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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SAMBURU PASTORS SEMINAR-Northern Kenya 2013

While we were ministering in Northern Kenya, Cliff had a two day seminar for Samburu pastors in the little town of Suguta Mamar. Pastors cane from far away to hear the Word and fellowship. Pastors in Northern Kenya do not have an opportunity for formal training so this was a great blessing.

Crossroads Africa Maasai Pastors seminar, Rift Valley Kenya 2013

OUR ROUND TABLE DISCUSSION TO GET INPUT ON ORGANIZING THE PASTORS SEMINAR

LEAVING THE MEETING TO HEAD BACK HOME

AT THE RIFT VALLEY CAMPING AREA

Cliff Taylor, Stan Frederick and Paula Taylor traveled to the Rift Valley in May to hold a pastors teaching seminar.  It was the ultimate African adventure-camping, cooking on a campfire,  and fighting mosquitoes and flies. However, none of the inconveniences compares to the great blessings. Cliff was privileged to be able to teach Maasai pastors who walked great distances, some form the border of Tanzania, to hear the Word of God.  Hundreds of churches have been planted among the Maasai but few have trained pastors.

Expressive Arts Africa - S.H.E.R.P. (Samburu Handicap Education Rehibili...

EXPRESSIVE ARTS NORTHERN KENYA

It was a privileged to share the expressive arts with disabled children from the Samburu tribe in Northern Kenya. These rescued children are severally traumatized from having suffered horrific abuse at the hands of their parents or tribal elders. The Samburu believe that if a woman has a disable child the child is cursed. The mother is order to kill the baby or be banished from the tribe. In 1984 Grace Seneyia went against local custom and rescued one of these babies from a garbage pit. Today she loves and cares for 150 disabled children at the Samburu Handicap Education and Rehabilitation Program, an orphanage and training school located in Maralal, Kenya.Thanks to Stan Frederick who took the video and offered support to the children and staff.

With so many social media options it's hard to keep up with everything. Since I've been in Kenya I've posted on my personal facebook page and the Crossroads facebook page. Also there is small group that doesn't do facebook so email update are in order. Now it's time to add a new post on the Crossroads Blog... 

 As you can see from the photos below - It has been a busy time. The curious children could not resist looking through our gate into the yard. We are the only muzunga, (white) people who live in this neighborhood. Thanks so much for the donations that make it all possible.We are still trying to coordinate our trips to Northern Kenya to work with the Samburu, Zimbabwe, and possibly Rwanda. 

 One quickly learns when living in Africa long-term...STAY FLEXIBLE! For example, today a ordinary trip to the store turned into a loooong ordeal. The cashier's "phone" which was hooked to his cash register which processes credit card transactions,  was off line-thus begin the quest to find a phone online in the large busy supermarket. First the cashier waits his turn to ask the first supervisor what to to. The first supervisor sends him to another where he waits, then another, and so on and so on. I am following him around and waiting. He disappears and I look around to see him sitting back on his stool checking people out in his checkout line.  30 minutes later in some office there was a phone online to connect with the main office in downtown Nairobi which in turn turned on the line at the cashier's register. So glad I didn't have to be anywhere!

Washing clothes system.

Daily exercise

Tools for fighting the battle for a mosquito free zone.

New "screen" for office window

Art class

JUST ANOTHER DAY IN AFRICA - NO ELECTRICITY - THE RAINY SEASON

Power was off yesterday and today so I had to shave in cold water and take a cold 'African bath' this morning before going to Kayole to teach. It rained hard last night so when I got to Kayole it was a sea of mud and piled up garbage. As I was walking the half mile or so to where the class was, through the mud and garbage along the side of the road, being splashed by the matatu as it went by, I was almost feeling sorry for myself. But I wasn't because I was thinking of the men who were to receive the truth of God's Word. As I was walking along I came upon a stunning sight. A man was crawling on hands and knees through mud and garbage using flip flops on his hands because his leg was lame. I thought to myself - wow, that really puts it into perspective doesn't it.

CROSSROADA AFRICA EXPEDITION

CROSSROADA AFRICA EXPEDITION

I just discovered a new people group that needs to hear the gospel message-the RENDILLE of Northern Kenya-2% evangelized

For a few years we have been working with the Samburu tribe located in the same region.  The Samburu are becoming more evangelized and trained because they are more integrated into the Kenyan culture than the Rendilli. There are presently several missionaries working among them and starting Bible training centers to train new pastors.

I think it's amazing that the Jesus Film has been translated into their native tongue. God Bless the translators who work on that film! The oral history of this Cushitic tribe indicates they are of Jewish descent.

 

They traveled through the Suez Canal through Ethiopia to their present homeland. They descended through the Cushitic family lines with the Somali people.

 

When the Somali people were traveling from the Suez Canal through Ethiopia the Somali people chose to go toward Somali for good pasture. The Rendille people refused to go with them and separated to their present homeland around Marsabit. They rejected the land of the Somali's and were thereafter called "Rertit". 

 

The Somalis consider them rejected people.  The name Rendille is a colonial misinterpretation of the word "rertit", which means separated, refused or rejected in the Somali and Rendille languages.

They are a fascinating people-read more about them http://www.joshuaproject.net/people-profile.php?peo3=14543&rog3=KE

 

Pray that we have an opportunity to do child evangelism training with some of the leader.

The men and women from the Class of 2014 - 

Crossroads Int'l Bible Institute

Children say "Thank You" for the funds for the new school in Nairobi.

The mean from the Bible college wrote and printed their own gospel tract and handed it out to the men at their workplace.

BELESSINGS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON FROM CROSSROADS AFRICA

BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW YEAR