MISSION UPDATE:
May 26, 2016
Today we pack…and pack…and pack!!!!
We met our financial goals and are gathering supplies for the trip. We will carry some 400 pounds of supplies just for long-term missionaries over there, plus everything we think we may need while there. We REALLY appreciate our friends for making this possible for us.
God is good.
Maasai men we met in 2014. We hope to find them still faithful to the church.
Our Team: Gary, Cotton, Bekah, Craig, Rachel, Daniel, Charles, RobertSunday May 29, 2016
Expect to arrive in Tanzania Late Sunday evening.
God is good.
Made it safely to the Storks’ house! Many thanks to their hospitality. It’s a beautiful morning here, and we’re going to head into town soon, as well as hitting the field. God is so amazing and we can see His glory everywhere! Please continue to keep us, and the other missionaries in your prayers.
“Oh come, let us sing to the Lord!
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God,
And the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth;
The heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; And His hands formed the dry land.” Psalm 95:1-5
30, May 2016
The day started off with the smell of pankcakes, a great meal cooked by Haley Storks. After exchanging currency, Cotton and Robert went with David, their interpreter to conduct a few pre-set studies.
1) Zachiah and Neema along with their son, Manasah studied today and will study again with us in upcoming days.
2) Calvin had studied a few days ago with a couple of other campaingers. We ran into him while waiting on another study, and he decided to study with us as well. He wants us to come Saturday morning to study with him, his wife, and daughter.
3) We studied for awhile with Philbert, who recently became a Christian. He had questions about church operations.
4) We studied with Vicki, who recently studied with Wesley and David, and she is very interested in learning more. A lady with an alcohol problem came up during the study and requests prayers that she recovers from this. We made plans to follow up with Vicki and possibly her husband, David after 3 any day.
5) We will plan to finally connect with Ruben, who we originally were suppose to study with.
Meanwhile Gary and Isaac, his interpreter went and studied with two ladies, Debra and Christina until lunch (provided by Elly and Neamaa Martin). After lunch they went and did a follow up with Debra (Christina was unable to return). Debra decided to put on Christ with baptsim, and we are going to try to follow up with Debra’s husband as well as Christina and her husband.
Charles, Craig, Rachel, Rebekah, Daniel, and Wesley ran alot of errands around town, inlcuding visiting the Gaines’ Family as well as picking up supplies for a birthday cake for Haley. It’s been a blessed day and we wish you well, and continue to ask for prayers as we all start in the field tomorrow morning.
“Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd. Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
Matthew 9:35-38
30, May 2016
Today has been as ling but great day. We started out at the Njiro Chini church of Christ with a devo and broke off into our study groups from their.
Rachel and Rebekah went with Mary, their translator first to a pre-set up Bible study with a Muslin girl named Habiba. She knows what she needs to do to be saved, but is scared to commit because of her Muslim father prohibiting her from becoming a Christian. We spent our time encouraging her and we are going to follow up with her tomorrow morning. Next we went to study with a lady named Lillian who is a Catholic and now knows what she must do to be saved, but had further questions and decided to follow up tomorrow with us because she had previous plans.
Wesley, Craig, Kashumba, and Mason went and studied with a Roman Catholic; they taught her what she needed to know to be saved but she wasn’t sure if she was ready yet and they will try to contact her later in the coming days.
Robert and Elly joined Gary, Charles, Daniel, and Isaac in a study this morning with a Pentecostal named Emmanuel who knows what he needs to do to be saved and wanted to be baptized Sunday, but never showed up to a follow up study after lunch.
Cotton went with Desdery and they both went to study with a man that Isaac has studied with before and they studied for more than two hour, and the gentleman had many questions concerning infant baptism. they will follow up later along with Gary.
We all came and met up for a wonderful lunch provided by Naema that consisted of beans and rice, and tomorrow we were promised rice and beans (just to change things up a liitle).
After lunch Rachel and Rebekah went back out with Mary and talked to a woman named Witness who has previously declined studies but told us to come back at another time when she wasn’t working. We than went to talk to a lady named Martha and also told us to come back when she wasn’t as busy. After that we went and talked to a woman who was a part of the Assembly of God, and she believed many of the things that are the truth but disagreed concerning the Lord’s supper and baptism. She had many other questions, and we are followig up with her tomorrow afternoon.
