Enthusiastic About Sharing Him

HARVEST
The harvest season is beginning here in Chad.  What does harvest mean to you?  The Apostle Paul said, in 1 Cor. 3:7,
“It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process, but God, who makes things grow.” (The Message)

  It’s wonderful to enjoy the physical fruit of our (and many others’) labor this time of year, but we are even more thankful to see the growth and fruit of the seeds we have planted in ministry here in Chad.  God is faithful.

These beautiful people were all participants or staff of our Summer of Service in June.  We had a wonderful time together in the word, worship, fun, and outreach in the local villages and outskirts of Sarh.  It is always refreshing and encouraging to be part of worship and outreach with youth who are hungry for God and enthusiastic about sharing him!

We’ve had a lot of opportunity to sow seeds lately.  Moses has had invitations to teach and preach in local churches on a weekly basis.  Our Discipleship Training School graduated in June, and Moses just completed a short seminar on faith and finances, with good attendance from several local churches.

Work has continued with our fourth building at the training center.  We bless Herve, who worked very hard in the operations department and is now taking a break for 'tent making' to meet some urgent needs of his family. It’s so good to see the progress and pray for finishing touches that are needed.  ‘Village des Nations’ is becoming just that – a little village where many are being trained and sent out.

Transition
Family Transition – a move to Kenya, but Chad hasn’t seen the last of us yet!  As we have mentioned in our last newsletter, we have been considering a move in order to put the children in school.  We feel like the Lord is leading us to be based in Kenya for now, and plan to move the end of the year.  Chad is still in our hearts, and will continue to be a priority for us, and Moses will travel and serve as needed

Transitions are always tricky times… We are looking forward to our move, but Jo & Kids will also dearly miss our home, friends and Chadian family here especially when Moses travels back and forth.  We are excited about getting the kids in school, but will miss the flexibility that 'home school' has given us.   Grieving and anticipation, loss and expectation,  excitement at what God has in store, all mingle together to make a bittersweet time of our last few months living here.

Pray with us
Pray for Chad - We continue to pray for peace and security in our region.  In June and July, our capital city of N’Djamena was hit several times by suicide bombers.  Pray that those who are bent on destruction will be stopped, and for those who lost loved ones or who were injured in the attacks.
Pray for our family - as we plan, process, pack, say our ‘see-you-later’s, travel, and adjust.  Pray also for provision – as we look for a home to rent and vehicle, and get settled in Kenya.  Pray especially that the transition to Kenyan schools will go smoothly for the children and that they will thrive
Pray for our team here, that as they continue to serve, they will be greatly used by the Lord and see Him in new ways in their lives and ministry. That God will call more laborers into this harvest fields.

Until all have heard,
Moses & Jo, Josh, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn Kariuki

We Stand Amazed

2015 is flying by, and we stand amazed at the way the Lord has been with us.  In our day to day activities, we continue with what He has put before us in Chad; helping recruit for 2015 Discipleship Training School, recruiting staff for our upcoming  Crossroads DTS and preaching and teaching in local churches.   This summer we are looking forward to our second Crossroads DTS.  A Summer of Service Youth Camp is also planned.  Home school is more challenging as Jo teaches without a volunteer (We miss Elin!)  Josh is preparing for High School as the siblings advance, too.  We need wisdom as we pray about moving so that the kids’ educational needs can be met, while Moses can travel back and forth to continue serving the mission both in Chad and in the region.

Blessings to us included a visit by our Crossroads Freeport (Illinois) friends, Pas. Jon Eastlick & Randy Haglund.  Jon spoke at a Missions Seminar and taught on our DTS while Randy did amazing Photography and intercession.  

After Moses’ trips our friend Jared Osborne came for 8 weeks to serve at the base and hang out with the family on the weekends.  Our Korean colleague Jacob (serving in Niger) came for 10 days and also spoke at the DTS while prayerfully sharing regional joys and challenges with Moses... the kids had a blast with all these visitors as did the parents.    Our family is big, multi-ethnic and international... thank you God for spoiling us.

Our DTS team is now on outreach, their first week was spent working on installing a ceiling in our dining hall, under the expert eyes of their school leader Herve, who is also an excellent carpenter.  They are evangelizing here in Sarh before moving further afield, and have been seeing wonderful response.  Seeing students go out, teaching powerfully in the local churches, on fire for the Lord and bringing others to Him is what we are all about!

Walls are going up on our fourth building.  It’s been a blessing to make our facilities available for church groups and individuals for retreats, as well as to host our students in training programs.

HIGHLIGHTS- What a joy to see former staff and students stepping out:
#Congo-Brazzaville- Our spiritual son and dear friend Celestin Ngaba  invited Moses to take a trip to Congo Brazzaville.  Ngab is pioneering a YWAM base in that Nation. Moses spoke at a Missions Seminar at the Brazza Baptist and at the first week of DTS.

