Friendly Kenya

From the sweltering heat of Watamu to the unseasonal rains of Kisii and from the crowded streets of Nairobi to the untamed bush of Maasailand, my trip to Kenya took me all over the map. Despite the diversity of weather and population though, one thing didn't change: the friendliness of the people. The Kenyan people are some of the warmest and most welcoming people I've ever met!

In Watamu, we were visiting an orphanage supported by the Larium congregation. We were warmly welcomed by the Fondo family who run the orphanage and encouraged to return for a longer visit anytime.

In Nairobi, we stayed with a wonderful family in the suburbs. They welcomed us into their home and helped us get oriented to the crazy city of Nairobi!

In Upper Guccha (near Kisii), the people's warm welcome made even the rain and the mud seem insignificant! We arrived after an hour-long walk through the mud to be met by smiling people, warm food, and a cheery mud hut!

In Maasailand, we walked through the fields to arrive at the church: a clearing under a large tree. When the congregation saw us coming in the distance, several of the women ran out to meet us and escorted us back singing the entire way!

We had a truly blessed time in Kenya this year. Last year when John Ruotsala and Chad Koivanen went, the police chief welcomed them and asked that they return with more people next year. We revisited the same police chief this year and he was so happy to see a team of four people instead of two. However, he charged us to come again--with 20 people! So, if anyways is interested in coming and meeting the happy, friendly people of Kenya, contact the Foreign Mission today! foreignmission@comcast.net

A view from Kenya!

There has been little time to post a blog during this trip! There is so much to discuss, that it is very difficult to put into a blog.  Therefore let me just ramble on a bit with a few random thoughts.

First of all, there is no power in terms of electricity where we ministered, but we surely did feel the power of God during this trip.  What I mean by this, is that the amazing power of God has seen fit to lead us to these wonderful people that have such an amazing grasp and knowledge in the scriptures.   Many of them know the Bible so much it is very humbling to us.  Yet, they were so very thankful for our coming to share the Gospel with them.  

It seems people all across this country, though very poor, people are so happy and helpful. It seems like they will care for whatever need we have.  This is true with total strangers as well as those we know. The smiles are so bright and their countenance is so peaceful.

I wonder if part of the reason for this is that without power, they must communicate one with another!  Whatever the reason, in many ways, one longs that Americans could become more like the Kenyans in many ways.  However, we realize that we as people change with the times, and I know the Kenyans do as well when they come to the USA.  It is only by the Grace and Power of God that He keeps all believers no matter where we live.

One pastor we spoke to that has several children told us one of them had been promoted to Glory.  What a way to say their child has passed away. His church is 6 months old and has 180 people.  May God bless his humble heart. He is from a different tribe of people.  Kenya has 42 tribes.

Perhaps the most knowledgeable man in scriptures that I have ever know, Sylvester, has such a wonderful spirit.  We were in awe as he lead us through the Bible in a Bible study after we had him over for a meal.  Wow, such a wonderful man.  He came running up to me early one morning.and said 2 of his cows had been stolen.  He asked for prayers.  Then he went by running up the muddy roads for 15 miles to home.  He put out a call and 50 friends and neighbors turned out to help hunt down the thieves.  Then they ran 25 miles tracking the cow by measuring the footprints.  They found the cows. You see, the Masai people love to steal cows.
(here Leona is meeting Sylvester for the 1st time)

Well, Sylvester's team spotted the cow, but then they had to tell the Land Board they found it.  So they had to run back 25 miles.  The next day they ran the 25 miles again, got the cows and ran them back home.  Sylvester reported that the entire time they were looking, family and friends were praying, as we were as well.   Now that the cows were safe, he ran the 15 miles back to us, leaving his family singing and praising God about the cows returning.   When Sylvester entered our mud hut, after running full blast in the rain and on the mud, you should have seen the scene!  Such true joy and celebration!  Hugs, long embraces, and praises to God were voiced aloud and often.  Sylvester was thanking the Lord for answering prayer!   Yes, you can add up the miles he ran, 130 miles in 2 days.  This is without eating or drinking, but rather fasting and prayer!   Words cannot explain the faith of this man, but we surely do thank God for giving us the priviledge to know him.

(this pic is outside Pastor Fredricks church)

Services here have been almost conitnual.  It is so wonderful to share the gospel with such people.  Their heart is for the unreached as well, and they try to bring the gospel to them as much as possible.  They also invite people to the services, and we were even priviledged to be able to speak on the village green with the blessing of the police chief.  People from all walks heard the Word during these two service times.

