Dear praying family, This is Steve Fields. It is Monday night, and the last few days have been full of activity. We, Tom and Patti Greathouse, Ashley Cook, Eric and Jennifer Colson (our youth minister at church, and Jennifer teaches in our High school Release time program at the Christian Learning Center) and I left Atlanta at 9:40pm Wed. evening the 15th. I asked a porter to help us with a cart, and he got us into an expedited line and we were at our gate quickly and smoothly, first great hurdle went well.
The flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirites (I think) was over 13 hours. I was between two rather large guys, so it was not a very restful part of the trip, I did get some sleep, but all of us were separated on the flight, which was FULL, 500 people! The Dubai airport is BEAUTIFUL, elegant etc. We ate, toured stores, bought some little things as we thought about many of you.
A young man asked me if I was a businessman, as I was purchasing something, and I told him I had been, but was a pastor. He asked if I was Catholic, and I told him I was protestant, Baptist. He asked if I was "a born again" type pastor. I asked if he was born again, and he said no, but his mother in the Philippines was, and could read English, so I gave him my Recovery New Testament, and my address if he wanted another one. What if his Mom is praying for him in the Philippines and that Testament speaks to him and he is saved. Cool thought, maybe God will show us the replay in heaven.
After 6 hours, got on our next flight on Air Kenya at 2:30am, and arrived at 6:40am Kenya time, and were thrilled to all be in KENYA! Our initial flightplans had been cancelled by Delta, and we had lots of confusion trying to get rebooked, and get decent connections, and confirmed plans, so we were glad to get here. It was just amazing to be riding up the road in a van together in Kenya, just like we planned! Brother James Kahia, and Joseph met us with two vans, and Terry and Sandra (my sister, who works here with Dad and Mom). We went to the city market and looked at curios (carvings etc.) and of course bought things to bring home, then drove on to Blue Post, and ate lunch and looked at other varieties of things they had for sale in several African style huts. You have to negotiate for everything, so that was fun to experience with our first timers.
I have designated myself as chief negotiator for Ashley's "brideprice", and prospective grooms. She has really been going up in price, she is a wonderful, servant hearted girl. I got to sit by her on the Dubai/Nairobi leg of the trip. We had fun talking about the witnessing bookmark we are using, and various Bible questions. I warned her about our passing over the equator, as we looked at the visual map on the screen, and just as we passed over it we hit some appropriate turbulance, so we had fun telling the rest of the group about feeling it, and they were trying to figure out how to break it to her that I had tricked her, then realized she had tricked them into thinking she believed it. LOL
It was so great to get to introduce my friends to Momma and Papa, and then they went on to the Starbucks Hotel to check in and get some rest. We thought of you at Church and Elevate and cannot wait to see the video of your testimonies.
We spent Saturday going around to several branches of the work here. Dad had just bought a small plot for the Church at Iwhagi where brother James Kahia ministers. That was something we specifically prayed for when Joe Hensley was here with our other group. Presently there is a calf in a paddock on it, and a crop of cabbage, and the church meets in a rented room nearbye. We will buy Metal roofing, and build what we call a Mabate (ma-ba-teh) church. The roof and sides will be metal roofing, with windows and doors cut at appropriate places. When finances are available, and the group is growing, we build out of hand cut volcanic rock blocks. We only build what God provides money for, and are grateful for every step we can take forward in a ministry. It was good for our team to see the little steps we take in establishing a church work in a community.
We then drove to Karogoto ( where we have the church in Kerri Kiker's memory), and looked at the little rented room we started with, the small church built by money in lieu of flowers for Debbie, and the beautiful new one in Kerri's memory (See Kerringforkenya.org). We saw the knitting project that employs almost 40 women, part time knitting school uniforms . 410 Bridge has taken this initiative to partner with USA churches and Kenyan communities to make a social, and spiritual impact in communities. The Karogoto church houses the project for now, but it is not controlled by them. 410 Bridge also built a water project by hooking a ram type pump to a little creek at the bottom of a steep path and pumping water up to a tank near the church. Labor to run the pipe, and build the tank etc was provided by teams from USA who came to partner with Kenyans in this wonderful, practical gesture of love in Karogoto. Pastor Harrison works as
the chairman in this area with Kurt Candler from Alpharetta (with 410B). Many people came by to fill up their water containers while we were there, and expressed profound gratitude for being saved the extra walk, and time and energy to walk down to the creek, and haul a heavy container of water back up the steep path, then go home.
