By now most of you will be aware of the explosions in Nairobi, Kenya last week which killed 12 people and injured 78 others. The explosions happened in a crowded place in the Eastleigh district of Nairobi. This area is largely populated by Somali people and it is thought that the attacks were the work of the al-Qaeda-linked group al-Shabab .
Please pray so much for the families of those who died and also for all those who were injured and their families also. They will need your prayers in the coming days. Please also pray that the Government will have wisdom in knowing how to deal with the situation. Warnings earlier in the week prompted some UK tour operators to evacuate those travelling with their companies with flights to Mombasa cancelled until October in some cases. This will obviously have a drastic effect on the tourist industry. Pray that the economy will be protected in these difficult days. William and I; Pamela: have flights booked for later in the year. At this time we are not too worried about how recent developments will affect our plans. Our flights are into Nairobi and are therefore unaffected. Pray that this will continue to be the case. We also do not have plans to be in the affected areas. Of course, we continue to need God's guidance and wisdom on a daily basis. Pray that all will go ahead. We are sure that the people of Kenya will really appreciate your prayers in these days. The following are links to the BBC news report concerning the explosions and also to a local Kenyan paper which is sometimes more accurate that the BBC. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-27443474 http://www.nation.co.ke/news/Gikomba-Attack-Explosions-Nairobi-Terrorism/-/1056/2317756/-/miouetz/-/index.html
0 Comments
It has been another busy week. Our first week without the market. It certainly felt a little different and we did miss it, but we still have a peace that it was the right decision. Life is still very busy with FML, not to mention organising our next trip...and of course our wedding!
This week we have been dealing with some issues which our workers are facing and considering some changes in one area which we believe will give more opportunities and strengthen the work. We have been making more bookings regarding our next trip and are at the very early stages of planning our programme. We have arranged some clothes collections and we have been communicating with a shopping centre in Northern Ireland regarding the possibility of having a stand there in the coming weeks. Our latest prayer letter has been written and emailed off to the printer. We have started work on a project to help the children in Kenya and Uganda understand some of the more difficult words in the KJV and we have been looking at more work done by the Kenyan artist especially for us. We have also begun to discuss different options for new literature which we would hope to design, print and distribute here over the coming months. The additional day in the office is definitely beneficial. We have also had a few bookings come in this week for meetings. One of which is in March 2015....so it is never to early to book us. So there is certainly lots to keep us busy here in Northern Ireland and we know that the team in Kenya and Uganda are equally busy as they visit centres, distribute lessons, mark lessons, teach children etc. Please pray for each one involved in the work, that we will know God's blessing. Please pray for the students who are studying our email course. Some have been sick and others have faced different issues which have resulted in a delay in some courses being submitted. Pray for one student who lives in Nigeria. I have just emailed her this morning to assure her of our prayers for the country in light of the news of 200 girls being kidnapped. Please remember these young ladies and their families in your prayers. We have contact with people in numerous countries in addition to Uganda and Kenya. We have mentioned Nigeria. We also ask you to pray for the India, Liberia, Malawi, Tanzania and Ethiopia. These are just a few of the countries we have contact with and are praying about how to reach them as the Lord tells us to go into ALL the world and preach the Gospel. On 5th December 2008 an excited, yet nervous team headed off to Portadown market to open the Feed My Lambs Children's Ministry stall for the first time. We planned to be there for 3 weeks but the Lord had different ideas and the work continued. 5 years and 5 months later, on Saturday 3rd May 2014, we packed up our stall for the last time. After much prayerful consideration and looking at many practical and personal circumstances, we felt that the Lord was leading us to mov...e on. We have so many happy memories of our time at the market and have made many good friends which include traders, customers and staff from surrounding shops. A very sincere word of thanks to all who helped us at the stall over the years, in particular our dear friend May who was always there when we needed her and we can never forget the contribution of her husband Billy and my dad...two special men who have already received their reward. Others helped with the stall and deliveries at times and we are so grateful. A very big thank you to many of you who donated and purchased items over the years. Without you, there would have been no stall. Most of all we give thanks to God for His help and guidance and for allowing us to have this ministry. It was all worth it to know of two ladies coming to know Him as their Saviour through the CDs we distributed. One chapter ends and another begins. It wasn't an easy decision but we are excited about what God has in store for us and for the work of Feed My Lambs.
We thank God for the short break which was had by the majority of our team in Northern Ireland, Uganda and Kenya over the Easter period. Please pray that as the work begins again, each team member will be refreshed and ready for what God has in store.
