Good Friday

On Good Friday, I’m thinking about death. Confusion from the recent deaths of young friends’ swirls around us like wild dervishes. A student, Franklin, and a joyful widowed mom, Benta are gone from our community. Last week overflowed with distress of unavailable medical treatments that could have saved their lives. The grief of a teary-eyed children, now orphaned, feels unbearable. Will extended family help them? Are resources ready to keep them healthy? I’m sitting on my bed, looking at tender flowers climbing over the grey cement wall, trying to make sense of disturbing sadness.

I knew when we came to Kenya we’d experience a raw, scarring life. I studied the plight of vulnerable children traded like commodities. I read the stories of victimized widows who sold their bodies to feed their babies. I understood the statistics on mortality rate, life expectancy, and per capita income.

But now we actually see poverty devour. We hear the anguish cry and taste the hostility. We feel the life of the oppressed, smelling fumes of too many burning dreams. We are a part of these people and the recent deaths vibrate an echoing question - WHY? WHY? WHY? …

It’s Good Friday and I’m thinking about life. Tonight, we’ll celebrate worship with Jesus friends, sharing communion. We’ll remember His sacrifice and let death be swallowed in victory. The WHYs will fade because we trust the Eternal - WHO gave His life to save us from the shroud of uncertainty. The grey hardness of suffering is covered with fresh blooms of hope. I’ll place my affections there, on the beauty growing before me.



It’s Good Friday. His sacrifice is enough. Resurrection morning proves it true.

Please pray for Mildred, Franklin’s widowed mamma
and Benta’s children, Seth and Winnie.

                                          

       You can read the story Benta Shares on this blog.

Back to Babies and the Tract

Not long ago we wrote about babies abandoned -
found in fields, empty shacks and even pit latrine.  

We pray for them.  

We asked you to pray, specifically for families to adopt them. 

One of our goals while in Kenya was to stir up local churches 

to pursue God’s heart for the fatherless.  

In a country almost twice the size of Nevada, 

with over a million and a half orphans, 

it’s the Kenyan church’s responsibility 

to defend the orphan's cause (Psalm 82:3, Is. 1:17) 
to care for them (James 1:27).

Orphanages are good since they provide basic needs for survival, 

but it’s not the answer for parentless children.  

God created families.  He intends for children to grow in families.  

When God found you abandoned, He did not place you in an orphanage. 

He adopted you. You belong in His family!

 Some of the pastors we’ve been ministering with 

became stirred by what we shared concerning orphans.

They didn't know.  

They were not aware of abandoned babies in their own town. 

we invited them to meet the little ones …  

the best is yet to come!

 Pastor George and Mary hold and pray for babies who need to be adopted.

They met with the home's director and have committed 

to helping find families for the babies.

 

Thank God for pastors who will live God’s passion for the fatherless.

Pastor Jeremiah and Joyce love on the babies.

Joyce’s first words after we left the home,

“We need that baby now.”

 They made an appointment with the adoption agency the next day.

Of course Lisa has to keep a baby with her at all times!

Mark, Tavin and Taleah teach the workers and the older kids 

to play duck, duck, goose and how God chases after us with His love.

Mark reads to a little guy who is precious to us. 

Please pray for his future…

We also wrote a post a while ago about ministry. 

Ministry here can happen all the time. 

Not. Even. Exaggerating.  

Because Lisa uses an electric wheelchair, which is a total novelty, 
she attracts a lot of attention, 

so much attention that she wrote a tract.  

She regularly hands this tract 
to curious onlookers who wonder about her situation. 

We trust God to manifest healing, but in the mean time, 

God uses the chair and the tract is amazing ways. 

We were at the immigration office. 

There are lots of M*slims at the immigration office, 

many from northern Africa, mostly refugees.  

Not many M*slims will start a conversation with “wazungus” 

since they realize we’re here as missionaries, 

but they will tallk to Lisa. 

They want to know about the chair.  

So, she shares the gospel by telling them about the chair. 

Then she gives them the tract.  

M*slims hear about the love of Jesus.  

Below is the tract Lisa wrote.  

Please pray for those who receive it. 

May they respond to the Lord’s saving grace.

M*slim woman at a kiosk 

near one of the widowed mammas ministry/business.

The tract... 

