Zealous

The following article will also run in our July newsletter.

URGENT ATTENTION

Friends, we write this newsletter to ask you for your urgent prayers.  One of our dear partners and friends in Kenya has recently been diagnosed with Stage 3 Liver Cancer.  He is currently undergoing Chemotherapy at a reputable hospital in Nairobi.  I want to tell you more of our friend as we devote this newsletter to him and ask you to read, pray, and support them during this critical time.

Pastor Meshcak Chitiavi, my friend.

Meshack Chitavi has a wonderful wife named Beatrice (OSM National Team Secretary) and 2 beautiful young children.  I met Meshack about four and a half years ago.  He was mild-mannered, yet poignant in his speech.  He was serving under the guidance of his father-in-law, Pastor Geoffrey Indiazi at Berith Life Church.  He was also assisting with the teaching responsibilities at African Bible College.  

Meshack and I quickly became good friends.  His maturity and character were only matched by his deep zeal for ministry.  Meshack and I are almost the same age, yet he carried himself as a man twice his age.  He was committed to excellence in his personal life, yet seemed to influence those around him often without saying a word.  Families, friends, young men and old, often came to Meshack for advice.  His integrity served his counseling sessions.  I, too, sought his opinions on numerous matters.  

About 3 years ago, Meshack asked me to join him one weekend in conducting an outreach to a group of young people in Kericho, a smaller city in Kenya.  My agreeing to accompany him was due more to our friendship than anything else.  Yet, I was curious to see Meshack minister to a group I had been suspecting him to be most passionate about.  

Meshack speaking during a youth weekend in Kericho.

I’ll never forget that weekend.  It served as the catalyst to numerous other outreach weekends to youth all over Kenya.  Watching Meshack during those times taught me what a zealous man can accomplish for the Lord.  He never asked me or the ministry to fund these events, yet after the first one, I was convinced of the “right-ness” of such investments.  Days and weeks after the conclusion of our time in these areas, young people were still emailing and texting “Pastor Meshack” with their questions.  He always had time for them.  In fact, their hunger for guidance seemed to be fodder for the fire which burned inside him.  

My suspicions were right!  Meshack loved discipleship.  And he was good at it.  He was especially good at connecting to the hearts and minds of young people across his homeland.  He seemed to earn their trust in such a way that people like me never could.  He would speak directly to them; bluntly.  Yet, they were never offended.  They just believed him and found themselves surrendering to the Christ he was so passionate for himself.  

What’s not to love about that?  I remember Meshack pulling me aside once and telling me that perhaps my assessment of a group of people was wrong.  Yet Meshack tempered everything he said with love.  I knew this man loved me and wanted to preserve the longevity of our ministry to his country.  

He didn’t just thrive in ministering to his younger fellow citizens. We brought our interns to sit under his teaching on numerous occasions.  We encouraged them to write down questions about theology and Kenyan culture, then present those to Meshack during their time with him.  Meshack would take those questions in advance to go and prepare responses for them.  His answers were ALWAYS from scripture.  He would point the students to scripture as well.  Grace, a past intern, once commented, “He’s just awesome.”  Yes indeed, he was...     ... and he still is!  

Meshack and his family are facing a major health crisis.  The cost of this treatment far exceeds what they make in a lifetime.  Others have already given funds and encouragement to their need.  Just before we left Kenya, I met my friend at his house.  The entire time we were there to pray with him, scores of people were coming by to visit him, pray with him, and show their love to he and his family.  I suspect that they were just like me: smitten and indebted to this zealous warrior.  

Now we can serve him back.  We can fund this need, fast in prayer on his behalf, and mimic the kind of zeal in our support of him the way he has for thousands of others; even you!  Yes, you!  You see, about 3 years ago Meshack fasted for America.  God laid it on his heart and he did it because he loved Christ, His church, and his brothers and sisters in the US.  That’s what a zealous man does.  

Three things you can do for Meshack Chitiavi and his family:

1. Pray fervently for this situation.
2. Support their medical needs through your financial contributions.
3. Read the blog for updates, and share his story and need with your church, friends, and family.

