MInistry in Kisumu

As we are getting ready to head back to the states for a couple months, we thought it a good idea to put up a ministry update blog post. I thought it would be helpful to share several different aspects of ministry that we are currently involved in here in Kisumu. Hopefully you'll get an idea of life, ministry, praises, prayer requests, etc. from reading this brief update.
Wednesday Night Bible Study: One of the biggest highlights for us in this season has been the Bible Study that has been started on Wednesday nights. We meet in Pastor Stephen and Maureen's house and typically have between 8 and 12 people (mostly men). As the African stereotype goes, things never start on time... but this is one exception. Most people are there 5min early because they don't want to miss out on the teaching of God's Word. After the first week as an introduction (topical study on The Word) we've begun the trek through Genesis (just this week finishing chapter 4). We start with a couple worship songs (sometimes in Kiswahili and sometimes in English) and then begin digging right into the Word. Pastor Stephen has been teaching in English with an occasional kiswahili interjection or explanation. After the 45min teaching and closing prayer the floor is opened up for question and answer. There are always a handful of questions, some which have sprung from the study and others that have been waiting for a time and place to ask from long before. I'm blessed that I often get to be part of fielding some of those questions. We then close with a song and prayer and depending on if the evening storm has come or gone, we then head out back to our home across town. Something that Peggy and I have truly enjoyed is the commitment and enthusiasm of the men who are coming (and at this point it is mostly men coming) for the Word. We are praying that the first leaders of the church will be from among this group.
Friday Night Worship and Prayer: Among other highlights, our Friday night worship time has been high on the list each week. We sporadically started this gathering by informally inviting a few over to just sing worship songs and pray for each other. We didn't know that it would grow to an average of 20-25 people each week. Unlike the Bible Study where we are the only white people, this group is mostly people from foreigners (like us) to Kenya. I'm blessed to have an opportunity to use the talents that God has given me to sing and play and lead, and also to have a venue where I can Worship the Lord in song the way we are familiar with in our own church back home. There have been several of these nights that the presence of the Lord has been so real amongst us that it is hard to bring it to a close. Another aspect of this group is how diverse everyone is in terms of their religious affiliation (all Christians) but very different backgrounds.
Discipleship: Both me and my wife have been making a point to get together individually with Stephen and Maureen in a discipleship manner. Stephen and I have been spending most of our time discussing the in's and out's of church ministry here in Kisumu and how the Lord would have us move forward. Peggy and Maureen have been studying the book of Philippians together. Each of our times has been so delightful and fruitful. Even if the Lord took us to be with Him or sent us away to another place, we know that this couple would be just fine to continue the work the Lord has purposed here in Kisumu.
Men's/Women's Bible Study: Peggy and I have also been blessed to join a Men's/Women' bible study respectively, where each of us are able to connect with other missionaries of the same sex for prayer, accountability, and studying through the Word. We know that having this component will be key and crucial to our 'long term' desire to live here and continue to be effective in a cross-cultural setting.
LIFE: Although I could go on for a while several other things which each have their value, the aforementioned ministries have been the major areas we've been blessed to serve through here in Kisumu so far. Aside from these there's a ministry of Daily Life that always presents itself, and should not be undervalued or missed. Almost daily we have visitors knock at our gate seeking for help (usually financially) or some other need. We also have those who are with is daily in and around the house (Mary, Cynthia, Sunday, Joseph, Thomas) just to name a few. Our lives are constantly on display and opportunities to pray for them are always there. We are blessed that Sunday has prayed to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior and spends several hours a day reading the Bible in his native language (Luo). We also have the ministry to one another as a family (husband to wife, parent to child) which if these falter or break down at any time our effectiveness any where else is greatly diminished if not rendered completely ineffective. Thus, of all we do, this is perhaps the most valuable and pivotal of all our ministry opportunities. So please keep this and all these ministries in your prayers. We are stoked to see what God will do in and through us here in Kisumu. And we are also excited to be able to spend some time back in the States regrouping, catching/refining vision, and connecting and re-connecting with family and friends.
May the Lord richly bless you today!
Matt for the P3