Wesley, Craig, Kashumba, and Mason went out to study with a lady that knew nothing of the Bible. They taught her beginning in Genesis, and will continue to study with her tomorrow.
Robert and Elly sought out new studies, and got permission to study with Modesta in the next day or so, along with Joseph and his friend at Thursday at 2:00. They started a study with a group of three men: Emson, Edison, and Aman. They had a great study and were asked to come back tomorrow to finish up.
Daniel, Gary, Charles and Isaac went to try to follow up with a few guys, but they never showed up..
Today was great, and none of it could’ve been possible without our Lord. Please pray that He will give much increase, because we have certainly planted. Our feet our dirty but our faces our smiling because we have God one our side.
“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the Lord gave to each other each one? I planted, AApollos watered, but God gave the increase. Son then niether he who plants is anything, norhe who waters, but God who gives the increase. Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will recieve his own reward according to his own labor.”
1 Corinthians 3:4-8
31, May 2016
Once again, it was an amazing day! It’s hard to not have a great day whenever we have Jesus as our Lord. We started off in the Njiro Chini church of Christ with a small devo.
Rachel, Rebekah, Haley, and Mary went out to follow up with our previous studies. We had no luck finding any of the women except Martha, who brought a friend that we studied with. Her name is Glora and attended the Assembly of God church, but now knows all that she needs to do to be saved, but wants to study some more about the Bible before she puts on Christ this Sunday. We tried to find the other women after lucnh as well, but again had no luck and were told to come back at a later time.
Charles, Gary, and their translator, Joseph`went out to try to set up Bible studies. They talked to saw a couple that were working on their graden, and weren’t going to church anywhere but were interested in studying the Bible and have a study set up tomorrow at 10:00. The they talked to a lady named Mary, who has a conga shop who said that she loves Jesus more that anyone could ever imagine. They studied with her for about an hour, then she had to go fix lunch, but told them that they could study with her at anytime later. They will follow up with her tomorrow afternoon. Then they went to talk to Debra to encourage her, and to answer questions about being a faithful Christian. After that, Christina showed up and were able to finish their study with her. Her mind was too confused to make a decision about being baptized but wants them to come back tomorrow. Isaac is going to try to study with her husband as well tomorrow.
Craig, Wesley, and their translators, Emmanual and William first studied with Jerimiah and Abel. Jerimiah left, and they continued to study with Abel as a group of school girls came up to listen as well. Abel said that he needed to think about things before he commits. After lunch they and studied with Calvin and Clement. they know what they need to do to be saved but had questions concerning the difference between the old and the new testament. They will study again tomorrow sometime.
Robert and Daniel went with Elly went to talk with Christiana, Lucia, and Zanabia for a short Bible study. They laid down the foundation of salvation and are following up with them next week. After that they studied with Momma Davy, she had a really sick daughter and they prayed for them. They scheduled another study next week. After lunch they set up a Bible study with a gril named Sarah for later this week, and met with Momma Nacity for a brief study and scheduled a follow up for tomorrow.
I will gather the information for Cotton’s studies tomorrow morning.
“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.”
2 Thessalonians 1:3-9
1, June 2016
Today we got the chance to visit a few brothers in Christ that we had reached out to two years ago when we came. They have now started their own congergation in the Maasi village that they were apart of. We went out there to fellowship wth them and to pray for them. Zakayo, Mathayo, Amani, Tata, Lekitaha, Saikabu, Siraeli, Mitamel, and Putari were the men that started this congergation (a few of which were the ones that were baptized). We were also asked to pray for a lady who was sick, Ester Lekuta. Please keep these people in your prayers. They even cooked a lamb for us. These people are some of the nicest people anyone could ever meet!
We also apologize for the lack of reports. We are expeirencing some difficulty concerning power and wifi.
3, June 2016
The congergation in the Maasi village.
Today Rachel stayed at the Storks’ house to help clean and cook. Rebekah went with Mary and Sarah, a girl that attends Njiro Chini church of Christ first to follow up with Lillian who wanted to be baptized but claimed that she was too busy. Then we went to study again with Glora who understands the urgency about getting salvation but still wanted to wait until Sunday to put on Christ.
