Dennis' Blog Page

Combined blog

2008-02-23T09:24:00.003-05:00

Allison and I recently combined our Blogs to for a single family blog called "safari za Omondis" which in English means the journey of the Omondis - because that has been our life since we got married - Traveling:)

So please click here and enjoy the ride!

Links to Pastors Conference Pictures

2007-12-07T02:56:00.000-05:00

Pastors Conference 1

Pastors Conference 2

Pastors Conference 3

Please enjoy looking at the faces of the people who we have and will be working with when we get back to Kenya to stay!

Brief Update of Our time in Kenya

2007-12-07T02:48:00.000-05:00

Allison and I are back in Texas and we thank God for your prayers for us while we were in Kenya with my (Dennis) family. We had such a wonderful time; our only regret is that time flew so fast and just as we were beginning to have a feeling of settling down it was time to pack and go again. Such is the life that God has called us to live. In a way it is such a blessing since we always say that this world is not our home, we are just travelers. That has been so true in the last few months as we traveled across America and across the World!

Thanks also for the prayers that you made for us as we taught in the pastors conference at the beginning of November. It was such a wonderful blessing to teach these men that were so thirsty for the knowledge of the word of God!

Most of the 23 pastors were either current BTCP students or have gone through BTCP in the past. A few of them who had not done the program promised to join the class that will be starting soon. What a wonderful blessing to minister to such a teachable group.

For 4 days my friends Drew and Gayman and I drove almost an hour every morning to a small village in North Coast (Mtwapa). We spent the morning teaching and fellowshipping around the word of God, tea and local Mombasa foods. In the afternoon after an hour break we had question, answer and discussion time where the pastors had an opportunity to ask questions and go deep in application of what they had learned that morning.

This was my favorite part of the day because it assured us that the pastors were getting what we were teaching them. It also gave us as teachers opportunity to answer questions and clarify points that were not clearly understood in our teaching sessions!

Please join us in praying that whatever these men learned from God through us will remain in their hearts as a model of ministry. Pray that they (and us too) will not fall in the traps of pride, popularity and fame but will continue faithfully in humble service to our Lord, preaching and living according to the Word of God – The Bible!

In the AIR again

2007-12-04T16:59:00.000-05:00

I cannot believe our one month visit in Kenya is over! We start our journey back to the USA tomorrow night (Wednesday 05 2007) at 9PM local time (Kenya).

The journey to America will be both exciting and and something I (Dennis) dread! Don't get me wrong I love America; it is the flight that I dread...my height is not very flying friendly. So please pray that I get good seats on the plane and will be good company to my lovely wife if I dont:)

We look forward to updating you more with stories and Pictures if and when we meet in person, otherwise email updates will still keep coming. Thank you for your prayers and support for Allison and I.

This month in Kenya has put excitement in us about getting back ASAP...the only obstacle we face right now that will delay our coming back will be financial support. We are at 60% of our target monthly financial support. Please pray that the Lord will provide for us now as He has done before both for His glory and in His time!

My Testimony

2007-10-08T00:36:00.002-04:00

We have been very busy raising support and speaking in different places; At one church I shared my testimony and they put it on the internet – you can go and listen to it. the web page is http://www.grahambible.org/media/1111_GBC_09-30-07.mp3 and it is the message number 1111 preached on 09-30-07. Enjoy and be blessed!

We are in Denton/Argyle Texas

2007-09-28T18:45:00.000-04:00

Dear friends,

It has been very long since the last time I sent an email update. We are currently in Denton Texas meeting and catching up with old friends and making new ones. It has been fun going to friends home...some of the kids that I left crawling are now running around and talking – very cute little people – of course I can say that because I am 6.7’

My lovely bride has been making friends with the ladies in the missions office and taking care of us at home. I am a very blessed man to have Allison as my bride for keeps; there are mornings I wake up and still amazed at the Grace of God in my life – All I can say is God is good all the time!!!

My wife Allison has updated her Blog with recent news of the Omondi family, if you get a chance please go and read more about our lives here in Denton/Argyle Texas. The address is http://www.allisoninafrica.blogspot.com/

Pray for the Omondis:

Please continue to pray for us as we raise support that we can reach our Goal before we go back to Kenya in the spring of 2008 (between February and March)
Pray that in our marriage we will have Christ at the center of everything and we will seek to serve rather than be served.
Pray that our times with the Lord and each other will increasingly become a Joy and something that we look forward to.
Pray for Cynthia Tomor as she raises support to join us in Kenya in God’s timing.
Pray for Jill Senechal in Germany as she gets ready to go to Kenya to continue with College ministry in Fellowship Baptist church, Mombasa. She is currently not feeling very well and her wellness will determine her travels to Mombasa.

We thank God for all of you and appreciate your loving and generous support for me and now for us since the first day!

Texxas Here We Come

2007-08-28T20:45:00.000-04:00

Texas here we come!!!!! Allison and I will be moving to Denton, TX ths Friday...to see our travel and tentative plans for this month go to my wonderful wife's blog. www.allisoninafrica.blogspot.com

Photo Tribute to my Dad

2007-08-26T23:31:00.000-04:00

I just posted some Pictures of my Late dad online please click here to see them if you want to see him

Thank you very Much

2007-08-26T23:20:00.000-04:00

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”
1Corinthians 15:55

I don’t know what to say but to thank you very much for your prayers. It is a wonderful thing to be saved and to have a savior that gives us comfort and hope in this time of sadness. God has really used you to comfort me. I cannot reply to every email that I have received...many of you have called and sent text messages from all over the world to let us know you are praying for and with us. I want to assure you that you have not prayed in vain, we definitely have felt and continue to feel your prayers as God has showered us with comfort and peace during this time of sorrow.

Most of you asked whether or not we will return to Kenya during this time. Unfortunately we are unable to travel at this time because I am still waiting for my immigration papers and travel permit. As soon as we get these documents we will be on our way to Kenya to join the rest of the family.

2 months or so ago my friend Peter Odanga went to Busia to see my dad and while there shared the Gospel with him. He asked him if he would like to receive Christ and he nodded his head yes and Peter prayed for and with him to receive Jesus in his heart. We praise the Lord for this (I realized I had not shared this story with most of you). This, to be honest makes the grieving process much easier.

This ordeal has also opened my eyes and brought my heart closer to my Lord. As I reflected on what has just happened...this week my father died but I remain not fatherless because God is my Father and in him I have a Father who knows no death and is Eternal and in Him my father rests in a land up yonder where God himself will be with Him. He will wipe every tear from his eyes. In this land there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...

