Greetings!
After a bit
of a break it is time to resume Monday updates. I think the last one went out
at the end of November and then we met at the MTC and then it was Christmas and
then it was January with all its demands. Before I knew it, it was February -
more than two months before I sent out what is ideally a weekly briefing.
We are
keeping well at the office. January was extremely busy for all staff and it is
only now that we are catching our breath. As you may well know, we have two
teams that joined us last month – The TransformD Discipleship Programme team of
13 ex candidates and a short term mission team of 8 girls from the UK, courtesy
of Crosslinks. Halfway house has been buzzing with activity ever since
mid-January. Administratively, we had to secure extra accommodation, expand our
support staff and enhance security. During the month, we also had two
incidences of crime – in the first one, a night guard from our contracted
security company made away with quite a few items from the kitchen and Berea
Hall and in the second one, the house where we accommodated the visitors was
broken into on a Sunday morning when the girls were away for church. Sad
incidences which remind us of the world we live in.
January
also saw us welcome and deploy 3 apprentices who are joining us for the
calendar year 2017. Christopher Muraya and Josphine Makena are placed in the
new Anglican diocese of Kisii, teaching in a school called Misambi Secondary
School in Sondu, South Nyanza. Joseph Tsuma is placed in the office and is helping
to support TransformD. These guys seem to have settled in well in their posts
and we wish them well in their ministry apprenticeship for the coming months.
At the TCP
site there have also been developments. We started off by receiving a massive
donation of books for which we needed storage. We set up a temporary structure
to keep them even as we await to grow our own library there once the project is
complete. That kept us busy for quite a while. Later on in January we
began the works on a water tower as we awaited approvals from the county
government to commence construction of the main structure. The water tower is
progressing well as well as a little guard room at the gate. I reckon by the
time you come for MTC, there will be some visible progress on the main
structure. We continue to seek funds for this project and covet your prayers.
As the days
roll on, we find ourselves navigating in unfamiliar waters. This comes with
great joy and new anxieties as well. Though not entirely unexpected, the staff
team does find there to be a lot more to do, lots of new relationships to grow
and indeed shifting dynamics in the workplace. Through it all, we have been
encouraged every day particularly in reading John. We began with the gospel,
then the epistles and now we are working our way through Revelation. There was
such a strong message on identity as God’s children, how we should live as such
and our future hope. We desire to be that community of love and brotherhood
guided by a strong historical witness of our Lord’s life, death and
resurrection and a clear perspective of the eternity to come.
Last week I
thoroughly enjoyed visiting our apprentices in Samburu – Okiki, Jessica and
Pontive. Though the terrain is tough, these dear ones are so encouraged to keep
serving and loving the local community. It was amazing to see how they have
thrown themselves at the task – counting their lives as worth nothing for the
sake of the gospel. I enjoyed every moment I had with them from riding the
rough roads to sharing the top of a range rover for the night. I came back
quite challenged and maybe more encouraged in the ministry than those I
presumably went to care for.
I wish you
a great week ahead and look forward to hearing how you are doing from time to
time.
No comments:
Post a Comment