Apostle Dr. Peggy Elliott

My purpose for going to Nairobi was to meet and network with pastors who would attend my 2019 leadership courses, when I return to Kenya for an extended stay. 
   Most pastors and ministers visit continents like Africa, at the invitation of a host pastor.   I had not received such an invitation. I knew no one in Nairobi. So how did I end up doing missions work in Kenya? 
     I received the directive from God to go to Nairobi a few years ago, while I was living in Wichita, Kansas. After a time of fasting and praying for direction for the next season of my life, I was commanded by God to sell everything I had and ‘go,’. I  wrestled  with this  leading but was willing to obey, if God would just give me a hint as to where I was going. I know full well that obedience is better than sacrifice, yet, I tried to convince God to just give me a hint as to where he was sending me.  Though it is not written in scripture, I tried to convince myself that when God gave Abram the same directive, Abram surely asked for a hint. Receiving none, I  obediently sold everything I owned, except my clothes and books, within two weeks. I then, went back to God in prayer and received my missionary assignment to go to Nairobi,Kenya.
     My purpose for going to Nairobi was to continue my assignment as an apostle, in equipping men and women of God, by opening Transformational Training and Healing Centers for pastors and church leadership. I have opened seven such centers in the states.
     The most interesting thing about this assignment was that I did not know one person, not one pastor in Kenya. Concerned about how to go forward in this assignment,  I contacted a friend who lives in Accra, Ghana, shared with her my assignment and dilemma. She gave me the name of her friend, Pru, who is a believer and native of Nairobi. I contacted Pru and after a lengthy conversation, we agreed that she would develop an itinerary for me, one that would allow me to meet and network with local pastors. The meetings were arranged for the purpose of me sharing my vision for the center, asking for their input and support. The vision: To equip pastors and church leaders in the areas of kingdom principles and kingdom living, servant leadership, team development,  conflict resolution and emotional intelligence, inner healing and deliverance (topic examples). In addition, pastors will have the opportunity to receive inner healing or deliverance.
     My two weeks in Kenya, and meeting with pastors was quite an adventure. I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with more than 60 city and rural pastors, sharing my vision for training. I am excited. I will leave for Nairobi in April, staying there for a number of months. My two weeks stay allowed me to meet a diversity of people and visit a variety of places within Nairobi. Then, I went to Accra, Ghana for five days, visiting a friend.
   

Downtown Nairobi 
     Downtown Nairobi resembles downtown New York, with the constant movement of people going about their daily lives and the hustle and bustle of work and play. Initially, I was taken aback by seeing security guards every where we went.  Security in the stores, laundry mats, colleges, churches… literally everywhere. I learned that after the bombing of the Kenyan embassy a few years ago, every place of employment, every school, every public shopping area, including grocery stores, is protected by security guards. While some believe this is over the top, I am grateful for their presence.
     I had the opportunity to speak at one of the many downtown universities in Nairobi, St. Paul University, a Christian college.  I was jolted as Pru and I were met at the entrance of the university by security guards who took our purses, searched them, asked who we were, who were we there to see, how long we were going to be there, etc. Again, while it may feel tedious and unnecessary to some, safety is a priority for me. 
   

THE PEOPLE
     The people I met were warm, wonderful and open, caring and giving.  They welcome you into their families and treat you as not a guest, but as a family member who has returned home.  
     A Masaai family adopted me. I now have a younger brother and sister and a Mum and Dad in Nairobi.  They cooked for me and the fellowship wherever I went was always so loving and genuine. They loved sharing  their home, food and family. Before preaching in one rural Massaai church, I was gifted with handmade Massaai jewelry, with tailor made Masaai clothing, and scarves.
     In Ghana, I preached three nights in a row at a six day conference.  I was honored by the church with a custom made beaded gown. My friend Mimi had two outfits tailor made for me. 

LET'S RETHINK THE ROLES OF MISSIONARIES
     I was ordained into ministry in 1984. A few years later, I accepted the call on my life to operate and function as a missionary. I was the first black missionary I had ever known then. I know very few today. In many mainline African American churches today, there are missions departments, but this department does not train those who feel called to missionary work. It primarily functions in a much needed area of ministry by providing assistance to family members, those in crisis situations.
     I want to share something that weighs on my heart pertaining to missionaries. Over 20 years ago, I was attending a huge missionary banquet here at home.  I was somewhat disturbed by the photos being shown during the keynote speakers’ presentation at the banquet.  The speaker was showing  pictures taken while on her missions trip in South Africa. Missionaries show their pictures for the purpose of raising money. If I could give missionaries a gift, it would be to strongly suggest that in capturing photos of the people and places of Africa, to show a balance of those poverty stricken and those who are middle class and/or wealthy, not living in slums . I understand returning home to raise money for their missions projects, and  showing slums and emaciated children touches hearts and people dig deep in their pockets for such ministries. 
     While it is true that many Africans are in great need of resources, that there are  many who are poor, and urban slums are real, not EVERY African is poor, not every family is without water and proper sanitation.            

    The continent of Africa is gorgeous, many areas of landscape are breath taking. Gold and diamond mines still exist in Africa today. There are many Africans who are working class and some who are upper class, wealthy business men and women. Some are millionaires. 
     I believe the reason many Americans, yes, even Africa Americans, still think of Africa as being the African jungles where Tarzan ruled, is because that is all they think and see on TV, negative stereotypes. Often, I was asked before I left for Kenya, if I  was afraid to go live in the jungles, if I was afraid I‘d get killed because I  was an American? Reader, I hope you know how I answered those questions.
     Urban slums in Africa are filled with beautiful, talented, gifted, poor, hurting, people, who are selling their goods and wares to one another. I believe that if many of these residents had the opportunity to receive sufficient healthcare and sufficient education and knowledge on how to care for themselves and their families, that they would accept such opportunities and build healthier communities. I wonder how I might assist in bringing this about on a small scale?
     Another concern I have is that too many pastors in Africa look to American missionaries to provide for them financially. Before I went to Africa, I posted my trip online and began receiving multiple requests for finances. I was appalled, and grateful that none of the pastors I met face-to-face in Nairobi or Ghana, asked me for money. As missionaries, we have the responsibility to teach pastors to depend on Jesus to meet their needs, as they teach their members the same.
     The country is beautiful, the food is healthy.  I learned to love ugali, lamb and goat stew and to eat greens at almost every meal. Clean, preservative free food. I lost ten pounds!
     My one pet peeve while staying in Kenya, was being bitten by mosquitos.  Deet. Cans of it for my clothes and bed linen. Mosquito netting over the bed. I had all the arsenal necessary  to receive very few mosquito bites in Nairobi, but as new found homestay friends from the UK were quick to point out, I became the mosquito's American breakfast. This truly was the downside on my travels, receiving 38 mosquito bites.
 I hope you enjoy the pictures and videos of my recent trip to Africa. Feel free to contact me if you would like to experience a short terms mission trip to Nairobi.