The widows, (some pictured above), the ophans, and even special people like Emma (pictured below) are ever present.

There is so much more to write, but blogs are supposed to be short!   Please pray that the Word preached here by both us and them as they faithfully serve the Lord, would be made living in all the hearts that hear by the power of the Holy Spirit.  God is in control now as we leave, as He was before we came, or while we were here!

Here is part of the crowd at the outdoor services sending greetings to all Christians in America.

Please email foreignmission@comcast.net if you want to come on the next trip to this wonderful land!

You can see many more pictures of Kenya at the Foreign Mission Facebook site.  

 

Welcome to Kenya!

Our small mission team met in Kenya about a week ago. From the capital city of Nairobi, we traveled 6 hours south-west to the town of Kisii. From Kisii we then traveled my matatu (mini-bus) to the Upper Guccha region where we stayed with Pastor Charles, his wife Mary, their family and a group of 32 orphans that they care for! During our few days there we spent time visiting, preaching, teaching and enjoying the warm hospitality of our amazing hosts. Here are a few pictures and comments by Thomas Questad about our time there:

The trip from Kisii to upper Guccha took about twenty minutes of riding in a semi-noisy, fairly cramped, and very bumpy matatu (mini-bus). When we finally arrived to Sangra (the closest village) we had to get out of the vehicle and walk the last half mile or so because it was too wet and muddy to drive. Walking in the mud is not as fun as it might sound, but we made it to pastor Charles home and surprisingly only half of the visitors slipped and fell!  

 

After we had completed the journey and they fed us we had our first of many services. Their love for the preaching of God’s Word was amazing. All they had for a church was a tent with a very muddy floor and people came from all around; many of them had to make a further and muddier journeys then we did (and ours was long and muddy). 

 

They didn’t have any instruments per se but there was this little girl that could make some amazing sounds out of an old three-gallon water jug and she was probably playing it over two hours a day...

And late into the night it seemed they couldn’t get enough of praising God! The first night I don’t think they slept; we could hear them whenever we woke up throughout the night.

This is the family and orphans that lived in Upper Guccha, plus some of the visiting pastors. We took this picture down the hill from their home on our way back to town.

Here is our slippery journey back up the hill to town to meet the chief and catch the matatu. I guess the few days spent there in the mud helped us learn, because no one fell on the way back!

This is John with the police chief (seated) who was very friendly and told us to come back and bring more people!

Please continue to pray for our time here in Kenya. Please also pray for the people of Kenya: 40,000 people so far have been affected by unseasonal flooding.

Smiles in South Africa

More memorable experiences and reasons to smile in a very memorable country!!

The pace has slowed considerably since most of our team departed for the good old USA last week. Now it's just Leona Matson, Thomas Questad and myself left to continue the work God has called us to do together with the Bishop Mphahlele and other members of the United Lutheran Church here. Later this week Leona and Thomas will leave for a two week mission in Kenya and on November 30 I will be heading back to Finland.

Now let's take a few minutes to look at what has been happening here in the mission field in this most southern part of Africa for the last few weeks:

"Let the little children come unto me!"

With the team we had many memorable visits to pre-school daycare centers or "creches" as they are called here. In this happy shot you can see Bob Maki and some of the rest of us thronged by the children we met that day. Leona led us in an enactment of Jacob and the ladder. The children were enthralled. It is so amazing how when we are ministering to these little children that they truly end up ministering to us, too. In another one of the creches the most unforgettably animated little boy punctuated all of his very loud and shrill "Allelujah's" by waving a full size plastic model of an automatic pistol.  Unfortunately I did not have my camera that day.

Pistol-packin' praise warrior - minus pistol

 When we returned to that creche a week later I did get a picture of him "in action".(Boy in center in green shirt).  His enthusiasm was completely captivating.  Unfortunately on the second occasion he had left his dramatic pistol at home, but his energy had not subsided at all. It is just amazing to see Leona working with the small children in all of these creches... to see how the seeds are being sown in these preciously enthusiastic young lives and then on the flipside of the coin to be ministered to by these little angels of God.

The Good News brought to thousands in SA schools

Almost uncounted are the times we visited outdoor school assemblies in many towns and villages with up to 1200 primary, middle school or high school students in attendance. Sometimes we had access to a microphone, but usually we pushed our vocal chords to the max and the students were attentive. Just imagine being able to freely preach the Gospel in all the public schools like this. That in itself was reason for rejoicing! In this picture we see Jacob Seppanen pronouncing the benediction over a group of some 1000 students.

