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Putting Christ in Christmas

by Sandi Roach

As the Lord opens new doors of partnership for Harvesters International Ministries, one of the most exciting things is to get to know the partners and see how the Lord uses them in their distinct ministry locations to carry out His will. Having met Edwin last summer, one could see a quiet passion for the Lord, but having received a recent report of the ministry’s Christmas outreach, there is definitely fire behind the passion.

Here is a brief testimony from Edwin regarding how the Lord orchestrated the Christmas events.

“We were able to complete all our Christmas activities at CYSC at Eluru; we could feel the presence of the Lord as He led us through them. It was indeed only by His Grace we were able to have each one of these programs this year.”

“The day after we completed the outdoor activities – (3 day) Street Carols and dolls and clothes distribution at Srirangapuram village, Bethesda clinic area of Andhra Pradesh was under severe unrest due to the fact that the Central Government announced plans to divide the State in tow – with people protesting for and against this decision. … The police would have cancelled our permission for the Street Carols and we would not have been able to travel to the village. Along with the Street Carols for 3 evenings, we handed out tracts and distributed dolls to more than 100 children and saris to about 15 ladies.”

The wonderful thing about all these Christmas events is that they were visible to the non-Christians who dominate the area. The second thing is that over 50 churches were involved in the festivities and presentations – they have found a way to serve the Lord outside of denominational boundaries and have found peace and joy doing this. Together they distributed over 500 soft dolls and provide each child with a snack. This is an annual event that this new partner carries out and there are hundreds of children and adults in attendance. The needs of the widows and elderly were also met through the distribution of over 50 saris to women who meet monthly at CYSC.

Edwin and his mother are sharing the love of Christ in a very real way with the people of Andhra Pradesh, and their love, sharing of resources and joy are bringing Christ to life for the people who the Lord has brought into their path. They are not only living the Golden Rule, but they are living the life that Christ set out for Christians, “By this shall all men know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another”. (John 13:35)

Christ is the reason for the season and for the Hindus in Eluru, this unified Christian outreach is showing them who He is and why He is loved.

He Performs Wonders

“HE PERFORMS WONDERS THAT CANNOT BE FATHOMED, MIRACLES THAT CANNOT BE COUNTED”. (JOB 9:10)

by Ed Hirshman

The miracle of miracles, that “God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life”. As I reflect back over the past six months of 2009 and the 150,000 plus miles of travel that the Lord safely led me over, November 25, 2009 stands out most in my mind and spirit.

During July and August of 2009, the Lord raised up over thirty- five people to visit and labor alongside our two ministry partners in Kenya and one in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I watched as team members modeled the love of Christ while working out their salvation; that spoke volumes to those we visited– people who are facing severe drought and famine. I watched language barriers come down as the teams witnessed in spirit and truth to the “miracle of miracles” in their own life to many whom never had the opportunity to hear the name of Jesus. Then I watched as the Lord of the harvest drew them to Himself. I was privileged to watch the New Testament church in the Congo sacrificially give of its little in order to reproduce itself in others, people who are facing rebel forces kidnapping their sons, brutally raping the woman and genocide. (Job 9:10) Oh what sacrifice!

Union of Baptist Churches of the Congo

September and October of 2009 the Lord raised up two different groups to visit the Pokot Tribe of Northwest Kenya. One group witnessed the amazing operation of the new drilling rig, which the Lord provided in late 2008, as it brought forth water for people who were always told “there is no water”. The people describe that event as “God visited them”–a miracle? (Job 9:10) Oh what hope!

Then they were presented the “miracle of miracles and the Living water”, many for the first time. With God’s wonderful provision, He provided the finances to drill eighteen wells during 2009, yet in November there was an outbreak of Cholera in East Pokot that claimed over two hundred lives as a result of contaminated water. More wells are desperately needed!

The second group was a medical/ evangelism team doing mobile clinics in the furthest northern part of the Pokot Tribe and where the Turkana Tribe starts. The team was able to minister and share the Gospel to over 3,200 people. For many of them it was the first time that they had ever heard the name of Jesus and been given the opportunity to put their faith and trust in Him. The area has a history of tribal raids of livestock and killings, worsened by the long drought and famine in the land; the widows and orphans are countless. We had the privilege to work with a young man in that area by the name of Peter Siwa, one of Pastor Julius Murgor’s Evangelists. Having been a former Pokot warrior, raiding the bordering Turkana and Karamoja Tribes, he was led to the Lord. Having gone thru the POM ministry evangelist training for a few years, he can not only read today as result of scripture memorization but he has also planted fifteen churches and has five other evangelists working with him. (Job 9:10) Oh what faith!

The first three weeks of November 2009 I was privileged to travel to Asia and visit two of our ministry partners as well as two potential ministry partners. The first stop was with our ministry partner in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). We participated in five days of evangelism training with twenty-three national missionaries from around the country. Then we watched as they boldly went out on the streets of Yangon where the military dictatorship rules with a strong hand and Christians are jailed and persecuted and openly shared their Christian faith with others, willing to lay down their lives to further the Gospel. (Job 9:10) Oh what mercy!

