Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, February 24, 2007

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Spiritual Warfare

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  Ephesians 6:12

Do not be afraid.  Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today….  The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.  Exodus 14:13 & 14

Tomorrow morning, Sunday, February 25, Henry and I, along with some pastors and two plain-clothes, born-again policemen, will be going to First Baptist Church, Kapsabet, to reclaim the church for the Lord Jesus Christ.  Last Sunday five leaders in the church removed the pastor and appointed a new one.  They told the other members not to come to church and no vote was taken.  Doesn’t that sound unbelievable?! 

It is totally believable when you know about the sin in their lives:  adultery, idolatry (consulting a diviner), lying, paying bribes, greediness, pride, rape of a family member, drunkenness, gossiping, slandering, anger and bitterness.  Satan has a stronghold on them because of these sins, and they are not qualified to be church leaders.  We have met with this group twice in the past four weeks, trying to work with them to lead them to repentance, and after the last meeting we thought there would be changes, but evidently pride kept them from repenting.

Last Sunday I wanted to go back to Kapsabet, but the Lord said no.  I knew then that they were going to do something to show what was really in their heart.  God allowed them to reveal the truth of their evil ways.

Judas Iscariot had the same problem.  He was the treasurer for the twelve disciples, but he was a thief and greedy.  That sin in his life opened the way for Satan to use him, and it blinded him to the truths that Jesus taught.  He couldn’t turn down the money that was offered him to betray Jesus. 

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise [of His returning again], as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

We will be at Kapsabet at 11:00 a.m. (CAT-Central Africa Time) tomorrow morning, which is 3:00 a.m. for you (EST).  Therefore, please pray for us before going to sleep tonight that God will protect us from the evil one, that His perfect will will be accomplished, and that these people will come out of darkness to the Light of the world and repent.

Jesus said, I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.  John 16:31.  The victory belongs to the Lord.  To Him be all glory and honor and praise!

On to better things!  Thursday there were seven new Christians at the ladies Bible study.  Bwana asa fiwe!  Praise the Lord!  Several of their children were there who were old enough to understand what I was teaching about Jesus.  This took place in Kapsabet at the home of Nancy Kosgei, a godly woman with the gift of evangelism, who has stood at the side of Pastor John throughout all the turmoil.  She and the pastor led these ladies to the Lord.  Nancy’s mother-in-law is not a Christian, but I met her on Thursday and she is now willing for us to go to her home to talk to her about Jesus, probably next week.  Please pray for her.

Attached is a picture of some of the beadwork the ladies have made.  I’ve sent over two hundred of these necklaces and bracelets to three churches in the U.S. and received great response.  I still have that many more for any of you who think your church members would be interested in purchasing them.  The cost ranges from $1.00-4.00 (SRP) or whatever the traffic will allow.  Just let me know of your interest via email.

Speaking of email, it seems that many people were somehow dropped from the original list of those receiving the updates.  If you know anyone who is no longer receiving them and want to, please let me know and they will be added back to the list.

Pray for us, please!

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

I watched while the fundi (workman) threw concrete on the walls of the tank with a trowel.

There's just a little more to do on the roof.  They started putting up the gutters so rain can be collected as soon as it starts raining again, probably in a couple of weeks.   Meanwhile, the weather has been beautiful--cool in the mornings and evenings because of the altitude, and hot with a nice breeze during the day that makes it tolerable.  Hakuna mvua!  No rain.  No mud.  But lots of dust!

Some are crocheted, but most are done with needle and nylon thread.

Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, February 10, 2007

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Singing with the Children

As most of you know, I speak English.  I’m trying to learn Kiswahili (the official name for Swahili) and Kalenjin, the language of many tribes in the Nandi area.  Since I am now 61 years old with a brain also that old, it’s a slow process.  When I arrive for the Bible studies, bunches of children come out from everywhere.  The younger ones haven’t begun to learn English, while the older ones know a little, and those in secondary school (grades 9-12) converse quite well.  English is a required subject in school since it’s the official language of Kenya.

With all those children and no interpreter, I was trying all kinds of ways to tell them about Jesus.  It was slightly frustrating until I remembered I had a Swahili hymnbook that had “Jesus Loves Me,” “Jesus Loves the Little Children,” “Praise Him, Praise Him” and some other songs for children.  Now when I arrive, I get out the hymnbook and we sing about Jesus in Swahili.  They love it and come back each week for more.  I’ve started teaching them some easy, repetitive songs in English like “Jesus Is the Rock of My Salvation” with lots of hand motions.  My, my, I just realized that I’ve started a Children’s Choir Program!  Isn’t God good?!