I would like to finish with the lyrics of a song that has been of very much comfort to me. Thanks again for your prayers and support please keep them coming.

He Knows My Name (I Have A Maker)

Tommy Walker

I have a Maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in his hands

He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
and He hears me when I call

I have a Father
He calls me His own
He'll never leave me
No matter where I go

The Passing of My Beloved Dad

2007-08-25T14:45:00.000-04:00

This afternoon I got a message from my sisters in Kenya that my dad passed away last night at a local hospital in Busia.

Please pray for my family as we mourn the loss of our Beloved Dad. Thank you for you prayers and support.

The complete wedding photo gallery is here...

2007-08-20T10:51:00.000-04:00

Follow the link and enjoy...

Click here to view the complete wedding online Album

Wedding Slideshow

2007-08-05T16:16:00.000-04:00

For those of you who weren't able to make it to our wedding and for those of you who were there but want to see it again here's just a glimpse of that glorious day. GOD IS GOOD!!!
Thank you Casey for your hard work!

http://www.poiemaphotography.com/dennisandallisonwedding/

Word of Life Award Giving Ceremony 2006

2007-07-29T15:10:00.000-04:00

The Word of Life Award giving Ceremony was such a blessing last year (2oo6) - I just posted pictures here today so you can also enjoy them. Click here to View

I am a married man

2007-07-27T22:17:00.001-04:00

The Night Before

Getting Ready to go get my wife

This is Allison and I on July 7th 2oo7 when we became one. It was a very blessed day!

Here are my sister's inlaws who stood in for my parents who were never able to be there.

The wedding Party

The Grooms Men

Cake Cutting

Engagement Pictures

2007-07-04T10:25:00.000-04:00

If you are interested in seeing our engagement pictures just click here and view them. If this does not work just copy this link to your browser - http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=7901&l=ae386&id=682211478 enjoy!

URGENT PRAYER

2007-06-27T12:00:00.000-04:00

I just got off the phone with my mom in Kenya on her way to Busia in the night bus. She told me that my dad had a bad stroke and is paralyzed on the right side of his body.

We don’t have a lot of details right now but just wanted to send this out for y’all to pray for him, my family and Allison and I. As you know this is a very interesting time for this to occur, with our wedding just days ahead.

Please pray that he will recover from the stroke. Right now he is at home because the district hospital in Busia is crowded with sick people that might make him sicker. So the doctors advised them to send him home and them monitor him from there.

Pray for God’s strength for us as His perfect will is done.

Some Fun Pics of Allison and I

2007-06-22T14:22:00.000-04:00

Pictures taken by Casey Chappell

Allison and I at a friends Wedding

2007-06-13T10:11:00.001-04:00

This is the latest picture of Allison and I in North Carolina at a friends wedding...in only 24 days it will be us until death puts us asunder!!!

Whats Up!

2007-06-09T10:58:00.000-04:00

The Last time I blogged is when I informed you that I was in Texas safe and sound and I know some of you who I have not been in touch with much might be wondering whats up.

My stay in Texas was very blessed and it was very good hanging out with my friends and the team that left for kenya on Tuesday June 5th.

I am currently in North Carolina enjoying being in the same place with Allison and we are also doing final preparation for our wedding that will be on July 7th. Just 28 days to go now!!!!

My contact information is as follows here in NC:
2262 The Circle
Raleigh, NC 27608
USA
Cell Phone: 919 - 671 - 9705

Lets stay in touch as we continue to live for the Glory of Jesus and the good His people.

Safe Arrival/Visa Disappointment

2007-05-20T12:33:00.000-04:00

I got to America safe and sound and even though I have not been able to see Allison we have talked on the phone a lot. She comes to Texas next Sunday – a week from today!

When I got to America I was praying and hoping that the immigration guys would stamp my I – 94 card for a year or so but to my great disappointment and thanksgiving at the same time they stamped it only for 2 months. So that gives me enough time here in the States to get married but not much time to settle into marriage here.

We are going to try to extend my stay here after we get married and if it does not work out we will have to come to Kenya earlier than planned. This is going to affect our support raising plan tremendously so just pray:

1. That we will be very flexible and trust the Lord that He is in control of all that is going on - The mind of man plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps – proverbs 16:9.

2. Pray that this situation will work as magnet to draw us closer to each other, to God and to all our friends who have and are still standing with us right now...God is good all the time!!!!

Coming to America

2007-05-15T01:06:00.000-04:00

For all of you who are frequent visitors of my blog I have GREAT news for you. I am flying to America on Friday May 18th.

Please pray for safe passage all the way to Dallas - God is good all the time!

Raila For President!!!!!!!!!!!!

2007-05-07T16:03:00.000-04:00

For More about Raila UnBwogable Tinga Amolo Hummer Odinga Click here

2007-04-27T00:02:00.001-04:00

Here is the BTCP Graduation invitation we sent out to everyone. If you did not get it KNOW THAT YOU ARE STILL WELCOME to come if can manage. The graduation will be in Ujamaa, Likoni.

After the Ferry take the Ng'ombeni matatus

Tell them to drop you in Ujamaa at the St. Philips ACK Church

The church is walled and has a black Gate (on the wall is written Faith Junior Academy - It is very large writing you cannot miss it.)

If you Driving the church is about 200 to 300 meters from the Likoni Catholic Church past the Mtongwe junction.

Hope to see you as many of you as possible there tomorrow at 2PM - Please keep time!

Update on Dad

2007-04-26T23:56:00.000-04:00

Thank you all for praying for my family and especially my dad. The latest information is that my dad had a mild stroke and at the moment his condition is the same as before i.e. he cannot talk, see, hear very well and his memory has not come back. Please keep praying for my family that the Lord's will, will be done.

Thank you very much!!!

Denno in Egypt

2007-04-19T16:01:00.000-04:00

Ok people yes the rumors you heard about me being in Egypt were actually true. Egypt is a very beautiful country with a lot of things to see and buy. The thing that impressed me the most about Egypt was their roads!!!! No potholes and the high ways are actually highways with 3 to 4 real lanes! the picture below is not one part of the road that was renovated because of IAAF but its a picture of most of the roads in Cairo - they actually have exists and ramp and flyovers. the only other place I saw that was in SA. We in Kenya need to take field trips to such country and stop comparing our roads with Juba roads and feel good about them.

Ok you cannot go to Egypt and not see the Pyramids – so I had to make a quick trip by the pyramids which contrary to popular belief are not in the desert but in the middle of the city (hope I did not spoil the surprise for any one).

