Schools and churches

Just over a week ago the girls and I made it to the third main area we are visiting on this trip: Pastor Charles’ area near Gucha, Kenya. Here is a recap of our last few days alone before we were joined by Dennis Hilman and John Ruotsala:

We visited two more schools while with Pastor Charles, bringing the total up to eight schools since arriving here in Kenya! Here is the last school where all of the several hundred students gathered out under the trees while we taught them.

We spent a lot of time teaching the children at Pastor Charles’ Bible lessons, but we also had time to just play as well! Here are Fanny and Anna-li playing volleyball with some of the kids.

 We also had time to join in on a few chores…like fetching water from the spring. The kids can easily carry a full bucket of water back on their heads without holding on…we didn’t do so well! Johanna did manage to balance it for this picture, but you can see that she also lost some of her water a few times while trying to get it right!

One of the lessons we taught the children was a basic gospel message. We followed up by making gospel bracelets. Black for sin, red for the blood of Jesus, white because we are washed clean, etc.

After we had been with Pastor Charles’ for four days, John Ruotsala and Dennis Hilman joined us. Here are a few pictures of what we’ve been up to since they arrived:

We visited all three of the churches in Pastor Charles’ area during our time with him. None of the churches have buildings; instead they worship under makeshift shelters made of sticks and leaves. This is the church of Pastor Sylvester who some of you may remember as the pastor who had a tumor removed from the back of his head several years back.

 Here is Pastor Charles’ home church. The girls are singing songs with the children. Pastor Charles hopes to build a permanent church here soon. He already has bricks, sand, and rocks waiting. When they are able to purchase the rest of the supplies, they will begin building.

Here are Dennis and the girls praying for people in the third church we visited. We reached the church by taking some very treacherous roads full of rocks! We were glad it didn’t start raining while we were here or we may still be there as the roads would certainly be impassable! 

We are now preparing to head out to Pastor Fredrick’s area. We ask that you continue to pray for us as we continue to minister here in Kenya.