Cotton, Wesley, Charles, Emmanuel, and William studied with an older gentleman which lasted around five hours, along with his wife and Clement. They all understoood what they needed to do to be saved, but didn’t want to obey the gospel. They then dropped Cotton off to study with Vicki, who he will follow up with in the up coming days. the rest of the group went around setting up Bible studies for up coming days.
Daniel, Robert, and Elly went to have a Bible study with Diana, Glory, and Presca and they have a follow up on Monday at 10:00. Then studied Felista and have a follow up with her in the coming days. They also have alot of studies set up over the next week.
Craig and Gary went with Jehosephat, Isaac, and Lenjima studied with Elias and was baptized. They went to follow up with Deborah and Christina, but they were busy, and will try to follow up with them later this week.
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.”
James 4:14-16
2, June 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Today we met with the congregation at Kioga, where Cotton has been working this past week. There were about 100 people in attendance, and they were happy to have us visit. Craig preached to the group. Daniel and Charles conducted the Lord’s Supper and Giving.
We sent Nester out to the Maasai tribe to preach to them and get a better understanding of their needs. There were about 30 in attendance in that service. Three are Christians, and all have been meeting together for 2 years, We will try to see what their needs are and see how we can help in the future.
We used the afternoon to re-group and make plans for the upcoming week. We have 39 people to visit and/or re-visit this week already, and plan to hand another 10 off to the group from Hoover,
Thanks for your continued prayers.
God is good.
We had a lot of bible studies set up today and weren’t able to all of them. Charles, Wesley, and their translator, Micheal went to set up bible studeis and was soon joined by Daniel to study with Frank, Cyrus, and Innocent and they know what they need to do to be saved, but need to think things through before they put on Christ. After lunch Wesley, Mason, and Kashumba had a study with a lady who also needed more time to think things through. Daniel, Robert, and Elly went to set up Bible studies for later this week. Craig, Gary, and Isaac studied Hasini and set up a study with him tomorrow along with two others. After lunch Gary, Daniel, Rebekah, Mason, Craig, and Wesley witnessed Christina putting on Christ. Then Robert, Tom, Wesley, Rebekah, and Elly went to study Glory and Prisca and will study again tomorrow. They then went to study with five guys, Jared, Emison, Edson, Amam, and Mushi. They wanted to study again tomorrow evening. Rachel went to do the children’s seminar held at the Njiro Chini church of Christ along with Mary and Miriam. And Cotton had a few great Bible studies in Kioga. It’s been a long day, but great for the Kingdom of God. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.
6, June 2016
The Hoover group joined us today in Njiro Chini. After splitting up Rebekah went with Mary to hand out tracks and to encourage Lillian who wants to study again tomorrow. Also please keep a lady named Witness in your prayers because her boss is threatening to fire her for studying the Bible.
Daniel, Robert, and Bernard (their translator) went to study with Philbet, a new Christian. Then had studies with Joseph Daniel, and Eden Israel Tango. Then after lunch they talked to Matilda (a former member at Njiro Chini). Then studied with Edmund and five other guys for the rest of the afternoon.
Craig, Gary, and Isaac studied with Mary at a duka. They were soon joined by Rolland (scheduled another study later this week), Hamisi, Eddy, and Sadik. They scheduled a study with Mary for tomorrow as they continued the study with the three men. Sadik decided to put on Christ with baptism. After lunch they were joined Kambarageo and Mickey to study with members of a Pentecostal church. They had three of them that decided to be baptized: Amani, Ester, and Wamila.
Wesley, Charles, and their translator, Desdary studied with Mama Beatrice and her daughter, Glory. Mama Beatrice decided to be baptized as well. After lunch they went with Mason, and were also joined by Rebekah to study with Mama Shelia.
Cotton went with David to study with Vicki and had a few other Bible studies throughout the day.
At 4:00 there was a children’s seminar held at the Njiro Chini church of Christ, led by Kendall from the Hoover group, and Tiffany Gaines.
It’s been another long day out in the field, but has been rich with God’s blessings. Remember to always give Him the glory.
“Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the Lord God of Israel, and make confession to Him, and tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.”
Joshua 7:19
7, June 2016
Robert and Bernard set up a Bible study with Happy Joan for Thursday at 9. They then studied with Eden for a while. After that they met again with the group of men at Edmond’s business and had a great study. Edmond decided to be baptized, but decided to wait until Sunday.
