APPRECIATION
I appreciate all of you who stood by my side when I lost my beloved sister who was more than a sister Doryne, thank you for standing for it's not easy it needs people with heart. Death is painful and when you are alone you can not make it. The team from U.K Pamela, William, and many others that I can't recall their names I say thank you for your support and may my almighty God bless you abandantly. We are looking forward to see that we don't forget about Doryne but go on with life. I know it is not easy but God will help us Thanks From Joyce.
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So another week has passed and we thank God once more for His help.
Joyce was able to travel to Kampala in Uganda to visit centres there who are interested in our lessons. We thank the Lord for His continued help to Joyce and her family following the recent passing of her sister. There have also been other developments with the work in Uganda which we will share with you in more detail in the near future. Moses and the team continue to be busy with the school ministry. A children's rally is proposed for April in this area and we are seeking the Lord's guidance for this. Mike is now a more permanent member of the Nairobi office team and we thank God for His hand upon his little girl who was very unwell at the weekend. Pastor Aringo and the office team have been very busy this week as the container which was sent from Northern Ireland at the end of November had arrived and the materials were ready to be transported to the office. They were delighted to receive 300 000 lessons, 100 Bibles and a number of boxes of books. It seems like no time at all since we brought the boxes to the depot here and now they have arrived. We thank God to the Every Home Crusade Team for their help. You can see some photos at the bottom of this blog. Finally, William and I are very pleased to let you know that we announced our engagement on Saturday 1st March. God willing, our wedding will take place later in the year. We are looking forward to our future together both as husband and wife and as co-workers in the Lord's work. We thank the Lord for His guidance and we look to Him for the days ahead. Another busy week for the folk in Kenya. Moses and the team continued with the school ministry and met with various people regarding lessons. Pastor Aringo and the office team continued with marking and the daily routine of visitors to the office. Joyce returned to Uganda following the burial of her sister.
Another clothes collection was completed and we are waiting to hear the amount raised. The market was open as usual here in Northern Ireland. Again, it was cold at times but the Lord provided. William was injured as he and a friend were splitting blocks for the market. He has 10 stitches in his hand. Pray for no infection and complete healing. The container sent from Northern Ireland at the end of November has now arrived in Kenya and we are making arrangements to have the many boxes of lessons, books and Bibles collected and brought to our office. Please continue to pray that God will lead, guide, direct and provide in the coming days. Thank you so much to all of you who took the time to contact us in order to assure Joyce of your prayers for her and the family following the passing of her sister. She appreciates very much the support which has been shown to them all. The burial took place on Saturday past. Joyce will return to her home in Uganda today. The entire family continue to need your prayers in these difficult days. Please pray that the work will continue to move on in Uganda without problem so that Joyce can take things slower for a little while.
I had a good time at the meeting in Belfast on Tuesday evening. The Lord really helped and I was greatly encouraged by the interest shown in the work and the requests for future prayer news. Despite the cold and an earlier finish at the market on Saturday, overall, we had a good weekend and thank God for His provision once more. We have another clothes collection this Wednesday and thank God again for this way of providing for us. If you have missed this collection, you can send your items to us at any time as this is an ongoing venture. We thank God for an encouraging meeting which Moses, in Nakuru, had with some representatives of a large denomination in Kenya. Pray for wisdom as the way ahead is planned and that we will be able to partner with them in a way which glorifying to God and which helps to bring the Gospel to the children as well as encouraging the children's workers. We thank God for this couple we are working alongside and thank God for their friendship over many years. Pray for them as they continue to serve in their own ministry. Today our hearts our heavy for our dear friend and co-worker, Joyce, who serves with FML in Uganda.
