Create In Me a Clean Heart

“let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water." Hebrews 10:22

          This past month, the Lord has been doing a major work of cleansing my heart.  When I received Jesus into my heart many years ago, I became a new creation according to 2 Corinthians 5:17.  On that Sunday morning of October 21^st 1995, things became new and the old was gone.  When bible says the old is gone and behold all things have become new, what does that actually mean?  Does it mean that all of a sudden I have now been completely cleansed/sanctified?  I don’t think so.  What happened was justification (I received a right standing with God) but the work of sanctification had just begun.  As I was thinking about it, the Lord gave me a picture of a house whose old tenant moves out and a new tenant comes in.  Jesus became the new tenant of my heart but he had a lot of cleaning to do.   When I first moved into the house I live in right now, I did some major cleaning but even at this point there still areas I am yet to clean.  When it comes to cleaning a house, there are areas we clean almost every day like the kitchen.  Then there are others we clean maybe once or twice a week.  Then things like windows get cleaned only after so many months.  And depending on how much dust there is around, some areas get dirty as soon as they are cleaned.  That is the same with our hearts.

At the National Museum
of the Royal Kingdom
of Cambodia

                        

         Salvation (justification, sanctification and glorification) is a work of grace.  It is not by works lest any of us should boast.  Yet Paul tells in Philippians 2:12 to work out our salvation with fear and trembling.  Then he goes on to add that it is God who works in us to will and act according to his good purpose.  That for me has meant that I yield my heart to the Holy Spirit to do the work of cleansing (sanctification).  As I was praying the above scripture this past month, the Lord did more than I had imagined.  He did more than cleanse me from a guilty conscience but went deeper into the recesses of my heart and shed light on things I needed to deal with in his presence – things I would have never thought of on my own.  Here I was concerned about gaining more language vocabulary and learning more about the Khmer culture and never anticipating that the Lord will do a thorough ‘work’ in my heart.  There are issues and burdens and attitudes and hurts and hidden faults, some of which I had carried from childhood, which I had to lay before the Lord.   I know the Lord is not finished with me and I am so humbled even as I write this because I know this could not happen apart from his grace.  I am reminded of David’s prayer in Psalm 51:10-13 where David was praying for a clean heart and in verse 13 he says ‘then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to you.’  David knew that before he could teach transgressors the ways of the Lord, he needed his heart to be clean and his mind to be made pure and his joy of salvation to be restored. 

•  Pray that I will continue to let the water of his word to cleanse me.  Pray that God himself, the God of peace, will sanctify me through and through. That my whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thes 5:23)

• Pray that God will continue to equip me mentally, spiritually, linguistically, physically and emotionally for that work he has called me to in Cambodia.

• Pray for the Cambodia.  Pray for rain.  They are predicting a drought this year.  Also, pray for the rain of the Holy Spirit, that the knowledge of Lord will cover Cambodia even as the waters cover the sea.

Open Doors; Open Hearts

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains." Colossians 4:3

Inside a Pagoda (Buddhist Temple)
when we went for a burial of a friend of
my friends' father

As a Daniel learner*, apart from learning language and observing the culture around me, one of the other things I am required to do is to read about the Cambodian history.  In January I started a reading marathon of reading one book a week and it has been heartbreaking to read about the Cambodian history.  When I was reading Killing Fields Living Fields by Don Cormack, there were times I would put the book down and just cry.  The book focuses on the history of the church in Cambodia but also mentions what the whole country went through especially during the Pol Pot regime.  Before Pol Pot in April 1975, the church had grown to about 10,000 believers only to be trimmed down to about 200 believers at the end of that very dark period in Cambodian history in 1979.  And like the terror they went through was not enough, the church underwent another 10 plus years of persecution from the government being denied

freedom of worship and some of them being put into prison because of the name of Jesus.  One thing that encouraged me as I was reading is that God is Sovereign over the nation of Cambodia and He is not blind to what they went through in the hands of the fellow countrymen.  What the devil intended for evil, God turned it for the good of the church in Cambodia and used it to save many people as many of them started to question their Buddhist beliefs and came to find answers only in Christ.

My language teacher and me during a cultural visit  to a school. Unfortunately we went on a day when there  were no pupils.

