July 2012 Trip Update

Our trip was beyond all expectations. The magnificence of God’s creation here at Camp Chemi Chemi and the zeal of our pastors is felt each and every day as we watch the students take in all their education and offer amazing praises to our Lord. Our retreat center is blessed early each morning still under the stars with the angelic sounds of praise wafting up throughout the camp.  Carole Ford would love hearing these beautiful praise songs and I cannot wait to hear her RUMC Praise Team joined in harmony with our sisters and brothers here lifting the name of our Savior.

On Saturday we hosted over 250 in the community to our first sports day.  It was great to see all ages jump rope, play games, and use the SpeedTracs equipment. The oldest lady jumping rope was 69.  The chief welcomed us to the village and told all to do right by us.  For a little while one lady stated that all her worries did not matter as she felt the joy of having fun again.  The small children have even labeled us “Bible Ridge.”

Rusty got a great response from the pastors as he taught on “Real Men Love Jesus” and How God intends husband and  wives to honor God with their union. Reaching men is a big issue here and both men and women pastors hung on his every word anticipating how to apply the message.

Sharing the Good News is universal and Sandra Gray wowed everyone with her artistic rendering on the sheet metal buildings.

>With Sandra’s inspiration we worked on our first garden with the pastors and were awed at their digging abilities. One pastor stated he had  learned at age 2 how to dig in the fields.  We have seven tribes here and some do farming and others are pastoral or nomadic shepherds. So it was quite funny when a farmer could humorously rib one of the Samburu pastors that he shoveled like he herded his goats raising his shovel high like a whip.  It is so wonderful to see such diversity enjoying and working together.

Next session this will be further strengthened with Dr. John Brown Okwii teaching on tribal reconciliation.

On Monday we visited one of our former students  Mercy who needs our prayers as there are renewed gang threats to them as the ministry at her church is growing substantially. Children are bringing their parents to church and those with special conditions are being ministered to.  But please tell all to stand in the gap for this ministry as it is the only light of the Lord in the area. Pray for the safety of  Mercy and Frances (her husband) and the church leaders. We prayed heavily while we were there but they must be covered continually.

Julia, Rusty, Cissy, Diane, Brent and Paul traveled to Nyaharuru for additional sports evangelism and business ministry work. Rusty spoke to 40 bankers from Equity Bank on faith based leadership and we conducted a microfinance seminar for about 25 local small businessmen.  We are excited about the potential to partner with Equity Bank to help small businesses.  We also met with a local Marathon group and their coach who coached the Beijing Gold Medal winner along with a local high school.  We use our sports equipment to open up opportunities to share God’s love.

All of this was made possible by our relationship with Pastor Simon Mwaura and the Good Shepherd Children’s Home.  As Simon so eloquently explained to each group, they were blessed by the children because we would not have been in the area had it not been for them.  He encouraged each group to come and see the home and get to know the children who had blessed them.

In closing, the pastors and graduates continually are extolling how great is the faith that we have placed in our God and our willingness to follow Him and support them as we grow the Kingdom. “ Thank you for your Support” has been shouted from Divine Providence to you.  Let the Kingdom Grow and Generations Know His Holy Name.