We dont shrink back but have faith and are saved

 Update: On September 13th William Ruto was sworn in as the 5th President of Kenya. The nation has been at Peace- we give thanks to the Prince of Peace!

Ab*i R's completed house.

We have just finished painting Ab*i R's house. His two young boys are adorable and were interacting with us each day we were there. His wife is shy and usually stayed at a distance but looked tremendously happy. Other neighbors came to watch our progress and sometimes would lend a helping hand washing paint brushes, containers, and buckets. 

This same Ab*i R came to read the Bible at our house with the 6 others, one Friday morning. Immediately afterwards he went back to the village "telling on" the 6, saying what he witnessed with his own eyes. Ab*i R had heard about this Bible study taking place but didn't think anyone was actually serious about it. He really thought there was some hidden agenda- such as a payment given. He seemed to be disappointed that there was no money to collect upon reading through God's Word and it puzzled him why anyone do so without that. There was some tension in the village after he went announcing the names of the individuals because no one knew what ramifications might happen. The villagers started questioning why certain farmworkers no longer attended the Mosque on Friday mornings- the Muslim Holy day. There was speculation of conversions. The farm workers asked if they could come study the Bible Friday afternoons, instead of mornings. This change was made, and most of the farmworkers started showing up to the Mosque to put the accusing words to rest.

Meanwhile there have been Muslim missionaries coming to the village doing their Tabligh. (Tabligh is an Arabic word that means to reach out, to make known or to let people be informed. To make Islam's message known to people is called Tabligh). They have been giving extra teachings about the Quran in the Mosque and encouraging people to stand firm in their religion. They specifically went to each home of the 6 farmworkers that have been studying the Bible. One day while Ab*i R's house was being constructed the Muslim missionaries came to talk to Jason and Amos. They gave their presentation by "bearing witness " and then waited for the response- hoping it would be positively accepted. Jason said he had previously heard all their stances from others and asked if they would take time to listen to what he believed. They were not interested. Jason tried to confirm that Islam came into the world through Mohammed receiving the Quran. They seem to think there was a kind of breakthrough and agreed that was true. Then Jason proceeded by saying that Jesus came to earth over 600 years before Mohammed was born. He explained Jesus practiced the Jewish customs and it was after His death, Resurrection, and Ascension that Christianity was spread. They kept trying to change the subject and say that Jesus was in fact a Muslim. Jason tried saying that using common sense it wasn't even possible for any person to be a Muslim before Mohammed's time. Eventually they left regarding Jason and our team a "lost cause". They agreed before leaving to pray that Jason would become a Muslim and Jason in turn told them he would pray for them to become followers of Jesus.  This is the first time in all our years of working in this village that anyone has ever tried to convert Jason to Islam.

We have been going through Hebrews with the interns. There are powerful truths that Jesus is indeed greater than the prophets and greater than the angels. Recently we read such a timely passage that said, "Remember those earlier days after you had received the light, when you endured great conflict full of suffering.  Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution; at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated. You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property,  because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded." Hebrews 10:32-35 We can see the enthusiasm of the 6 farmworkers when understanding of the scriptures takes place in their hearts. We also know there is a real threat of suffering at the cost to following Christ. We want to urge them on while giving sympathy during the hardships. Keep praying for all of us to not give up when there are obstacles but put our trust on the firm foundation. As we look towards heaven as our final home we persevere in each trial, He has Overcome!

A neighbor girl who came to watch us paint.

This little baby talks in gibberish and is a delight to all. Unfortunately she is wearing a charm necklace that must have come from witch doctor. 

Neighbor child that was always smiling. 

Ab*i R's Firstborn son. 

Ab*i R's last born son.

This is the way we washed off the painting items.

It worked well using dirt to scrub.

Jason was the roller Master.

Keegan got all the high places using the ladder- and Julia joined in the following day.

I stood on the bucket to reach the high places.

Nevaeh was battling a fever and eventually lost her voice but still wanted to paint.