meriakol and Peter Ngoleruk are busy tending the new churches to the next level of being disciple makers.
Lomut School was hit by a strong wind and a classroom and dining hall had their roofs blown off and the iron sheets torn and completely destroyed.
Lomut is a school that is a spiritual and academic centre for some of our orphans.
The school kids now learn under difficult circumstances and eat in the open. Please pray that God will provide $30,000 to replace the destroyed roofs.
From East Pokot, Pastor Job’s health continues to improve from high blood pressure. He gets sick however after riding his motor bike over the mountains to Chemolingot, Nyakwala etc.
Yusuf’s side of the valley is fine, with drought generally biting here and there.
Both pastors are pushing Northwards to Silale Hills, Akoret, Angoromot with the gospel. These areas are hearing the gospel for the first time.
Like Uganda, elder rule, witchcraft and tribal prophets are very strong and every day challenge to the gospel.
Cherangan Mission Station is on progress and will be ready to be roofed in two or three weeks. The people are really happy in this village where a waterwell with clean water is a convenience for them.
The medical clinic is soon going to be finished and will be in use.
After Cherangan, our next mission station in proposal will be Mbaru.
Mbaru is a place north of Kauriong Orphanage. It is still a place out of reach and exposure. Water and health needs are great. We are trying to reach it with the gospel, but with great needs physically, it is not easy to settle and hear the gospel.
Orphanages
Chemolingot our new orphanage has a new school! When we started the home, all our kids went to the public school nearby. We have been praying and hoping that we someday would have a school for our kids at least for the little ones. The government gave us a green light to start a school for the orphans which we got iron sheets walls and roofs and a government teacher was posted to us and we are thankful to God.
It is all joy in Kauriong Orphanage after a successful borehole. They are now away from crowded borehole, pushing and pulling in the previous water well and can wash clothes and bathe because they have plenty of water.
Kodich Orphanage continues to perform in art and academically. God has been good to us in that the kids are not very sick around this time. Malaria usually is high in May to July. Continue to pray for another dorm for Kodich.
Water Drilling
We had great success in getting water in Kauriong Orphanage. Shortage of water in the area was such a problem so much that the community drawing water for their animals had to be a priority. That made it difficult for the Orphan children because they had no washing water and sometimes got little water for cooking. The amount of water is too in the new hole is a lot.
We are thankful to God for the provision made and also the availability of water.
The Goat Project too was a success. We got plenty of water and are now in the process of completing the shades and fence around the compound.
Continue to pray for God’s provision on water. As drought continues to be frequent, boreholes become urgently needed.
Please pray for :
Wisdom as Josephine chooses a College.
God’s provision to replace Lomut School roof ($ 30,000)
Safety as our men continue pushing to the frontiers with the gospel.
The provision of God for a dorm at Kodich Orphanage.
That God will continue to meet the need for water as we drill boreholes.
In November, 2010, Forcey Memorial Church kicked off their Orphan Sunday with a goal of raising funding for fifty mattresses, mattress covers and a blanket at $70.00 a set for the 600 plus orphans under the umbrella of the Pokot Outreach Ministry of Northwest Kenya. Some might say that it “was a drop in the bucket”? But praise the Lord that it was a drop in the “right bucket”!
Today, Forcey Memorial Church has far exceeded their goal and as a result of Harvesters International Ministries sharing what the church had initiated, the ripple effect has led other churches to become involved as well. Now there are over 400 Pokot orphans have new higher quality bedding that should meet their needs for the next five years or so. Harvesters currently has funding in hand for an additional 85 bed sets and is trusting that God’s people will continue to respond for the remaining 165 still needed.
Mary with three of her seven children at the Kodich Children’s Home
Driving to northwest Kenya to the Pokot area on the bumpy dust filled roads for hours on end, I had no idea what I might experience. A mere two weeks earlier God called me to Kenya to meet women and girls in the remote Kenyan bush of Pokot.
I met a woman named Mary under a tree at the Kodich Children’s Home. Mary has seven children with her husband that she wed through an arranged marriage in her early teens. They immediately began having babies, like many of the twelve-year old Pokot girls. As part of the cultural traditions of many indigenous tribes,
Mary underwent a practice in her early teens called Female Genital Mutilation (otherwise known as female circumcision), a ritual that signifies her readiness and faithfulness for marriage.
For years Mary has worked tirelessly night and day in the harsh bush climate to find ways to feed and care for her children and survive with little to no income or support from her husband.
Though Mary shared a multitude of problems about the hot dry arid climate, remoteness of the area, rampant diseases with little medical access, lack of clean water and sustainable sources for food and reliable income, those were not the worst problems for her.