My language teacher and me during a cultural visit 

to a school. Unfortunately we went on a day when there 

were no pupils.

A typical Cambodian countryside home

         

One thing I thank the Lord for right now, is that the doors for the gospel in this country are open.  That does not mean that the Cambodian Christians still don’t go through persecution in the hands of the fellow countrymen – whether direct or indirect.  The other day I asked my Khmer friends what is one of the challenges in sharing the gospel in Phnom Penh and they said it is closed doors.  They explained that in the countryside, people live in community and there are no gates or high walls.  What that means is that people are accessible unlike here in the City of Phnom Penh.  Also, with the horrific things the country/people of Cambodia have gone through, it is only obvious that their hearts become untrusting and suspicious.  But who can blame them really?

 Therefore: -

• Pray with me that not only an effectual door of ministry be opened but also that the hearts of the Cambodian people be opened to the gospel.  Pray for all who are serving here in Cambodia – ministries and churches.

• Pray that the believers in Cambodia will unite as one and join hands to see the Kingdom of God come to Cambodia.

• Thank God for an open door to my neighbor’s house who has continued to help practice language and even taught me how to make one Khmer dish.  Also thank God for the grace he has continued to give me as I learn the Khmer language and culture.  Pray for more opportunities to interact with Khmer people.

*OMF term for those who are learning language and culture before they launch into their respective ministries.  It was adapted from the book of Daniel.

Counting The Cost Of Following Christ

“I tell you the truth,” Jesus replied, “no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields—and with them, persecutions) and in the age to come, eternal life." Mark 10:29-30

           Last year's Christmas was probably the hardest Christmas season I had to go through.  Having left Kenya at the end of October and arriving to Cambodia at the end of November, I had forgotten that Christmas will follow soon after.  Saying goodbye at home was hard and transition and settling into a new country is not easy either.  But adding all that to a holiday season, where everything is about family and loved ones, just tips the scale.  With all my preparations to get here in the prior months, I did not remember that I will be getting here a just few days before Christmas.  That is definitely one cost I had not counted when I told God 'yes, sign me up for missions.'

I knew I would have to leave family behind but I didn't process how holidays would look like in far away country without friends and family.  To make it even more difficult, Cambodian's do not celebrate Christmas. During the Christmas season, it is business as usual here in Cambodia.  Having been caught unawares by the holidays, I decided to spend Christmas alone in my house.  I had invitations to go out and eat in a restaurant with some colleagues but I  turned them down knowing how that will make me miss Christmas at home even more. I was very happy when the season ended and life could go back to 'normal'.

Eating having Khmer Buffer dinner with Khmer friends
on New Years day

When I remember the above words that Jesus spoke to his disciples I know Jesus will give me more than what I have left.  I know this year's Christmas will be different - I will celebrate with the mothers and sisters and the brothers that God will give me here.  And actually, by New Year's, I had some Khmer friends that we went out to eat a buffet (Khmer style - see photo).  In retrospect,  as difficult as that season was, if I had a chance for a do - over, I would not change a thing.  I decided long ago that I would go to the ends of the earth for sake of the Gospel.  Every sacrifice is so worth it.  All that is happening now is experiencing the details of what my 'yes' looks like.

On the language front, I am making progress and my Language Coordinator told me a few days ago that I might start my language lessons in the University in April (this is part of the curriculum).  While that was intended to be good news, it made my stress levels go up a few notches higher.   If you are wondering why, let me explain.   Phnom Penh is a very crowded city with a lot of traffic.  So far, I have manage going for language lessons at the OMF Centre on foot (I live only 10 minutes away).  And even though sometimes it is stressful to cross the streets on foot, I have managed it well thus far.  To get to the University (which is further away),  I would have to ride a bicycle or motorbike.  I am not used to riding either leave alone maneuvering through the crazy traffic.  I had hoped that this part of riding a motorbike will come six months or a year after I have been here.  My other concern is that I am still learning my way around.  But then as I said above, for the sake of the Gospel, I have no choice but to do it.  If it is going to kill me then let it kill me.  The alternative is that it will make me stronger.

As you continue to pray for me/Cambodia:-

• Thank God for his hand on me and the progress I am making in the language.  I can now read a few words (well 3 letter words mostly) and can make my way around in the market and even speak short sentences with people.

