Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday,
November 24, 2007
News_Entry
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
Posted_By: Judy
Date: Saturday,
November 17, 2007
News_Entry
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
News_Entry
Hello!