The feeling I had when I got there apart from feeling a special one minute feeling that I am standing in the land that Jesus, Moses, Joseph, Pharaoh etc stood was the feeling of being at Fort Jesus in Mombasa! You really feel like you are missing a lot by not going but then you go and you take a couple of pictures and you wonder why you paid so much to go see 2 million 2 ton rocks piled on each other to form one of the wonders of the modern world. It was good and I am glad I went. I would like to return again and spend more time in the country and see more!

Oh and how can I forget this - You thought Kenya Matatu drivers were crazy wait til you go to Cairo. Those cars, buses and matatus (Yes they have Matatus) if they go any faster they will get off the road and be on the air.
A strange sight on the road which I am sure to most Egyptians is very normal was little truck loads of Garlic pass you on the road all the time!!! Those Egyptians have GARLIC!

Amina Weds Elly

2007-04-19T01:16:00.001-04:00

April 7^th was a wonderful day for our first Serve International intern Elly E. Omucheyi. After 6 years of living alone as a widower God finally blessed him with a wonderful wife, Amina. The day was very colorful and full of celebrations! It was the first Kenyan wedding that everything was on time and at the end of the day the whole event was late by only an hour. It was supposed to end at 1pm and it ended at 2pm.

Anyone who knows anything about weddings and Kenya would agree with me that this was actually a 'revival!' ok, may be not but what do you call that. My sister was 4 hours late for her wedding...the interesting thing is that the bride and groom print the invitation cards, invite their guests, only for the guests to show up to find that the people who invited them are not even there. Surely I am not the only one who feels this is wrong, am I? Somebody please make me understand!

My Father

2007-04-10T23:23:00.001-04:00

Thanks for your prayers for my dad and know that God is answering them. I have had complete peace about the situation – God is good all the Time!

As far as my dad's situation, I talked to my mom tonight and there is not very much improvement. The swelling on his face is gone down but the speech and the memory loss is still the same no improvement.

It seems like he had high blood pressure and then he tried to take medicine on his own and overdosed (He is blind) himself. But thank God he is getting better slowly.

Thanks again for your prayers and your encouragement through this time.

Update on Dad

2007-04-04T16:14:00.001-04:00

I am overwhelmed by the responses I have gotten from y'all who emailed to say you are praying for my dad – THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I wish I could tell you that the situation has improved but it has not.

His face is still swollen and he is losing his memory and speech a little bit. I just got off the phone with him and he could not talk so I talked to the care taker that's with him in Busia.

He is out of the hospital though and is going back to the hospital for more check up tomorrow. We'll see what the doctors say tomorrow.

Thanks for praying...may the good Lord bless you and His will be done – it is good, it is pleasing and it is perfect!

Salvation Decisions

2007-03-01T22:58:00.001-05:00

Luke 15:10

In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

How much more if there are 4 people who decide to follow Jesus? This term [semesters] we decided to go back to the basics of Christianity and for the past two months we have been concentrating on the subject of salvation and what it really means to get saved and live a saved life!

God has blessed us with 4 spiritual babies of which we rejoice greatly for them! God is good all the time. Please join us in praying for the leaders of the College Ministry as we embark in the difficult task of encouraging and spurring on these new born babes and others in their salvation both by what we teach and how we live before them and with them.

Their names are Wanda, Duncan, Christine and Judy!!!

Glory to Jesus He has done Great Things!

My Weekly Schedule

2007-02-26T23:41:00.001-05:00

I am posting my weekly schedule here so you can know how to specifically pray for me and the ministry I am doing here. I appreciate your prayers on this. Please pray that God will raise up workers; as you can see the harvest is indeed plentiful and the laborers are few!!! Thanking God for His Power that is constantly working in and through me! I CAN'T WITHOUT HIM! I WON'T WITHOUT HIM!! I AM NOT WITHOUT HIM!

Day	Event	People taught	Time
Monday	Teaching in the BTCP Class in Ujamaa	6 Pastors	7:00AM – 1:00PM
Tuesday	Teaching the book of Ephesians	About 20 to 25 Mombasa Polytechnic Students	7:30PM – 9:15PM
Wednesday	Teaching in the BTCP Class in Ujamaa	6 Pastors	7:00AM – 1:00PM
Thursday	Prayer meeting	With Mombasa Polytechnic Students at the Fellowship Baptist Church	6:00AM – 7:00AM
Thursday	Discipleship meeting with Key College Ministry Leaders	6 College ministry key leaders and we meet in my house for dinner, education and prayer	7:00PM – 10:00PM
Friday	Teaching in the BTCP Class in Ujamaa	6 Pastors	7:00AM – 1:00PM
Saturday	Every last Saturday of the month I take my BTCP class on a full day teaching retreat	6 Pastors	8:AM – 4:00PM
Saturday	College Night Live! Our weekly College Service/Fellowship	About 40 to 50 College Students from the Mombasa Polytechnic	7:30PM – 9:15PM
Sunday	Preaching in WOL Church (only for the month of March)	70 to 100 people	10:30 – noon

Wedding Website

2007-02-12T15:49:00.001-05:00

For details of the wedding preparations as they become available please visit our new wedding website
This turtle here is over 100 years according to the park rangers...mmmmm

Wedding Date - July - 07 - 2007

2007-02-11T02:58:00.001-05:00

Allison and I have decided on the date and place where we want to get married. We will be getting married on the 7^th of July 2007 in Raleigh North Carolina at the Open Door Baptist Church. Invitations will be coming to you in the mail soon.

Please email me your mailing address so that we can send you an invitation. We would love to have as many of our friends there with us as possible. Please pray for us the following:

That we will NOT be consumed by the wedding preparation to a point where it becomes a burden and not a blessing.
Pray too that our individual walks with the Lord will remain strong and we will always endeavor to keep the Main thing the Main thing.
Pray also we will be patient as we are apart from each other and will not forget to talk about each other and just about the wedding ceremony all the time.
Finally praise the Lord with me for the gift of Allison – such a godly and loving woman that I do not deserve – the Lord gave me immeasurably more than I ever could have asked for or imagined. He is good all the time!

Please visit our wedding webpage if you have time

Chilling with ma homeboy!!!!!

2007-02-01T22:08:00.001-05:00

Patrick is leaving on the 20^th to go back to America and with that beard sometimes I wonder if they'll let him in to America or take him to the FBI for interrogation [smiles] Man! I am going to miss you A lot!

This is how the Americans remember him!!!

