Poverty robs people of their dignity and destiny. Today I stood in some incredibly beautiful places and views God has created! Yet – the people who live here have been crushed by poverty. A vivid contrast of beauty yet despair. HOWEVER, Last January Chief Beatrice – who oversees over 15,000 people in that location of Kenya led the gathering today. She shared that after hearing ELI leadership talk (last January in a meeting with over 100 chiefs) about using care and love rather than arresting the illegal brewers she went back to her village and within a month had helped 14 women begin the journey out of brewing, poverty, and into a relationship with God. In fact, she helped over 20 women she recently helped come out of brewing to come to the October 10th ELI Women of Change celebration and during that meeting 12 of the women gave their lives to Christ! The Chief pointed them out in today’s meeting and then asked the crowd if “Anyone else would like to be saved!” Amazing that government leaders are catching the vision of transformation with such clarity and passion!

The sense of hope and the evidence of change created such an energized atmosphere that we met for almost three hours. Sharing testimonies and hearing Chief Beatrice talk about how her recent exposure to ELI and this “unique strategy” of care has changed her entire leadership style and strategy. It is bringing change that is truly amazing, beautiful, and is multiplying. I was requested by the group today to share the “Chase the Dog” story and I wove that together with Ephesians 2:10 that declares they / we are God’s masterpiece. It was a fun and meaningfull interaction. Though alcohol has been rampant and the chokehold of poverty very real in this physically beautiful area – THINGS ARE RAPIDLY CHANGING and the darkness the had hovered for decades is being dissipated with each life that is choosing to change. The beauty of the area is being matched by the beauty of lives being set free to grasp the hope that brings change for now and eternity!