Bibles and Tools

One of the great things about being a missionary and serving in a foreign country is the amazing support of friends, family and Churches at home. We see so many needs out here that are impossible for us to fill financially, and it’s been so cool to see how the Family of God works together to fill those different needs. We have mentioned different things through our blog and other communication with friends and family, and through that God has worked in people’s hearts and lives to give of what they have to help people out here in Kenya.

One of those things was the tools that my parents brought out here for the men that work with Trevor in the TAM shop. Family, friends and Churches from home put money together, and this was one of the ways they were able to help out. These tools have been such a tremendous blessing to Benedicto, Mark, and Steven, and have been able to go a long way in helping them earn a living and support their families. They are so appreciative of the gifts of these tools, and will never forget that our family and friends care about them in this way. So on behalf of Steven, Benedicto, and Mark…thank you to all who have supported this project!!

Dad giving Mark his tools.

Benedicto

Trevor with Mark and Steven

The group - Me, Steven, Trevor, Benedicto, Dad, Mark, and Mom

A couple of months ago, after one of our youth Bible studies in the slum, Trevor and I really sensed the need for all our youth to have their own Bible. They are so hungry for the Word of God, and hungry for truth, and yet only a handful have their own Bible. They want to grow in the Lord, and yet it’s very difficult when they can’t read His Word on a regular basis. Our Bible study group has been growing by leaps and bounds…we started with an average of about 20 youth, and at our last Bible study we had 52 youth come! So we felt like this was another project that we could not do on our own financially, and would be another great way for people at home to be able to help out if they felt led to do so.
Two days before our Saturday study in Mitumba, we went to the Bible Society of Kenya with my parents to purchase the Bibles. We looked through different styles and study Bibles, and decided on a simple NIV study Bible, and with the money sent by supporters at home, purchased 64 Bibles. It was an exciting day!!
The following Saturday we brought the boxes filled with Bibles to Mitumba. We asked some of the youth boys to carry them from the vehicle to the classroom. On the way, one of the boxes that one of the boys was carrying fell apart and some of the Bibles fell out onto the muddy ground. They hurriedly picked them up, and I could sense that the word was being passed along to everyone who had not seen what was in the boxes! Excited voices speaking in Swahili were all we heard for awhile, and our surprise was not a surprise anymore! It was pretty funny!! One of our youth, Dennis, carefully wiped all the Bibles that had gotten dirty, his face all smiles. We had all the youth come up one by one and wrote each of their names in their own Bibles and presented it to them. We then had a study on the importance of Bible reading, and then went through the different study features in these particular Bibles so that they know how to use them and how to best use the resources that this study Bible has to offer.
They have been praying for their own Bibles for a long time, and now their prayers have been answered!! These youth are so thankful! One of the teachers told me this last week that last Sunday in Church, some of the youth had gone up and testified about how God answered their prayers in this way and that they finally had their own copy of the Word of God! Please pray with us that God would continue to help these youth to be diligent in their study and reading of God’s Word, and that they would grow in their relationship with the Lord!


I want you to hear their thankfulness from Dennis’ perspective. He is one of our youth who is very dear to our hearts.

“One day I was looking for the person who can help me with a Bible. I prayed for many days but I didn’t lose my hope. One Saturday it was on 2nd of May at 10:25 I saw my teacher with some boxes. I didn’t know what was inside, then she told us that “Help me carry this box to youth.” Without wasting time we carried until where she told us. We sung, when we finished singing she told us that “everybody to come and write his name or hers inside this book.” I was the sixth to write my name then she gave me a Bible. I prayed that day and I thank God because He answered my prayer. That day I was very happy.”

So on behalf of the youth in Mitumba slum, thank you so much to all of you who have supported this project! And also a huge thank you to so, so many of you who have helped out in so many ways…By giving finances, by asking about specific needs and then filling them, by praying, by encouraging, by sending us, by being concerned, by showing your love for us and for the people out here that you have never even met. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. Asante Sana!! (Thank you very much!)

You are making a bigger difference than you may ever know.