Treasured Fellowship

Visiting Church Plant in Chad fun

It has been such a joy for our family to spend the last month here in the US, reconnecting with family and friends and sweltering in the August heat.  Favorite events, according to our kids, have been time with cousins in the mountains, youth group at Encounter, biking with their Uncle, and lots of swimming.  

 

Cousin Fun

For the grownups in the family, we’ve treasured the times of fellowship, both lighthearted fun and deep sharing with loved ones here.  We are so privileged to have such a wealth of friendships both here in the US and spread across the globe.

As we head back to Kenya, we’d like to share a few challenges we’re facing and ask that you continue to stand with us.  Our heart and calling has always been to see workers challenged and equipped to take their place in the Kingdom.  We are especially excited about seeing on fire young people in Africa being trained and sent out.   

Since we’ve relocated to Kenya, this has meant a lot of teaching invitations for Moses, both in the international body of Christ and in many YWAM locations across Africa, and consequently, a lot more airfares.

Sharing with PA Youth

At the same time we’ve been feeling a desire to purchase a home in Nairobi, as a base for our family and to serve others in ministry and hospitality.  This is a vision that is pretty much beyond us, with increased living expenses in Kenya already stretching our budget.

Malaysia Ministry

As you know, we are volunteers in ministry and God has been incredibly faithful to meet both our family and ministry needs through a few committed churches, and many faithful individuals over the years.  We’re asking Him to provide a significant increase in our regular support, as our area of influence is expanding and our children are growing up.   


If you would like to be part of our sending team, giving info is on the left side column, and you can always drop us a line @ mosesnjo(at)gmail.com if you have questions or want to chat more.

 

Love, Moses & Jo, Josh, Zack, Marianna &Katy

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.

Touching Base

Our time here in the US has been flying by.... we've been here just over 6 weeks and it's wonderful to see friends and family again here in Pennsylvania! We will be here through the end of September before heading back to Chad. We have been so humbled and amazed at God's faithfulness in so many ways - we have a beautiful apartment to live in, vehicle to use, we've received home school supplies (a major expense we were anticipating before our return to Chad) lots of great clothes for the kids, and are just encouraged the way so many have stood with us in practical ways. Thank you to you all, you know who you are! :-)

"So what are you doing while you're here?" the most common question :-)

• most importantly, spending time with people.... a lot happens in 2 years and it's time to "catch up" and process with friends, much easier face to face than via email! :-) It's a privilege to share with friends about our life and ministry in Chad, but also to find out how things are going in your lives, laugh, cry and pray together.
• Sharing in churches / home groups about Chad - if you're in the area and would like us to come to your church or small group, we'd love to do it, please give us a call: 717-940-0895 (Moses) or 717-341-6142 (Jo.)
• We are beleiving God for a financial release for us during this time.... Our regular pledged monthly support is sufficient to meet our day to day needs in Chad, but does not leave us any reserve to travel with. We're asking God for an additional $1000 a month which would enable us to leave Chad once a year without going into debt. We also need to see $4000 to come in to finish paying for our tickets for this trip and an extra $1000 for the local MAF flight. The majority of our support has always come from individuals who give on a monthly basis, and we so blessed to have many faithful partners who invest in Chad in this way. (more info on giving here)
• In August, in addition to spending a long weekend vacation with the Groff side of the family, we'll be travelling to Texas to see Moses's brother and family. We will come back via Illinois, to visit dear friends Chuck and Ruth, and visit Crossroads, their home church who support us.
• We're also continuing to do admin, communication and networking for the work in Chad.... the internet is faster here and the electricity doesn't go out for months at a time (hasn't yet anyway!!!) :-) so in someways it is easier to get those things done here.

Please pray with us:

• for us to experience true rest and refreshing during this time - so we are "re-charged" so to speak to head back to Chad
• for new partners to be raised up to stand with us - financially and in prayer cover
• for the security situation in Chad to remain stable
• preparations for the School of Biblical Studies in Chad which begins in October.
• for the purchases we need before heading back - a few remaining home school items, toiletries, clothes, office supplies - stocking up for the next 2 years! :-)
• for safe travel for our road trip to Texas and Illinois...(more than 3200 miles / 5200 km!

Love,

Moses, Jo & family