• Stress is real.  Homesickness is real. When I was in Orientation in Singapore, I kept hearing from our leaders that Cambodia is high-stress field.  Now I am beginning to understand what they were saying.  Pray that God will give me wisdom on how to take care of myself spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally.  Pray that during these times of stress, I will quickly run and drink from the fountain of Living Water and learn to abide in his presence.

• Pray for salvation and healing of Cambodia.  As I continue to learn about her sad past, my heart breaks a thousand times over.  Pray that the church will arise, unite and pray for this nation according to 2 Chronicles 7:14

First Impressions of Cambodia

“Language learning is ministry; ministry is language learning.”  OMF Daniel Learning

It is good to finally write to you from Cambodia.  I am so excited that I am in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, at last!  All that praying and preparation and hoping and trusting and envisioning – well, let’s just say that that is over and a new journey begins.  I thank God for everything for it is from him and through him and to him are all things.  Hallelujah! 

Language learning at OMF Cambodia Centre.  Was sharing my  testimony with the team when I wore my traditional (Maasai) dress.

So, I have been here for the last 28 days and there is so much I can write about but let me restrict this update to the question that most people have been asking me – what are your first impressions of Cambodia?  When I look at the capital city of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, at quick glance it almost looks like Nairobi.  But when I give it a second glance, it is very different.  There is one street I passed through and it gave me the impression that I was in Ngong Road in Nairobi (the section where they make and sell furniture).  The street in Cambodia also sells furniture but on closer look, it is not chairs, tables and beds that are being sold there, it is actually spirit houses (see photo below).  Spirit houses are everywhere in city.  Almost every Cambodian has one outside their house or business premise.  They use it to offer food/drinks to spirits or departed ancestors.  Cambodia is a Buddhist country but it is not pure Buddhism.  At the heart of Buddhism here, is spirit worship and animism.  When I walk around and see the spirit houses around Phnom Penh, I am reminded of Paul in Athens (Acts 17) where found a very superstitious people worshipping an unknown God.  I am very saddened at the spiritual state of this nation. 

Spirit houses being sold in the street

The people have been really friendly to me and that has been an affirmation that God has sent me here.  I was told that the Cambodians look down on people with dark skin and that I might even have trouble at the immigration at the airport.  But my entry into Cambodia was very quick and smooth.  I was not asked any questions and one of the immigration policemen even helped me glue back my Visa which was not properly glued to my passport.  Praise God for that.  I found a house and moved in at the beginning of December (praise God again J ) and it is not far from the OMF Centre where I go for language learning every day.  As I walk to go for language learning Centre, people smile at me and I say hello and they say hello back.  Others even try to talk to me sometimes but because I still don’t have a clue of what they are saying, I just smile.  My neighbor has agreed to practice language with me and we are planning to go to the market together for me to just go and observe what happens at the market.  So praise God for people who have been willing to teach me some words in Khmer like at restaurants and even while taking a tuktuk ride.  That has made me feel welcome here and I feel at home here in many different ways.  Well, until we people start talking and I can’t get a word of what they are saying, then I remember I am not home.

More language learning.  I have four teachers who are teaching
me survival Khmer, consonants and vowels and constructing
simple sentences.

And speaking of language, my main ministry assignment for the next one year is purely language learning and cultural observations.   When I first got here, my head used to hurt at the end of the day because I was trying so hard to listen and pick a word or two of what people are saying.  Also, looking at the Khmer script was very frustrating because when I got here I could only identify the Moh (ម) consonant.  Now I am happy to say that my head does not hurt as much as it did at first and I can now identify more and more consonants and even some of the vowels.  In addition to learning how to speak, write and communicate in Khmer, I am also observing the culture.  Like what are some of the things people do when they visit a home or an office or how do you give someone money?  I have observed that people remove shoes when they get into a house (be it an office, church or someone’s house).  That is something I am still getting used to.  I also have to get used to giving people money using both hands.  And speaking of money, we use both the Cambodian Riel and the US dollar simultaneously.  Go figure!

There is so much I could say but for now:-

•   Give thanks to God for his grace this far.  It is very hot but I am adjusting to the heat slowly.  Also thank for my sending church and partners who have been very supportive in many different ways.  Thank God for the OMF Cambodia family who have received me well and continue to make sure that I have a smooth transition.

