Place of our own

The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance! 

(Psalms 16:6 NLT)

Dear Friends,

We hope 2019 finds you well and enjoying the season you’re in!  Time is flying, the past several months have been so full, and we are grateful for God’s goodness throughout.

Chez Kariuki: Our return to Kenya after our visit to the US in August/September 2018 was hectic. We knew it was God’s time for us to move from our rented house into our own place. We had found a flat in a development we liked, about ten minutes from where we lived before.  Though the brand-new units were beyond our budget, we were offered one which had been used as an office for a better price with a promise to have it restored as new inside. The refurbishments took longer than anticipated and we made many trips to review repairs and consult on modifications.  We were finally able to move in the beginning of December, and although some things still need to be done, we are glad to finally be in a place of our own. We are trusting God to finish paying speedily and possibly get extra units for hospitality to ministers and restoration to those who need fresh orientation with God.

Ministry update: In December 2018, Moses made a trip to teach in Uganda at YWAM’s Biblical studies school. In addition to teaching in the school, he spoke at both their community and staff meetings and spent time with staff helping evaluate the past year and envision the coming season. The highlight was breaking bread with staff at the end of year thanksgiving service. Back in Kenya there was opportunity to serve at the local prisons and minister to over a thousand inmates while speaking at the “Prisoners Journey Discipleship” graduation. Moses also participated in our local church denominational national evaluations process. In spite of finishing up the term the very week that we moved in December, we are thankful his end of term exams and papers went well.

After a very busy December, Moses flew out on New Year’s Eve to the US for an eight week internship. He worked with refugees, through Church World Service in Lancaster, PA for his Urban Studies course. He is looking ahead to completing his Master’s degree in June. We are thankful for the God’s protection and providence over all of us during that longer than usual time of being separated as a family.  Although things went smoothly at home, and Moses really enjoyed his internship and relationships with refugees, we’re all happy to be together again from the beginning of March 2019.

In April, Moses heads to Togo, West Africa to teach for a week in the school of Biblical Studies and in the Urban Biblical Studies in the Capital city Lome.  We are enjoying the opportunities God gives us to love those around us and the farther away relationships as well, impacting the nations through His life and word.

In addition to taking care of home and family, Jo continues to be part of a weekly ladies Bible study which she also occasionally facilitates. She has been both blessed and stretched with impromptu hospitality in our new home to various visitors and big groups including the work crew and Moses’s extended family. We are happy our hospitality dream is already sprouting and growing.  She also recently enjoyed volunteering at a nearby nursing home and hopes to continue ministry there on a regular basis.

Family: The children are making friends at our new neighborhood, connecting with school friends who live close by and enjoying the common swimming pool in the development, as this is the hottest time of the year in Kenya. They began the new school year in early January and are now in grades 6,7,8, and 11.  They have worked hard in school and can now converse in Swahili and we are so thankful for that.   We celebrated three birthdays in February, Moses’ (we’ll have to have another celebration when he’s actually with us!!!)  Marianna’s 13th, and Zachary’s 15th.  Three teens in the house now, our home is full of life and noise and laughter, strong opinions and lots of discussions, some deep and some not-so-deep.

We continue to appreciate your continued love, prayers and financial support.  God has shown himself so faithful to us, and we are grateful to each and every one of you who have been a part of that.  Many Blessings,

Moses & Jo Kariuki ~Joshua, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn

The Invitation

Greetings from Nairobi!  

You are invited…

Luke 14:21  "The servant went back and told the master what had happened. He was outraged and told the servant, 'Quickly, get out into the city streets and alleys. Collect all who look like they need a square meal, all the misfits and homeless and wretched you can lay your hands on, and bring them here.'

Sometimes it is easy to forget how close-knit the body of Christ is and how dear and close it becomes. As “misfits, homeless, and wretched,”  we are adopted into God’s family for life, and invited to his banquet table.  What a joy it is to welcome others to the banquet as well, and see them growing up in life and their walk with the Lord.

Our days here are full, with the kids in school, church, and many ministry opportunities.  It is wonderful to be able to share the Kingdom with those he places in our path.  We’ve been delighted to make a few new friends who are believers from Muslim backgrounds, Somali refugees.  Moses has attended their weekly fellowship a few times and we’ve been able to practice hospitality as we learn from their stories, share ours with them and encourage them in their walk with our Father.

Moses continues to enjoy his studies at Fuller Theological. (Here he’s retreated to the garage to study, trying to find a quiet place while the children had 3 weeks off from school.  J)  Although the courses are mostly online, the community he’s formed with fellow students and instructors, interacting online and discussion of the topics studied have been very helpful in processing our ministry up to this point and in looking ahead.   Perspectives and truths learned were put into practice right away as he travelled to Mombasa recently to teach on Biblical Worldview to the DTS students there.  His week there finished with an outreach with the students to Kwale county, close to the Tanzania border at the Kenyan coast. Another highlight of the week was a staff breakfast, with a lively discussion and teaching on finances and living by faith.

We talk of Chad a lot and pray for the nation and our friends there.  Moses will be traveling  there in June/July  to spend time with the DTS, and speak at a youth camp.  As he prepares to travel, the rest of us miss our friends, colleagues and family there even more. The kids especially also miss our dogs, and the garden with its fresh fruit, and trees to climb.  Hoping for our own place here in Nairobi where we can garden and grow fruits again.  Pray with us.

We are very thankful for the many who stand with us in our calling, your prayers and generosity in being coworkers in the Kingdom are much appreciated.

Pray with us:

• Pray for safe travels and a fruitful time for Moses in Chad, as well as praying for Chad as a whole – the economy has really been suffering over the last year, with the price of oil down, wages cut and some civil unrest, in addition to the ongoing threat of terrorism from neighboring Nigeria.
• Pray for peaceful, fair campaigning and elections in Kenya (August.)
• Pray for our new Somali friends to be strong in their faith.
• Pray for Jo and the kids during Moses’ travels.
• Pray for us to find the right housing with space to host guests and maybe even our own garden/ yard.
  

Love,

Moses & Jo Kariuki

Josh, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn
PO Box 791399032-00618 Ruaraka, KENYA