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Archive for September, 2002

Great Things in Maasailand

27 Sep 2002

Great things are happening in Maasailand. Pastor Daniel Kalasinga has been faithfully preaching the Gospel for 20 years, and we are now seeing the full fruit of this ministry. In fact that there are so many young Maasai men wanting to join our Bible Institute that we are now planning to open a branch in the town of Dol Dol (The focal point of commerce, education, and communication for one of extensive areas of Maasailand known as Mukogodo).

Maasai society is experiencing a radical shift away from the traditional warrior culture, and moving into the modern world. As Maasai youth embrace western education, technology, and ideas, we see a window of opportunity to fill their open hearts and minds with Biblical truth. The Maasai value system and world view is undergoing a mammoth change. Our Maasai Pastors have seen that this is the critical time to reach an entire generation for Christ!

This year’s Maasai Youth Camp went very well, although the number of campers was a slight disappointment. Only 150 youth attended this year – about half of last year’s attendance. We reckon the reason for the decrease was (1) The increased fee per camper. The Fellowship of churches and some individuals subsidized the camp’s costs heavily. But, the camp leaders felt that the campers should pay a nominal $1.30 each. However, for many, this was apparently prohibitive. (2) The current drought has caused many of these semi-nomadic peoples to move away from the permanent settlements in search of grazing for their animals.

But, God knows the beginning from the end, and perhaps the lower attendance was best for this year’s camp. Pastor Kalasinga, the senior pastor and keeper of the vision for our Mukogodo Maasai area, said that the spiritual impact on those who attended this year was much deeper! Over 60 made serious serious decisions of repentance and resolutions to go on to a higher level of devotion to the Lord. Perhaps the Lord knew that He could work more intimately in the hearts of these fewer youth, bringing them to a deeper walk with Him – which will pay even bigger dividends in years to come. Nine precious souls were also saved!

We’ve been given a choice 3 acre plot right in the heart of Dol Dol. The story of how God provided this land is a great miracle in itself!

Pastor Kalasinga, has instilled a vision in the younger pastors which gives me goose bumps! Their goal is to conduct THREE MONTHS of camps every year, so that during the School breaks the Maasai youth will be constantly under Bible teaching! The potential for future leaders in Kenya is unimaginable!! Jeremiah 33:3!!

God has given our Baptist Churches a window of opportunity to change the direction of an entire generation of young Maasai men and women in Central Kenya! Those who would like to be part of this pivotal moment in history are welcome to contribute to the “Maasai Youth Camp/Bible Institute Fund”. (See our Contact page for instructions). Surely God will reward this kind of concern to have a part in shaping a new emerging culture!

 
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Famine Update

15 Sep 2002

Our faithful Maasai pastor, Daniel Kalasinga, came in from the bush yesterday. He brought his wife, Mariamu, to the hospital for surgery. During our conversation he told about the pockets of famine which are emerging again in his district. Three centers where we have churches are particularly hard hit.

I truly love this dear old pastor, who has been faithfully preaching the Gospel in Maasailand for over 20 years. He has ten children, and it is his dream to have them all serving in God’s work. His first-born has graduated from our Bible Institute and is helping start a new church in our Provincial capital city.

Pastor Kalasinga doesn’t say very much – but “when he talks, people listen!” As he quietly told me about the emerging famine, my heart was gripped.

I rang the District Commissioner immediately to see if the government had plans for sending famine relief food to this stricken area. “We have scheduled a meeting for October 3rd to discuss the matter,” I was told. Knowing how slow the wheels of bureaucracy move, I realized that it will be two months, minimum, before the government rises to the the need.

I couldn’t resist Kalasinga’s plea for his people, and the souls of the unsaved in these three areas. Many souls have been saved in past Famine Relief outreaches. So, it really is an opportunity to reach the unsaved. We calculated the minimum amount necessary to provide very bare sustenance for the these communities for a month – 24,000 Shillings (About $310). All I had available was 18,000 ($230) – I wished I had more, but I knew even this small amount was taxing my resources. Even so, I gladly gave him that amount, knowing that he and his other pastors will use this food as a tool for evangelism as well as relieving the suffering of our believers.

