Dear Teresa
I salute you in Jesus Name, I believe that you are doing very well andall God's blessings are upon you all.Here in Kenya and especiallyKamaguta-Murang'a things are not so bad the grace and love from the Lord arestill upon us , we are praising His Holy name for His goodness and care. May His name be glorified. My family and the Church are also fine in theLord.Our youngest son Carlmats is doing very well,Mark and Mirriam are stillproceeding well in their education. We are still waiting to hear from you concerning the next year 2008meetings.This coming Sunday all churches will meet together in theafternoon to start praying for the mission,it is good to know from you allrequired information you need from us, I know and I'm trusting God forgreat things during the mission. What I 'm looking for is to see transformation of our people andespecially our children. I believe if we can reach children, it is veryeasier to touch their parents and then the whole community,and that iswhy though our Project (First Love Care Project) we have been holding aSaturday Club every second week of the month and more than 100 childrenhave been attending and 30 to 50 adults.This have been a very effectivestrategy to Winn souls to Christ,in every meeting we have to preach theword of God, teach them how God loves them,sometime we have to teachthem through Pastor Carl's Cds and others.The Church through the Projecthave been providing lunch for the day and some other items i.e soup,cooking oil,flour,beans and sometime clothes (children and aged people )to those who are very needy. I always give thanks to God for that vision He gave me for ourcommunity.Pastor Carl taught us that the pastor is the answer to thepeople he is looking/leading for,so I 'm glad to know that God is goingto use me as the way He used Moses of the bible.My greatest joy is that Pastor Carl's vision is like the one I have.The 8 days I spend with him(Carl) I leaned so many things and I came to realize that our connectionis not in vain,it is divine connection from above.Let us continuepraying for each other and mostly our Ministries.
Teresa, there is one thing I would like to share with you,this is myfamily issue.I and my family for more than 15 years we have been askingGod to give us money to finish our living house(you can remember how itlook like).Since we started the church it has been our prayers to havesomebody who can come and join us to pray for our community and showGod's love to our people.Now the following is the testimonies of whatGod has done to us after Pastor Carl 's prayers and visit.
( 1) You left here in the month of June. Sister Teresa believe me,by theMonth of July I receive a call from one of my friend of Finland and sheinformed me that she want to send me some money to complete my house,shewanted my details,after one week I received 1000 euros( Ksh.82,300) fromher, now I have finished my house,I didn't request her for the money,shetold me that God told her to give the money to our family for thehouse.The prayers pastor Carl prayed was answered.GIVE ALL THE GLORY TOGOD,WORSHIP HIM FOR THE MIRACLE.(Inform Pastor Carl all these miracles)
( 2) Remember the prayers which pastor Carl prayed for our land ofKamaguta and the community.Something is happened.More shops are now openedin the plot,no crime is reported since the prayers of pastor Carl, we haveone butchery after 20 or 30 years,people are witnessing that after theprayers allot of chaches are note-able.
(3) Because of Pastor Carl and the First lady Connie's testimony how theywere abused,I have a case of two brethren a man and 1 lady.They are bothborn again I'm their spiritual father,the man was left by his wife for 20years ago and the time we tried to join them together the parents of thewife refused until it became a police case,the lady has got 5 childrenand she was abused so much,the children are not of one father, so the husband used to torture her even before her children,so the lady decidedto go and life with her parent for about 4 years now .I praise God forHe has been helping me and my wife to help them.Now the two are in lovethey want to get married,something I 'm praying to God to do His will .Tous is a miracle because the two have been very faithful in the Church andthey always recall pastor Carl and the first lady's life testimony andhow they became one.
Teresa, I have allot to tell you,you hearts are with us here,we arepraying for you,we love you so much.Let pastor Carl and the First ladyConnie knows that I 'm not a shame to call them my spiritual DAD andMUM, I 'm missing them together with you,but I praise God for His graceand care, one day we shall meet and celebrate HIS love together.
God bless you.Pass my love to all .
Pastor Stephen Kamau.