Myanmar Training Session

From Myanmar I traveled to central India to visit our ministry partner in an area that is to the Hindu religion like Rome is to the Catholics and where politicians run for office with a platform of being anti-Christian. This ministry focus is church planting in thirteen villages and reaching over 230 young receptive hearts with the knowledge of Jesus Christ thru scripture memorization and the abundant love of Jesus poured out to them day after day in two Christian schools. (Job 9:10) Oh what love!

Widows Ministry in India

Next I traveled to the south eastern part of India to visit a new ministry partner. Even after a four day visit it was difficult to grasp the far reaching impact that this ministry is having on that part of India. What impacted me the most was the outreach to widows, bringing the passage of scripture to life for me in I Timothy 5:3 “Honor widows that are widows indeed.” (Job 9:10) Oh what a joy!

The end of my journey had taken me to a new country and a new partner, causing me to wonder “how firm I stood on the promises of God?”

Pakistan, 97% Muslim, doesn’t have much love for Americans and especially Christians!

But what a privilege to meet and travel with men of God who selflessly labor day after day with very little materially to further the Gospel in an extremely violent environment by the grace of God. (Job 9:10) Oh what grace!

Pakistan Leadership

I returned home 25 November, the day before Thanksgiving, with a renewed appreciation for thanksgiving, but unto the Lord! I arrived home with a fullness of the things of God, so privileged to have a glimpse of all that He and He alone is doing in those parts of the world, what a blessing! My only regret is that each of you could not be with me physically but I know that you were with me in spirit and in prayer. Thank you!

2009 has been a difficult year for many ministries but the Lord has been so faithful in keeping His hand upon the ministry of Harvesters International and we acknowledge what He has done through willing, obedient vessels like you; we are just the conduit that He is doing it through on behalf of the national missionaries we have been privileged to partner with.

We pray that you will continue the journey with us in 2010 in the same spirit and manner as described above that I have seen in our brothers and sisters around the world and experience Job 9:10 as I have. As we head into 2010, I stand on the promise of God in John 1:50, “You will see greater things than these.”

Celebrating Our Inability: 2010 Chairman’s Report

fbc2 — Burmese man in Chin State, Myanmar

Ever wonder how Joshua felt as he gazed at the Burmese man that was part of an evangelical outreach to an area in Chin State, Myanmar.massive walls surrounding Jericho? In his mind’s eye, he was certainly considering a military campaign. Perhaps, a siege?

But suddenly God appeared and promised Joshua a different kind of victory. I suspect the look on Joshua’s face would be priceless as he listened to God’s battle plans: March around the city for six days with seven priests carrying trumpets. On the seventh day, have all the people shout after hearing the trumpets blow. Then watch the walls of the city collapse.

In all honesty, God’s instructions were weird. “Did I hear that right, God? Perhaps, I should get a second opinion?”

David Platt describes this episode with Joshua in his best selling book, Radical, Taking Back Your Faith From The American Dream.

“In direct contradiction to the American dream,” Platt writes, “God actually delights in exalting our inability. He intentionally puts his people in situations where they come face to face with their need for him. In the process he powerfully demonstrates his ability to provide everything his people need in ways they could never have mustered up or imagined. And in the end, he makes much of his own name.”

Myanmar

In Myanmar, Pastor “Benjamin” is helping to support the ministry with a pig project; he has sold more than 50 pigs since its inception. He has no money but he’s praying about starting a Bible College/training center in Yangon to equip people to preach the Gospel and train them how to go and do it. Surrounded by huge Buddhist temples, he travels widely under threat of great personal danger to tell others about Jesus.

Pakistan

In Pakistan, Pastor Bashir and believers have been dealing with severe flooding, yet their outreach efforts have not missed a beat. They carry forth the Gospel with the least amount of financial support. Yet they consider these challenges exciting.

India

At Good Samaritan Sewa Kendra in India, Kamlesh and Ranu are effectively reaching families with the Gospel through the children who are educated in the Christian schools, despite the fact that the school buildings are overcrowded and there is a critical need for a school bus so the ministry can expand its impact in the villages. They see overcrowding as a blessing.

In India, the Christian Youth Services Center continues to minister to different groups in Andhra Pradesh despite erratic funding. Edwin continues to place emphasis on the Widows Ministry, educating children through Bible studies, and teaching girls and older women vocational skills. God has made provision for a library of 6,000-plus books.

Congo

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Pastor Habimana of the Union of Baptist Churches Goma reports that many people are coming to the Lord and the number of churches is growing. Numerically, there have been more than 134 church planted, and the ministry reaches out to orphans and widows and operates 18 schools plus a Bible school.

