Sunday, August 15, 2010
Home Safe
Monday, August 9, 2010
Headed Home!
09 August, 2010
Dear Praying friends,
I leave 10am tomorrow for Nairobi, so the guys can get home before dark.
I will spend the afternoon and evening at the Mennonite Guest house, leave 5:30am for the airport and fly out through Amsterdam and arrive in Atlanta 9pm Wed. evening.
Mr. Kibingi who wrote a Christian Police officers book here in Kenya will meet with me for dinner tomorrow evening, so pray for that.
Sunday evening I met with a team from Parkridge church in Pa. who is here with 410 Bridge demolishing a building, so they can build a building to house the knitting project 410 B. started here. They were a great group, and we had a good time together.
Yesterday at church, a small boy came in with a large boil on his forehead, so Dad took he and the father, Dennis to see the Doctor in town. He lanced the boil and today at the follow up, it looked great.
Dr. Macharia also said my sore throat looked better, and my cough was not to worry about.
This has been a great visit in so many ways. Each person that God allowed to come was a personal joy to me, and a blessing to the ministry here. Each one said they felt they had had an effective and fulfilling visit, and we look forward to discussing how God is leading them regarding the future.
Some are already planning to come when Ben Kiker comes in February.
The Ihwagi church is putting the ring beam on, and will be ready for the roof soon. Pray for the necessary funds to finish and furnish it with some benches. We really believe this will expand the ministry there greatly. Pastor James and his wife Tabitha send grateful thanks to all who have prayed and given to make this wonderful dream, a REALITY!
The Solio leader said they were meeting today regarding the plots to be assigned to various denominations, so we continue to pray about that.
Thank you to those who have sent emails. Pray for this remaining time here, and my time with various ones as I travel, that God will guide my words, and meditations.
Love and prayer,
Steve,
Papa and Mama
We Remember......by Mama and Papa Fields
WE REMEMBER
Dave and Elwanda Fields, Box 1082 Karatina 10101 Kenya, East Africa, dlfields1224@gmail.com
In July 2007 we had a letter from a Pastor in USA, saying "It breaks my heart to write this but I must tell you that we cannot continue supporting you. The reason is that we have no money. We will continue praying for you and when we again have funds to send, we will remember you."
Today in August, 2010 we received a voluntary support gift from that church. Do we remember the Pastor and that church? YES! How could we forget? Thank you.
The Fields Four (1) Stephen (2) Paul (3) Barbie (4) Sandy are all busy in the places and ministries that they believe is God's assignment.
Stephen (Steve) came in late July with six others from USA for seminars attended and appreciated by Police and Scattered Pastors. The team with our son did not all come from the church where he is Pastor in Ellijay, Georgia. It was so good to see and hear three bounce back and forth in informally presenting wonderful Truths from The Word of God.
Today, all except Steve will go to Nairobi and proceed to USA. He will soon say good-bye to us but also look forward to seeing Martha and their Sophie. These last two who are leaving today, have contributed lasting notes on our computer and personal histories that will be helpful to us as we seek to be channels for passing on to others in our Antioch Independent Baptist Church and Bible School here.
Some of us have interviewed young men who have applied for entrance as freshmen in the Bible School in January.
Hopefully you will understand how deeply we appreciate you and your part in the ministry here as expressed by your prayer and financial support.
The Washer Wedding and such!
We were so blessed with a safe trip to USA, arriving July 15 in Charlotte. It is special to see Mom Washer, our kids and grandkids, and to enjoy hugs from them and see them face to face, as well as many friends again.
Brian and Joy were married last Saturday here in Greenville, SC. The wedding was honoring to the Lord, Who brought them together. It was well attended, and we were thankful to see family members from GA and NC, though some only briefly. We have included a few pictures of that event.
We are finding it interesting that, as we go places, we are asked, "Would you like to be given the Senior Citizen discount on .....?" So, I guess we look the part!
Thank-you so much for praying for us in the big happenings of the last few days.
Reports of ministries on the field sound good, and we thank the Lord for His blessing and strengthening each one who has more responsibility due to our being gone.
Terry and Sandy Washer
Thursday, August 5, 2010
2010 Trip is winding down...........
Dear Praying friends,
Thanks for your prayers for wisdom and safety. We had a safe trip to Nairobi. We went by the Mennonite guest house and got extra rooms for all of us, but they had no vacancies for Charlie and Mike for Friday, so we decided it was OK to come back to Karatina after we dropped Donna and Anna off at the airport. After arriving in Nairobi we ate lunch at the Java House which was swamped because so many businesses were closed to vote. Funny how you long for a hamburger after a while without one. They call them BEEFburgers here, since that is what they are!