#“Goz Beida”- Adele is planning a Summer of Service as a precursor to possibly running a DTS there in future and starting a Base
#Maro- Timothy has been among the unreached people Group RITO for a year now and the DTS will join him during their outreach.
# Crossroads DTS-Dina & Solkem will be joining our Staff this summer and will also help run a Summer of Service with Ferdinand and the current DTS students before they graduate.
We are so proud of our guys, but know the enormity of the pioneering challenges they face and will continue to face in establishing new works.

PRAYER CONCERN
Over the last months, security concerns have weighed heavy on us as-
#Libya sank deep into anarchy
#Darfur clashes resumed in (Sudan,)
#South Sudan violence in Malakal  (where Moses visited and taught at new YWAM Base  a few years ago,)
#Central African Republic still unstable.
#'CharlieHebdo'  riots in Niger.
#Boko Haram around Lake Chad.
It was stretching to release Moses to travel  to Congo Brazzaville and Spain as trouble threatened to spill over into Chad, but God renewed our courage and travels went well, Chad has been affected on Islands and villages near  Lake Chad  but containment has been swift. We are thankful.

#Please pray with us for peace and stability in our region.
#Also pray with our as a family and ministry as we prepare for upcoming transitions.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers! 
- Moses, Jo, Josh, Zack, Marianne & Katelyn

The Construction is on!

“I’ve never been taught before about
the love of God,” a DTS student told us recently, after Moses taught on the character and nature of God, and his Father Heart.  “I was always looking in other places to experience love.”

One of the goals of the Discipleship Training School is to help Christians walk deeper with God; To know God, and to make Him known.  It’s so exciting to be part of this happening.  The Discipleship Training School began in February, and we’re thrilled to finally be holding a course out at our own YWAM property!

 Buildings are going up and we are in awe of how God is at work.


Building update:  At the time of writing, two dormitories are nearing completion, and we have a temporary thatch structure we are using for a classroom and dining room.  We are so thankful and humbled to see how the Lord has brought people together, to make this happen.  Our staff have been working so hard, local church members and YWAM associates have sacrificially given of their time and energy to make this a reality.  We hope to be able to put up a permanent dining hall/classroom in the near future.

Frequent Flying:  Moses had opportunities to teach in South Sudan, Kenya and in South Africa in December and January.  We are so glad he was able to make these trips to invest in the lives of men and women of God; 

•   In Kenya he preached in our home-church in FPFK Eastleigh and encouraged the body that has been terrorized in the area with attacks on churches,  public transport & places.  Pray for Kenya please...

•   South Sudan was a joyful reunion with a former student Paremmi & his wife a former staff member Nathalie.  They have pioneered a YWAM base in Marakal where Moses taught Worldview to a DTS  & are involved in Community projects & churches.

•   Muizenberg Biblical studies school had Moses come teach the book of Revelation.  They have rented a building off-base since the school was larger than they could fit in any base classroom.

Moses will be in the US from March 26th to April 15th, networking and attending a missions conference.  If you’re in PA, and you’d like to see him, just email!

Family Time:  It was so good to be able to travel to Kenya for a few weeks over the holidays.  It was precious to spend time with the Kariuki family again.  At the coast, we were able to visit Shimba Hills as a family, where Jo first experienced life in Africa, and Moses went with outreach teams in the early 90’s.  Sweet memories! 

 The kids are doing well in home school; a recent project was identifying and researching all the wild animals we saw in Kenya.  Josh (10) is growing taller and taller and enjoys reading and making things.  Zachary (9) loves pets, (although sometimes his affection is not so well received!) climbing trees, and whistling around the house.  Marianna (7) is growing in her creative abilities, learning some simple embroidery and making mud pies.  :-)  Katelyn (5) has taken off reading, has a vivid imagination and loves to be the center of attention.

Elin continues to be a huge blessing to us all, as she does homeschool together with Jo, helps out around the house, and spoils us with her baking.  We are blessed to have her as part of the family for this season.

We are thankful for all of you who make it possible by sacrificing your time to pray, & your finances to advance the work.  Jointly fitted together we are accomplishing the commission step by step.

Praise & Prayer Points.

After successfully buying our 6.55 Hectares of land, we were able to raise US$18000 of the US$25000 we need for Preliminary Dorms.   Praise the Lord because walls are up, Roofing is on and Doors and windows are hung on one building and in the process of being hung on the second one.  Then as funds come in we will do the wiring, plastering, painting and roofed verandahs (Deck-like).   To finish the Pre-phase we need to see another $50000 come in for; a Meeting pavilion, another 8 Room dorm & a Bore-Hole.  1Th 5:24 He is faithful who calls us and will also do it.  Join us in Prayer!

Our vehicle (4Runner) continues to be a challenge and we find ourselves without transport most of the times.  Pray we find the necessary parts or a new vehicle all together ;)


Prayers & Love,  Kariuki Family