Uganda

In Uganda, Pastor Sam is thankful that To Africa With Love Ministries is able to witness the Lord’s provision in church growth, and the training of pastors, all with a meager amount of funding.

Kenya

In Kenya, there’s a waiting list for children to enter the orphanage at Grace Outreach Ministry. The church is mindful to look after widows. To supplement their diet, Pastor Philip is overseeing a farm project that grows maize and sugar cane, and a fish project where fingerlings can be harvested in less than eight months. And a new school is underway. Sticks and mud for now. “We only started by faith and by faith we shall grow,” the pastor says. God made provision for a tractor last year that makes the farm project much more effective. Now, Pastor Philip is praying for a pickup truck.

The newly opened Chemolingot Children’s Home in East Pokot is straining to house all the orphans, and another dorm for girls is already needed, says Pastor Yusef.

The Kodich Orphanage is utilizing solar water pumping for its attempt to grow some of its own food using drip irrigation in its small garden project.

The Kauriong Orphanage is utilizing solar power to charge and operate a DVD player with sound and a projector so Pastor Solomon can extend his ministry into northwest Pokot. He uses the Jesus Film in the Pokot language as well as the God Story and several other videos in the Swahili language.

At all three orphanages, the children learn about Jesus Christ, and they develop a passion for sharing Him with others. A formal training session for orphanage managers and pastors was held in January. It’s the first time these men have been together in the same room and was a great opportunity for them to dialogue with each other.

The Lomut Secondary Mixed School faces all the challenges of funding for existing students and the additional pressures created by increased enrollment.

In East and West Pokot, Harvesters continues to drill water wells as the Lord provides the funding. Each borehole ‘investment’ has eternal benefits. The fresh, clean drinking water brings stability to thousands of nomadic tribesmen, which makes it much easier and faster to reach them spiritually.

Spiritually, until we all come to the well, we wander.

The Water Fall Project that started nearly 10 years ago in West Pokot is now complete. A steel pipeline brings clean water from the mountain more than 13 miles down into the Rift Valley. The plan is to implement a Pilot Farm Project near the pipeline and prove an ability to produce fruits and vegetables in this arid land that will begin to mitigate the starvation that is so rampant.

The transition to first-time farming is a big step for these nomadic tribesmen. They’ve never had easy access to water before.

When the Pokot begin harvesting crops at the Pilot Farm Project, then we’re believing that God will provide millions of dollars for the full-size Drip Irrigation Project, an investment that literally can break the cycle of hunger in East Africa and rapidly open the door for God to powerfully demonstrate His provision. This is a natural extension of the original Water Fall Project.

But first, we understand that Harvesters must be tested in the little things before asking God’s people to endorse such a monumental project.

The people are still struggling to overcome the challenges facing the Goat Project. Wood fences and buildings will not last because of the ferocious termites. Using other materials, like steel and concrete, present a new set of challenges and expenses.

Construction is beginning at the new Cheragan Mission Station. It’s never easy to coordinate the availability of funds with the availability of materials and a competent crew. Yet, God has faithfully provided for the construction of boreholes and mission stations since 1997.

God Is In Control

You might not see much evidence of church growth in America, but our ministry partners in Myanmar, Pakistan, India, Congo, Uganda, and Kenya are proof positive that the church is growing elsewhere on the globe. The growth is not measured in bricks and mortar, or parking lots and pews, but it is measured in souls. As mortals, we can build just about anything. But only Jesus saves.

At Harvesters, we realize that God is divinely orchestrating the outreach of this ministry so that in the end only He can get the glory for what happens. As Platt writes in Radical, “This is how God works. He puts his people in positions where they are desperate for his power, and then he shows his provision in ways that display his greatness.

Harvesters International Ministries remains a conduit for churches and individual believers to put legs on their faith.

A single individual gave $50,000 as seed money to build the first mission station in Kenya. A single individual gave $135,000 as seed money to build the Water Fall Project starting nearly a decade ago. A single individual has pledged $100,000 for the Pilot Farm Project.

Individual churches and foundations have given from $25,000 to $100,000 for specific projects, either as seed money or full payment.

In addition to sizable one-time gifts, a significant portion of Harvesters donations come in the form of gifts ranging from $5 to $100, from individuals, Sunday school classes and churches. I can tell you with absolute certainty that God has multiplied every dollar hundreds, perhaps thousands of times. I don’t understand how He did it, but He did it.

And not one dollar has been sent to the field without asking God to multiply it and use it for His glory. And not one project has been discussed, much less started, without many seasons of prayer.

Will you pray? The lives of individuals and families can be changed for eternity. These are the “fruits” of our labor. But only Jesus saves.

Two New Asian Partners

Harvesters International Ministries’ Board of Directors is pleased to announce the addition of two new Asian partners effective this month. The Board had met with Edwin Kancherla of Christian Youth Services Center at the August 2009 Board Meeting and after a personal visitation by Ed Gillespie and Ed Hirshman in November of this year and a recommendation by them, the Board unanimously voted to accept partnership at the December 4th-5th Board Meeting held on Hilton Head Island.