I am on Skype

2007-01-24T09:22:00.000-05:00

I now have a SKYPE-IN Number which will make it easier for my American friends to get in touch with me without incurring international calling charges. (My friends in Kenya can still find me at Tudor, Safcom or Celtel - So now we can Ongea Bila Ubaguzi for real)! The number is 919-827-0600; it's a Raleigh, NC number [Mmmm I wonder why?] and here is how it works:

The SkypeIn number is a regular phone number so any charges that might regularly occur from calling a number in that location still apply.
An example: If you have a SkypeIn number in New York and a friend living in New York calls your SkypeIn number from a regular landline they will not be charged anything. But if a friend in Los Angeles calls your New York number they will get charged the long distance fees that they would normally get charged for a LA to New York call.
Just think of your SkypeIn number as a regular phone number, because it is!

Lets take advantage of the Global village network and KEEP IN TOUCH!

In America Safe

2007-01-18T14:16:00.000-05:00

Allison made it to America safely...Praise the Lord!

Obama

2007-01-18T12:55:00.000-05:00

Is this Obama guy as good as I think or is it just my Luo Blood being heavier than water - Holler at your boy.

Check out his video (it's 3 minutes long). http://www.barackobama.com/video/

Apart Again:(

2007-01-18T05:38:00.000-05:00

Allison left on the January 16th to go back to America...Please pray for us to have the strength of God to wait for His timing as we continue with our lives apart again (for the 3rd time now). I will be joining her sometime in the summer (May-June) after my current BTCP class graduates. We will then get married, raise support and then come back to Kenya and settle to do ministry here indefinitely.
Thank you for your prayer and support during this hard time for us. Romans 8:28 continues to be an encouragement to us.

Happy New Year

2007-01-06T23:18:00.000-05:00

I hope you started the year well and God has blessed you with every spiritual blessing in Christ thus far! We opened the year in Busia with my family. As 2006 came to a close and as we ushered in the New Year I could not stop thinking of the words of the good apostle Paul in Phillipian 3: "I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Brothers, it is clear to me that I have not come to that knowledge; but one thing I do, letting go those things which are past, and stretching out to the things which are before..." and thats what I want to do this year 2007! Forgetting the past and reaching on to the future with Jesus! Paul also says in the book, [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope] May this ever be our prayer, not to aquire great wealth, great homes and education and popularity among our peers but to KNOW Christ more deeply and more intimately!

May this New Year Be Good, Wonderful and Prosperous for you and your family!

In Busia

2006-12-23T02:18:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-03T23:54:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-03T23:11:00.000-05:00

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

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.
It is a Christianity which pulls crowds for all the wrong reasons, miracles, wealth and prosperity etc
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

2006-12-03T22:37:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-03T00:19:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-03T00:15:00.000-05:00

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

My Friend Mr. Twiga

2006-12-03T00:06:00.000-05:00

Here is a Maasai Giraffe and a Luo Man :)

BTCP Update

2006-12-02T06:39:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-02T06:33:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-02T06:24:00.000-05:00

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

2006-12-02T06:05:00.000-05:00

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.

How it happened - By Allison

2006-11-06T16:26:00.000-05:00

So how did he propose?

Here’s the exciting story… Thursday night (November 3 2006) without me knowing of course, Dennis called my Dad in North Carolina to tell him he had a ring and was ready to ask me to marry him. My Dad told Dennis that he had been waiting for that phone call and that he had all his blessings to go for it. The funny thing is that Wednesday and Thursday of last week was a little rough for us. We had a discouraging two days but it was during this time that we truly saw our God-given love for one another and Dennis knew it was time to officially ask me to marry him. So on Friday he had the whole day planned out. He called me at 6:30am on Friday morning and asked me to come to his place to have coffee with him before he went to teach at 7am. We had coffee and then Dennis took my hands in his and looked at me and said something like, “Babe, I know its been a difficult two days but today is a new day and God’s mercies are indeed new everyday. So lets begin today new and fresh, forgiving one another, and putting the past two days behind us, and looking ahead.” We both sweetly agreed to that and Dennis prayed for us and for the day. Then he told me that I should cancel any plans I had for that evening because we were going out on a real date. When he told me to dress up my cute black dress I hadn’t worn yet in Kenya I think I knew something was up. When he came home early that afternoon he came to my house with surprises behind his back. In one hand he had a small cup of ice cream (as many know I absolutely love ice cream) and said, “this is to say I’m sorry for being a jerk yesterday” and in the other hand he had an ice cream bar and said, “this is to tell you how much I love you”. Oh how sweet it was!

Then later in the afternoon after I returned from an afternoon of Bible Studies with the college girls I came home to a huge bouquet of flowers and a sweet note on my bed saying, “Just another small way to show that I love you like crazy”. Again, so sweet! Then that evening when he came home we dressed up and left for our date. He told me I should choose somewhere to eat but then I saw him driving away from town and toward the Ferry boat that takes us off the island to South coast. Very odd since we never usually cross the ferry at night. But then once we were on the ferry I knew where we were going. He was taking me to South coast where I used to live and back to the very same place where we had our very first talk about our admirations for one another, almost two years ago.

The restaurant was right on the beach and the atmosphere was perfect. There was a full moon, the sky was clear, the tide was out, and the ocean breeze blowing. We sat at a table in the beautiful white sand under the palm trees. After dinner we took a walk on the beach. We walked and talked for what seemed like forever. Then we sat down on the sand and talked some more just enjoying one another’s company. Then we walked on a little more. It was getting late so in my mind I was thinking about how we should be getting back on the road to Mombasa because its not usually really safe to drive that road really late. But then Dennis asked if we could sit down and just pray and thank God for our relationship and for all that he’s done in the past year and a half. He asked me to pray first and then he would end. Well I prayed and when I finished I expected him to continue but instead he stood up and helped me up, paused a minute and said, “oops I forgot to pray” and then we sat back down. (Thought that was a little weird but little did I know he was trying to dig the ring out of his pocket. My sweet Dennis had safety pinned the ring in his pocket so it wouldn’t’ fall out and while I was praying he tried to dig it out but couldn’t so he had to stand up to get it. It was so fast and smooth I didn’t know what was going on) so when we sat back down for him to pray he said, “Before I pray I want to talk to you about something...” Then he proceeded on to talk about all the events of our relationship and where God has brought us and about all the ups and downs of the past year and how he wouldn’t have wanted to go through any of that with anyone else in the world but me. Then he said, “Babe, I know I’ve asked you many times if you wanted to marry me but right now I want to officially ask you to spend the rest of your life with me” I was speechless for a second and said a big yes of course! I was holding his hands so tight that he then said, “And Babe if you would let go of my hand for a second I will give you a ring.” I laughed, let go of his hand and he put an absolutely gorgeous ring on my finger, and then he prayed for us and our future together. I was speechless and just kept saying, this feels so natural, oh my goodness we are finally engaged, I can’t believe it.

