Sammy Nyamongo Ongoi is a Kenyan who lives in the US and he loves his mom. His mom's name is Rodha Bisiere Ongoi and she is 75 years old. She was admitted into Kenyatta National Hospital here in Nairobi a little over a month ago. We found out she was diagnosed with liver cancer earlier this year.

These photos were all taken right after we took her home from the hospital. We enjoyed a lovely visit with Sammy's family in his home. You can see in this photo the eldest brother Charles, Denise, then Sammy's neice and his other brother Raphael.



Rodha was extremely tired when we arrived to her home. After just a few minutes her daughter, Beatrice helped her into bed. Then Denise and I enjoyed a lovely visit with several family members.

Left to right you see Charles, friend Eunice, Sammy's neice, his girl Audrey being held by his nephew Stephen and then Raphael with Rodha in the center.

Although this was a very long and tiring day, there were many 'nuggets' of blessing as well.

A few of my friends...

Earlier this month we invited members of our CML (The Christian Mission to Learners) team to lunch for fellowship and to review two major missions we had completed together during June, July and August.

Even Tishona attended our fellowship/meeting! through Skype, a video conference software that we use to stay in touch with her. Actually we all greeted her, but conducted the bulk of the meeting without her - but we know she was with us in spirit!








Winnie (seen here with Denise) is our newest team member - she had her 'debut' at our August camp where she spoke on self-esteem. She was amazing! The kids responded to her and even the other team members were blessed and inspired by her teaching. She is clearly called to missions and is so excited to be following God's leading in her life.



Lillian and Amani both participated in our June/July mission in the Rongo area - Western Kenya near Lake Victoria. We spent a week visiting several schools and doing door-to-door evangelism. Amani also helped facilitate our August camp, and is a critical member of the team as she coordinates and ministers in our missions to local schools - read my blog entry called "Two Students" to find out more about Amani.



Nico Jumba was part of the team during the June/July mission and has also participated in missions to schools in Nairobi. He has an awesome dance group called ICED (In Christ Ever Dancing)...He truly has a heart for young people - every time he sees Denise he says "How's Alex?" (her 21 year old son) and every time he sees me he says "How's Amanda?" (my 26 year old daughter)

Daniel loves to lead praise and worship, and is a great teacher and a good friend. I met Daniel shortly after I arrived here at a Missions and Outreach Meeting at NPC Buruburu. He stayed the night with us since he lives quite far away. He still remembers learning to play rummy that night!

There were others at our fellowship, but I was so busy taking notes for the minutes that I sort of forgot about taking pictures - in fact Nico finally grabbed the camera to get a few 'snaps'...

I was struck by how much I love these new friends, as I sat in our living room that day...

Two Students

Meet Monica. She is 15 years old and refers to herself as a "natural sanguine" (you will need to read about Personalities to understand that one) - however I will tell you that she is lots of fun, loves to sing praises to the Lord and is very smart.

In fact she finished 15th in her class after her first session in Form 1 (which is equivalent to 9th grade).

Friend, Gerry, sent me a t-shirt from New Mexico - Monica tried it on and decided it was perfect for her...I agreed, so I gave it to her!

Here she is ready to go back to school - she boards at Lockwood Girl's Secondary school about 2 hours from Nairobi. We snapped this photo the day we 'dropped' her at the bus which took her back to school.

School fees are a critical issue for people of Kenya. If the family does not have the money, the kids do not go to school. I decided to help Monica's family by 'sponsoring' her next two sessions - which run from September through November 2007 and from January through March 2008. Students here in Kenya go to school for three months then are off for a month - the months they are off are April, August and December. The fees are about $300 for each three month session for Monica.

Here is a photo of Monica at school. Denise and I drove her sister, Tabitha (far left in the photo) and her dad, Joseph (far right in the photo) to visit on family day. Also in the photo are two of Monica's teachers - all of her teachers shared with us that Monica is an excellent student and participates actively during class time.

She is also active in several clubs on campus. As you can see by her report card, she is doing quite well in her classes!

Her name, Amani, means 'peace' in Swahili. This vibrant and enthusiastic young woman is truly filled with the peace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amani serves tirelessly on The Christian Mission to Learners (CML) team ministering to the students of Kenya.

She herself is a student at Bible College.

Here she is setting up a small group discussion at our recent students' camp in August.

She loves to praise the Lord and is here flanked on either side by two close friends, Elizabeth and Daniel, as the CML team ministered to students at a rural girls' secondary school in June.

I have been much impressed with Amani's passion and commitment to serve the Lord and after much prayerful consideration decided to sponsor her next term at Bible College (her current term has been covered). The fees for January thru March of 2008 are about $500 in US currency.

Sweet Fellowship...

On Sunday, September 9 we visited with Hour of Power viewer Jean-Bosco Havyarimana, who hosts a weekly fellowship in his home.



Each week the members of this House of Power gather to watch the Hour of Power, share the Word of God, give personal testimonies of how God is working in their lives and praise the Lord with song.











Each member of this weekly fellowship was excited to be received into formal Church Membership of the Crystal Cathedral Ministries.



Following are several photos of these new members receiving their certificates. As you can see they are 'all smiles'.

This little boy was with his brother and sister (you can see them in the background)

As this young man introduced himself, he proudly announced that he and/or one of his brothers might just grow up to be a preacher some day!

He shared with the group a praise report that he had been so sick he could not even walk. But he prayed to be well enough this day to be able to attend this special fellowship time!

This boy is a 'total orphan' which means that both of his parents have passed on. He shared that he is taken care of by an orphan agency which makes sure that he is transported to church each Sunday.

All of these members are refugees from Rwanda, Burundi or Congo. They all live quite far from Jean's home and sacrifice each week to pay transportation costs to attend.

Here is 'madam' - that is the lady of the house. Can you tell that Jean is happy for her?

and here is Jean's son, who is 16 years old. I am encouraged about the passion I saw in the young people in attendance at this Sunday fellowship.

Jean is very excited about teaching the Heidelberg Catechism to his 'flock' with the aid of Dr. Beverely Muffin as viewed on the DVD. In fact he had the tape running as we arrived at his home! It was so great for me to see that familiar face!

After tea was served, we praised the Lord together in song and then gathered outside for a photo of the whole group.

Two New Friends!

Kenneth Okoth is a fine young man living in Nairobi with his ailing mother. His father died several years ago, leaving him with many family responsibilities, even though he is the youngest child. Over tea, he shared with me that he has been watching the Hour of Power for about two years. His favorite time to watch is Saturday night at midnight! Why? Because sometimes he is up late, caring for his mother and beginning to feel discouraged. He says that when he sees Pastor Schuller and hears the inspiring message, he is filled with renewed hope. He reads the Positive Minute every day and receives much encouragement.

Later the same day, we shared a meal with Pastor Silas Ouma, who travelled four hours from his home in Nakuru to meet with us! He is a passionate young man with the gift of intercessory prayer. Orphaned as a small child, he spent 3 years as a street boy finding food and shelter wherever possible. Then he attended a Reinhard Bonnke crusade and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior! A local pastor then began to encourage him to use his spiritual gifts to serve the Kingdom. Along with a team of four other pastors, Silas reaches out to local street children with a feeding program as well as sharing the gospel and supplying them with clean clothes. His dream is to build an orphanage for the street children helped by his ministry, begin skills training for men and women, and start a micro-finance ministry to assist people to begin their own business and become independent. This is a young man with "God-sized" dreams! A real Possibility Thinker!