Bishop prays for building project

Sunday, January 31 marks an historical point in the development of Springs of Hope College.  We have been talking for the last 3 years of Bible School property and building until people have started to believe that it was only a myth of an impossible dream.   Bishop Nixon Dingili led the ground-breaking service at the Leberio property (near Eldoret), with Annual Conference Superintendents, Hawkins Mugaya (Highlands) and Martin Anami (Trans-Africa) and all but 2 of the District Superintendents.  The local Leberio FM church joined in the celebration following the morning worship service.

This building project is the beginning of the 1st phase of a 3 phase structure that will serve as the initial Bible school (Springs of Hope College)building.   Springs of Hope is so named because of the many springs located on the site and hope reflecting the hope for the future of the church as young men and women,  both pastoral and lay, are trained for service.  Springs of Hope College will be affiliated with Hope Africa University in Burundi.  Currently a modular Bible School operates to train pastors in a program for 2 week sessions in the months of April, August and December.  The residential Bible School in Eldoret will allow the program to expand to include a 3 year diploma program.  Students who qualify may then continue to finish the degree program at Hope Africa University.  The modular program will continue, integrated with TEE, to train pastors who would not qualify or find it difficult to study full time at a residential school.

blessing in disguise

  

Rocks and more rocks!

A team of 9 men from Western District (and one from North Rift) converged at the Bible School property on Monday to make “the road straight” to where the construction of the 1st phase of the Springs of Hope College will begin, hopefully, on Monday. February 1.  The concept of Kenyan work teams is new but the idea has caught  on and while hard at work, the men have the opportunity to share in the work together realizing that they are participating in a work project that will have Kingdom benefits.  

The road building task involves moving lots of rock that have to be dug out of the ground.  The rock is a blessing in that it can be made into gravel for use in the various stages of construction.  It would be much more costly to buy the gravel and have it transported to the site but it doesn’t come without challenges and hard work.  We thank God for rock.  

Funds are insufficient at the moment for the completion of the building project but we are told … “if we have faith as a mustard seed”.  I believe I have that much faith.  God started this project, he won’t quit now.

Me? A builder??

I teach during most sessions of the Kenya Free Methodist Modular Bible School.  Currently the school sessions are conducted for 2 weeks in the months of April, August and December  when the regular schools are not in session  The modular Bible School serves to train pastors and leaders in the church.  This program is being modified to include more practical courses and to increase the number of required sessions or class hours.

We have been using the Kericho church and primary school for the Bible School sessions but we look forward to the time when we can move to Eldoret.  This brings me up to today!! 

I never imagined that I would be putting time in talking to architects, structural engineers or contractors but this week has found me in these offices several times!  In anticipation of a work team from Athens which will be coming to Kenya in April this year, we have begun the process of engaging experts in the building field.  Recently, some buildings in Kenya have collapsed because self-professed contractors and architects whose work was not in line with the prescribed building codes resulting in destruction and in death of individuals.   We are being very careful to follow the correct procedures.  Things are moving fast and I praise the Lord that we have been able to engage a Christian architect who understands the needs and problems of a mission organization who is trying to raise funds and build at the same time.  He knows how we need to move in steps of building phases.  Early next month we hope to begin the foundation of the first building or first phase which will begin as the Bible School but later become a guesthouse.  I was overwhelmed at the cost of construction but I guess when you compare to a similar structure in Canada, one would consider it to be quite “reasonable”.     This is our most urgent need.   I will soon begin a strategy to raise funds.  Don’t be surprised to hear from me in the near future.  I’ll even provide pictures.

 

Updated Jan. 17

I was in Haiti when I was in grade 13.  It was only 10 days but enough to make an unforgettable impression on me.  I still remember the times of worship in the churches around Port-au-Prince and the visits to people’s homes, walking through the mud and the infectious joy of the Christians there.   I cried when I saw the CNN reports of the terrible devastation from the earthquakes that have struck Haiti.  My heart went immediately to praying.

There are several Free Methodist missionaries in Haiti, 3 missionaries have not been found and are presumed to have died in the FOHO (Friends of Haiti Organization) building.   Two others were evaucated to Cuba for medical treatment then to Miami where they continue to recover in ICU.  For those who would like the official word from Bishop David Roller, go to fmwm.org, click on “pray” and then “hotline” which is just above the words “I’ll pray”. Thanks.