(in case you're interested)

Jambo!

You might be wondering,

“What is this mzungu woman doing here in Kenya driving around in an electric chair? Aye, how is that thing moving?  Who is this person? Why does she use such a chair?”

If time permitted, I would sit with you over a drink of mango juice and share my story; but life happens, and we all have our things to do.  I’ll leave you with this note to ease your curiosity and tell you the wonderful truth of destiny fulfilled.

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Lisa, and I’m a teacher from USA.  I’m married to a wonderful man.  We adopted two children within the USA when they were small.  Those same children are growing up strong, kind, generous and smart.  They are our joy, and I’m pleased to be their mamma.  Some years back, I was diagnosed with a debilitating muscle disease and doctors said I should have died, but God had mercy on me.  Everyday, I believe for continued healing.

This chair you see me using was a gift.  It was given to me so I can go various places and not be

confined by the severe muscle disease that limits my strength. The chair is powered by two dry cell

batteries that generate energy to a motor. My right hand manipulates the steering controls, which allows movement, speed and direction.  Like I mentioned earlier, this chair enables me to be out doing things no one imagined I could do.  It was a gift.  I paid nothing for it, but I must take care of it.

Actually, my situation in not uncommon.  I think we all experience some type of weakness that limits us whether physically, emotionally or spiritually.  We all need help in those weak areas so we can move into our destinies and do things no one thought was possible. Did you know there is a gift available for you to help you overcome your setbacks, your problems, your weaknesses and let you move into the life you were intended to live?

Just imagine for a moment that you were created for a purpose.  You have a hope-filled future planned for you by your creator, but choices you’ve made and hardships you encountered have prevented that hope-filled future from happening.

Do you think, “What must be done to redeem that lost life?”

You need a gift that your creator offers so you can know Him and the plans He has for you.

Are you tired of struggling with life?  Trying to live on your own?  Constantly creating mistakes?  Wasting time, energy and money on nothing of eternal value? Then know that God, your creator loves you.  He wants to free you from a fruitless life.  He sent His own Son to overcome the evil forces destroying you and provide a way for you to move into places you should be, like the gift of the chair moves me.

Are you asking, “How can this happen?”

•        First, accept that you need God in your life. Talk to God through prayer by telling Him you are sorry for wasting your life on useless choices.  Tell Him you are tired of making mistakes that bring disappointment and frustration 
•        Next, believe that God’s gift of salvation is given to you.  Receive by faith the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross to cover the bad choices you’ve made.  Know that God forgives you through His Son. Jesus sacrificed himself to buy your gift of freedom, He rose from the grave to empower you to live your destiny. 
•          Finally, commit your life to follow Jesus so He can change you from the inside out.

Now that you have embraced the gift of God, that you paid nothing for, know that you must take care of it.  Get a Bible and read it regularly to know your Creator and the life He has for you.  Find a place that teaches the truth about Jesus and you can meet people who are experiencing the new life of God’s love too.  Continue to pray, asking Jesus to help you become everything you’re intended to be.  Below are some churches that teach the truth about Jesus.  If you decide to visit one of these churches, show the pastor this tract.

Covenant of Peace Church. Kondele, Kisumu.  Pastor George and Mary Gache

International Growth Church Nyallenda, Kisumu

Pastor Kevin and Lillian Oduor

     

    Community Life Church, Mamboleo, Kisumu

    Pastor Jeremiah and Joyce Machio

   

If we meet again, please come and shake my hand. 

Let me know what you’ve chosen to do with the gift God gives.

Mungu akubariki.

Prayers for Mildred

Dear Friends,

We hope you can recall we asked for prayer numerous time for our precious friend Mildred's son, Franklin. Mildred was part of the September DIG training, 

and we formed a close bond.  She's been a widowed mom for some time, with 

two children, a girl - Valentine, 13 years old and the boy - Franklin, 20.  

Her son has been sick with kidney disease since we met Mildred.  

Mildred is the only momma we've not written about, till now.

After we finished the DIG training and were working with the other women to start their ministry/businesses, Mildred traveled to Nairobi to be with her son who had been hospitalized to start dialysis. Every Wednesday, when the group met, we would call Mildred to pray and encourage her.