The most painful thing for her to share was her deep disappointment about the lack of support from her husband or any Pokot men for that matter. When Mary wed her husband he gave her one goat to take care of, though like most of the Pokot men, he never cared for the goat, or their children or the household in any way.
Mary’s husband does not work and will not bring income of any kind into the family. Her husband, when he did show up, was abusive and dismissive to the whole family.
Mary got silent and angry when she added the final point to her story. This husband of hers (of which she never even told us his name) had just left her for a twelve year old girl that he planned to marry and have more children with.
Some of Mary’s children now stay at the Kodich Children’s Home. She prays daily for someone to sponsor her children through Kensington Community Church’s sponsorship program so that they will have food, water, shelter, and education. Mary has not reached the point of total desperation because of the loving Christian environment of the Kodich community….at least not yet.
This story, unfortunately, is not uncommon at all. The purpose women in the Pokot society serve is to provide a marriage dowry to their fathers, bear children and do labor. Child forced marriage, lack of education and respect for girls, female circumcision, overworked girls and women raising large families and supporting them by themselves, absent and unsupportive husbands, polygamy, rampant diseases, maternal and reproductive health issues, malnutrition, starvation, and deep cycles of poverty, are the just norms of daily life among the Pokot.
Mary (far left) meets with several members of the Kodich women’s group that have bonded together to support each other emotionally, spiritually and economically
Despite these challenges, Mary says there is good news. God is at work bringing women together in community to change their situation. When we asked Mary about other women to talk to, we found out that through the local church, there is already a group of 30 women who have bonded together to collectively supporting each other emotionally, spiritually and economically. This women’s group gets together weekly for ministry, fellowship and collaborative creation of income to feed and take care for their families.
I learned that the group Mary is part of has a treasurer to manage their collective money, five community goats, and creates income from selling honey and beans. When I went to the Kauriong Children’s Home, which is even more remote, I was surprised to find an even larger group of 62 women there.
The group makes and sells beautiful beaded artifacts, evangelize in neighboring villages. They also support each other in prayer, singing and fellowship.
These women have great determination, ingenuity and aspirations. Both groups shared similar dreams of launching additional income generating projects such as sewing and selling clothes, making jewelry and baked goods and starting a rental guest house business.
Their dreams will require training, equipment and minimal capital for supplies to make their dreams a reality. They already know the value of sharing their knowledge with others, which would provide the girls at the children’s homes an opportunity to learn practical skills for their future.
As I left the women’s group at Kodich, I finally understood why God sent me there and why we need to care about their plight. The women were singing and dancing in their native tongue with great gratitude for us coming to talk with them for an hour. When I asked what they were saying as I was leaving, I heard they never had a white woman come and “just love them for who they are.”
The women and girls of Pokot deserve to know the love of God and live out the plan that He has for them. To feel valued for who they are is the foundation to inspire a change in their situation. We, all of us, can give them that by supporting the training and resources needed for sustainable income, valuing who they are regardless of gender, and most importantly, showing them they are worthy and loved in the name of Jesus Christ.
Around the world, developing women and girls has been recognized as a critical strategy to break the cycles of poverty. When we educate girls, they have opportunities to contribute to their communities, generate income and raise healthier and self-sustaining families. When we empower women, we transform communities.
Please pray for God to reveal to the Pokot the value of girls and women and bless them with the sustainable support and resources they need to prosper and thrive.
Michelle Prisk with a child at the Chemolingot Children’s Home
God is in the business of healing hearts – molding, shaping, and refining us for purposes far beyond what we can comprehend or imagine. Isn’t it interesting that throughout this process God leads us to places that we resist the most?
I have had a heart for serving the poor since I first came to know Christ as my savior. It seemed natural to allow the grace and love flowing into me to pour out into others in need of the same hope and healing. I began serving on mission trips in both Mexico and Ecuador.
I loved it and I witnessed God work among his people but I still had a bit of holy discontent, knowing that God desired something not better but different for me. I continually heard God speak to me about Africa, and, in typical human fashion, I consistently turned him down.
In the summer of 2008, I could no longer deny the stirring in my soul. I traveled to Chemolingot, Kenya for the first time with Harvester’s International Ministries, and I was ruined for the people of Africa. We were mutually broken. Their plight became my plight, their burdens my burdens. The task of God’s people is rooted in Christ’s mission. Very simply, Christ preached the good news of the kingdom in word and in deed, and he particularly delighted in loving the hurting, the weak, and the poor. It is my privilege to follow my King’s footsteps into places of brokenness to do the same.
