Many works have small, seemingly insignificant beginnings, such as the little mustard seed…

Matthew 13:31-32: “The Kingdom of heaven is like unto a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and sowed in his field: which indeed is the least of all seeds, but when it is grown it is the greatest among herbs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and lodge in its branches.”

Note:  The mustard seed found in Israel such as the white one (which is believed to have been the one Messiah referred to) is very tiny. Others believe it might have been the black mustard since it was cultivated in Yeshua’s days. Both varities can grow up to 15 feet, but the latter normally does not exceed 4 feet. Another mustard plant growing by the Dead Sea grows to nearly 10 feet.

That little seed might lay dormant for quite some time just waiting for its time to sprout. And while it is very very small, it contains all it requires to spring up in due time and grow into a fruitful tree. 

My trip to Germany which had me pass through the “Gate of Forgiveness” while sowing G-d’s Word, resembled the Lord’s parable above: ministering in a small town to a few hundred people seemed so insignificant a thing to do; yet the Spirit of prophecy declared it was a seed that would spread through all of Germany and produce good fruit all through Europe. 

The seed came from Israel, filled with the Word of life and breath of the Holy Spirit.

And it immediately produced another seed: the means to follow the "Macedonian call” from Kenya.

Upon my arrival in Nairobi at 9:00 p.m. I was happily greeted by a large group of believers who had been waiting for me for 10 hours. It being too late to make the long trip to Webuye, we spent the night in Nairobi. 

Early next morning we drove in our rented bus to Webuye¹ on a  road full of potholes and lined with vendors of roasted corns, vegetables and live chickens.  People seemed to be walking everywhere while old bicycles and bumpy mini-buses were their main vehicles of transportation.

Six hours later we finally arrived, exhausted, “Welcome!” “Karibu!” “Welcome!” I was greeted by a multitude of smiling people in a large courtyard. Shiny white teeth sparkled in dark faces. Overtired, I just wanted to sleep.

I entered a humble home. A large plastic sheet with red flower design served as a “carpet”, and curtain-like hangings adorned the walls. The walls were lined with plain wooden chairs covered with doilies.

I was led into a room with a large bed, a closet equipped with nails, and the window overlooking the neighbour’s courtyard with roosters and chickens. The room was my hosts’ master bedroom. They, their 6 children and several guest pastors all squeezed together for the night in the children’s bedroom and the living room.

While they all had come to pick me up from the airport in Nairobi, the wife of bishop’s co-pastor gave birth to a baby girl. They named her after me, Annelore, because she arrived the same day I did.

My first day in Webuye was to be a rest day, but there was no time for resting. A steady stream of guests - excited about the visitor from Israel, the Land where the Messiah was born - kept me busy with their many questions. I was amazed at their politeness and humility: “Karibu-welcome!” was always followed by “Assante-thank you!” and “Buono assefiweh-  Praise the Lord!” and ”Amen!” While shaking the hand of the visitor with their right hand, their left hand would touch the elbow of the right arm, body bowing slightly forward in a gesture of reverence. I soon learned to greet as they did, which gave them much pleasure.

The 5-day prophetic conference began the next day. We assembled in a humble wooden structure - three sides being covered with thick plastic sheets and a roof made of aluminum sheets. The floor was packed dirt, the seating plain wooden benches. On a podium of more packed dirt, decorated with cans of local greens and flowers, the praise and worship team of 3 or more led us into song and dance.