Not long ago, people across Kenya were suffering because of the drought that had gripped many areas.  Now the opposite is true with torrential rains even in arid and semi-arid areas.  One such report in the news today was of a woman whose life was saved from drowning as she held on to the tail of a cow as it was swimming in a flash flood.  As she herself was saved, she watched as members of her family drowned.  Reports on television show cars being swept away by the floods that have overtaken towns.  The so-called El Nino rains are to continue for the next 3 weeks and to hit particularly hard those areas that earlier were ravaged by severe drought.

"Shepherds visit the baby Jesus"

  

Consecration service

     

Let your light shine

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 What a year it has been!  When I was a little girl at camp, my counsellor wrote in my autograph book (no e-mail then), “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding.”  I decided to take that as my life verse from Proverbs 3:6.  It is a good verse to hold onto because surely, through all the ups and downs of life, we must trust in God who is faithful to lead us. 

     

Jan. 2  While driving through town to meet someone, I was sideswiped by a “lorry” – big truck, which continued on its way.  I was able to drive to the police station to report the hit and run accident but because it was a Friday afternoon (4:45p.m.) on a holiday weekend I was unable to contact anyone from my insurance company.  I was afraid to drive my car far because the front wheel had been damaged.  I decided to stay home on Sunday, actually not knowing how I would get to church.  I put the earbuds in to listen to  the music on my i-pod and almost the first song that was playing was by Nicole C. Mullen – “When I’m on My Knees”.  The words, “I don’t know how, but there is power, when I am on my knees.  The words came powerfully to my heart and mind and I was reminded of an -email I had received about the importance of transformation.  I felt that God was speaking to me to pray for transformation and to enlist others also.  (By the way, I continue to pray).  I was without a car for almost a month.        

 March 31   Elections for bishop were held and Rev. Nixon Dingili was elected as Bishop for the newly formed Kenya Provisional General Conference of the Free Methodist Church.  As well, two new annual conferences Trans-Africa and Highlands with annual conference superintendents Martin Anami and Hawkins Mugaya elected respectively.    

May 14  I had cataract surgery on my left eye.  I am still not used to being without glasses, having worn them since grade 6!  But I am thankful for the improvement in my sight.       

 May 24  Attended the wedding of my nephew, Greg Hogeboom to Megan Clark          

cutting the cake

     

June 24 -27  Pastors’ Wives Seminar in Meru for Highlands Annual Conference   July 8-11  Pastors’ Wives’ Seminar at Koitabut for Trans-Africa Annual Conference.  What a blessing and wonderful opportunity to interact with these women, many of whom I didn’t know since most of my contact is with their husbands in Bible School and ministry events at various levels.         

July 20-24  I had been sick from the previous Friday but when I went to the hospital on Saturday I was given medication and sent home.  However, on Monday evening my neighbour ( a former student) came to see me and insisted that she take me to the hospital – I hadn’t eaten since Friday and had a terrible persistant cough.  After checking me for malaria, they came the conclusion that I had Swine Flu and I was hospitalized in the isolation unit.  As it turned out, I didn’t have Swine Flu but I was diagnosed and treated for pneumonia.          

      

July 26  A day after being released from hospital and still under treatment for pneumonia, I flew to Nairobi to attend the consecration of Nixon Dingili, the first Kenyan Bishop of the Kenya Provisional General Conference.           

a big welcome at Leberio

          

September 17-25  We had the great privlege of welcoming visitors from Canada, Rev. Dan Sheffield, Rev. Kim Henderson, ICCM Canada Director, Paula Moriarity, Caroline Deyo and Wannett Reynolds.  A select group of pastors attended an Urban Church Planting Consultation in Nairobi while others visited Child Care Schools in Kibera and Kawangware along with visiting their own sponsored children.          

     

October 7-10  I travelled with Supt. Martin Anami and Pastor Shem Macheyo to conduct a Sunday School Teachers’ Training in Kisii parish.  While teaching the various alternative methods (rather than just repetition and rote memory) we had the S.S. teachers divided into groups to try out the new techniques.  One particular group amazed us as they taught a Bible story with several verses of the story in song which they had just composed!          

