Making of a Missionary (My Kenya cell # has changed to: 011-254-723-037-264)
• I am in town of Nakuru staying with a widow near 50 yrs. The apartment is nice and on the third floor so I get some exercise. As I look out my window I see three cows in the next compound rummaging thru the garbage and chickens rooting. It is a little different suburb than you and I know. Ha ha
• I am doing well overall thanks to your prayers. I had a lot of knee pain so took quite a few ibuprofens and was fighting a type of ulcer and stomach sickness. I'm better and knee pain is too but STILL internally swollen. It gets cold at night in the 50's. After the 110-115 degrees in the desert of California, I'm freezing! Right now I have a small heater I bought blowing right on me! IT IS THEIR WINTER!
• Americans seem to come to Kenya quite often. I've met and enjoyed the company of pastors from Rockville, MD and San Antonio/Corpus Christi, TX. It has been great to hear a good Word preached and enjoy a little American company with their Kenyan hosts. I've taken advantage of their visits and received some wonderful prayers to boost me on thru the challenges. I really thank our Lord for HIS timing.
• I wrote some prayer partners as I was slandered and attacked pretty viciously (verbally) recently. It was mostly about wanting money, but I also addressed misuse of some funds and didn't realize that some of the young leaders hold the pastor as a 'god'. I landed in a snake pit going carefully and prudently! Holy Spirit gave me an idea in prayer that seems to have silenced them for now. I still count on prayers so they don't attack again. Right now it is settled and I go on speaking and ministering to the widows meetings, church services and at Prayer Mountain – in fact Pastor Jesse traveled to Mt. Kenya and asked me to take Thursday-Monday preaching sessions at the Prayer Mountain. It was a wonderful time with just Jesus and me!
• Actually went on a small safari in Africa!!! P. Jesse organized it with the pastors from Maryland and made it possible for me to be included. I got some great photos and reduced a couple of them to go with this letter. Everything was so up close except the white rhinos and they were about 2 blocks away.
• I've also included a photo which has many white cotton ball-like circles. I stood on a chair to get a photo during one point of 4 hours nonstop of praise and worship. I tried every setting of my camera and got these circles. Finally, Holy Spirit told me they were their angels worshipping with them and that He had allowed my camera to "SEE" a small visual to understand what was happening. I gave NO teaching that night and told them we were just going to worship with all our hearts--it was an amazing service and I praise HIM that I got to be a part of it in Nyahururu which is in the interior of Kenya near the Rift Valley. I crossed the Equator to get there..... Just wanted to share the wonder of HIS Glory with you too.
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• QUICK NOTE --My Kenya cell # has changed to: 011-254-723-037-264 and I am 8 hours ahead of you central time (daylight savings). Forty cents an minute on an IDF phone card at Walgreens. Also, if you are sending any forwards at all they are just being erased. Internet has been down at least two days/week.
• You'll love this -- I was looking for raw honey which I use in the states. They told me where to get it--it was in a flimsy baggy with crushed dirty comb and bumble bees (dead) in it. I never saw anything so gross. Everything here has a different 'spin' on it!!!!
• As I did in Congo, I've brought a Menorah and will celebrate the three Jewish Feasts between Sept. 23-Oct. 14th – Feast of Trumpets, Yom Kippur (Atonement) and Sukkot (Feast of Tabernacles). We were told by God to keep as a lasting ordinance – not 'til Jesus came. They are fun and bring blessings on your year. The Scriptures for further study are: Leviticus 23, Numbers 28-29, Deuteronomy 16, and Exodus 23:14-33.
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WIDOWS PROJECTS
I've been teaming with Mrs. Nancy Gitau who is a widow 20 yrs., who raised 5 children and has a ministry for 10 years, Deborah Arise Africa. She has had few resources but has brought many to new levels spiritually. Even in her own troubles and sorrows after her husband died, she, like David went in a "cave" and many other desperate and destitute women with her and they've changed. Even some married women work with her to help encourage and train widows in their villages. Their marriages are strengthened as well!
She goes into the slums twice a month to give a message and feed widows and children or give them some 'unga' which is a flour to make their ugali. Then children get juice and cookies. She has been using her own pension and doing without to obey our Lord! These are truly the people to partner with. They meet for three hours of prayer, twice a week. I hardly feel like a true missionary next to her. She has a small farm she rents and grows food in Nyahururu where I was the speaker for 4 days of a prayer conference. This is the same 'Place of the Angels' photo. We are planning a women's conference for October 13-15 th.
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A Slum Preacher
In closing I want to say that you are keeping me well with your prayers. I have gotten pretty sick twice but I recover the same day or the next. God is breathing on HIS words when I teach, preach or pray and many have told me it is causing them to become much more serious and intimate with God. This is the only reason to be here or to be a missionary! At the last widow's meeting on Saturday in the slums I gave strong word about getting their eyes off of themselves and to believe and to see how much God really does love widows and the poor (e.g. widow at Naim, Zarepeth) Nancy and I challenged them to draw close to Jesus and to trust HIM for miracles by HIS Spirit that HIS Glory might rise above their poverty and amaze the region around. We prayed for the 'unga' to multiply.
One man whom I'd prayed for with his wife and 2 tiny children (widow's mtg. 2 weeks ago) all who have Aids so bad the parents are dying especially him. I have faith but as I saw the spirit of death in his shriveled, smelly body, I wasn't sure he could live, and even told the pastor that he wouldn't make it three more weeks. He had to be scooped up on a bicycle to go home as he couldn't walk! Well, he came to see me this Saturday in the slums. I didn't recognize him as he walked in, smiling and had a simple suit on. God is healing him, the wife and 2 small children of aids. I told him that 'his flour' like the widow was his miracle and to share it everywhere he goes which he is doing. His pastor says he gets stronger and stronger the more he shares his message. HE IS BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE SLUMS AND THIS IS HIS MESSAGE AS HE CAN'T EVEN READ A BIBLE : Jesus saves--from sin and heals all of you because HE loves you. That is our gospel my treasured family and friends! I weep as I write this as I've made it too complicated or doubted too much.
You are in my thoughts and prayer for all that God is asking of you--we are in this together, each with our own responsibilities and destinies--advancing the Kingdom for the Glory of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!
MOM/Theresa
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