After very long meetings the past three Sundays, we are seeing the enemy fleeing from the two churches that were experiencing problems.  He’s left a few demons behind who are still trying to disrupt the unity, but the mountain is down to a molehill.  Members have been asking each other for forgiveness and repenting.  Several leaders have had to step down from their positions due to their not meeting the Scriptural qualifications, and that’s where a couple of problems still exist in the form of pride.  But God has performed so many miracles that we know He will complete the job so those churches can get on with winning souls and making disciples.  John Rotich, the pastor at Kapsabet, has brought twelve new souls into the Kingdom of God in the midst of all the challenges these past three weeks.  Doesn’t that tell you why the enemy is trying to destroy that church?!

Linus Kirimi (Baptist Convention of Kenya) traveled twelve hours by bus and matatu (mini-bus public transportation) from Nairobi to Nandi Hills to meet with and encourage our pastors last Wednesday.  The journey should’ve taken half that time, but that’s another story.  All the pastors but one were present and were so thankful they came, especially since a meal of red beans and rice was served.  Bro. Linus challenged the pastors to find and train twelve disciples by April.  He told them to have each church member tell five people about the mission team coming this summer and be ready to receive them in their homes so they can hear the gospel.  We talked about the Bible School which starts in April and training people to teach Sunday School to all ages.  Two churches have already started a Sunday School class for children.  Two other churches have started a weekday nursery school for 4-6 year olds.  Things are really happening, and with Linus’ help and support much more will be accomplished to the glory of God!

Immigration update:  My friend Saina met with the deputy immigration officer last week in Nairobi.  It was determined that I needed to get an Entry Permit rather than a Residency Permit.  An Entry Permit will allow me to do the work I’m presently doing, while a Residency Permit requires a person to just sit in his residence and do nothing.  On Tuesday Saina will return to Nairobi to meet again with the official to find out if it has been approved or if there is further information required from me.  If all goes well, I should be able to travel to Nairobi the following week, pay for the permit, and receive my office legal immigrant card!  I wonder if it’s green.

Your prayers are strengthening and giving confidence to the people here.  Thank you!

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, February 10, 2007

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Happy Valentine’s Day

On this day of love let’s spread the love of God by sharing the greatest story of love ever told.  Jesus Christ loved all of us so much that He paid the supreme sacrifice of His sinless life for us so we can live eternally in Heaven with Him.  Just believe in Him with all your heart, soul and mind and obey His commands rather than continuing in your own ways and ideas which can’t compare to the blessings He has for those who do His will and love Him.  God is love!

On Valentine’s Day some of the pastors and I will be meeting with Linus Kirimi of the Baptist Convention of Kenya to talk about the Bible School which will start the Monday after Easter.  Taito Secondary School has graciously consented to allow us to use their facilities—classrooms and dormitories—while the students are away on vacation.  They will supply us with two cooks, a matron to look after the dormitories, and a watchman at the gate.  Our pastors are so excited at the opportunity to get theological training so close to home.  A lot of the problems we are experiencing in the churches could have been prevented if the pastors had been better trained in the Word.  But God is providing way beyond our largest visions, and Christians in this area will become Daniels in a den of lions!

TEE (Theological Education by Extension) has begun and I’ve had to order twenty more books.  The response has been great from the church members, and all of the pastors and leaders are participating.  The people are starving for more knowledge of the Word.  TEE will give them the basics of theology and Biblical principles, while the Bible School will take the pastors much deeper so they will be able to earn Certificates and Diplomas in Theology. 

The Ladies’ Bible Studies are still going strong.  Since August we’ve studied the books of Ephesians, 2 Timothy, Titus, Ecclesiastes, and now we’re in the Gospel of John.  Some of you may think that’s a lot to accomplish in just six months, but remember, this is Africa not the USA.  Our study time is usually two hours every week, not just 30 minutes to an hour.  Also, we’ve stopped doing beadwork for several reasons, and are now producing purses, Bible carriers, tote bags, and we’re thinking about placemats, made out of recycled plastic shopping bags.  The idea came from a women’s group in Nairobi.  We cut the bags into strips and crochet them into various shapes and sizes.  I made a purse and use it all the time.  I’ll send a picture of it for your enjoyment.

