In Busia

I just want to post a few pictures on here so you know what I am upto in Busia [My dad lives in Busia and every Christmas we travel 17 hours to go spend Christmas with him - He loves it! When we are there we try to clean up the compound for him (he is blind) and tidy up his home for him]:

Tilling the Ground:
My cousin Billy and I came to Busia from Uganda and Mombasa respectively for holiday in Busia but it turned out to be business as usual. it was fun though, tilling the ground milking the cows landscaping stuff and building a house. All these pictures will tell more than a 1000 words enjoy!

Billy Milking:

The biggest Christmas gift for me this year was having my fiancée Allison with me in Busia with my family. My Parents, my siblings and relatives all loved her and welcomed her home so warmly. She worked so hard and just was part of the family! What a wonderful blessing she was. She introduced the Busia people to Banana Bread and Brownies, they loved them! If you see a little heavier than usual it is because of Allison’s wonderful cooking, she is such a great cook! While we were in Busia, it did not feel like “bush” she made Cheese burgers, spaghetti casserole, grilled cheese sandwiches just to mention a few…I am a very blessed man to have Allison in my life! Can you tell I am in love…Hahahahaha!
Allison grating coconut in readiness to make coconut pojo [cow peas]. It was very delicious with Chapatis! Way to go Babe!One of the things we did at my Dad's home in Busia is planting grass to control the unbearable Mud during the rainy season [and yes when we were in Busia it rained cows and goats].

Here is Allison taking a break after planting some of the grass. In the background is Billy keeping it going! That boy can work!

Impact Awards 2006 II

God is good all the time! I was awarded the "Paul's Award" yesterday during the Word of Life Second Ever Impact Award Ceremony (See previous post)! This award is given to people who have excelled in the area of discipleship ministry. I am honored and thankful to Word of Life for this Award and to God for all that He has done through me and in me over the years. It is truly a humbling experience.

2Ti 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

Impact Awards 2006

Yesterday Word of Life had their second Impact Award Ceremony where they honored and recognized men and Women who have excelled in Ministry through out the year 2006. The day began with a church service in which I was the Guest speaker and was challenging the crowd that came to live their lives walking in the Narrow Way that leads to life (Matthew 7:13 – 14) and build their lives on the Solid Rock who is Jesus Christ (Matthew 7: 24 - 27).

There is a Christianity that is infecting churches around Kenya and specifically Mombasa since this where I live – that is not really Christianity – It is spreading like cancer and if it were not for the Words of Jesus assuring us, “on this Rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it,” I would be hopelessly miserable. This teaching is like a bush fire that is spreading across the land and the wind driving it is so strong that the fire fighters (sound teachers) are - humanly speaking - seemingly fighting a losing battle and some even being carried away by the winds in the process. Here in three points is a summary of what I was talking about

1. It is a Christianity which has a very humanistic view point of things and whose end goal is not the glory of God but the happiness of man.
2. It is a Christianity which pulls crowds for all the wrong reasons, miracles, wealth and prosperity etc
3. It is a Christianity which is not concerned with what God says but what makes the life of man comfortable, approving things like Abortion, Homosexuality, pre marital sex etc.

I just got done teaching Revelation and Eschatology in my BTCP/L classes and I really identified with John at the end of Revelation. After talking about the sin of the world, rebellion of the Devil and the Consequences of their rebellion he contrasts that with the beauties and glories of heaven. He looks at all that and concludes - (Rev 22:20) He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. When I read that I wanted to shake John's hand and say I feel you man!

Believers of Jesus this world is not our home - It is not!!!!

Local Celeb

Believe it or not this guy that you can barely see:) is a local celebrity here in the mother land.

He is a comedian with REDCORNER on NTV

Me my Babe and Us

Allison and I out on a dinner date with the rest of the team - believe me they are there. One of them took this picture and 2 of them were telling me how to smile for this picture - can you see how hard am trying - hahahahahaha:)

Team Serve International Kenya

Introducing Serve Kenya Team. From Left to Right Jill, Kristin, Allison, Patrick and Denno!

My Friend Mr. Twiga

Here is a Maasai Giraffe and a Luo Man :)

BTCP Update

On the right are 5 of the 6 pastors that I have been teaching BTCP for the last two years in Ujamaa, Likoni.

I just got done teaching them BTCP Book five - Bible Doctrine Survey. We have 5 more Books to go through and then graduate sometimes next year in April. We are at the moment on break until January 15th when we will resume classes.

One of the highlights of my teaching Book 5 was Pastor Tome (Pictured below alone). I love all my student and enjoy teaching them a lot but Tome has blessed my heart in special ways this last year.

His thirst for the Word and Passion for God's work and God's people is very admirable. He is a simple man with a family of 5 children and his wife Alice. He pastors a small Church of about 10 people in the village.

During one of our class sessions I was teaching about Law and Grace and the way we no longer live under Law but under Grace. During this class He raised his hand and asked a question about eating Pork, "So can we eat pork now that we are under Grace and the Bible is very clear that Pigs are unclean animals?" I was taken a back, thinking, Duh! Who does not know that, Whatever God has called clean no one should call unclean (Acts 11:9) and it is not what goes into a man that makes him unclean but what comes out (Matthew 15:11).

Before I could say anything, I remembered I had told them that no question was a stupid question except the one that you don’t ask. So I explained as clearly as I could from the Bible beginning in Leviticus 11 all the way to Acts 11. When I finished explaining, Tome was sitting there looking at me as if I had just dropped from space, shaking his head as if to say I did not know it was that simple. He looked up at me and said Mwalimu (Swahili for teacher) I have never eaten pork in my life but I am going to start now. The Whole class applauded him and clapped their hands in joy! So one of these days I am going to invite Pastor Tome to my house and we will have Bacon together!

God is so wonderful!

College Group Picture

These are the Students who most of them organised our engagement party, Fun! Fun! Fun! The party was hosted at the Fellowship Baptist Church where this picture was taken!

Engagement Party

The Polytechnic Students in the college ministry led by Kristin Reed - STINT in Mombasa with Serve - Organized a small engagement party for Allison and I.
It was a refreshing time of relaxation and fellowship and also to hear the testimony of the Students of how Allison and I's ministry has been a blessing in their lives.

We cannot wait til the day we are truly one to minister to them more effectively as one, for real!

Pictured is Greg, Allison and I listening attentively to one of the students giving their testimnony.

November Team Denton

The team that came from Denton left about two weeks ago after a very successful trip that saw them minister to the children, leaders and pastors of the Ujamaa village in Likoni Mombasa.

Their trip was so successful with the majority if not all, saying that if opportunity arises they will come back again next year. Please continue to pray for the people they reached and ministered to, to continue Growing in the Grace and Knowledge of our Lord Jesus. Pray also for us as we continue to water the seeds that were planted through follow up - God is good all the time!

One of the outcomes of the trip after Billy Spent time every afternoon teaching the leaders the importance of children ministry was the formation of Ujamaa Sunday School teachers association. The teachers will be meeting once a month to pray and plan on how to use what they were taught to minister effectively to the kids in their ministries.