This was supposed to be the final lesson in the Joseph Study...

Sign in Pastor's James' office...

We spent some minutes with Pastor James - the 'father' here at St. Catherine's Children's Home - going over a list of names given to Denise...these are the kids who are slated to attend the youth camp in August...but - it seems some of these kids are not old enough - hmmm...

Then we found the kids!  Here Ismael is receiving a gift on behalf of all the boys...and Denise is presenting on behalf of Brian - a young man who had just left for the states earlier that week...

These girls are laughing because the boys next to them got very excited about the new clothes - until they were told the clothes would be too big for them...

 Ismael could not resist a peek into the bag...

 Since the class 8 kids were doing exams this day, we decided to postpone the final study until the following Saturday...

 ...but I love that the kids came prepared to learn!

Their disappointment was soon assuaged as Denise handed out mandazi (donut-like pastry) which were intended for the 'celebration'...I think the kids are pretty happy!

Then Denise shared a bit of Brian's story (the boy who left the clothes behind when he went to the states)...He was an orphan just like them...on an island which has been devastated by the Aids virus.

By God's grace he and his best friend, Hemstone, were befriended by an American boy visiting with his parents.  The parents are very wealthy and had started a community center on that island...

The parents of that young boy felt God urging them to take care of these two boys by providing an education through High School and now bringing them to the US to attend college.

Brian has a dream to become a doctor and return to his home in Kenya to make a difference and give back to his community...this is a message of hope to these kids. 

Brian's life is a miracle performed by God coupled with hard work on his part; to get good grades and excel in his schooling.  I got a glimpse of what is possible in each of the lives represented around the table...

 Ismael then led us in a sweet prayer of gratitude to the good God that we serve...

 We thoroughly enjoyed our short visit with these precious kids!

All-day training with our apprentices...

Each month we are delighted to invite Rose and Susan, our two apprentices, to our home for an all day training.  These two ladies joined our Bible study group in the nearby Kibera slum almost two years ago.  They have faithfully attended and repeatedly demonstrated leadership qualities, so we were not surprised when they took advantage of the opportunity to sharpen their leadership skills by joining our apprentice program earlier this year...

Rose, Josephine and Susan

Rose is sensing a 'great shifting of my ministry...moving to a new level'

We began the day by asking them what they felt God calling them to do in this next season of their lives...

Susan sharing how she sees God working in her life...

Rose responded "I am setting myself apart to do whatever God is preparing for me to do." and "I am going to challenge the other ladies [to take advantage of opportunities]..." such as this apprentice program...clearly her heart is to take on greater leadership of the group. 

A renewed passion for learning and growing has emerged

Susan's response was "My life is a miracle life, that God has given me." and "teaching and encouraging people"...their answers were as unique as each of these precious ladies is before the Lord!  And both answers are in direct alignment with what we see, that is - taking the group to the next level...

Discussing our learning styles

As we took lunch the ladies looked at a handout on learning styles; as we read through the information we each identified ourselves in one or more of the styles...and got to know each other just a little bit more!

Yum!  Lunch was a feast, purchased at a local supermarket; beef, chicken, vegetables, rice, samosas and chapatti...

Denise is a stellar hostess - you can see by her smile that she truly enjoys serving people in this way!

Rose then spoke briefly of the recent brutal attack on her and her family. She shared how easy it would have been to just 'rest' afterward to allow her body and emotions to heal, but she sensed God speaking to her to keep moving...and she believes that she has healed more quickly as a result - she truly is an amazing lady!

You can still see the scar on her forehead

Denise then prepared the ladies to hear some big news from Josephine which will usher in tremendous change for all of us!

Perhaps you can guess by the delighted grins on all three faces that Josephine has announced her upcoming wedding - in December of this year!

It truly is evidence of God's grace and mercy.  The ladies know of her testimony; her husband of over 10 years was killed in a road accident just two years ago, leaving her to raise her two daughters as a single mom...

