Busy Months

Hello from Nairobi!  The last few months have been full, although Moses was not studying over the “summer” term, (in quotes because it’s been very cold here!! J ) he’s been very busy and enjoying and encouraged by the travels and ministry he’s been able to do.  Some excerpts from his trip to Chad in June/July:  “In N'Djamena, my friend asked me to meet with a young girl as she wanted to share about her charms/fetishes and seek council and prayers. Apparently her relatives gave them to her and she couldn’t offend them by refusing. It bothered her and she wanted prayer against consequences of getting rid of them. Witchcraft still binds a section of the church as they are caught between culture and religion in a syncretistic mix but there is hope as the young ones seek to break free and worship in Spirit and Truth. We prayed with her for deliverance and got rid of the fetishes for her.”  At a youth camp at the base in Sarh, “I taught on Missions and Evangelism on one day and on Worldview, Sexuality and HIV/AIDS on another. Other speakers taught on other subjects as I met with our volunteers and some local Pastors.”  Although the camp was attended by younger youth due to final exams being rescheduled for that week, it was a great week of encouraging them to live their lives for God.  He also was able to share with the graduating DTS.

August found Moses in Uganda for a week, speaking at the Biblical Studies (SBS) Hub gathering, a meeting of YWAM’s staff from all over Africa who are involved in teaching Biblical Studies.  It was a time of reconnecting with old friends, making new ones, and being stirred up in our vision for transformation. 

YWAM Kenya had their national staff conference in September, with the theme, "Released Into New Beginnings,” from Isaiah 43:19.  Moses was one of the main speakers at the conference and was so encouraged to see the expectancy and excitement for what God has in store for this new season. Bringing people across the country and hosting was itself a miracle, as it doesn't happen often.  After over ten years with few or no staff at the base, and no schools running, YWAM Makwangani, on the coast of Kenya, is beginning to run Discipleship Training Programs again.  We are so thankful for the vision God has brought back to this place, and the staff who are running with it.  Moses had the privilege of being asked to re-commission the ministry after the staff conference. This is especially meaningful as it is the same location where Jo had her first cross cultural missions experience from ‘92-‘96 and led the Primary Healthcare School there in ‘95/’96. It is wonderful to see the 25 acres put to good use again as they farm and run a DTS. Moses will go back to Makwangani in Nobember to support the school, teaching on Biblical Worldview.

YWAM Kenya had their national staff conference in September, with the theme, "Released Into New Beginnings,” from Isaiah 43:19.  Moses was one of the main speakers at the conference and was so encouraged to see the expectancy and excitement for what God has in store for this new season. Bringing people across the country and hosting was itself a miracle, as it doesn't happen often.  After over ten years with few or no staff at the base, and no schools running, YWAM Makwangani, on the coast of Kenya, is beginning to run Discipleship Training Programs again.  We are so thankful for the vision God has brought back to this place, and the staff who are running with it.  Moses had the privilege of being asked to re-commission the ministry after the staff conference. This is especially meaningful as it is the same location where Jo had her first cross cultural missions experience from ‘92-‘96 and led the Primary Healthcare School there in ‘95/’96. It is wonderful to see the 25 acres put to good use again as they farm and run a DTS. Moses will go back to Makwangani in Nobember to support the school, teaching on Biblical Worldview.

 Please pray for Kenya!  Some of you have asked us how the drought in the region is affecting us in Kenya.  Although the drought has lessened, and it has started to rain, the reservoirs are still far below their normal level, which means municipal water is not on very often.  We, like all of Nairobi, have been majorly restricting our water use and using rain water when it rains.  Elections – Kenya held national elections in August, which went peacefully for the most part.  The presidential candidate who did not win, however, took the electoral board to court, and the results (for the presidential) were annulled due to irregularities, and we will be having elections again the end of October.  We would appreciate prayers for peace, justice, and civility.

The kids continue to grow in every way. We will hit a milestone this month as Katie (who loves all things involving story and drama,) turns 10 years old – all the kids in double digits now.  Joshua (15) is almost the same height as Moses, he’s especially enjoying his science classes at school and working on the computer. Zachary (13)  is the sportsman of the family and won a bronze medal in swimming in his district.. Marianna (11) continues to please everyone she treats with her baking and crafts, she’s also helping with the kids’ wildlife club at school.  They all are conversant in Swahili now but their French has suffered. Academically they are more stable and even top of their class in some subjects. We are so thankful for the grace that has been present to wipe away tears of transition.

