GVCF Kenya Blog

Wednesday: Jeff and Annette continued their teachings. Deenie, Glenys and I spoke to the widows. They enjoyed our chat with them, and the present of fragrant tea and a message from our Church members from Shepparton.

After lunch, we had another lesson with the song we are teaching them.

Here we are with some of the Pastor’s wives.

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Thursday: We started our morning with worship and used the song we had taught them. It was lovely. Then Annette took the first session, and Jeff the 2nd. Deenie, Glenys and I had a get-together with the orphans, 14 of them. They have been taken in by some members of the different churches.

We taught them the song ‘God is so good’

The orphans having lunch.

While Annette took the afternoon session, Deenie, Glenys and I had a chat with the ladies. We finished off with another practice of the song

By Cheryl O’Shannessy

On Tuesday Our first day in Sioport, Jeff took the first session. This time he didn’t have technical issues like in the last place. It has been challenging to be able to use the PowerPoint slide show to help illustrate his message. Annette took the next session, and had a slight hiccup with the technology, but was soon sorted. The messages from both were well received, and when they had a question session it showed how much they had learnt, and how eager they wanted to learn. Deenie talked to the students during lunchtime, and Jeff took another session in the afternoon.

The worship services are wonderful, their singing is beautiful.

Our team has just finished a very full week of ministry. After a brief rest, they are set to begin their second conference and time of ministry. Please see their itinerary below.

Week Three

Tuesday, June 25th: Sioport Conference Day One

Hammonds are taking five sessions.

Women’s session in the afternoon and property visits

Personal ministry

Wednesday, June 26th : Sioport Conference Day Two, as above

Thursday, June 27th: Sioport Conference Day Three, as above

Friday, June 28th:  Sioport Conference Day Four As above

Saturday, June 29th: Day of Rest, Yay

Sunday, June 30th: Team ministering in various churches

Late evening Hammonds return to Malaysia

Monday, July 1st: Cheryl and Glenys on Safari

Cheryl, Glenys, and Deenie fly home at 11:30 pm

Wednesday, July 3rd: Arrive home in the morning.

By Cheryl O’Shannessy

On Monday Deenie and I met up with the pastors in this area. It was very interesting to hear how God is helping them with their enterprises. Some are farming to supplement their income as their churches are not big enough to wholly support them yet. A couple of the farmers were having trouble with their crops and asked me for ideas, so Deenie suggested we sit together over lunch to chat. Our driver Austin came to join us because he is trained in agriculture! God is good! Austin was very happy to talk with them and has arranged to meet them to teach them what they need to do. When lunch was finished we went back home. Jeff, Annette and Glenys had a rest day, they did a little bit of shopping.

Our accommodation

Sunday: It was our last day in the Mundika area. Jeff and Annette went to one church, Glenys another, and Deenie and I to a third. Deenie and I got to speak to totos- children first.

Then Deenie spoke to the church and afterwards prayed for a few people, and then they prayed for us. It was lovely to celebrate the Lord together.

After our church visits, we visited Nelson and Rael’s for lunch with some of their family. In Nelson’s church today, he told us that there were 6 Muslims who gave their heart to the Lord. Praise the Lord

Now it is time to say goodbye to Mundika, and hello to Sioport.

By Cheryl O’Shannessy

Saturday Today was the graduation ceremony for the Bible students. There was quite a crowd when we arrived, the families had come to join in the celebration.

First a procession. The procession went down outside to the back of the church and in the back door, up to the front

Then the prayers and introductions of the new students and past students. Next came singing and a performance by some of the children.

Our Church received a certificate of recognition.

And then the certificates were handed out.

It was fun to see how the families celebrated together. They put tinsel around the necks of the graduates.

We felt like celebrities, they all wanted pictures with us.

Friday; The last day of the conference. Jeff and Annette spoke again, and then Deenie thanked everyone for coming to the conference and encouraged them to keep up the fellowship with each other. The ladies gave us a present in thanks, a lovely dress each, and Jeff got a shirt.

Then we had some testimonies of God touching them and what they have learnt over the last 10 years. The ladies, Deenie, Glenys and I sang the song we had been practicing, the song was, We are worthy of You Lord.

And lastly, we celebrated communion with them. It was only a half day with lunch at the end, but there were so many testimonies from different people that lunch was rather late! They were enjoying the fellowship so much.

On Thursday, we prayed for a lady who was accidentally shot in the eye 10 years ago. We would like you to keep praying for complete healing for her. Her name is Wilikister

On Thursday, when we visited the farm, I asked if they got any rain from the downpour we got the night before, Nelson said, no. So last night when we had a thunderstorm I prayed that God would send the rain to Nelson’s farm instead of where we were. Today I asked Nelson if he got that rain last night. He said Yes!! I did a happy dance.

By Cheryl O’Shannessy

Jeff and Annette continued the sessions from yesterday. Nelson and Rael took Deenie and I to see their farm. Nelson has maize crops and kale.

It hasn’t rained for 6 weeks and the crops are thirsty. Nelson would like to put in an irrigation system. He employs people to help him, and he supplies a school and hospital with vegetables. Nelson also has some medicinal plants, Aloe Vera and Morenga

This is their old home and new home.

Nelson gave us some lemongrass to take to our accommodation.

Rael’s has a small shop.

After lunch was another session, and then we split the men and the women, and Glenys and Deenie spoke to the ladies and finished off with another singalong and Jeff spoke to the men.

By Cheryl O’Shannessy

Tuesday – Busia Conference day one

The team went to a conference in ……. Deenie, Glenys and Cheryl introduced themselves, but they already knew ‘Mama Deenie’. Jeff spoke first on the Trinity, and after morning break Annette continued on the same subject.

During lunch, Deenie spoke to the students

(A pic of what we ate and the lineup, )

A picture of Deenie with the students.

Glenys and Cheryl ate lunch with the people and fellowshipped with them. They are happy to have us come and minister to them. After lunch Annette spoke again, continuing from the earlier message. While Jeff continued with more, Deenie, Glenys and Cheryl spoke with the ladies, and taught them a song. The day started at 9 and we were home again at 4:30. A busy day but a blessed one.

Wednesday – Busia Conference day two

Today, Jeff and Annette taught me how to understand God’s road map. The congregation are enjoying the message. They first start with singing, which is beautiful, their voices are so melodious.

After lunch, Deenie, Glenys and Cheryl spoke with the widows. They appreciated our words of encouragement, and we appreciated their testimonies of how God sustained them when they became widows. We gave them our gifts from our Church, and avocados from one of the pastors.

After that Deenie spoke with the wives.

Our team have arrived safely and after an adventurous weekend (see our previous post) they are all set to start a busy week of ministry. Please see their itinerary below.

Week Two

Wednesday June 19^th : Busia conference Day Two – -Hammonds taking 5 sessions

Women’s session in the afternoon and property visits

Personal ministry

Thursday, June 20^th: Busia Conference Day Three – As above

Friday, June 21^st: Last day of the conference, women’s choir sings & farewells

Saturday, June 22^nd: Samia Bible College graduation and team resting in the afternoon

Sunday, June 23^rd: Team ministering in various churches

Monday, June 24^th: Sioport committee business meeting