Ministry to the Widows

Christian Youth Services Center is a ministry that was started by Edwin’s father, John, who passed away in 2006, and Edwin directs the ministry, with his mother’s assistance. It is located in Andhra Pradesh province on the eastern side of India. The initial focus of the ministry was an outreach to young people through 50 different churches, but since its inception, the ministry has grown and is now branching out into several other areas such as college outreach, medical clinics, and assisting widows as well as operating a vocational training facility comprised of a typing and computer center and a sewing center that teaches all aspects of tailoring, and embroidery. There is also a Christian Library that serves as an excellent outreach ministry for sharing tracts to those who do not know the Lord. John had a vision to build a school for Pastor’s children on the grounds of another Christian school in Hyderabad and there is always ongoing assistance to the poor and needy as a way of showing Christ’s love. In addition to the weekly church services and Bible studies, there are many youth rallies and outings as well as church planting. A second center has sprouted up about 1 1/2 hours from the Eluru center which is reaching many Hindu children. We are excited about our partnership with CYSC and hope to be able to assist Edwin and his mother with continuing to fulfill the vision that John originally had for the ministry.

Our second new partnership is a ministry known as Pakistan Outreach Ministry (POM) located outside of Lahore, very close to the India border. The ministry is under the leadership of “Pastor Joseph” (not his real name), who Ed Hirshman, our director, met at a missions’ conference in Virginia this past spring. As a young man, Pastor Joseph had a dream of himself sharing the Gospel and this dream has become a reality. What started with a small Bible study group has blossomed into a ministry of 18 pastors (8 of whom receive no financial support), 45 house churches and a vibrant children’s ministry. POM holds quarterly outreaches and is ministering to 20 widows and 25 orphans, and it is currently supporting 8 students in Bible school. Discipleship is a major focus of the ministry as Pastor Joseph has a vision to reach the remote villages where the Gospel has not been preached, but without trained disciples this will not become a reality. Church planting is the second major focus, for once a new area is reached, the people need to be fed spiritually and more disciples need to be mentored.

One of the main ways to reach people for Christ in this 97% Muslim nation is through medical clinics. POM desires to have regular mobile medical clinics that can go into the remote areas of Eastern Pakistan and serve the people, showing and sharing the love of Christ. In addition to the clinics, as school is high on the list of priorities, for there is little hope for most children if they cannot receive an education.

We are excited about these new partnerships that the Lord has led Harvesters to, and we continue to feel Him leading us to partners within the 10/40 window. We are in the process of preparing prayer cards for these partners as well as ministry information sheets. If you would like to receive more information about partnering with either CYSC or POM (Pakistan), you may contact us at info@him-usa.org. Please pray that the Lord would enable us to meet the needs of these new partners so they may reach out to those who do not know Him in some of the darkest places on earth.

Chemolingot Children’s Home

As you travel throughout the Pokot tribe of northwest Kenya you see many children. They wave as you pass by, always with a smile, and are the first to greet the visitors when you arrive. They are always eager to laugh, play, and sing with you. In many ways they are like many children here in America, full of energy and life.

The sad reality is that many of the children you might see throughout Pokot are orphans. These are children orphaned by famine, lack of water, disease, tribal fighting, and a land so inhospitable that it is amazing anyone could survive there at all. These children often go hungry without anyone to care for them and don’t have the opportunity to attend school. As orphans they are deeply at risk.

A Project of Faith

In Chemolingot, East Pokot, Rev. Yusef Losute of Pokot Outreach Ministries is working diligently to give children like these a home. For years now Yusef has had a vision for a children’s home where children could live in a place of safety and be raised to know Jesus Christ. Without any resources Yusef and Chemolingot A.I.C. Church, which he pastors, set out in faith to build such a place. Through prayer and faithfulness God provided them all that they would need.

Now years later the orphanage is almost complete and efforts are being made to acquire government certifications and approval. In early August a Harvesters’ team from Kensington Community Church, made up of ten high school aged young adults and six leaders applied many of the final touches on the three orphanage buildings. The boy’s dorm and dining hall each got final coats of paint, while the team completed the cement work on the interior floor of the girl’s dorm.

The Chemolingot Children’s Home will house 120 children of all ages in two dorms, 60 boys and 60 girls. It will be home not just to Pokot orphans but also to children from neighboring tribes as well. This is in an effort to prove that warring tribes can live together and instill a new spirit of peace in the coming generation. Also, among a people who still practice female circumcision and early forced marriages, the home is a place of refuge for girls escaping from brutal and abusive home environments. In all the children’s home will be a safe haven and a place of growth. It will produce the next generation that will lead their communities. Most importantly, through teaching and worship, it will produce Godly young men and women with a heart to serve their own people. These will be the next pastors, evangelist, doctors, nurses, and teachers that will in turn go and take the Gospel to another generation so that they might have hope and a future in knowing Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

As the orphanage nears completion there is still much work to be done. The children are ready to move into the facility but there are beds, mattresses, and sheeting that need to be purchased to provide them with places to sleep. Metal trunks need to be bought to act as small closets, holding what few belongings they might have. Then there’s the dining hall that must be filled with tables, chairs, cups, plates, pots, pans, and a stove to prepare all of the food.

