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

A Vision for the Wilderness

The problems of any society aren't easily solved. When Lawrence and his family moved into the Savannah area early this year, they knew they were entering a difficult field of labor. The poverty and recurring famine had kept the region on the edge of survival. Many people spent their days in labor camps just to get a meal.

As ministers of God's love, they came with a vision to live the gospel among the poor and needy. A vocational school and training center would be established. It would take in paying students and market the items produced, thus covering costs and providing a base for local outreach and care for the destitute orphans and elderly. Given skills to become self-supporting and a place to meet for hope and encouragement, they believed life could be different for these people.

I know the desire to make a difference. And the set backs.
In a rented facility (pictured here in the spring) they were enabled to start the “Bible Center,” so-named because bringing students to an understanding of God's truth is at the heart of the study program.
Lawrence writes: "We were hoping to use part of this big building as classes and the other end as dormitories for girls---they are more than the boys. Unfortunately, there is no electricity and water and we have difficulties paying the rents. We are praying for a low cost alternative." They would like to board 40+ students, when they are able to equip for the undertaking.

It is hoped that operating from purchased land will give the work a better footing. At this time the Lord has enabled them to buy a piece of property, which sells for very cheap in this barren area, but there are no funds to start building on it yet.
Despite the slow progress, they are encouraged that this is the work the Lord has given them to do. Here several ministers listen as one brother expounds a scripture. The establishing of the Center has already been a blessing, providing a place for spiritual fellowship and a base for several “Applied Technology Training” sessions. In God's own way, He will provide for the rest.

These women are enjoying a meal served at the Center for trainees.

Several outdoor classes have been given this summer. Here Lawrence demonstrates the making of detergents for home use and resale.

Ministers from local communities have been learning how to process and pack food for resale and for future use. The aim is to train ministers who can train others in their congregations. Widows and orphans are also welcomed in these sessions.
These drying tables were made to show how fruits and vegetables can be safely preserved.

Besides teaching in practical skills this summer, calls to hold gospel meetings in other localities and the maintenance of the Center at Makindu have kept these dear ones very busy. With such pressing needs and slow progress, the outlook can be disheartening. You wish you could solve it once and for all – alleviate the suffering and supply every need. But God doesn't work that way, does He?

A quote on my wall is a meaningful reminder: “Jesus Christ didn't come into the world to explain away suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with His presence.” Why? Because only His presence will truly satisfy our hearts. God wants us to know Him and the power of His love. Yes – you and me – in our foolish materialism and petty pride. So when we take His hand and trust Him with our lives, should we be alarmed when He walks us into trouble?

Hear the intent of the Divine heart: “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfortably unto her. And I will give her vineyards from thence... a door of hope” (Hosea 2:14,15).

Yes, hope in the midst of the impossibilities of life. We need this vision when the wilderness is endless and our resources have run out. It is not about our success and alleviating suffering, after all. It is knowing the eternal God as our refuge, our fountain of living water, our source of delight. In His mercy, He measures out our troubles and heeds our cries for help. But we only know the fullness of joy when we let Him sanctify to us our deepest distress.

Do you want to see your wilderness blossom as the rose? Let God lead you to find your joy and comfort in Him, and Him alone.

Water of Life in the Savannah

Do we value our water enough? When four of my baby bunnies died of dehydration this past week, I received a needful reminder. We rely on water more than we realize... and in the heat of summer it can be almost continually. Between laundry and showers, meal preparation and small-farm irrigation, we can keep our well pump going nearly non-stop! What must it be like to live where this precious resource is so scantily measured out?

Last fall a couple of his Makindu contacts showed Lawrence this dried dam bed. The dam had been laboriously constructed in their desperate need to store water during the short rainy season. But it couldn't stand up to the flash flood that followed their single autumn downpour, and the barricade and all the precious water was lost. These gravel ridges are all that remain of their hard work and hopes:

Touring with a rented vehicle, the ministers found local living conditions even more heart-rending. Because of lack of water, many farms were reduced to starvation rations. On this homestead the family was living off of the scarce fruit of their lone baobab tree.

Contemplating the reality of their need, Lawrence wrote: The truth, the eternal water of life, is also a very rare commodity in these areas.... As we walked over gullies and dry areas, I thought of the many homes I have seen in the rich areas. They are so pretty and comfortable and the saints in these homes seem so satisfied to enjoy what the Lord has given them. There are so few that are willing to take help to these dear souls.

