Rising Prices & Political Unrest

Each day our news is filled with reports of rising fuel and food prices. For some of us, these increases have hit home, making it more expensive and, thus, more difficult to get to and from work and to feed our families. Some of you may have decided to go on vacation a little closer to home or, maybe, forego a vacation all together.

The increases that we are experiencing are being felt worldwide. In most parts of the world, food is difficult to come by in the first place and a small increase in the price of it often means the difference between having and not having food.

By all estimates, the world food situation will continue to deteriorate and relief agencies like the World Food Programme will continue to be strained to the breaking point as they respond to an increasing number of situations around the world.

Kenya is one of those places. The endemic food shortage has been exacerbated this year by inadequate rains and political unrest that disrupted distribution routes and forced farmers to watch their crops rot in the fields.

Pokot Outreach cares for more than 400 children at three orphanages throughout East and West Pokot. Providing food and clothing for the children has always been a challenge. The current prices on the world market have hit the people of Kenya hard, making it even more difficult to survive. The price of a bag of beans has risen nearly 300% in less than a year.

On a recent visit to the U.S., Pastor Julius Murgor reported of the ministry’s struggle to provide even basic food and clothing for the children. He reported this not as a means of garnering pity or inspiring guilt in his audience. Rather, he said it in his matter of fact way of recounting how the Lord continues to provide for the needs of the children and those involved in the ministry.

His account of the situation brings to light a need of utmost importance that we feel needs immediate attention. The need is for financial assistance for the purpose of caring for the basic needs of the children under the care of the Pokot Outreach Ministry in Kenya.

Please consider helping us respond to this situation. A situation that has been made more pressing by the economic and political environments far removed the Pokot. As you feel the impact of rising food and fuel costs, please think of and consider assisting those a world away in the name of a God that transcends countries, color and economics.

Whom Shall I Send?

Have you heard the Lord calling you? This summer, Harvesters helped 34 people answer that call in Kenya, East Africa. It is the desire of Harvesters to assist churches in preparing groups for short-term mission trips. Thirteen members of the summer work team went to Chemoligot Orphanage to assist with construction projects and to share the love of the Lord with the children and villagers. Fifteen people, all from Michigan, headed to Kodich Orphanage where they completed construction projects and ministered to the people through the Gospel.

Many people make excuses for why they can’t answer the call. Isaiah made no excuses; he accepted the commission to be used by God. This summer, as with all our mission trips, the groups were varied. There were college students, newly weds, people from all walks of life and church staff. God chooses each person for a different reason, but all have a common calling – to share the Gospel message with the lost.

The two construction teams worked hard in the blazing heat, shared prayer and meals. They gave their hearts to the fatherless and were blessed in more ways than they ever believed possible. They stepped out in faith to answer the call and the Lord equipped them to accomplish the tasks He set before them.

The third group of six left for Kenya on the 2nd of August. This was a vision team that spent a couple of days at several different locations capturing an overview of the different ministries that Harvesters International Missions is involved in throughout the country. This group ranged in age from 14 to 80. They visited both East and West Pokot and then proceeded to Migori where they stayed at Grace Outreach Ministries’ orphanage compound. They put many dusty miles on the vehicles, as it is a long days’ travel between each of the locations. At each stop along the way they had an opportunity to encourage the believers and to learn more about the various outreach ministries each location offers to share the Gospel.

Does any of this sound interesting to you? Have your heard that wee small voice calling you? If so, there is still an opportunity to join Harvesters on a short-term mission trip in 2008. In October Harvesters will again return to Kenya and the Pokot with a medical/evangelism team. This team is scheduled to depart October 4th and return on October 18th.

People walk days when they know that a medical team is coming. During the periods when they wait to be seen, there are opportunities to share the Gospel. You do not have to have medical training to participate in this team – there are many jobs that non-medically trained people can do and everyone can share the love of the Lord.

