Richard and Beth

Richard and Beth  

About a year ago, while having coffee at Java (a local Nakuru barista where the Wazungu hang out), we met a very delightful missionary couple from Canada. Their names are Richard and Beth Kope. Richard is the pastor of Venue Church in Didsbury, AB, Canada. ( info@venuechurch.ca ) They have been traveling to and ministering the love of God to Kenya for over 25 years. We fell in love with them both.

When Richard and Beth returned this year, they brought another delightful couple by the name of Richard and Karen.

Last week Cynthia and I had lunch with these sweet people and they expressed a desire to see what we are doing here in Nakuru. So… we gave them a tour. First stop was StoneHouse Academy, where they were met all the students and staff. They came bearing gifts for the school. It was a wonderful morning and the children were thrilled.

The children insisted on having their picture taken with our guest so we shot this group picture in front of our school sign.

I had given advance notice to our teachers about our visitors coming, so under their benevolent guidance the children performed  presentations for their Wazungu guests.

There were funny songs…

Poem recitals…

Songs with dramatic interpretations…

Recitals about protecting the environment…

And even an intense Karate demonstration!

Later that morning, Pastor Richard told them about his home in Canada and how cold it was. He asked them if they had ever seen snow to which a few said… “Yes, on TV!”

After the goodbyes, the next stop was StoneHouse Sewing Center, where our friends met Margret the sewing school instructor and a few of the students.

Richard even modeled the caps we’re making for our student’s up and coming school graduation program.

Then driving past our apartment and showing them where we are currently live, we headed out to where we are going to live … Solid Rock Christian Community. And yes, that’s the most recent name we have come up with for our farm. After a short hike all four of our visitors were amazed at the potential and beauty of the land our Father is giving us.

Our four Canadian friends are returning to their home next week but will return to Kenya in February. Pray for them a safe trip home … and a safe and quick return to Nakuru. We so enjoyed our fellowship and looking forward to their return.

The StoneHouse Family

Graduation!!

Perhaps one of the greatest joys in our work here in Kenya, is preparing and empowering young Kenyans to take the reigns of ministry. They are the future of StoneHouse Ministry International.  

Two of these young men are Amos and Abutoz.

They are true StoneHouse sons and have proven their desire and sincerity to serve the Body of Christ.

Abutoz has been with us over two years…

 and Amos almost seven months. Both have become true sons of God.

Last weekend we were able to see these two young men, we love so dearly, begin their academic biblical training to fulfill that which our heavenly Father has called them to.

They have completed and graduated with honors, their first term at Word Ablaze Bible Institute.

Word Ablaze is a beautiful campus just outside Nakuru, where men and women can come to be trained by spiritual teachers in practical, biblical knowledge.

This incredible school is operated by two wonderful missionaries Paul and Donna Tocco, who have served the Lord in Kenya for over 15 years. Paul and Donna have provided a spiritual place of learning for young Kenyans from all over Kenya. They have also become our friends.

There was a lot of joy and excitement when we all gathered in Word Ablaze’s beautiful conference room and began the service.

Both Paul and Donna charged the graduates to fulfill the calling of God upon their lives.

The presenting of their certificates was a proud moment for the students, staff, parents, and everyone present.

Then came the laying on of hands and commissioning them to go out  and preach the gospel making disciples of all the nations.

Then the loud and joyous celebration! Everyone danced and sang praises to our Father. We joined the throng and added a little ‘Hebrew Grapevine’ action.

 

Each of these students will go out for the next three months and put into practice what they have learned. Amos and Abutoz will serve in our three new churches. They will then return to the school and commit to the second term of biblical training.

Please pray for these young disciples, Word Ablaze Bible Institute and StoneHouse Ministries International that we together might continue to be a part of these precious lives and train them up for ministry.

The StoneHouse Family.

The Stone Cutters

The Stone Cutters

After the episode with my eye surgery we wanted to resume  progress on our community farm.  Our desire is to use materials from the land to construct our houses and other building projects that will be located there. Since we have a lot of rock on the land we set out to find some men who could cut stones for building blocks.

Now, that’s a lot easier said than done. It has taken several months  just to find someone who knew where to look for such men in that area. The first three perspective stone cutters we met, talked with us on Friday about their prices and where we wanted them to start cutting. They smiled and said they would be there bright and early Monday morning. That was the last we ever saw of them.

Two of the second prospects we met with later, actually came to work, but worked a little less than two days and then disappeared like the others. But one of those three proved to be a faithful, hardworking stone cutting man. His name is Samuel Owungy.

Samuel knows his stuff. His methods are much the same as were used in building the wall around Jerusalem thousands of years ago, but Samuel’s really turning out the stones. Here is how he does it.

First he chooses the right kind of rock and then make small holes in the section you wish to remove.

Then he stuffs the holes with … plastic bags… yep… plastic bags. Samuel told us the bags act as a lubricant for the spikes to smoothly cut the rock without breaking it.

After driving three or four spikes into the rock with a small hammer, you then pound them all the way in with a huge sledge hammer.

Then chipping the sides to the desired size and shape, you have your building blocks. Samuel can make the sides of those stones as smooth as a cinder block, but we told him we prefer the rough sides and edges for aesthetic reasons.

Once these guys get going they can really turn out the stones. Most people in that area pay twelve cents a linear foot for building stones but we are paying Samuel fifteen. He’s a good man and we want to be a good neighbor.

After about two hundred building blocks we decided not to excavate (remove the soil) to obtain any more stones from that level.  

We moved to the lower rock quarry by the side of the gorge. I asked Samuel if the rock there was still good for making stone blocks and he answered saying he was the one that had quarried most of the rock from this side years ago.

The rocks in this section are beautifully colored and will make exceptional structures. Here are a few pictures of how the look…

My wife and I are so excited at the thought of one day living on the side of this stony hill with our brethren here in Kenya. You can see from these next pictures how beautiful the view is. They were taken from where our houses will be located.

Working and living in the slums every day is extremely taxing in every possible way. Having a place we can come home and find sanctuary and at the same time develop for the Lord’s work will be an incredible blessing. Remember this location is only ten minutes drive from the people we minister to.

We want to see a small orphanage, a meeting place for teaching leaders, a guest house for visiting missionaries and friends, established on this land. We want to use the land to offset our living expenses, while learning new ways to help church families help themselves. A place of learning and healing, built by indigenous people for indigenous people, 

Pray and stand with us as we forge ahead in revealing to our Kenyan friends the visible family of God and teaching them to do His will on earth as it is being done in heaven.

Be blessed....The StoneHouse Family