Home Group

We have been blessed to have "home group" here in our house each week. On Thursdays, various families and individuals that live in our area, come here to fellowship and share on a more intimate level. One of the beautiful things that something like this affords is the closeness that can be formed between believers and their families. It's such a special time to Lindy and I because when the door opens up around 7:00pm, in walks families like Tom & Juanita Matthews who work translating God's word into various languages for indigenous peoples. The Davies walk in with their Welsh background and zeal to try new things to reach others. Peter & Peace Mutuma come with their Kenyan heritage and hunger for more. A Norwegian family has been attending for a while and all their kids come with such a wonderful personality and charm that everyone enjoys talking with them. We have South Africans, Americans, British, and Costa Ricans who are choosing to make this place at this time a part of their week.

Lately we've been talking about "Family" and how special believers come to understand family when they recognize the church is a family. I love the discussions and views. No one has exclusivity on insight or understanding, so we must be open to hear the thoughts of each other. I've found the comments of my family to be very helpful in uncovering my own misconceptions of various parts of the Christian life.

You know, being away from my family in US hasn't been easy, but God has widened my family and allowed us to see that is even more spectacular than I ever imagined! I often say, "I have very few friends, but I have quite a large family!"

Father, thank you for giving me hundreds of brothers and sisters and placing them in my heart!

We Need Your Prayers!!!

Friends and family, I write this to you in the midst of, what I believe to be, a serious spiritual battle. For the past several weeks our ministry has been under attack by the enemy and he's swinging hard! We have been hit by serious family problems with 2 of our partner's families. We've had challenges with integrity issues from another that we never saw coming. And today we've just learned that the landlord where the Bible College is located is about to sell the property and building right out from under us. And there is nothing we can do about it. These, along with a few other tiring issues has really worn us all down.

I am writing to beg for your prayers. We do not need anything else. We need your earnest prayers to our advocate in Heaven. He sees and knows everything that's going on. He is not silent. But we know that our prayers are powerful weapons that God has gifted us for such purposes as this.

Would you all please take a few minutes to lift up our partners?

Would you also pray for strength to withstand the enemy's assault?

Would you pray for discernment so we can be as obedient to God as He desire of us in all these challenges?

Would you pray for reconciliation for specific team members and their families?

Would you pray that God would use this for His glory?

Your prayers are a serious part of why Lindy and I are enjoying being pregnant. We believe that prayer DOES alter life here on earth because the One we pray to hears them and acts.

Thank you for listening.

Questions for YOU!

I've been thinking about doing something different on occasion with our posts. We would love to hear from you on a few things. So, if you don't mind humoring us, we'd love to pose you some questions to answer. Give your answers to these either by commenting or emailing us.

1. What book that you've read this past year has had the most significant impact on your faith?

2. Outside of the USA, where would you say that your heart is most drawn; either in prayer for the people, interest of the culture, or current events taking place?

3. How are you currently using your spiritual gift(s) to further the Kingdom?

Yeah, these are deeper. In hearing your answers, we can be in prayer for you, your families, and the purposes God has called each of you unto. You and the Thompsons are a team. Remember? Therefore we want to be as encouraging to you in pursuit of God's heart as you have been unto us!

~Chris

...And the Tree was happy.

My all-time favorite book as a child (and arguably now) was "The Giving Tree". What a wonderful book depicting the unconditional love of an others-focused tree and a lonely boy. Maybe my fascination was with the fact that nothing the tree possessed was unavailable to the boy. Or maybe I simply marveled at the fact that in the end, the relationship was the only thing that was ever lasting in the whole book. Both thoughts are beautiful examples of acted-out love.

When we came to Kenya in 2008, Noah Chagwi

was merely a simple night guard with a quiet spirit. He kept to himself but seemed to possess a quiet wisdom. I didn't know Noah as well as some of the others, but Lindy and I were grateful that this man was devoted to his role, though simple. As the months and years wore on, Noah's integrity pushed him to be noticed much like Daniel in the Babylonian captivity. Noah joined the Bible college in Kibera and has quickly become the top student there. He has been the main catalyst for growth inside his own church. In less than 2 years their membership has doubled. Noah would never take the praise for this, but I have no doubt that it's because of his willingness to model service, leadership, and discernment in life.

At the end of this month Noah will no longer be our night guard.

Noah will no longer be our night guard because he is too qualified, too gifted, too valuable to remain in such a position. Noah will be taking on the role of Ebenezer Farms Manager. He will oversee the 3 existing project plants, assist in the development of future project plants, refining our processes, and helping us develop a hatchery system that will bring in more revenue for the ministry as well as give us a further reach.

Noah will also be developing a new interest in Uganda where members of Only Servants Ministries will travel to bring pastoral training for Ugandan pastors who have never been able to receive any sort of training before. Three times a year he and Pastor Indiazi will plan to go and spend 2+ weeks of intense training to Christian servants who desperately need it.

