A Missionary' Journey: Grace, Suffering, and Redemption

The following report is from Marvin Michelo of Zambia who has been preaching the everlasting gospel preached by George Fox and early Quakers.

​I am grateful to be able to share the grace and mercy of the Lord to as many who make Him and choose Him to be their abode, by the regeneration of the Spirit and redemption through the blood of the Son of man.

​In Him we live, move, and have our being.

​In this chaotic dispensation, the Lord chose me to preach peace to those who are His children and to those He has called. I set forth as follows:

​The Preparatory Exercise

​Before the journey, I was taken on an exercise. Around 1 a.m., I instantly lost sleep. I experienced a heavy load on me, as though I was carrying a large stone that I couldn't bear. Every time I fell, I was brought back to my feet and loaded with it again. It went on for close to seven times. I tried to cry, but my eyes were dry. I tried to scream, but my mouth was closed. With all hope lost, I heard a voice say, "You should be willing to share in my suffering." Then I saw how the Lord endured the cross, and I was made strong and managed to carry the load. I gave glory to the Lord.

​​The Journey to Nairobi, Kenya

​It took me two days to reach Nairobi, Kenya. All the while on the journey, I underwent different spiritual exercises, and one scripture was greatly imprinted upon my heart: Acts 21:10-13.

​10 And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11 And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12 And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.

​​Ministry in Nairobi: Restoring the Fallen

​I visited friends whom I had first left in Nairobi, many of low stature in the eyes of men and society but great in the sight of the Almighty. Our reunion was refreshing to our spirits. We had meetings together, and they updated me on their welfare. I praise the Lord who kept these in His fold; He had been their shepherd. But some had fallen away, being swayed by the ways of the world.

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I felt an obligation to visit those who had been absent. With Wamalwa, we began to visit them in their homes. There were nine of them, some with families and others without.

​We first visited Uhuru, a flamboyant man. He had been of great importance to the ministry on my previous missions. Now, he had fallen to drinking. When we arrived at his place, he was joyful to see me. He said that on that day, he felt a strain in his heart that stopped him from going to drink. He would go in the morning and come back home later in the evening, accompanying himself with unbelievers and having no way of coming back to the cross. I shared with him a scripture that came to my spirit, 1 Corinthians 10:13:

​13 No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

​I told him the way out starts with him choosing to repent and forsake his sinful ways, and he would be restored. We fellowshipped together. When we were leaving, he followed us as we went to visit another sister.

​Sister Marjory was drawn away due to marital disputes with her spouse. When we encouraged her to return to the faith, she told us her husband, who was Catholic, stopped her from fellowshipping with us because it was his family tradition. We prayed with her that her husband would turn his heart to the Light. As we were leaving, the husband arrived. I sat with him and took the time to show him from the scriptures that Christ had come to teach His people Himself and that Christ was the true teacher God had sent to mankind for salvation. He said he had never known the truth in that light. He became convinced, and at the next meeting, he joined us.

​We continued to visit those who had departed from the faith, and by grace, many returned.</

​​Preaching in the Streets and Kibera

​The days that followed, we preached on the streets and in the townships, distributing tracts as we moved. We also took regular time to hold worship meetings. We were all revived under the Light as we were one.

​On one occasion, we visited the drug-ridden township of Kibera. We found many youths had been overtaken by drugs and gang-related crimes. We admonished them to turn to the Light, but the enemy opposed us, as no one was willing to take heed. Some even tried to rob us, but we carried no valuable assets like phones and kept ourselves simple. Time was running out, and we were supposed to return to our camp. Some of the more civil residents urged us to leave because at night there were high rates of violence in Kibera, so we left.

​The following day, I went back there to preach the gospel. I stood in the center and shouted for everyone to repent, for the end was near, and Christ had come to set the people free. I begged them to come to their Creator, the Light which was in their hearts. One person came (I can't recall his name) and requested I follow him, saying there were others who wanted to hear me. I followed him and came to a place with a shelter where they sat to take drugs. He told me he was convicted in his heart after hearing the word. The person who called me owned the place and supplied the drugs. I found quite a good number of them there.

​I shared the word that was placed upon my heart. I showed them how they were living outside the Light and how the Light was available to save them from the darkness they were under if they could just take time to sit down in humble silence. I invited everyone to take time in humble, silent worship to meditate on the name of the Lord. Christ spoke to their hearts, and some openly confessed their intention to repent. I shared tracts with them and gave them extra to share with others.

