We were able to speak this week with Joyce and were encouraged with the news from Uganda and also her plans to visit Western province, Kenya where she also oversees a number of centres.
A recent meeting in Uganda proved encouraging as 17 Pastors from different denominations gathered to hear about our ministry and to collect application forms. There was also a great interest in our teacher training and we are now considering a possible seminar during our trip in July. So far, over 100 children have been officially enrolled in Uganda and have started the lessons, however, from the interest shown and the applications taken, Joyce expects the number will reach 2000 in a very short period of time. If these numbers are reached we will very swiftly need markers in Uganda. Please pray for this need. Pray for us as we try to sort out our programme for July. There is some practical work to be done at the office in Nairobi, a few important meetings to attend and we plan to visit Western province and Uganda. Training will be held in Western, possibly in two areas and those in Uganda are keen for us to hold a seminar there. I have also been asked to provide one or two days training for the children's workers of quite a large Church denomination in Kenya, so we have a lot to try and fit in. A Bible book shop in Nairobi which we visited in December has emailed me this week regarding Bibles and after some negociation, we think we might have reached a slightly cheaper price than the recent copies I bought here in Northern Ireland. Please pray that God will guide in this matter. KJV Bibles tend to be the more expensive version in Kenya and lack of stock is often an issue. Bookshops don't like to order a small quantity for us, but because of so many committments we often can't purchase very large quantities in one go. This particular bookshop, so far have been very helpful and accommodating and we are praying we can finally reach a long term agreement and avoid the constant searching. At this time of year our bookings for meetings always go down. Wtih the end of the season of ladies' meetings and most weekly children's meetings. Such gatherings are always a blessed opportunity to share God's work with those who attend. However, realistically, these also help to meet our needs financially. With no meetings over the past few weeks our funds are a little stretched at the minute. There are various needs which must be met including allowances, some printing, the need for Bibles, our flights and the solicitors's bill re: charity status. And of course the work must go on regardless, Pastor Aringo needs to travel to numerous areas, Joyce needs to travel to Western with lessons and Moses in Nakuru is planning to hold a children's rally soon to try and encourage a number of centres who have fallen behind in the lessons, to resume them. We know that God is faithful. The market was quieter this weekend for most of the stall holders. However, we thank the Lord for His help and praise Him that we were still able to pay the rent and have some left over. There is so much to be done in the office here in Northern Ireland over the coming weeks. We would ask you to pray that we will know wisdom and guidance. This day week, 1st April, I will be bringing a children's talk at the Easter service of a weekly children's meeting. Pray for me as I prepare over this week. Finally, we would like to stress that if anyone has received an email, supposedly from myself, requesting urgent funds for an orphanage in Uganda....PLEASE DELETE, DO NOT ANSWER and DO NOT SEND MONEY. The emails are very convincing but THEY ARE NOT from me!!! They have been reported and hopefully that will be an end to them. We continue to thank you for your prayers and trust that you will remember us in the coming days.
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We thank God for encouraging news from Pastor Aringo. This week 5 new centres enrolled their children on our course. 1 is from Masai land and the other 4 are from Eastern province. Eastern is a relatively new area for us. Please pray for Pastor Aringo as he plans to visit the area next month.
We are also encouraged with news from Moses in Nakuru. We now have around 700 children studying in this area and 12 new centres are ready to begin as soon as they receive the lessons. However, we face a massive challenge as over 400 children are ready for Bibles! Please pray for this urgent need. Encouragements too from Uganda following a meeting which Joyce held with Leaders and Children's workers there. We hope to share more news regarding this next week. Please pray that the Lord will continue to bless in the coming days in each area we work in. We thank Him for the opportunity of sharing the Gospel with so many children. There are so many different aspects to our ministry in the UK and Africa; whether it be speaking about our work at meetings, teaching the children, the market ministry, preparing new lessons or training or distributing and marking lessons....each one is done with the aim of bringing God's Word to the children. It is our prayer that as many children as possible in Kenya and Uganda will receive a copy of the Bible. We are so thankful that in just a few short years we have been able to distribute over 2000 copies of God's Word but there are many more children in need.
Just this week we received a gift of £150 which allowed us to purchase 43 Bibles here in the UK. At the minute, this is best price we can get, but we are also searching for other options. We thank God for His provision and ask you to pray that we will be able to make many more copies of the KJV Bible available in Africa. Please continue to remember our team in Africa. Pray for Moses and Dan in the Nakuru area as they seek to bring the work forward. Remember Pastor Meshack in the Kisii area. Pray for Pastor Aringo and Mike who are busy in our Nairobi office and pray for Jocye who met with Pastors and Children's workers in Uganda yesterday in regard to our lessons. This week we were able to speak by telephone to Pastor Aringo, Moses and Joyce and communicated by email with Mike....we were encouraged! We thank God for each of these labourers and always appreciate the time and effort they put into His work. We thank God for His help throughout another week. He continues to help us day be day.
As the end of the month came we thank God that the first installment for the land reached Kenya. There have been a few hiccups with the banks there which means the receivers have to wait another few days to obtain the money, but at least we know it has reached the country. Please pray that things will run smoothly in the days to come and that we will continue to know God's provision. News from Uganda is so encouraging, exciting and frightening all at once! We heard this week of a Pastor who travelled for 5 hours just to get our lessons for his Sunday School. Joyce has been able to visit some Churches and Schools who are interested in the course and has plans to visit more this week. The latest news from her is that early interest is suggesting she will soon have over 2000 children enrolled! Please pray that God will continue to lead us and guide in this new country and will again continue to provide for the lessons, Bibles and all associated with running the work. Bibles are now a priority and we are praying that God will provide a large number as soon as possible. Our flights are also a matter of prayer as we need to clear the balance as soon as possible. Travel insurance is also a matter of priority. William and I have annual insurance which means that the policy which covered us before Christmas will cover us again for July. However, due to his age and medical conditions, dad can only obtain single trip insurance and it costs more than mine and William's combined! Our plans to also travel to Uganda this year as well as Kenya are increasing the premium a little. Please pray that we will be able to sort this out for him as soon as possible. On the up side, it appears that dad will be able to enter Uganda free of charge while William and I will have to pay for an additional visa. This is due to a difference in our passports. All three of us will require multiple entry visas to Kenya this year to allow for us travelling in and out of the country to Uganda so that will also be an extra expense. We pray that the Lord will guide us in all of these practical things including the registration process of FML as an NGO in Uganda. Pray that everything will run smoothly and be completed in God's time and way. Also this week we had a good meeting in Belfast on Friday evening with a group of supportive ladies and we also had a good time at the market. Please pray for us in this incoming week and over the coming months. We don't have many bookings for meetings over the next few months...as is always the case at this time of year...but we pray that the Lord will give us many opportunities to work and witness for him. |
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August 2022
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