June 2011

 Magumu, Naivasha
A weekend seminar for Children's Workers took us to Magumu AIC near Naivasha.  It was much colder than Nairobi, being over 9000 ft above sea level.  We were aware that the teachers were a more mature group than we often have in training.  The pastor and overseer of the churches represented had previously trained with us in Nairobi and has a big vision for the children in the community. Some of the children reached in the community were very confident, clever and interested in the things of God. In contrast one team found a child who needed much prayer, not ready to talk to anyone except her cat.

Nakuru and Kapsabet
Nakuru was the first stop on a journey to Rift Valley, a vast and beautiful expanse of Kenya.  Miriam, Edith and Margaret shared briefly in a Bible School and checked out facilities for a future training.  Then it was off to Kapsabet, stopping briefly on the way to discuss a possible media opportunity. 

Kapsabet is wet - everyday we had thunder storms so that the inside of Robin's vehicle turned brown instead of grey!  It was a most exciting time of  an interchurch pastors' breakfast, sharing with children in 3 schools, a community outreach and a children's 'crusade.'  In between there somewhere we held a training for Children's Workers.  What a great group of teachers hungry for God.  We left the group with the conviction that they must work together in unity which will help them make inroads for Jesus in Kapsabet.  "Kapsabet for Jesus' was the call at the climax crusade on the Saturday where the trainees had the opportunity to use their skills learned in the training.

May 2011

Miriam and Margaret survived a 15 hour bus ride to reach Bweyogerere, very near Kampala.  Wellspring Centre was the venue for a very special 2 week Children's Ministry training. Laughing and crying were the order of the day as God ministered to the students far beyond our expectations.  Our eyes were opened to abuse of children that broke our hearts but at the same time, the families of the church demonstrated the sacrifice of sharing what little they have, sharing houses, food and love with orphaned relatives and children of friends.  In fact the students declared that Wellspring has 'tanks full of love' to share with the community.  It was also evident that Wellspring has tanks, or wells full of joy.

NEWS:

Kakuma April 2011:

A Children’s crusade was held at the end of the first week in Kakuma training and it was a thrill to see that all the trainees participated in the outreach by building relationships with the children and leading them to Christ.

One young trainee noticed a sour relationship between a trainer and a new trainee who had run away.  He decided to intervene and requested the trainer to apologise.  When he spotted the trainee he came to the trainer and whispered “there she is, you can say sorry!”  The girl returned to class happily and became an active participator in the group.

Eldoret April 2011:

The training is becoming infectious.  We returned to Eldoret for our third year of training expecting to complete the training for the August 2010 group.  But God had another plan for us and a whole new group enrolled for a new class.  We are challenged to finalize 2 classes in August 2011.  Students are influencing other students to come to the training.

Through this training pastors have received a calling to plant a church in a slum community.  Hunger has been created in parents and children and one mother of the community has offered her house for a church as she felt the training was influencing the children in a good way.

Kakamega:

New Contacts:  God has opened doors for us to have a 3-day seminar for CWs in churches from Kakamega Counties in August.  This is to befollowed by an Interdenominational Children’s Crusade in the city.

Thanksgiving:

·         We thank God for the many children who came to know Christ in a personal way in Kakuma and Eldoret trainings

·         We are grateful for the church and friends who sent money for our airfares to Kakuma

·         We thank God for the reception of local leaders and parents in the host communities

·         God protected us while travelling by bus and matatu

·         We are thankful for the opportunities and for the churches that have the burden for training their CWs

·        For the many children whose lives have been changed as the trainees have touched them in the practicals

Prayer Requests:

·        For the coming trainings in Nairobi, Mlolongo and Mozambique

·        That the trainees will be free from worries about their families and physical needs during trainings

·        For the trainees that they will put into practice the skills learned in training

·        The needs of children: sicknesses and that they will be open to the Word of God