Personal prayer walks
 

Hardly a day has passed that we have not been involved in very specific and personal prayer encounters with individuals in their homes and villages. Here Pastor Bob Maki prays for a needy soul. What a thrill it is as hearts are opened and the needs spoken to in the cleansing and healing name of Jesus and the power of His blood.

The Thusanang 16


In the village of Thusanang our team split up into three groups in order to reach as many people and pray for them in their homes as possible. We visited a lot of people that day and many were the hearts that reached out to God. Returning to our "base shack" with Calvin and Debra Matson, our translator David and a lady from the local congregation, we were passing one shack when a man poked his head out of the door. He called to us, seemingly in jest, "Dumela (Hello), I have never had a white man lay his hands upon me!" We walked a little further, but his words really spoke to my heart! "Why not?! Let's go back and talk to him!" We went back to his yard and I confronted him in that same doorway. "We are here as representatives of the living God and if it is His will we can in fact lay our hands upon you and give you His blessing!" Other men working in that yard and the neighbouring one were attracted by what they heard. "Come on everyone," I called out to all the men working in the garden, yard and other places. "Jesus Christ is paying you a visit today! Come let us gather together in His name and hear from the Word of God!" They all put down their shovels, hoes and hammers and began to gather in the shade along the wall of the original man's shack. As I began preaching some ladies and children also joined us. Sixteen people in all. I opened the word around God's love for all mankind, for them particularly there along the shack wall in Thusanang, and how He gave His only begotten Son to die that not one of them needed to perish but could have eternal life.

It was truly a divinely appointed meeting. Before we finished the "service" every single one of the adults requested prayer individually and the proclamation of hearing that all of their sins, doubts, fears and guilt were forgiven and washed away in the name of Jesus and the power of His blood - of course with the laying on of hands!!!! Sixteen people who had never before been touched by a white man were now touched and cleansed by the very Spirit of the living God.

Check out the hair...
 

You might not realize it but there are hundreds of ways to do hair in South Africa. After I took this photo of these expectant children waiting for a handout at a day center for orphans and vulnerable children I noticed that even though they are youngsters with little to call their own materially, they still have pride in their cleanliness and personal appearance which is often expressed in meticulously arranged hairstyles which can take hours to execute.

The Word supreme
 

Another school. The focus of everything we do is the Word of God.

The aged remembered
 

We visited homes for the elderly. Here Jacob Seppanen listens to the prayer requests of one elderly gentleman and comforts him with the hope of the Gospel.
　
Boys Town
 

A very cherished place for me to return to was Boys Town. Here underage boys who have been remanded by the court or social services live in a kind of self government community. This is in order to teach them to function as responsible members of society. Spiritual education is encouraged. This picture is unique in that not only were most of the enthusiastic boys present but I think it is one of the only photos we have with all of the nine members of our Team SA 2011 present. On the far left is Calvin and Debra Matson, upper left you see Dan and Joyce Karnes (Joyce partly hidden), center back Leona Matson and Thomas Questad, upper right Jacob Seppanen and Bob Maki.

ULCSA sign
 

The United Lutheran Church in South Africa is not a large organization. All of the eleven small congregations meet for their Sunday services and other occasions in little shacks, mostly put together with corrugated metal sheets. There is certainly nothing ostentatious about this church, even as this sign in the township of Bekkersdal suggests.

Bethlehem
 

The only ULCSA church not made of metal sheets is the "stable" church called Bethlehem - out in the middle of a field where cowherds and shepherds often pass the front door. Here Calvin and Debra wait with some of the congregation members for an evening service to begin.

Spontaneous Sunday School
 

As with so many times for children's Bible stories and Sunday Schools in South Africa the gatherings are spontaneous. Here Joyce Karnes leads a Bible lesson for a group of kids in the front yard of a village home. The group started with four children and ended up with forty! Almost all of whom attended the evening service for people of all ages in a school classroom later that evening. Speaking of the Kingdom of Heaven!!

The incredible balloon!
 

Before we went to the service that evening Leona had time to do a Bible-related balloon demonstration that is close to unbelievable. She first filled several balloons with air and threw them out into the crowd of children. One at a time she asked for them back explaining that as people, if we don't have anything in us (meaning lacking faith in Jesus) we often do just like a balloon does when you put a candle under it (representing the heat and discomfort of personal difficulties). It pops of course! Naturally all of the children were holding their ears and cringing. She repeated this lesson accompanied by the repeated popping of balloons until it was very clear what happens to an empty life facing trials and temptations. Then she produced a balloon that was filled with water and explained that when we are filled by the Spirit and Jesus as the water of Life something very different happens. Then with all of the kids gasping she put the candle directly under the water filled balloon and lo and behold IT DID NOT POP no matter how long the candle was held right under it. Again and again she held it directly to the flame and it never popped!!! All the while she explained the meaning of this. You almost have to be present to see how powerful and convincing this lesson demonstration is, but it is very convincing. And not just for kids!!