• Please pray that each Cambodian will get an opportunity to hear the gospel and stop worshipping idols and turn to the true and living God.

• Please continue to pray for me that God will give me a learning heart not only for the language but also to keenly observe the culture of the Cambodians so that I can be at home in their culture relating, serving and communicating effectively with them.

Crossing Cultures: Greetings From Beautiful Singapore

“I have found that there are three stages to every great work of God; first it impossible, then it is difficult, then it done.” Hudson Taylor

One of my weaknesses is my love for bibles.  When I go to any library or bookshop, the first thing that catches my attention is a bible.  Last Wednesday I happened to go the library here at the OMF International Centre here in Singapore.  And true to myself, I looked at a few books but ended up in the bibles section almost immediately.  But these bibles were not my regular kind of bibles.  For starters, they were not in my language or a language I understand.  They were not even in a script I understand.  As I took one to look at, I found out that it was a Khmer Bible (the language and culture I am going to in Cambodia).  So I was even more interested and started going through it.  As I perused it, I could not tell whether I was in Psalms or Genesis or Ezekiel and neither could I tell the number of the chapters.  But something interesting happened, I got really emotional and I started crying.  So I put the bible down and left the library prematurely.

At this point I know you are wondering why I got too emotional of at a Khmer Bible.  I also wondered and as I continued to process my thoughts and my feelings, I realized that I have been thinking a lot about crossing cultures to the Khmer Culture.  I have many mixed emotions.  Let me see if I can share a few with you here.  Top of the list is my love for the Cambodian people – I feel an affection to a people I have never met and as I process my thoughts and my feeling, I am asking myself, will I still love them when I see them?  Will my heart still go out to them when I see them in the next two weeks?  Even more scary to ask, will they love me?  Will they accept me? How long will it take for me to learn their culture and their language?  Will I ever be at home within the Khmer culture? 

Isaac giving us his testimony outside his jewelry
shop at Tekka Market in Little India, Singapore

But as I consider my uncertainties of crossing into a new culture, it would be wrong of me not to mention how God has continued to encourage me in many different ways.  First, during our cultural plunge experience on Wednesday, my group and I were sent to Little India.  Singapore has a very rich and diverse culture and they in fact have four national languages.  As we went through the markets and streets in Little India, we could not help but observe the rich Indian heritage.  One of my highlights was meeting Isaac who happens to be a believer in a jewelry shop.  It was very encouraging to meet him because I did not expect to meet a believer there at all.  I felt like God was telling me that he has a remnant everywhere.  Isaac told us that he came to faith through dreams of Jesus and now he evangelizes to those around him.  Praise God!

Braiding Lois' slippery hair

Second, on Saturday I got an opportunity to braid one of my fellow Orientation member’s daughter’s hair.  Someone, may wonder, why would that be an issue?  Well, if you come from Kenya, then braiding hair is not out of the ordinary.  But then braiding “slippery” is a cross-cultural experience not only for the little girl who was braiding her hair for the first time but for me who braided “slippery” hair for the first time.  But it is really all about hair?  I don’t think so.  The little girl admired my hair and wanted her hair done the same way.  It showed me not only appreciation for me but also for my culture.  I was so encouraged that she would endure a whole two hours to have her hair braided by a “stranger” or am I?

Speaking to Buddhist monks
outside a Hindu Temple in Little 
India, Singapore.

The third thing God used to encourage me is a whatsapp message from one the girls I was discipling in Campus in Kenya.  Here is what she wrote “….However you have been on my mind all through.... You came to my life and made everything beautiful... Today i approach this life differently..today i am more wise,  today my relationship with Jehovah is not as it used to be,  today i am better because you came through.”  This encouraged me because as I thought about crossing cultures, it will probably be a long time before someone could say these words to me.  It would be a long before I could share the gospel in a culturally appropriate manner in the Khmer language.  But when I remember of what God has used me to do in the past, I am encouraged that he is able to do it again in the future despite the time it will take.  For now, I have to let God shape me more into his image as I observe the culture around me and as he strips me of my prejudices.

So while I consider the above quote by Hudson Taylor, that which seems impossible right now in term of culture and language learning, will eventually be done through God’s strength.

