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Time up! The devil told at Uthiru

George Mburu

08 March 2016 samsonmutunga@gmail.com

Time up! The devil told at Uthiru

I hadn't witnessed such a high influx of believers assembled for the gospel as I did this day.

It doesn't just rain; it pours, so goes the old adage. As back as my memory can recall,

I hadn't witnessed such a high influx of believers assembled for the gospel as I did this day.

The sun rose normally but its rays seemed more golden as they shone over the magnificent

skyscrapers of Nairobi city. Normally, I am used to be pissed off by violent hooting,

screeching and sometimes bickers from untamed chaps in town as I wade my way through a

busy city to the church; this day was an exception. I had spent the previous night in the

outskirts of the city, an assurance that traffic dilly dally wouldn't affect me. That morning,

my blatant alarm was almost rendered useless by the friendly bending that enveloped me

thereby providing the warmest reception. I can recall I snoozed my phone severally before I

finally tossed the duvet whose loyalty was beyond comprehension-this was around 6:00 AM.

As it heavily landed on the floor, it assumed a weird shape that almost resembled a frown-my

disappointed duvet was making faces at me may be accusing me of betrayal. "Off you go and

loose you let me!" I almost yelled at the bed. I had to prepare myself in a hurry because I had

to be in church before nine.

I normally don't have much to do on Sabbath mornings apart from bathing and taking

breakfast; other preparations are normally done on the preparation day (Friday) before dusk.

Within a short while, I was ready and off I set for church. All the villages within Nairobi

region were to gather at Uthiru, one of the villages in the region. I thank God because though

I never made it at 8:00 AM as I wanted, I arrived just a few minutes before 9:00 AM. Those

few minutes helped me secure a seat at a strategic point because later, the place was so full to

the extent some had to use a seat in shifts. I have known Nairobi to be the region with the

highest number of believers, but this day it seemed to have doubled. Indeed, even the

planners must have been overwhelmed by the huge turn up because the seats they had

prepared were barely enough for the hundreds of people that turned up. Traffic managers had

the hardest time trying to create more space for the myriad of autos that flowed in.

I always thank God for the versatility of my personality because I can engage in

diverse activities and fare on well in almost all them. I always feel great self-satisfaction

when I meet a person I have worked alongside or teamed up with flourishing in life; I sort of

feel their success is more mine than theirs. I think it's the same thing my Overseer, pastor

Karanja feels seeing multitudes gathered to worship. I envy him and marvel at his zeal. With

hundreds of believers present, time passed very fast as many wanted to minister through

songs, memory verses and others. Pst. Karanja didn't hesitate to remind believers that their

determination and unity is central in their quench to succeed in this demanding spiritual

journey. He further urged them to take charge of their personal lives as well as that of the

brethren and not to end their lives through neglect, ignorance and fear. "I advise that we seek

advice from informed yet reliable individuals regarding how to live healthy," he said.

Later that afternoon, the evening service was suspended at the expense of having an

open-air outreach in a nearby center. The main aim was taking the good news to the souls still

in the evil one's captivity. Additionally, the session aimed at countering the devil head on as

we clearly understand the pain and suffering he causes to innocent souls. From the church

grounds to the podium, believers matched in a procession locally referred to as "msafara". Its

aim is to attract attention of the people as well as "charge" us. The outreach fared on well

until 7:00 PM when we wound up everything. I look forward to another such event so that I

can have another opportunity to serve God; and besides, one good turn deserves another.

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