Email us and we will help you with the specifics needed to earmark your contributions to go directly and immediately to Meshack.  On behalf of Meshack, his family, our family, and this ministry; thank you!

Meshack w/ his father-in-law, Pastor Indiazi during the construction of Berith Bible College (2008).

FINALLY!!!

I have been so frustrated at blogger because they have gone and changed everything on me... and clearly i don't handle change well.  ;o)  I kept signing in and it was redirecting me with a different email address.  Any way, I've had SO MUCH to say and NO WHERE to say it!

Thomas and Noah have been working nonstop on their new house just up the road. I love to go up there on my run/walks to see how much further they are. It's so amazing how fast they have turned this stable into 2 homes! Thomas and Zippy should be moving in THIS Friday!

Please pray for Meshack.  He has been very sick for 2 months now.  Tests have been inconclusive and we are getting frustrated because of course we want answers.  He has lost quite a bit of weight, had general weakness, no appetite.  There are questions about his liver having hardened areas or spots on it.  He is in Kenyatta hospital now.  We are planning to visit with he and Beatrice tomorrow.

The boys are well.  James continues to be home schooled by Deo.  Nicolas and Dan are being interviewed Wednesday for their placement in Hope Academy.  We also plan on seeing them tomorrow as well, it feels like forever since I seen them! We wanted to go tonight but the road flooded. We've been told this is the worst rainy season in 30 years.

We have begun the first phase of our transition back to the US.  That is: narrowing down all our junk into 5 cases. Not as easy as it sounds.  God has been so so good to us though.  Honestly, I haven't felt stressed at all.  His peace has completely covered me this whole time.  I've been laid back and relaxed, grateful that he brought us here, even if for just 4 short years.  

We are mostly packed up and the Chancey's moved in today.  I think the most difficult thing about packing and others moving in is having Ezra get into EVERYTHING.  That kid certainly keeps me on my toes.  I walked outside to help Chris yesterday and came back in to check on Ezra.  When I left him he was playing happily with some spoons on the floor.  As I came back 60 seconds later, he was gone.  I look to my left and there he is, halfway up the stairs! Yikes!  In the photo below... he might have gotten into the fireplace...

Today I had some tortilla chips I gave the Chancey kids to snack on.  Ezra was crawling behind them and eating up all the chips that were dropped on the floor.  He thinks everything on the floor must be food and must be for him.  Which I guess is good timing because we had to say our goodbyes to our sweet Wallace- the most amazing English Mastiff ever.  He went back to Tanzania to live with his sister and our dear friends the Helsby's.  I'm so glad they were able to take him back with them.  They live at Mavuno Villiage who has 250 acres on Lake Victoria.  Now, if he can just start getting along with the other dogs....

I was packing our cases in our room today and Zippy came after class to entertain Ezra.  She said to Ezra "What am I going to do without you?  I won't even know want to do when you and your mom aren't around."  To which I replied "Let's not go there right now, Zippy.  We aren't gone yet!"  I feel like I'm going to be the one that is lost without here.  That woman keeps this A.D.D. Mama seem a bit more put together.  ::sigh:: And have I mentioned my son LOVES that woman.  Zippy was holding Hero, the Chancey's 7 month old today, and he was NOT happy about it.  He was so jealous.  So naturally he leapt out of my arms and into hers to let Hero know Zippy was his territory.  

Zippy recently has 2 job offers.  Hmmm.... which one to take? She is so excited about graduating from cooking school in a couple weeks. One job would really utilize her cooking skills, the other not as much.  I think if she could work out the hours she could have a job and a half if she wants it!

Lucy seeing the house for the first time. 

2 very tired and hard working men.  

Noah in front of his freshly laid cement floor.  

As always- we had an amazing time with these crazy people

Katie was so proud to pick out Ezra's clothes.  :)

A camping we will NOT go...

This is by far the most difficult rainy season we have experienced here in Kenya...BY FAR.  With the Michigan team here, we'd planned to take them, along with the Saint Boys, camping.  We had done our big grocery trip and were basically packed up, then we got a call from the guy that lives in Juja.  The yard was a complete LAKE!  There was no where to set up the tent.  Not to mention it would have been miserable.  So instead, the Michigan team and Chris took all the boys to see a movie, eat KFC, planet yogurt, and come spend the night with all of us here at the house.  We had such a great time!