Although she always desired to remarry, she knew that would only happen according to God's plan and His timing...and it has!  God brought back into her life a friend from her college days, whose wife recently passed away...a wonderful man who desires to be a godly husband to her and a loving daddy to her two girls...

Giddy as teenagers!

Susan here is encouraging Josephine, reminding her of how blessed she is to have friends to walk with in this new journey...

We then spent some time discussing the future of the ladies Bible Study group...

Listening faces...

It will be different without Josephine (she will be moving to another town where her fiance is pastor of a church) but the ladies already have exciting ideas about this next season!

Deep in thought

We asked Susan to share the 'miracle' of her life...when young her father died, leaving her family with no means to educate young Susan...a dear lady from Norway saw that special something that God had placed in Susan and committed to taking her all the way through college.  Susan was simply obedient to what she felt God wanted her to do and she believes that her obedience put her in the right place at the right time with the right people and now here she is!

I can see the young girl...

I just love these ladies, and took advantage of Josephine leaving her seat to embrace them both!

Then it was time to choose the material for the next study.

Denise brought out several options, but we unanimously agreed that the next study is to be on prayer.

Then Rose began to see a pattern and actually chose the two studies which should follow prayer

...and we were on our way! 

Josephine exclaiming her delight over the teaching on prayer

What an amazing day spent with amazing ladies...we were ALL blessed!

Time to Celebrate!

This was our final session in the Leadership Series...not a day for teaching, but for reflecting back and celebrating how far we have come together!

Josephine, Susan and Rachel planning for the tea

Powerful time of prayer before the meeting

We started with a Q&A session...any question from the whole series. Linet's question "Does God choose a natural leader the same way He chooses a spiritual leader?"  Good question!

Both Rose and Denise answered the question: It is possible for both leaders to be chosen or called in the same way, but then it is upon the leader to choose wisely to keep his eyes focused on God so that he can become and remain a spiritual leader.

Elida had a question about putting family first in ministry...won't some people in the church think you are being selfish?

 Denise put the question to the other ladies "what does it mean to put your family first?"

Susan shared that she sees that as making sure the children are not neglected for the sake of the ministry.  Too often spouses and children are put aside because the leader is too busy helping others.

 Linet shared that you should love them, train them and meet their needs.  Basically 'ministry' starts at home...when the family is taken care of then the leader is freer to be able to follow the call of God.

Denise shared with us that all too often the demands of ministry can distract us from our very real responsibilities at home.

His name is Ryan and he is one year old

Then Alice shared that every member of the family has their own responsibilities, even the children.  That was very much in keeping with what we taught during the series on The Family, which was before Alice joined us.

Then we each answered the question: What was the one primary learning you gained from the Leadership Teaching?  Josephine was first to share that she now has a desire to 'earn' honor and now knows that it does not come or remain automatically.

The 'other' Josephine then shared that she has already begun to mobilize the people under her and delegate to them tasks and responsibilities consistent with their abilities and giftings...she learned she must share the load!

This little guy did not even share his snack with me!!

Rachel shared two learnings; 1) she is now more able to receive people as they are rather than expecting them to be different and 2) she is now more able to do advance planning for events.

Then Dorothy shared that she is learning to have patience to train others to carry the burden; that her ministry is not a one-man-show...(this is something highly competent people need to learn!)

Then Alice shared that she learned as she focuses more on Christ being the center of her life, she becomes a role model for others to follow.

Susan was really struck by the teaching of depositing honor in others; the bank account analogy really hit home for her.

Sarah was impacted by the teaching on 'servant leadership' and the idea that we are to seek to serve as a leader and not to use people or manipulate them to give or serve.

Rose learned that a leader must make good choices; like David we must choose to always rely on God.

Linet shared with us that the teaching on becoming too familiar with the things of God is what struck her and made her think of the passage about King Uzziah in 2 Chron where he decided to usurp the duties of the priest by entering the temple to burn incense...

