SALVATION ARMY-ZIMBABWE

SALVATION ARMY-ZIMBABWE

Our friends and hosts in Zimbabwe, the Pennys, are members of the Salvation Army Church. The Salvation Army Church in Zimbabwe does much more than just ring the bell at Christmas. It struggles daily with life and death issues: finding grain for starving families to keep them alive for one more day or a bottle of aspirin to help alleviate pain caused by a third degree burn, or broken bone. Many Salvation Army pastors walk up to 16 miles to comfort their flock. They rely on their congregations for income and are as needy as those they help.

During the Easter holiday the members of the SA church gather together for a three day camp meetings of celebration, evangelism and fellowship. The organize into groups and visit villagers to share the good news of Jesus Christ and encourage them in the faith. We had the privilege of being a part of this which was a great blessing. We never stopped being amazed at the courageous spirit of the Zimbabwe people.

ZIMBABWE and GOOD FRIENDS

While we were in Africa during 2008-09 we felt it necessary to make a trip to Zimbabwe to see how friends are making it as the country struggles to reestablish itself after a complete social and economic meltdown. Things were somewhat better than our last visit in 2007. The noticeable difference-food on the shelves and bread no longer costs $2.00US, a Zimbabwean’s monthly salary. The local currency presently being used in Zimbabwe is the US dollar. While Mugabe continues to blame the West, his coalition partner Morgan Tsvangirai is on a drive to restore full ties with Western governments that are crucial for financial aid to fix the battered economy.

Our time was with our friends, the Pennys, was truly a blessing. It was the Easter holidays so many of their relatives from the rural areas, and children who were away at school, returned to the family home in Harare to be together. It was a full house with no running water and sporadic electricity, but the wonderful time together made up for any inconvenience.

The Pennys are members of the Salvation Army church which was having a huge gathering, a type of old time camp meeting. Members came from all over Zimbabwe and camped on the grounds of a rural school. It was a week-end of singing, teaching, and reaching out to the surrounding villagers. We also traveled to Chinhoyi, a farm town in one of the “hot zone” of farm invasions. After visiting and encouraging friends there, Cliff and I drove to Lake Kariba, a huge lake build by damming up the Zambezi River. It is very beautiful area and Zambia is just a short distance across the border. During better days in Zimbabwe, it was a wonderful tourist destinations. There were lots of animal and miles of water for sailing. Presently the area is struggling to make a comeback but the beauty of Lake Kariba is unsurpassed.

LAKE KARIBA

EVERYDAY LIFE OF MISSIONARIES IN THE FIELD AND AT HOME

Everyday life of missionaries when they’re NOT IN THE FIELD.
Today is a beautiful day here in Carbondale Colorado. Cliff, Dan and DJ are busy pounding nails building the new horse fence. The weather is beautiful-not too terribly hot. It has been in the high 90's and when you’re a mile higher-closer to the sun-it can be scorching. We do not mind because this property is a blessing so we all work together to keep it in shape. It was an interesting process to watch the auger dig the holes for the big cedar post-much better than digging them by hand.

We just found a huge leak somewhere underground-right under my 10 year old herb garden-bye bye herb garden!

Everyday life of missionaries when they're IN THE FIELD

Stan settles into the daily chaotic life of Nairobi a little more each day. He now obtained a three-piece wicker set for his living room, something most of us would buy for our deck but in Africa it's great to j

ust to have a comfortable place to set. Previously his living room only had four plastic chairs

so this is definitely a step up. It will make a much more pleasant place to relax and counsel.

WHY WE DO WHAT WE DO

According to the Joshua Project, an organization that globally track unreached people groups, not everyone in the world has head the gospel. This is a difficult concept for most of us to grasp. We live in a country with an abundances of religious organizations. Crossroads has the privilege of ministering to one of these groups, the Samburu. Read about these fascinating people below and check our older blogs.

Joshua Project - Links to other Unreached Peoples and Great Commission sites

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STAN: LIFE MOVED ALONG IN NAIROBI

PHOTOS: 1. Pastors class 2. Teen class 3. Just one of the thousands of LARGE billboards

Hello again. I just got back from running around Nairobi and am tired but decided to send an update since I haven't communicated in a few days. My Week: Monday I walked from one end of Nairobi to the other trying to keep up with Dennis' long strides. We were looking for a particular internet company that was recommended. We finally found it and the sales lady said she would come out Tuesday to install something so I could test it for a day. Well, it was all for naught as she never showed up. But at least I got more information about internet companies. I think I made up my mind to go with the one that had the half price deal. Dennis and I will set off again tomorrow to see if something can finally be installed. We have to go to an offices in Westlands, somewhere around Westgate. My living room is moving toward becoming a place where you can actually relax. I bought a nice large rug which covers almost the entire tile floor. Now I just need some furniture. Maybe I will look at the wicker set in Westlands tomorrow. (It cost around $175 for three handmade pieces).