We all walked to Thomas and Noah's soon to be home and chicken farm.  The next day the boys were excited to go and help them do some work there and they earned a little money... which may or may not have already been spent on sweets and mandazi's! ;)

James, Ezra, and I were off to Kijabe hospital at 7am Friday morning.  The MD that did his surgery had moved back to the US, but the normal American doc was there.  He looked in his ear and said that everything looks good.  He is to start his antibiotic ear drops and take them until they are finished.  This MD will go back to the US for a few months and return in January, which is when his next surgery will be.  So James could go for a check up with the Kenyan MD in 3 months, but he won't even be the one to do the next surgery, so there's really no point.  Dr. Boeve said to just return in January unless he has any problems before then.

We've not had much power this past weekend so everything in the freezer has basically thawed out.  So I need to get to
cooking so nothing gets wasted!  We're praying that rainy season ends SOON!  My heart just hurts so bad for these people in the valley part of Kibera.  I can only imagine that sewage must be overflowing into their homes.  I just can't help but think about the people that are in these little cold, leaky mud shacks.  I'm so grateful that our boys have somewhere warm and safe to live and, through God's grace, they are not on the streets.  But even greater than that is knowing that they now have the knowledge of a Savior who loves them.





I love that Brian gave Ezra his cookie, and even more than that- he kept giving Ezra kisses on his cheek.  They all act like they are the proudest big brothers!

Finally saw it with their own eyes...

We just had some long time friends and supporters come over for 2 weeks to see what all the hype is about over here in Kenya.  Sam and Debra really enjoyed the country and its people.  We always enjoy 

having people here who have been a part of the journey for so long.  It's fun for us to watch them see with their own eyes what it is they have been investing in.  Here are a few pictures from their trip:

For some reason I cannot get the video of the boys' new home to upload.  I have tried and tried. Chris said he may try and take a shorter video.  I suppose it's too big, but I'm not sure. 

This Friday Ezra, James, and I will travel back up to Kijabe for a post op check up on James' ear.  Graig Austin's team of youngins' come in this evening.  Friday night we take G's team along with our boys and we will go to Juja camping.  They are out of school all week this week.  (This will be Wallace and Lana's new home) Acres upon acres.  Also Meshack Chitiavi will be joinging us to do some biblical teachings.  I could sit and listen to him all day... on wait... I have!  

I will try and post photo's and reports from this weekend early next week.  

Yesterday, Mama and Deo invited us over to hang out with the boys and have lunch.  Their house looks so nice and cute. Ezra enjoyed Mama's beans, while the boys enjoyed my butterscotch cookies.  (They promise not to miss my cookies/sweets as much as they'll miss me!)  The boys just love their new place.  Chris found out some disturbing news- they have bed bugs!  Eeeek! Yes, it's disturbing, but not surprising.  When you live among sewage and in the conditions of the slum, bed bugs are really the least of their worries.  We made them throw out their mattresses and bought new ones.  But in order to get the new ones, they had to thoroughly wash and clean their beds, blankets, sheets etc along with all their clothes.  We had to get those eggs killed.  They worked very hard yesterday so that they would have a good night sleep on comfy mattresses.  

James is doing well- keeping that ear dry and not jumping around.  What a great listener!  :)

An Ear-regular Update...

James' surgery was indeed success, however, there was some unfortunate news as well.  When the doctor got into his ear, he found that the bones inside James' ear that are supposed to move (to reverberate sound), were stationary.  They are unable to move because of scar tissue.  Unfortunately he is going to have to have 2 or 3 more surgeries and they will have to take place 3 months apart.  AND they can only do one ear at a time.  (If they did both at the same time, he wouldn't be able to hear at ALL.)  The American MD that did the surgery is going back to the US and the permanent ENT MD won't return until January. So the next surgery cannot take place until next year.  I must admit that I feel a bit discouraged by this, but the doctor was very positive saying that the grafting went very well and felt like once it's all over, James would hear much much better.  I just feel so bad for him.  We have decided to wait to tell him for a few days until he's feeling a better.