So:-

• Praise God for Isaac and others like who are reflections of God’s light in a very dark world.  Pray for boldness as he shares Jesus - he told us that people hate him because he preaches Jesus to them.

• Thank God for how he encouraged me through Isaac’s story.  Pray that I will continue to notice God’s work of grace in my life and in the lives of those around me since he is always working (John 5:17)

•  Pray for God’s enablement as I transition from Singapore to Cambodia on Nov 20^th and as I learn the language and culture of the Khmer people.  Pray that I will fit well within the OMF team in Cambodia and for a language and culture helper.

The Fields Are Ripe For Harvest

“Do you not say, 'Four months more and then the harvest'? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” John 4:35 (NIV)                                                                                           

  As I look forward to leaving Kenya on the 22^nd of this month, one of the things I am doing, apart from packing, is saying goodbyes.  In September I had an opportunity to do so to some students I was working amongst at Kenya Science during my training with the Navigators. 

2018.09.23 – My cell group members and
 me after the commissioning service.

      On the evening of September 13^th, I was met with familiar faces and others were not so familiar.  I was happy to find some students that I had walked with the previous year.  But my highlight was meeting one of the first year students (Karen*) whom I had an opportunity to speak with after the meeting.  

      As Karen stood to leave her chair, I felt this love for her in my heart that compelled me to speak to her. I called her over to where I was and I held her hand as we spoke.  One of the questions I asked is when she gave her life to Christ.   She told me she had backslidden earlier this year and was thinking of recommitting her life to Christ.  When I asked her if she would like to do that right there and then, she said yes.  I didn’t believe she had said yes and so I rephrased the question and I asked her again and again she said yes.  At this point I called one of my co-laborers and we prayed with her and she made her life right with God.

          As I thought about the whole incident later, I was made aware of the doubt in my heart and I am praying that God will strengthen my faith and trust Him when he brings people whose hearts he has worked on and are ready to walk with the Saviour.  He says in his word that the fields are ripe with the harvest.  Karen’s story is an example of a heart ready for harvest.  Would you pray with me that as I go to Cambodia I will open my eyes to see the ripe harvest.

•  Please pray for Karen that she will be grounded and rooted in the Word.  Pray for people who will come alongside her to help her in her walk of faith.

• Thank God for that amazing commissioning service that we had on the 23^rd of September.  Also thank Him for all the partners who are standing with me through their prayers and their giving.

• Please pray about language and cultural learning.  Please pray that God will help me in the one year that I will be learning the language/culture to be at home within the Khmer culture and OMF culture.

  

*Name changed

Journey To Cambodia

When I think of my journey to Cambodia, I think of when God first laid the burden for Cambodia in my heart in 2015.  I thought I will just apply with a Missionary agency and in a few weeks I will be in a plane to Cambodia.  What I did not know then was that it was going to be a process and to get to Cambodia will take longer than I had anticipated.

It has been 3 years since God laid the burden in my heart and I am still not in Cambodia.  I started my application with OMF in June 2016 when I was still training with the Navigators.  In January 2018, I started my support raising in preparation for Cambodia.  Overseas Mission Fellowship (OMF) whom I am going to serve with needed me to have four clearances before I could go.  I needed the Medical Clearance, Homeside Clearance, Field Clearance and Financial Clearance.  By the grace of God, I received all the four clearances by the end of June 2018.  

I will be leaving for Singapore in October 22^nd 2018 for 3 weeks of orientation and trusting God to be in Cambodia in November 20^th 2018.  I will be in Cambodia for an initial commitment of 3 years and my first assignment will be to learn the Khmer language and the Cambodian culture for a year.  The next two years I will be involved in ministry assignments as my leaders see fit.  I am really excited and I can’t wait to get to Cambodia.  One of the promises God has given me is in Matthew 28:19-20 which tells me that he will be with me.

At the Navigators Send Off – being 

prayed for and commissioned to go.