Maybe Africa isn’t your heartbeat. How about one of the holiest Hindu cities? From Nov. 5-20th 2008 we will be traveling to Burma (Myanmar) for a few days to visit an orphanage that was destroyed by the Cyclone at the beginning of May. From there it is onto Hyderabad, India to visit a Bible School and then to Ujjain where our ministry partners operate two school complexes. We will have a chance to encourage our Christian sisters and brothers serving in this densely populated land. It is the “cool” season, so it is an ideal time to travel to India.

The majority of full-time missionaries on the field today began with a short-term mission trip – just ask our staff – we all did! The Lord can open your eyes in unique ways once you have been obedient to His call and then He equips you to share with others. Harvesters would love to partner with your church in helping to grow your missions program.

A Different Kind of Tractor Pull

imagesIn 2007, a church in Hickory North Carolina heard from Julius Murgor that a farm tractor would be a tremendous help to the Pokot Outreach Ministry. Intrigued, they asked “if there is so little rain for raising crops, how could a tractor be of use to them.”

Julius described the twenty plus acre plot of land on which the ministry has grown corn (maize) for a number of years. A tractor would save the ministry money in the planting and harvesting of the crops because it will not have to rent equipment or pay someone to do the work for them.

In addition to helping with the farm project, a tractor would be helpful in many other ways. Poor road conditions in the remote areas where water wells are being drilled, mission stations being constructed and orphanages are located makes hiring vehicles to transport supplies to those areas very expensive.

In fact supplies are often delayed for lack of transportation and at times the cost to transport is more than the cost of the supplies being transported.

In late 2007, the Hickory North Carolina church graciously sent $28,000 towards the purchase of the new tractor. This money combined with funds from other donors, provided the $60,000 needed to purchase the tractor.

We are so thankful for each of you who are doing missions with Harvesters and the impact that we can have together in Christ.

Raisin’ The Roof In Congo

At Hekima church, 500 people gather at a small, weathered, wood plank structure with seating for maybe only half the congregation and dozens spilling out of the doors and listening through windows. They come hungry for the Gospel and possess a unity of the Spirit and a desire for growth.

The church is vibrant and it is evident that God dwells with the people. The congregation is made up of all age groups and is led by a group of men united in a common vision that above all else, Christ be preached and the church continue to grow in faith and maturity. The people rejoice in God’s gracious provisions and are very generous despite their own needs, giving freely beyond their own means.

Hekimachurch2Outside that small wooden church stands a large block structure. It is a project of those faithful church members and what will become their new meeting place. With no outside assistance, the congregation at Hekima church has given beyond their means and built a church that will comfortably house the 500 people regularly attending church and leave room for further growth.

The new church building has come through much prayer and strong leadership in the Union of Baptist Church of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, of which Hekima is apart of. Construction has definitely been a lengthy and painstaking process but the church family and leadership have continued to walk by faith and trust in God’s provisions.

For some time the skeleton of a church building sat idle and no resources existed to complete final phases of construction. Wooden rafters were exposed to the elements and the leadership began to fear that they would deteriorate resulting in added costs.

The church leadership continued to walk by faith, believing the Lord would finish the work He had started. The Lord heard their prayers because through a series of events and with no outside assistance they have been able to generate the necessary $10,000.00 needed to fully enclose the church building. These funds came through the sale of a separate plot of land, which the church leadership felt would better serve the church sold than kept.

The church building still needs much work before it can replace that old wooden structure. The floor, windows, walls, and so much more still wait to be completed. God’s people at Hekima church still seek Him to provide so that they might have a place to meet and that will show their community what God can do. And in need the people of Hekima church continue to rejoice in God’s gracious provisions.

Hekimachurch“God has helped us a lot and we thank Him for the wonderful work He has done. We believe that God will continue to come near to us because what we are doing is not for our benefit but for His glory.”

If you would like more information on The Union of Baptist Churches of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Hekima church, or how you and your church might partner with them to complete the work that has been started please contact Harvesters for further information. The people of the DRC are hungry for the Gospel and Hekima church is one bright light in a world of darkness.