December Monthly News

Jambo! Hello from Kenya! "As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." Proverbs 25:25 It has been such a joy to serve in Kenya! The people are friendly, welcoming, and truly seem to desire to hear the simple truths of the Gospel! The proverb above was quoted by more than one person as they thanked us for coming and preaching the Gospel. This years trip to Kenya was especially blessed, as now we are registered with the government of Kenya, and we have ordained pastors according to their laws. The official name is The Apostolic Lutheran Mission of Kenya. This organization has a newly appointed central board of 7 members. After the first year they will have elections to choose their own leaders. All 16 lead pastors including the 3 head pastors verbally agreed and were very thankful for such a set up! Each of the 3 ministries will operate independently, with the central board being in charge of unity, doctrine, large organizational decisions, as well as setting the priorities for the entire Kenyan project. The entire organization in Kenya consists of 42 churches, each with between 50 and 200 people. Please be prayer for this new organization. We are very thankful that the people desire the basic truths of the Bible, and are especially responsive in agreement when the Cross, the Blood of Jesus, and the Resurection are preached. We pray that they would always glory in these most precious matters. As you reflect on the birth of our Lord this Advent season, please remember to pray for your brothers and sisters in Kenya who wanted us to, "greet your families, greet your communities, greet all the Christians in America and Canada and Finland and ask them to pray for us here!" Merry Christmas! Updates from the trip are available on the blog accessible by clicking here. Word from the field: During the recent trip to Kenya, Pastor Timothy, one of the head pastors we work with, shared his heart for his partnership with the mission, stating “deny us everything, but don’t deny us your prayers, with those we can move mountains. When you come, bring us the word of God." ; read the rest of the article Pastor Timothy (quoted above) and his wife Florence. This contact was referred to the FM by the New Ipswich, NH ALC, who got an email from him initially. If you get similar emails, please forward them to the FM, as it may work out that as in this case, we are working very close by already. Pastor Timothy shared with us that he had been challenged to deny his faith in Jesus Christ or else be shot. He refused to deny Christ. He was shot in the arm; the scars remain as evidence.... Read more of this story on the FM blog. Support options Email or click on the Donate link above for regular support options. Special projects Only funded with earmarked funds > Check out the 2012 Gift Catalogue by clicking on the link below for special projects this month. *Pictures and other feedback supplied, if desired. 2012 Gift Catalogue Kenya's Beauty The landscape in Kenya is beautiful and the animals are majestic. The country has so many wonderful and beautiful people. It is a "Christian Nation." Even in public schools the Bible is often taught. Many believe in God the Father, and that Jesus Christ is the Saviour. Why go to such a place with the gospel? Because while the above is true many of the people do not really KNOW JESUS. They live in all manner of sin, even engaging in multiple marraiges, (which is legal). Hence, the need for the truth's of God's Word in Kenya. Upcoming events > Two mission trips will leave in January, one to India and one to West Africa. > Still Christmas shopping? Check out the 2012 Gift Catalogue link above! Prayer and praise > A cyclone has recently hit the Philippines. Many buildings including the church/home of Bert and Daisy Senonis has been badly damaged. Please keep them in prayer. > The Russian mission trip and the Kenyan mission trip have recently finished. Praise God for the work that was done! > Attention married women!!! There is a sincere desire and request from your sisters in Kenya for a married woman to come on the trip next year and to share with them. Please pray about coming on a trip to Kenya in the future!

www.themissionsite.com | friend on Facebook | forward to a friend Mailing address for DONATIONS: The Foreign Mission 1601 NW 4th Avenue Battle Ground, Washington98604 Add us to your address book Mailing address for CORRESPONDENCE: The Foreign Mission of the ALC 63 Poor Farm Road New Ipswich, NH 03071 Copyright © 2012 The Foreign Mission, All rights reserved.

Faith with Works (by Terri)

On this trip to Kenya, I was introduced to a man whose faith was demonstrated in action. Pastor Timothy (pictured below with his wife, Florence) is one of the head pastors the ALC foreign mission is working with in Kenya. He shared with us that he had been challenged to deny his faith in Jesus Christ or else be shot. He refused to deny Christ. He was shot in the arm; the scars remain as evidence. This action in and of itself spoke volumes of the depth of Faith this man has. This Faith was further demonstrated when he was again confronted with this man and chose to forgive him. This forgiveness was not only in word, but he also chose not to press charges when it was brought before the court. 

