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JUNE UPDATE FROM MBITA
First of all we would like to thank the people who are praying for
us and have sent money and parcels here, you are such a blessing, may God richly bless you in all you do for Him.
We have had a very powerful week here in Mbita, at least ten people
were saved as on Moses birthday (6/21/04)
He preached at a funeral of a four month old baby and we were able
to encourage the parents and relatives that baby Phalin would be in heaven and safe with Jesus.
We went into the hut with the parents and the child was on the floor
covered with a blanket, we asked the parents if they would like a picture of the baby so they uncovered the baby and Prari
took a picture. She was beautiful, she looked like an angel.
After Moses preached the grandmother put the baby into the coffin
and the nails were hammered in and the baby was buried next to the hut.
The baby died as they were carrying her to the clinic for treatment
for malaria.( This is the worst area in East Africa for Malaria and HIV/AIDS).
The child had just got sick with Malaria that day and the family took
their child to the clinic, I do not know if they even had money to go to a clinic because they did not have any money for
the funeral or the coffin. It is good that Moses is such a man of God because he really helped that family to bury their daughter.
After the funeral we went to pray for another baby that was sick,
we felt defeated....not another child!
When we arrived at the hut we found children playing outside, the
area was covered in cow dung and rubbish, They all were just sitting amongst the animals cows, chickens and starving dogs.
One baby about one year old had cow dung on his behind, he was just sitting in it. All of them had ragged clothes and the
little ones had no trousers on--not even underwear.
They all had worms, these people are so hungry they eat dirt. They
do not have food so they eat what they have, dirt is something they have. They get worms through eating the dirt mixed with
cow dung.
We advised them to clean up the area and put a fence around so they
children have somewhere to play, we gave them some vitamins and we also told them to teach there children not to eat dirt!
The situation is hopeless! But we have come to bring hope.....We serve a mighty God who can do all things, He is the God of
Hope.
This family has cows, so at least they have some milk, many of the
families are worse off because they do not have even milk from the cows. After seeing that family we cannot imagine worse.
The people in this area have very little food and have to climb a
big hill to fetch water from the lake, they are starving.
We prayed for the baby that was inside,the child was sick they believe
it was epilepsy. She was about 5 months old, she had sores on her nose and in her ear and the flies clung to her especially
where the sores were. When we went back three days later the grandmother testified that the child was healed, AMEN!
Most the time I feel like I am in a movie here...things seem so unreal.
I watch things happen and I do not even have enough information to download them into my head. During the funeral I (Prari)
promised myself I would be strong, God was a huge help! I think the hardest thing was watching the mother as tears crept down
her face I had to shut my eyes so tight so that I would not cry.
Moses birthday was still a success even after the difficult loss.
He had never had a birthday party so Sylvia and I (Prari) showed him how its done!
He had a present, decorations and even a cake made out of Oreo's (biscuits
from America)...we have to improvise here. It was fun to watch him just like a little child on their birthday!
We went to a place called Litare which is on the far side of Rusinga
island, where about 12 people received Christ and we established a new fellowship. We have been hoping to get into this area
for months, it is supposed to be the worst area for orphans and widows.
We have seen many people healed this week.
There is a very bad outbreak of Malaria at the present time because
we have been having some rain...praise God for the rain but many people where we have been visiting have needed prayer.
ICIPE, which is the place that does research on malaria and insects
is now giving free treatment for adults with malaria...that is such a blessing.
We visited the home of the family (both of Samwell, the man who lost
his wife, and the two people who lost their baby) the other day. It seems this whole area is one big family, many of them
are young men and they are now saved and coming to church and fellowships, God is building a strong foundation here and they
will become mighty in the kingdom of God.
We had a fellowship that went from 2-7:30 it was amazing!! We have
a real connection with this family we feel as if we are a part of them now. Many people got saved on this day also. Moses
has a powerful anointing, AMEN! It was just like in Jesus' time there were so many people that people were standing outside
just listening to the Word of God!
We had 22 of these people walk a far way many with babies on there
backs to attend church on Sunday.
God is so good!
We received 20 sacks of Maize for the Church and also harvested from
the land at ICIPE, which really has fed a lot of families. We are thankful that we can take some of this food up to this area
so that they can be fed for just a little bit longer.
After we announced to some families that we were giving away free
maize, they came to collect maize and when they went back they told so many people that for 2 days they were lining up at
our front door, many people were saved as we shared the gospel message with them and some of them came to church on Sunday.
James 2:15-17
Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes or daily food
if one of you say to him,
"Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed" but does nothing
about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it not accompanied by
actions is dead.
We try to bring nutritious food to Samwell every time we go
there so that he can grow strong. Prari's mom sent Vitamins for adults and children (PRAISE GOD) and they have really helped
so that people can get the nutrition they need here.
