LETTER FROM JOSEPH -SAMBURU DISTRICT & MESSAGE OF THE CROSS

To start with warmest greetings to you all in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I am hoping that you are quite fine and we are also fine through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. I appreciate the gift you sent me. Thank you and God bless you. I would like to inform you that the believers of the gospel in my ministry continue to grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, and understanding the message of the Cross of Jesus Christ. 

At this time I have a class for pastors, deacons and evangelist that I started last month on 7th September, 2009. Continue praying for us so that the school can keep increasing as God wills. I have found a bigger room because of the increase of believers of the gospel. I am spending more time to teach them the Word of God.

I would like to share with you the topic I teach the new class

"The calling of God" ROMANS 8:30"

God's calling take place on three different levels:

1. God through Christ, invites all humans to believe His Good news of salvation. His invitation comes through His Word and Spirit. He calls equips and send messenger with the joyful news of what Christ has done.

2. God accompanies this call to individuals with the inner ability to respond in faith. In this sense, calling becomes the link in the chain that begins with God's love, our being with Christ in the new heaven and the new earth.

3. Finally Christians receive a calling to live a holy life through the power of the Holy Spirit. Specifically this mean being patient in suffering working for peace, serving one another in freedom and love and working to spread the gospel.

READ

Rom 8:28-30 -Christians called by God

Rom 12:12 -Patience expected of us

Matt 24: 14 - Responsibility to preach the good news

PRAY FOR THESE PEOPLE

1. JACKSON LETEROI

2. JOSEPH LENDONYO

3. PETER LOPIALA

4. JOHN LEKARAH

5. LAWRENCE LENAROROI

6. PETER LOLKIDENYE

7. MUSA LENENEYO

8. SAMUEL LELENGUYA

9. MISHECK KINYUA

10. CATHERINE LEDONYO

11. BEATRICE LOPIALA

12. JECINTA LEKIKUNIT

13. SUSAN LENSAAT

14. JOSPHINE LETEROI

15. ROSE LEKARAB

16. DORCAS LETIREN

Yours bro in Christ,

Joseph

PRAISE GOD!! IT'S RAINING IN AFRICA!!

Hi All, 
I know that since you have been praying for the Samburus and Massai, you will be interested to know that the rains have finally come. Joshephat tells me it is falling all over Kenya, even in the areas that get very little rain. Even to the point of flooding. 
Stan
I looked for just the right song to celebrate the rains falling in Africa and thought this one was pretty amazing-like the people who have survived through this horrid time. THANK YOU LORD FOR ANSWERED PRAYER!

HEALING RAIN FOR KENYA

We spent Easter Sunday with a Maasai  family who attended the church that Cliff used for pastor trainings. We listened to their stories of desperation, trying to hold on through one of the worst drought in years. It has been three years since there's been a normal rainy season in the area; for nomadic pastoralists this can destroy an entire family.

It was a wonderful to see it rain during Cliff’s sermon on resurrection. The Maasai got up from the benches, two or three at a time, and walked outside and held their heads toward the sky and feel the wonderful downpour. It was an answer to pray. However, the rains were not enough to make a dent in the amount needed to grow crops and green up the pastures for the cattle. As to date, rains have still been sparse.

WHAT DOES DAN DO?? -ONE SOCCER BALL

I've had a few comments from readers, after they've seen Dan's "Morocco monkey"  photo,  wanting to know, "What does Dan do?"
Dan is the "youthful energy" of Crossroads Africa. 
He's CA's vice-presidents and director of the  Adventure/Sports Evangelism program. Dan is a "children magnet" wherever he goes and carries the love of Christ to the mission field with great zeal. 

Dan's "day job" (in the winter months) is professional ski instructor. He works for the Aspen Ski Company http://www.aspensnowmass.com/onmountain/default.cfm   and Challenge Aspen   http://www.challengeaspen.com/ . 
In the summer CA is busy taking groups fly fishing, mountain climbing and horseback ridding. 

He can also do wonders with one soccer ball but the best way to explain what Dan does is to watch the video- Zimbabwe School and One Soccer Ball. 

REMBEMBER A MISSIONARY DAY - MINISTRY COLLEGUES

TODAY WE REMEMBER THE MISSIONARY. There are many independent missionaries serving in Africa and around the world. Some serve long-term, living away from family and 

friends for years, only returning home for brief periods of time.

REMEMBER to pray for missionaries at your local church and those serving with independent organizations-those not affiliated with and subsequently regularly funded by a Christian denomination. Independent missions truly operate by faith, not knowing where their funding will come from but depending on the Lord to provide.   Some of the more well known: Wylcliffe Bible Translators, Mission Aviation Fellowship, and Global Outreach-there are over 1000 around the world and  thousands of missionaries serving. They ALL need and feel your prayers.

MORNING AND EVENING IN AFRICA - HELLO FROM NAIROB, STAN

LIFE IS SACRED - DAY OF PRAYER FOR THE SAMBURU DISABLED CHILDREN

Psalm 139:12-14 Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;  your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS since my last visit to at the SHERP (Samburu Handicapped Education and Rehabilitation Programme) in Northern Kenya, home to 125 Samburu disabled children. The expressive art therapy workshop I taught the staff is being put to good use to help these severely traumatized children. 