In addition to outfitting the orphanage to comfortably house children, staff is needed to look after them. A woman caretaker will live with and look after the girls in their dorm and likewise a man will be in charge of overseeing the boys. There are faithful men and women in line to fill these positions but the ministry is in need of financial support for these people. Then there is the on-going need of continued monthly support for feeding the children and keeping the orphanage running.

Chemolingot Children’s Home was built as a project of faith and by faith the church there will continue to seek God to provide for their needs and the needs of the orphans. God has shown his faithfulness in bringing their vision this far and they continue to have faith that He will see it through. At Harvesters, we ask that you would consider partnering with Pokot Outreach Ministries and Chemolingot Children’s Home. There is still much work to be done and then there is the issue of supporting the monthly operating expenses of the orphanage. There will be many mouths to feed and a staff to support to look after all of the children. We trust God that He will provide. Would you be apart of what He is doing?

Dreams Do Come True

By Sandi Roach

She was just a little girl, but not at all like the other little girls in her town in India. She was a Christian, and she had a desire to share her love of the Lord with other children. By the age of nine she had started holding Bible studies for those who had an interest in sharing the zeal for life that she felt. She would read them wonderful stories from the Bible and had them memorize scripture so that they too could know Jesus in a personal way and come to have His peace in their lives. She may have been young, but she had big dreams.

Jyotsana was raised in a Christian household, which was not a common thing in India. Her parents were both Doctors who had been educated in the United States, but both had a compassion for the people of their homeland and after medical school, they returned to India to help those who had so little. Their hearts burned with compassion for those who were burdened with the task of just daily life, and this passion was transferred to their young daughter. Jyotsana was drawn to children and wanted to help them to have a better life – a Christ-centered life.

As she grew – her parents encouraged her to pursue her education and she obtained a Doctorate in sociology – how better to help people than to understand how they relate to each other. She had never forgotten her dream to help children, and with her husband, Kamlesh, who had been one of her Bible study students who came to the Lord, she decided to start a school for children who would never be permitted to attend school because of their caste and impoverished family condition.

The Jagat Jyoti School was a fulfillment of that dream – a school for the Sapera children (the children of the snake charmers also known as the Cobra children). Her parents were no longer practicing medicine, and a medical facility that they owned was transformed into a school. There was one useable building which had a small office and a large open room which became a center of educational opportunity to over 100 children near the village of Kolukhedi. The children loved learning, were supplied with daily snacks, given clean clothing and even supplied with a couple of complete meals each month. There was great joy in Kamlesh and Jyotsana’s (Ranu’s) hearts as they saw the children growing not only academically, but also in an understanding of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the summer of 2007 a second school, Jeevan Jyoti was opened to reach the needs of poor children living in the city. This school started out with just pre-school through grade two the first year. In 2008 they had expanded to include grade four, but had heavy hearts realizing that they would not be able to continue with these children past grade four because they had no more space. Without their benevolence in offering a quality education at a very low cost, these students would not have an opportunity to continue to the next level which would be an education through grade eight and worse yet; they would not have a way to continue sharing Christ with them. During the 2008-2009 school year they kept praying and trying to seek a suitable property that was close to the existing school. Nothing seemed to be available.

This past month the dream of being able to offer schooling through the eighth grade to low caste and poor children became a reality. The building next door to the current Jeevan Jyoti School became available and the couple was able to purchase the property and fulfill the dream of offering classes through grade eight.

Another wish is to be able to offer technical education to the Sapera children since snake charming is officially outlawed by the government for animal rights reasons. With no family business to continue in, these young people are without a caste and cannot assimilate into another caste without the skill of that caste. Harvesters International Ministries has been able to send funds to repair a second building on the Jagat Jyoti property to make it useable classroom space. The school itself, with over 100 children needs space, and it is still Kamlesh and Ranu’s hope to be able to build a new school building where each grade will be able to have its own classroom which will maximize the student’s learning. Ultimately, the old, renovated building will be used as a technical school for the students who have completed grade eight so that they may learn sewing or wood working – trades that are marketable and would enable the students to move up in the caste system.

When the little girl dreamed of helping children know the Lord, she prayed and never lost hope that the Lord would give her the desires of her heart. Those early dreams have been answered, but there are still more dreams that need to be fulfilled.