But the night he had planned didn’t end there. Instead of making the long dangerous drive back to Mombasa at 11pm at night he had another plan up his sleeve. He had called ahead to the Rains, my former teammates who lived in South coast, told them what he was planning and asked if we could stay with them that night. So that’s what we did, we stayed up late talking to Michael and Melissa and then woke up the next morning and went and shared the news with the Grossmann’s who lived next door.

The night couldn’t have been more perfect and more natural!! Dennis is an amazing, creative, sweet, sentimental and unique man of God and I couldn’t ask for a more precious gift from above!!

The Ring (Its more than a ring, it's a symbol! [Thats for you Drew])- And let me tell you about the ring....it’s very unique for an engagement ring. Dennis had an idea of what I wanted and took much time to design it just the way he thought it should be. It’s a white gold band and has a beautiful Tanzanite gemstone in the middle and three diamonds on both sides. It’s extra special because to me it combines both the American tradition of diamonds and the Tanzanite that is only mined here in East Africa. It’s the most beautiful and special ring I’ve ever seen, not just cause of its mere physical beauty but because of the special man and “God-story” behind it!!

So where do we go from here?
As of right now plans are still in the works. I will be retuning to the States January 17^th and Dennis will follow a few months later. The timing of the wedding depends on when Dennis is able to put his work here in Mombasa on hold temporarily to come to the States. He’s in the process of discussing this with his supervisors. Then sometime hopefully between April and July of next year we will get married. As of now, after that we will then live in the States at least 6 to 8 months to raise support for the two of us, spend time with family, then return to Kenya together as Serve International missionaries sometime early 2008. All of these plans are in the Lord’s hands and we are asking Him for the wisdom and knowledge for the next year of our lives. Please pray with us about all these important details!!

Our Story - By Allison my Fiance'

2006-11-06T15:43:00.000-05:00

The Big Question…How Did We Meet?

Dennis and I met in November 2004 during the end of my 2 year IMB term in Kenya.

We call it the “pillow story” because we met as a result of mere pillow! That’s right, a pillow. Dennis had just come back from living and studying in Texas along with his teammate Rusty. They were living and doing ministry in Mombasa. We had a mutual friend, Crystal Bell. Crystal and Dennis knew each other from church when he lived in Texas. I knew Crystal because at the time she was also working for the IMB in Nairobi. Dennis and Rusty had gone to visit Crystal in Nairobi and accidentally left Rusty’s pillow at her house. At the time my other friend Kimberly Samuel (also a SEBTS student and IMB missionary) was traveling from Nakuru to come visit me at the coast for a month. She had to pass through Nairobi to get to the coast so on her way she stopped at Crystal’s house. Knowing that Kimbo was headed to the coast she sent the pillow with her hoping we could somehow get it to Dennis and Rusty.

So Kimbo arrived to my house with this unknown pillow not really knowing what we were suppose to do with it or who it belonged to. We waited to hear from Crystal but one day out of the blue I got a phone call from this guy saying we had his pillow. This guy was Dennis calling. The guys told us that they would be heading our way that following Sunday because they would be going to Word of Life for church. Word of Life just so happened to be the same place Kimbo and I were going to be going to church that Sunday as well. So we told them to look for us so we could give them the pillow. On that Sunday we just knew we were looking for a white guy and a Kenyan guy. Kimbo and I sat in church that day hoping they would find us because we sure didn’t see them. As we sat through service we were very impressed at the guest preacher that day because he was teaching such Biblical truth and in a very expository manner (not found much here in Kenya). Little did we know that that preacher was Dennis himself. It was such good teaching that I can even remember that he was preaching from James 1.

So after church we looked around and Rusty came up to us asking if we were the ones with his pillow. Soon after that Dennis came down and introduced himself as well. That day we joined them for lunch. So that’s the day Dennis and I first met one another (November 28^th 2004). Then through the month of December Kimbo and I were so happy to have some other single missionaries close by to hang out with. Then Kimbo left in January to go back to Nakuru and Rusty then left Kenya in February. We didn’t’ see each other much but Dennis and I continued to keep in touch by email, text messages, and phone to encourage one another in each of our separate ministries. It was during this time that I began to really respect him and admire him for the ministry that he was doing in Kenya. He was unlike any other Kenyan I’d ever met. Most Kenyans who have the opportunity to go to the States never return to Kenya, but Dennis had a missions heart for his own people and had returned to Kenya to teach and minister to pastors and college students. His passion for God’s Word and passion for teaching it to others really impressed me!

In February 14^th 2005 that we had a long talk and discussed our admiration for one another. Because of the IMB’s no dating policy, we knew and agreed we couldn’t “date” while I was on the field but in the coming weeks when I told my supervisors about my friendship with Dennis and my desire for accountability, the regional leadership decided our friendship was more than it should be and asked me to finish my term in South Africa. This was a very difficult time for both of us but it was through this that I really saw Dennis’ godly character shine.

After I left Kenya we continued to stay in touch over email and when I got to the States we were able to communicate almost everyday by phone. It was through this communication that our hearts really began to grow for one another and then in December 2005 Dennis came to the States to attend my Southeastern Seminary graduation and to visit my friends and family for the holidays. Everyone, including my family loved him…all an answer to many prayers! I also had the opportunity to go to Texas with Dennis to meet his American family and supervisors there. But then at the beginning of January Dennis returned to Kenya, not knowing when we’d be seeing one another again or exactly where our relationship would take us. We were just trusting the Lord and praying for His wisdom and direction! Dennis was committed to his job as a missionary in Kenya and I wasn’t ready to return to Kenya yet.

During this next season apart I got on with “American life”, got an apartment and got a really good job. Little did I know that during this time Dennis was praying that I’d be miserable at my job and would have a desire to return to Kenya quickly. I had lots of little specific prayers of my own about how God needed to show me if this was the man I was suppose to be with for life. I had many fears but it was during this next 7 months the Lord really showed Himself faithful and answered all of my prayers, one after another! My job was very stressful for me and by April the Lord had done so much in my heart that I had an overwhelming desire to return to Kenya to work with Dennis in ministry in Mombasa. We knew the majority of our relationship had been long distance and we needed to be in the same place at the same time for awhile to really get to know one another in person.