First Bible Study for Church Plant

The first Bible Study for the church plant was last night at Pastor Stephen's new home here in Kisumu town. As we drove as a family to the Bible study the giant hills that line one side of Kisumu were lit up brilliantly with the shinning of the sun. It was an incredible sight and we were wishing we had the camera but chose not to bring it for the first study. As we turned into a busy intersection we had to stop and reverse suddenly as to not run into several boda-bodas. (Taxi bikes) As we reversed several young men began pounding on the back of our car. Matt looked at me and said, "I don't like this intersection," and I agreed wholeheartedly. We journeyed down a dirt road just for a short time and then turned down a smaller road. When we reached Pastor Stephen's house we noticed the community of houses were surrounded by big trees that created a nice shade for the children playing and the women working. We were so glad the first study was going to be in his home. It was so exciting to be at their lovely home and pray for the service as well as see John Mark their son and Kenya Grace greet one another so happily. As we gathered together in the small room Matt led a couple of songs in which Kenya Grace sang the chorus to one of them loudly. :)As Stephen began to teach and a few more people arrived I couldn't help but smile as I remembered three years ago sitting with Stephen and Matt asking him why he wasn't pastoring. Stephen felt at that time that he was called to be an assistant but here we were three years later sitting in his home and listening to his powerful teaching of the Word of God. As chickens roamed by the door to the house and rain began to pour towards the end of service I thanked God for this amazing experience and knew that this was one of the reasons we had come to Kenya; to help support this kind of work. As we fight feeling well today in our household we thank God for His greatness and rest in peace that He is already doing a great work! Glory to God!

Update on Life!

Though we have only been here two months in Kisumu it seems we have been here forever. Our weeks are passing quickly and fill up very fast. We have had the privilege to meet with many missionaries here in Kisumu and glean from them about ministry, living, and being parents on the mission field. We have been so blessed to hear what many do here in Kisumu for the Lord and we have learned so much from them. We continue to be so grateful for the missionary community here and the family we are to one another even in such a short time.

We now have Kenya Grace visiting a pre-school for a short time one day a week to connect and socialize with Kenyan children in the community. It has been a blessing for both Kenya Grace and I as we get to know people and build relationships. We also are involved in a play group that is a huge blessing and a chance for Kenya Grace to be around another girl her age. Of course where ever we go she receives lots attention so our girl is definitely not lonely.

We have been so blessed by the young man Sunday that God brought into our lives as he as received Jesus as Lord and Savior. He walks with a new joy and a new smile and it is such a blessing to see him reading his Bible every chance he gets. He soaks up every minute when he and Matt get into the Word together. Praise God!

We are so happy that Stephen and his family have moved into their new home and we are so thankful for the time he and Matt have been getting to connect about starting a church and what that looks like and to spend time in prayer together. We are praying this week might bring even more direction.

I have been able to attend a women's Bible study in one of the slum areas here and assist in the teaching. It was such a huge blessing and felt so right to be in that area. Lord willing I will be assisting a woman named Mary Lynn (from Texas)on Tuesdays for the study. I am so excited about this small group of woman and their desire to grow in the Word.

We continue to rejoice in the fact that God is using the Friday night worship times as a time of refreshment and even uniting the community of missionaries here in Kisumu. It has been such a blessing to enter the throne room together and see what the Lord is doing through it.

Of course we face daily challenges in just living here. Wether it is water, electricity, heat, driving, exhaustion, communication, facing unmoral living, etc. we find ourselves often facing the opportunity to die to ourselves and live for Christ. It is more challenging some days than others but we rest in the fact that we are works in progress continuing to learn to surrender to our Savior and respond according to His spirit!

We thank you for your prayers and love. We are looking forward to our visit to the States over the Holidays and seeing family and friends. :)
God bless you all!
Peg for The P3