God recently provided for me to serve at Chemolingot once again. In October I traveled on a medical mission team composed of an incredibly talented group of Americans and very generous Kenyan nationals. For two weeks, we rose before the sun and traveled deep into the bush to set up mobile medical clinics to treat members of the Pokot tribe, the very poorest of the poor.
In my mind, these people are the true treasures of Kenya. To define the travel as off road is grossly reducing the difficulty of reaching these people. Folding chairs under trees emerged as makeshift exam rooms, and plastic tables with rope barriers became pharmacies. At times it was disheartening and difficult. We saw many injuries and afflictions that could have easily been prevented in the United States.
I cried and prayed over an infant on the verge of death as I held her in my arms. Yet – victory! God proved himself bigger than our convenient American medical technology, more powerful than our brightly colored packets of medications, and mightier than the goals we set out to accomplish. God was present. Because of his presence, countless wounds were successfully treated, illnesses diagnosed, medicines dispersed, and hearts healed. Yes, hearts were healed.
Many Pokot who walked miles to receive medical treatment also heard the life-changing message of Jesus Christ for the very first time. Our evangelism team cleaned ears, put drops in dusty eyes, but most importantly, they linked the provision of medical care with the hope that can only be found in the Lord. One of my favorite characteristics of the ministry of Harvester’s is the distinction that American teams strive to work with, not for, the national people.
At each clinic, the Pokot were connected to an indigenous pastor who will continue to build into the nationals and provide spiritual instruction on an ongoing basis. I praise God for the leaders he has put in place in Pokot to carry forth this vision.
At Chemolingot, the growth and progress of the church and orphanage was encouraging. I witnessed firsthand the ways in which our efforts and support from the USA are making a tangible difference in the lives of many. On Sunday morning, the church was filled to the brim with faithful worshipers, hanging on Pastor Yusuf’s every word.
Our team had the opportunity to provide and serve a filling meal to each and every child residing in the orphanage, as well as the general church population. Watching children realize with wide eyes that plenty of seconds were available, while sipping their very first soda, made my heart burst with gratitude for those generous donors who made such an event possible.
Buildings that were mere dreams in progress during my last visit are now dormitories holding children who sleep peacefully, knowing they are safe and cared for. A school has been established to educate these kids and opened doors now lead to endless possibilities.
There is great joy and restoration occurring at Chemolingot; however, there is still much work to be done. The aforementioned dormitories require additional beds and mattresses in order to accommodate children waiting to move into the orphanage.
The school is a temporary building and children sit on rocks or even just the dirt floor to learn to read and write. The dining hall is still empty of tables and chairs. The need is great, but our God is greater. My prayer is that our actions and response to these needs will stem directly from God’s leading.
My words are not big enough and simply cannot adequately describe my heart and vision for the people of Africa. For my fellow team members, and myself, two short weeks in Kenya have again proven to cultivate many years of heart-altered living.
The red dirt that was packed beneath our feet as we traveled the roads and paths of Kenya lingers. It is caught in our photographs and smudged into the fabric of my backpack. Best of all, it stained several of my t-shirts. This vibrant hue that pops up at odd times and in inconspicuous places makes my heart smile wide and causes me to love folding laundry, which really says something.
If you have not had the opportunity to travel and minister with a Harvester’s mission team, I encourage you to pray about it. You’ll impact the lives and hearts of many, and who knows, you might just end up with a healed heart of your own. I did.
Dear Prayer Partners, Greetings to you in the precious name of our Lord.
We hope that our letter finds you well and that December season will be a good one for you this year.
For us, we are doing fine as a family. Josephine is doing well and going on with her studies in Oakland Christian in MI. The Erickson’s have given her a basement room to herself. We thank God for the Erickson’s kindness in sharing their home with our daughter and we are also grateful to a Bible study group in Kensington Church for helping to pay Josephine’s fees.
Rebecca and Miriam have gone home for December break. Jumboy is happy to have company and playmates. He has two more years before going to boarding school. So his mom will not be lonely, he offered to take her to Boarding school when his time comes to go.
December for Rachel is usually very busy and filled up with meetings and fellowships.
Church Planting and Evangelism
The December month has a lot of different eventful activities to different people. For our people who are animists and tribal it just means nothing because they have no knowledge of the person Jesus Christ. Our prayer, over the years has been that God enables us to make this month and time have a meaning to them. To be able to do that, we have feasts here and there that bring people together and we teach them about the meaning of Christmas and the person of Christmas.
Yearly Youth Conference is another gathering that we bring Pokot young people together for a week to teach them about Jesus. This year’s youth conference brought together 700 young people from various parts of Pokot land. About 90 of them came forward to receive Jesus.