Honestly, he seems to be feeling pretty well.  I have to constantly remind him not to jump around or play too hard with Ezra.  (Man, they are best friends!)  Ezra is constantly reaching out for James to pick him up.  It's so precious.  Chingi is in from school for 3 weeks so he has been staying with us as well since he missed the Easter gathering here with the other boys.  We are having such a great time together.  I secretly don't want them to leave!  The dressing on James' ear comes off tomorrow and I will treat the incision and replace the cotton in his ear.  I'm anxious to see how it looks.

Please continue to pray for James and the healing to be quicker than usual so that we can move on to the next appointment(s), hearing tests, and surgery.  He does have to go for follow-up visits every 2-3 weeks for the next 2 months so the doctor can make sure that the graft is taking well.

Don't worry; James didn't have his smile removed or affected by this surgery!  It's still without defect!

Prayer for James

Please pray for James right now!

James will be going in tomorrow to Kijabe Hospital to have "Tympanoplasty". They will repair the eardrum membrane by replacing it with other tissue. The surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning our time. That means that when you go to bed tonight around 11:00pm, we will be waking and heading out there. So, pray for James, the doctors, his recovery, and that God would touch his ear and bring complete healing!

Thank you all for your prayers and support send in to help James receive this procedure! We will update you post-op.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow...

A few updates that you need to know...

With the most recent donation we received we now have enough money to pay for James' ear surgery!!! He is so excited about his surgery. It will take place THIS FRIDAY MORNING. Please be in prayer for our sweet boy- that everything goes according to God's will, recovery is quick, the surgery works, and pray against infection. We'll try and give a post-surgery update. Thank you SO VERY MUCH to all who have given and prayed for James. James will come stay the night with us Thursday night and stay until he is recovered enough to return to his house...

...which leads to the next update: The Saint Boys have finally moved into their new house! This new location is safer, larger, clean, has all the amenities they need, and will be close enough to the school that the boys can walk to Hope Academy everyday.

Deo and Mama have agreed to become the house parents for the boys. They will provide stability, parental modeling, love, encouragement, and all the other things that these boys have lacked for years. Their acceptance of this position was one of the biggest concerns I've had looking ahead to our conclusion here in Kenya. Now that this has been secured, I have a greater belief that our boys will be cared for in a God-honored manner.

Dan and Nicholas recently tested to enter Hope Academy for next term. I am excited to tell you that they both did well enough to receive entry at the school. (I'm just waiting on the formal invitation from Hope Academy for them both) In fact, Dan tested high enough to be in the top 10 students for his age/class group! What a tremendous accomplishment! (James remains the last one now to go to school. Pray for his recovery and the academic improvement needed to enter school.)

Thomas and Noah just signed a lease on a piece of land near the house where they will move and establish THEIR chicken farm. This means that their future in chicken farming is taking shape. Over the next month(s), they will convert the extra building into dual-housing for their families while preparing the 3,000 capacity chicken house for business. The goal is to be moved in by June and starting the farm by July/August. Pray for things to work out as they pursue this!

Zipporah is within 6 weeks of graduating from her culinary arts and hospitality school. We are so proud of the hard work she has displayed with this. Her cooking repertoire has expanded as well as her confidence. This transformation has been evident to us both. Lindy and I were recently talking and we both noted that she carries herself with a greater level of esteem than she once did. And she should!

Vitalis has finished the expansion of his egg-laying business. His chicken project up-country now has doubled and will provide him with a greater level of income and possibilities. His hard work and commitment to this pursuit is encouraging.

So, as you can see, God has been gracious to our dear friends here. We see where they are heading and are more convinced than ever that our transition away from them WILL be for their eventual good. We want them to succeed. Our efforts and your prayers & support are part of that equation. There is still more that must be done. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE keep praying for their futures. Pray for their families. And if you want to specifically give toward either Thomas & Noah's chicken farm expansion, Beatrice's business development, or any other area for our partners, we welcome it!

You are loved.