MT ELGON MISSION TRIP - LOCAL B& B

Well, I'm back from two weeks of intensity so I am relaxing and trying to get back to normal whatever that is. It was really a great trip despite being difficult. There were about 40 people there and they were so appreciative. One older pastor said on the last day that he had broken down and wept thanking God that they had been sent this truth. One of the young pastors from Uganda wants to organize a conferences for us in Uganda and in Rwanda. An interesting open door.

Just to give you a little example of the food: I was outside one day and saw the kids all of a sudden running to a place where it looked like there were thousands of locusts streaming out of a whole in the ground. They began to try to catch them using blankets. I asked Harrison what was going on and he told me they were termites (not the same kind of termites that eat wood). They were considered a delicacy and they were catching them to eat.  So that night for supper they had fried termites. I tried them but they tasted like fried insects to me and I went back to my peanut butter and jam. 

 

  I really didn't know what to expect in the property that that Harrison rented for us-at  $15 a month no  one really knows. It wasn't a bad little house although it very badly needed paint and other work. It beats sleeping in a tent and even had electricity. They put some mattresses and blankets and a few plastic chairs and kitchen utensils so we had what we needed. The kitchen was basically just a small room--no sink, counters, or anything else for that matter. We brought a two burner gas stove and a gas cylinder to cook on. Steve did the cooking and it was a challenge to eat just what they ate. I brought some peanut butter and jam and I went through all of it pretty fast.  

The bathroom was outside and was a dirty concrete room with a hole. There was another concrete room for the shower. There was no running water in the house so to take a shower you had to get water from a barrel,  heat it on the stove, and then take it outside to the shower room in a plastic basin and do the best you could. On the plus side we were right across the street from where we taught so it was convenient.  

 

 

The area there is really beautiful lush green valleys and mountains. The weather was beautiful.Everybody told me to expect it to be very cold but it was perfect.

THE PEOPLE OF MT ELGON,  KENYA

THE PEOPLE OF MT ELGON, KENYA

UPDATE FROM STAN: Greetings from Mt. Elgon, a rural, mountainous area in Kenya. It is a somewhat dangerous area as well because of fighting between tribal groups. Just last night there was a man attacked in his home and hacked with a machete. Because of the remoteness and danger we have to stay in the town of Kitale,  70 km away. The condition of the roads makes it a two hours trip every day - more if it is raining. So far it has been a very interesting, exhausting, exhilarating time. There are four of my former students who came with me to teach -- Harrison, Joshephat, Steve and myself. There is also another man, Crispus, who is from this area and came with his wife and son and who helps with translating.
           
We are staying in a guesthouse which is quite nice and comfortable for us. It is run by a man from the Netherlands and his Kenyan wife. We are enjoying our time of fellowship together. We have so far had two days of teaching the people in this area. There were 76 who had  signed up in advance to attend the classes but half have shown up. This isn't surprising since some come from 40 km away and must walk over the mountains. They are very anxious to be taught. These people have been subjected to all kinds of tribal violence and wrong teaching by so-called prophets.  For an example, some in this area have been  taught that it is a sin to use soap, either on themselves or on their clothing. So far I haven't
 noticed the odor :)  They are great people and receptive to the truth which makes them very special.

For me personally, the greatest thing has been watching the men who came with me teach their  countrymen the truth. It has been very powerful in the lives of the ones we are ministering to. I told the men before we left that it would be more important for them to teach than me because they are able to teach in their own language and relate better than an outsider. We have four sessions  a day and each of us teach a session. We start with the basics and explaining the foundation of the  gospel and the cross. I was thrilled yesterday during a break to see Harrison answering someone's question. Before I knew it 15  people gathered around trying to hear what he was saying in spite of the heavy rain pounding on the tin roof. He was having such a great time answering their questions that we had a hard time getting back for class. 