Lion king in court camouflage
 

A trip to South Africa could hardly be really complete without going on a safari and meeting some of God's great wonderful creations in their natural habitat. Here we chanced upon the Lion King resting not far from the three lionesses in his pride. Such a close-up encounter in an open safari jeep can't help but get the adrenalin going a little.

Bibles for Bosasa

As many of you know bringing the Gospel to prisons and detention centers has been a highlight of my life for many, many years. South Africa this time was no exception. We visited prisons four times and were privileged to visit the Bosasa Boys' Detention Center in Kruegersdorp on two occasions, in addition to Boys Town.

The visits to Bosasa were especially profound and unforgettable. On our first visit fourteen boys ages 14 to 17, who are awaiting their court trial, gathered in the small auditorium for a service. Their response to the message was almost overwhelming. Every single boy crowded forward afterwards to hear for himself the blessing of the Gospel of Christ in the forgiveness of his sins, doubts, fears and guilt. And then came the questions - deep and thought-provoking - and the pleas for us to come back as soon as possible. Calvin Matson, who sat behind me with Debra and others, was deeply moved. Especially since I had made many references to the Bible and held it up several times. "Do they just think that it is some magic book," he wondered, "out of their grasp?" At that point he committed himself to seeing that each of those young men would get such a Book.

The problem was fitting a new meeting with just those boys into our schedule. There are 150 boys awaiting trial in Bosasa! But God led us wonderfully. Calvin bought Bibles in all of the necessary languages before he and Debra had to return home - before the rest of us. And then came the tricky part of figuring out which 14 boys had attended our first meeting, since we didn't take names, of course. It was decided for our second visit that we would first meet all of the boys in the courtyard on some bleachers and give a short presentation of why we were there. That went great! That rowdy crowd became quiet as church mice while I told them Who we represented and why we were there in the name of the living God and His Son Jesus. Then I invited them all to a full service in the auditorium. This was also to kind of separate out the more serious boys so the "Bible boys" would be sure to be present. I was warned not to mention the gift of Bibles yet then in case we would suddenly be committed to giving out 150 Bibles - which of course we did not have - and many of those who were not true believers would very likely use them for cigarette papers and other less honourable purposes.
 

Almost 50 boys crowded into the auditorium - singing beautifully - and fully attentive during the sermon. With Thomas Questad as Goliath we did a re-enactment of that Bible story and lesson using one enthusiastic young detainee as David. We showed how the "Goliaths" in our lives can be overcome by faith, prayer and the Word of God. The message appeared to answer deeply in their hearts.

Then I simply asked for the fourteen boys who were with us the first time to raise their hands, which they did and to their great joy received their Bibles in Zulu, Tswana, Sotho or English as appropriate. Each boy then put his name and date in the Bible they had received. This Bible will always be theirs now but they were not allowed to take it back to their ward since it would probably meet some ignominious end. They can, however, return to the auditorium to read it under supervision at any time they wish and then can take it with them after they leave for their court sentencing. We also had extra Bibles for several of the other boys.

We left Bosasa that day rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit to lead and to guide and to provide even the Word - as in the Bible itself - for young men who need that leading and guiding more than anything else in their lives. (Faces blurred for identity protection).

And so my two months of service in South Africa this time comes to an end. I mentioned at the beginning of this article that there have been many, many reasons to smile for joy and celebration at the goodness of God and His wonderful love towards people of all ages and life situations in the villages and townships of the Randfontein area and the Northwest Province not far from Johannesburg. As we have brought them the Living Word and the Love of God, so have they beautifully reciprocated by enriching our lives with the same love, peace and joy.

See you in Finland next week!!

Remember that orders for my new book "Listen, The Cry" can be placed through the Foreign Mission Shop or outside the USA/Canada directly to me. The possibility of being a representative for book distribution in your congregation is still open in some areas. Please let me know if you are interested. Also remember that it would be so nice to mover the book as much as possible before Christmas. I deeply appreciate the interest so far!!

In God's love and peace!