November 19-21  I attended the first meeting of the Trans-Africa Annual Conference.  God’s presence and guidance was evident and we trust that this year, 2010 will find pastors and church leaders working to see God’s kingdom move forward.  A new pastor was appointed to Leberio, where I will be assisting.          

December 25  What a wonderful celebration of Jesus’ birthday! and first year anniversary of the Leberio local church!  Invitations had been sent to everyone in the community to join us in the celebration and families took turns in singing, Scripture recitation and the children presented a wonderful drama of the Christmas story with their own unique interpretations.          

      

      

Hi,

May the name of the LORD be praised for the 2 successful Annual Conference meetings that we just finished.  The presence of the Lord was felt during the meeting sessions, we had good deliberations during the meetings, plans were set for next year, the coming years and other church developments.

 

I invite you to join us in prayer for God to;

- send to us called, Spirit filled laborers

- provide for us resources to accomplish His ministry

- help us put up a residential training school in Eldoret for His workers

- use mightly the leaders chosen during the Annual conferences for both the village church planters (VCP) and Urban Church Planters

- bring a great revival in all of our churches this coming year.

- give our missionaries and the general church leadership in Uganda great vision and empowerement for His work in Uganda

- prepare,annoint and send our new missionaries (Reuben and Jescah Kedemi) to Sudan, we hope that they take up this new assignment next year.

 

Thank you for partnering with us in the Lords Vineyard, thus far we can say the Lord has brought us

 

May the Lord shine His face upon thee.

 

Sincerely,

 

Bishop Nixon Dingili

Free Methodist Church of Kenya

 

 

 

With this ring …

I do …

Too often, couples of various ages decide that having a “conventional” wedding is too expensive, what with dowery to be paid by the young man to the bride’s family, hiring of vehicles, cake, all the brides-maids and groomsmen not to mention the wedding gown, they opt for living together as husband and wife until such a time as they can afford a “real wedding”.  From the start, when Pamela and William expressed their desire to legalize their marriage, they said we want it to be simple. 

The wedding was part of the Sunday service on October 18 at the Leberio Free Methodist Church.  The couple worshipped with the rest of the congregation and when it came time for William and Pamela to exchange vows,  Rev. Martin  Anami called them forward with the witnesses to the front of the church.   William couldn’t stop smiling and Pamela was shy, or so it seemed.   Many people were literally squeezed into the little mud church building to witness the event.  There was a sense of anticipation throughout the service and ceremony even as Bishop Nixon Dingili preached on Christian marriage. 

The service ended with cutting the cake and giving of gifts.  My prayer is that others will learn that a wedding can be beautiful and meaningful without all the fanfare and expense — William and Pamela’s is a testimonry to that.                                                                       

                               

Twenty-four pastors and church leaders met in Nairobi to attend the Urban Church Planting Consultation facilitated by Dan Sheffield and Kim Henderson, both members of the National Leadership Team of the Free Methodist Church in Canada.

      The consultation highlighted the need to target cities because of the increasing rate of urbanization, especially in developing countries.  Most   churches in Kenya are in the rural areas particularly in the western part of the country.  Participants also learned of the unique characteristics of the city and the challenges of urban ministry.  They were divided into annual conference groups to strategize how they would reach the cities in their respective conferences. 

Kim Henderson led the participants in sharing their ministry setting, challenges and joys.  This was a valuable experience as everyone had opportunity to share and learned that they were not alone but many were experiencing the same things.

Pray for Bishop Dingili as he leads the Free Methodist Church Kenya to be more effective in urban ministry.  Pray for churches in the urban centers of Nairobi, Eldoret, Kericho, Kakamega, Mombasa and Nakuru.

Last week I witnessed firsthand the effects of the drought as I travelled from Eldoret to Nairobi. Wheat fields are golden brown but the wheat has grown to only one foot high while stocks of corn have dried up before reaching maturity.

The local news reports that thousands of cattle are being taken to abbatoirs to sell at very cheap prices before they die of thirst and hunger. 

A woman fainted from hunger in front of a government minister who was making a speech before a food distribution effort in one of the more drought stricken areas.

Power is being rationed in most of the country because the rivers where power is generated are so depleted of water.  Many parts of Nairobi have had no water for a month or more.

This is the 2nd harvest this year that has been devastated by drought — Millions of people are hungry.  One of our pastors said that in their area the last time they saw rain was 2004!