First Days in Nairobi - Jan 7-8,2006

I arrived at the Nairobi Kenyatta International airport last night after almost twenty hours of travel from Minneapolis. I was greeted by my friend Greg Snell, who serves as the Programs Coordinator for International Christian Ministries. Greg saw several people he knew before we left the airport and introduced me as he often does as his former boss at Colonial Church. I am humbled by this, for Greg has since become a world leader by humbly serving as a critical link between American churches and denominations with African missions opportunities. He also is ICM’s on-the-ground agent for training the national staff in a number of countries in French-speaking Africa and East Africa. He is working closely with Purpose Driven author and Pastor of Saddleback Church, Rick Warren and his team, to open the way for his new PEACE Plan which is leading the way globally in addressing what he calls the five global giants with each one’s corresponding solution:
1. Spiritual Lostness……………….Plant Churches
2. Lack of Servant Leaders……......Equip Servant Leaders
3. Poverty………………………….Assist the poor through economic development
4. Disease (AIDS, Malaria, etc.)…Care for the sick
5. Ignorance……………………….Educate the next generation

Greg helps network the church to understand local needs in their cities and nations to address them through the PEACE Plan.

He offers a connection for national leaders with Walk through the Bible seminars, John Maxwell’s Equip Seminars, the Purpose Driven Seminars and Willow Creek’s Leadership Seminars.

So, you can see why his introduction in my mind seems a little out of place. Today in Church, the pastor of the Karen Vineyard Church, Rev. Peter Twycross shared that the Apostle Paul was never called “The Apostle Paul” by others in the Bible and that one key characteristic of leadership is the humility to teach very clearly that leaders are just like other people. They may have a role or gift that places them in leadership, but this is not to elevate a person above others. In fact, others will determine the scope of a leader’s authority as something conferred by the led. Others have discovered Greg Snell and it is a joy to be able to come to teach at ICM Seminary at his request.

Greg and Deb welcomed me to their home and connected me with Kathy and our family back in Minnesota via phone. Their home is in Karen, which is a town named after Karen Blicksen who was the subject of the movie, Out of Africa. Well- trimmed hedges line the drive into their property. This drive opens up to a courtyard where there are flowering trees and several Bird of Paradise plants. The home itself is modeled after a Spanish American motif. They are able to house about a dozen guests. They have a large living room and well-designed dining room.

Today, I went to church with Greg and Deb at Karen Vineyard Church and bumped into Eric and Tracy Hagman and their two children Sam and Simon. Tracy is the daughter of my good friends Joel and Mary Lee Jennings. Joel and Mary Lee just left on Friday after a Christmas visit with Eric, Tracy and family.

After lunch, Deb and I went to the Masai Market, where I had the opportunity to haggle with merchants and get some gifts for family and friends. Then Greg and I got out for nine holes of golf at Karen Country Club.

Upon return, I met their friend and co-worker from Tanzinia, Mary Kamow. Together we went out to dinner at a favorite local restaurant, The Rusty Nail. Now it’s time to go to bed. Tomorrow morning I take a taxi to Kitale with ICM Staff member Phillip Amoi.