We have a number of very important decisions to make over the next week or two and appreciate your prayers for this. Again the need for Bibles is a priority. Please pray regarding this. Please also remember the ongoing monthly needs such as our office rent etc. The premises is vital for the ministry and we ask you to continue to remember these needs. Please also remember the personal needs of our team members, especially those with children. Pray that God will provide for each individual and their families. The latest Child Protection email assignment is now due for those currently studying and we ask you to pray for the students that this course will continue to be of benefit to them. Also for the future as we pray about the right time to begin another course. Please continue to remember the children who attended the rally in Nakuru a few weeks back. Pray that the seed which was sown will bring forth good fruit. Our next trip is still a few months away, but we would ask you to be praying regarding it, even now. As always we need guidance as to the programme while we are there and we need to know the mind of God as to where to travel to and what to be involved in. We are hoping this trip will be a special time for our workers and hope to dedicate time to them in regards training etc. Please pray on that God will lead, guide, encourage and provide in the coming days and most of all that He will save little boys and girls from the world and that we may hear the news of these precious little ones coming to know the Lord as their Saviour. We thank God for sending His Son to die in our place and we praise Him that Jesus is alive. What a wonderful message we have to share with boys and girls. We would like to wish all our prayer partners a very blessed Easter.
Our office in Nairobi will reopen later in the week and our UK office will reopen on Monday 28th April. As Easter approaches, our minds can be taken up with so many things, a different routine, a few days off, time with our friends and family. Let us not forget it is the time when we remember the sacrifice that the Lord made for each and every one of us when He went to Calvary. He died in our place, He took the punishment of our sin so that we could be saved and made ready for Heaven. What a wonderful message to share with boys and girls!!! Early reports from Nakuru speak of a good rally on Saturday for the children. I was told they children "were very happy". I am sure it was a tiring yet enjoyable day for all concerned. I look forward to sharing more with you when I get more details. Please pray for us as we consider everything which was discussed at the worker's meeting on Friday in Nakuru. The process will be that a full report will be sent to us here in the UK and we will then discuss and return our feedback. Together, the team both in UK and Africa, will then pray over the issues and implement as God leads. The next workers meeting will be when William and I are back in Kenya...which makes our next trip seem very close!!! Today I will be leaving two suitcases with the person who transports items for us. They will be making their way to Kenya tomorrow and contain a large quantity of knitted items such as blankets, cardigans and hats. This consignment will then be transported on to Uganda. We appreciate everyone who helps us in this very practical way. As the holidays approach, the Nakuru team are taking a break from the School Ministry. Our office in Nairobi will close this Thursday and will reopen on Tuesday. Our UK office is also closed next week and I am working less hours this week as my nephews are off school and with me. It is a different routine for us this week. Normally dad and I would have taken the boys away for a day during this week of holiday. One less this year makes a big difference to all 3 of us...and it isn't quite the same. The market was very quiet this past weekend....more so than in a long time. There is a possibility that we will be closed for one or both days this coming weekend...to be confirmed. William has been very busy at work as it has been lambing season and he has a busy week ahead of him. However, he will also have a couple of days off for Easter. Please pray that the entire team will be refreshed as we have a break over the Easter period. Most of all, it is our prayer that we will all take this opportunity of remembering the meaning of Easter and how the Lord Jesus gave His life and rose again so that we might have eternal life. Another week begins and indeed we are into another month. Time is flying by. Hopefully we are all turning a corner healthwise and slowly getting back to normal.
We would love you to pray for the Nakuru area this incoming week. The school ministry will finish for the Easter holidays. Pray for a response from the children and pray that the team will know guidance for the programme and what to teach in the new term. This coming weekend will also be busy in the area. Pastor Aringo and Joyce will travel to Nakuru to spend some time with Moses and the team. On Friday there will be a worker's meeting. These meetings are now held every few months and are rotated around the different areas so that every area/rep has an opportunity to host the meeting and have the other workers visit their area. The last meeting was in Uganda in December, Nakuru will host this week and the next meeting will be in Nairobi when William and I will be there also. Pray for the meeting as the work is discussed, reviewed and planned. This coming Saturday there will then be a children's rally in Nakuru. Moses and the school team will be involved and Joyce and Pastor Aringo will assist. A large number of children are expected. Please pray that the Word of God will go forth in a way which is easy for the children to grasp, understand and indeed respond to. We long to know of them coming to faith in the Lord. At home in Northern Ireland we were at the market at the weekend. It was very quiet with fewer than normal people around. The time of year has come when people go away for the weekend and with the milder weather, the demand for coal and blocks decreases. Unfortunately I had to cancel a School Scripture Union which I was due to speak at last Wednesday due to being unwell. They have said they will arrange a date for next season. We are thankful for their understanding. Thankfully I was able to go ahead with speaking at a children's parents' night on Friday evening and enjoyed being with everyone there. William also enjoyed being at the meeting and had the opportunity to have a table for FML with literature, pens, pencils etc. William is so busy as always. The decrease in fuel sales makes things a little easier for William after the busy winter of trying to keep the stock available. Please continue to pray for William and I as we plan for our wedding, prepare our home and look forward to returning to Kenya all within in the next few months. We are excited about our future and look forward to continuing to serve the Lord together in FML. We have many decisions to make both personal and concerning the work and we would ask you to pray that we know the Lord's mind on every issue. Thank you for your continued prayers for the work of FML. It's been one of those weeks when the change in weather has been affecting the team with colds and flu. I have been off, Pastor Aringo has been unwell and little Joseph has also been given medication by the Doctor. Sniffs and sneezes even exist in Africa!