We then went to the Sarit center, a 3 story building with all sorts of businesses in it, but it was closed, so we went to the curio market, and experienced haggling, watching things being made, and had a great time. I have been there many times with other friends, so they recognized me, and pastor Harrison and James. Most of the people were really wanting to make some sales as traffic in town was slow, and volume of visitors was down. I pray that as you look at the carvings we have brought through the years, that you will pray for the hundreds of people who have been, and are being impacted by the Antioch Independent Baptist fellowship of churches across Kenya. If we were as determined to reach people for Christ, and connect, and keep angling for a hearing, as these vendors are, many more people would be saved. There is a difference between non-Holy Spirit led harrassing someone, and Spirit led, prayerful pursuit of those who have not "heard" with their heart, and surrendered to the Lord Jesus.
We all went to bed early and got up at 4:30am and left for the airport at 5:30am. Traffic was light, but there was already a long line, so we waited until the girls were going through immigration and left, and they called when they got on the plane.
We were all sleepy coming back, except James Kahaia who was driving. I talked with him about many of the single Moms in his church who make $2 a day picking tea leaves, and pay $9 per month for rent in small places, with their children. With the new Church being built at Ihwagi, we anticipate the ministry to expand. There will be more room, Sunday school space, and room for Awana, which is a very successful Children's program, with fun, Scripture memory, and Bible teaching.
I felt a sore throat coming on, and Dr. Masharia gave me some antibiotics and medicine, and instructions, and I came home and went to bed. Charlie and Mike went to James Kahaia's for lunch. They had both ministered in the church.
The potential for outreach here is great. Basketball training, volleyball, Awana, helping churches own their facilities to remove the burden of rent, helping pastors have the basics to begin supporting themselves, by having goats, cows, chickens, etc. Developing accountability with the maturing congregations, and helping the experienced pastors with Bible training materials.
Mike suggested used laptops with Bible study materials installed, since they all read English, and distributed to the places with electricity. Internet hookup would be unnecessary, and the quality and volume of good Bible software is great. E-sword is a free program with lots of great tools, a Bible dictionary, word studies, a variety of translations, and commentaries. This would greatly enhance Bible training on site, not take up much space, etc. Notebook Computers are now available for $250-, that would be light to bring, and easy to set up. We are praying for certifiable Bible training materials with a recognized degree, that we could use here, that the government here will also recognize.
Each one in the team has been great, connecting with all ages, praying, and creating their own ministry opportunities. It has been a delight to get to know Anna, Donna, Charlie, Mark and Elaine. Mike and I have been close friends for years, and I look forward to their perspectives on the ongoing ministry here, as we seek to be involved with God, where HE is working.
Mike and Charlie will go with Pastor Harrison in the morning to see his farm, and talk about their ideas for the future. (I will stay here and hang out with Papa and Mama.) They will leave for Nairobi about 2pm, spend the night at Menno, then fly out at 8am Sat. morning. They have different bookings, so will arrive at different times.
We are so thankful for each family that has allowed them to come, and each person that has given, so they could come and minister. I am missing Mark and Elaine, and Donna and Anna already. Mark could have traded animals for magic tricks if he had been there, he is good.
Thanks for your prayers for each of us. We are praying for you and the churches there.
Love,
Steve, Papa, Mama and Charlie and Mike.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Solio church planting !!!
Dear Friends,
We left a little after 9am for Solio today. It is about 50 miles from here, and is on the North end of the Solio ranch where we view rhino, and other game. The government took about 6,000 displaced Kikuyu people and gave them each 4.5 acres in seven separate villages on the savannah plains near Solio. The government has provided tractors to plow fields, is building schools, and small hospitals for each village, but requires them to pay a little for the land, and for plowing etc. over the next five years.
Michael and Wilson (sometimes) have been going up weekly on Monday to minister at the fourth village. We pray we will be given 2-4 acres there to build a church and begin the ministry on weekends, and move Michael and his wife and three children there. That land decision may be in the next two weeks, so please pray about that. Mike sent 4 pictures from our trip. (See the previous blog post today...Admin.)
Presently Michael and about 10-15 people meet in a little compound of a man there called Michael. This man has offered us the opportunity to build a small building out of roofing, on poles immediately, while we wait for land and other things to come together. Another older man named Joseph, gave us his testimony of how he was saved when the Karatina team came to evangelize. He has offered two of his acres, if we are not given land by the government!!
When we arrived, the man in charge of all the managers of all the 7 villages met us, and took us to greet and attend a parent, teacher children's gathering, on their last day of school. They teach in small buildings made of roofing material, while they build a block building for the school. We saw, but did not enter the hospital. We then looked at the Nursery for trees they will plant in October, when the rains start. They had a million seedlings there he said. We saw the bore hole and water storage tank. The well is 210' deep. Then we went to Michael's ("Solio Michael") plot of land and sat and talked and took pictures. We donated a NASB study Bible to the manager, and Joseph, the new convert. Michael asked us to come and bless his home and their present church site. Charlie led in that prayer. Mike led in a prayer with the school kids, and parents when we met earlier. The wind there was strong and steady, so trees will help provide wind breaks. We saw some corn, but it was stunted, and not doing very well.