Today, Dennis, Joshephat and I went to a couple of places looking at the areas just to get an idea of the property there. We went to the town of Kitengela which is about a half hour past the airport just off the road to Mombasa. The place we looked at was in the Rift Valley and was Masaai country. I wasn't impressed. It looked dry and desolate to me. Not quite as desolate as the area where Peter lived. But they said that farming was by irrigation and if you drilled a borehole the water would be salty and not drinkable. The advantage of the place is there is plenty of land and it is relatively cheap. We headed back with the intent of going to Kiserian but we never made it. We got as far as Ngong where we stopped for a late lunch and decided it was too far to Kiserian.

The area around Karen and Ngong was very lush and beautiful compared to where we had been and agreed it would be nicer for a school. I keep reminding them that I don't have any money but we are just looking.

Bye for now. Stan

STAN: LIFE IN BURUBURU

PHOTOS: Teaching the teen class My new (used) desk being delivered Thanks for the emails. I haven't been spending any extra money because my rent is coming up but I have been eating well. I got a recipe for Sloppy Joes from the Internet as it has always been one of my favorites. I actually found all the ingredients here so I mix up a big batch every now and then. The Africans seem to like it as well. Dennis, Joshephat and a couple of the teens, Kennedy and Dixon all tried it and liked it. They said it would go better with Ugali than over bread like I served it but that is to be expected.

Cliff, you will be glad to know I have a new hat. The street vendor in Kayole was selling them for 50 Ksh the other day when I went by and so I went for it. That amounts to only about 75 cents so I think I got a pretty good deal. Believe it or not it is not even dorky - it says 'Old Navy' on it. At least I don't think it is. You know me - what I think is dorky isn't necessarily what everyone else thinks is dorky.

I started Swahili lessons Saturday in Kayole with Jehoshaphat. He is teaching me while we have some time between classes. He is getting me a book like his beginners use with pictures, etc. It will be good to have someone teach me which will motivate me and make it easier. It will be good to be able to use a few phrases occasionally in my classes or just to understand people. In the city it is not a problem but in the country there are many people who don't know English so it will be worth it to learn.

I still don't have the Internet hooked up. I tried to call them but the person I talked to wasn't very helpful. I will have to go downtown to their offices. I was going to do that this week but I think I will put it off till next week when my leg is better. Also, one of the guys at my Buruburu class said his brother worked for an Internet company and he is going to get me particulars about getting set up through them. So I will wait until I talk to him Friday. I also have to go to immigration downtown to register as an alien again but the guy handling my paperwork said it was no hurry for that.

I ran into a bit of a problem in my teen class. They ask a lot of questions which I like because it kind of stimulates things. One of the guys asked a question about baptism because he has just gone through it. The problem is that apparently his parents believe that you need to be baptised for forgiveness of sins. I explained it the best I could but I saw a wrinkled brow. I think he was having a hard time reconciling what I was saying with what his parents or church taught him. I just hope he is able to recognize the truth as I teach it and see it without losing respect for his parents. Oh well, I can't really worry about things like this but just teach the best I can and let the chips fall where the Holy Spirit puts them. :)

OK- I'm going to quit for now and do some research. I am at the cybercafe but one that is quite slow. The one I usually go to is actually pretty fast but it was closed for some reason. Oh, I didn't tell you that I found a great place to buy movies. It is next to the cyber cafe - 100 Ksh and best of all the quality seems to be good. I have purchased a couple of TV series and they have been pretty good quality compared to others. Bye for now. Stan in Buruburu 40 Sec. in Buruburu

PAULA: THE FACES of SHERP (Samburu Handicapped Education Rehabilitation Program)

SHERP is located in the small dusty arid market town of Maralal in Northern Kenya and was founded in 1999 by a teacher of the blind, Grace Seneiya. Samburu disabled children suffer much. Not only from conditions of poverty, drought, disease and government corruption rampant throughout Africa, but from a traditional Samburu belief that disabled children are a curse.

The Samburu are semi-nomadic pastoralists. Cattle, as well as sheep, goats and camels, are of utmost importance to the Samburu culture and survival. Disabled children are considered a bad omen to their nomadic families and are often left behind when their families move on. Some are poisoned with tobacco, or buried alive. Grace, who is a Samburu, has rescued many such children from the brink of death.

The SHERP goal is to assist and teach children to overcome their disabilities and to live productive lives. They also advocate and educate the community to help change the stigma associated with being disabled. I had the privilege of training the staff how to use the expressive arts to help children express their pain and grief. All abilities and ages enjoyed playing with the puppets, drawing and singing to “not so great” harmonic music.

THE SAMBIRU DISTRICT-NORTHERN KENYA

The Samburu District is located north of the equator, an area about 8000 square miles (21,000 km²). The landscape offers diversity and beauty. After independence the area north of the equator was called the Northern Frontier District (NDF). Samburu district was once a large part of the NDF. Only government officials were allowed to enter and it was closed to foreigners of both European and African descent. A special permit issued by the administration was required to enter the NDF. Today the Samburu District is still a remote area
THE SAMBURU BELIEVER: Watching God's gift of pastor teacher in action by a brother in a foreign land is overwhelming! I am reminded of why, we in missions, do what we do. I met Joseph in Nairobi. He came to my classes at the Nairobi Bible Institute and I could see right away that he was a bright young man. I did not know he was from the Samburu Tribe. Most of the men in my class were from the Maasai or Luo tribes. After our five month course Joseph asked if he could drop by my apartment for some help with translating some verses of salvation into the Samburu language.

