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 We have the opportunity to provide solar powered flashlights to our friends in Kenya. Many people in Kenya do not have consistent access to electricity. Recently, members of our church sent one of these flashlights to Bishop William for him to try out and the report was very positive!
These solar powered flashlights provide 5-10 hours of light after a day of charging. They are high-impact, waterproof flashlights that should last 700-1000 nights before the rechargeable batteries must be replaced. The flashlight even has a hanging latch that makes it useful for study or evening activities.
The goal is for our mission team to carry as many of these flashlights with them as possible when they go to Kenya this June and then make arrangements to ship the rest to Bishop William. For approximately $20, you can purchase one of these flashlights for our friends in Kenya. We will take donations for these flashlights through May - just write “Lights for Kenya” in the memo area of your check.
Questions? Contact Hal O’Brien (heobrien@msn.com or 817-239-7539).
The Kenya Mission Team for 2008 continues to plan and prepare for our church mission trip June 26-July 10. Our team of eleven members is made up of 6 men and 5 women: Linda Armbruster, Donna Chabot, Jenni Crater, Kim Crater, Ken Diehm, Jim Garvin, Carol Howe, Mark Howe, Dick Mally, Jeff Murphy, and Steve Palla.
 Leading the way for this mission trip will be Matt Howe, son of Carol and Mark Howe. Matt will leave for Kenya and the town of Meru on May 17, and will return on June 18. Matt has participated in many youth mission trips with our church. He is a college student at Texas A&M University. He will spend a month assisting and sharing Jesus Christ with the people of Meru. Matt's Mom, Carol Howe says, "Matt is wide open for anything. He has always loved the mission trips our youth go on and always comes back filled spiritually. I asked him why he was so persistent to go by himself to Kenya. He said he wants God to stretch him farther than he has ever been stretched and rely only on Him." The Kenya Mission Team for June 26-July 10, is blessed to have Matt's "light" leading our way.
Please keep Matt and the rest of the mission team in your prayers as they prepare to minister in Kenya.
During our time in Kenya, we will share in two Sunday celebrations within Bishop Muruiki's Synod and will be provided guided tours of this area on each Saturday. A 3-day and 2- night safari will end our time in Africa. The following is an itinerary of our trip:
- Thursday, June 26: Depart DFW
- Friday, June 27: Arrive in Nairobi. Spend night in Nairobi.
- Saturday, June 28: Exchange money. Travel to Meru.
- Sunday, June 29: Worship in Kenyan Methodist Churches in Meru area.
- Monday, June 30 – Friday July 4: Work (see below).
- Saturday, July 5: Tour Methodist Churches and Ministries around Meru.
- Sunday, July 6: Worship in Methodist Churches in Meru. Closing celebration. Travel to Nairobi.
- Monday, July 7: Morning departure to Masai Mara. Arrive in afternoon in time for first game drive.
- Tuesday, July 8: Spend the day in Masai Mara with morning and afternoon game drives.
- Wednesday, July 9: Early morning game drive followed by return trip to Nairobi. Depart for home that evening.
- Thursday, July 10: Arrive at DFW.
Types of work to be done include:
- Teachers will have the opportunity to teach in classrooms
- Civil engineers will help with road and sewage issues
- Hairstylists will work with children and adults at the Rift Valley Academy
- Construction work: tasks for skilled craftsman and unskilled laborers
- Religious education: We will have the opportunity to teach as part of the religious education program in Kenyan schools. This will be similar to leading Vacation Bible School.
If you have questions or are ready to commit to joining us on the Kenya Trip, please contact Ken Diehm (817-481-2559) or Donna Chabot (940-262-0366).
The response to help fund Kenyan missionaries has been tremendous. With the money already collected, Bishop William Muiriki already has many missionaries serving. Here are the Missionaries who are now in place, in large part because of your generosity:
Throughout 2007 we have made a special effort to help Steve Peifer's ministry to feed the school children in Kenya. As we've mentioned before, it only takes $1.47 to feed a child one meal a day for an entire month! You can give to Feed the Kids Kenya any time by indicating "Feed the Kids Kenya" in the memo portion of your check (please be sure to include "Kenya" so as not to be confused with local feed the kids programs). More info: CNN Video about Steve | Steve Peifer's Website
A family in our church has generously given $30,000 to build the Lanyiru Church in Kenya. We will be adding to these funds to build a guest house in Bishop William's Synod. When our work team goes to Kenya in the summer of 2008, they will be working on this guest house. The guest house is used to generate income to make the church more self-sufficient.
Bishop William Muriuki Mwongo of the Kaaga Synod of Kenya and his wife Catherine visited us in November-December 2007. Please pray that they will have continued success in their ministry and that they will be able to use all they have learned while in the U.S.
Click here to see photos from Bishop William from recent support efforts in Kenya. (pdf)
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NAME: NICHOLAS MUTWIRI NTEERE
NAME: JOSHUA MUTETHIA
NAME: WILLIAM ODUPOI
NAME: HENRY BUNDI NKANATA
NAME: CHARLES MWENDA KAMATHI
NAME: EDWARD KOOME MBOROKI
NAME: DAVID MURITHI
NAME: HEZRON MURITHI WATHUTA
NAME: PETER KAMAU
NAME: TITUS KIMATHI MAGIRI
NAME: JACK KIRIMI IRURA
NAME: DAVID MUTHUURI
NAME: MERCY KINYA