He was given a little, but he has proven faithful with much.

Christopher Chinji is not a street boy. Nope, he is a student

at Hope Academy - Kawangware. Until recently, Chinji was a part of the Saint Boys program for over a year. Now, his hard work, changed life, and God's grace has opened the door for him to return to a school of distinction. Chinji will succeed because he has chosen to be obedient to God's purposes for his life. And because of that, my heart smiles.

We have Bible College students and former street boys who are taking the little and becoming so much more. The small part we play, along with others, is just that. It is small, but so very important. The food, classrooms, Bible study materials, clothes, and love are so insignificant when compared to depth of relationship rooted, like the giving tree, in love.

When I think about where so many, like Noah, Chinji, Bible students, and former street boys, came from, I am reminded of Jesus' encouragement, "And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward." (Matt. 10:42)

...And the Tree was happy! (indeed!)

(available at amazon.com... you know you want to buy it now!)

Nostalgia

Do you remember when two young and inexperienced missionaries started telling people, "God has called us unto Africa."?

Do you remember riding back from the movies late one evening and this couple disclosed that God was beginning to stir them to missions?

Do you remember when they'd sit in your living rooms, kitchen tables, cars, and tell you the unfathomable way in which a sovereign God had orchestrated their story so as to leave no doubt about His purposes for them?

Do you remember them traveling to Kenya during the most violent period in Kenya's recent past against the "better judgement" of others?

Do you remember them thanking you for the service you gave them in helping them sell their stuff, move out, pack their things, conduct fund raisers, pray with them, pray for them, encourage them, counsel them, and shed tears because of the depth of your love for them?

Do you remember those first few emails and blog posts about life in this new world called 'Kenya'?

Do you remember their eagerness mixed with nervousness about walking through the streets to share Christ with the lost?

Do you remember their anxiousness to "fit in" and understand the culture?

Do you remember them being attacked by satan through robberies, serious sickness, car violence, despondency, loneliness, homesickness, betrayal, and just plain self-doubt?

Do you remember the emails you sent offering encouragement, love, support, prayers, and everything in between?

Do you remember the way you told others about their needs and the work God was doing as a way of helping them though miles away?

Do you remember 'Sharing in the Growth' as you prayed for over 2,122 new believers who had made a conscious decision to follow Christ?

Do you remember commenting on pictures of life in the slums; how powerful those images and stories impacted your heart and stirred something inside you?

Do you remember when your children starting praying for these same friends; prayers from a simple child-like faith that you instilled in them?

Do you remember when they first returned after 6 months with stories of triumph and stories of disappointment?

Do you remember crying with them as they struggled being away from you, their family, whom they love so very much?

Do you remember them returning to Kenya and recognizing specific passions that God had placed in them for ministry?

Do you remember when you first saw that picture of man sitting on top of the Ngong Hills with his shoes off in deep focused prayer?

Do you remember when you first heard "We believe in building strong relationships in order to grow healthy disciples"?

Do you remember when you first read about a visit to some boys who lived on the streets?

Do you remember when you read, "... so I had this idea,'what about chickens'?"?

Do you remember when you first fell in love with Kiangoi Rahman Onsomu (Thomas)?

Do you remember the first trip you made to Kenya? How you fell in love with the people. How you fell in love with this place?

Do you remember Women's Conferences, Teaching Seminars, and Youth Camps at Hope Center where nearly 2,500 kids came pouring in with unparalleled excitement?

Do you remember spending 2 months living with this couple who didn't have it all figured out, but they were willing to open up their hearts to you to come, stay, grow, learn, give, serve, and listen to God while living with them?

Do you remember hearing about 2 failed adoptions and years of barrenness?

Do you remember that day that it all changed??? (18 weeks now!)

Do you remember when their humanity got the best of them and they listened to their frustrations while writing about lack of funds coming in?

Do you remember when they responded shortly after that God is never absent in our time of need?

Do you recall how many times they have said, "We love you so much and are here because of you"? (Do you believe them?)

Do you remember watching God grow a ministry and a family into something more than their original ideas and beyond what they thought they might be doing?

Do you remember them saying, "we'll see you later" because good-bye was not an option in their vocabulary?

Do you remember that all of this is about Him?

Do you remember when you first became connected to this ministry, this team, this couple?

Do you remember the day you also became "Only a Servant"?

Because I sure do. I haven't forgotten any of it. It's still just as fresh and real as the day each of these things took place. And we wouldn't trade any of it! The challenges have not been greater than the rewards. Being away from you all has only been made easier by seeing the faithfulness of our King.

And when we reunite with you all through email, skype, or in person, we can't wait to put more pages in the book. He gets the glory and we get the growth.

... And it's been worth every second!

(what else do you remember? please, please, please, please, please comment and share them with us.)