Pastor Charles Muita, who is a builder by trade, and also went through the Antioch Bible school, pastors the church, and escorted us around the area. We at lunch at pastor Harrison's "Family Cafe", then drove to Kiamariga to see Enos and Phoebe, and see the church that was also only a dream when Joe and the other team were here, but is now a reality. Thanks to loving donations of many. Phoebe served us tea in what she considers her "mansion", (compared to the rented, cramped rooms they had before). We all spent time talking of the next steps in the ministry there. They were rejoicing at the new contact with a small, local boarding school, that is bringing about 50 children 1 or 2 times a week for games, songs, and discipleship. The couple running the school are very positive about the impact of the church on their children. We plan to run power to the church for about $6-800 for fixtures, installation etc. and then they will be able to play Christian DVD movies, teach children electric keyboard and become increasingly broad in outreach in that area. There is room for AWANA, a safe, dry church, and well trained, loving leadership, made possible by your help in training leaders, donating to the ministries and seeing the Kingdom of God spread in hearts and communities.
We went and looked at Mathaithi, at the gate of a High school, where Papa and Mama have bought a good size plot to house street kid ministry, outreach to the school and community and a corner to be buried in, if Jesus does not return first. Their prayer to "burn out, not fizzle out", is certainly answered.
Godfrey and Fredrick are teaching the Bible school students, as Mama recovers from a recent fall, and Dad cares for her. She is back at her desk doing lessons, and emails, and walking better, for which we thank the Lord. Sunday, Eric preached at the main church at Karatina, and I heard he did a great job as usual. Jennifer and Ashley taught Sunday school, and had a great time. I spoke at Karogoto, and Tom and Patti did children's church, and Pastor Muita said they did well. We ate lunch at Terry and Sandra's then walked to Papa and Mama's and talked and then went to Street kid ministry meeting, and it went great. We had fun singing some songs, and got pictures of each of the street kids, so you can pray for them. One, Patrick, had just made a profession of faith that day. Terry and Sandra head up this ministry with Ndegwa and Carol. They also work with the deaf, and hold services and ministry to them. Terry continues to improve after his stroke, and is able to be involved in the ministry. We went back to Papa and Mama's and Eric played guitar and we sang songs for next week, and Papa and Mama told stories, and it was a very special time.
Due to this and that, I was up until 12am then got up at 3:30 am to go with James to pick Susan Cook up at the aiport. Her plane was late , then traffic was Jammed, and she got to experience "live and let live", driving. Susan (Ashley's Mom) loves to pray, and prayed for a friendly face during the 6 hour Dubai wait, and met a wonderful Christian lady who also had to travel separately from her missions team. When they got on the plane they were "coincidentally", seated beside each other!!! God does such cool little favors for us. While we waited for her, James and I got to help a Campus Crusade worker who was temorarily stranded, and was in Kenya to work for a month. We got home, and ate lunch at Starbucks, then bought corn meal
for the orphanage, and went there and spent the afternoon. Our group is so loving! They let the little girls braid their hair, Eric played soccer with the kids with an improvised knot ball, and we just hung out. It will be fun to deliver a couple of soccer balls (Justin Chadwick got 50 donated), and a donated toothbrushes (David Settle got 500 donated).
This is an amazing adventure to get to share together. There is a whole new family love you can get as you minister together, and learn to love each other 24/7 instead of our usual short times together.
Thank each of you who are praying, giving and sharing your loved ones with God's children here. Pray that we can get our 17 or 18 containers here without further cost or trouble. Justin got it shipped for us, we hope to be able to get the materials
tomorrow, though we have not heard about their arrival yet at the airport.
We need alot of the stuff now, before we head to Isovya on Saturday. Pray for open doors, effective ministry, discerning hearts and minds, and God's clear guidance each day in His work. Continue to pray for our safety, and daily wisdom in spending our time and resources.
It was such fun remembering Colby's "who ripped the commode out of the floor", first impression of a typical Kenyan latrine. My portable "potty stands", will be very welcome, when they get here!
So much for now,
Warm love and prayer, Steve for Papa and Mama and the team here