As I write this, my mind rests on one woman we found toiling in a little hothouse. She was trying to make food and sell it to the hungry workers who were working in a relief center nearby. She looked up as we sat in the eating room and asked us: “Are you people preachers?” We said, yes, and that we had good news for her. We told her about Jesus and how He was ready to deliver her from sins and disease. She forgot all about her work, knelt down in the little room and prayed her soul into peace. Then she asked us: “Can Jesus heal me of AIDS?” We said, yes, for He is all powerful and can do anything. We read Luke 1:37 to her: “For with God nothing shall be impossible” and left her to believe it and get healed. We found her in church on Sunday, telling us that she had been examined and declared free from AIDS viruses. God can do the impossible. Glory to His name!! Who is willing to go out and tell the good news to the lost world?

Do we marvel at this thirst for hope? It should make us think. Why, in societies flooded with so much gospel knowledge, are so many dehydrated by doubt and indifference? You have to wonder whether our barrenness is worse.

Here is a picture of the Savannah countryside taken this April, after the Lord blessed the area with rain. The local people are very grateful for this answer to prayer. Due to the short winter rains, gardens were grown on those same barren farms this spring. The dear brother writes: See the wonderful artwork of the Lord in this area. Praise the all wise and able God! “Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wondrous works declare” (Psa. 75:1). Oh, how true the word of God is. God’s wonderful mercies have been so graciously bestowed in this area... This season (January to June of 2010) the people have harvested enough to keep them well fed for a number of months, if not a year. Wherever we go, we see maize spread out on the ground to dry. Except in a few homes where there was a shortage of seeds and/or a shortage of labor, they have enough to eat. Praise the Dear Lord for His goodness.

Would you drink water out of this ditch? Drain-off reservoirs like this are the life supply of many people in the Savannah region. Lawrence comments: We are trying to teach the homesteads how to purify the water - a very difficult task given our situation and schedule. We need expert help, as the scanty water that is accessible is "salty" and soiled. But without a better alternative, we trust God to help us and thank Him for life.

Here you can see the pipeline used to drain water into containers for home use. The current purification system is to filter out most of the sediment through sand, then boil the water. The resulting water is still too salty to drink, so they are now looking into ways to remove the salt.

If siphoning water from a muddy ditch gives you the shivers, be glad you have access to a clean source. I agree – when it comes to drinking, there is nothing that compares with fresh, pure water. Why are so many living off of the scum of society, filtering their life source through the philosophies of this world, when they could have access to the pure water of life. It is just as real as the water in your pipelines and eternally more satisfying. I speak from experience. Since Jesus flowed into my barren waste (yes - sun-baked mud, skeletons, and all), I have found life full of beauty and refreshment. Are you thirsty? "Whosoever will, let hm take of the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17)

By Way of Introduction...

I like to keep busy being “useful.” But it is so easy to get buried in busyness, never see farther than my own little circle of activities. Yes, hard work and accomplishment are important. But what about opening my heart to another's need?

I think the second is often harder... we tend to to be selfish, and we don't even realize it most of the time. So I'm glad that the Lord opened my eyes to a little forgotten file on our USB drive earlier this year. It was the beginning of a new journey into the caring heart of God...

"The Savannah Report." Instead of being an outdated school file, I was surprised to discover an update from a Kenyan minister that we knew. For the last several years I had helped contribute toward his ministry, but somehow I had missed the last report. And one with pictures, too! Ten minutes later I was lost in a world I had only vaguely known existed... the vivid description of hunger and loss was poignant, but it was their thirst for hope that brought the tears. I was still wiping them away as I scrolled through the last page. The closing plea couldn't be shrugged off: “It will be my lot to stay with these people...I need your prayers.” And as I prayed, the Lord showed me ways that I could do more.

In a land so impoverished by famine that all able-bodied people soon flee, God had sent one of His children to enter into their needs and offer them hope. In these pages I'm thankful I can share in that ministry.

So what is it like to live on the dry Savannahs, just outside of those world-famous African wildlife preserves? The pictures of their day-to-day needs are vivid and compelling...

In a land of continual drought, there are long donkey treks for water. Some families go as far as ten miles before they can dig enough moisture out of the sand to take home.

Last winter, this agriculture-based region was suffering severely from famine. Food relief brought in from the Mt. Kenya region was a great blessing – a single banana and piece of sugar cane (food that is often discarded in wealthier societies) can keep someone alive for several days.

Traveling long distances by foot, children gathering to study under a tree... these are their common realities.

Here, in mud-brick buildings, they meet together for worship and instruction. In a dry and thirsty land, these people are looking for a way of life that will satisfy. What can they hope for amidst such poverty and extreme difficulties? If we can only step closer to find out...