Consolata shared that leaders must always use knowledge and wisdom and avoid pride when dealing with people and matters in the church.

 Elida shared something very personal, which was obviously weighing heavy on her heart; she wonders if she failed to put her family first when she was away on a ministry trip when her son became so sick and eventually died.

Rose shared powerfully from her own recent experience of being brutally attacked in her own home.  

The element of her story that really ministered to Elida, however, was the fact that her 23 year old daughter was raped...Rose also asks "why Lord?" and does not understand, but chooses to trust her God and His sovereignty and wisdom. 

She can have peace knowing that God is still on the throne and that He loves Charity (her daughter) and He loves her and wants what is best for her.  Elida thanked her and was visibly touched.

Patricia told us that she had felt 'all together' as a leader since she has been educated and trained to be a pastor.  Her significant learning was that a spiritual leader must have humility and lead from a place of servanthood. 

We have seen evidence of that God's transformation in this area of Patricia's life.  "Pride will bring destruction" is what she stated...

 

Then her daughter Valerie shared that she learned the importance of accountability in ministry, and to learn to work with others without feeling superior or more important.

Denise then shared from her personal experience the importance of keeping her focus on God.  It is easy to get so focused on the 'doing' of ministry that intimacy with God can then take a back seat.

 Then it was time to give out certificates!!!  Yep - you have to look at every single one! 

Patricia

Linet

Elida

Josephine

Consolata

Susan (apprentice!)

Rose (apprentice!)

Rachel

Valerie

 Sarah had best attendance for the series so will receive a present when we see her again.

Sarah

Alice

Dorothy did not manage to attend 3 sessions (lowest requirement for certificate of attendance) but she makes such a great contribution to the group that we gave her a certificate of contribution!

Dorothy

Emily (and Emmanuel)

Ladies all lined up to watch the presentation!

Alice and Consolata inspecting Consolata's certificate

Rachel buttoning Elijah's vest

This section contains pictures...just for fun!!!  Valerie (who took the 'certificate' photos) kept on shooting!

Rachel, Josephine, Me (with Elijah) and Denise

Walimu - teachers

Josephine and me

Josephine, me, Rachel and Rose...

Josephine, Josephine and me...oops was I supposed to be in this one??

Josephine, Consolata and me

Sarah, Josephine, Dorothy, Rachel and Denise

Sarah and Josephine

Emily and Josephine

The lovely Josephine

Susan, Rachel and Elida

Alice, Rachel with Elijah, Patricia with Ryan

Emmanuel is learning to sit up!

Sweet Ryan-his mom, Valerie, took this one...

Party Time!!!  First the ladies brought the tea in, complete with cups and sugar...

 Then they put all the food items out...in fact filled all the plates for us - wow!

Two moms balancing babies and plates...talent!

 I just loved this visual of all the tea cups...

Elijah looking very serious

 He looked up just as I snapped his photo...

 Enjoying tea, snacks and fellowship...

Susan and Patricia

You get the picture...

Little Elijah was not happy being so low at the table...so Josephine, with her kind heart, stacked 3 baby chairs under his...

 ...and now he is juuuust right!

 I was fascinated by Dorothy as she cut those oranges...

 Meanwhile Elijah is packin' his bag...I guess that is his 'take-away' bag!

 

 Dorothy is amazing...such a woman of service...

 She takes good care of us!

Special look for his friend Josephine

On the chair is Valerie's boy, Ryan...in her arms is Emily's boy Emmanuel - earlier Ryan had been looking a bit jealous...

Sarah just loves little Emmanuel!

 I love the way Valerie reached out to take Emmanuel's hand...

 Here he is looking up at her...so sweet!

Priceless!

 Then Josephine led us to sing "We give all the glory to Jesus (and tell of His love)..."

 Josephine is a such a praiser...I just love it!

 It was a perfect end to a powerful teaching...

 We were very slow to leave each other!

 What a look of peace on Elida's face...Rose is truly an awesome pastor...I just love her heart.