The opportunity to go through Serve International was there but circumstances like my job, an apartment lease, school loans, support raising and other obstacles made it seem like it would be impossible for me to go. But Dennis (a man of BIG FAITH) and I began to fervently pray over each of these things and God very quickly and graciously showed HIS HAND to us and took down each of those obstacles. And within under 2 months of writing my support letter I was on a plane to Kenya to do ministry with Dennis and the team there! These last three months with Dennis have been the best ever! We’ve been able to see the REAL Dennis and Allison alive and in person and in the context of everyday life and ministry. And through it all we’ve only seen our love for one another grow unconditionally. I can’t imagine going through the ups and downs of life and ministry and the mission field with anyone else!

I am Engaged!

2006-11-04T09:25:00.000-05:00

Hey Y’all,

I hope you are doing fine in the Lord! This is just message to let you know that Allison and are now officially engaged! Praise the Lord!

I proposed to her on Friday night! I will post the full story on my blog soon – Thanks for all your prayers and support!

Continue to pray for us that our relationship will flourish to glorify God and edify each other.

Praise

2006-10-30T11:51:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to send you a little message of Praise and say that your prayers worked and God was with all my talks in amazing ways super naturally strenthening me to go for the whole day of teaching. Thanks again for the support and prayer for my Kwale trip!

Prayer Needed

2006-10-21T02:01:00.000-04:00

This weekend is going to be a very busy one for me and I would like for you to remember me in your prayers in the following ways:

College Night Live: I am standing in for Gedion who has been teaching in the College Night Live Fellowship the whole of this term. Gedion has gone to Nairobi for the Burial of one of his friends. I am teaching on forgiveness tonight [October 21 2006] pray that God will be with me as I teach this topic that God is growing me into as well. CS Lewis in writing about this topic begins, “I am not trying to tell you in this book what I could do – I can do precious little – I am telling you what Christianity is. I did not invent it.” This is exactly how I feel! Pray that the Lord will use even my weakness and struggles to make this message more powerful and effective!
Mombasa Memorial Church Youth Leadership retreat: I will be teaching at a retreat tomorrow morning [October 22 2006] both in the Sunday worship service and a session right after that on the topic of Spiritual Leadership talking specifically on the Cost of Leadership! Please pray that God will use me in a mighty way to bring about his principles of leadership out very clearly and very boldly.
BTCL: After the retreat I am going to go to my usual Sunday afternoon BTCL class where I will be teaching New Testament Survey for the rest of the afternoon...I need God's strength and your prayers!

Thanks for all your prayers!

Car Wash

2006-10-15T00:15:00.000-04:00

Today we woke up in the morning with a goal to raise Ksh.13000 for one of the College Ministry leaders Gedion Kadu. Gedion graduated from seminary this year and had a balance in his school fees so they are holding his degree in school. The students and leaders in the Ministry decided today to wash cars at the church to raise the money for him so thats what we did the whole of yesterday.

It was very slow at the begining with only a handful of cars showing up and few shillings raised. Most the people who came to help tired of just standing around started scattering, but then late in the afternoon it picked up with Oneal (one of our friends) taking lead we started washing every car that made a stop at the church parking lot or anywhere near there.

Drew also came to the car wash not derailed by the packing he had to do because he is leaving Kenya in a few hours (of course he paid for it later but staying up until 2 packing:)). He was in the fore front of the car wash with Patrick. Most Matatu (Public Service Vehicles) drivers were shouting, "let the Mzungus (white people) Wash my car!!!" And they did it...People here think that white people cannot do anything and it a sight for them seeing them running around carrying buckets and washing cars.

Present during the carwash also was Allison who worked very hard besides me to wash my car (the only car in parking lot at the time) before she had to leave to go meet with her friend Sandra at her house.

The day ended well with us raising Ksh.9000 and we are hoping to raise the rest in church today during the service. We thank God for the provision of the money and for all the volunteers who showed up to not only make the day a success but full of fun!

After the carwash we had our College Night Live service in Church where Gedion (The guy in Red below) Shared on "Remembering your creator in the days of your youth". After the preaching we had a brief appreciation session for Drew where the College students and volunteers just encouraged Drew by recapping the last four months with him here.

After the service took Drew to one of his favorite joints in Mombasa town for dinner. it was very late dinner but very good! I think this is the best Chinese food place in Mombasa (Not to mention that its the only one I have been to) at very affordable prices. To this end I can say nothing But that God is Good All the Time - and my friends He truly is.

D-Train Ready to depart

2006-10-14T05:44:00.000-04:00

Well, I thought this day will never come...yet another friend leaving the field after a long time of faithful service! Drew has been here and tirelessly and faithfully served the Lord in Mombasa Polytechnic through Fellowship Baptist Church in the last four months. Tomorrow he leaves for America. My heart is sad that I am going to miss a brother, friend and comrade in the ministry but I am joyful as I saw during his time here, God use, change and mould Drew into a vessel of honor that He is going to use very much in the years to come.

Drew will be interviewing with K-Life in Dallas a few hours after he lands and the interview will last for about three days afterwhich (if they hire him) he will be discipling Junior high and high school kids in North Dallas.

Please pray for Drew as he leaves that the Lord will bless his going out as He blessed his coming into Mombasa.

I WILL MISS YOU VERY MUCH DREW!!!!

Health

2006-10-14T01:55:00.000-04:00

It has been a very interesting last month and a half or so. I have been extremely busy with little time to eat well and rest much. I think it is getting a toll on my health. I have been very tired of late and have had a constant sore throat that wont go away! I went to the doctor two weeks ago and she gave me some antibiotics that worked for the duration of the days I was taking them but as soon as i finished the dose the soreness of my throat came back and I am losing my voice fast.

As you know I need my voice to work and talk to people - which is, I think one of my hobbies. The funny thing was that the doctor told me not to talk and to rest - not very possible with Dennis but if it is going to make me feel good I am ready to not talk and to rest! YES I said NOT TALK...I might just be able to surprise myself! hahahahaha

Allison has been a great Nurse to the team and especially to me...I have been getting really close and special medical attention from the team nurse or should I say the team is borrowing my personal nurse! Thanks Babe - you are awesome!

Please pray for me to regain back my health quickly to have the discipline to eat well and rest much! Thanks.

I am still Alive

2006-10-08T23:28:00.000-04:00

I am sorry for being too queit I have received an email or two asking me what's up! I promise to start blogging again soon. Thanks for your concern!

There is always room for one more...

2006-09-14T01:31:00.000-04:00

Personal space, whats that?! There is always room for one more person in Kenya. You carry everyone or you leave everyone behind:) It's an important concept if you wanna be friends with more people.