When I hear stories like this, I wonder how I would respond.  I always conclude that it would only be by and through the power of the Holy Spirit within that I could possibly stand against such persecution. I wonder if the persecution we face today in North America is of a subtler form, drawing us into denying our faith in the seemingly small, inconsequential things. For example, perhaps,  striving and conniving with everyone else to ‘get ahead’ in life, is in essence denying the truth of who our Provider really is, and demonstrating a Faith with no actions. It is a sobering thought and one that brings me to that beautiful position on my knees before the feet of Jesus as with the man in Mark 9:24 – “I believe; help thou mine unbelief.”

Pastor Timothy shared his heart for his partnership with the mission, stating “deny us everything, but don’t deny us your prayers, with those we can move mountains. When you come, bring us the word of God."

Let us continue to lift one another up in prayer, encouraging one another in word such that our works would be reflections of the faith within and nothing less. 

 

Pastor Timothy with his family. 

Kenya cont.

There are three main area we visit in Kenya. The third area is under the direction of Pastor Fredrick. Here are some updates from his area taken from Dennis Hilman's facebook posts!

Terri Hilman greeting the children in front of the church when we arrived in Ichuni. And oh how they love to be noticed and greeted! The head pastor in this area is Pastor Frederik. He and many other pastors in Kenya are intent on bringing blessings upon their congregations through the grace of God and and organization called the Apostolic Lutheran Mission of Kenya. 

"LET NO MAN DESPISE THY YOUTH!" Just give me a green pasture in a lovely natural setting with 50 attentive young people and my joy is complete. This photo is taken by Julie Matson earlier in the day while the sun was still shining. These youth responded to the teaching from 1 Timothy 4:12 with many questions. This is one of the various seminar teachings conducted by different members of our team for different groups - pastors, women, children and youth - during our 3-day stay in Ichuni.

MARKET FIELD CRUSADE. The big event on both afternoons in this area was a revival service on a grassy slope which is also the market square in the neighboring village of Nyakembene. The first day when I spoke the afternoon rain threatened ominously but somehow passed with only a few drops.

"AND HE COMMANDED THEM TO SIT DOWN ON THE GREEN GRASS". That's the way Jesus fed the multitude and that's the way we did it on the market field in Nyakembene. As I began to speak the first day there were more than 200 people and we fed them with the Bread of Life and gave them the Living Water to drink. 

The second afternoon the rain came in force right in the middle of everything. Here it is raining hard and the attendants are trying to rescue the speakers, keyboard and other sensitive equipment. Photo Julie Matson.

UNDER COVER. Most of us headed for cover that afternoon under the porch overhangs of the shops and homes around the field. We spent our time singing spiritual songs together with the Kenyans when we could find melodies that we all knew. Later the rain passed and these hardy people just went right back out onto the field where Leona Matson engaged what must have been a 100 children in a rousing Bible story before John Ruotsala spoke - to a crowd that was even bigger than the day before. Photo Julie Matson.

 25 BAPTISMS IN ICHUNI, KENYA ON SUNDAY!! The people in this village have a great hungering and thirsting after the Word. Three days of seminars and services here brought many to the throne of grace and baptism. In a muddy pond outside I baptized 14 adults, youth and older children in accordance with their usual custom. An hour or so later I baptized 11 infants in the church in the way that we are accustomed to - reminding everyone that it is not the amount of water that is decisive but the water together with the Word in both instances. The church was so packed when John Ruotsala spoke after the baptisms that people were trying to push in through the jammed doors.

Kenya by Julie!

 Our team of John Ruotsala, Dennis Hilman, Leona Matson, Terri Hilman, and Julie Matson has been in Kenya for several weeks now. It has been an a very busy time--often in areas with no electricity so it's been harder to keep this blog updated. Here, however, is an update focusing on one of the areas we visited written by Julie Matson.