I wish I had the word to communicate to you the significance of what is happening here in Kenya. We only see the tip of the iceberg. I am finding out that there are many more men being taught the principles of the two sides of the cross and more advanced things as well. The ones who have graduated are teaching others in ways that I had not even realized. All of you who have been a part of this can realize that there are ones who will stand up in heaven when our works are being evaluated,  and say that because of you we have been  saved, because of you we have been built up in the faith. Keep praying for us that we can make the message  clear and precise. Stan 

ART AID FOR KENYA NOW

"In Kenya, an estimated three million, mostly poor, people live with intellectual and mental disabilities, according to NGO and United Nations figures. At the same time, the ratio of psychiatrists to the population is dismal -- just one psychiatrist to half a million people."

Those who have survives the many terrorist attacks in the last two years need care now! Through training local caregivers how to use simple art therapy activities, they can offer counseling anywhere,  anytime with the simple tools of crayon and paper.
 
With your help ART AID for KENYA will put together art kits and training books to be given to all those who attend training workshops. They in turn,  will return to their villages and begin their own art therapy counseling program and train others in their communities.

Student being helped after the latest April 2, 2015 Garissa college massacre.

Some of the faces of those who lost their lives in the Westgate Mall attack 2013

Students who survived the attack April 2, 2015 at Garissa college being taken to safety.

Plain clothes policeman help rescue woman and child from Westgate Mall 2013

YOUNG BOYS ARE BECOMING WONDERFUL YOUNG MEN

The boys at Dixon's graduation

 Isaac amd Derick right after Stan started taking care of him

 This is the first home they all  lived in together. One room, but with their own beds, clothing, food and school books. Before they met Stan they  boys had not been allowed to go to school because they were made to work all day.

 Their first camping experience to Lake Navasha with they youth group.

 Stan and Isaac visiting the rural area at Christmas.

 The boys at their first school

Brothers-not by blood by by a bond that developed

 Dixon graduated from Crossroads Bible Institute. What a great day!

Isaac and Derick in the rural area where they will attend boarding school.

FLOODING AT REDMILE FARM: Some of you know Gabriel from the many stories we have told you. He was a farm pastor and encourage families living through the darkest days of Zimbabwe's farm invasions and land redistribution. 

MANY WHITE FARMS WERE BURN WHEN OWNERS REFUSED TO LEAVE

FARM CHILDREN AND TEACHER

HIS STORY: Gabriel spent years building his homestead at Redmile Farm but when the white farmers were removed from their farms so were their workers. However, Gabriel got permission from the new owner, a village chief, to return once a week to look after the orphans and the sick. He taught them how to grow their own food and started a feeding program. He returned each Sunday to hold an encouraging church service.

GABRIEL TAKE ME ON A TOUR OF REDMILE AFTER THE FARM INVASION

Several months ago, Gabriel traveled to the village where his sister lived. When he arrived at her hut he went inside and found her dead; her two small children ages, 4 and 9 and two others had been taking care of each other. Gabriel made arrangements for his sister's burial and gather up the children to take them home. 

Crossroads collected funds for the unexpected new expenses of caring for small children. In spite of the trauma they have experienced, the children are adjusting. children settled into their new family and school and 

UPDATE: In December, Gabriel return to his homestead at Redmile Farm and give the orphans who still live there a Christmas party. Crossroads sent funds extra food and first aid supplies. Gabriel loaded up all the supplies and his family and headed for the farm. While they were there the rains came and pounded them day and night. Everything flooded and they barely escaped with their lives. Once again Gabriel needs help. We are collecting funds to replace their household items, clothing, and winter food supply which they kept at the farm.

ZIMBABWEANS LIVE IN RONDOVALS. THE FLOODS DESTROYED MANY

I think we'll give Gabriel a nickname. Gabriel "Job" Nenhowe because the man has withstood so many trials but has never lost his faith.

GABRIEL

WHY DO CHURCHES SUPPORT MISSIONARIES WHO ARE SERVING IN ALREADY CHRISTIAN AREAS MORE THAN MISSIONARIES SERVING IN NON-CHRISTIAN AREAS?

Pray for the safety off Joseph Leleruk and his travel companions as they ministry in the hostile area of Baragoi-many massacre have taken place in the area.

http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/ktn/video/watch/2000074021/-kenya-defence-forces-arrive-in-baragoi-for-disarmament-exercise

CROSSROADS NAIROBI YOUTH RETREAT 2013

Many Kenyan children grow up in poverty and never have the opportunity to travel out of the city where they can breath fresh air and see first hand, the wonders of God's creation.  This was truly a blessing!