Going forward, please: -         

• Thank God for the progress thus far and for support I have received from partners, friends and my sending church – Deliverance Church Kahawa Sukari (DCKS)
• Pray that God will raise partners to stand with me for the remaining needed support so that I will have all that I need to do the work in Cambodia (2 Cor 9:8)
•  Pray that as I go to Cambodia, I will have a smooth transition and that God will give me knowledge and skill and that I will be quick to learn the Khmer language and culture( Daniel 1:17)
•  Pray that the 42 people groups in Cambodia will hear the gospel and that they may put their faith in Christ who die for them (Rev 5:9)

The Transforming Power of The Gospel: A Tale of Three Children's Homes

More than a week ago, in our church, we hosted about 5 missionaries from out of State.  Like any short term missionaries in any country, we had to accompany them to the places they were going to minister at.  Their visit was very short; only five days.  But we got to visit 3 different Children's Homes on three different days.  The comparison for the three Children's Homes was very notable and amazing.  It was actually one of our highlights - for all of us - both guests and hosts.  The reason for the difference?  Well, you will find out soon.

Children's Home 1
The first Children's we visited was in Baba Ndogo.  It had about 78 children - a few of whom were away in boarding schools.  The Home is being run by a couple who are born again Christians and very devoted to the children.  To them, raising those children is not only an honor but a calling from God.  From the first impression, we noted some major needs one being space.  Imagine 78 children crammed up into 3 bedrooms the size that can only accommodate 3 bunk beds and leaves room for nothing else.  But the impressive thing is that the children were clean and the place was generally clean.  When we interacted with the children, it was easy to control them.  They were well behaved and we had a smooth time of interaction - telling them bible stories, singing with them and presenting small toys to them.  When we told them to queue for the toys, they did not have any trouble and once each received a toy, they were content and didn't feel the need to go asking for more toys or for a different kind of toy.

Children's Home 2
The second Children's Home we visited the next day was in Eastleigh.  There were about 80 to 100 children who were being raised by a Muslim woman.  She is a devout Muslim and we even tried to share the word of God with her.  But just like they say, if you want to know about the home you look at the children, they really did paint a vivid picture in our minds.  First off, our time of interaction and games was not easy.  We had to change different games half way because they were just not working.  We get not get them to follow instructions or even get them to listen in the first place.  When it came to handing them gifts, we had trouble having them stay in the queue and those who got gifts came back for more.  One even told me that he stole a gift from his friend.  Talk of aggressive, they were in every way a children can be.  The home also had limited space like the first one but this one was smelly (I will not go into the details of this).

Children's Home 3
The third Children's Home we visited was in Kabete and it was a government run Home where staff and volunteers worked in shifts.  That means that the children there did not have someone who is constantly there for them throughout.  This definitely reflected on the children as some of the younger children needed a diaper change but no one had bothered to change them.  We visited in the evening and it was when the night staff were just about to get in for the shift and the evening staff were about to leave.  It was clear that the staff did not have any religious inclinations but were just government staff who were trying to do "the right thing".   But to an outsider, "the right thing" could mean something totally different.  In terms of space, this home adequate space and it was clean but the children were "smelly".  It is sad but that is the truth.  When we gave them the gifts, they were well behaved and most were content with whatever gift they received.  But we had trouble consoling one child who was weeping because they wanted a different kind of gift.

In Conclusion, no home can be perfect and that includes regular homes with a father and mother.  But there is a big difference that Christ can make.  We saw it and we experienced it with our own eyes.

Therefore, pray:-

• That the children in Home 1 will continue to know, love and become like Jesus Christ.
• That the children in Home 2 and 3 will encounter Christ and those around them will also come to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

Core Combat Eldoret: Whoever Serves Me Must Follow Me

Core Combat is an initiative of The Navigators Eldoret and Western to train students to become laborers.  Our theme for this year was John 12:26 which says (let me see if I can quote it from memory), "Whoever serves me must follow me.  And where I am my servant also will be.  My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Here I was leading a study on "Devotions or Devotion"and
we learnt that God wants us to focus on "the one thing"
Psalm 27:4.  

We spent the first half of the time getting ourselves heavily into the scriptures, prayer and fellowship.  We learnt to work together as team and do chores together.  We did everything for ourselves - cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, fetching water and firewood.  Some of us did some things we are not used to doing or never did before.  For some like me it was washing clothes in a flowing river and for others it was either reading ten chapters of the bible a day, memorizing scripture or cooking on three stones.  Hence Core Combat.  They says pictures speak louder than words, so enjoy the slide show or not!

Going to the river to fetch water.  

