Quick Summary of Back to Back Itinerary

 Hello friends,

 
Just a quick summary this month, as we write, Moses has just completed a week of teaching in Madagascar (via Zoom) on Identity in Christ and a week in Mombasa on the Nature and Character of God and the Father Heart of God. This coming week he is still at the coast, teaching in Kwale on Biblical World View.  All three schools are full of young people wanting to grow in their faith and excited about learning how to share their faith more effectively.  
 
Please pray for the students that they receive what God has for them and continue to grow, as well as for Moses.  Teaching three weeks back to back, while being incredibly rewarding, is also very demanding and he needs special grace and strength.

 
Thank you for your prayers for the children, the school year ended up well, Katelyn is happy to have those final exams behind her, and they are all enjoying a break before the next school year begins at the end of April.
 
Please pray for Josh as he finishes up his first year at university, and for a great summer job as he spends the summer with Jo’s brother’s family in Madison, Wisconsin. For grace as he adjusts to yet another location/family, and provision of a job that meets his needs and will contribute to his tuition next year.
 
The Bible Study Jo has been leading is going well, we’re enjoying digging into the book of James, and our times of study and prayer together have been a real support for all of us.
 
Thank you again for standing with us,
Love,

Moses & Jo
Joshua, Zachary, Marianna & Katelyn

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

 

 

 

Graduations, Parties & Celebration

...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6

It’s that time of year when the calendars are full of graduations, parties celebrating accomplishments, Moms wondering how their babies have grown up so quickly, and young people moving on to the next step of their lives. We’re celebrating a few graduates of our own this year. In June, Moses completes his Master’s in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary. We’re all so proud of his hard work, and thankful

Moses with dear friends and coworkers in Togo

 for the tools he’s been given and for this opportunity which will definitely continue to yield fruit in ministry. Thank you to all who’ve encouraged, prayed and stood with us during this season!

Zachary is busy preparing for the national exams in November - which all students take at the end of primary school in order to get into high school, it’s a very stressful year for class 8 students and we’d appreciate your prayers for him as he is stretched, and meets the challenge! As we think about completion and new seasons, our prayer for you is that the dreams and goals God has given you will be brought to completion in His time - and that until then, you will continue to pursue them with all your heart.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9

Serving refugees in Lancaster, PA for two months as part of his intercultural urban studies course was a rich experience for Moses, but we were all very happy to have him home again. The rest of us didn’t envy him the winter, but even the little time studies allowed him to spend with friends and family did make us a bit envious. ☺

Likoni DTS where we spent time studying Biblical Worldview

Since Moses’s return from the US, we’ve ministered both here in Nairobi and further away. After a week in Mombasa teaching on Biblical Worldview, Moses travelled to YWAM Togo to serve the School of Biblical Studies. In addition to teaching in the YWAM school, a highlight of his time was teaching in an evening class in the city of Lome, on the books of Amos and Joel, listening to God's heart for justice and mercy.

Evening Biblical Studies Class in Lome

The primary focus of our calling is teaching the Word in ways that will bring transformation – and we believe that while God transforms our hearts, he also transforms our minds and uses us to bring transformation to our communities and nations. In July and August, Moses will travel to Tanzania and in Madagascar, continuing to invest in the lives of young believers and missionaries.

As a family, life is full with school activities, lots of academics and computer work (Josh) swimming competitions to be won (Zack ☺ ) and crafts, cooking and time with friends (Marianna & Katelyn.) We are thankful. Thank you for the many ways you partner with us!

In Him,

Moses & Jo,
Josh, Zack, Marianna & Katelyn
PO Box 0791-399032, 00618 Ruaraka, Kenya

The foothills of Mount Kenya – from Zachary’s class trip there. Although the clouds and rain hid the Mount Kenya’s peak, they’ve been the cause of much rejoicing. Rains were very late coming, in addition to easing the farmer’s fears of drought, we’re all thankful for an end to the dust and heat.

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