First  2016 Apostolic Journey - Part One

Many thanks for all who took the time to pray for our first 2016 apostolic journey to North and East Kenya. The trip took us to a Tanzania border town as well and our Father truly answered your prayers. 

The journey began with traveling from Nakuru to Nairobi for some small business issues and then making arrangements to drop my beloved wife at the Nairobi Kenyatta Airport at 3:00 a.m. in the morning. Doug, my friend from America, James, Njeroge and myself would be on the road for the next six days. 

Because I had been sick all of last week, I was encouraged to remain  sleeping in the hotel room while my dear brothers took Cynthia to catch her plane to America, for a month long visit with friends and family. (And yes, I am already counting the hours till she returns). Returning to the hotel and after a couple more hours of sleep we arose, scarfed down some coffee and donuts and hit the road. 

Our first destination was Namanga, located on the Tanzania border about 3 hours due south of Nairobi. There, we met with a wonderful man called Moses Olemukenga. James has known Moses for some years and could testify of his integrity in following Christ. Moses works for a Matatoo company coordinating their trips and scheduling departure times. 

He and his family live on a small farm just outside Namanga. Moses will be overseeing a church family in Namaga. He is the newest member of the StoneHouse team.

We also spent time and ate dinner at the house of a wonderful elderly lady named Jerusha Shani who was very instrumental during the early years of James's Christian walk. Jerusha also expressed a desire we begin a church in Namanga. She is the only other person I know that has the same name as my precious daughter in Alaska.

The following morning we headed back to Nairobi to visit an amazing man called Francis. Francis has been visiting with us for about a year and had become interested in joining the StoneHouse team. After a brief but stunning meeting, we all decided to combine forces under StoneHouse, to bring the Kingdom message and discipleship training to three other groups of people.

One of those groups is located in the interior of Uganda. We feel Francis will be among the first men sent out to establish our church families. He definitely has an apostolic gift. Sorry… we were so excited about all that transpired, we forgot to take any pictures.

After delicious lunch of nyama choma (goat meat), we traveled to Embu to visit James’s sister and husband who live in Embu, located at the foot of the beautiful Mt. Kenya. Some of you may have remembered our last visit to their amazing little 3/4 acre farm last year. On the way there we stopped to experience this beautiful ‘natural bridge’ found in that area.

After a good night’s sleep we awoke to a huge breakfast, thanks to the wonderful hospitality of Milkeh. Before we took off for Meru,  Milkeh took us on a tour of the slaughter house she works for. The business has been in James’s family for a long time. It was both interesting and educational but shocking enough for me to almost become a lifelong vegetarian. Almost.

James and Milkeh outside the slaughter house.

We arrived in Meru around lunch time and while waiting for our host, we were entertained by a self styled prophet. I must admit he was very colorful, but still only attracted little attention. 

When our dear sister Alice finally arrived, she took us to her farm and introduced us to neighbors, relatives and the chief of that area. 

Alice has to be the happiest person I have ever met and it must be contagious. Her whole family and even her neighbors were the same way. One dear neighbor, Isabeth, kept telling us we should eat and eat and eat and eat. She did a little dance to make her point, and you could tell she practiced what she preached. 

After lunch Alice took us to the back of her little five acre farm and showed us the land she had given us to begin a church gathering place. We were stoked! We are already planning our return visit. Alice is a very sweet sister and lover of our King.

Next we left for our main destination… Wamba, Samburu! This was our longest leg of the journey. Samburu is the home of the Samburu people. The Samburu are almost identical to the Masai in culture and looks… but don’t call them Masai… they are Samburu! (I found that out the embarrassing way). 

The trip was long and the last fifty kilometers could hardly be called a road. As soon as we turned off the highway … the land, the animals and the people became almost surreal. All along the road we observed the Morans. These are the young warriors and trust me they can be quite intimidating while brandishing their knives and spears. 

The longer we drove, the more we worried we wouldn’t make the small town of Wamba by dark. The road is full of washouts and you don’t dare travel much over 10 mph. It is not advisable to travel those roads in the dark. But, oh my goodness, was it beautiful.

The sun was setting and the colors were amazing.  This is my favorite rock formation. I dubbed  it…  'Crying Turtle Rock’. 

We made it to Wamba around dusky dark... 

....and then surprisingly... we located a four star hotel with kingsize beds and colorful bathrooms… which suited us just fine. 

After a quick dinner at the local barista we slept very soundly till sunup.

 Tomorrow … we meet our overseer for Wamba! 

Michael

"Revival is the recognition of the ministry of insignificant members

of the body, and deliverance from idol worship of the more prominent

members who are in the limelight." - James A. Stewart

This good, godly man is Michael Nyema. He is the overseer of our church family in Keptembwo. He is a hardworking church shepherd who works as a carpenter for his support. Michael is another one of the incredible men that our Father has sent us to establish His church in East Africa. 

I want to request help for this wonderful, devout man. Michael has three children, works a full time job and diligently takes care of the people in his church family. He is well known as a hard working good man in the part of Keptembwo he lives in. 

But, making a living in the largest slum area in Nakuru is never easy. Recently, his wife, who also works a full time job, became sick and the bills accumulated quickly. Not being able to maintain the rent, Michael made an agreement with a man to buy (over time)  a small plot (25’ by 40’) in which he is currently building a mud house to accommodate his family. 

To make matters worse the small shop he works out of, sold the land and told him to get out. He is currently working in the backyard of a friend’s business. We have located a place he can rent but we need 40,000 KS (four hundred U.S. dollars) to obtain electricity and make the premises secure. 

The church family has contributed what they have but it is just not enough. If there is anyone who could help us help this deserving pastor, please contact us or contribute through the donate button on ‘The StoneHouse Chronicles' and mark it Michael Nyema. Any amount will be helpful. 

Much blessings… The StoneHouse Family

The Fashion Show

Some may wonder what a fashion show has to do with advancing the Kingdom of God. We would attempt an explanation. The pictures you are about to peruse through, are of ladies who have been trained to sew by the StoneHouse Sewing Center.

This is their graduation, celebrating the completion of their first six months.

All the clothes they are modelling are of their own making. What it has done for their confidence in who they are... is nothing short of incredible. Some have already begun to provide for their families through their self-made merchandise, and others are spreading the news to come and learn a skill throughout their impoverished neighbourhoods.

Their testimonies after the fashion show was inspiring. We listened as each praised God and expressed their gratitude to their teachers.

A few stated that they had felt hopeless, but now have a skill that gives them a way to control their destiny.

They were so grateful to have had completed a half of year of training through the dedication and hard work of Richard their teacher and Cynthia their manager.

Consider these scriptures describing the fulness of womanhood as you look at pictures of these excellent women, who chose not to sit around complaining about their poverty... but rather change their future through learning this skill.

She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness. Proverbs 31:27

She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.    Proverbs 31:13, 19

She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.   Proverbs 31:18

She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.    Proverbs 31:20

She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.    Proverbs 31:21

She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.    Proverbs  31:22

She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.     Proverbs 31:24

Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.      Proverbs 31:25

Behold the blossoming confidence of these ladies. Should your heart be so moved, please consider helping us to continue … helping them excel. May our Father continue to bless StoneHouse Sewing Center!

The StoneHouse Family