I have a pain in my neck
Scott Bourland
May 21st-27th
Missy and I took 1 day for ourselves during our journey and visited Thompson Falls. It was very beautiful and I think we went at a great time because there had been a lot of rain for the past couple of months. I never cease to marvel at the powerful creation of God.
We traveled back into Nairobi. The greatest thing was that our passports were completed. That was our most critical objective with the trip and it was really nice to be able to file for them and pick them up in the same trip. We don’t have to concern ourselves with it now for another 10 years.
As we came back into town we had an appointment with Brother Jim Eberhard who is an Independent Baptist working in Nairobi. He had given us good directions, but the problem is that things are not clearly marked and a turn is not always a simple turn (Often you have to loop around or get on another street for a short while). With a few turn arounds we finally made our way to their school and enjoyed a nice visit with Brother Jim, learning about how they conduct their school and church planting efforts.
The next day we went to the Embassy and picked up our passports then I went to visit with Brother Joel Weaver. Brother Joel has been in the country since he was 2 years old (His father was a missionary as well), and while I do not know his age his adult son is now back in Kenya doing mission work as well. So, needless to say, he possesses many years of experience. His church planting ministry has been done through the pastoral method and talking to him was very helpful. I had wanted to get information from those who had used the pastoral method verses the non pastoral and see the different results they have seen as well as challenges they have faced.
Finally, on Friday, we had breakfast with Ernie and Cissy before we headed back home. We had hoped to spend more time with them, but they were just returning from the States and it was not possible. We were so happy that we did get to enjoy a meal and each other’s company for a couple of hours, before we started the journey home. The trip back went very well. We hit Mombasa at about 6:30 in the evening and it took us a couple of hours to get through, but it is good to be back home.
I am not sure that it is really possible to put what I learned about church planting and school ministry into just a few words, but I will try.
1. The various methods and approaches to the details of this kind of work are as varied as the individuals who do the work. Of course there are some guiding principles that are the same across the board (these are the ones we find in the Bible), but there is great liberty in the details.
2. Everyone I met is having a measure of what we would define as success and I believe that the Lord would view it as success, even with their varied methods.
3. Knowing what to do and how to do it, as always, is about letting God lead you. It is not necessarily about sticking to a system, but obeying God.
4. I have a lot more to learn and will continue to let God lead and seek wisdom from others.
Finally, please pray for my neck. I woke up one morning with it stiff and in pain and now 10 days later it is worse and not better. We are trying to do what we know to bring improvement, but the pain is terrible and I need your prayers. I am simply unsure what to do. If I was State side I would go see my doctor or maybe even a chiropractor, but I am unsure what I should do here. Please pray for wisdom, but even more so for healing.
Love you all,
Brother Scott