What Is In Our Hands...

New Year’s greetings from Sarh!  May 2014 be the year where your God dreams come true as you grow in trust and faith in His spoken word to you.

We finished 2013 with a staff "feast" at Village des Nations, our campus in construction. It was a wonderful time of meeting together with staff and former students, hearing how God is using them and being challenged to seek Him for greater things in our personal lives [Love like David's Mighty Men (2 Sam 23:1-23:22)], and as a team, celebrating what God has done in our midst.

A year ago as we broke ground on the land, we began what seemed to some to be impossible. We felt the Lord was saying to take what was in our hands already, and that He would use it. As we used all our available finances to manufacture bricks, it seemed like it would be a long road until we were able to build something out of them! But God is so faithful in his provision,we look back at 2013 with thanksgiving as we honored the two Discipleship Training School's that run in very rustic facilities (still under construction,) as well as the Summer of Service that took place. 

Retreat Centre Vison

We continue to dream of the finished Centre and the many things that will take place as we meditate on Jeremiah 29:5-7  It takes trust in God to LIVE when prophets of doom abound, but like the exiles we are reminded to trust in Gods purposes and sovereignty as we seek the SHALOM of our city and nation of calling.

Jer 29:5-7  'Build houses and settle down. Plant gardens and eat what you grow in them.

Marry and have children. Then let your children get married, so that they also may have children. You must increase in numbers and not decrease.

Work for the good of the cities where I have made you go as prisoners. Pray to me on their behalf, because if they are prosperous, you will be prosperous too. (GNB)

 
In 2013 by Gods grace we saw the completion of 2 blocks of dorm buildings (pending minor finishing) and the erection of a Dining Hall that still needs a roof, doors, windows and interior work. 

 We also planted scores of trees and the mango trees are already looking good as they have taken better than all the rest.  The Lemons, Grapefruits & Indigenous trees are slower but hanging on.  We have lost half of the Papaya trees to insects and hot sun but are thankful for the stragglers that may yet give us fruit this year.

 

After several years spending our Christmas break with family either in Kenya or the States, we’ve enjoyed being here for December and January, the most pleasant time of the year weather-wise, with cool nights and sunny days.  A special blessing was the visit of Moses’s sister Winnie who spent the month of December with us here in Chad.  We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to host two teams;  January brings the YWAM North Africa leader, with a small regional team.  In February our friends from Churches in Pennsylvania come on a working trip.  We are excited since Jo’s Mom, Aunt Carol and cousin Lisa will be joining the team.

We’ve seen amazing generosity in 2013 and are extremely thankful to you all for praying and going an extra mile where giving is concerned! 

Together in the Harvest,

Moses & Jo, Joshua, Zachary, Marianna & Katelyn Kariuki