These girls were not smiling that Big during the rides to the church! it was a very bumpy ride! Praise God for Air Conditioning without which these girls would be history of beautiful memories in Busia!

It was fun! Kristin, Karimi and Nelly way to go and thanks for being very flexible - literally....hahahahaha!

Family Pictures

2006-08-26T11:15:00.000-04:00

My girlfriend and two Nieces Shanelle and Tamara

My Dad and I. My dad was too sick last year and because of that he lost his sight.

My little sister Nelly and my little niece Shanelle

Busia Mission Report

2006-08-26T10:19:00.000-04:00

After every meeting we hang out with the Busia Gospel Church members to talk more about the many questions that they had. Here I am with some guys talking about what is allowed for the girls to do for the guys to show that they were intersted in a relationship.

The guy in Green is from Uganda and he was suggesting that the ladies need to cook and wash clothes for the guys and be available so that the guys can know that they are interested. He was very strong about the girls not to suggest in anyway verbally that they were intersted in a relationship...in other words women should NEVER propose to men directly if they are intersted in them.

Whats you opinion, I would love to hear it, if you have time please leave your answer here by clicking on the comment link.

Busia Taxis

2006-08-24T17:59:00.000-04:00

When you say Taxi in Busia this is what it means...get a ride on the back of a bicycle for really cheap - between 10 to 20 shillings depending on where you are going. If you fall and the Bicycle gets damaged the passenger pays! There is no insurance, all you need is a faith as BIG as an OAK tree to ride ths boda bodas as they are popularly known.

The appropriate way for girls to sit on the boda boda is sideways. Make sure you can balance well because if you are not careful you may fall off the Bike and the bikers dont stop to help they run away!

I am back from Busia

2006-08-24T12:56:00.000-04:00

We are back from Busia! Our time there to say the least was very good and we saw the Lord at work in the lives of the young people there. What was amazing to me was the many things that the team that we went with knew about Dating the Christian way that the Busia young people did not know. It was always encouraging to hear people say, "I have never heard that before. Thanks you for taking your time to come teach us."

Busia here we come!

2006-08-03T01:24:00.000-04:00

Busia Mission

August 6^th to August 13^th

Team Leaders:

Dennis Omondi
Drew Trenz

Team Members:

Moses Abele
Chris Kioko
Allison Stokes
Kristin Reed
Abby Helman
Kristin Muthoni
Lynne Wachira
Dorcas Karimi

Host Church:

Busia Gospel Center – Pastor Edwin Agogo

Dates of travel:

Dennis, Allison, Kristin and Abby leaving Mombasa at 6am on the 4^th to go to Nairobi and spend the night with the Loewers.
Dennis, Allison, Kristin and Abby leaving Nairobi at 7am on the 5^th to go to Busia.
Drew and the rest of the team leave Mombasa on the 5^th at 5pm for Busia on the Falcon Bus.

Prayer Request:

Pray for journey mercies as we travel to and from
Pray for Drew and I as we teach – Drew in the Morning and I in the Main meetings in the Church.
Pray for receptive hearts to the message that we will be bringing to the Busia people – God’s Mandate about Sexual purity.
Pray for Team Love and unity – that we look to the interest of each other and not our own.
Pray for good health for all of us traveling.

Daily Program:

7:00 Individual Morning devotions

7:30 Preparation of Breakfast by the responsible people

8:00 Team Breakfast

9:00 House Cleaning and morning preparation

10:00 Team teaching time – Drew (BIG PICTURE)

11:15 Break

11:30 Team teaching time continues

12:45 Break

13:00 Lunch

14:00 Rest time – Down Low/Nap time

16:00 Afternoon Tea/Snack Time

16:30 Go to Church

18:00 Evening meeting starts

20:00 Evening meeting ends

20:30 Bye! Bye and Departure

21:00 Dinner

Out of Town from July 30 to August 1

2006-07-29T04:10:00.000-04:00

Drew, Allison, Kristin and I are going to be out of town for 3 days. We will be staying at a resort here in Mombasa resting, debriefing and just a time of fun before heading for Busia to for a week.

Ps 113:3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised.

Allison is here - has been for the last 48 hours!

2006-07-29T00:13:00.000-04:00

I am so happy and praising the Lord that Allison is here in Mombasa in person. Please join us in praising the Lord that we can now relate not over the phone but in person - face to face!

She is thinking of writing our story on her blog when she does I will let you know. Girls are just better at that stuff that we are; I as usual will gladly step aside and let the experts handle the job!:)

These flowers were in my house waiting to welcome her to Mombasa. I did not know we had flower shops in Mombasa til July 27th!:) She loved them so much and that made the search for the flowers worth every minute that was invested in the flower hunting odeal!

Drew thanks for your help that morning - you were a good brother then and now as well. I really praise God for your being here at this time in my life. Thanks bro.

My Hall of Fame Pt. 1

2006-07-26T22:29:00.004-04:00

I would like to post pictures of the greatest men I ever met in my life so you can see them. and if you are great man and want your picture to be posted on my blog hurry and lets meet:) hahahahaha!

The first of them is Jesus but unfortunately I dont have a picture of him but hopefully you can see Him in my life because He is alive and well in me!

The first man that I actually consider great apart after Jesus that I met in my life is Chris B. Chris and I met sometime between 1995 and 1996 and he poured so much in me as far as Bible is concerned. He gave me my first ever Bible (which I gave to a good friend of mine as a weeding present) and my first NIV study Bible (which I still own to date and plan to give to my wife when I get married).

Chris is married to Bekka and they have three little boys!

It was Chris who injected in me the desire to study God's word and teach it without fear - a passion that I have to date! Chris introduced me to my next "hero" - Tom Nelson. Coming soon!

Wide Awake?????

2006-07-26T21:46:00.000-04:00

It is 4:45am and I have been awake for almost an hour and my Alarm did not even go off - Mmmm I wonder why?

James in Sudan

2006-07-26T02:24:00.000-04:00

My friend and former ministry partner James Muthee got a job transfer recently to Nairobi aka Nairobbery:). Part of his work will be to travel back and forth between Kenya and Sudan. He works for a satellite installation and maitenance firm at an administrative level.

He leaves Kenya this afternoon to go to Sudan on his first job assignment there and will be there for few weeks to a month. Please pray for James as he adjusts to this new job and new country and working conditions.

Those of you who know James you can email him, I know he would really appreciate it.

2006-07-25T12:06:00.001-04:00

Allison's Departure:

Allison left America a few hours ago to come to Kenya. She met with another girl from Denton in Detroit - Kristin - who is also coming to serve with the college girls here in Kenya. Please keep them in prayers that they will have a good and safe Journey. I cannot wait for Allison to be here!

