Grieving Moses Sister Irene

 

Dear prayer partners,

 

Yesterday was a difficult day for Moses’s family. His sister Irene, the second born in the family passed away in hospital after a month the last week of which was at the HDU/ICU since she couldn’t keep food down and was deteriorating. She had a mini-stroke 3 months ago and stayed for some hours without being discovered at her family's farm storehouse. When finally found and taken for emergency care, they stabilized her but it was some weeks before she could regain speech and that only in whispers. Her husband, 3 daughters and son are distraught as are the siblings. Moses’s mom who has had her own challenges with short term memory loss took the news sadly but with better fortitude than we feared. Please keep the Hamisi family and Kariuki siblings in your prayers as we grieve their sister.

 

Two of our kids are back in school and the other two have a bit of time before proceeding after passing their exams. Marianna will be joining high school and Joshua will be joining Messiah University. We are thankful for their educational journey and bless the Lord who has made it possible. It will be a first to have a kid leave the nest and we will appreciate prayers for Josh and the family for these changes.

 

JoAnna has resumed her engagement with the women's bible study but is yet to get greenlight for the old peoples home visitations. Moses will be teaching on the Madagascar SBS online for a week and then in person teach another week at the Likoni DTS. We had held off on Church invitations for Seminars and regular preaching while our three kids recovered from COVID and the Government lockdown took place but now it is lifted and the kids are well. We look forward to being able to serve the body as the Lord opens doors to do so. As usual our prayer is to be a blessing and be used by God to draw more people to him and his purposes.

 

Our plans to visit the US over the summer are still on and we are thankful for answers to prayers for accommodation, a van and Joshua’s college placement. We are still trusting God for a small car and divine appointments for our time. COVID makes travels challenging and require extras like testing and time for self quarantining. We will need extra grace and favor during the trip and appreciate your prayers.

More on our travels in our April newsletter https://tinyurl.com/3bw2c7wm  for those that missed our mailed hardcopy newsletter

 

Moses and

In His Love,

 

Moses and Jo Kariuki

 

Crystallized Essential; LOVE

What really matters?

“Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence—

and love your neighbor as well as you do yourself.”

(Luke 10:27-37 MSG)

 

The year 2020 began full of activity, the kids beginning a new school year, Moses traveling to Uganda and Tanzania to teach and impart his heart for missions to students in Discipleship Training Schools in Jinja and Kilimanjaro, and Jo’s days filled as usual with being mom-taxi, volunteering with the elderly and keeping up the home front. A special highlight in February was a visit from our sister in law Lea, on her way home to Wisconsin after a ministry time in Tanzania.

And then….. Like so many across the world, we’ve had to bring many things in our lives to a halt and adjust or adapt in how we do others.  The first case of COVID-19 here in Kenya was confirmed March 13th, and all schools were closed from the 16th.  Moses arrived back from Uganda a week later. We’re thankful he got here before they instituted mandatory quarantine at a a government facility, and before they closed the border! 

We’ve been reminded in many ways this year of our calling to love our neighbors, and are making the most of opportunities to be a blessing to others, even if it looks a bit different during this season. Technology has enabled the kids to continue their schooling online, as Moses taught students in the Mombasa DTS via Zoom, and Jo continues to facilitate a weekly women’s Bible study.  Moses has been mentoring young leaders and being a pastor to so many long-distance through video and teleconferencing calls. We continue to be involved in our local church and are thankful for them though its physical area is in lockdown. If nothing else, this time of stress and upheaval in our lives has crystallized what really matters.  We are deeply thankful for our family, more passionate than ever about being good neighbors, discipling others in their pursuit of the Father, and the fellowship, mutual encouragement, and building up that happens when we meet together, whether online or in person.

Please pray with us:

●        For our leaders, health care (and other essential) workers, here in Kenya and all around the world as they are on the front lines of dealing with the covid-19 crisis, as well as the many who are sick or bereaved.

●        For our kids as they study online, and for strengthening their relationships with God and each other.  Pray especially for Josh and Marianna, as they are in “exam” years of 12th and 8th grade, and facing a lot of academic pressure, which adds an extra layer of difficulty to the situation.

●        For many here in Kenya who are facing economic hardship, especially those in the high density population areas who have no possibility of distancing themselves to prevent disease spread.

Until all have heard,

Moses & Jo, Josh, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn

~~ UPDATED SUPPORT INFO ~~

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mosesnjo(at)gmail.com    PO Box 65815-00607, Kamiti, Kenya