Dennis

November Monthly Report

Friend on Facebook Forward to a Friend From the field: Please pray our church in Zapanta Valley which is attack of the rebel people now all people are evacuating, total of 90 families are affected. They stay in Barangay Hall in Bangayan, so their problem is their food, I want to share them but we don't have enough funds. Again please pray because there is a military operation now underway. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us and God Bless you always. Pastor Bert M. Senonis Sr. (Philippines)  (pictured above with his wife and daugther) Special projects: NOTE: These projects aren't funded by the FM general fund. They are only funded if earmarked funds are sent. > Bibles for Myanmar ($950 of $2000 already donated) > Van, Motorbikes, church roof (email for info)   Regular Support options are plentiful Email for information or visit www.themissionsite.com   Meet 10 yr old Cynthia who has CP and her mother. (Guatemala) Stories from the Mission Field Mission trips from South Africa and Guatemala have returned this month to testify of some of the amazing things God is doing. Check out two experiences below. Click on the link at the end of each excerpt to read the whole article in the Foreign Mission News blog. Please continue to pray as we endeavor to follow Jesus wherever He leads! What about Sophie? ...Seeing her, something extraordinary happened to me. I fell to my knees beside her on the couch. I tried to control my sobbing and could not. I could feel the hands of Calvin and Debra on my shoulders praying that God would give me strength. I kept praying an incomplete prayer, "Dear Lord...dear Lord..." to finish reading this article, click here. God in the small things! In preparation for my time in Guatemala I was in prayer that the Lord would open my eyes and ready my heart to be His hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the little seemingly unimportant times... to finish reading this article, click here.  Monthly News > There will be a trip to India at the end of January (please sign up soon, deadline is near!)  and a trip to the Philippines and Vietnam in May. Sign up by responding to this email! > At the free dental clinic funded personally by the Guatemalan mission team, 203 dental procedures were completed! Thanks to the Guatemalan dentists and doctors and the American young people who worked so tirelessly. As with all FM trips, the preaching of the Gospel was of primary concern and everyone who had dental work done listened to a sermon first. > After 11 years of translation work, our people in Myanmar are ready to print a Bible into a language that has no Bible! Thank you to all who already donated for this project. > There is a trip going to Kenya at the end of this month. Please pray for God's protection for the missionaries. > Most of the missionaries from the South Africa and all from the Guatemala trip have returned. Updates can be found in the News blog. > Dennis Hilman, Leona Matson, and Thomas Questad are still in South Africa. They will be leaving before the end of the month. Dennis will head home and the others will join the team in Kenya. > Please pray for foreign mission board member, Chad Koivanen, who had pass on the trip to Kenya due to testing for the possibility of cancer (tests due back shortly). The picture above is Chad in Kenya last year! Featured country of the month: the Philippines The Philippines is an island nation located in Southeast Asia. The Philippines is home to over 94 million people and over 90% of these people are considered Christians (80% are Catholics and 10% belong to other denominations). We started working in the Philippines in 2006. To read more about our work in the Philippines, click here; to watch a video about our work, click here. There will be a mission trip going to the Philippines in May 2012; if you are interested, email foreignmission@comcast.net today!! Calvin and Debra Matson with friends in Sout Africa. Youth group in the Philippines Scott N. with Pastor Giovanni, his wife, and Pastor Solomon in Guatemala recently.

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God in the small things! From Guatemala!

God’s Loving hand in the little things.

In preparation for my time in Guatemala I was in prayer that the Lord would open my eyes and ready my heart to be His hands, feet, and mouthpiece in the little seemingly unimportant times.

God has been faithful to answer my prayers in numerous still small ways. One I will treasure occurred in the midst of the dental clinic. It was my job at the clinic to clean and sanitize the tools before and after each patient.   Between each patient I had a little down time. As I washed the tools I prayed the Lord would use my free moments for His honor and glory. 

A few patients later I noticed a young girl a few patients down the line, looking nervously around the room.  I longed to go over to comfort her, but my Spanish was limited. As I walked over to her I noticed a Spanish hymnal sitting on the bench a few feet away from her.  I picked it up and asked her to teach me a Spanish hymn.  She was shy and reluctant, but she agreed to teach me.  She taught me her favorite song and I sang Amazing Grace for her in English.  I was so blessed and encouraged by her praises to the Lord. 

We continued to sing as she waited her turn to see the dentist, her in Spanish and I in English.  It was a beautiful and precious time of praising our Saviour and Lord together. I think the Lord that our time together stilled her heart and kept her mind occupied as she waited to get her teeth worked on.

Thank you Jesus for working in what seem to be the small unimportant times of life. This moment will be forever treasured in my heart and memory.

Valerie Haataja (one of the Guatemala group November 2011)