Drew's Health:

Drew is doing much better and is now just taking it easy and trying to get as much rest as possible. Thanks for your prayers and please pray too for his family for peace that God is in control and is taking care of us here in Mombasa. They are concerned about his health and rightfully so.

2006-07-24T04:28:00.002-04:00

Now I can Relax!

Drew woke up this morning feeling the same – a migraine like headache that won’t go away and feelings of dizziness when he stood up. So we decided to pay a visit to the Aga Khan Hospital and crossed our fingers that whatever it was that was eating him was not malaria! And Praise God it was not! So now we can relax, Drew does not have the dreaded malaria! It ended up being a viral infection so they gave him some antibiotics for it! You know you are sick when you get four injections in one doctors visit!

I think all Americans think that the number one killer in the world is Jack Bauer (those of you who are funs of 24 you know what I am saying! The rest of you just ignore this paragraph) and number 2 Malaria…so we know that Drew is going to live longer because he is Jack Bauer’s friend and does not have Malaria, Yeah!

I wish I could say that breT has decided to extend his time here but nope he has not so he still leaving this afternoon to go to Nairobi and later on tonight to America via Amsterdam!

2006-07-23T11:49:00.000-04:00

Urgent Prayer Request:

Drew (in white t-shirt):

Drew came home from the beach last night not feeling very well. He had sun burn on his back that made him very uncomfortable. This morning he woke up tired and with a slight fever and is at the moment in bed not feeling very well. Please pray for Drew that he will get some rest and get well soon!

BreT (In the background -green t-shirt):
BreT is leaving tomorrow afternoon having completed his term here well and raising the bar so high on what service means and just being a blessing to the field and not a burden. BreT was truly a brother and not a bother to Drew and I as we lived and served with him here in Mombasa and we truly are going to miss him. Pray for him as he prepares to leave tomorrow – Monday July 24^th.

2006-07-23T05:01:00.000-04:00

Reality Vs. Idealism

I was just thinking this morning of the worlds we live in and the experiences that we go through and the way they affect our lives and the way we respond to things. I thought I would jot down a few of my thoughts.
For example when I say the word roads, many pictures will come to mind, both of good and of bad roads. But the pictures will be different depending on our exposure and experience of roads.
I live in Kenya where the roads are, to say the least, a nightmare! I have two pictures of roads (Posted here. The good road I rode on earlier this year when I was in South Africa and the bad road I drive on every week going to teach BTCP/L in the village) and I have experienced both roads. So when I say Bad Roads or Good Roads these are the pictures I have in my mind. Therefore my experience and exposure affect the way I respond when hear people talking about roads or when I myself is asked to talk about roads.
I have realized that that this is the case with God as well. God comes in different shapes and sizes in the lives of professing believers; Even though God is the same yesterday, today and forever, the reality is that, He is not that to all of us believers. Our exposure and experience with God determines the way we respond to life. I have been observing and watching many believers in the last few weeks (including myself) and came up with the conclusion that most of us as believers are pious polytheist – meaning that that we have many gods in our lives without even knowing it.

Let me explain. Our mouths – I think have the biggest God in our lives! Our lives do not have the same size God that our mouths proclaim - they are two different Gods. An example would be something like the mouth saying things like how I love God and I want to honor Him with my life and then later on the same day lie to a friend, crack a course joke, talk behind someone’s back etc…I have been convicted especially in my own life that I am a Christian and my number one responsibility in life is to live for Christ – I fail many times but I have not and will not give up until the imperfect is made perfect…the litmus test is to ask oneself, where do I run when life does not go the way I want? Do I run towards the Cross or away from it...many times I find Dennis running away from the Cross to go take care of "business" and then come back when its all done!

Psalm 51:6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

By the way just incase any of you reading this know the minister of Roads in Kenya tell him the road from Likoni Ferry to Ujamaa needs a lot of work and if the government does not do something soon it might be cheaper to build bridges over some of the potholes than to fill them up!

This sign is posted at the end of a very bad section of road between Mombasa and Nairobi! just a few meters a head there are cops there doing exactly what this Bill Board says not to do - Receiving Bribes! Mmmmm I think they can read!

2006-07-23T01:27:00.000-04:00

College Ministry Day Out:

Yesterday was College Ministry Day out! It was so much fun and really good way of finishing the term strong. And I actually went into the water and enjoyed it. It was too cold for me! When is any thing warm for Dennis anyway?

This is how we begin and end our term in the College Ministry - was a hoot! We played silly games, ate peanut butter sandwitches, boiled maize, chips, "Typhoid Water", Peanuts, air-burgers etc.
The fun part was dividing into two teams - Usongo (Swahili for stone face) and Da Bomb Dot Com. I was of course in the winning team! Usongo - Hatucheki na watu (We are not laughing with no one). Drew and breT were on the other team. The winning game was Tug of War...The ugali eating team - Usongo - proved that ugali is still number one energy providing food in the world!
We were about 28 of us! Obama good job on the Matatu choice you did well - Mahewa Unlimited! Moses the Games were...Wacha tu!

2006-07-20T15:54:00.000-04:00

So what does Dennis like to do? Lets see, I feel like telling you I love basket ball because I am tall or I love to run because I am Kenyan or I love to swim because I live on an island but these things - as cool as they are - don't do it for me!

I love to teach the Bible and this is when I feel most alive - when I am teaching the Word of God - I just love to do it! I am not being super spiritual or anything but I am just being REAL, after all this is the BLOG where people are real with one another, isn't it:)

And Guess where I am headed to this morning? To class! I teach the BTCP Class every Tuesday and Friday from 8am to noon and every Sunday from 2pm to 5pm. On Saturday night I teach in the College Night Live (CNL) our weekly college fellowships. Occassionally I get invited to teach in Bible Schools, Pastors conferences and church services and there is only one thing I can say about it - I love it!

2006-07-19T16:02:00.000-04:00

Most of my students don't believe that you can preach only the Bible and be interesting without adding a little stage trick here and there. So every once in a while I would visit their churches and preach the Word - without any stage shows - so they can see that it is actually possible. This is one of those times in Pastor Ambrose Wafula's Church in Ujamaa Mombasa. Bret went with me can you spot him in the crowd? :)

2006-07-19T09:57:00.001-04:00

Drew and I after a game of Basket Ball at the Mombasa Poly! This is outside our house in Tudor Mombasa! Drew is here til October 15th before going back to the US.