Two weeks in Africa

By Sandi Roach

The van climbed the hills slowly over the rough terrain as a group of sleepy Americans started on a Kenyan adventure that would change their lives forever. There were lots of pictures and video taping going on between the catnaps for the group of five who had not gotten to bed until well after midnight. Departure was a little after 6:30 in the morning and the city was just barely coming alive with people walking in the glow of dawn. The day was cool and the group of females from West Virginia was getting to know their Harvesters’ leader as they drove out of the city into the climbing hills on their way to Uriri, a small town in the Southern part of Kenya near the Tanzania border. There was great enthusiasm for the pristine beauty of the valley, the farms and the wildlife they saw along the way.

It was a long drive, about six hours until the group pulled off the road at a small church where they were greeted by their host, Pastor Phillip Ochieng, who was attending a seminar. He welcomed the group, encouraged them to make themselves at home and promised to spend time with them during the evening when he would return home to Grace Outreach Mission where the group would spend the next 8 days ministering to the orphanage children, sharing the Gospel in homes surrounding the orphanage and doing some painting in the compound.

As the group proceeded down the road about another 10 minutes the leader spotted the orphanage off to the left. She had never seen the facility in person, but knew it from the many pictures in the office. She was surprised that it was so close to the main road and that it was so self-contained. From the pictures it looked to be a sweeping facility, yet it reality it was a compact area which reached higher than previously believed. The van struggled to turn around inside the courtyard, but finally the group was ready to meet the children who had gathered to greet the weary visitors. Pastor Phillip’s wife Rose, eight months pregnant, was there to meet the team and to direct the children to the common room with the bags and visitors. It didn’t take long for the children to warm to the new guests, and the team had fallen in love with the children even before they got off the van. Each person introduced themselves and then the children helped to take the bags to the guest rooms that would become home to the visitors for the next week.

It was a diverse group – the leader in her 50’s, who had spent a great deal of time in Africa, Asia and Central America, the Evangelist and group coordinator, her sister who is a young mother, and her daughter who is a senior in High School. The other two members of the team were a college student and a young woman who directs a children’s center who had her birthday during the team. Each member came with different gifts and very different backgrounds – most had never experienced living in the environment with the people they were ministering to, so there was a great deal of culture shock, jet lag and adjusting to the national food. It took a couple of days to get the jet lag under their belts, but they were willing workers eager to use their gifts of Evangelism, personal testimony, compassion, music and dance. As the week progressed the children seemed to bond to different team members, and those bonds are ones that will hopefully continue for many years to come. The team challenged the students to excel academically by setting goals and signing contracts. The students were bright, enthusiastic and very eager to learn about the United States, politics and the Word of the Lord. Others were eager to share the history of their country with the team, and all were most impressed at the polished presentation.

The team did door to door Evangelism in the mornings – there were two salvations and an opportunity to pray with a girl who was ill. The team conducted a Vacation Bible School three afternoons for the orphanage and local children. The theme was the Lord’s Prayer and the group of about 45 participants was divided into four groups – pre-school age, 6 to 12 year olds, teens and adults. They were challenged to memorize, learn songs, dig into the meaning of the verse, create skits to illustrate the verses and for the adults some Greek word studies. It was a wonderful time for the team as well as the children and the program ended with a celebration complete with beverages and snacks.

After two days of sightseeing at a sugar processing plant, Lake Victoria and Masai Mara Game Park, the team was glad to have one last day with the children. It was a special time of taking pictures, making t-shirts, singing and dancing. There was rain outside and no electricity, but the atmosphere inside was bright, energetic and overflowing with love. After dinner there was a final group time where the team presented gifts to the children that they had brought from the United States – school supplies, books, games, beanie babies and candy. Each person shared what the time had meant to them:

Humbled
Impressed
Wanting to come back
Not wanting to leave
Blessed
You just get used to things and you have to leave

Leaving the next day was difficult – there were endless tears from everyone, lots of hugs, waves, kisses and promises to never forget each other. The bonds of friendship had bridged an ocean – a little town in Southern Kenya was burnt into the hearts of a group of American women. There was a new understanding of the challenges that these children had – life away from extended family, a struggle to be able to continue in school, few material possessions, and a desire to be loved. The plus side was the lesson that the team took home of the great “family” life these children have built with one another. The responsibility that they take for the little ones, the help they give to Phillip and Rose and their willingness to help where needed.

Looking back, life was different in Uriri, but the reality is that these children have a hope for the future. They have an opportunity to go to school; they have food, shelter, clothes, clean water and a loving family to care for them. They have a hope in Jesus Christ who will never leave them nor forsake them. We in the United States have a hard time comprehending that being in a wonderful orphanage like this one is actually better than living in a rural area with a family who struggles to feed and cloth them. One thing is for sure – there are faces with names that will live in the hearts and minds of the team members for years to come.

What it’s really like to go

It’s one thing to read a book about foreign missions, or even talk to missionaries about their experiences. Personally going to the field and seeing firsthand how God is working is an entirely different story. And it’s not just a story; it’s a life-changing event.

That’s how it was for me.

