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

The Cat That Did

hello everyone,

this a great (short) story......a story of a mother cat who saved her young ones from a burning house. i promised to blog this story when i blogged about Simba the dog some time ago.

the kittens were about 3 weeks old when they were rescued from a burning house by their mother.....the kittens sustained some injuries in the fire.

in the pic below you can see that one of them has two ears that do not respond normally......i was trying to get good focus on those ears in my camera...
i guess when these ones grow up they will appreciate their mother for saving their lives.....

I am grateful to the one who lives in us,

have a great day!

God bless
Jonah

Back from Rwanda

hello, i hope you are doing great! i have had a busy 10 days traveling and attending a conference. i was able to attend to a conference in kigali, rwanda for about 6 days. the sixth day actually was a visit to the city and the memorial center, where the remains of the genocide has been put aside for historical purposes. the visit to this site is scary, for those who are light hearted. this was my 4th visit to this place and so i was a bit hardened [prepared].

the greatest question that most folks need to ask ourselves is where were we in 1994? that [question] came back and forth in the conference. Brian Mclaren encouraged us to ask ourselves what we can do now in rebuilding the lost glory of neighborliness in our society...since what happens in your backyard, it ripples far and wide and the society needs to come to terms with that.

the conference was awesome. we had so many people from diverse backgrounds, some of them highly educated. sometimes u could feel out of place in front of all the phd's and masters degrees, but we were all serving our creator in one way or another. i face this reality when i presented a case for the post elections violence in kenya and what the church did. it was a frightening moment to answer for the whole country .....but i was glad to get God's inspiration to be able to present the case that was agreed to by the folks from home and there in Rwanda. The painful truth was that the church was divided, and we had little or no training on conflict management. Thank God we could pray.

The hardest part of the journey was travelling as we took the whole 2 days to arrive home. it was so tiring, i had to rest for a day or two so that i could continue with my normal duties again.
thanks alot for your prayers......

Because He lives
Jonah
p.s. enjoy the pics. there was a report about the american indians as well.....it was so nice.

Some needs met

Dear Saints,

A quick word to thank you all for prayers and for recent contributions for food. We praise our heavenly Father for his goodness.

Brother Thomas was able to buy 2800 Kenyan shillings worth of corn to distribute amongst 8 households of orphans. It cost him 300 Kenyan shillings to transport it from Kericho to the village. Pastor Jonah will also be able to put the $50. contribution from brother, Dan in USA to good use....The children and the overseers thank you so much!!!

Brother Thomas also reported that a family of 7 requires the following bedding: two mattresses, several sets of sheets and some warmer blankets. Brother Thomas has no email so if you can help, please let Pastor Jonah know.

We seek your prayers on this and other orphan and Internally Displaced Person needs as well.

Love and blessings. Because He lives!!
Sis PJ

Cooking with Jiko Stoves

Editor's Note: This blog entry was originally posted on April 12, 2008 and is being reposted to ensure the widest readership. If you would like to support this Jiko project or any other project described in this blog site (see sidebar), Pastor Jonah would love to hear from you at kericho120@yahoo.com God bless, sister Penny Joy

hello saints,

for the last few days i have met this woman who makes cooking pots or Jiko as we call it here (jiko is swahili for "stove"). this whole item is used for cooking instead of three stones, that most people use. i was really tempted to have this available in every home and am delighted, soon i will start with our own family. i so much wish and pray that this can spread to all the people in the community and my village. if you feel led to give toward this project, please contact me at the email on the sidebar.

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 $61.00 US
Right now in Kenya the US dollar is worth about 58-60 shillings per dollar.

Most forests in Africa have been depleted ....and now the rain has become scarce, as people rely heavily on firewood from the forest. This is about 95% of the people living here in Kenya....as electricity reaches less than 10% of the population. (even me - am not connected..lol).

here in Kenya, only 1 million people have electricity attached to their homes,out of 34 million people. please pray that this firewood saving jiko can reach many homes and save our forest ....it uses less firewood. the experts talk about ...80% saving...on firewood. the jiko stove not only helps to save our depleting forests but is also more healthy for the women who do the cooking (and the children sitting with them) as they do not have to breathe in all the smoke.

have a great day
because He lives
Jonah

Editor's Note: On a pressing matter, I want to advise the readers that due to the inflation caused by political discord, the food prices for average Kenyans have now now tripled. many of the caretaker families and their caretakers are in desperate situations. We ask you to pray and to do what you can to feed even one child as this is good in the eyes of God. May God touch your hearts and bless you so you may be a blessing.

Reconciliation & Forgiveness

[Photo caption: Dr. Celestine, front, red shirt]

hello,

this past week has been really great...we have been bonding...with our friends from other communities and building peace from within. this was made possible through a meeting that over 16 denominations & and other opinion leaders were invited to...to think together about the future of our country. i was among those who were invited.

after the meeting, we felt like we were renewed afresh and that FORGIVENESS and RECONCILIATION was a must before the next step was made. we were taught that, forgiveness in itself was not understanding nor tolerating, but it was some kind of imaginative thought of letting go...of what happened and hoping for the best in the future thru God's help.

our main facilitator was Dr. Celestine

Musekura, who is the President of Africa leadership and reconciliation Ministries (ALARM). He is a graduate from Dallas Seminary ..but most of all....he is a 'graduate' of 'forgiveness' as he lost his own father to their [tribe's] rival communities....back in 1997,

after the genocide of 1994 in Rwanda. he told us he had forgiven those who killed his father, and that was fresh thoughts for us. at the end of the week, we felt that we needed to greet each other, and start the long way of foregiveness again....indeed it was a touching week.