Ways To Help The People Of Kamaguta

As we went to Africa, we knew as our trip unfolded that God would tell us what he wants us to do in Kenya. These people do not want a hand out but are soooo hungry for that same life changing Word that we enjoy on a daily basis. The pastors need someone who has gone before them to share insight, revelation and practical advise about what is means to pastor the body of Christ. Getting them Word and training and resources will not only help them but as they are poured into and then begin to pour out, they will help the body be the body and function as God intends it to.
Bibles!!!!!! Something so simply and so taken for granted are very hard to come by in Kenya. This is an easy problem to solve. For $7.00 we can get a Bible in the hands of someone who wants one and has never had one.
Clean Water!!!!! The same river they get their drinking water from is the same one they wash their clothes and even bikes in. School children carry water long distances to have water to clean their school with. Clean accessible water would reduce sickness and disease and make the lives of the whole community better. I have heard before, people don't care what you know until they know that you care. What better way to care but to give them clean drinking water.
School Supplies!!!!!! The government provides one school book for every four students. They don't have supplies they need. Paper, pencils, colored pencils. Some young children don't even know what crayons are. Simple supplies can enrich their learning. Many children attend school without anything to eat all day. At least if they have supplies, their money could be used to buy rice and beans.
Uniforms!!!!!! The children must wear uniforms to school. Many of the children have them on but they are in terrible repair. We are working now to get prices for uniforms for children that need them.
Supplies for young ladies!!!!! Many young girls miss a week of shcool a month due to their period. Some end up quitting school due to getting behind. Many who try to stay in school resort to using rags that must be washed or boiled to get clean. For $7.00 a year we can provide a young girl pads and two pair of panties.
These are just a few ways that you can help. In the United States we sometimes tend to equate poverty with laziness. That is not true in Kenya. These are very, very hard working people. We saw women doing heavy labor that most of the men in our country would not even do. They are in a place where the average per capita income is $300.00 per year. Things are less expensive but not cheap enough for $300.00 to last a year. They enjoy life without TV, and electricity, and indoor plumbing. Their life is not worse than ours, just different. In some ways, it is better. They have less distractions and complications. The people of Kamaguta center their lives around their church, their family, and their community. I was told that companies like to hire people from this area because they have a good work ethic.
When I was in Kenya my conversation with God was "God what do you want me to do"? I had someone tell me one time that just doing what God wants you to do today was being in His will. If each of us would just do what God wants us do, every need locally and internationally would be met. I suppose that is the body of Christ doing what it was designed to do.
Be Blessed!!!!!!
Teresa

Reflections Of Our Trip!!!

The gentleman in the white shirt is Edward. He was our driver and a most valuable member of our team. He was totally with us doing whatever we did. He helped set up and video and gave us so much insight into the people of Kenya. He is married and has a six month old and a five year old. He was away from his family the entire time we were there. He was such a blessing to us and we look forward to seeing him again. He has a sister living in the United States. We told him if he came here we would take care of him like he took care of us. He is a wonderful example of Jesus with skin on.

This is part of the grounds of the hotel in Thika. As you can see it is a beautiful, green place. Just looking at the picture makes me want to just crawl into the computer and be back in this precious place. Each person at the hotel was so gracious to us. I was told that David, who owned the travel agency that provided our driver and land arrangements, told the hotel staff to make sure we had anything we needed and boy did they. We felt totally at home and care for. All the people in stores, businesses and restaurants were so helpful. It is an example of their culture. Before we left for our trip, I read that even if you mess up and do something not culturally correct, the people of Kenya are so polite and gracious that they would love you anyway. Since meeting these wonderful people, I can tell you that is true.

The lady on the right is Pastor Stephen's mother. She was a very sweet lady and would come to me before we left and wish us a safe journey back to the hotel. I could not communicate with her in words but our hearts connected.

This is Jenny. She was one of the children that I had some extra time to get to know. One day she ended up falling asleep on my shoulder. I was told that her father mistreated her mother and left them before she was born. I can't wait to see her and the other children again.

Just another picture of young boys praising God. They were ready to dance as long as the music way playing.

Here is a picture of Carlmats. He is named after Pastor Carl of course and his birth will mark a special time in the community of Kamaguta. His birth was not the only new thing in the time we were there. There is new hope, new faith, new joy!!!!!!! From the emails we have received we are told that they people see things differently and praise God that curses are broken and the blessings of God are on them and their land.

Endings and Beginnings

We are home safe and sound in Stanly County. As we complete our trip we are so thankful to God for our safety and the favor we experienced on each leg of our trip. Although our trip has ended the time we had in Kenya marked the beginning of a wonderful work God is doing. I will post more pictures and updates as they come in. We spoke with Pastor Stephen today and he said that their community was so blessed by the Lord during our time there. Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers!!!!!!

Our Last Day!!!!!!

The pastor cf the church wanted to give his best and therefore they gave Pastor Carl and Connie their best goat and rooster. What a blessing. Others gave fruit and vegatbles. Of course Pastor Carl sowed it right back into the church. Connie did very well with the rooster.

These people are not smiling for the camera. They are praising God.

Dancing before the Lord!!!!!

Today was bittersweet. It was a celebration of what God has done but also a day of goodbyes.

God has really touched these people. We leave a people more free than before, with the knowledge that in God is everything that they need. Many more smiles and shouts were heard today that when we first arrived.

Saturday in Murang'a

Edda and Charles work at the hotel we are staying at. They are very nice and treat us as those we are at home.

Praising God during yesterday's service.

Pastor Stephen and Catherine's living room.

My sweetie!!!!! Isn't she beautiful. She is so spunky!!!!!

The young people praising God during the open air crusade!!!

Praising God with Pastor Carl and Connie.


Today was awesome. God moved on the children and adults. We are humbled by the week!!!