Strengthened for the Work

There are many obstacles against progress in life. I believe discouragement is one of the worst. When the work on the new center building was begun last fall, there was much willing help and enthusiasm. Diligent effort, time, and money was poured into the effort. And the visible results cheered us all.

Then came the set backs. The fall rains eroded masonry and revealed weaknesses in the "ringto" beams. Orders for roofing timbers were delayed, and costs just kept multiplying... Time was put into other efforts and the building that was suppose to be the cornerstone of the work in Makindu has begun to take on the reproach of Jesus' parable. "All that behold it begin to mock him, saying, 'This man began to build, and was not able to finish.'" (Luke 14:30)



Dear ones, are we looking at the crumbling walls with apathy and discouragement? Here the words of one who faced the rubble of a desolate city: "Come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach." (Nehemiah 2:17) It is time to be encouraged, and remember that this is not our work, but God's. As the people of Jerusalem responded, "Let us rise up and build. So they strengthened their hands for this good work." (v. 18)

We need to be strengthened. God calls us to a good work. Not only the building up of earthly walls and buildings, but the constructing of eternal truths in lives around us. Do the "waste places" and "desolation of many generations" look impossible to restore? If we look at our resources and limitations, the obstacles are truly great. We need to look higher. We need to consider instead the ability of our God and remember that "He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it" (Phil. 1:6) and "Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it." (1 Thess. 5:24) He is the Lord of all the earth. Is anything too hard for Him?

Let us pray for one another and encourage one another in the work that God has laid before us!

In God's Hands

What better place to be?

It is our natural desire to change our circumstances to avoid pain and suffering. No hunger, no labor, no impossibilities. And in doing so we would lose the best things of life. Where would be compassion? Love? Faith? As the songwriter said, "If I had the choosing of my pathway, in blindness I would go astray..." How much better to trust our lives into the loving hands of our faithful Creator! He knows best how to truly satisfy our needs.

Today's update from Makindu echoes this confidence. Though the crops are drying up and God has withheld the much-desired rain, Brother Lawrence reports: God is not uncaring. We went to the garden of Bro. Dominic Malonza, and his testimony was: "God singled me out in this drought." His bean crop has done wonderfully well, whereas the crop has failed in several other gardens. Praise the Lord for all His care for His children, for He has said, "...I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb.13:5).

We have accepted the Lord's will in these matters and have submitted to Him to learn whatever He has for us to learn in this drought, which is now taking its toll of the crops. We still have greens available and people have not become desperate yet. If the rains come, some will harvest some maize. The animals will have fodder till the next rains if they come in April/May. So we have a lot to thank and praise the Lord for.

However, we have experienced from the past that famine causes people to seek God more seriously. So we have begun asking God to work things in such a way that more will turn to Him and look to Him for help and deliverance - not only from sin, but also all other things hindering souls from getting closer to Him.

Yes, Amen. In the Father's will every request is granted. In His hands we are safe. There is no better place to be.

Will there be a Harvest?

Every farmer wants a harvest. It is the purpose of all his planning and hard work. And it is the desire of every laborer in the Master's vineyard to see fruit. Yet it is not guaranteed. It is possible to spend weeks and months, even years, of labor and be disappointed at last. Do we value the harvest enough to keep contending for it?

Much spiritual sowing and laboring continues in the fields Brother Lawrence and his wife have been called to. Although the meetings mentioned in the last post were cut short, it soon became evident that God had appointed the change in plans so they could go minister to some elderly people in the Mount Kenya area.


Lawrence (standing with his wife) held several meetings for these dear folks, with a large attendance. "Please,pray for these old people and the neighborhood," he writes. He is also thankful to report that an elderly couple nearing death seemed clear with the Lord. Others, like the fig tree in the parable, are found with a fruitless profession. Please pray that God's faithful digging will bring a response.


The physical needs of the Makindu area are also much on the minister's heart. Though the maize and bean crops have grown well, a final rain is very much needed. We see in the green fields the hope of next year's food supply - if there is a harvest.


Because of the replenished water supply from the earlier rains, this brother has been able to irrigate his fruit orchard. The maturing oranges (above) and mangoes (below) promise sweet reward for his labors.



Like in most temporal cares of life, the spiritual effects are not far away. The pressing needs of life bring us to the end of our resources and require us to seek for help. We know the parable Jesus told of the poor widow and the unjust judge. Though it illustrated the need to "pray and not to faint," how often does the "unanswered yet" prayers seem in vain? Listen to our Lord's conclusion: "Shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily." (Luke 18:7-8) Do we believe Him?

Will we neglect to pray for these dear people? There is expectant, faith-filled patience for us to learn in our labors. "Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until they receive the early and latter rain." (James 5:7)


"Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith on the earth?"

The Water of Life

Praise the Lord, another season of rain has been given to the Makindu area! To those familiar with the barren outlook of continual drought, these prospering fields are a vision of hope and promise:




Though the rains were heavy enough to collapse a meeting house roof, they were a much-sought-for answer to prayer. In this land of continual struggle to survive, water is truly the source of life. Please remember them in prayer as they continue to tend their crops and trust God to supply their daily needs.

I am reminded of Ezekiel's vision (chapter 47) that describes the river that flows from the sanctuary, bringing life wherever it goes. We are told that the banks are lined with trees that produce a continual supply of fruit. Such bounty is enjoyed in the Mt. Kenya district which the minister visited recently:

Bananas

Pawpaws

Mango, Avacado, Macadamia nut trees

and Passion fruit flourishes. The possibility of having such abundance for the picking seems ideal, but it is sobering to note that it hasn't produce spirituality in the soul. Instead of the fruit of godliness and faith and love, spiritual corruption and mere profession abound in the Mt. Kenya region. How many forfeit spiritual life for the comforts of earthly wealth and prestige!

