Changed from the Inside Out

 

So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1,2, The Message)

In March, Moses taught a class on “Biblical worldview” to a group of young missionaries in training at the coast of Kenya, in YWAM Makwangani, Shimba Hills. After a long season of teaching remotely via Zoom, it was refreshing and exciting to teach in person again, spend time with the students and staff outside of class and be able to have more personal interaction and discussion. (Shimba Hill DTS pictured above with Moses)  One subject touched upon was the difference between covenant relationship and contracts.  We are so thankful for the covenant relationship we have with Jesus, we are not bound to an impersonal contract but have entered into a covenant of love. 

Before returning to Nairobi, Moses spent a few days in Mombasa, with YWAM staff there, and with two of his adult nieces who lost their brother suddenly earlier in the month.

In addition to Moses’ nephew’s death, he’s lost a cousin recently and we’ve had several family members and close friends facing difficult health issues. His Mom continues to experience memory loss but we are thankful for family who live close by and can support her when she needs it. So many reminders of life’s fragility, our calling to walk with those who are suffering or mourning, and as always to place our hope in the One who has conquered death.

Life (as far as pandemic restrictions) seemed to be almost returning to normal, and our children were in school for a full term (January - March,) but unfortunately the number of covid-19 cases has really spiked here over the last several weeks.  We now have local travel restricted, some businesses closed, and a curfew, in order to reduce the spread. Although three of our kids did contract covid-19 in March, we are very thankful that they were mild cases and everyone is doing well now. We know many who have been hospitalized or even lost their lives, and would appreciate your prayers for our nation as we try to get through this.

Marianna has just completed her exams to complete primary and enter high school, and Josh is in the middle of his three weeks of exams to complete high school.  He has been accepted at Messiah University in Pennsylvania and is looking forward to university life, while he is still seeking scholarship and grants to cover the cost of a college education. We would appreciate your prayers for this transition.

We are planning to spend some time in the US this summer and, as usual, are facing a big ticket bill and looking for accommodation.  If you know of a place where we could stay as a family from the last week of June to the end of July, please get in touch. Jo will probably be staying through August until Josh starts college. We are so excited about seeing friends and family in the US again after almost three years.

Please pray with us for Chad, for peace, fair elections, and just governance, as they will be having the presidential election on April 11. It is always a very tense time leading up to and immediately after elections, and it’s heartbreaking to see the reports of violence so far. Pray also for the ongoing Discipleship Training School being held in Sarh. (Students pictured below sorting rice during their work duty.) We are so thankful for how God uses the team and the facility there to continue to multiply world changers.

 

Thank you for your support and prayers. It is not an exaggeration to say that we could not be as effective in ministry if not for you as a team who stand with us, and we are grateful.

Much love,

Moses & Jo Kariuki

 

 

 

Missions Rewind and summer road trip

Our summer was very busy as the Lord opened the doors and led us on a 5000 mile road trip across several states.  Our journey started in PA to Wisconsin where we had an invitation to share at YWAM Madison.  In Nebraska we were blessed to visit Andee, our former ‘Mission Nanny’ and her husband Teddy.  Jo got to show her family around YWAM Cimarron, CO, where her journey in missions began 21 years ago, and spend a few days enjoying the mountains.  We were privileged to catch up with precious friends in Colorado Springs & Denver as well as meet with new ones near Fort Collins.  Missions Rewind with Crossroads Church in Freeport and Polo, Illinois was so encouraging as we listened to reports from teams who ministered in Joplin, Missouri and Brazil – powerful evangelism and miracles in abundance!  What a joy to hear what God is doing around the nation and globe even as we share what is happening in Chad.   We also spent a weekend in Maine, getting to know the wonderful folks at Messiah Christian Church.  God is good!

We shared about Chad in YWAM bases and churches and had much prayer directed that way;   it has been good to look back and share about the faithfulness of our God, there is lots of encouraging interest in our current campus project, the "Village des Nations" and we are thankful.  Everywhere we got to share, we saw God move and restore people in an encouraging way.  We were reminded how easy it is for winds to sweep away our hearts of gratefulness and replace them with unwarranted discouragement.  Seasons change; summer to fall, winter to spring but those who trust in God remain steadfast. 
It is a choice not to trust in horses and chariots but in the Lord. (Psalm 20:7)