Dr. Celestine has been tranversing the country teaching about forgiveness. i hope we 'catch' this and grab it [the vision] for ourselves. as we need this ....right now after the post-election violence. i felt really relieved......when i saw him fly out of Kisumu Airport to Nairobi on the way to another country. we need these kind of men ....the Most at now...

have a great day

God Bless

Peace, Jonah

What If?

Hello friends,

This is a quick note to introduce you to a wonderful praise singer from North Carolina, by the name of Kathy Duke. I do not know Ms. Duke personally but came across her amazing CD on CDBaby about a year ago. I was very moved by her song "What if" and wanted to share it with you but it never seemed to be the appropriate time. Recently, as I thought about the post-election violence in Kenya and the hardships suffered by the people in small villages in and around Kericho, this song came to mind and the timing seems to be right to share it with you now. As you listen to the words of this anointed song, I pray you would be moved to ask yourself "What If?", in relation to the orphan children of Kericho Village.

About 8 of the households with orphans, are headed by the orphans without any adult caretaker to help them. The other 30+ households are headed by women and couples. Since December 2007, these families have all been hit very hard by the soaring food costs in Kenya and inflation in general. The overseers of the missions have also been hard pressed to provide counselling and support for daily needs though they have a great amount of faith and pray that God's people will understand the need and be moved by the spirit of God to do his will....that of caring for the widows and the orphans.

It is heartbreaking to know about the suffering in Kenya when you know that the children are wondering who will help them and if God really cares for them? My heart is also heavy for the overseers and the enormous burden they face as they assist the orphans and their families with limited resources. God promises us that the "righteous will never be forsaken, nor his seed begging for bread". In North America, where we have opportunity to work and earn our daily bread, this verse is easier to comprehend than it is to starving people across the world,when their hands, though willing, seldom find adequate work to pay for their daily bread.

Think of the impact that your gift can make for the Kingdom of God and what your practical assistance will mean to an orphan, a widow, a poor family and the overseers. All of them need to know that God's people around the world love them. Your gift can communicate the love, grace and mercy of our Heavenly Father to the children and their families and pastors. You really can make a difference in the life of one person, one child, one family, one household. May God bless and guide you as you pray and as you listen to "What If". May the wonderful voice of Kathy Duke, fill you will the love and mercy of God.

Because He lives,
Sis PJ

Good news in Kenya

Finally there is good news from Kenya. The politicians have a greed to work together ...we are so excited, everyone is talking about it.....and the economy is expected to pick up again, although we hear there is some kind of recession in the world economy. Nonetheless we are a happy people. atleast everyone is thinking the same way....and that is the country we want to build.

We also give our thanks to you for your prayers ..and not forgetting the former united nations secretary Dr. Koffi Annan, Former president of Tanzania Benjamin Mkapa and Nelson Mandela's wife Graca Machel. They all spent their time seeking peace that was almost going to be elusive for us here in Kenya.

U can get more information from this link from cnn.comhttp://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/africa/04/17/kenya.cabinet/index.html

God Bless
Jonah

Healthier, Happier, You!!!!: ***Love and Pastor Jonah***

Pastor Jonah was recently interviewed by the author of the houseonahillorg.blogspot. Please check out the interview at this link.

Healthier, Happier, You!!!!: ***Love and Pastor Jonah***

Thank you to Dwana for creating time and space to help raise awareness of Pastor Jonah's Missions of Hope to orphan children in rural Kenya.

God bless.
Sis PJ

Here are the words to a lovely song I've seen on a number of Christian websites. I am not sure that the writer and songstress is actually a Christian but the song itself is thought provoking on a number of levels. If you're interested you can also follow this link to the posting by Pamela dated August 29, 2007. She gives a good critique of the song. Enjoy
http://blog.achristianhome.org/category/essays/

A Life Profound,
(a song by Mica Lee Williams)

There is a reason for believing in the seasons
To know that spring will always come around
It's to begin again though there seems no means to this end
Before one lays a body down
But things that die and wither soon will find new roots and tether
To gather strength beneath the ground

I think that
Far too many soon forget the sound of their own laughter
Far too quickly we move swiftly towards the ever after
But I will stake my claim and I will find the rapture
Of a life profound

I cannot manage to estimate the damage
Of holding deep regret that seeks to pull us down
I see my life as a vessel traveling swift and light
I seek my wrongs to right where I run aground
And the wind that fills these sails speaks metaphors and fairytales That never fail to set me safely down

I think that
Far too often we forget exactly what we're after
And far too soon we skip the book to read the final chapter
But I will savor in each moment I can capture
Of a life profound

When fortune wheels spin around it's good to stay in the middle of it
Cuz yes luck she is a tricky one, but there is joy in the riddle of it
And all that can be lost in another way can be won
And there in lies the meaning

Far too often we forget exactly what we're after
And far too soon we skip the book to read the final chapter
But I will savor in each moment I can capture
Of a life profound

Billy Graham Rapid Response Seminar in Kericho

[Photo caption: Pastor Jonah with other seminar attendees]

dear blog readers and supporters,

i hope you all had a blessed Easter season. as for us in kericho, kenya, we are happy that peace is here after a few months of instability.

over the weekend i attended a seminar here in kericho, which was planned by the Billy Graham Rapid Response Initiative. it was very educational especially for those of us who have no seminary training in rapid responses needed when there is a problem such as the magnitude witnessed in our country.

we learned some very important tenets for helping those displaced and trying to counsel them to accept the situations they are in at the moment..without promising a completely better future......we were taught to let those displaced to be calm and then start life from there again...it was a great one day seminar.

have fun

because He lives

Jonah