Praise Report

Thank you for all that have been praying for the roofing project and famine needs. Brother Lawrence sent in a brief update today:

Praise the Dear Lord for all His great love and grace. We praise the Lord for helping us, at long last, to finish the most difficult part of the building project --the roofing. We are so grateful to God and all those saints who worked so close with us to get this far. Glory to God. By ourselves, we would not have gone this far. Saints here are so grateful that some are spending some time in the building praying, praising, and singing to God for all His gracious deeds to us. The rest can be done slowly and as time and funds allow. Our stalled projects can now be started in January. Praise the Dear Lord for all His goodness. We are so grateful to all of the children of God who so fervently prayed for us and did all they could for God's glory. Amen.

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Also the rains have come and have been falling for the last week. The crops (and other vegetation) are now germinating. There is a great encouragement from the Lord for every one as they see His love and look forward to getting out of the famine by January next year, Lord willing. In about two week's time, the greens will be ready for eating. Praise the Lord.

Roofing Update

Brother Lawrence reports that several iron sheets have now been added to the Center building this week.

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"This is the farthest we are able to go with the roofing, given the resources the Lord had put on our hands," he says. "The Dear Lord has been so gracious as to get us this far. We are now able to use the part of the building that is roofed without having to bake in the sun or getting wet as we used to do before. Praise the Lord.

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"The progress has been slow. but the blessings we have received as we have worked on have been many and wonderful. We plan to fix the iron sheets bit by bit as we get the funds, but we need the Lord's intervention so that the timber will not warp as it gets dried up by the sun. All the same, God has been so good to us. Glory, glory to His name."

Brick upon Brick

Sometimes it seems we are doing the same thing over again. Repetition is certainly part of life, but it can be hard to find inspiration - especially when the task is difficult, dull or discouraging. It is easier to measure the aches and pains and feel the drag. It is harder to lift our eyes to see the big picture - the heavenly view.

The work begun a year ago on the Bible Center is still proceeding - brick upon brick. Each load has to be hauled up by bucket, which has proved to be heavy, slow work. The Lord has allowed the rains to hold off at this point, for which they are thankful.

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Here is the finished gable on the eastern end. As funds allow, they hope to start attaching the metal roofing sheets this week. Because masons cost more money to hire, the final brickwork may have to wait. But the brother is encouraged that God is able to complete His work in His timing. Let us be praying for this ministry, as the famine is pinching the area quite hard right now.

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Yes, we all desire to see accomplishment. Efficiency and progress are naturally inspiring. But does that mean we should be dragged down when things go slow? When all that before you is another brick, another day of unfinished work? I am encouraged to stop looking for progress and embrace God's purpose in the moment. Am I drawing nearer to Him, learning the lessons and receiving the benefits He has lovingly designed? As in the parable - it wasn't the rock that budged, but the man that grew stronger in pushing it.

Ready for Roofing

Brother Lawrence updated this morning that the roof is now ready for the metal sheeting. They have enough on hand to get started - "glory to God."

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As the building is prepared for usefulness, let us be praying for those that will be involved in using it. May the work of God prosper in this barren land.

The Shadow of Rain

The roof trusses are now in place, but there continues to be delay for lack of some needed supplies. Please support this effort in prayer. The rains began on Friday, so another roofless meeting might have a rather different effect this weekend. Brother Lawrence asks prayer that they would not get wet in services.

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A Shadow From the Heat

So often we don't appreciate blessings until we are in need of them. We don't recognize the benefits of good health and plenty until we are afflicted or in want. And we don't realize how much we need a shadow until we sit in the baking sun.

After several months of preparation, the congregation in Makindu is looking forward to having a roof over their heads. Brother Lawrence reports, "As this, hopefully, is our last day in the hot Savannah sun, we are all so grateful to the Lord."

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The children were the first to gather for the meeting yesterday.

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A little shade is better than none...

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...and in the Lord there is always reason to rejoice.

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Several of the sisters had special songs to share.

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Lord willing, the roof will be completed this week. "Timber for roofing this house has now arrived," Lawrence reports. "Praise the Lord."

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"The trusses being made. Glory to God for all His goodness. This day has been awaited for so long. Thank you, Lord..."

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"A few of the congregation were available to help in the work," Lawrence reports. "but it goes on with the two expert carpenters available."

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Here are the bricks ready to add to the gable side of the roof.

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"The view of the building from a distance. The drainage now needs urgent attention and is our next target," he says.

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Praise the Lord that He knows what we need, and how to supply it in Himself. He is certainly "a strength to the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat..." (Isaiah 25:4)

The City of our God

Jesus said, "A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid" and so we see that the light of God shed abroad in our lives draws the seeking souls all around. Brother Lawrence reports: "Here at Makindu, we have many attending the services now. We are using the building even thought it is not yet roofed. God is dealing with hearts in such a way that we are sitting so many hours answering questions. Several have been coming from the other areas around Makindu. Please, pray for us to always walk in, and be led by, the Spirit as we try to feed the hungry souls." Several of the ministers that had attended the August meeting report on how the Lord has inspired and dealt with them. Praise God for His faithfulness!

The timber for roofing the center is now ready and they hope to be fixing the trusses this week. Extra time is needed to brush chemicals on the wood to prevent termite and weevil problems. They are praying that the Lord would enable them to finish before the rains, which are due in late October. Also, they have been advised to enlarge the drainage pits, which will cost extra time and money. But the vision for the work continues to unfold as God leads and blesses the labors. There is no cause to doubt His resources to carry on His work, both in the spiritual and temporal realms. May we crown Him Lord and King to "do as He will with us to advance His Kingdom," as the dear brother says.  