Moses will be going to Uganda in October to teach on faith and finances, in Arua, a base that has many staff from South Sudan, and works among South Sudanese refugees. In November, he’ll be spending a week in Arizona at Fuller Theological for his studies.  He will be stopping in Pennsylvania for a week before going on to Phoenix.  (If you’d like to find out where he’ll be and when, just drop us an email!) He’ll also will return to the coast of Kenya to teach in the DTS in YWAM Makwangani. We are very thankful for some partial scholarships and adequate provision for his studies to this point.  We are also grateful to for the opportunities God has given to teach and minister in the region.  If you would like to give specifically towards his studies, travel for ministry and teaching, or for our regular needs, details are below.  Thank you so much for your partnership.

Much love, Moses & Jo Kariuki

International Adventure

    We had two major outreaches in 2014 adding up to 5 months of students and workers on the field.  It was our first prolonged field service since we started and we are both stoked and a bit weary as a Team to say the least.  We are grateful to Him who makes it all possible and to you our faithful intercessors and partners.

OUTREACH MISADVENTURE

   The unreached areas are exciting but challenging.  Many chose Jesus and others got deliverance and healing from varied oppression and bondage's.  One of our teams across in the neighboring country was arrested and detained for couple of hours.  After being grilled they were told that for security reasons they cannot proceed.  They ended up sharing the gospel with the police who provided transport back to next major town.  That particular team was composed of teachers, church elders and a pastor.  Since then one of the teachers also has an acting pastoral role of a church.  We pray that they will make a difference in the Education arena. 

FAMILY ADVENTURE

  Our family also has had an international adventure as we traveled stateside and visited family, friends and partnering churches.   Highlights included Moses and Jo participating in N. Africa YLeadership consultations and Staff conference in which our co-worker Elie was able to participate.  Moses led workshops on Pioneering and development.

MISADVENTURE IN SPAIN

  A misadventure we had was the loss of Moses travel documents in Torremolinos at the hotel where we stayed noted on departure day.  We searched and asked in every possible nook and cranny but to no avail.  Some Co-workers in the region gave towards some of the unexpected expenses understanding that ticket and conference charges had stretched us thin.  Moses thinks it was Gods way to renew his heart for Europe.  
   Time spent in Madrid the capital in pursuit of emergency travel documents landed him in the midst of an international Gay Parade.  Lots of Goths and Wicans were prowling the streets at night.  On one night at the hotel a tormented child kept him awake from 10pm to 3am when he decided to pray and the child kept quiet after 5 mins of prayer.   
  Spiritual darkness covers the land and the need to engage in love and prayer to push it back is tangible and there are few laborers on the frontlines.

MINISTRY ADVENTURE

  Back in the US we had two Seminars on Identity at two locations inspired by the outreach teams that served us so well earlier this year from Encounter Church & Harvestview Fellowship.  What a joy to be able to see the same transformation we see continually in the Sahel also happen with the beloved in Lancaster County, PA

  We returned to Chad and hit the ground running with teaching on DTS and construction.   Moses then flew to Chicago to teach a perspective on World Missions Course and participate as one of the speakers in a C3 Missions conference.  We  are humbled by God's blessings & presence at all those meetings.  

EURO ADVENTURE

  One of Moses long standing desires is to visit and encourage missionaries we have been privileged to train on the field.  We had been able to do that Stateside and in different Africa Locations but not Europe.   This November he was able to do some Pastoral visits in France, visit former students in Switzerland and catch up with friends in Germany & Austria.  There were occasions to minister to families and a church Bible study in Both Germany and Austria.  There is still Asia and in particular India to visit and see what God is doing with former students and colleagues.  We had the joy of visits by both our missionary to India & our missionary to CAR...

  Back in Sarh we graduated a Bible Core Course  just before Christmas and the 2 graduating students were exemplary.   We had over 200 hundred people come celebrate in our unfinished hall.  Step by step we are moving forward but continually need prayers. 

Prayer Points

• Our staff are recruiting for next year's February DTS and July Summer Crossroads DTS and need volunteer logistics staff, school staff and of course students to prepare for the harvest.  
•  Margaret our valued nurse and staff member who led the BCC school has left to go study SBS 2 & 3, we will miss her but bless her time of furlough and study.
• Our construction has slowed down a bit since the rains and hasn't picked up yet.  We need to buy a truckload of gravel and 20000 bricks for our fourth building. 
• Our contractor is a plaintive at the justice and needs time to sort it out before he can be fully available again. 
• Our neighboring nations all have internal conflict related to fundamentalists... we have just finished the 4th year with no civil conflict in Chad.  May God help us to make the most of what we have in sharing the Gospel and overflowing beyong our borders with peace that passes Human understanding.