As the year ends, there is happiness and settlement because there is pasture and water available. Rain has been plenty this year and people had a good harvest across the land. This will really enhance the discipleship efforts we are making. Pastor Reuben is having abundance of fruit out of the October medical team that worked along Kenya-Uganda border. As he visits the villages, the hearts of the villagers are really softened and are ready to hear the Jesus that made medical provision last October.
Pastor Peter Siwa of Turkwel has been praying to be able to take the gospel to Korokou Mountain. This prayer has been answered and there are 3 new congregations that regularly meet now.
Orphanages
As the year winds up, we thank God for provisions made this year. We have been able to buy clothing, repair beds and make new ones for the children, replace some of the equipments in the kitchen, dorms etc.
Health in the homes have also been good. We however lost one child who was involved in a road accident when a vehicle he was traveling in rolled down hill killing him instantly.
The academic and social performance of the Children in the Society also is very good and well received.
Kodich children performed in District, Provincial and National levels in music and drama. So we are very thankful to God for those of you that have so sacrificially given particularly Kennsington Community Church and some others.
It is our prayer that we have a new year that will be filled up with joy.
Water Drilling
We did very well this year providing water for our thirsty people. While counting our blessings for this year, we are at the same time looking prayerfully into next year for God to provide so we can continue to drill and provide water. We still have a lot of areas that are largely without water and your prayers are needed.
Health in places like Rukey, Chermuluncho, Kokwokales and others have really improved and there is a lot of testimony to that extent. That is to say that water is really a very important element in our ministry. Waterfall project is finished. What is left now is the farm activities that need Israeli organic experts for organic farming and also the pipes money for the actual farm work.
It is a project that a lot of people look forward to its outcome for food security.
May God bless you and give you a merry Christmas and a happy 2011.
Pray for:
Pastor Reuben in new “battle ground”
Also pray for Pastor Peter in the mountains
Pray for the young people who came to the Lord and are facing Challenges in the village.
Pray that God will provide for water drilling in the new year.
The waterfall farm work need for pipes and hosepipes for irrigation.
Having just returned from Kenya and planning to go back again in September, the Lord has been working on my heart in many ways. I have seen struggling and hardship, I have experienced heart-ache and I have sensed desire. Meditating on these different emotions has brought me to a new place in my walk with the Lord and my service to Him.
My desire is to serve the Lord where He wants me to be, my want is to be overseas and I find it harder each time I go to come back. My calling is to serve Him here in South Carolina through not only Harvesters, but through my church, to my Mom and to Emma. My dilemma is how to make all the pieces work together to bring glory to Him and give me peace in my soul.
The recent trip to Lomut was a great experience – I was again given the privilege of working with young people from Callahan, Florida. The group of 4 girls, 1 boy and a dynamic youth leader was wonderful. This was the first trip out of the country for the 17 year olds, and I was amazed at how well they adjusted and how open they were to share their lives, their struggles and their hopes for the future.
Our service location was a secondary school that the home church of this group had been instrumental in starting. Our work project was painting the classrooms and the dorm and evangelism as well as encouragement to the believers.
The team enjoyed their time with the children who lived around the school and a special bond was built with some of the team members and the pastor’s elder daughter, Dorcas.
The little children we loved on and held tickled and chased with a time to really be children. Many as young as 5 or 6 were toting younger siblings on their back and were the primary caretakers for these little ones, so it was wonderful to see the joy on their faces as they did simple things like blow bubbles and play jump rope.
One of the areas where the Lord convicted me the most was in the area of evangelism – an area of my life that is definitely lacking when I am in the States. We discussed as a team why it is so much easier to witness to people we do not know and may never see again than it is to witness to our family, friends and neighbors. The Lord really grew the team in boldness as we had one incredible evangelism afternoon in East Pokot.
The team arrived at a church plant in Nyangaita – a small two room hut with about 30 of us crammed inside. As we questioned the leadership it was evident that they were starved for discipleship and only have one Bible for the entire church. We were able to share with them how to use the Evange-Cube since many of the older people in the area did not read. We were able to leave the elders with pocket Evange-Cubes and they were thrilled to have this new tool available to them. We took a short walk across a bridge that separated East and West Pokot and walked to a market on the East side. It was a bustling place with about 150 people in traditional Pokot attire.
The Lord instantly told me that this was the place to do one of the dramas that the team had been practicing. When I told the team to move into a open space in the center of the market to do the skit they looked at me like I was from the moon, but the pastor started clearing the area and telling people to gather around and soon the team realized this was a divine appointment. It was our best day of evangelism and there were about 6 sincere commitments to the Lord, though after the pastors encouragement many more raised their hands, but some of those were about 6 sincere commitments to the Lord, though after the pastors encouragement many more raised their hands, but some of those were the people from the church who had come with us.