It looks like my nyumba (home) won’t be ready until May.  A few weeks were lost due to waiting for the fresh-cut lumber to cure and having to put preservatives on the wood during a rather rainy week.  They have almost finished building the water tank that will fill up with rain water collected from the roof.  (It had better keep raining!)  The filtering system will be attached at the point where the water comes out of the tank, so all water entering the house will be drinkable.  Next week I’ll go pick out tiles for the floors and bathroom and kitchen walls.  I’ll also go see a group of Christian furniture builders and probably place an order for beds, tables, chairs, and whatever else I may need.  My furnishings will not consist of over-stuffed leather ensembles!  They will be African hand-crafted pieces.

When I arrived in July, Anna was very anti-computer.  She didn’t want anything to do with those contraptions.  However, she is now the proud owner of a new laptop as of this week and is getting hooked on Yahoo!  Tricia is so proud of her mother entering the technical age.  My IT son would be proud of his mom and all she’s had to learn since she no longer lives a mile down the road from him!

Please continue to pray for the churches.  We had a three-hour meeting last Sunday and there will be another meeting tomorrow, which will probably be followed by red beans and rice for lunch!

Thank you for praying for us!

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, February 3, 2007

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Hard Week

This has been a very hard week.  Last Sunday there was a four-hour meeting after the worship service at one of the churches where the enemy is attacking in full strength.  God has revealed serious problems among the leadership (not the pastor).  Please pray for God’s wisdom and guidance to be given to all of us in leading these people to repentance and for God to bring love, forgiveness and unity to the church. 

As I’ve said before, people are the same everywhere.  Our sinful human nature is always at work trying to destroy our relationship with our Lord Jesus and our witness to the world.  Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)  What a wonderful promise that in the scheme of eternity this problem has already been solved and overcome and the victory has been won!

On the brighter side, the pastors are beginning to evangelize the people in their area.  At Kapsabet Pastor John Rotich has led nine people to the Lord in the last couple of weeks.  Bwana asa fiwe!  The TEE classes have started at the three locations.  I don’t yet know the total number of participants, but I do know we ordered 20 books and need more.  God is blessing immensely and many good things are happening, which explains why the enemy is attacking so strongly.  Satan loves complacency and compromise, but can’t stand it when lukewarm Christians become hot!

The roof is not yet on my house because they’ve been putting many coats of preservatives on the wood framing between rains (which shouldn’t be happening this time of year).  The plan is for the roof to be completed next week.  Then they can start on the inside plastering the walls, building cabinets and wardrobes (there are no closets in the houses), and installing bathroom fixtures.

Some of you have asked if I’ll have indoor plumbing.  The answer is YES!  The water will be filtered and treated so it will be drinkable right out of the faucets.  I’ve decided against solar energy because it is so expensive and has only a one-year guarantee, so I’ll have a generator until power is brought in.  That shouldn’t take too long because there are three schools very close by, and the government has mandated that all schools be supplied with power. 

Can you imagine attending a school without electricity?  Can you imagine having to carry your own supply of water in a plastic jug every day?  The students have a two-hour lunch break because they have to walk home and back, which is quite a distance in many cases.  Now there’s some ammunition for you parents next time your children complain about their school!

I just realized that I haven’t taken any pictures this week, so I’m sending a picture of my dog, Bush.  He was a very “bushy” puppy when I arrived over six months ago, hence his name.  Anna gave Bush to me.  She has so many dogs, geese, rabbits, cows, and 2 cats, that she won't miss one annimal.  I plan to get another dog from the vet or KSPCA.  They'll have fun together chasing monkeys!  He is part golden retriever and part Alsatian (German shepherd).  Right now he is a gold color and his pupils are gold, but I’ve noticed some black fur beginning to show through.  Time will tell what he’ll look like when fully grown. 

I can’t thank you enough for praying for us.  It is so comforting to know that so many are interceding for God’s work here as Jesus did for us in John 17.  Here are some excerpts from His prayer to use in prayer for us:  “Holy Father, protect them by the power of Your name—the name You gave me—so that they may be one as We are One….  My prayer is not that You take them out of the world but that You protect them from the evil one….  Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth….  My prayer is not for them [the disciples] alone.  I pray also for those who will believe in Me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as You are in Me and I am in You.”  (John 17:11, 15, 17, 20-21)

Mungu awabariki!

Judy