Will Graham, grandson of reknowned televangelist Billy Graham was in Kenya over the weekend where more than 14,000 people turned up for the Celebration of Peace event and hundreds made decisions for Christ. Here is a journal of Will's experience in the country. 

Sunday
A 30-minute downpour brought Sunday's closing meeting to a standstill. Understandably, nobody wanted to stay out on the field and get soaked. As many that could crammed into two open-sided tents beside the platform, but becau:se of the severity of the rain, the protection to those on the perimeter was minimal.

Workers hastily covered the loud speakers. Many who lived nearby scurried back to their homes. Everyone else waited. And as the rain started to let up, little by little, people returned to the stadium. The worship team took the platform and began singing. Will started preaching in light rain, a good portion of his message being delivered under the protection of an umbrella. After a message on Christ's return, he asked the crowd to be sure they were ready to stand before God. Several hundred responded.

"I'm so grateful to God for the great decisions people have made," said Rev. Paul Mwakio, chairman of the Celebration's executive committee. "I know the bigger job we are left with is the preservation of the harvest. And we plan that we will get back together with the pastors and try to follow up, because we have the contact information from the people."

Saturday
The finale of a two-week, 18-team youth soccer event, called The Will Graham Peace Tournament concluded on Saturday. After the Mwenge Futbol Club defeated the Nakuru All-Stars 2-0, Will, who personally signed certificates for all 400 participants, gave a Gospel message, with an effective illustration:

"What is the purpose of a pen?" he asked. "To write," someone shouted. "The purpose of a pen is to write," he continued. "But it can only fulfill its purpose when it's in its master's hand. And the same is true in life. You can only fulfill your purpose when you surrender to God. Because it is God who gives you purpose and meaning in life."

Will and his wife, Kendra, also gave out trophies and certificates, as well as a soccer ball for each club. That evening at Mama Scrape Grounds, Will preached on the death of Christ, explaining that Jesus bore our sins on the cross. Hundreds responded to the invitation to receive Christ.

Friday
The day started out with Kendra speaking at a women's rally at Life Celebration Centre. Mixing humorous stories about her children with teaching from the Bible, Kendra reminded the estimated 500 Kenyan women in attendance of God's love and personal care. "God has decided not to forget you. Others may forget you," she said. "A spouse may forget you. A child may forget you. A church may forget you. But God will never forget you."

It was Kendra's first trip to Kenya. "I don't know what they are going through," she said after her talk, "but God laid it on my heart to tell the women that He is very aware and cares deeply about it."

That evening, during the Celebration of Peace, it started to sprinkle just after Will began to preach. After a couple of minutes, the rain started to come down a little harder. While some moved from the open field to the nearby tents, others ignored the rain and stayed in their seats. Umbrellas were held over Will and his interpreter as Will preached about Pontius Pilate, a man who couldn't bring himself to make a decision about Jesus.

"If you want to take a stand for Jesus, I want you to come," Will said. "I'm asking you to make a decision that even a Roman governor didn't have the courage to do. Will you come right now? "If you're tired of carrying all your burdens in life, my friends, give them over to Christ tonight."

Despite the bad weather, there was a great sense of unity that developed through the Celebration within the pastoral community in Nakuru.

"I want to say that I am grateful to the (Billy Graham Evangelistic Association), because there has been more cohesion among the ministers in working together in bringing this meeting," the Rev. Mwakio said. "And I trust this will be a new beginning for the working-together of pastors. And I look forward to seeing pastors working together the way they have done in this event."