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November 2007 News Archive

 


Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, November 24, 2007

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Baptism Stories

 

Kimwani, the place where three of the mission team men built a church of timber and tin, baptized nine people last month.  They are so glad to have a place to meet and are so thankful for the mzungus from America who came to help them. 

 

Namgoi baptized nine people three weeks ago; two of them were from the evangelism efforts by the mission team.  Veronica and her daughter Carol were led to the Lord by Linda Lindsey, were baptized and said there was no turning back for them.  The Bible study group has been meeting in Veronica’s home every week since the church had to move out of the building they were using, and since the Glory Hotel (where the church meets on Sunday) is busy during the week.

 

David, the husband of one of the members, was also baptized.  He had been sick and close to death when Pastor John Rotich went to visit him and prayed for him.  God healed him and now he is following the One Who gave him back his health.  His friends have forsaken him, but he will not forsake Jesus, he said.  He was the only man to be baptized that day and was the first one into the water to show the women the way.

 

The rest of the churches will be baptizing in January after the elections.  They have been baptizing only once a year, but I’ve persuaded them to do it more often.  I guess twice a year is better than only once.  We’re getting there.  It’s not as easy here as it is where you are.

 

I was invited to go to Chemartin Primary School on Monday.  I thought I would be talking to the students, which is what I usually do, but ended up visiting with the head teacher, Josephat Bakari, for about 30 minutes, and then talking with all the teachers.  They were mostly interested in America, the schools, President Bush, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Iraq and if there were dirt roads.  I felt like I was being interviewed by Hannity and Colmes (spelling?)  The Lord provided an opportunity to share the gospel and they all said they were Christians.  It was very interesting fellowship.

On Thursday I went to Cheptabach Nursery School which was begun by the members of our Baptist church there.  The 56 students and two teachers meet in the church building (timber and tin).  Since there are no rules governing the age requirements for each grade in school, this nursery school has children ranging in age from three to eight years of age.  That is quite a span of years, so they’ve divided the class by age and bisected the room using a rope on which empty maize sacks are hung.  I don’t know how they can teach in that situation, but they’re doing it and I was impressed by the discipline of all those students.  Fifteen were promoted to Standard 1 (first grade).

 

Bee update:  So far I’ve presented the opportunity in four meetings, with three more scheduled for next week.  The interest is growing and spreading.  I talked to the government beekeeper in Nandi Hills again about the growing number of people, and he’s excited about the possibilities.  I think he’s had only two small groups to work with, but his life is about to change.  It’s so encouraging to see hope in the eyes of so many people in poverty.  I know the Lord will bless this work, especially since so many of you have expressed a desire to help.  Thank you and please keep praying for us.

 

Tomorrow morning Henry and I will be visiting the new church in Nandi Hills Township.  In 2002 we evangelized the area and started a church.  Another group tried to take it over, deceived the people and it died.  Someone else showed up and tried to revive it, but his motives were centered on money rather than the gospel, so again it faded away.  This time we have the real thing and with the Lord’s help, we’ll keep it thriving for His glory.  Please pray for us to find a permanent place for them to worship.  The place where they have been meeting is scheduled to be torn down any day now.  We met with the head teacher of the Nandi Hills Primary School to see about using one of their rooms, but all are filled.  He may evict a rowdy “church” in January, but there are still a few weeks until then.

 

After we spend about 30 minutes in Nandi Hills, we will go to the Chemartin church to help them regroup.  Their pastor decided to enter the political scene and deserted them.  Although he lost in the primaries, the consensus of the other pastors is that he is no longer qualified to serve the church as pastor.  Anyway it seems his head is still in the political clouds.  So tomorrow our job will be to encourage a new church and a hurting one with the help of our God Who strengthens and heals.

 

As always, thank you for your prayers!

 

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

 

The pictures are of Tracey, Henry's daughter, who will be two in December.  The picture with last Sunday's date is her natural self.  The others are "dress-up" pictures.  She was afraid of my white skin for quite a while, but we're good friends now.

 


Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, November 17, 2007

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AIDS

 

It hit in the heart of one of our churches.  Geoffrey Owino, a member of Chemartin church and who I met in 2002 on my first mission trip here, died of AIDS on Monday.  He leaves seven children.  Geoffrey was a Christian, a faithful church member, and did not contract the disease in the usual immoral way.  One of his brothers died of AIDS a few years ago, and according to their tribal custom, the next brother inherits the wife and children.  The wife soon died of AIDS and so did another brother.  Again, Geoffrey inherited another wife and more children.  That wife died a little over a year ago.  Now there are seven orphans.  How our God of love and mercy must grieve over these tragedies!  Please pray for the children.

 

Generator report:  The headmaster of Taito Secondary School is letting me use the school’s generator since it is now closed until January when the new school year begins.  Here’s the irony—this generator was bought for the school by the Missions Office of First Baptist Church, Snellville, GA, when the mission team was here.  The Lord our Provider has been faithful again!  Meanwhile, my three generators are still being repaired.

