Women and their Plight

This morning I was called by the gate man to tell me of some guests who were directed towards my office.  I asked who they were and I was told some women and children. I stopped what I was doing and headed to there. Reaching the gate and after looking at the women, I knew they were displaced, kicked out of their homes, etc.

I sat down and listened to their plight. The old woman claims her daughter died and left her a baby 3 months old to raise. The other woman said she has 3 children and she fears they will die of starvation. They both gave varied reasons, for their problems.

What a challenge! Poor people, vulnerable, shoe less, no phones, no M-PESA (money transfer service) and illiterate. The kids are not going to school.

We could not sent them away like that.....so we had to give them some food and other essentials as they are most urgently needed.

Would you consider praying for them? I want these kids to go to school.


God bless

Home to Glory

Hello friends,

This week has been very busy as we have had three funerals this week alone.
This is not a good thing for a community that was rejoicing over harvesting enough corn for this year in a country deeply plagued by famine. We praised God though for giving us the opportunity to give those who died a good send off. We are happy that the three women who died have made their contribution to society and we are striving to make ours too.

Amongst the three who died were two women who were under the age of 40. The third woman was an elder who was over 80 years of age.May God rest their souls in eternal Glory.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.

2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV)

1000 Kenyan Leaders - Part Two

hello friends,

i still have more information from my week long stay at the leadership conference. it was a very busy time for me and those that attended the conference. there were many "sideshows" and i intend to give u a few of them today and maybe part of this week to give you a better idea of what was happening here.

Women:
i observed that the women really love to sit in front of the conference hall. they were always the first in the hall too and were the initiators of the whole program in the hall.

Food:
to get food you were expected to queue up to the cafeteria. the food served mainly was 'ugali' (made from corn), beans/meat, chicken, rice etc. i learned this past week, that it is difficult to keep people in the line. everyone wanted to be the first. i had a hard time doing this 'job' of being a prefect.

Waiters:
our waiters are people who are used to the workings in the kitchen and serving large groups. they usually serve up to 600 students in the school, but at the same time they felt that our conference was a big one for them and a little more challenging (our number was 1000) as it contained people of various ages. watch this spot from time to time, to hear more great stories coming along.




Pastor Jonah

Awakened by "Jikos"

my village is getting awakened again and again by the new jiko's that have changed the way the village is viewing itself. everyone is talking about them [jiko stoves], and the people are very excited.

in the pictures, u can see me comparing the old form of stoves

From Awakened by "Jikos"

we have been using with the newer kind that consume very little firewood.

From Awakened by "Jikos"

i have also spent time talking to the women in the village about the need to change and embrace this newer wood efficient jiko.

From Awakened by "Jikos"

we are planning and hoping that before the start of Christmas, we will have at least ten of these jiko stoves spread all over the community. this dream can be achieved with your help. if you wish to support a jiko stove or two, a breakdown of costs is provided below...also, we would be pleased to send you some photos of the stove(s) you are sponsoring if you will send us your email address.

thanks for your prayer and your support.

God bless.
Pastor Jonah

Project Cost for making, delivering and installing one Jiko Stove:
Jiko (pot) Ksh.600
Cement 850
Bricks (20) = 300
Transport= 1000
Labor = 1000
Total: 3750 Kenyan Shillings or $48.00 US (approx. 6 months ago the cost was $61.00 US). Now is the time to give and make the funds stretch to meet Kenyan needs.

Feed the Hungry

hello everyone,

this month has been a very busy one for me. we have been involved in visiting homes that have been affected by the post election violence. we feel that the people have not really healed from the political situation that happened here.

we pray that the government will come in and help the situation with the people who have been affected by the violence and especially thru a joint venture to address the dire food issue in this country.

we are experiencing a very high inflation rate of 31%; making food very expensive. crop failures also seem imminent in this country and that will likely mean more food price increases. please pray for continued rain so that the food prices of crop foods can be contained.

here are some of the pictures taken of recent corn distribution to needy orphans and caretakers earlier this month. if you can help feed the people, please let me know. otherwise we value your prayers for this ministry and give all praise to God for what He has done and continues to do. May the Lord bless and keep you and your loved ones.


Update: July 16, 2008
Pastor Jonah reports that regular rains have returned to the Kericho area...Praise God as this will help to contain the already escalating food costs in the country. Thank you for your prayers for the nation of Kenya.

Women of Faith

hello everyone,

this week in my calender of prayer i've been thinking about great women. ..who have almost single handedly focussed on God and went to the mission fields far from home to minister to unknown people.

the two i've been thinking about most are divinah and debbie...the two gals are in the pictures posted here. in the first picture is debbie, a nurse and divinah who was a college mate of mine. these women both went out to minister to people in southern sudan near juba. they have been there for close to a year now.

the way they went there was a surprise..since our church did not have any links to the southern sudanese church...though our cultures are almost the same....(pastoralist). please continue to pray for them as they minister to the medical and spiritual needs of these people.....i am told they are working with an organisation there.... but your prayers are really needed for their safety and for the strength, diligence and and charisma to be able to work in the harsh conditions there.

the other picture is the one of the first licensed woman minister here in kenya; a lady in our church denomination. it was an exciting moment when this took place a few weeks ago and of course there was a celebration for her licensing a week ago.

what great strides these ladies are making for the Kingdom of God. we look forward to having more women taking charge of our political and spiritual needs in the future.....even here in Africa.....



enjoy the pics...
God bless,

Jonah

Comment: As I was uploading Pastor Jonah's newest blog entry about these great Kenyan women of faith on the mission field, the Holy Spirit brought to mind the great gospel song of grace and outreach, "Throw out the Life Line". This song was written by Edwin Ufford in the late 1880s. Here is a video of Mahalia Jackson (late great gospel songstress)singing this wonderful hymn. May it bless you richly and encourage you to pray for the safety and support required for those on the mission fields, near and far. Matthew 9:37 King James Version (KJV) Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few.
- Sis PJ