Recovery...

The battle continues…

Our last Facebook post was ill named ‘Tragedy and Spiritual Warfare’… It should have been entitled …’Opportunity and Spiritual Warfare’. Sometimes it’s a matter of choosing a perspective. If you don’t believe that anything that befalls you, must first obtain our Father’s permission, then many adverse things that happen, ends up feeling and even being… tragic. Yet, if you believe that all things work together for your good, then life and it’s difficulties become training sessions.

Having a few days to recover from the shock of the fire … what appeared as a ‘tragedy’ … has now become to us (by our Father’s grace)… a divine opportunity. Nakuru church family met this Sunday with Keptembwa  under two tents. Keptembwa members were having a fundraiser after their Sunday gathering, in order to obtain funds for a larger meeting place and invited Nakuru to join them. Representatives from our other church families Engasura, Njoro, were also present to help Keptembwa with the fundraiser.

As we spoke to the Nakuru members about the future, we began to realize the blessing of the fire. The Nakuru family had been trying to see how they could move to a less expensive place in order to save money for purchasing some land and avoid wasting our money on rent. Yet, everyone was fearful and hesitant about moving the building and facing the challenges that the move would no doubt bring.

Now, after the fire … we know our Father’s heart, is for us to move to the land currently being used at StoneHouse Academy. We can use the school buildings to meet in and only pay half the rent. This will allow us to save funds for our own place and then rebuild. Everyone was excited and unanimously agreed that this was the path chosen for us by our Father. All of us rejoiced.

As we began to talk about being like the children of Israel and that it was not a time to grumble and complain, but to encourage one another, the excitement grew. And so did our adversary’s fury. A sudden violent wind hit our tents and lifted them six feet in the air. The side poles and the heavy iron roof structure began falling everywhere. Some women screamed, as the men tried to shield the women and children from injury.

 

As soon as it started it was over and looking around, we rejoiced that no one was hurt. No one there doubted what had just happened. We know that we are truly in a spiritual war. As we put the tents back together and secured the corners to the fence we rejoiced that no one was seriously injured.

After a good lunch of rice and beans, we continued our day with a successful fund raiser for Keptembwa and left with happy hearts to be a part of God’s unstoppable Kingdom.

Pray for Nakuru StoneHouse family as they begin this pilgrimage. Thanks to all who have begun to contribute financial help. Should you desire to be a part of this journey … you can contribute here… http://www.stonehouseministries.org/  .

TRAGEDY AND SPIRITUAL WARFARE..

To all who have stood with us in the ministries of StoneHouse Ministries International. Please pray for us. We have been under heavy spiritual attack. Last Sunday at StoneHouse Nakuru, was our best Gathering ever. All the members of Nakuru Church, pledged themselves to revealing the testimony of the Kingdom. We believe that our Father heard them. Unfortunately the enemy of our souls was listening as well.

The day before yesterday, thieves tried to break in StoneHouse Sewing Center and steal our sewing machines. It was foiled because the lady we rent from, woke up at 1:00 a.m. in the morning and screamed, hearing the thieves trying to break in. Her screams alerted the neighbors who chased the two men off who were attempting the robbery. 

Last night, April 6, 2017, at 1:00 a.m., an electrical fire broke out in one of the businesses down the street and destroyed half a block of businesses and houses, completely burning down StoneHouse Nakuru gathering place. 

The fire destroyed everything including our caretaker’s house. Elizabeth, her daughter Modesta and her six year old son Jesse, lost every personal possession they owned. They were left with nothing. Everything in the church building was a total loss, but thanks to our Father’s grace none of our people were injured. 

The quick moving fire destroyed six homes beside ours, and later, we found out that three of the neighborhood children were locked in one of those houses with no one watching them. Thanks to our God, the neighbors broke the door down and rescued them before they were killed by the fire.

Yet, we know that all things work for our good and are praising our Father for what he will do. We too can say... "It is well with our soul". Pray that we hear clearly as to what to do next. We know our people will have to pull together now and we feel this will build them up spiritually.

The Nakuru church is where all our SMI meetings took place, like conferences and leaders meetings and this calamity will definitely create some hardship.

We will need to rebuild our gathering place. Our people have taken in our caretaker's family and we are sure there will be some good hearted readers who will help us take care of her needs. We are just so grateful that they were spared. (That's Elizabeth in the middle of the ladies sitting down and her sister Zippy on her left who took her into her house. Zippy is a widow with 2 children.)

Please pray how you can help us in this tragic loss. We do know that even this will turn out for our good but we will need your help. We ask that you continue to pray for us, as we continue advancing His Kingdom... No weapon the enemy throws at us will prosper and every thing we encounter will propel us forward in His Grace. 

Again, remember to pray for us that we may find our Father’s heart, as we labor to take care of our members and Elizabeth’s family. 

If you want to donate towards the need please click on the donate button at the top of this page.

Many thanks for your prayers and much love from the StoneHouse Family of disciples.