The children's vitamins are great and taste good so we find
it much better than giving out sweets.
Many of the children have worms so the nutrition doesn't really
help as much as it could ....we desperately need medical supplies! It's amazing here we walk around and pray for people to
get healed and God heals them...it's just like Jesus. We are so blessed to be here, that God considers us worthy to serve
him in Kenya!
The other day as I (Prari) was walking to Church I saw a child
about the age of 10 who was so emaciated, his arms were the size of my wrist and he was so sick. I'm sure he had AIDS. He
also had worms so badly that he looked like he was nine months pregnant. I felt so upset that I didn't even know what to do.
I just watched him walk past me and began to pray for healing for the child. People know all about AIDS in Africa but I do
not think many realize how much it is killing people until they fall in love with these people and then you have to watch
them suffer from such a horrible disease...It is heartbreaking.
(UPDATE...
Mom I saw this little boy the next day...God is so faithful.
We got to talk to him and pray for him. It turns out its not AIDS, nor worms. He has ciecle cell anemia (sp?). He has fluid
in his stomach...water or some kind. He is really sick. We got a picture...I will send you one soon. He said he is a Christian...which
is good. The boy came over this morning and we then visited his house today and met his family. His father said that he felt
like it was God that was connecting us, I believe so too. Everytime I see this boy I cry right after he leaves. I'm strong
until the moment he is gone, then I cry. I think its God's tears. Its like you gain a love for these people far beyond your
understanding of love. Anyhow God is so amazing...keep praying this child gets healed. The parents don't have the money for
any more medicine...so the child isn't getting any right now, we gave him some vitamins hoping they will help. He has had
5 blood tranfusions. He is 14 years old).
Even through all the difficulties we see Gods hand so abundantly.
We are constantly amazed at all that God is doing with this area, He has given us an open heaven and we are using this time
to go out every day visiting different areas and showing the love of God to these people, we are blessed to be a blessing.
Please continue to pray for us and for the people of Suba
that God will put it on the hearts of people to give so that these people can live a happy prosperous life.
Other prayer needs:
* RAIN!!! This will help so the people can grow more vegetables
so they can eat throughout the year when more drought comes, also rain will fill the water tanks so people have water to drink!
* Finances to buy land and establish a community to care for
widows and orphans. Also land for a Church, so all the people that are coming to church will be able to have a place to grow
and prosper, right now we are in a small school building that barely fits all the people that come in it.
* That God will raise up friends for this ministry here and
overseas, this ministry is totally dependant on resources from friends, everyone here is a voluntary worker in the ministry.
* Medical supplies
* The health of the people here.
* That God will continue to raise up faithful committed people
of God to work in the ministry.
* Pray for the protection of Gods people in this Spiritual
battle.
* That this ministry will continue to prosper and have favour
with God.
Thank you so much. God Bless all of you.
Love in Christ, Suba, Mbita team
OCTOBER UPDATE
Prari and John returned to America at the end of August, John is back
in college and working and Prari is back at work, God bless them as they continue to seek God for their future plans. We thank
them both so much for their ministry time here and pray that they will continue to be part of our family and come back with
other friends next year.
We continued on from Kisumu to Butere which is Pastor Moses family
home to a funeral and then on to Bungoma to visit the students at Bungoma bible school…it was so nice to see our Bishop
Justus Ochuro again Mama Dori, she is 80 years of age and founder of Bungoma bible school, she came here from America around
20 years ago, I must admit it was great to have a shower again, they are few and far between.
Pastor Moses and his wife Repher and Sylvia were invited to minister
in Kisumu at Pastor Ken’s church where we were treated like kings and queens.
We did some house-to-house evangelism and 2 crusades in Otonglo; around
30 people were saved in an area where usually people don’t respond to the gospel.
When we were at the crusade in Kisumu I saw a young boy with very
ragged and dirty clothes and was led to just quietly pray for him. He had such a beautiful countenance and I prayed that God
would somehow intervene in his life and give him an opportunity.
This boy was worshipping God with all his heart and when the alter
call came he was the first there to receive Jesus.
God led Pastor to pray for him specially and asked if the parents
were there.
That's when we found out that he had been living with his mother who
had epilepsy and had fallen into a fire and died and so his uncle was supposed to be looking after him but he had been chased
away from there and had nowhere to live.
Ken arranged for one of his church members to take him home and Pastor
Moses gave them some money for clothes.
The next night he was back again and worshipping God up front with
the team, with clean clothes and shining from having had a bath.
Pastor Ken decided to take him home with him and is now pursuing the
uncle to take him legally.
Pastor Moses said we would help in any way that God would lead us
and we would try to help provide for him to be educated and brought up in the ways of the Lord. His name is Jarred Otieno
and he is 10 and has only done nursery school and grade 1.