In 2011, Joyce's sister, Dorine, gave birth to twins. Following this she became very ill and spent many months in hospital. William and I visited in hospital in Nairobi in December 2011, just a few months after she was admitted. For the past year or so, Dorine has been at home with her family but still in need of constant care. Hearing, seeing and eating have continued to be a problem for her and she hasn't been mobile. Dorine's husband is a Pastor and he very kindly allowed us the use of his Church for our 5th anniversary service in Nairobi in 2011. They have older children as well as the twins. Since our last blog, we received the sad news from Joyce that Dorine has passed away. We were so saddened by this, though rejoice that Dorine is now free from pain and suffering. We were very determined to see Dorine next time we return to Kenya, but that is not to be. We rejoice that we will meet her again one day. Dad never met her in the hospital but we know that today they are together. On Saturday, William spoke to Joyce as she was travelling from her home in Uganda to her collect her mother close to Kisumu and travel on to Nairobi to Dorine's house. They will as a family, then accompany Dorine on her final journey back to their home place near Kisumu. We were there at the time of Joyce's wedding and can picture the scene well. The journey home is planned for 13th and burial is planned for 15th February. A huge hospital bill of Ksh 1.4 million (over £10000) needs to be cleared. Please pray for this massive need. I can only imagine the pressure this puts on a family. We pray for God's peace and comfort to be with Dorine's husband and children, her mother, Joyce and her other siblings. We pray that the Lord will be their comforter and provider in these days. Pray for safety as they make the long journey back to Western province on Thursday and pray especially for them as they have the burial on Saturday. In 2006, dad and I were in Kenya for our first FML trip. We were holding our first ever teacher training seminar in Nairobi. In 2006, Joyce was a very shy and not very confident young lady who desperately wanted to work with children but was always discouraged and told by others that she wasn't capable. But Joyce had a sister, Dorine, who had faith and confidence in her. It was Dorine who convinced Joyce to come to our teacher training seminar. It was Dorine who encouraged Joyce and told her she could work with children while others said that she couldn't. It was because of Dorine that Joyce and I met. Now, nearly 8 years later, Joyce is a very confident and capable FML worker, Pastor's wife, mother, co-worker and dear friend......and much of it is down to Dorine. Today, she has her reward. Pray for the family in the coming days. Before the news came through of Dorine. Joyce had travelled to Busia to visit centres there who recently enrolled children on our lessons. She had a great time meeting with them on Tuesday. She had planned to travel to Kampala with Pastor Samuel on Saturday to introduce the work there, but unfortunately found herself travelling to her mothers' and on to Nairobi. Pray on for the work in Uganda in these days. Thank you for praying for the meeting which William and I shared at on Friday evening. We really enjoyed our time with the folk in Belfast and were so encouraged once more with the interest they showed and the many questions which they asked. This week I will speak at another Church in Belfast. This is a new opening for us and so I am looking forward to meeting new people and introducing the work to them. We would like to ask you to pray again about the need for Bibles. The financial need, but also availability. I spent a long time one day last week emailing and contacting various suppliers and distributors in UK, Kenya and Uganda. I have been so disappointed and frustrated that so many; including those in the UK; have not replied. I was reminded of the verse in Lamentations which speaks of young children hungry for bread, but no man breaketh it for them. We have so many children who are keen to have a copy of the Word of God but Bible suppliers do not have them in stock or don't answer. Our normal supplier in Kenya thankfully have a lady work for them who is very good at responding. They can supply us with some but they are low in stock at the minute, hence the reason I made enquiries with others also. Please pray that we will know the best way to deal with this situation of Bibles as it is now quite urgent, yet not straightforward and we need much wisdom and guidance. Please pray on. It was another cold, wet and windy weekend at the market on Friday and Saturday. However, last thing on Friday we got a rush of customers and we spent nearly 2 hours doing deliveries. God is good.
