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)
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.
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
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."
It is a great privilege to know the love of God shed abroad in our hearts. Certainly it is a treasure too good to keep to ourselves, and we can say with Paul "the love of Christ contraineth us." It calls us to consider the needy, to extend our energies to distant lands and cultures, to rejoice with others who "know the joyful sound" and pray for those who are distressed and afflicted.
We thank the Lord for the report from Makindu this week. When the announcement was given for the upcoming meeting, there was "a great stir among the youth," brother Lawrence says. "They wanted to come together to learn songs to use in the meeting. They came in, and for a week they had been in prayers and preparation for the meeting."
Though the building is still unfinished, it gives opportunity for classes to be held. This young sister has consecrated to help teach the youth.
Here an older sister (already a great-grandmother) gives instruction to the class. Brother Lawrence was encouraged to see his youngest son, Mike (seated in white), participate as well. For the last few months he has been seeking God and now testifies of the Lord's salvation. Certainly, "we love Him because He first loved us." Praise Him!
From experienced teachers to enthusiastic youth, seasoned believers to babes in Christ, this week's camp meeting has been much anticipated and planned for. Thank the Lord that He is able to meet the needs of the human heart and shed abroad His love in every soul that will yield to Him!
Sunday's message was given by the visiting minister from America, Mark Spinks, on God's perfect creation and the fall of man. Here the ministers and their wives pray with those that have come forward to seek God. Please pray for the Word of God to have free course in the meetings, and that the Holy Spirit will empower and illumine human hearts.
The desire is to hold meetings all this week, as God provides. Please pray for this field of labor. We are trusting the Lord to multiply the limited resources to meet the need!
The multitudes were hungry. They had come long distances and the wilderness didn't offer much to live on, but they had pressed out to hear Jesus. Now it was getting late and there was nothing to eat. Nothing? Well, only a little boy's lunch. Not enough for a hungry man. Certainly nothing to meet the need of the masses. But the Master said, "Bring it to me." And He gave thanks for the little that was placed in His hand, because He knew what He could do with it.
Today, as two dear children of God in America board their plane for Kenya, the image is the same. The need for these meetings in Makindu is too great for any person or group of people to ever reach. But we serve a great and mighty God. His power is not limited by famine or drought. His love is not stopped by culture or nationality. His Spirit is able to reach the deepest and most complex needs of society - and to divide between the thoughts and intents of every soul. How precious to put our little in His hands and sit down in expectation of what He can do!
Asking. It seems a simple thing to do, but how often do we desire enough to really seek an answer?
Sometimes we are too busy to care.
Sometimes we are ashamed of being needy.
Sometimes we are afraid of being turned down.
Sometimes we think we've asked enough already.
There are limits to asking, aren't there? We've been taught that being dependent on others is avoiding our own responsibility. It isn't their job to carry our load, after all. And other people don't have all the answers, either. We all come to the end of our resources at some point... all of us humans, that is.
But there is one who says "Ask" and "Ask largely" and "Ask of Me and I will give..." Do we know that loving heart of generosity? Have we come close enough to see His vision of our need? Do we really desire to receive what He has to offer? Do we care enough for the need to ask, and ask largely?
As the needs for the August meeting in Makindu pile up, let us be asking God for what He has to give. He is not limited. And His vision of the need goes so much farther and deeper than our own.
We see the unfinished building, completed to rafter height and awaiting a roof (which cost seems prohibitive right now).
We see the people, spiritually and physically needy.
And those eager to share truth, yet still so young in their faith and understanding.
Here Alvin testifies - he is "living by his Bible" and speaks of God at every opportunity, but still needs God's equipping and sanctifying for ministry
Brother Dominic Malonza, who ministers at Mbisu Mbiu. The Lord has healed his wife, and they are now expecting a baby.
Dominic introducing the congregation to prophesy.
Brother Philip and his wife, sister Niomi, leading the singing in the Kimooini congregation.In all these needs and burdens, what does our God see? What is possible in Him?
"Ask of Me, and I shall give you the heathen for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession." Psalm 2:8