All of us enjoyed getting to see a church in its infancy beginning to grow. Wilson, the manager at Solio said our groups were the first to come evangelizing. We estimate that we can quickly get a roof on poles for a temporary shelter, and church at Michael's home. We estimate about $15,000 to build a church and pastor's house, and a Sunday school room, to get started.
We stopped by a place to eat, and got to see baboons, take a 5 minute horse ride, and have a good chat.
Pray as our team goes to Nairobi tomorrow to take Donna and Anna. We will spend the night and take them to the aiport early, 5:30am.
Tomorrow is the voting on the referendum on the new constitution, PLEASE PRAY for God's best will, and the best for Kenya. There is much to be concerned about if the wrong decisions are made.
Papa and Mama send greetings, as do many of the people here. The Bible school students thank those of you who help them be able to come to school.
Mike and Charlie start home Sat. and I leave Wed. am.
Thank you for your prayers and generous gifts, and involvement.
Love and prayer,
Steve Fields
Solio !
Pastor Steve's Kenya Update!
Dear Praying friends,
Well, our part of the conference is completed. During the conference, one of the pastors became ill of a long term condition, and Papa took him to the Dr. who did what was necessary, kept him 5 days and charged us $560 approx. The man can now walk normally.
The Point Man Ministry came and gave a leadership presentation Friday.
Our group, including Mama and Papa left and went to a lunch, a game viewing walk,then to the Ark. On the walk, we saw warthogs, zebra, and got very close to 6 giraffe. We were thankful for the nice cool weather, and gentle breeze. The Ark is a large building with 3 floors and viewing windows overlooking a lake that has salt in the dirt in front of the Ark. The animals come to lick the salt, and to drink from the lake. Mama and Papa rode the tour bus out there, we took a game drive. Unfortunately, the vehicle broke down before it got to us, or maybe fortunately. Anyway, it was supposed to leave at 2:30pm but did not leave until 5pm, and was a bit disappointing in viewing any game.
We saw an elephant on the horizon, and Anna almost fell out of the vehicle pointing, and screaming at the elephant she saw. I had offered 80 Kenya Shillings for the first one to see an elephant, I promptly paid, but it was dusk and far away so we drove on to the Ark and a wonderful dinner.
Dad had befriended a businessman from Holland, and we invited him to join us for supper, his name was Peter. Charlie had a long interesting talk with him after supper. A drizzle set in, so all that came was buffalo, bush buck and some giant forest hogs, but no elephants. Charlie and I got to watch two buffaloes skirmish for a while, and then went to bed.
We got up early, ate breakfast and boarded the Jeep for a game drive at Solio ranch. Since our drive was poor the evening before, our driver took us by the long route, and we got to see a nice, big elephant up pretty close. We all praised God for that. Mark and Elaine had to leave Sunday afternoon, and we so hoped to see an elephant. We saw 22 rhino, oryx, buffalo, warthogs, zebra, monkeys, gazelle, some beautiful giraffes, and some beautiful birds; no lion this time. We did see the remains of a buffalo that had been killed.
On the way home from Solio ranch, we detoured to go see the Equator. We took pictures in front of the sign, and mingled with 3 busloads of Scouts from an international scouting jamboree.
Sunday morning Charlie and Mike went to Ihwagi, Mark and Elaine taught kids class at Karatina, Donna and Anna helped with another group of kids. I preached from Haggai on " how to get into the place where God can bless you". It was about 60 degrees and people were very cold in church. Mark and Elaine left after lunch; we miss them. Mark had done some really neat magic tricks, and both had bonded well with us, and the people here. Donna, Anna, Mike and I went to visit the local government run hospital. There were lots of sick people, and poor conditions in several places, but better than nothing. We had prayer with several of the patients, and their friends and family.
Monday morning we walked in town, and then ate lunch, then went to visit the Jamii hospital, owned by Dr. Kibuku, who Papa and Mama won to the Lord Jesus. It was a good tour, and a clean, private hospital. Anna played with the children, Donna went to visit with Kennedy's family, and Charlie, Mike and I went to see the new building progress at Ihwagi. It is almost up to the ring beam, and will be ready to put a roof on soon.
Tomorrow, we head to Solio ranch to see the area where we are being given some land to build a church, and a pastors house. On the way, we are to meet with the police Commander, in Nyeri.
We are already missing Donna and Anna, we pray God's richest blessing on their labors and contacts here, and their trip home Thursday morning.
Thank you for all your prayers and encouragement.
IHMXS
Steve, Papa, Mama.
Monday, August 2, 2010
2010 Kenya team images
Here are some images of our 2010 team in Kenya from Mike Parham. Remember all in your prayers!
Admin
Antioch Baptist at Ihwagi with Pastor and leader and our team


Antioch Baptist Seminar Students

EEBC Team Members Mike, Charlie and Steve with Pastor Harrison of Antioch Baptist-Karatina

Papa and Mama Fields and Steve upon the teams arrival