Unfortunately we were unable to open the stall on Friday as I was unwell and William was very busy trying to pack and load blocks etc. William manned the stall on Saturday and we had some deliveries. Please continue to pray for all of our team....especially in Kenya and Uganda where medication and treatment can sometimes be very expensive. Please remember all who will be marking lessons this week. It is hard work. Remember the school team in Nakuru, Joyce and the team as they put new plans in action in Uganda and the team in the Nairobi office as they adjust to their new surroundings. Most of all pray for the salvation of boys and girls. Another week and once more we are seeking God for His guidance and leading in the days to come. Working with FML isn't all about taking meetings and evangelising the children. There are many very practical issues, challenges and decisions which we face on a daily basis. There are times when it is difficult to know whether to take a step or to wait. There are times when there are needs to be met and we have to prioritise the funds. There are times when people want to become involved in the work and we need to know the mind of God. As we plan for our next trip later in the year, there are decisions to be made about where we will visit and there is a programme to prepare. We will soon be working on our next prayer letter too and are thinking about what to include. Please pray that we will know wisdom and guidance as we face many of these issues on a daily basis. We need the Lord to speak very clearly to us and show us what to do. Once again we are watching the pillar of cloud/fire to see when it stops and when it moves.
Preparations are now underway for the children's rally in Nakuru in the middle of April. Pray that many children will come in under the sound of God's Word. Pray that the financial needs will be met for this outreach. Joyce will travel from Uganda and Pastor Aringo will travel from Nairobi to be with Moses and the team there. They will help at the rally. There will also be a worker's meeting which now takes place every few months. The next scheduled meeting will be when William and I return to Africa. The market was very quiet on Friday....we hardly sold a thing! But God is faithful and Saturday was very busy with quite a number of deliveries to do. As the weather improves the demand for coal and blocks will decrease, so please pray that God will continue to provide through the market with sales of other items. After the market and doing the deliveries William and I went to Lurgan to meet with a lady who represented an outreach among women. We were privileged to receive a large number of knitted items and teddies to bring out to Africa. We also received a financial gift from the pocket money of the ladies' 5 year old granddaughter. This is to go to help a little child in Africa. We thank God that even the youngest child can do God's work and be a little missionary. This week we have one less person reading this blog. A dear lady called Vera was a very faithful supporter of FML and always kept up to date with the work by visiting this website and reading this blog. Vera passed away during the week and William and I attended her funeral on Friday. She visited our stall on just a couple of occasions as she did not live local to it. She always showed a great interest in the work we are involved in. Yet another prayer partner is gone....but I wonder who replaces these dear people? Please remember Vera's husband, son, sister, brother and family circle in the coming days.
I spoke to Joyce this week and she is in better spirits but still appreciating your prayers in these days. The work is going on well in Uganda and we were encouraged by all she had to share. She is very excited about our forthcoming wedding and visit to Kenya. We are looking forward to seeing all of our dear friends again. Moses continues with the ministry in Nakuru and has written this week to say: "For the last month we have been working with teachers Linias, Eukabeth, Philis, Mwangi, Major, Favour and Martha. Lesson time in schools, some 8 to 9am,12.30 to1.30pm,3.10to4.10pm,4..to 5pm,daily we can have 3 or 2 or 4. The smallest number of children is 80, biggest number 1200 with a minimum of 26 schools each week." Due to unforeseen circumstances we have had to move offices in Nairobi and this move was taking place during this past week. We have relocated "across the wall" as it were and the main gated entrance to the office is still the same as before. Please remember the team as they adapt and unpack yet again. This week saw the end of term and indeed the end of William's first year at his Bible College evening class. He has been blessed as he has studied and his classes will resume again in September. I had a really encouraging meeting on Thursday evening as I shared with the ladies in another Church which we have never been to before. We thank God for these open doors. Please continue to remember the whole FML team in prayer. We trust that God will continue to lead and guide in the coming days. |
Read on for...regular updates and thoughts from Northern Ireland and Africa... Archives
August 2022
Categories |