Weak, Base, Despised

Living conditions in this desert region of Kenya certainly don't look impressive by our affluent standards. Growing up in poverty poses many difficulties. Here we are given a glimpse into the lives of several local children that this ministry is endeavoring to help.


Grace Mbungi is in her second year of high school and has been recently saved. She is one of Tabitha's granddaughters and was home from school the last time Brother Lawrence visited for a Bible study. The school had expelled her because she couldn't meet the payments. Her desire is to study at the new Bible Center in between her acedemic studies, but she is hindered by her desparate need of money for school fees and other expenses. Like any other young person, Grace wants her life to be useful. After her own studies are complete, she hopes is to train other orphans in skills that will help them be self-supporting.


Here is the kitchen (brick building) and storeroom (thatched hut) of Alice Kimanga, a 67-year-old widow that lost her husband many years ago.


When her daughter-in-law died, and her son disappeared and never returned, Alice was left to raise her two grandchildren, Duncan and Dorcas. Their house was built by supporters, and the ministry has been supplying food and helping with school needs. At this time they have only have one pair of good clothes, which the children save for attending the worship services and other occasions.


Duncan Kimanga Mutisya is 9 years old, and shows great interest and intelligence in the children's services that he attends.


His sister, Dorcas Nzilani Mutisya, is five. She suffers from the loss of her mother and doesn't remember her father. "Dorcas is a little behind," Lawrence reports, "but the Dear Lord is able to lift."


This is Wambua Moyanga, age 13. He and his brother, Alex (next photo), lost their mother six years ago. Their father married again, but is gone most of the time looking for jobs to support his family. "The boys are attending services with us," Lawrence says. "We have been feeding and buying them clothes, as well as meeting their school needs since early this year."


Alex, age 11, has been eager to serve God, and recently witnessed to his father. He even has been helping with the construction of the first building in the center, which has required a lot of time and hard labor recently. Since they have not been able to afford to hire workers, the stone and water hauling, digging and foundation work have been all carried on by the ministry and volunteer helpers like Alex.

Weak, base, despised, yes. But such "God hath chosen" to further His work, His way. (1 Cor. 1:27-31) Do we dare despise these "small things" when God is the Champion of such? It serves us well to remember that He has called the poor of this world "Blessed... for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." It is here He delights to show His power and love. Do you know that privileged place in your life?

As the dear brother wrote just today:

Greetings in the name of the Almighty, who is sure to care for all His business. I was praying this morning and the Lord led me to Math. 2:11 "And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh". After reading the verse I was amazed at the great love and care that God lavishes on His own. He will certainly supply all that is needed to accomplish His errand--strength, wisdom, patience, and material. Thank you very much for prayers.

What a blessing to be an heirs together with Jesus, children of the heavenly King!

A Visit to some Makindu Orphans

I've been eager to meet of the people of Makindu that we have been hearing so much about, and I expect you have, too. And now we have the opportunity to do just that, so hop on a bike and join me for a trek into the Savannah countryside.


Today's visit will be to Agnes' homestead. Since it is about a 10 kilometer (6 mile) ride, we'll need to stop and rest along the road. Here is Lawrence's son, Alvin, who is often involved in visiting the orphans in their homes.


After a good hour trip, we bump up a winding lane between barren trees and dead bushes. "It can be beautiful during the wet season," we are told, "but it is the dry season now."


Here is the house where Agnes and her grandchildren sleep. Since the death of her two daughters and their husbands (due to AIDS, which is a common but sensitive topic to these people), she has been caring for her five grandchildren in desperately poor conditions.


Agnes (who prefers to go by her second name, Tabitha) comes out to greet us with three of her grandchildren. She has no job and with the recurring drought it has been nearly impossible to provide for her family on her 10-acre homestead. She receives the food we have brought gratefully. She would like to attend the meetings in Makindu, but it is impossible because of the distance. It is a blessing when someone can come out to hold short services and have a Bible study with her.


Progress is being made on her new house, and we stop to help a little before we head on. Clay soil is common and so, with enough water to make bricks, Tabitha has been able to build cheaply. Some good neighbors have helped, and the visiting ministers give a hand when they are able.


Simon Shadrack Mbungi is Tabitha's 17-year-old grandson. He is planning to be trained at the Bible Center in basketry, a skill which could help sustain the family. Along with his grandmother, he will learn how to make food warming and cooking baskets which have a ready market here.


Until the new Center is ready, Simon lives in this little house next to his grandmother's.


Before we leave, we stop by the homestead's toilet shelter. Though these people live by the barest necessities, it is pleasure to see the courage and hope they have shown by making the best of them.


Our long ride home gives us many things to think about. The dry landscape reflects the difficult conditions that these people live under. "If we get enough rains in October, we will be blessed," our guide tells us. "Please, pray that we are blessed with them. If the rains fail, we are in for a very severe famine until the next rains come in March."

Let us pray, too, that these dear ones will be sustained by the water of Life in the midst of their loneliness and hardship. It is our place "to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction" (James 1:27). Why? Because that is where Jesus is - right among "the least of the these," carrying their load and loving them through it. Am I one with Him?


"He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. If any man will serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be..." John 12:25-26

The Work Goes On

After losing the use of the rented facility at the beginning of the month, the Lord has provided enough for the work to go on. At this time the urgent need is for the new Center building, which is being built on the property purchased earlier this summer. Here is a brief update on the ministry and work in Makindu, received yesterday:

It has been a real busy time since mid last week. We have had to make visits to the homes of the orphans and reorganize our work schedule so that we can be able to minister to them in their places of residence. We are doing it on foot and bicycles, and sometimes we have to get home late. Then we are competing with time to get the new building we have planned to put up ready before the end of this month when the rains are expected to start. It will be a very low cost building made mostly with cheap volcanic stones with soil as cement. The collecting of the stone is also a very strenuous job, but we are getting a wonderful blessing from the work. All in all, it has been a blessing to get out of the rented building. It is more satisfying to expect our own building. Glory to God.

Let us keep these dear ones in our prayers. It is a privilege to take part in this labor of love, knowing the poor and needy are on the Lord's heart, for "Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly." (Psalm 138:6)

Cast down, but not destroyed

I thank the Lord that His power is made perfect in weakness. It is our part to trust Him when troubles and set backs surround us. Here is the current report from "the firing line" in Makindu:

We were not able to pay this month's rent for the Center. We pay in advance. We have been closed out and needed to remove our equipment right away to avoid a debt that would force us to lose every thing. Until we build on our new property, we have to discontinue the center's planned activities and continue to care for the orphans in their own residences, whenever possible, and to do any training in the open on our own property. However, the Dear Lord's presence is real and we are not in any way disappointed, knowing that all things work for the good of God's children. His comforting presence is just wonderful. His being with Stephen even at death point is a real encouraging reminder to us. Praise the Lord who promised that He will never leave nor forsake us.

Yes, amen.
Jeremiah 50:34