Can we ask you to pray please regarding the work in Uganda. We are considering taking a step to further and help the work there and appreciate you praying with us that we will know God's will and timing. This week William and I will speak at another meeting. I have shared at this venue before but it will be the first time for William to visit. Pray that we will know God's help as we update these praying people on the work and they learn about the ministry in Uganda for the first time. We will have another clothes collection in a few weeks time, so if you have any new or used clothes that you no longer need (adult's or children's) bags, shoes, bedding, curtains etc. then please consider donating them to us over the next week or 10 days so this can help to further the ministry. Also, can I remind you, that if you donate financially to us and are a UK tax payer (even through an occupational pension) we can benefit from the Gift Aid scheme and receive an extra 25p from the government for every £1 you donate. Please consider signing up for this scheme if you can. Contact us for more details. As we often share about those who help us in the work, perhaps we forget sometimes that they have loving and supportive families behind them. Please pray for Pastor Aringo's wife Jen and their two sons and one daughter. They need God's help, guidance, provision and protection. Please also remember Joyce's husband, Pastor Augustus and their two children. We commit these family members to the Lord. Thank you again so much for your prayers and also a sincere word of thanks to those of you who support us financially. Your kindness, faithfulness and generosity is always appreciated. Time is flying. We are almost at the end of another month and more and more we are looking ahead and making plans for FML for the incoming year. Am also looking back alot at the minute and thinking of special times. It is 4 months today since my dad went to be with the Lord. He is missed so much. In regard to FML, it is at the market where we miss him the most. Customers are still commenting to us about how strange it is without him. William came on the photograph below. It shows myself and dad the very first time we had an FML stand at an event. I remember that night so well. So much to pack in the car as William, dad and I headed off to the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. We didn't know what to expect. We had put so much thought into what we would have on display, what we would hand out and how we would answer the questions and enquiries. We were excited and we were nervous. The Lord helped. I am so thankful that dad was able to be a part of that night and many others like it since.
Dad will always be an important part of the work. A few days ago I spoke to Joyce in Uganda and she commented on how dad was a big loss to FML. She also remembered our dear friend Billy who passed away one year before; he was someone who also prayed much for us. We look ahead with mixed emotions but trusting God to guide us and lead us in the work. Joyce will soon travel to Kampala in Uganda as there is great interest in our lessons there. We pray that God will guide her as she speaks to the leaders of the Churches/schools who have enquired. Pastor Aringo continues to be busy co-ordinating the work and the lessons. He also will travel to the Kisii area very soon as new opportunities are opening up there. Moses and his team continue with the school ministry. We are discussing another new venture for the Nakuru area and appreciate your prayers as we pray over every issue concerning this. Pray that we will know the right time for this particular outreach. Please pray for the School Ministry team in Nakuru. We thank God for each one who accompany Moses to the Schools. Most have other jobs and are fitting in the schools around their work. Pray that they will be encouraged in their labours. Pray for the Pastors and children's workers in Kenya and Uganda who assist our team in distributing the lessons to the children in their vicinity. We have people who help in Mombasa, Kisumu, Uganda and other areas. We appreciate their help, especially in the rural areas which are hard to reach. We also ask you to pray for those who mark the lessons and assist us in this way. Without this help it would be very difficult to keep up. I have marked myself when in the office in Nairobi and it is actually quite a difficult job and requires discipline and concentration. We thank God for each marker. Pray for the new students on our child protection course. They are from Kenya, Uganda and Nigeria. Pray that God will help them as they study. Continue to pray for the market ministry here in Northern Ireland. We packed up a bit earlier than normal on Saturday as the weather was so wet and windy and we had very few customers. However, overall, we did quite well financially over the two days considering the weather conditions. This week William will return to his course, after missing last week as he was unwell. Pray for him as he continues to study. No doubt, he will also be getting another load of coal, blocks etc. ready for the market. In the office this week I have accounts to record, money to send to Kenya, child protection assignments to mark and a worksheet to prepare as well as a few other things. I will be out of the office for the rest of today, so there is quite a lot to fit into Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday before returning to the market on Friday. We are conscious that we need the Lord each day; we need Him here in N.I and the team in Kenya and Uganda need Him also. The weeks go by very quickly and we face many decisions and have much to pray about. Please remember us, as especially as we plan for the year ahead. We trust that the Lord will show us which projects to go ahead with and when to do that and that He will also show us which projects need to wait for a while. We need His wisdom and His guidance. The start of another week and we look back on what was another busy week.