At the end of February Franklin was released from the hospital to come home to Kisumu.  We visited with Mildred and Franklin last week on Sunday and Friday.  He needed dialysis treatment, but the nurses were on strike so the hospital was not running out-patient services.  He was uncomfortable, but assured us with confidence that all would be fine. 

Sunday after church Franklin and Mildred walked home.  At 5:00 p.m. Franklin was sitting in the house while Mildred went outside to hang clothes to dry.  He called her in and said, "Momma, I'm going now, but I'm leaving you in peace."  He leaned back and passed on to be with his Heavenly Father.  

Mildred's momma heart is broken.  She's been single-handedly caring for 

Franklin for years, the last three through this medical crisis.  

As a widow, she has no property to bury her son.

Please pray for her.  Please pray we follow Holy Spirit's tender guidance in ministering to this sweet friend who calls us her "adopted wazungu children." 

Asante sana for sharing this tender time with us.

hugs from the haugers oooo  

Below are some photos of our dear Mildred from our time at the training.  I know she will appreciate your prayers so much.

Sema?

"Sema" means "What's up?" in Kiswahili.  

Below is news about what's up with us. 

Please send us a note sharing what's up with you. 

"Like cold water to a weary soul 

   is good news from a distant land."  

                                                               Proverbs 25:25

The DIG trainings continue; we have two 

trainings going - one at a church where two different 

churches are participating.  This is a big step in 

cooperation for pastors.  Thank you, Lord!  

Using object lessons to teach scripture - 

Nothing is impossible with God! 

Carolyne moves in her gift of teaching 

the women that knowing what skills/gifts

they have is necessary for determining 

what ministry/business to pursue.

The mommas are busy taking notes about 

biblical principles for modeling a Godly life,

"being" a servant and ruling in the spirit realm. 

In between our trainings and the kids' 

school,  this is where we usually find 

Tavin - playing "futbal"with his Masai buddies.  

He lamented us being too close - 

"Gee Mom, it's so embarrassing 

when you to take pictures."  

So, out of respect for my 14 year old son, 

I took a long shot.  

Look hard... Tavin's the tall one in the red shorts.

DIG training in a thatched-roof hut.

Feels really "African" surrounded by flowering 

plants, palms and banana trees.

Ha - just beyond the bush is a busy road in 

this town of about half a million residents.

Lovely to use this little oasis to teach God's Word. 

The widowed mommas shared their stories...

  

Jacqueline had been selling glue to street boys

 to keep her children alive. 

She cried 

knowing she was killing them 

so her's might live.

Now she knows God has a future 

with hope for her and her babies.  

She's been

 hired to cook at a home for street boys. 

Redemption always overcomes desperation.

Another woman who's not saved 

"wandered" into the training.  

We prayed for discernment.

Would this be a distraction or a blessing?   

Her name is Agnes.  

She attends a cult and has "spiritual experiences."

We invited her to church which she now regularly attends 

and is still coming to the DIG training. 

She's hearing the truth about Jesus Christ.  

The truth will set her free.

We regularly teach about missions 

at this awesome Kenyan church.

Praying for them to be 

sent into the fields ripe for harvest.

Ministry at an orphanage and 

our new little friend 

who is very dear to our hearts.

Pastor Dwight Saunders, his daughter, Emma of

International Voice of the Orphan 

www.internationalvoiceoftheorphan.com

 (from Durango, CO and now live in Phoniex, AZ)

were ministering in Uganda and 

invited us to attend the 3 day 

Legacy Leadership Conference - 

powerful preaching about 

living a life that leaves a 

legacy for the kingdom of God. 

It was a wonderful time of rest 

and spiritual refreshing for us.

So nice to fellowship into the evening with 

missionaries who love the Lord 

and His call to serve in East Africa.

Extra nice to be with familar faces 

who will soon be "part of the family"

as Pastor Dwight's daughter is marrying 

Lisa's nephew in August.

No matter what side of the border - Kenya or Uganda, 

 fatherless children wander everywhere 
looking for attention.

We love to share a laugh, some sweets,

and a prayer in the precious name of Jesus. 

 After traveling over the equator numerous times, 

we finally decided to stop and snap a photo.

We're blessed to be living in Kenya, 

serving Jesus by "caring for orphans and widows."

Asante sana for your 

encouragement, prayers and support.

hugs from the haugers  O0oo