IN-TUNE A CAPPELLA

Located just opposite Daystar University’s main campus, Lukenya Girls’ High School (formerly Kilimanjaro Girls’) is a lovely little school set on the lush savannah plains to the East of Kenya’s capital. The Director is as an equally pleasant lady who’s benevolence has seen the establishment of the school which prides itself of a student population of over 300 girls, clad in their school colours of purple, grey and white. The School Principal is called Alex.

Leaving Nairobi Central on time proved to be a futile attempt with everyone in all sorts of places, and when I tell you the Youth can really drag their feet, I mean it! For a group that was to have left the church at exactly 8.00am, it wasn’t surprising to see that we actually meandered out, bus full to capacity, at 9.20am, with the intent of reaching Athi River, one and a half hours away in order to conduct a service that was to have started at 10.00am prompt.

With the likes of Jamo and Esther Mokaya of the Youth, it was all poised to be a melodious foray all the one-and-a-half hour way. They sat near the rear of the vehicle with Joseph and a pretty lady called Moraa right behind them. On that day, Tichy was a backbencher and so were a hoard of Drama members, who usually spell fun, mischief and most of all…. non-stop heckling! Bernard was wallowing in a miasma of emotions, I guess because this was his first trip with the rest of the crew this year having missed the previous two engagements at Masinde Muliro and Kathiani. Ted was at the mid-section of the bus, as he always was, and AMO’s Paul, Greg and Zebi at the front with the driver, I say with the driver, because that is where the front is!

Joseph was in his usual knowledge-giving aura when he enlightened me, for the umpteenth time, that it takes Kshs.55, 000 to fill up the gas tank of the bus. So that’s what it costs the Church for evangelism per long distance trip, huh? When Christ said spread the word to every tongue, people and tribe, He never said it would be easy and trust me, its not! But from all the ventures In-Tune has gone through in its ministry, one thing I can say with confidence is that the delighted and warm expressions you see on the visages of those you have gone to witness to is enough reward for all the troubles you’ve gone through.

We passed great Kenyan landmarks, both physical and artificial such as the magnificent Panari Sky Centre on Mombasa Road, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, Bamburi Cement Athi River Plant and the first Fly-Over highway to be constructed in East and Central Africa, though still under construction. The road from past the Airport was also undergoing a major facelift and so I can’t even begin to describe the mild chaos it was over the bumpy stretch we endured for half the journey. We barely noticed time fly by as Esther, In-Tune and AMO Junior led a chorus singing session in tandem with all the lovers of a cappella music in the Evangelism bus.

Enough about the ‘how we got there’, now to the ‘what happened when we got there’. First of all, the gate was too small for the bus to fit in and through so we had to alight at the entrance and walk past the well-manicured lawn at the administration block, the chemistry and sciences lab and the school dining hall to the field just next to it, where there were cream white tents slap dashed into a square with space in the middle. Two sides fully occupied with the students of the school, one side with the special ministers, and the other end for the visitors who were us. The Principal was quick to tell us he had been expecting us at 8.30am! Nonetheless, he was, as was everyone else, delighted that we made it there safely and well.

The ministers, inclusive of four elders and Church Pastor Jacob Akali, quickly took us into the Sabbath school period, and what an animated session it was! The charming Elders Adams and Okoth, as well as Willis Ocholla took us through the week’s lesson in a lively and interactive session where Paul of AMO proved his prowess at Bible reading. Davie had a field day making the girls laugh with his witty one-liners as In-Tune was afterwards called to close the session with an item, ‘Higher Perspective’. It so happened that this ministry was primarily meant as the Form Four Dedication Service for the school’s candidates who would, as well as 270, 000 others across the country, sit for the K.C.S.E. examinations set to start on October 21st.

In the interlude in between, AMO Junior and the Youth Choir sang items each which were well applauded, glory be to God, as Pastor Akali, the speaker for the day and the Pulpit team made their way to the front to usher us into the sermon that would last for about 40minutes. George and Joseph took the ending moments of this time to take shots of those who were dozing during the sermon, which I am not sure, whether or not to display…hahaha. If you want me to display them, vote on the poll adjacent to these posts and the outcome will determine the course of action.
Pastor Akali proceeded to form a ‘circle of prayer’ around the candidates who were called to the front, and prayed for them, along with the Elders and teachers in the school’s staff.

Lunch was a deeply awaited, as well as deliciously scrumptious affair! Rice, beans, githeri (a delightful native mixture of beans and maize), veggies, salad, soup and soda were the constituents of the menu and all I can say is, congratulations to the chef. The meal was utterly delicious. At 2.15pm, the service kicked off again, with opening prayers and a period of musical presentations where all the groups sang, as well as the students of Lukenya Girl’s School. A couple of girls also dedicated their item to the Form Fours who would be clearing.

The Drama Band performed their great piece, ‘The Redeemed and the Reformed’, as we wound up our ministry for the day. The Elder in charge gave his vote of thanks speech, sincerely thanking the entire school administration for hosting us there and being such wonderful hosts to us. He gave the Director a set of inspirational books by Ellen G. White and also handed the Principal, Alex, some books of his own. The school administration in turn, represented by their Principal, thanked us for the program and the ministry, and wished it would still go on, but as it were, all things must at one point, come to an end.

Just before leaving, we partook of the Holy Communion, which was earlier held in Church on that day and vacated the premises at exactly 5.50pm; All’s well that ends well. May God bless the entire community of Lukenya Girl’s School.