Beginning last Friday, an extended meeting began in Makindu with many traveling to attend. Let us remember this effort to offer truth to the spiritually thirsty, as the Lord lays it on our hearts. Brother Lawrence writes: "Opposition in various ways is very high, but we know the Lord never lost a battle. All is for our good. Praise the Dear Lord !!"

The potential for a fruitful harvest is possible because of the Water of Life, which is not limited by the barren circumstances. It is Jesus that makes all the difference, for He came that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10)

A Time to Root

This season of "Thanksgiving" is a time to appreciate the abundance in our lives. Not just the plentiful food, but the comforts of home and the love of family and friends. These blessings don't just happen, do they? Many are suffering from the lack of them in very real ways. All around me I see people living in starvation in the midst of a land of plenty. Why?

It is a question worth digging into. Like in many other problems of life, the answers are buried for us to search out.

Take a look at the situation in Makindu for instance. As I marvel at the flourishing landscape, so transformed by the recent rains, it is hard to image that the famine conditions are becoming more severe.

"This is an expansive plain with an underground river that is used for animals in the dry weather," Lawrence explains. "Cows, goats and sheep graze here freely, with each person caring for his own. There is plenty of fodder coming up in the rainy weather. See how green the shrubs have become already? If the rains continue the bushes will grow higher and become more succulent."

"Goats are the main source of income for the average person here. Adult goats sell in the market for about 3000 Kenya shillings (around US $ 40)."

Grazing livestock on green pastures. Is there anything more beautiful or inspiring? This picture of abundance, like so much that is good in life, isn't mere chance. It is made possible by the unseen millions of rootlets that have thrust deep into the soil to drink. What difference would the rain make if there were no roots to claim it? It is also the result of investment and sacrifice. Please pray for the families in this area that are seeking the Lord for the means to become more self-supporting.



Here are the new maize crops after the first weeks of rain. But now the land is drying up again. The precious seed was planted and the water brought it to life, but unless it roots deep what hope does it have? Like the seed sown in the rocky ground, will it be scorched in the Kenya heat and wither away for lack of being established? "Please, pray that God returns the rains back and gives us enough. Otherwise the famine in the area will be long and painful."



I can't but think human souls are in the same condition. Unless we take hold of the water of life that God has sent our way, and root down deep, today's successes don't have much meaning. We may endure for awhile, but in time of trouble and persecution because of truth we will become offended and wither away. (Matthew 13:21) It is easy to grow when the "going is good," but the farmer knows his crop isn't established until it can stand in the heat and hold up in the wind. Now is the time to root down, so let us be praying both for ourselves and the many seekers out there.

Consider the Lord's intentions: "For as the rain comes down... and waters the earth, and makes it to bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater: so shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth... it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." (Isaiah 55:10-11) Do we believe that Word and let it bring life eternal to us? Here is the secret of flourishing, for what we receive at the root-level will be produced in our lives.

Delays of Mercy

The work on the center building has been making slow progress recently. The roofing timber that has been ordered from Tanzania is costing more than expected and taking longer to arrive. Meanwhile, the much-needed rains are here, slowing down construction.

Here you can see how the walls are being built up between the pillars, while the roofing is being waited on.

It was a great blessing that the sewage hole has been completed! The masonry lining will prevent the heavy rains from eroding the sides, so all that is needed is the concrete cover now. Praise God!


Other inspection doesn't seem too heartening, though. Here the "ringto" is cracking, due to mistakes made by the mason. It will have to be rebuilt again.

At this corner you can see the joint is weak. Surely not strong enough to support the heavy roofing timbers! As we learn to trust the great Manager of our times and seasons, we see His hand of mercy in it all. "It is good that the timber is delayed," Lawrence acknowledges, "because if the roofing was done when this weakness was not noticed, the roof might have crumbled. It is a blessing."


Isn't this true of our lives? In mercy God sends adversity and set backs. While we might see these troubles as needless delays, they are often critical for our growth. That is, if we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal our need and restore us. I don't like having to "redo" things anymore than you. But isn't better to humble down and receive correction and alignment in our lives, than to ruthlessly pursue high attainments - only to have our building come crumbling down about us later?

"Therefore will the LORD wait, that He may be gracious unto you, and therefore will He be exalted, that He may have mercy u0pon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for Him." Isaiah 30:18

Rains of Mercy

The rains have come to Makindu!

Do we thank God for rain? Do we stop to consider the life-giving source sprinkled so liberally upon us? Drops of mercy, every one. Sent from the One who knows our smallest needs - "that maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust" - the One who truly cares.

The reservoirs fill with with water again.

And rivers appear in the dry gullies, where marsh vegetation flourishes.

Wells brim up with a life-giving water for the dry months ahead. "Praise God and thank Him for the rains," Brother Lawrence writes. "We have had heavy showers and the crops have begun germinating where seed has been available."


God's mercies can be overlooked. The day-to-day needs are still pressing. There are many suffering in famine, hardly able to see beyond the need of the present. They come to the meetings, glad for the food hand-outs twice a week.


Yesterday's meeting was packed with visitors. Pray that more may come hungry for the Word of life and invest in the hour of their opportunity. The heavens have been opened upon the barren Savannah in more ways than one, bringing hope for the future and a witness to God's everlasting faithfulness. Who will prepare their heart for the gospel seed?

"Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till He come and rain righteousness upon you." Hosea 10:12