Today is Monday, 26th September, 2011. I have never tried a blog before, and I'm not sure if we will continue it much - but wanted to give a try and see if we can move forward! I have listed two blogs - one for our travel updates, and the other for my thoughts on various subjects in the Word of God. For those who have been blogging for years, please be patient with me - I may make a lot of mistakes...so kindly, be kind! LOL
I am leaving Kenya to return to the United States for 60 days. This is my second trip to Kenya this year, with the purpose being to teach in the Grace & Faith Family Ministries International Bible Training Institute at Ematsayi in Western Kenya. I want to just list some of the highlights of this trip.
First, I arrived in Kenya on August 16, 2011. I spent the first full day in Kenya in Nairobi so I could get my Kenya Alien Registration Card and Work Permit. I was so delighted to see the card was there, and I have now legal status in Kenya! Praise God! On Thursday, August 18th, I took Crown Bus to Kakamega
I am leaving Kenya to return to the United States for 60 days. This is my second trip to Kenya this year, with the purpose being to teach in the Grace & Faith Family Ministries International Bible Training Institute at Ematsayi in Western Kenya. I want to just list some of the highlights of this trip.
First, I arrived in Kenya on August 16, 2011. I spent the first full day in Kenya in Nairobi so I could get my Kenya Alien Registration Card and Work Permit. I was so delighted to see the card was there, and I have now legal status in Kenya! Praise God! On Thursday, August 18th, I took Crown Bus to Kakamega
Along the road to Kakamega, Kenya
We arrived in Kakamega at 5:30 PM on Thursday, and had to walk a few blocks to find the Mission Pickup, which had been left at a local mechanic for me to pick up when we arrived. Once I found the truck, I stopped at the market to purchase water and some personal need items, then drove out to the mission at Ematsayi.
When we arrived to the Ematsayi road, we found it to be nearly impassable. Fortunately, many leaders met us at the road, and pushed us out of the mud numerous times! I think I must have been stuck at least three or four times! I remember thinking, "I don't think we will ever get back to town again!" Once we arrived at the mission, we fixed some ugali and tea for the leaders who helped us, and they then returned to their homes.
When we arrived to the Ematsayi road, we found it to be nearly impassable. Fortunately, many leaders met us at the road, and pushed us out of the mud numerous times! I think I must have been stuck at least three or four times! I remember thinking, "I don't think we will ever get back to town again!" Once we arrived at the mission, we fixed some ugali and tea for the leaders who helped us, and they then returned to their homes.
Road to Ematsayi - mud hole row!
The Bishop of BALL was traveling in West Pokot and Turkana distributing food to famine areas there. We are so foturnate to have the opportunity in Kenya to distribute food with the help of Feed the Hungry in the USA. The situation in Northern Kenya is very serious. Because of lack of rain, there has been no planting or harvest, and indeed the ground is very bad. Even as our team was arriving in Turkana, there were people waiting for food that were fainting because of the lack of proper nutrition. We were fortunate to purchase maize in Kakamega and took a lory to West Pokot, and two lories to Turkana. This first distribution was so successful, and another is planned for the first part of October. Feed the Hungry has provided the financing to purchase the grain in Kenya for distrubution in the famine affected areas. However, they have also shipped two 40 foot containers of food to be distrubuted after the first of the year.
Food distribution in West Pokot
Landscape in Turkana District
The first week I was at Ematsayi, we held the annual Women's Convention. We had over 300 ladies and men attend the convention this year. The word of God was so fresh and people enjoyed the times of teaching and fellowship. In Kenya, our conventions start with praise and worship at 8:30 AM, and then we have continual teaching until lunch is served at 1:00 PM. From 2 PM to 6PM are continual services as well...then an inspirational service at 7:30 PM. But it was a great time!
After the convention, we held our second term of the Bible Training Institute. We had 23 of the original 26 students return, and added four additional first time students. A typical day would start at 8:00 AM with some praise and worship; our first class would start at 8:30. Each class goes for 1 1/2 hours; with a 1/2 hour break between the first and second; and between the third and fourth classes. On Tuesday and Thursday, we had a 45 minute "chapel" service, where there was great singing and sharing! Every day, classes were completed by 5:30 PM - and students were free to have dinner, and then complete their assignments for the next day. The students were so excited to be a part of the school, and we are so pleased they did so well. Graduation will be held on December 2, 2012 at the Annual General Convention.
After the convention, we held our second term of the Bible Training Institute. We had 23 of the original 26 students return, and added four additional first time students. A typical day would start at 8:00 AM with some praise and worship; our first class would start at 8:30. Each class goes for 1 1/2 hours; with a 1/2 hour break between the first and second; and between the third and fourth classes. On Tuesday and Thursday, we had a 45 minute "chapel" service, where there was great singing and sharing! Every day, classes were completed by 5:30 PM - and students were free to have dinner, and then complete their assignments for the next day. The students were so excited to be a part of the school, and we are so pleased they did so well. Graduation will be held on December 2, 2012 at the Annual General Convention.
GFFMI Bible Training Institute Second Term Students
In addition to the school, I ministered in various churches every weekend, participated in a wedding and two funerals, and shared about the school and ministry in Western Kenya. It has been such a successful trip. We anticipate the enrollment for the second year students to be at least 20 of the 23 students eligible, and expect enrollment to be about 30 students for the first year class.
On a personal note, I was also able to get the Mission House painted, the plumbing fixed, and the electricity redone so I could move into the house before I left Kakamega. We still have quite a lot to do in the house - as we wish to create a master bathroom, and a small open kitchen. Please pray for us to be able to begin work on these projects by the first of the year. The total cost of these rennovations will be under $2,000.00 - which includes new appliances for the kitchen. We are so excited to see our house come together in Kenya!
On a personal note, I was also able to get the Mission House painted, the plumbing fixed, and the electricity redone so I could move into the house before I left Kakamega. We still have quite a lot to do in the house - as we wish to create a master bathroom, and a small open kitchen. Please pray for us to be able to begin work on these projects by the first of the year. The total cost of these rennovations will be under $2,000.00 - which includes new appliances for the kitchen. We are so excited to see our house come together in Kenya!
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