As in many African tribes, the Samburu consider disability is a curse, caused by wrongdoing, a punishment from God. A disabled child can be feared like an evil spirit, hidden away, isolated, and abused. Among nomadic tribes the child is often left behind, given posion leaves to eat which insure certain death. Thanks God for SHERP and their work with the disabled child.

ONE SHERP CHILD'S STORY 
Lengees' father instructed his mother to kill him before they moved their cattle but instead a family friend brought him to SHERP.  Initially he could not move his legs. He has not had formal physical therapy but the staff encourages him get around by pushing himself along the ground. His legs are getting stronger and with proper physical therapy treatment he would probably be able to walk. The first time I visited SHERP and met Lengees and his friend they were fascinated by my hiking stick. As you can see by the photo his friend was born without a hand-a reason to be thrown away.

Lengees is seen in the first part of the video scooting up the hill to see me and also drawing on the floor during art.  He wanted to draw like the other children so I tapped paper to the floor and showed him how to hold and move a crayon. He proceeded to draw his first picture : -)

EXACTLY WHERE THE GOD WANTS YOU TO BE

        Hi Everyone,

It's been some time since I have written to so I wanted to give everyone an update. Life is fine in Buruburu! I am enjoying it here - the weather is pleasent, the people are generally great and most of all- it is a real blessing knowing you are exactly where God wants you to be.

There are some challenges. Especially with water and electricity. But I have it relatively good compared to some. The problems are getting better every day. I am finding that I feel right at home here in spite of the conditions which in America would be considered a slum. Sometimes I hear automatic gunfire at night and the next morning read of a shoot-outs with police.  I haven't felt threatened at all. I feel secure in my home with my dog, Raf.

I am missing American football a little, although since my team is losing pretty badly it is just as well I am not watching. I don't miss other TV though and I find that the only time I am close to being bored is when the electricity is out and I can't use my computer. I do have the internet in my home now so I can keep in touch with everyone on facebook, etc. I tried to download a movie the other day and the program came up and started to download it. The only problem was it had a little notice about how long it would take and it said it would take 23 years! I guess that gives you some idea of my internet connection speed.

The classes are going great and the people are understanding the grace principles of God. Yesterday I had a message on my phone from an unassuming young man who comes to the Buruburu class and he is quiet so you almost forget he is there.

His message was: "Hi teacher. I thank the Lord for the Bible classes. They have really changed my life. I believe God brought you to Africa for people like me. Francis."  Thank God for the men like Francis here who are learning of the grace of God and are being transformed by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.

I especially enjoy the teen class because these teenagers are so eager to hear and learn and they have less of the false teaching that is so prevalent here in Africa. Last week I bought them a soccer ball as that is the only recreation they have in Kayole slum. Pray for the people in my classes and for these teenagers. Pray especially for Joshephat in Kayole and Dennis in Buruburu - the two leaders who help me so much.

I continue to ask for your prayers.

Stan

WATER - TAKEN FOR GRANTED

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLeFZfi3T7I

 

October 2, 2009  Muchemi Wachira, Casper Waithaka and Kenneth Ogosia

Nairobi has tightened water rationing following declining dam levels. At Ndakaini Dam, which is the main source for Nairobi, water levels have been going down by five centimetres a day. “This has forced us to revise our water rationing programme,” said Mr Mbaruku Vyakweli, the Nairobi Water Company (NWC) communications manager. Water rationing in the city started early last month. This was after water levels at the dam drastically declined owing to poor rains in the Aberdare region.

Sasumwa Dam, the other source that also relies on rivers originating from the same area, has been undergoing construction. It is expected to be complete by October this year. With the revised rationing programme, Mr Vyakweli said city residents will suffer more. NWC will, however, try to do everything possible to alleviate the problem, he added.

 From boreholes

This year, many Nairobi residents have been relying on water from boreholes (wells). And it is usually delivered to them by owners of browsers and cart pullers, who sell the commodity at an exorbitant price. Owing to the acute shortage of the commodity, some water-borne diseases have been reported in Embakasi and Ongata Rongai estates.

Residents of Doonholm and Greenfields estates in Nairobi’s Eastlands area are among those most affected by the water shortage. They have been getting water only on Sundays. This has raised fears of a cholera outbreak. “And the water is not enough since it only comes for a few hours. So we are forced to buy water for the whole week,” said Catherine, who lives in the area.

Another Doonholm resident, Ms Peres Nelima, said: “We wake up as early as 4am to look for water from vendors and distant kiosks while the water company continues to charge us.” Residents usually scramble for the commodity whenever they find it. “What is happening is that the transmission supply for the two estates, which is in Gigiri, has been interfered with and so there is very low water pressure,” said Mr Vyakweli, adding that they were working to restore the supply line.

An official of the water firm who declined to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press said some unscrupulous people had diverted water lines for illegal use. “Hands of powerful people came back to haunt us, especially before the mayoral elections. Rich people sponsoring the candidates took advantage and destroyed our rationing programme by diverting water to their kiosks,” he said