Introductions and New Friends
Our first meal in Nairobi, Kenya was in a living room inside a prison. Our host for the evening, J.M.A.N., works for Kenya’s corrections system … and lives with his family — along with most other families of prison staff — in a house inside prison grounds.
J.M.A.N. was at the door as we arrived, introducing himself with vigor and joy. He is a lay chaplain for inmates, and he started ministering to us as soon as we walked in the door. Before dinner, we gathered around the living room in prayer for our journey.
Soon, he had this word for us: “Every day the Lord brings a new friend in to your life is a blessed day.”
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Kenya has a top-to-bottom election in a few weeks. During the last election of this kind, political riots led to full scale tribe-on-tribe violence. Thousands were killed and hundreds of thousands fled their homes. One current presidential front-runner is still wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.
Still, something extraordinary happened tonight.
For the first time in Kenya’s history, the eight leading presidential candidates debated each other on national television. It was so dramatic that EVEN THE BOYS were riveted for a few minutes.
The first question of the evening? “Who are you?”
It was their chance to introduce themselves, in some ways, to new friends in the audience. Here are their answers in the allowed thirty seconds:
Absolutely amazing experiences! Love to hear every detail!