Somali protests in nairobi in Komarock 17 june 2011

Please keep Stan Frederick, Crossroads Africa president and Nairobi resident in your prayers. He lives in a densely populated Somali area and many there are fearing retaliation by Al-Shabab for the Westagate Mall attack and for the raid on the Al-Shabab compound in by Navy Seals. Also, remember ALL those serving in 'harms way' in Kenya and other insecure places around the globe.

Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

*** THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MISSION ***

  THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MISSIONS - aka-"The Brilliance of Amazing Grace" poured out, overflowing, never ceasing and sometimes in the form of a Spiritual Hero

I didn't want to post "The Dark Side of Missions" without also posting the most significant side-"THE BRIGHT SIDE OF MISSIONS"- filled with grace...a "Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in time of need“, a "My grace is sufficient, for my power is made perfect in weakness" kind of grace which missionaries rely on. The marvelous thing about grace is...it's there when you need it and sometimes shows up when least expected. When we forget the promise of grace, it's triggered by a Bible verse we memorized as a child, the tune to a hymn we can't get out of our minds, or in the face of an inspiring hero.

Growing up my heroes were the spiritual types...not just the dearly departed saints of the Bible but those still alive. I loved the stories of Billy Graham and Corrie ten Boom, after all, I was a Baptist, but the grace reminder, the faces of heroes that to this day, still pop into my head, are Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Roger Youderian, Ed McCully, and Pete Fleming. The five brave missionaries who were killed by the Aucas Indians in 1956.

Their faces are vivid because I know them...though they were born and died before me...I know them through the stories. They represent courage, a devotion to seeing God's will through to the end, without limitations, a life dependent on a never-ending supply of grace.

My senior year I ended up living near Wheaton College-the college attended by my "spiritual heroes." My parents wanted me to attend Wheaton because it was a great school and I could live at home. I'll never forgot the first time I walked through the HALL OF MEMORY and saw the beautiful paintings of legendary Wheaton alumni. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Billy Graham, and Elisabeth Howard-Elliot were among them. At that moment I knew God had a purpose for my life.

YES! There is a BRIGHT SIDE TO MISSIONS - just ask those serving in today's mission field. Through loneliness, physical danger, disease, and unbelief they are sustained by grace. Sometimes it arrived when they least expect it - in the nod of a local who for the first time, understands the gospel message or in the face of a spiritual hero from long ago. The Brilliance of Amazing Grace, poured out, overflowing, never ceasing, is God's gift to all believers and will forever remind, the BRIGHT AND SHINNING SIDE OF MISSIONS.

SPOTLIGHT ON ONE OF OUR FAVORITE MISSION GROUPS - MASTER'S MISSION

Stan moves AGAIN!

Like we've said before, one thing  you have to be in Africa is FLEXIBLE. Stan Frederick, Crossroads man on the ground in Nairobi, has moved again.  When we all lived in Nairobi last year we needed a larger house but after Cliff and I came back to the states, Stan felt he should move into a smaller place that would be more cost effective. 

He now lives in an area of Nairobi called, Komarock.  It borders the upper slum area Kayole so it can be unsafe if the security guard falls to sleep on his job.Middle class housing areas are gated with 24 hour security.  This is not the type of security gated communities have in the west but it's better than nothing. 

Nairobi is divided into two main areas: The Westlands, the population is predominately white and Indian. It is where the expats, aid and mission headquarters are located. The Eastlands is predominately, black middle to lower class. 

There are pros and cons to living in Komarock. Pro-The Crossroads Bible Institute is located in Kayole so it will be a short distance from where Stan teaches. Con-two hour taxi ride to the Westlands where expats have to go to do certain business (fill out paperwork, etc.) AND it can be unsafe. 

Please pray for Stan's safety as he walks to the shopping areas, bus and to the bible school.The photos below are Stan's new place and neighborhood.

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