Thursday

Compiled by Michael Nambafu

Twenty seven participants for the World Gathering of Young Friends - Africa left Nairobi, Ngong Road, Friends International Centre at 10.30 am on Thursday for Mombasa, one and half hours later than the scheduled time.

The participants enjoyed the journey as for some of them it was their first time to travel to Mombasa. You could just see from their smiling faces as the bus rolled down the Nairobi –Mombasa road that most of them were really enjoying the trip.

“I really enjoyed the beautiful scenery along the way. I especially liked the sprawling Tsavo national park” said Sikuku.

Although the participants enjoyed the scenery, they encountered some problems, which ranged from tiredness to frustration on their way to Kanamai beach resort. Despite some complications with transport everyone arrived safely. The location is beautiful and everyone was happy to be all together.

At the venue they were received by the organizing committee members led by Bainito Wamalwa , John Fitzgerald and Rachel Stacy among others.

The participants gathered for introduction at the conference hall where they met other participants from different parts of the world.

A total of eighty one participants are attending the conference with the theme I am the vine and you are the branches.

The sermon was delivered by Beatrice Mutali who ministered on the topic true vine and the branches. She reiterated on the need of Quakers being the branches and Christ the true vine.

She urged the participants to stay away from doing evil and to assert their righteousness before the Lord. She also appealed to young Quakers to utmost humble themselves, for the punishment of the ungodly is fire.

Mutali reiterated the youths not to sow the furrows of injustice among themselves as they will not reap a sevenfold crop.

She said that those who abide in the Lord will be pruned by the Lord hence bearing spiritual fruits. Quoting from the book of John 15 she challenged the participants to change their lifestyle as it’s the only way they can strengthen their faith and become true believers thus getting the spiritual inspiration.

Mutali went on to elaborate that one can only get spiritual blessings by abiding in the word of God thus by doing no evil . She further said that God gives directions and blessings in everything you undertake if you only abide by his word.

She urged the participants to transmit God’s word on the earth by challenging the evils in the society, and to be generous and be mindful about other people with whom they reside.

Mutali lastly warned the gathering not to enroll in the ranks of sinners as they should remember that the retribution does not delay.`