A week on the ground, in the field, talking to disciples in villages, hearing firsthand what’s happening in the lives of real people with real stories is always amazing. We try to support, encourage and train leaders who are making disciples who are also making disciples. Any chance to put a name and face on these disciples living in remote areas brings a fresh reality to the transformations taking place. Repeatedly we hear people talk about the insurmountable challenges of African life and the discouragement they faced emotionally, physically and spiritually. Having an opportunity to sit and be with them and hear the hope, the peace and the stability they now have is like hearing one miracle story after another! Here are a few “snaps” from our week:
First, thank you for praying! God kept us safe once again (not to mention all the billion times He has when we weren’t even aware of what He was doing)!
Roger’s post on FB if you didn’t see it:
Not joking. I just posted about (going on) this small-plane ride. Turns out that after dropping us off it had an incident at its next stop. A wheel fell off and it had to make an emergency landing. A wheel fell off??? In any case we feel quite protected by the grace of God.
“NEWS ALERT!
Silverstone Air plane makes emergency landing at Eldoret AIRPORT. It lost one wheel during take off.”
So, praise God we arrived safely in Kitale at the air strip where kids off school now til January were hanging out along the chain linked fence waiting to watch a plane landing.
Getting to spend time with friends and their families in Kitale:
And then south onto other areas in Western Kenya…Here are some pictures from our week:
Checking on farm projects worked by and the profits used by house church families…
Emelda
Robert
Walking up from the garden we met one of the family’s six sons. He and his brother were just getting home from collecting firewood in the forest.
The family’s home. Note the pen for geese attached and part of the structure is a pen for their much valued cow. All of the containers you see (yellow) are for carrying water.
Emelda harvested kale for us to use to help feed those who would be joining us for trainings the next couple of days.
Traveling with a van full of men is always interesting, but you can bet there’s always food involved!!! Note the bag full of mendazi (donuts). Not to mention, a day without getting stuck at least once, rarely happens. I was blessed to be reassured this time (unlike others) that yes, we did have a spare tire.
Bananas, a common sight…and passing through a market area in a village, we often see a couple of women laboring over a client’s hair – a long and arduous task often lasting 6 to 8 hours.
And, can you imagine??? Also a common sight, especially in rural areas…barefoot and walking long distances to market.
Another farm project with a very sweet family…newer disciples Robert and his wife and three children.
Robert, his wife Gladys and their family
We traveled in three different counties, Kakamega, Busia and Siaya on the border of Uganda to reach two homes where 12 women had gathered. In the last six months they have received training and $30 packages of flour, sugar, oil, lentils to start businesses of making mendazi and samosas for selling at the market. Disciple-maker Caren taught six of her disciples, who have each taught six of their disciples how to make, sell, and budget. These women are now finding success and the ability to buy basic necessities to run their homes, as well as helping to pay school fees, purchase pigs or goats, and buy needed medicines. All of these women are involved in making disciples. After meeting with them, we learned that some of donation has made it possible to train and equip 10 more women in the near future. Praise God. This is HUGE! It’s life changing for these women and their families to be able to generate a consistent income through a proven cultural market.
Evelyn
Pamela
Colletta, Rosemary and Carolyn
Matilda
Caren
Hilda
Many women have very little education. The African culture itself is very oral in that they learn quickly and easily by listening and talking. I got to share on using storytelling in disciple-making by telling them the story of Zacchaeus. Then we did a Discovery Bible Study by each one repeating the story, identifying with someone in the story and sharing how they will be obedient to what they learned through the story.
Storytelling
Evelyn and her last born and Rosemary
Even though it’s pitch dark, this group patiently waited for us to get to Peter’s home where they had gathered hours before to give me a report. Even John Omondi is spent at this point!
Then we had three days of trainings and another day for fellowship and a strategic planning meeting with the leaders of the movement. There were around sixty people for a New Generations meeting and then around 25 for a leaders’ meeting and then 15 for the strategic planning meeting.
Mzee and Clarence from Mt. Elgon region
And one last sunset in Kakamega…with all of the heavens declaring the glory of God!!!
Brooks 
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