Rebekah and Mary went to study with Lillian and Ester and will try to follow up with them tomorrow. They then went to study with a few ladies from a hair dresser place (Glora being among them) and they wanted to study again tomorrow afternoon.
Daniel, Charles, Rachel, Craig, and Josephat talked to Zachariah and have another study set up for Friday at 10:00. After that they studied with Ambani and set up another study with him tomorrow.
Gary went with David and Desdery to talk to a lady named Agape, but someone had already studied with her before and just followed up with her. They set up a study with her and her husband on Saturday. After that they studied with Banaba Peter (Matilda’s father). It was a good study and he wanted to thing about everything they had told him, but they could come back on Friday anytime and study with him some more. After lunch they studied with Fatima and wants to continue to study. Then they went to study with Vicki (Fatima’s daughter) and wanted to take some time to think about her decision.
“Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man.”
Proverbs 3:3-4
8, June 2016
Robert and Bernard studied with Happy Joan and a couple of men this morning. In the afternoon they had a study with Henry and Trafon.
Daniel, Craig, Charles, Josephat, and Ahimidiwe had the follow up with Ambani. After lunch they spilt up; Daniel, Charles, and Josephat had a study with Venus and will follow up again with him tomorrow.
Gary and Desdery studied with Glory, and understood what she needed to do, but needed some time before she was baptized. They went back by to visit with Agape to see if she had some questions, and spent some time answering her questions and confirming tomorrow’s study with her and her husband. They then studied with Sponciana (a lady that Desdery had studied with a couple of years ago). She was interested and wants to study some more next week.
Wesley and Kashumba went to study with a young girl who was baptized into Christ, and her friend is interested to be baptized as well.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.”
Proverbs 3:5-6
9, June 2016
Daniel, Craig, Charles, Isaac, David and Josephat studied with Zachariah and he understood what he needed to do, but was stuck because he is employed at a Lutheran church and needs to support his family. After lunch they handed out tracks and while doing that they talked to Charles, Edward, Edward, and Kindengye (who they have a follow up with along with Edward 2). Edward 1 was baptized into Christ.
Gary went with Isaac visited an encouraged Matilda. After lunch Gary went with David and studied with Joseph and Mary. Then set up a couple of studies for tomorrow. Gary and Robert then went to study with Ruben.
Robert went with Bernard and studied again with Philbet and Evan. They then studied with Happy Joan, and Henry (along with his Muslim friend).
Wesley studied with Mama Ruth, a Seventh Day Adventist, and set up another study with her tomorrow. He then checked in with Jacklyn, and her and her family understand what they need to do to be saved. Jacklyn was later baptized into Christ.
Overall it was a good day with souls added into the Kingdom of God. Again please keep everyone in your prayers as we are winding down our trip.
“So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church[a] daily those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
10, June 2016
On our last day Rebekah and Mary went to follow up with Lillian. They found out that she was in an unscriptural marriage and didn’t want to leave her husband, but we do have a preacher that will follow up with her to help encourage her to make the right decision. After lunch they studied with three ladies, Mama Elizabeth, Paulina, and Benitta. They understood everything that we taught them and are going to study more with the Njiro Chini church of Christ.
Robert, Bernard, and Elly studied with Dianna and Glory. Dianna made the decision to be baptized today. Later, Robert and Bernard continued to try to catch up with Rueben. They checked in on Mama Nacity and her sister to set up follow-up study. Later they had another study with Henry and his colleague.
Daniel and Craig went with John, Joshua, and Ayubu to hand out tracks around the area. They then had a study with Zabron and some of his friends. They wanted to study some more before they made any decision. After lunch they followed up with Edward and Charles to encourage them and to answer questions.
Cotton had a couple of really great Bible studies while Rachel, Gary, and Charles stayed behind because of food poisoning… We hope and pray that they will make a quick recovery.
It’s been great to be out in the field to work with everyone. These people are so loving and so kind, anyone that comes over here automatically falls in love with this place. Again thank you for all of your support and your prayers. We love each and every one of you. May God always be with you.
“Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”
Matthew 28:16-20
11, June 2016
Today we worshiped at Ilkiurei. Todd Storks led Bible Class (Rebekah led the children’s class) and Daniel did the sermon. Craig also presided over communion. Rachel and Gary are doing better than they were yesterday but still have a way to go for a full recovery. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as well as the missionaries that have given their lives to be here.
12, June 2016