We’re praying that: First, that souls will be saved, and believers will be encouraged; Secondly, that the government will act quickly; and Thirdly, that the expected rains in mid-October will be sufficient to revive the grass so that no additional animals will be lost.

May God bless you all for your concern as you join in praying with us.

Praying for Food

 
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A Miracle!

15 Sep 2002

God has miraculously provided a 3 acre plot adjoining the Dol Dol Church for a Youth Center. The story is worth telling in detail:

A new District Commissioner had recently been assigned to Nanyuki (D.C.’s are very powerful government officers who answer directly to the President). One day, I felt impressed to make a courtesy call on the new D.C. I really didn’t have any particular agenda – just a get-acquainted courtesy call. Turns out that our new DC is a Maasai (but a MUSLIM!). During the conversation, he asked, “How can I help you?” I answered, “Nothing really. I just wanted to get to know you, and let you know what we are trying to do in this District to help people find peace with God.” He said, “There must be something specific which I can do.” (A MUSLIM, mind you!). I answered, “Well… we have applied for a plot in Dol Dol for a new Youth Center next to our Church there which I’m sure will eventually be approved by the County Council in due time.” The DC was picking up the phone before I even finished the sentence! “Get me the County Council Clerk!” (The top man at the Council). The line was BUSY! I sat in the DC’s office for 15 minutes making small talk while the queue of people waiting to see him grew geometrically. Finally, this busy man started getting impatient and was on the verge of giving up getting through to the Clerk to the Council, but decided to try one more time. The call went through! The Clerk said he couldn’t talk because the Speaker of the National Parliament had just walked into his office!

Sidebar: The Speaker happens to be an old-time acquaintance of ours, a Maasai from Dol Dol. Even though he is Catholic, he likes our Baptist churches, mainly because we never get involved in politics, but rather just preach the Bible.

Anyway, the DC, (a Muslim Maasai), said “Great! Let me talk to the Speaker.” (A Catholic Maasai). For 10 minutes they conversed in the Maasai language. I understood enough to realize that the DC was giving the Speaker of Parliament a hard-sell on our need for a plot for our Youth Center IMMEDIATELY! These two powerful men had the ability to cut through all the normal red-tape!

The DC put down the phone and told me that the final arrangements would be ready at the County Council office after lunch. At 2:00pm I was ushered into the Clerk’s chambers with great enthusiasm. The next day, I accompanied the Surveyor to Dol Dol to survey the plot . So, just overnight, we have a prime piece of land right in the heart of Dol Dol town – all through God’s miraculous work!

The Senior Maasai Pastor, Brother Kalasinga, has instilled a vision in the younger pastors which gives me goose bumps! Their goal is to conduct THREE MONTHS of camps every year, so that during the School breaks the Maasai youth will be constantly under Bible teaching! The potential for future leaders in Kenya is unimaginable!! Jeremiah 33:3!!

A final note to show how the hand of the Lord was directly involved: Remember, I said the County Council’s phone line was busy for about 15 minutes. I later found out that a junior officer had the phone line tied up chatting about personal business, until the moment when the Speaker of Parliament walked in! He quickly slammed the phone down, and at that very second, the DC’s final try went through. Had the DC gotten through 15 minutes earlier, his discussion with the Clerk would not have produced much more than a typical red tape run-around. God was in control that day! His timing is always perfect! Praise His Name!

God has given our Baptist Churches a window of opportunity to change the direction of an entire generation of young Maasai men and women in Central Kenya! If you would like to part of this pivotal moment in history, we welcome your contributions to the “Maasai Youth Camp Fund”. See our Contact page for instructions. And, may God reward you richly!

 
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