When my wife Glenda, and my youngest son Jeremiah, and I overnighted in Johannesburg en route to Nairobi in May 1997, we faced an immediate trial as we attempted to get our 12 suitcases loaded with tools and personal supplies back on the airplane for the final leg of our flight.

Harold Stevens, Harvesters board member and missionary to the Zulu people in South Africa for more than a quarter century, had assured me that South African Airways would accommodate the extra baggage, but the ticket agent was saying no, even though I presented a letter on Harvesters stationery and signed by Harold.

She was a young woman, probably late-30s, who spoke adequate but broken English. She was ‘all business’ and never cracked a smile. I felt intimidated, to say the least. I explained that we had dedicated three months of our lives to be in Kenya to build a mission station in East Pokot and without the tools in the suitcases, the project could not be done.

In the back of my mind, I argued with God. Surely He wouldn’t bring us halfway around the world and then allow the project to die before we even arrived at our destination.

I prayed silently and pleaded with the ticket agent to speak to a superior, which she eventually did. Soon after, we were allowed to check all 12 suitcases on the plane that would be taking us to Nairobi.

At the airport in Nairobi, we met other members of the Harvesters team, including Harold. It was heart-warming to see some friendly faces.

Three months later, the mission station was completed and we were back in Johannesburg, en route to the U.S. In 58 working days, we had miraculously managed to complete four structures — a church building, medical clinic, pastor’s house, and storage building. We were headed home with the same 12 suitcases. The tools had been left behind. In their places were gifts from Pokot men and women, even little children. These were priceless mementos of our time in Kenya.

I did not want a repeat of the earlier incident with our extra baggage. Jeremiah accompanied me to the airport about six hours before our flight was to depart. I wanted to make pre-arrangements so all 12 suitcases would leave with us.

As I walked into the nearly empty terminal, I observed only one ticket agent. As I approached the counter, I recognized the agent. It was the same woman who handled our case before without as much as a hint of a smile. I said to myself, “God, how can this be?” I dreaded talking to her again.

Suddenly, the agent looked up and beamed with a huge and disarming smile. “The man with the 12 suitcases,” she exclaimed.

I told her about the success of the mission trip and, if at all possible, I needed to get the 12 suitcases back home to America. She instructed me to arrive two hours early that afternoon. She would be there to personally expedite our boarding – two adults, one teenager, and 12 suitcases, two of which were definitely oversize and too heavy.

However, at the appointed hour, she was nowhere to be found. I prayed. Passengers began boarding the plane. Then there was the final boarding call. Suddenly, out of nowhere, she appeared and motioned me to the counter.

The 10 approved suitcases were checked. As I picked up the overweight suitcase #11 to set it on the scale, the electrical power in the airport went off. It quickly came back on at most ticket counters, but not the one where I was standing. A technician arrived momentarily and was unable to get power restored.

Again, I heard our flight’s final boarding call. The ticket agent summoned a worker who grabbed the two remaining suitcases, placed them on a four-wheel push cart, and motioned for us to follow him.

I was in awe at what had just happened.

It had taken two months to pack and repack our suitcases so that each one weighed a few ounces less than 70 pounds. When we left the U.S, I had packed two hardcover Gideon Bibles and 20 Gideon New Testaments. I had one New Testament left. It was in my jacket pocket. I told the woman that I wanted to give her a gift. I handed her the New Testament, and reminded her again that our trip was successful because she enabled us to get the necessary tools aboard the plane to Nairobi.

With tears streaming down her face, she related that her daughter had wanted a Bible for several years, but she did not have the money to buy one. “God bless you,” I said, and I rushed to catch up with my wife and son. As we stepped on the plane, the stewardess closed the door behind us.

I don’t know the woman’s name. My 16-year-old son was a witness to what happened. I am blessed every time I think about that incident. Others are blessed when I share the story, whether to an individual or to a church congregation. Our mission trip was filled with other miraculous, supernatural events.

Pokot Update – June 2009

Dear Prayer Partners
Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord.

We are doing fine with Rachel doing fine with her bible studies with the village woman on Saturdays and Tuesdays. The one on the weekends stays busy and well attended.

Josephine now 15 is growing to be a very responsible girl. We read comments from her teachers like she is a hard worker, disciplined, focused, teachable, responsible and many other positive comments. She just got her admission letter to attend Oakland Christian Academy in Detroit Michigan for a year.

A couple, Mr. & Mrs Shomer are so generous to home and finance Josephine’s education in the tenth grade. This will be a huge experience for her and joyfully looks forward to it. She will go in August to start school on August 24th.

Rebecca our second born is doing fine having recovered from chicken pox a week ago. She does very well academically in school and well liked. Both girls love the Lord and sing in a school group choir.

Miriam 8 years goes to R.V.A. Monday the 22 to attend entrance interview and exam so she can join her two sisters there.