​When word spread about what was going on, a group of uncivil people came and took me. They beat me, some with wood and bottles, saying I was destroying their business and that I was a foreigner. They took tires, wanting to burn me, but they were overcome by the Light. Women came to my rescue and shielded my body from the beating until they let me go.

​I stayed for three days nursing the pains in my body. It's surprising I didn't bleed, and I was made whole. We held meetings during these days. I returned to preach on the streets again. I was touched to see so many beggars and how poverty had deprived many. We provided food, clothing, and a wheelchair to an elderly woman who was in her late 80s. We preached and distributed tracts, and we kept to ourselves in silence.

​ ​The Journey to Kakamega

​The time came for me to go to Kakamega in the north. I took with me Ruto. I met a friend from there, Joseph, whom I thought to visit along with other friends. We had a glorious time in the Lord.

​I was able to see the state of many of them. In one particular instance, there was a man who was overtaken by the spirit of lust, and it had affected his relationship with God and his family. We prayed together, and he was saved. Another claimed to be called to ministry, but I saw that he had not heard from God to preach the gospel, so I exhorted him to remain in his state and wait on the Lord. We fellowshipped together and took time to preach and distribute tracts in Kakamega. I later returned to Nairobi, leaving them in the bonds of peace.

​​Ministry in Kajiado

​In Nairobi, I printed more tracts and moved on to Kajiado. It was refreshing in the Light. I found the faith was still standing and the faithful Shepherd was keeping them. Even though they had a lot of suffering, they were preserved. We had a great time in worship, and we had openings; there was love among us. We stayed night and day, and when the time came, we distributed tracts. I encouraged them to help one another, especially the poor, and to keep an account for them so there won't be anyone lacking among them. We also had a pleasant time around the fire with the chief in the night before I left for Uganda.

​​Mission to Masaka, Uganda

​When I arrived in Masaka, Uganda, I met the two friends who had invited me there on my first trip. They immediately arranged for a meeting. Around evening, we spent time in a silent meeting. I was glad to find them still holding on to the faith and to the word in their hearts. Though lacking in knowledge, their hearts were pure. I shared with them tracts in both English and Swahili and encouraged them to share.

​I began my journey to the next village, which was a day's journey walking. Upon arrival, I introduced myself to the village headman and admonished him to fear the Lord. Before coming, I had discerned a spirit of idolatry and witchcraft. When I was welcomed and the meeting was set, I spoke against those vices and rebuked those who were involved in the name of the Lord. The next day, we held a meeting in silent worship and discussed the tracts with them. Those who repented burned their carved idols and superstitions.

​​Persecution and Miraculous Recovery

​On my way back to Masaka, I was attacked by some people. I can't identify who they were or where they came from. They first hit me on the head with wood, and I fell to the ground in shock. They beat me until I was unconscious and stripped me of everything I had: shoes, clothes, phone, journal, and the resources I was carrying, which was a good amount.

​They threw me in a nearby bush next to the road, for dead. As time passed, I felt heat come over my body, and I regained consciousness. I saw a great light, and I was given water to drink. I regained strength and was now able to open my eyes. I crawled to the road. I heard the voices of people passing, cried out for help, and they heard me. They came to my aid. Fortunately, they were going to Masaka. They carried me and nursed me for a couple of days, and I became whole again.

​I returned to the village, and upon seeing me, many were surprised because they had heard I was dead after the attack. I told them to put their trust in the Lord. I preached the whole night as I received openings.

​​The Journey Home to Zambia

​I began my journey back to Kenya on foot. I reached Kajiado, rested for a day, worshipped with them, and encouraged others to join. I was not one hundred percent fit; my body was in pain, and my feet were swollen, and I had no resources. I moved on to Nairobi. We had a meeting, but I couldn't walk around as before. I stayed for three days, as I didn't want to be a burden to these people. I prayed for a way forward.

​The following day, my driver came to check on me, saying he felt prompted to do so. He found me lying down. I was glad to see him. He told me he was returning to Zambia. I told him I had no resources to give him because I had been robbed. He felt bad for me and told me he would take me for free.

​I bid farewell to my friends and wrote letters to them. I had a more detailed account in my journal, but sadly it was lost. I have tried to recall what I can for the time being.

​We began our journey to Zambia and arrived safely. At the moment, I am in pain, but I can say I am recovering.