The Country Comes to Town event in Portadown a week ago on Saturday was a successful day for the FML stall and we are thankful for the opportunities we had on that day. It was especially exciting to have a surprise visit from prayer partners from England whom we have only met once before. We were delighted that they came to see us at the stall and we continue to appreciate your faithfulness in prayer for us.
We thank God for a few more bookings that have come in for meetings and we look forward to sharing our work in the different venues. We are praying about ways to make the work better known among Churches in the UK and would ask you to share our ministry with your Pastors and congregations if you are able or send us details of your Church if you think they may be interested. Please pray for Joyce in Uganda as she urgently needs help to mark the many lessons that have been submitted. Please pray that she will be led to the people of God's choice to help her. Moses also needs help with marking in Nakuru. There are a few people who may be potential helpers. Please pray for him as he communicates with them and also remember them as they complete our application forms and then for those of us in leadership who will make the final decision as to whether to accept them or not. Please pray for Pastor Aringo as he continues to run the office. It takes time to organise and distribute the lessons to many areas and we pray for him and his team of helpers in Nairobi. He has to deal with many difficult and sensitive situations so we as that God will give him much wisdom. Pray also for Dan. He is taking a short break from the work in Nakuru as he completes some studies alongside his work, but he is very keen to resume again in the near future. Lessons have been slow moving in the Kisii area of Kenya and we ask that you pray for this area in particular and some various issues we are facing there. Please continue to pray for those who are studying on our email course. There are only 2 more assignments left and this first course will be completed. It seems more students drop out with each assignment which is disappointing, but we Praise God for those who are continuing faithfully with their studies. We pray that what they learn will be of benefit to them in their ministries. As ever we ask you to continue in prayer for all financial needs of the ministry. Following discussions with Pastor Aringo we all feel that he needs to travel to each area of ministry and meet with representatives. Please pray that God will provide for this. We are also keen to get flights booked again for our next trip and are considering various dates. Please pray for God's provision. As I am typing this blog, I am, at the same time, communicating online with a Pastor in Kenya. We are chatting together about the Church that he oversees. We visited it when we were in Nairobi in December. It started with just children coming to a Sunday School, then it grew to a small church, and just now he is telling me that they plan to build a Church building as the congregation has grown so much......and all through their ministry to children. God is so good and the work amongst the boys and girls is so vital. Pray for these servants of God as they serve HIM and also for the children as they continue with our lessons. Asante Sana (Thank you in Swahili) for continuing to stand with us in prayer.
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So often working with children is seen as being fun and we often share stories and photos of lovely little boys and girls. However, this week, the reality and urgency of sharing the Gospel with children has hit us as we received some very sad news from a school we work very closely with in Kenya....a school where the children have studied our lessons and attended our children's rallies in the past. As I read the email I received from the Principal, I realised that his words explain best the events of the past week..... (I have omitted some names to protect the identity of the children. Many Thanks to the Head Teacher for giving me permission to share all that you will see beloe)
"Hi Sister Pamela, Virginia's funeral ceremony took place on Monday. She was buried at one of the cemetery in xxxxxxx County as it was proposed by her relatives and the "school" staff. The ceremony was so sorrowful and unbelievable. The staff and children were shocked as such incident has never happened in our school. Virginia was born twin with her brother xxxxxxxx. In their family this boy was serious shocked as they grew together and they have been going to school together. I have attached some few burial photos. The 1st photo is for late Virginia which was taken at school at last year. The 2rd photo is for her twin brother, the 3rd photo is for some students and some staff taken with Virginia's guardians surrounding Virginia's coffin,the 4th photo is for some students and some staff taken surrounding Virginia's grave, the 5th photo is for Madam xxxxxx taken with a student at the grave who was Virginia's deskmate. Many students were very weak and many were not taken in photos. There was much tears and some children fainted due to shock. We all love Virginia but God loved her much and that's why he chose her. Thank you for your condolence message. It really comforted us. May her soul rest in peace. Amen" (click on the photos below to enlarge them) Thank you so much for your prayers over another week.
As we look forward to this incoming week we are planning for the "Country Comes to Town" event which will take place in our town on Saturday. This will see many people visit and we trust that the FML stall will do well. We hope that more people will become aware of our ministry as a result of this day. We also appreciate prayer for a children's meeting on Thursday evening. It is always a privilege to bring the Gospel to boys and girls. Also this week we will be preparing more books in order that they may be transported to Kenya and eventually some will go on into Uganda. Later this month Pastor Aringo hopes to visit a number of areas where we minster in Kenya. We would also like him to make a trip to Uganda for a few days to see the work there. These trips are important as it gives an opportunity for him to meet with the representatives in the areas. New markers are also needed in a few areas so we hope he can train workers for that task also. All of this continues to be vital to the ministry and ensures that it runs on smoothly while we are here in UK Please pray that God will provide the needed finance to enable these trips to take place, also that we may soon be able to confirm flights. Finances have been low over the summer months and we are praying that God will provide for us to move ahead with some new plans as we enter the winter season. As always we continue to value your prayers for us that we may know wisdom and His guidance day by day. Well, what a week it has been. On a personal note, I had my last full days with my nephews as one went back to school after the holidays and the other will go back this week. William started a new job, which we feel was a real answer to prayer, and dad met an old friend at the missionary convention who he hadn't seen in nearly 40 years! But of course, the week was very much tied up with missionary convention itself and all which that involved.
William and I arrived on Monday afternoon to set up our stand. In addition to the notice board and banner with photos, we had our lessons on display, a power point presentation running, our cd and kenyan items for sale and plenty of free literature, pens and dvds to distribute...all in an effort to raise awareness of the work of FML. You can view the presentation we had looping on our HOME page. I was there every evening with Dad coming on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and William returned on Thursday and Friday evenings. We thank God for everyone who stopped at our stand and who were interested to know about the ministry in Kenya and Uganda. Much interest was shown. We were booked to bring our stand to another missionary convention later in the year and also to speak to children in a Sunday School, so we were very encouraged with this. It was also great to meet up with other missionary friends whom we have come to know in the past as well as to meet new friends. Our aim for the week was that many people would learn about the work we are involved in, but without doubt, we learnt things too and were reminded of lessons from the past. The message was there to continue to do God's work, through the hard times and through the joys and we were challenged to do more for the Lord and for the work of FML. New ideas have been impressed upon our hearts by the Lord in regard to making the work known and we trust Him for wisdom as we seek to implement them. Our desire to return to Kenya remains, but throughout the week we became more conscious of the necessity of us travelling to Uganda to see the work there. We are praying that this will soon be possible. We were encouraged, through quite shocking circumstances, to always take our stand for the Lord and the standards of His word, without being ashamed or embarrassed. We saw much throughout the week... we talked to many people... we have read literature and watched dvds from other organisations... we were challenged and shocked, encouraged and saddened.... but we had a great time, learnt much and have a desire to continue whole heartedly with the work HE has called us to do. |
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August 2022
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