Our field trip to Walmart

The language school endeavors to have a field trip once a month. This month the trip is to Toi market in Nairobi.  It is good timing as several students will finish and move out to their ministry situations in the next few weeks.  Each one, armed with a list of things they hope to find at the market – were not disappointed.

Curtains, sheets, towels, clothing, shoes, kitchen ware, even fruits and vegetables are all sold at the market – it is an invariable Walmart!  However, since everything is used, except for the fruits and vegetables, – it is more like a gigantic garage sale.

Improving our usage of KiSwahili in the marketplace is the purpose; so, our day begins at school rehearsing our market vocabulary – How much is this – oh, that is too much, can you lower the price? 

Bargaining is part of the market experience in many, but not all, the countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.  Bargaining happens in the markets of Kenya and it can be a good experience if you enjoy yourself and understand that everyone is trying to make a living! 

It has been raining quite a bit recently – we are in the middle of the rainy season, but today the sun is shining, it is a good day to go to the market.

Someone has brought some Gospel of John books in KiSwahili to give out if God opens a door of testimony or witness. 

There is so much to see, the bustle of the market is exciting; soon after arriving we split up with a plan to meet back at 2:00 p.m. 

The time goes quickly and as we gather back together in the afternoon it is clear that everyone is pleased.  It was time well spent.

These who will be going out soon are equipping themselves with language skills, and with some material possessions to make life a bit easier out in the bush of Kenya.  Pray for them as they go out from this place to share the Gospel of Christ, to disciple new believers, and to teach school.

A life well lived…

"I love the LORD, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy.  Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live."   Psalm 116:1-2

Living out your faith…   Giving much, because you understand how much has been given unto you…  

This past week God ushered a friend home.  We had only gotten to know him in the past few years, but what we witnessed was a life lived for God and for others.  He was a James 1:22 man, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only ...”

A “doer” of God’s word, he and his wife volunteered for international mission and home mission activities as well as actively working on disaster teams throughout the U.S., going in to help after hurricanes, floods and tornadoes.  Active in his local church, he worked locally in his town and state helping those less fortunate and sharing the Word of God.  For him retirement didn't mean slowing down, it meant having more time to dedicate to the work of the Lord.

Jacaranda tree

Psalm 1 refers to such people.  “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither."

Oh that we would all seize the day for Christ!  Using every opportunity, we are called to share His love with those who don’t know, those who don’t understand, and those blinded by sin and the world.  Every moment we are called to show the world that Jesus Christ is real by sharing our faith.

Pray for God’s indwelling Holy Spirit to urge you to greater heights of awareness and discernment today; helping you minister and speak a word of witness to those around you who need to know that God loves them.     Much has been given --- we, in turn, are called to give much.  

...while at the coast

Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  Watch out for false prophets.  They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.  Mathew 7:13-15

Sunrise over the Indian Ocean

 Warm, humid breezes off the Indian Ocean and the sound of waves lapping upon the sand greet us after our day’s drive.  Arriving in Diani, 30 minutes south of the port city of Mombasa; we were joining the East Africa cluster leadership team for several days of meetings.




One purpose for this time together is to facilitate the development of a new cluster.  The Chadan cluster, our newest Sub-Saharan African cluster, will focus on reaching the people groups of Chad and South Sudan.  Then as we focus on the East Africa Cluster, looking at the missionaries currently serving, we pray for their individual needs and ministries, and to the unreached and unengaged peoples in Tanzania, Uganda, and Democratic of Congo.

Colobus monkeys outside our room.

Even though many hours are spent meeting together, we do have a few moments of down time; notably meal times shared together along with tea times.
We are joined by wildlife friends who, friendly to the point of being obnoxious, try to break into our rooms looking for things to steal. Joining tea time, one uninvited monkey stole a piece of banana bread out of a hand as it was being eaten!

The coastal area, while beautiful and relaxing, is a vivid reminder of our purpose – to bring the Good News of God’s merciful forgiveness and blessed salvation to those who haven’t heard and to those who have be led astray.  While other areas of our cluster are influenced by Islam; the coastal areas are especially influenced. Upon visiting any coastal community, one will find many mosques and many who practice the Muslim faith.

We are reminded that many, led astray from birth, have yet to hear the truth of God’s gracious mercy.

Pray for the missionaries of East Africa Cluster as we seek God’s wisdom and strength to do the task He has set before us to reach all the peoples of East Africa with the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Pray for the missionaries of the new Chadan cluster as they seek to get a handle on the immense area of Chad and South Sudan and the people groups within who  have no witness to God’s goodness.

There are no losers in God’s Family.

Pasaka – Easter -- a time to celebrate and be reminded a fresh of the incredible love God has for His creation.  The sacrifice Christ made to redeem mankind – the opportunity to become a child of God.

Overshadowed by the Supreme Court ruling on the presidential elections; Easter weekend was pretty quiet in Kenya.  It seemed as though the whole country was collectively holding its breath until the announcement came after 5:00 p.m. on Saturday.   The election results would stand.

 This young entrepreneur is taking advantage of the
unifying sentiment in the country to sell Kenyan flags.

Many are disappointed and many are jubilant; but the overarching sentiment is peace.  Kenya is beginning to move from fragmented to unified.  There are many different people groups, many tribes, and many languages in this country and God is doing a work bringing these cultures together under the Kenyan flag.

Easter Sunday in our little church, the sermon was about the fact that if you are a believer in Christ, you are part of God’s family and you are a winner.  In every aspect of life there are winners and losers.  In every game that is played there is a winner and as a result of there being a winner there is a loser, but not so in God’s family.  God made a way for us to all be winners when we believe in Christ.  A glorious resurrection message – Christ has made us winners.

Share the message of God’s salvation with someone you know today – let them know how they too can be a winner.

We praise and thank God for the peaceful elections and the continuing peaceful atmosphere even as a new government is put in place.