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

The Construction is on!

“I’ve never been taught before about
the love of God,” a DTS student told us recently, after Moses taught on the character and nature of God, and his Father Heart.  “I was always looking in other places to experience love.”

One of the goals of the Discipleship Training School is to help Christians walk deeper with God; To know God, and to make Him known.  It’s so exciting to be part of this happening.  The Discipleship Training School began in February, and we’re thrilled to finally be holding a course out at our own YWAM property!

 Buildings are going up and we are in awe of how God is at work.


Building update:  At the time of writing, two dormitories are nearing completion, and we have a temporary thatch structure we are using for a classroom and dining room.  We are so thankful and humbled to see how the Lord has brought people together, to make this happen.  Our staff have been working so hard, local church members and YWAM associates have sacrificially given of their time and energy to make this a reality.  We hope to be able to put up a permanent dining hall/classroom in the near future.

Frequent Flying:  Moses had opportunities to teach in South Sudan, Kenya and in South Africa in December and January.  We are so glad he was able to make these trips to invest in the lives of men and women of God; 

•   In Kenya he preached in our home-church in FPFK Eastleigh and encouraged the body that has been terrorized in the area with attacks on churches,  public transport & places.  Pray for Kenya please...

•   South Sudan was a joyful reunion with a former student Paremmi & his wife a former staff member Nathalie.  They have pioneered a YWAM base in Marakal where Moses taught Worldview to a DTS  & are involved in Community projects & churches.

•   Muizenberg Biblical studies school had Moses come teach the book of Revelation.  They have rented a building off-base since the school was larger than they could fit in any base classroom.

Moses will be in the US from March 26th to April 15th, networking and attending a missions conference.  If you’re in PA, and you’d like to see him, just email!

Family Time:  It was so good to be able to travel to Kenya for a few weeks over the holidays.  It was precious to spend time with the Kariuki family again.  At the coast, we were able to visit Shimba Hills as a family, where Jo first experienced life in Africa, and Moses went with outreach teams in the early 90’s.  Sweet memories! 

 The kids are doing well in home school; a recent project was identifying and researching all the wild animals we saw in Kenya.  Josh (10) is growing taller and taller and enjoys reading and making things.  Zachary (9) loves pets, (although sometimes his affection is not so well received!) climbing trees, and whistling around the house.  Marianna (7) is growing in her creative abilities, learning some simple embroidery and making mud pies.  :-)  Katelyn (5) has taken off reading, has a vivid imagination and loves to be the center of attention.

Elin continues to be a huge blessing to us all, as she does homeschool together with Jo, helps out around the house, and spoils us with her baking.  We are blessed to have her as part of the family for this season.

We are thankful for all of you who make it possible by sacrificing your time to pray, & your finances to advance the work.  Jointly fitted together we are accomplishing the commission step by step.

Praise & Prayer Points.

After successfully buying our 6.55 Hectares of land, we were able to raise US$18000 of the US$25000 we need for Preliminary Dorms.   Praise the Lord because walls are up, Roofing is on and Doors and windows are hung on one building and in the process of being hung on the second one.  Then as funds come in we will do the wiring, plastering, painting and roofed verandahs (Deck-like).   To finish the Pre-phase we need to see another $50000 come in for; a Meeting pavilion, another 8 Room dorm & a Bore-Hole.  1Th 5:24 He is faithful who calls us and will also do it.  Join us in Prayer!

Our vehicle (4Runner) continues to be a challenge and we find ourselves without transport most of the times.  Pray we find the necessary parts or a new vehicle all together ;)


Prayers & Love,  Kariuki Family