First Adventist Preacher in Kaplong!!

The site that I was assigned to was Kaplong. From the ShareHim website I was expecting an average attendance of 300 and a target of 60 Baptisms. However, I got a surprise when I arrived. My site was in a Catholic area and there had never been an Adventist preacher in that area before. I remember the Pastor telling me not to be discouraged if I saw only a few people out each night. Most other sites had 200-300 people attending nightly. There was only three Adventist members living in the Kaplong area. So I sensed very early that I would be in for a challenge. On the surface everything seemed to be against me, there was little preparation and inadequate shelter from the rain (we were in the tail end of the rainy season). I was determined that I was not going to be discouraged. I reminded myself that it was not my power that would determine success but the Holy Ghost's power. Nothing is too hard for God. He brought me to it so I knew that He would bring me through it.

Opening night went well and we had around 60-80 people come out. Things seemed to be going well until the night it rained. I was preaching about suffering. I was about 10 slides in and it poured down with rain, and damaged my computer. The meeting was completely washed out. That night when I got back to the hotel, I prayed through the night and shed some tears too. But God came through in a remarkable way. I could see that God was just shaping me.
After preaching the 2300 days sermon without graphics, people came up to me and said that it was so clear and they fully understood this prophecy.

I finally got another computer but the enemy was still at work. A few other incidents happened. We lost the original PA system because the owner decided to take it back. Thanks to Hope Channel (Kenya) we got a more powerful PA system. Some of the locals from another denomination tried to close down the site by calling the local chief; they claimed that we were making too much noise. The local chief came one night and He was blessed by the message and our prayers for him that God would bless him and give him wisdom to lead. The chief decided that we were doing a good work and the meetings continued.

God blessed my site with sixty baptisms (this was a combined baptism). The number of new members from Kaplong was between 25-30, enough to start a branch Sabbath School.
One thing that made a difference was when I went out with the local members to visit the villagers. I brought some basic necessities and left something with each home after praying with them. I sponsored a potluck on the second Sabbath. We served rice and beans for all those who attended Sabbath morning. It was a fantastic experience! When the people saw that I cared, they became responsive. If I had to do it again, I would go to the same site.

Through this experience I have learned how to lean and depend on Jesus, especially in times of discouragement.