We are sad to announce the death of Samwell from Ghera, his 3 children
are now total orphans and desperately need assistance with food and clothing, we will help in any way we can but we long to
see a home established for widows and orphans in Mbita to care for such as these.
We were able to help with funeral costs by purchasing a coffin and
helping with other expenses.
Pastor Moses preached the gospel and people were encouraged, we will
continue to reach out to this community and help bring them out of poverty by teaching the word of God and setting up projects
such as agriculture and tree planting.
Pastor Ken came from Kisumu and we held a crusade where many were
saved, healed and encouraged by his ministry.
Pastor Edward visited us from Kerugoya and preached some powerful
messages from the word of God and more were added to our number.
Our church is growing in number and now stands at around 80 adults
and 36 children.
We are desperately in need of a place to worship and meet, the primary
school where the church have been meeting for 3 years has now said we can no longer meet there and we are now meeting by the
roadside in Mbita town, fundraising is a must and so we are about to launch into doing that locally and we will also reach
out to the community as a church and walk by faith to see this accomplished.
We are continuing to reach out into this community through prayer
and evangelism and many are being saved and trained up in the ministry with 4 students now in Bible school in Bungoma, they
are doing well and will return here to be leaders and have an impact on the Suba district.
We have established a new fellowship with the fishermen, this is a
very important area for us to reach into and we go back each week to minister the word of God and many are getting saved each
week.
So we are home again with much to do, life in Mbita is still very
hectic with visiting and fellowships most days.
We really value you our friends who pray for us and contribute to
the needs of the people here, we continue to pray for all our friends and relatives and ask God to richly bless you in all
you do in His name.
God bless.
Sylvia and the Mbita team.
JANUARY UPDATE Dear Friends and partners,
Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Thank you so much
for partnering with us in this ministry and for your prayers and encouragement.
God is faithful in every situation and
we are staying focussed on Jesus and the vision He has given to us for this country of Kenya.
God has also given me new
partners, Dr Bill Otieno who is also a Pastor and his wife, Rosemary who is a nursing sister have adopted me into their family
and are a really sweet committed, faithful and godly couple with 2 little girls names Fiona and Wendy.
These people have
seen me through many storms and proved that they also have a real heart commitment to help the people of Kenya out of sickness
and poverty.
God has brought us a lovely young pastor named Humphrey Muchele from Bungoma district and he is proving himself
to be faithful to the call of God in Mbita, he is planning to be married in December this year and we hope that his wife will
also join us here in ministry.
* We have been able to step out in faith and provide medical attention and supplies
to about 100 children at Nyachebe beach which is a small fishing village here.
We are believing God that the next outreach
will be 2 beaches and 500 children will be given treatment.
The main problem here is Malaria then worms, ringworms, skin
diseases and respiratory conditions.
* We will be starting the project of "Seeds for Africa" next week, 10 schools
will participate in learning agriculture and growing food for their families, this area has been relying on fishing for centuries
and needs a change of thinking, so when we teach the children we change the next generation and they get to eat.
We are
looking to extend to other areas soon and feed many more people, the lives of millions of people depend on our staying focussed
and also on the prayers of people like yourselves.
Many people here are starving and die of malnutrition and diseases that
could be treated for just a small amount like a few shillings, so we are grateful that many of you are our partners in ministry
and appreciate your contributions.
* We are looking to go into many other areas like helping people set up small businesses
or income generating ideas.
We believe that it is better to teach a person to fish rather than just providing a meal.
*
Helping families to set up small vegetable gardens using bags filled with soil and manure, these bags have holes around the
outside and can produce a lot of vegetables using very little water, 2 or 3 bags could keep a whole family alive and well
nourished.
* Adopt a child financially, using the world vision method and maybe even uniting with them in some way.
*
Helping school children financially to enable them to succeed in reaching their goals, many are not able to complete their
education and so drop out due to lack of funds.
* We are starting an interdenominational bible school here, this is
desperately needed as there are many cults here and wrong teaching is resulting in many thinking that they are saved but wrong
teaching keeps them bound to ways of thinking and acting which is contrary to the will and word of God. The churches are very
divided and there is a real lack of trust between denominations. So the school will be of great benefit to the body of Christ
here and help bring unity and holiness.
So, we have some exciting visions for this year and we are on our way, God is adding
to our number people who are faithful and committed. We will finish what we have started because our God is faithful to His
word and as we trust in Him, He will bring it to pass in the way that He wants it done, one day at a time.
We love you
and appreciate you and continue to pray for all of our partners that God will bless you abundantly in every area of your life
so that you will be a blessing to others.
Would you be willing to pass our website on to other friends, maybe God would
touch other peoples hearts to pray for us and sow into this ministry.
God bless
Sylvia and the team in Mbita.
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