Getting re-energized to go back!

May 2011

Kariuki Family News

Missionaries serving in Chad, Africa with YWAM

Dear friends,

Furlough for us is a time to step out and look back & allow God to walk us through the very fruitful ministry that has happened in our time in Chad in spite of war, rumors of war, and many stretching times he has carried us through. To acknowledge we are not superhuman and that it has taken its toll physically, emotionally and even spiritually ... But also to get re-energized to go back! Please pray for us during this time of rest, refreshing, sharing vision, and enjoying relationships with friends and family here. We have been blessed by those who drop in without notice, just like our friends in Africa do. ;o) Come anytime, we love visitors!

When we arrived in the US in January, we woke up the next day to 8 inches of fresh snow outside. After five years without winter, it came as a bit of a shock to some of us, although the kids were delighted! There was nothing cold, however, about the welcome we received here – so many gave of their time and possessions to get our home ready for us and smooth our transition into life in the US. Whether it was giving furniture, transporting it to our house, cleaning the house & stocking the fridge and closets or helping us in hunting for vehicles and paying for them… We've been very blessed and thankful for everyone who sacrificed to make it happen. Thank you!

God has generously given us 16 acres in Chad to develop a YWAM Campus. He's answered our prayers and we were able to finish paying for the land in March and we are very thankful! Moses has already had meetings with builders and an architect has done drafts for housing already. One foundation has committed to give as we build & a farmer has committed part of his crop towards the buildings. Please pray that God will open doors for us to share this exciting vision and connect us with those who would like to invest.

During this year in the US, we will be based in PA, but will be travelling some in the summer to the mid-West and possibly Colorado. If you would like to have us share about Chad, the ministry there, or simply bring a Word to your church, youth group or home group, please get in touch, we would love to come.

Our staff in Chad continues to do an amazing job. In our absence souls are being won, churches are strengthened and communities continue getting seeds of transformation. Thank you for going this journey with us, though like many in Pilgrims progress, you could have give up and fallen along the wayside!

Moses & Jo (Josh, Zachary, Marianna & Katelyn)

4980 Lincoln Hwy East, Kinzers, PA 17535

Flashback:
Here's a glance at our news from almost ten years ago: we'd just had our first intro to ministry in Chad as a couple and were so excited about what God was doing. We're STILL excited! We're still seeing God change lives! This is the heart of our vision for the campus in Sarh – training men and women of God to minister the Gospel to those in need, being a light in our community, seeing our nation transformed by His truths. It's a huge undertaking for us, but it is not huge for God. Please stand with us as we take this next step He has called us to in Chad.

"Do you remember me?" he asked. Excitement was written all over his face, mixed with shyness for not knowing what to expect. "My friend and I were at the meeting yesterday and I gave my life to the Lord." Remember? Of course we remembered. Much to the crowd's amusement, the meeting had been disrupted by drunkards. Now they had returned to talk to us. Moses was preaching in an open marketplace in front of a mosque in the town of Sarh, in southern Chad. Although many people came and eagerly listened to the good news about Jesus, there was opposition as well. The young man continued eagerly, "I just wanted to tell you that my friend and I have not drank any alcohol since we prayed yesterday at the meeting. I don't even want it anymore." As he continued to tell us how he was attending a new believer's class, we simply had to thank God for the miracle worked in his life. This is what it is all about – Jesus changing people's lives and drawing them into a relationship with him.