There is no doubt that Joseph is a gifted pastor/teacher. Watching him "equip and build up the body of Christ," -his fellow Samburu tribesmen- could be achieved only through such a spiritual gift. Joseph did a great job of teaching the Two Sides of The Cross. He spoke in Samburu, Maasai, and English. The Men commented on how wonderful it was to hear the salvation scriptures in Samburu

Ephesians 4:11-14 (NI V) ¹¹It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, ¹²to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

CLIFF: MAASAI PASTOR TRAINING

I could not stop the tears as I thought, 100 Maasai men. In talking to Peter Olonapa, who arranged for me to teach Maasai men this Friday and Saturday at least. I said, "what must I bring. Besides 10,000 shillings for food and transport he said "your diagram of the two sides of the cross." (Thanks Sugar. I will have to simplify). I said, "how many copies?" He said, "there will be 100 Maasais to hear you teach."

I have arrived. They are coming. One hundred Maasai men. I saw them rising up out that desert soil of rocks and sparce trees, canyons and crevices, pools of water where small boys with flocks of goats had come to drink. Men having walked for two days toward me for words of wisdom and life.They were as phantoms coming from everywhere. Some wrapped in colorful sheets with sticks. Some looking almost like colored sticks standing on one leg. Others looking as though they had been touched by the outside world. Here we are, you, my children (Holly, Daniel, Genni, Josh, Ben, Emily, and Adam), Jeannie, Steve, Stan, Bill B., Bill R., Pauline, whoever is part of us-Taylor, Lauren, Cameron, James, Riley, Grey, Milenda, Ray and so many more. Here we are! This is what it all about. 100 Maasais. This is why we train. This is why we learn. This is why we pray and give and go. This is what its all about-souls. Their souls are as cups capable of holding living water. The water is the truth of Jesus Christ. We must pray that out from them will flow this living water as they return to their places, the phantoms in the desert of Africa.

Love. Love, Cliff

CLIFF: NAIROBI PASTORS TRAINING

Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15 Photos from the Crossroads Bible Training Center. were held in Nairobi. What a blessing to equip these young men in the Word of God. Cliff taught a certificate course in "The Mechanics of Spiritual Life" a five month course, Oct 08-Mar 09. Men traveled from various area of the city to the Hampton House, a Baptist mission guesthouse. The director was kind enough to offer a beautifiul classroom which added to a great time of teaching, food and fellowship.

STAN - Living and teaching in Kenya

JUNE 3rd, 2009: Hello Everyone. It looks like there's a little catching up to do. (It’s much more difficult to send emails from the Internet café than the convenience and comfort of my own home). I was telling you about the 'retreat' for the young people. It was a great fun and spiritually uplifting. There were 18 of us - 9 girls, 6 boys, Joshephat, the pastor and headmaster of the group, his wife Nelly and their daughter, Purity. You couldn't ask for a better group of kids. We took a public bus so it was a long, bumpy, 12-hour trip. We stayed in a church compound that had a clinic and several buildings with beds so everyone was comfortable. It was located in a beautiful rural area so we were able to hikes through an equatorial forest and to the top of a mountain. I didn't make it to the top but some of the kids did and said you could see all the way to Lake Victoria. The countryside was beautiful and lush. It was quite an adventure for these slum kids, many of whom had never been out of the city. Joshephat said that even the bus ride was an adventure as they had never been on a trip lasting more than 30 minutes. They were so appreciative and when we returned some showed their appreciation by cleaning my house and writing “thank you” letters.

After getting back from the retreat, I was in Kayole for my regular classes and some of the kids asked if I would teach them regularly like I did on the retreat. So now I have started a class for teens on Sunday afternoons. I was excited to see their interest and now to see them learning about the grace of God is amazing. I told Joshephat I hope I am around to see these kids grow up because it will be interesting to see the spiritual impact they have if they keep on like growing.

The adult classes continue to go well. I added another adult class in Kayole which brings the total to over 50 students. I am finding that it is hard work and I think I have reached the limit of classes I can teach. I’ve learned not to wear dress shoes as my feet were killing me after teaching 2 hours Friday night, 2 hours Saturday and 3 hours Sunday.

My six month visa expired the first of June and it was nip and tuck to see if my work permit would go through in time. The guy doing my paperwork was not very responsive and he waited until the last possible moment to get it done. But I am now legal for three years. I only have one more thing to do-go to the city and register as an alien but that is not difficult.

I can't think of anything else right now. I am sitting in my back yard writing this out long hand and Rafi (my dog) is pestering me to play with her. So I guess I will go and get this on the computer and sent out. I will include a few photos of the retreat in case you haven't seen them. Pray that God will give me the strength I need. He continues to take care of me and is teaching me as well as those in my classes.

PAULA: SAMBURU DISABLED CHILDREN

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