Miriam and Jared get along well while the two older girls are away in boarding school, then sides take place as soon as the two older girls come home.

Church Planting and Evangelism

God continues to give us strength to keep being focused and pushing on to the new frontiers. The new gospel target is Masol area north east and west of Lomut. This area is among those remaining yet to be reached with the gospel in our target.

There are challenges in these areas however just similar to the ones we are facing in Uganda. Taboos, animal sacrifices, elders dictatorial orders, persecution on our people and oppressive tribal prophets, ungodly directives among many are very strong challenges.

Some of the new congregations born spiritually in the middle of all the challenges include (Marich, Seker, Sirwack among many).

Pray that God will keep us focused and strong enough to face the challenges.

Orphanages

Our third orphanage, Chemolingot, is being finished and nearly ready to receive the kids that have been staying temporarily with people within the neighborhood while the dorms are getting ready. The final stages now are the toilet facilities, but the government paper preparations are very slow and bureaucratic, so much that it is really requiring a lot of prayer and patience. The other two older orphanages are going on well.

We are faced however with invasion of village children who are facing starvation in the villages. We do not know how to turn them away from the Institutions while we know for sure that they are facing death in the villages because of shortage of food which 3 million Kenyans are in desperate need of.

We are also faced with a challenge of being able to provide food for 350 kids every day in a starving nation. Just as I was writing this letter, several people have been reported to have starved to death including a young mother who just delivered twins and all three died.

Kodich Orphanage has been hit by shortage of water after the only source of water a borehole collapsed and caved in.

Urgently pray that God will intervene so we can drill another because the old one is not repairable.

Water Drilling

I have shared with some of you that as a member of parliament, I was able to free the new drilling machine from $110,000 that we would have paid for import duty.

This equipment is doing wonders in Pokot. The only hindrance or reasons for delay is the financial support the $21000 a hole and the other big problem is cutting roads to the specific spot to be drilled.

The new machine is long, high up and very heavy. So we ran into low laggers and high banks of dry rivers that make the hind of the truck hit the ground and rear wheels hang up.

But God is good, a church in Michigan gave us money for 10 holes and we have just finished drilling the fifth one. You cannot imagine and express the joy of the people on paper. There were celebrations after another as “God visited their villages.” May God continually bless you.

Please pray:

That God will intervene for Josephine’s traveling papers and also for Miriam’s admission into the boarding school.
That God will protect our people on the front line with the gospel and grow the new ones.
That God will provide the $6000 we need a month to feed and keep the orphans.
That God will continue to provide so we will keep drilling and provide water. We need $21000 a hole.

Sincerely Yours In Christ
Julius

Seeds of Hope

The Union of Baptist Churches of the DRC (UBC) Seed distribution in a refugee camp outside Goma has long labored to bring hope to the eastern, war-torn region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In a region that has suffered for many years from the harsh struggles and instabilities of war there is finally a glimpse of peace and reconciliation. Now as those in the area seek to rebuild the lives taken from them, UBC is distributing seeds of hope in an effort to show that it is only in Christ that we have hope and life.

The Democratic Republic of the Congo has faced years of instability brought on by internal fighting and unrest. As government and rebel forces waged war many caught in the crossfire were forced from their land and into internally displaced people (IDP) camps. In the camps starvation, disease, and insecurity have been daily concerns. In late 2008 it was estimated that one million people were displaced in eastern DR Congo in the latest round of fighting.

In a step of reconciliation a cease-fire agreement was signed between government and rebel groups in mid-January 2009. Many are hoping this agreement will have a lasting effect as both sides have shown evidence of cooperation. With hope those living in the area are trying to rebuild their lives.

Following the cease-fire agreement, people are returning to their homes from displaced camps. In the villages they face further hunger due to the lack of available food. The people have long relied on their small farms to sustain a food supply and provide income for the family. When fighting started and they were forced off their land the growing stopped. Now the people are struggling to get back on their feet and raise the food and income needed for the survival of their families.

The UBC has long worked in the IDP camps through evangelism and church services. Now as the people are returning to their villages and trying to restart their lives the ministry is working to provide seeds in order for the people to rebuild their farms. With little or no food to be distributed for aid the UBC is helping to reestablish a lasting food supply in the region. To date seed distribution has benefited 383 families throughout 9 districts. While many seeds have been distributed, there is still much work to be done. Having accomplished 50% of the projected goal the ministry is hoping to continue this program throughout the remainder of the year. With spring crops in the ground the ministry is looking to raise support for fall plantings in September and October.

The program has lasting effects and is promoting self-sufficiency and long-term sustainability. With a small gift of seeds the people of eastern DR Congo can begin to rebuild their self-reliance and their lives. It is the prayer of UBC and Harvesters that through this effort they may know hope and salvation in Jesus Christ.

Harvesters is working to support UBC with its goal of continue the seed distribution program. Please prayerfully consider partnering with Harvesters to continue supporting seed distribution in eastern DR Congo