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

Graduation on our Property

Our region of the Sahel is so green right now it's hard to imagine the dust-bowl it is usually. Wild grass is already over 5ft tall and we are only half way into the tropical rain season. We enjoy the green-ness, although with a bit of apprehension since the rain comes with an onslaught of tropical ailments. In our YWAM team, we have already treated typhoid, dysentery and malaria in spite of the rigorous hygiene measures we keep.

We’re not letting that slow us down though, and in June we celebrated the graduation of our first Discipleship Training School held on our own property. 

Teachers have been requesting for a special DTS that would be run during their summer break and continue the following summer. After much prayer and contemplation we have launched our first Crossroads DTS, with 4 Teachers, a Pastor and a Youth Director. They are all over 30yrs old with the oldest at 58yrs, hence the Crossroads aspect. It is refreshing to have such a thirsty group.

Our Evangelism teams continue to organize outreaches and recently Moses got to speak at a Youth retreat they had with over 70 youngsters. Our own week-long Summer of Service was scaled down to 25 participants due to our limited accommodations on our base and the onset of heavy rains. They had a powerful outreach to our neighbors and we rejoiced with the testimonies of teenage soul winners alongside our DTS.

Spring up o well

#Num 21:16-18 From there they went on to a place called Wells, where the LORD said to Moses, "Bring the people together, and I will give them water."

At that time the people of Israel sang this song: "Wells, produce your water; And we will greet it with a song---

The well dug by princes And by leaders of the people, Dug with a royal scepter And with their walking sticks."

When we began using our property, we discovered our well was collapsed and we had no resources for its restoration. Fortunately our neighbors have graciously allowed us access to their brand new bore-hole for the last 6 months, so we have been using their water. With thanks giving we have continued praying for our own. Someone recently donated funds for our own well and storage tanks. PTL! We look forward to having our own water.

Moses & JoAnna Kariuki - serving in Chad with Youth With A Mission

snail mail: BP 166, Sarh, Chad email: mosesnjo(at)gmail.com

Family News: The Kariuki kids are enjoying a laid back routine now that home schooling is out for the summer. A few months ago, a new puppy joined the family, and they all enjoy playing with "Chui" (Leopard) and she enjoys playing with them most of the time as well. The kids help Dad with the family garden when they remember not to trample seedlings.  They’re also doing very well at learning indoor chores and helping out in the kitchen and with laundry and cleaning, which Mom certainly appreciates! Joshua (who just turned 11 years old,) is beginning to work on his cooking skills, and baked a delicious chocolate cake for Dad on Fathers’ Day, which of course everyone helped to eat!

Elin, who’s been serving our family by helping in homeschool and wherever else she can lend a hand, is enjoying a well-deserved break in the US over the summer, but we look forward to having her back at the beginning of the new school year.

Pray with us:

•  For our staff doing purchasing and liaising with the builders, for grace and wisdom, and for continued provision for the buildings.
•  Praise God, our truck, although not in excellent shape, is now serving us well for trips around town and out to the base.
•  For safety and security in Chad: in recent months, many of our neighboring countries have experienced turmoil and/or unrest, please pray that none of that spills over into Chad.
•  For the students in the Crossroads DTS, for this truly to be an encounter in their lives and ministry.
•  For good health for our staff, students and family, as with this much rain, there is a lot of malaria and waterborne diseases (typhoid and dysentery) going around.

Till the shout!
Moses & Jo
Josh, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn

Getting Ready to go Back to Africa

Kariuki News

Missionaries serving in Chad,Africa

March 2012

“When will we go back to Africa?” Four year old Katelyn asks, almost on a weekly basis, since we began our furlough in the US a year ago.  The other kids reminiscence about the trees Moses planted that they like to climb.  Marianna misses Simba, our dog, who was staying with a friend.  Three times Simba broke free from his leash at our friends’ house and found his way “home” - swimming across a river and walking 5 miles to our house, only to be taken back to his new home!  Our landlord now takes care of him at our house until we return.  ;-)  We are all excited about finding our way back home to Africa this summer!  We are trusting God for tickets to travel back at the end of July.  As we look forward to getting back to Africa, we are thankful for the time we have had here in the US.  It has been a wonderful season of enjoying friendships and family here again, refreshing, and making new friends.  Doors continue to open for us to share about Chad and to be an encouragement to those we meet.

As we continue to plan and prepare to begin building the Village des Nations, we are so thankful for the vision God has given us, and for those who are partnering with us.  As we begin this next phase of building on the land the Lord is given us, please consider what you can do!  If you would like to come and help out, give, or pray specifically for this project, please be in touch.  We’re excited about what God is doing!

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.