Revival Fire in Mombasa

Dear friends and family,

I am now in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania and I fly this afternoon for Mozambique. Thank you for your continued prayers. Here are some journal entries and pictures of some of the things I've been up to.

Much Love and blessings,

Levi

7:24 AM 10/11/2008
Stephen is cooking breakfast and I'm preparing to go with Lampstone on the "matatu" (public bus) to visit some children's homes.

Yesterday I spent most of the day in the house. For lunch Stephen (after his classes - he's studying journalism in university) made some good stuff. We had the common meal of "Chapati" -- something like cooked corn meal cake -- with various toppings (my favorite a cales topping with spicy peppers). mmm.

(Stephen preparing lunch)

Last night we had the first meeting of a three day conference at Lampstone's church, "Jesus is Lord Chapel." I led in worship for two songs and it was powerful. We had a guest speaker named Pastor Wilson from mainland Mombasa.

After the meeting Lampstone, Kipleting, Cyprian and myself went to a large ministry called "Campaign for Salvation and Healing Ministry Headquarters" for a "kesha" (overnight prayers). Overnight prayer meetings are common here, particularly on Friday nights. I attended the meeting until the preaching started at about 11:30 pm. I couldn't understand anything and I was tired so I slept in the car. At about 3:30 am the service ended and we went back to Lampstone's house.

(Overnight prayer--video)

PASTOR WILSON
Pastor Wilson is a very mild mannered quiet man. But when he preaches he's like most other African preachers I've come accross -- he breathes fire.

Pastor Wilson has an interesting story which he told me after the service as we sat in the office. He was studying to be a Catholic preist in the early 90's (I think '91). But, he had a lot of reservations because of inconsistitencies of the church's teachings with the teachings of the Bible. At that time his church made it a rule forbidding people from reading the Bible, because they said it would make you "go mad." But, Wilson had one secretly which he read often. Before he heard the true gospel he always had reservations about preaching about prayers to Mary and praying the rosary and all he could talk about was Jesus. He didn't know why this was and others often questioned him about it. But, he just kept preaching Jesus. Finally he had a born-again experience and this along with his studies of God's word persuaded him to leave the Catholic Church.

He's been an evangelist since about 1995. And he pastored a church for seven years. Now, however, he just travels and evangelizes.

He was explaining to me that the Catholic Church in Africa has suffered a lot of losses in numbers to the charismatic Christian churches. Many Catholics have converted to "born-again" churches which are moving in power and miracles.

Now, he said, due to the charismatic dominance there's been a big shift in the Catholic Church here. God's revival is starting to affect it. There are many "Charismatic Catholic" groups which are now thriving. These groups preach the born again experience and embrace God's whole word, including all the gifts of the Spirit, and adamently encourage all members to read their Bibles regularly.

CITY TRANSFORMATION
On Thursday Lampstone, Thomas, James and I went to Mainland Mombasa. On the way we went downtown and Lampstone took us to A-1 Super Market. The place was jam packed with people purchasing a vast assortment of goods. Lampstone tells me sometimes the place is so busy that there are lines outside to get in.

This supermarket used to be a prostitution house. Almost four years ago Lampstone and some of his "boys" took a stand against this force of darkness. They began conducting nightly open air preaching and prayer meetings on the street outside of the establishment. They did these meetings regularly for 11 months. God moved powerfully in this place. They saw many powerful healings and conversions to Christ right on the street. One evening some people even brought a dead woman while Lampstone was preaching. The woman had died a few hours earlier in the hospital. Lampstone prayed for the lady and she was raised from the dead. Many were affected. This lady is now serving the Lord in Nairobi.

Finally after about 11 months of nightly meetings the Lord spoke to Lampstone clearly and told him to tell the people that the prostitution house was closed. He prophesied the Lord's will and the next day the shop closed down. The owner decided to transform it into "A-1 Super Market."

(A-1 Supermarket)

SOUTH COAST
Lampstone's first church now has roughly 100 members. This ministry is independent now with its own leadership structure. Lampstone regularly visits and encourages this group.

(Lampstone's first church on the other side of Mombasa)

8:54 PM 10/13/2008
YESTERDAY

- Sunday morning service (led two worship songs)
- Spoke with "youth group" after service (20 to 30 year olds)
- Entire church service went from 9:30 am to about 3:00 pm
- Evening service

*We had a powerful evening service last night. (The closing night of the revival meetings with Pastor Wilson). Pastor Wilson invited people to come forward at the end of this last service to get touched by the Holy Spirit and receive prophetic words. The Lord moved powerfully and many were blessed. Particularly a couple of elderly "mamas" who experienced some dramatic deliverances from demons and were overjoyed with freedom. I was also personally touched last night in a powerful way as I received some prophetic encouragement and blessings.
- packed for Dar Es Salaam

TODAY

I am now in Dar Es Salaam. Lampstone and I rode the bus down today and it has been adventurous. Things are a little rougher in Tanzania economy wise. I played my guitar on the bus and worshipped and ended up meeting some wonderful people.

One of the guys we met on the bus was a Tanzanian who is the director of Education for the Assembly of God Church in the country. He administrates the A.G. Bible Colleges in this area. We're staying at a missions house which he owns called, "Jim's Inn." Tomorrow I leave for Mozambique!