Answering the Call...: July 2013

A US team of 7 wonderful people came to visit last week...among other activities they participated with us in an all-day conference for Pastors, their wives and other church leaders.

Each week Denise and I conduct a Bible study in the Kibera slum to about 15 amazing ladies; Pastors, Pastor's wives and church leaders. We asked them to invite their husbands and other church leaders to this conference...

We opened with praise and worship led by Josephine and Wambui. Josephine has joined our team each week to minister to the pastor's wives through Bible study, prayer and relational ministry. Wambui is our friend through our church.

Two members of the US team - Augustina and Caitlin - helped with registration and name tags :)

One of our weekly Bible study ladies...

And her husband :) checking in with the girls!

Opening prayer to begin the day...

In the front are Rose and Nancy, two of our ladies and in the back are Patricia and Linet...the lady with red and white stripes was invited by Patricia...

Denise opened with a word of encouragement from John 13:1 - Jesus loves His own who are in the world...

First conference speaker of the day is Debby Wiley - she and her husband Greg are head of the missions committee with Denise's church in TN - for which they are immensely qualified since they spent about 30 years on the mission field! They also lead a school of ministry through which they train hundreds of people for ministry each year.

Josephine, who translates for us at the Bible study each week, translated for the ladies on this day...she is an amazing gift from God to our ministry!

The church is beginning to fill up!

Augustina, the budding artist, drew this picture of a nearby kiosk...

Posing with her picture :)

Meanwhile Jesse, Caitlin's dad, and Faustin, indispensable help and driver, are bonding outside :) ...they immediately connected when they had met two days earlier.

I am amazed at how the moms can listen, write and take care of the babies! And how quiet the babies are even being held throughout the day...

This lady was invited by one of our Bible study ladies - she was listening intently all day and taking copious notes.

Debby's hand out contained many ovals - each person was asked to put their name in the center circle and put things/activities they loved in the other circles...

Nancy and Rose sharing what they wrote in their circles...

Reagan runs a nearby children's home that we visit twice a month - he also agreed to help with translation this day...

Then Debby instructed us to write the word "God" over our names - helping us to see that God is over us and over everything that is important to us. We are never alone, whether involved in 'spiritual' activities or not.

The ladies seem to be really enjoying this 'hands on' exercise!

This is Emily, one of our Bible Study ladies :)

And the men...these two are husbands to two of our ladies...

Meanwhile Caitlin is writing in her journal...

Josephine and Debby engaging with the men :)

Something was funny! This is Rose in the front, to the left is Linet and in the back with the big smile is Susan - all regulars at our weekly meetings...

See what I mean - these ladies are amazing!

Debby's message was powerful as she shared her story of forgiveness towards her dad...

What struck me was her challenge; even if you are only 5% in the wrong, take 100% responsibility for that 5%! Wow! Powerful concept...and it worked for her...when she took 100% responsibility for her 5% with her dad, he was speechless...even though it took several years for him to forgive her and ask for her forgiveness, he did it and then later accepted the Lord as his personal savior...so now they will spend eternity together in Heaven!

My little friend taking notes :)

Prayers after a powerful message

Next on the schedule is Greg Wiley, Debby's husband.

His was a great message based on Ephesians chapter 3. By the power of the Holy Spirit we can know God's love...

Everyone was listening closely as Greg told a story of when their son was just a toddler and as he lovingly touched the face of his mom who was very sick with a serious infection, she was healed by miracle...

Debby remembering the touch of her young son

Greg talked about how God leans down to hear our prayers...I was moved by the image of God; powerful, sovereign, mighty leaning down to hear my prayers...

Using grains of sand as an 'object lesson' he talked of God's thoughts towards us.

In Psalm 139 the psalmist says "How precious are your thoughts to me oh God...if I should count them they would outnumber the sand"

Augustina also took pictures :)

Each person in the room was given the opportunity to feel the grains of sand and even pick them up!

It was awesome to have Reagan with us! He was so gracious to help us with translation...

Time for Q&A! Denise brought the Wileys up again...

The first question was "What is the biggest challenge you face in ministry?"

Greg answered that keeping his relationship with the Lord #1 is his biggest challenge, especially as God increases his ministry...

Other questions included how to work as a team with your spouse...

...and then Debby briefly shared her testimony about being raised as a Jew and then accepting the Lord at age 16...

...which led to her being rejected by her whole family...

Joseph was invaluable help to us as he helped to organize our tea break...and generally helped whenever and where ever he could!

Denise shared from Ex 15 the story of the bitter water which the children of Israel encountered before entering the Promised Land. She reminded us that we must turn to God and away from that which can taste bitter (like unforgiveness) in order to enter the Promised Land which our Lord promises to each one of us.

Then we had a stretch break!

While tea and snacks were being prepared Denise brought the team up to introduce themselves...

First Augustina - 16 year old granddaughter to David and Janene Waldrop (on the far right)

Then Caitlin - 15 year old daughter of Jesse (whom you 'met' earlier!)

Then Janene introduced herself...

And David - Jesse and Faustin have disappeared somehow! (we learned later that they went out for a cup of coffee together)

Some of our ladies were absent on the day we presented their certificates, so we took a few minutes to do that...

First Nancy...

Then Eliphine...

... they also received a Life Map which chronicled the milestones of their lives...

Catherine...

and Serah...

Then all the ladies came forward to receive a photo of themselves with us from the previous week when they received their certificates and Life Maps...

Denise handed out the photos...

I know they loved seeing themselves with us :)

Denise prayed for the tea & snacks

Wonderful time of fellowship...

...and ministry...

...and hugs!

Many of the ladies received ministering prayer...

...Pastor to Pastor...

Catherine's husband expressed his appreciation for what we are doing and how much his wife is learning and growing - even improving her English!

Josephine chatting with Catherine and her husband...

Tea Break!

The ladies sat and stood together...

Even the little ones partook!

Rachel and Elijah...regulars to our weekly meetings :)

We had chapatis, fruit (banana and orange) with our tea - delicious!

We found Jesse! He and Faustin finally returned so were brought up front for introductions...

The afternoon sessions started with David telling his story...

...there was a time in his marriage when he was unfaithful to Janene...

...he shared candidly of the struggles and strain on their marriage - citing Janene as his hero in how she handled herself throughout the ordeal...

Then Janene spoke...here she is saying that the teaching she had prepared would be set aside as she is realizing the Lord had changed her lesson!

She told the story from that time in their marriage from her point of view...and talked about what it takes to keep a marriage strong...a timely message for these pastors and their wives!