Psalm 48 describes it well: "Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of His holiness. Let mount Zion rejoice... because of Thy judgments. Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof. Mark you well her bulwarks, consider her palaces; that you may tell it to the generation following. For this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto death." (v. 1, 11-14) 

Beyond Ourselves

The work of God is always beyond our resources or abilities. Though the Makindu ministry has been strengthened and encouraged through the recent meetings, there continues to be physical hindrances. After traveling to the Mount Kenya region for some God-appointed visits at the beginning of this month, brother Lawrence states: "we were grounded with exhaustion." He and his wife suffer from head and backaches with such trips, he explains. "I believe it is fatigue that goes with old age. These things slow me somewhat. So I have a backlog of work now. Please, pray for us to be blessed with a vehicle. It would ease up matters a lot."


They were greatly encouraged that funds were provided for roofing the Bible Center, and plans were made to start last week. "However, the people we had given the order for timber did not deliver," he says. "So we had to give others the order and we are expecting the timber any time now. We have had to pay a lot more than we wanted to, which has eroded the funds we had for the iron roofing sheets. But we are hoping to make up for this in adding the iron sheets slowly, bit by bit, on the timber."


The desire for people to receive spiritual light and to live to glorify God is the burden of his heart. "I know it will come, for we have began seeing God moving in wonderful ways," he writes. "Please, please, pray on. The true church of God, where God is given the right of glory, ownership and rule is just beginning to shine forth in this area amidst the denominational organizations which have influenced the lives of the people. It will take time for the inbred habits to be cleaned out of the lives of the saints and for them to lift God always."

The counsel of Psalm 118:8-9 is true: "It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man. It is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in princes." It is better. It will end up right. Let us look beyond people and circumstances and places and things to the Author and Finisher of our faith. He alone is worthy of our confidence. Amen.

Laborers Together

The Spinks have returned from their Makindu mission trip with much to tell. Sunday evening was spent recounting their experiences with a photo slide show, and we rejoice to see God at work. It is a privilege to share in His labors in this far corner of the vineyard.

The blessings flowed in little ways...

Excited children hold up their colorful "Jesus Loves Me" bookmarks.

Almonds proved to be a favorite treat.

The literature table was crowded after every service.

The intensive week of meetings brought the ministers close as they shared burdens and labored together.
Standing together in the new Bible Center building.
Inspecting drying bricks, handmade with the local clay soil.
Brothers Lawrence, Mark, and Alvin working together on technical details.
A special kinship developed with Winnie and Melvin, as the Lord united hearts for the spiritual burden-bearing.

The trips to three outlying congregations gave more insight into the great needs these people face, while providing experience in spiritual warfare.

At Mbisu Mbiu on Friday...
Brother Melvin interprets the message.
Interceding for those that came forward with prayer requests.
As typical of these places, food was cooked over a simple fire pit in the kitchen hut.

And James Benson's congregation on Saturday...

A sister shares her testimony. Here and there were those overflowing with God's goodness.
An aged man testifies to being saved from witchcraft, which is a common recourse in this land.
The simple brick meeting house and kitchen hut.

Sunday was spent with Anastasia's congregation...
There were many children and youth at the meeting here.
And the burden for spiritual substance was very heavy on the preachers.
A special meal was served outside... and Anastasia asked for a prayer of dedication for her new meeting house.

Back in Makindu, they enjoyed last visits and good-byes.
Kenyan hospitality includes handwashing before meals - here at the Lawrence home.
A family photo: Josephine & Alvin (parents of oldest boy and twins), Wilma (and son), Mike, Evalyn, Joyce and Lawrence.
Dominic with his family - the youngest a new baby that his wife was told she could never have. They praise the Lord for His healing power!
Winnie and Melvin wave good-bye. Soon it is time to leave the dusty roads for the highway north to Nairobi and the flight home.

"He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." - Psalm 126:6

Let Them Come...

The gospel meeting at Makindu this week was held in a rented hall, with daily services Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.


People traveled from as far as Meru, near Mount Kenya (here brother Edward leads the service)


and the coastal city of Mombassa (a new young couple, Winnie and Melvin).


Some were curious, some hungry.


By God's blessing, there was food to nourish the body...



and Bread of Life to feed the soul. Here brother Lawrence translates for brother Mark. He reports, "He has been so blessed of the Lord that he preached for two days walking about in the rostrum and even jumping in praise to God. Thank you for prayers."


The ministers' wives, Joyce and Elois, served together in the kitchen.


Others shared the blessings of salvation through song.


The youth and their teacher were especially blessed to participate in the meetings.


James (center) has asked that a meeting be held at his congregation at Kawala, on Saturday. On Sunday the doors have been opened to go out to Anastasia's (in green) congregation at Kibwezi.


It is a joy and privilege to be one of those who have tasted of the living water and eaten from the tree of life. But it is even more wonderful to be able to share such blessings with the needy in the world around us.

"And the Spirit and the Bride say 'Come!' And let the one who hears say, 'Come!' And let anyone who is thirsty come. And let whosoever will take of the water of life freely." Revelation 22:17

And "let the little children come, for of such is the kingdom of heaven."