Transcript:
Greetings, beloved in Christ. I hope that you are well on this day. Today is my last day in Kenya. This trip has been a blessing and a whirlwind of a journey. It has been my honor to travel with Bishop Emily and see a broad swath of this country and the Anglican Church of Kenya. We have traveled from the eastern shore of the Diocese of Mombasa to the far west to the Diocese of Bondo on the shores of Lake Victoria. Along the way, I have had the privilege of seeing and marveling at God's creation. I had the opportunity to visit Tsavo National Park and Lake Nakuru Park. These are places that I'd seen on TV as a child and dreamed about visiting. And the glory of God's creation in this place is something astounding. I have experienced the hospitality, the generosity, and the grace-filled love of the people of the Anglican Church of Kenya.
I have worked a lot. I consecrated a church. I confirmed several faithful souls. I preached five times. And along the way, I've had the opportunity to meet with women clergy in various dioceses to hear about their experience and how God is working in and through them to transform the church. I've received two questions wherever I've traveled. The first being, Bishop, what is happening in the United States? That's a tough question to answer. The second question I receive is what are Christians in your diocese doing? What are they doing for the gospel of Christ? It seems that here in Kenya and perhaps across the continent, there is a narrative that the Episcopal Church is a failed church, that we're a dead church, a church with no heart and no faith. So it is my delight to say the Episcopal Church in Colorado is growing. We are reaching out into our communities to serve them. We are bringing a gospel of a loving God that we know through Jesus Christ who welcomes us all to the table. We are seeking ways to combat climate change and care for creation. We are trying to stem the tide of suicide in our midst. We are giving and serving the least, and the lost, and the suffering. We are attempting, as Christians, as followers of Jesus, to embody the good news.
The people here are experiencing their own challenges. There are difficulties with government, there is extreme poverty, lack of infrastructure. And even with all of those things, when I look into the beautiful faces of the children that I find in every church, I see hope. I see church communities that are trying their best to care for those who are struggling. I see a church community deeply rooted in the gospel and wanting to share that with others. I want you to know that all over Kenya, there are people praying for the Episcopal Church in Colorado, praying for you, and praying for me. And I hope that you will pray for them as well. Tomorrow, I head to South Africa. This part of my journey will be a little less hectic. It will be a time for me to reflect on all that I've experienced so far. And I ask your prayers for me as I travel. Know that I am holding you in my prayers and that I'm wishing you a blessed Advent and all the joy of Christmas. Blessings.