On the right, you see me with a can and a friend fetching water.  The river was not very far but it was a long distance enough for us to review between 5 to 12 verses on the Topical Memory System (TMS).  The TMS is a simple, easy-to-use tool developed by The Navigators to help believers memorize key verses that point to basic truths and important instruction.  The one we are currently using has only 60 verses that are grouped into 5 (12 verses in each group).  One of my highlights was memorizing the verses in the evenings and there are some verses we had to repeat soo many times because some unnamed individuals kept adding things that were not there or removing others like an "S" or "the".  We laughed so hard it took us an hour or so to memorize 12 verses word perfect and share what we heard God speaking to us from the verses and praying back those thoughts back to God.

It was our turn to prepare dinner.  

Time to prepare dinner was not only time to bond as we showcased our "good cooking skills" :-) but it was also time to catch up on our scripture memory and bible reading.  On the left, you can see Paul seating in the background (he was not feeling well) but he read 10 chapters for us from the book of Mark while Njoro and I prepared dinner.  On other days, while our group fetched water, another group listened to the audio bible while making chapatis.  They did not employ the services of Paul to read for them....ha ha.

It was fun to wash clothes in a flowing river  for the first time in my life.

In the "Conference Room" doing a study

           

Studying God's Word under warm sunny weather

Leaving Eldoret to Sirembe, Siaya for ministry outreach 

The "soldiers" are equipped and on
their way to transform the Nations

                                                                                                                                                     

Some fun & adventure!!!

               

Ministering at Sirodha Primary School in Sirembe.  Almost the
entire school (Class 4-8) prayed to receive Christ. 

Ministering at Ndegwe Seconday school.  About 7 students
committed their lives to Christ.

Relaxing in Sirembe after an afternoon of ministry.

On our way to Church on Sunday.

A friend I met at Church.  She taught me
a few Luo words.

In Church in Sirembe after the service.  We were fed like kings
and queens.  It was such a nice meal that you can even see from
our faces.

Waiting for a Matatu to Kisumu in Kodiaga.  

We got to Kodiaga from Sirembe on
motorbikes.

In short, whoever serves Our Lord Jesus Christ, the same must follow Christ.
We must follow Christ in obedience to the great commission he has entrusted to us.  And we also follow him as we seek to become more like him.  Eventually, as we spend time with the one we love, we become more like him.  We become like him in the area of character and how we respond to pain and suffering.

Holy Spirit Moments: Is The Lord With You?

"One of them said he knew a young fellow in Bethlehem, the son of a man named Jesse, who was not only a talented harp player, but was handsome, brave, and strong, and had good, solid judgment. “What’s more,” he added, “the Lord is with him.” " 1 Samuel 16:18(TLB)

        We had door-to-door evangelism at Kenya Science today and we reached two girls who were already born again.   We encouraged them and prayed with them.   One thing that was very clear like with so many believers today,  is the fact that they lack discipleship.   We have a lot of converts but very few disciples yet the mandate Jesus Christ left us is to make disciples of all nations.   Please pray that these students will be rooted and grounded in the Lord.

            On my way home,  in the bus, I sat next to the driver like it has become my custom.   I had sincerely not planned to share the gospel with the driver or the passenger on my left side.   So after exchanging pleasantries, I took out my phone to continue with my Systematic Bible Reading.   I had finished 1 Samuel chapter 15 earlier and was to start on chapter 16.  

            But little did I know that the Holy Spirit was setting me up to preach to the two guys.   I heard him say,  "ask them if you could read out the chapter to them."   I wanted to ignore the voice but I had read the previous chapter where Saul disobeyed the Lord and we all know the consequences -  he was rejected as king.   

            I then decided to go with the "flow" of the Holy Spirit.  So we read the chapter and the Holy Spirit had me focus on the profile of David as a leader God chose to replace Saul.   He zeroed in on verse 18 (quoted above) that the Lord was with David and tied it with psalm 23.  As I alighted at my stage/destination the Holy Spirit had me ask Mohammed and Symo whether the Lord is with them.

So pray that:-

• Mohammed and Symo will seriously ponder on that question and that they will desire a relationship with the Lord like that of David and the Lord.
• The Lord will guide me to many more souls that He wants me to share the gospel with.