 

Morning in the village is a special time. Our team spent two nights/ three days at Pastor Charles’ home in a remote village in the bush: no electricity or plumbing just friendly people who opened their mud hut homes for us to stay. It’s wonderful to stay there, a way to truly experience the way the locals live. Their love for the Lord shines in the way that they love each other and us. 

 

Leona, Terri, and I have spent many days teaching the children and youth. We’ve taught stories of the Bible and of Christ’s Love for each of us. We have created many things out of paper, shared stories, sang songs, played games, and loved the children. Our teachings have been in tiny little huts packed with children, out on the lawn, and, as you see here, sometimes among the cows and the corn. They’ve been special times indeed.

 

The women here in Kenya work so hard day and night, bringing water from the springs, cooking meals in smoke-filled huts, serving others, caring for the children, etc. They are such servants and have blessed us so much.

Many of the children that we worked with in Pastor Charles area are orphans. Pastor Charles and Mary have 34 orphans who live in their home. Here this little boy is coloring a “coat of many colors” after hearing the story of Joseph.

 

Kenya is a beautiful country!

We are nearing the end of our trip now, but still have several days to go. During these last days we will be ordaining several pastors. Please continue to keep us in your prayers!

Awakening Revival!

Greetings from Kenya! Wow! We've been here less than a week and it's been a pedal-to-the-metal journey so far! Here is a rundown of what we've been up to, taken from Dennis Hilman's Facebook page, which he tries to update each day:

SERVING IN THE SLUMS  Here John Ruotsala is speaking with a very animated translator in a small shack church in the second biggest slum in all of Nairobi. The slums in this city are the biggest in the world and this one was a sea of people and mud. The text from Luke 18, however, about Jesus healing the blind beggar brought our Lord and Saviour right into the middle of this very difficult situation. Leona Matson, Julie Matson and Terri Ann Hilman are also now here.

HIGH LEVEL TEAM KENYA! From left to right Julie Matson, Terri Ann Hilman, Leona Matson, yours truy and John Ruotsala. administrator of the ALCA Foreign Mission. We were on our way from Nairobi to three days of conference and revival services with about 250 people in the western city of Hitali near the Uganda border.

REMEMBERING THEIR CREATOR IN THE DAYS OF THEIR YOUTH! Young people on their knees before the altar praying for forgiveness and blessing. They came in throngs after the morning service today on the second day or our four-day revival services in Kitali. Hundreds of people are attending. We begin and end each day with everyone present for messages from the Word by either John or me. For the midday sessions we divide up into different groups - Like John and I with the pastors and the women, youth and children with Leona, Terri Ann and Julie in different combinations.. What a living and spiritually hungry group of pastors John and I met today. This has become quite an experience!!

A TOUCHING EXPERIENCE! Today we have had wonderful experiences here at Kitale - around the Word in general sessions, delving deeply into spiritual truths with different groups such as pastors, women, youth and children - led by different members of our team at different times. For instance I spent 2 hours with the pastors and then well over an hour with about 150 young people fielding the most diverse and deep questions. Then came the last question, "How do you manage your hair?" To help them understand what my soft hair is really like I let as many touch it who wanted to. Many of them did, amazed at its fine texture - so different from theirs. In this picture Julie Matson had the same personal request from the children she was working with. It just shows how much they love us and trust us already! We feel so blessed.

 

FRONT LINE SUPPORT! When any contingent of soldiers is sent to the front lines, some of the most valuable and necessary people involved are the support personnel. Here we find Terri Ann Hilman on the speakers platform in the Kirali Church this morning She is "doing her thing" -praying with her pen - recording her thoughts and prayers for the service and especially for those of us who were to speak. It is quite an expereince at any time to know that you are being prayed for as you speak but it has an even greater impact when someone sitting behind you is writing down those prayers the whole time - and like any modern prayer warrior checking Bible texts on her cell phone.

 

 

A VISION FOR MISSION! John Ruotsala is a man of many talents. He can move just as comfortably from his desk in New Hampshire as administrator of the ALCA Foreign Mission to the muddy streets of a village in Kenya, India or the Philippines. Just as easily from preaching about the love of Christ from behind the pulpit to walking with compassion and understanding beside those suffering in a foreign slum . Here he stands at the door of the church in Kitali, Kenya, where we have just completed four unforgettable days of revival services. What is John thinking at that open door?