 

Last week I was invited to speak to the 8th grade class at Cheptabach Primary School.  It was Prayer Day in all the schools preceding final exams.  Yes, you read that correctly—Prayer Day.  Also speaking were an Anglican priest, a Pentecostal Assemblies of God preacher, and another lady.  After speaking we prayed for the students.  I gave each of them a bookmark on which was written the plan of salvation in English and Kiswahili that were brought by the mission team.  If the students score high enough on their exams, they’ll move on to secondary school in January.

 

On Monday Henry and I traveled to two locations to share the details about the beehives.  Kristofer Saina, who helped me get through immigration, showed us the way to Kapkeno on a long, rough dirt road.  Saina owns a coffee farm and some cows in that area, and knew the great need of the people.  Twenty-eight people showed up for the meeting and were very grateful to learn about the possibilities of beekeeping.  They told us there were about 200 people who would be interested, so I’m going back there the week after next to talk to the rest of them.  Also, there is no Baptist church there, so the Lord showed us another mission field!

 

The next stop was Cheptabach.  We met on the grass outside the church building to talk and answer questions.  One question was quite interesting:  “How do you keep from getting stung?”  I must have the rep from the Agricultural Ministry answer that one.  I hope he’ll be accompanying me on the return trips to Kapkeno, Cheptabach and Temso, because the interest is growing tremendously.  What I thought would be about 100 participants, is now looking like about 500 to begin with.  Please pray for us.  It’s becoming God-size!

 

It’s voting season in Kenya.  For the past three nights people have been walking up and down the road below the house chanting for their favorite politician.  They start at about 10:00 p.m. and I don’t know when they end because I turn up my deaf ear and sleep soundly.  Today was the primary vote for the lower political positions.  I was told not to leave my shamba because trouble could erupt at any time.  As it turned out, it was very peaceful.  But the big day is yet to come—December 27—when they elect the president and members of Parliament.

 

As always, thank you for your prayers, love and support.  God is working in mighty ways!

 

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

 

You probably remember the new property at Lengut from a few weeks ago.  We were back there last Sunday and they had set up a temporary shelter on the property so there would be enough room for everyone to worship.
 
The play they presented was hilarious.  A man and woman (man dressed as a woman) were verbally fighting, and then became Christians and danced out of sight followed by several children.

 

 


Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, November 10, 2007

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Hello!

 

Due to generator problems--all three of them are not working--I don't have enough time left on my computer battery to write the usual update.  I'll write as soon as I can.  Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the quiet (those generators are noisy!)  by candle light and rechargable lamps.

 

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

 


Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday, November 3, 2007

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Two Young Men

 

A few weeks ago a young man walked up my driveway and wanted to talk with me.  As the national election is drawing near (Dec. 27) and many people are going crazy or getting drunk or both, Henry and Dorcas won’t let anyone through the large iron gate unless one of us knows who he is.  I went out to meet him and we talked with the gate remaining closed and locked between us.  It turned out that he was a Christian and had walked an hour to meet the mzungu (white) missionary.

 

His home was in the northwestern part of Kenya near Mount Elgon where people are being killed, houses are being burned and there’s much tribal rivalry due to political unrest in that region.  His mother-in-law had taken away his wife and two of their three children because he belonged to the wrong tribe.  Kibet left his home with nothing except his remaining 5-year-old son, Mika (pronounced mee’ka, Swahili for Micah, the Old Testament prophet) and now lives the Nandi Hills area. 

 

After talking for several minutes I gave him an English Bible, some evangelism tools (Evangecube and tracts in English and Swahili), and a couple of pens because he said he wanted to tell others about Jesus.  He was so thankful to get them.  Only God knows if this young father will someday be a great evangelist to his own people.  That’s my prayer.

 

A few months ago I mentioned a young man who works at the filling station in Nandi Hills town.  He wanted to be a Christian and an evangelist.  Mark Mogere and I finally had a chance to talk this week and he prayed the sinner’s prayer.  Another child was born into the Kingdom of God!  I gave him the same evangelism tools I gave Kibet and we talked and prayed for his family.

 

His story is similar to so many.  Both of his parents are drunkards.  He and his four brothers and one sister have basically raised themselves because his parents were unable to take care of them.  One night his drunken mother rolled on top of the newest baby and smothered him.  Mark is the oldest, is out on his own with a job, eats regular meals and dresses well.  However, being the oldest he has the responsibility of providing for his siblings, an important part of Kalenjin culture.  A very happy day is approaching when he will be married.  He wants me to perform the ceremony, but I finally convinced him I’m not a licensed minister.

 

The Lord led me to share these stories for whatever reason.  One reason, I believe, is so that you understand that not everything here is a beautiful view all the way to Lake Victoria or miles and miles of luscious green tea fields everywhere you look.  People are the same all over the world with the same problems and joys in life and the same needs.  The greatest need we all share is that of a Savior, Jesus Christ.

 

Remember Dr. Linus Kirimi of the Baptist Convention of Kenya?  He arrived here Thursday with a trunk load of books to start a library for the Bible school, including a complete set of Broadman Commentaries.  The vision is becoming a reality!  We originally wanted to start in December, but we’ll wait until after the elections and begin in January.  There are many details to be arranged, so please pray for us—teachers and students—as much needed training begins for our pastors and other church leaders.  How exciting it is to see God working!

 

As always, thank you for your prayers!

 

Mungu awabariki!

Judy

 

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