This past week we had two meetings here in Northern Ireland, both in venues we have never been to before. The first was a ladies' meeting and I went to this one on my own. I enjoyed being with those who gathered and appreciated the invitation and interest shown, very much. Our prayer letter will be going there from now on and we are so thankful for that. Just last night, on Sunday evening, William and I both shared at another meeting in a Roman Catholic area of the province. The work is ran mainly by two ladies and we were amazed at the amount of outreach which they co-ordinate from a small room next to a petrol station. Once again there was great interest shown and many questions asked. It has been a very unusual few months of meetings for us, as all but two have been in new venues. This is really encouraging for us. We will go to another two new venues in February and March. We have never had a year with as many new places to speak at and it is definitely an answer to prayer. It does mean, however, that we have been sharing presentations which contain an overview of our ministry and have had fewer opportunities to share about our most recent trip in July past. However, we are thankful for those times when we have been able to share about the trip and are looking forward to a few meetings over the coming weeks when we will have opportunity to do this once more. We continue to value your prayers and thank you for standing with us. Today I had a long telephone conversation with Pastor Aringo in our Nairobi office. It was encouraging to be reminded of the many new children who enrolled on our course in the few weeks leading up to Christmas. Pray for them as they begin to study the lessons.
We are already looking ahead to the next few months. Regular children's rallies/events are being planned and we ask you to pray for everything that this involves. We hope these will be in different areas across Kenya and possibly Uganda also. Please pray for all of our representatives, distributors, markers and office workers. They are all serving the Lord and need your prayers. Most are voluntary workers and we would ask that you pray that God provides for their individual needs. One big burden that we have is for the need of Bibles. So many are now required and we have a lot of children who have reached Lesson 15 and need Bibles in order to proceed. We are thankful for gifts which have been received but the financial need is great. Please pray that God will provide and should you feel led to help we will appreciate this. In fact, we would ask you all to consider financially supporting the organisation regularly...perhaps on a monthly basis. It is so much easier to plan ahead when we have a good idea of what funds are coming in. We have come to realise that if everyone who receives our prayer letter, reads this blog, follows us on Facebook etc. was to support the work with even just a small amount each month it would make a big difference to what we could do. Are you in the UK? Would you consider £2.00 per month? US $3 per month? Kenya Ksh 250 per month? Uganda Ush 8000 per month? These are small amounts but could make a big difference to our work. If you would like to take this on you can set up a standing order, pay by paypal or by mpesa. We would ask you to make this a matter for prayer. We really mean it when we say that any amount, no matter how small, can really make a difference. (Remember, if you are a UK tax payer you can also gift aid your donations) This week we would ask you to continue to pray for William as he studys. In addition to his normal weekly class at Bible College, he is also attending an additional course for one evening. Please pray that the Lord will help him in all of these studies and also as he continues with his daily work in addition to FML work. He is a very hard worker and needs your prayers. I will be speaking at a ladies' meeting this week in a Church we have never been to before and then later in the week William and I will both share at yet another new venue. I was encouraged to receive another booking today to return to a meeting I have spoken at for the past few years. This is something else which we would ask you to pray about....have you had us speak in your Church before....would you please consider having us back again??? We understand that ladies' meetings tend to have different speakers each year, but perhaps there is a weekly prayer meeting in your Church, could we come once each year? A regular meeting would be a great encouragement to us of course, but it would also keep our prayer partners up to date with the work. Please consider this. Of course, the most important thing you can do for us, is pray!!!! Join our mailing list if you haven't already signed up or perhaps hold a prayer meeting for the work of FML. Pray! YOU can make a difference. Please pray and consider what God would have you to do. The beginning of a new year is a time to look forward and plan. That's exactly what we are doing in FML. We thank God for everything He has laid upon our hearts and we are excited about some new projects and ventures which are at the planning stages, but which will hopefully be implemented fully this year. Please pray that God will continue to lead and give us wisdom and enthusiasm in the coming days.
Our Nairobi office has reopened today and we ask you to pray that Pastor Aringo and the team will know God's help. Moses and the school ministry team will begin again this week also and we pray that children will respond to the Gospel. Joyce and her husband in Uganda continue to value your prayers. The market began again on Saturday and we were pleased with trade. Over the next few weeks we have 3 meetings all in new venues which we have never been to before. We are so grateful for these new opportunities and look forward to sharing with those who will gather. Please continue to pray for us in the many decisions we have to make and especially as we review our procedures and policies. Thank you for your prayers. |
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August 2022
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