It is a wonderful promise we find in the Word of God that if two agree on earth then whatever is asked will be done for them. We know that more than two are praying that we can travel in July and more than two are praying that God leads us to the office of His choice. So we keep believing.
We desperately want to book our flights soon and are conscious that malaria treatment starts one week before travel. We would ideally want to travel around 8 or 11th July, so time is short. The search for an office has made some progress and there are few possibles. There is one in particular that we feel quite drawn too, but again we ask you to pray that God leads very definitely. We continue to be conscious that we are asking for big things. We were calculating roughly that for 3 of us to travel to Kenya for a few weeks and all the associated expense with this, to secure an office by paying the deposit and advance rent required and to be able to equip it basically with some shelves and also beds etc. we reckon we need around £10000!!! Yes, we are asking for big things but we have a big God. Thank you for praying for the training on Thursday evening. The Lord helped and the next session has been brought forward to this week with a possible third session being considered before the team head to Poland. Please continue to pray on for the market. Friday was fine, Saturday was probably our quietest day since we began in December 2008 - we sold only one item! But we thank God for His continued help and appreciate that we are coming closer to holiday time and many people are away at the weekends. Please continue to pray for us, especially that we can travel soon.
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Thank you for your prayers. We believe God is faithful and we are still holding on to Him and trusting Him to provide for us to travel in July. Time is short, but God is never late. It is essential we travel and we can't even think about the implications if we don't. Please pray.
The situation with the office is making steady progress but still leaves our heads spinning at times. Pastor Aringo has viewed quite a number of properties, some we feel we have to say "no" to and some are "maybes". We are learning much about the area, prices, what is on offer and learning to weigh up and consider our priorities. No matter what, we need an office and it is a big step of faith. God still answers prayer and we ask you to remember this urgent need. Please pray for the container of lessons which is on the way to Kenya. Pray that it will arrive safely and there will be no problems. Please continue to remember our work here in Northern Ireland. The market is going well and we are thankful for those who continue to support that ministry. I have been asked to conduct 2 evenings of training here with a team of young people who are heading to Poland in July. Do pray that the Lord will help me as I prepare for the first session which will be on Thursday evening and the second session at the beginning of July. I have only ever trained in Kenya before, so I am a little nervous. Last Monday we launched a new ministry for "Feed My Lambs". We are now offering children's workers the opportunity to learn by email. The first course is on Child Protection and will last 10 months, with the first assignment being sent to students at the beginning of August. Enrolling began on Monday and so far 8 students have registered. 6 are from Kenya, 1 from Tanzania and 1 from Myanmar. We know of others who are interested. Places are limited on the course, so we are encouraged with the interest so far. Please pray that the Lord will help us as we begin this new outreach and for guidance as we develop new courses. Pray that many will be encouraged, helped and blessed by the training received. To read more about the course, click here. Do continue to remember those who help in our ministry who have been unwell of late and spent time in hospital. Whether those who help on the stall, those who have made items for the stall, or those we know in Kenya, we remember them all at this time. Most of all, please give God the glory as we have heard of a child we have contact with having trusted the Lord as Saviour. This is a real answer to prayer and makes everything worthwile. Pray that this young person will determine to live for Jesus and will know help to stand strong day by day. A few days ago I read the following in a daily reading book:
"We must keep on praying and waiting upon the Lord, until the sound of a mighty rain is heard. There is no reason why we should not ask for large things; and without doubt we shall get large things if we ask in faith, and have the courage to wait with patient perservance upon Him, meantime doing those things which lie within our power to do." We are surely asking God for large things over the next week or two....around £2000 to book flights for 3 of us to travel to Kenya in a few weeks time; as much again to cover our accommodation and car hire while in Kenya; and as much again and maybe more to secure a new office in Nairobi. On top of that there is insurance for dad (William and I have insurance), medication, office furnishings and so the list goes on. But our God is able if we believe. Time is short before we would be travelling so please pray that God will answer prayer in a great way for us. Last time we travelled to Kenya we only booked our flights 3 weeks beforehand, so we are still believing God for this time. Meanwhile, as the quote from the daily reading book says....we are doing what we can. Keeping an eye on flights and beginning to prepare new training for the markers. Of course something which is taking up a lot of time is the search for a new office. This is something which is exciting, frightening, enjoyable and frustrating all in one! I am in contact with quite a number of letting agents in Nairobi and have been spending a lot of time trawling through their properties in search of suitable premises. I have then been forwarding the details to Pastor Aringo who has been busy meeting the agents, viewing the properties and then giving me feedback and sending photos through. The idea being, to try and have a short list for us to view when we travel. There are so many properties for rent, but so many of them are unsuitable. It was suggested to us that we should look more in the suburbs of Nairobi. We have discovered that property there isn't really much cheaper, it's just that you get a little more for your money. So we have to way up what is most beneficial for the work; a more central location or more rooms and land. God has promised that He would go before and search us out a place to pitch our tents. We know that He has the perfect place for us and we're asking you to pray that He leads us very definitely and clearly to it, that there will be no doubt and we will have total peace. Meanwhile, pray that we have the peace and patience to keep searching and to deal with the frustrations. On a different note, we thank God for His provision which has enabled us to purchase 100 Bibles in Nairobi. We hope to be able to send out funds within the next few days and have these collected. The lessons have now been printed in Dromara and loaded on to the container and will soon be on their way, if not already! Also, we send all of our love to our dear friend and FML worker, Joyce and her husband Augustus as they celebrate the birth of their first child....a little girl called "Blessing". It was a delight to attend the couple's wedding when we were in Kenya in August and now we send our congratulations and prayers to this new family. We continue to hold on to God's promise to supply our every need. We have been looking at flights to Kenya and considering dates for July. Prices are high at the minute but we really believe we need to travel and so we continue to have faith in God that He will provide the funds needed to allow us to book our flights as well as provide for our accommodation and all other expenses.
We look to God to provide our EVERY need, not just financial. Please continue to pray with us for the need of a new and larger office in Nairobi and that this, or at least some storage space, would be sorted out before the lessons arrive. We are delighted that a good quantity of the lessons have already been printed and we continue to thank God for this answer to prayer. Tonight I will speak at a mission hall just outside my home town. Please pray that I will know the Lord's help and that He will direct every word. We continue to give Him for the glory for how He is working in our lives. |
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August 2022
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